Whisperings of Magic (17 page)

“We will do that,” Dahl agreed, and with that Catryn had to be satisfied.

“Will you go by horseback?” Dahl asked.

“No,” the Sele answered. “I can travel more quickly on my own.”

“How …?” Dahl began.

“It can,” Catryn answered, giving in to them. “I know that.” She remembered how quickly and smoothly the Sele moved in its animal form. It would be much easier for it to slip through the forest that way than to follow the paths on horseback. And she—she could take the horse and fly. But what about Dahl and Norl?

“I can go ahead on the winged horse …” she began.

“
I
will take the horse, Catryn,” Dahl said.

She bridled again and opened her mouth to challenge him. He forestalled her.

“Daunus is my city,” Dahl declared. “It is I who must protect it. His face hardened; the dragon scar burned. “And this time I will not be taken by surprise. This time I will force the beast to do battle with me. If she would take my city as she took the others, she will have to kill me first.”

This Catryn could not accept. “But you do not have the power to fight the dragon,” she cried. “Only I can do that!”

“Not true, Catryn,” Dahl replied. “I fought and killed one dragon. I can fight this one.”

“But without me there to shield you …”

Dahl would hear no more. “I will send the horse back to you as soon as I arrive.” The tone of his voice brooked no further argument.

“It is decided then,” Sele the Plump said. Its words dropped like smooth, calm pebbles into the space between them. “But now it is getting late. “We can do nothing until tomorrow in any case.” It began to rummage in its horse’s saddlebags. “Now it is time for a good dinner. A good dinner always helps.”

The Sele curled up on its blanket soon after eating and was almost immediately asleep. Dahl followed suit. The boy would not eat, but he did curl up beside the Sele and he, too, seemed to sleep, but Catryn could not. Her mind would give her no peace. She felt control slipping from her. Things seemed to be going so wrong! Finally, she could lie still no longer. She rose quietly and stole away from the campsite to stand, staring at the village. The villagers were still stirring, walking mindlessly here and there, seemingly without purpose, even though it was now dark and late.

Something was different here, she thought as she watched them. This was not as it had been in the other village. There the people had been going about their business in the normal way, even though they had been taken over by Launan. They had been following their usual daily routines. Why was it not so here?

There must be something more going to happen, she thought. With that she drew her cloak more closely around her and set herself to waiting.

At dawn she sat there still. Nothing had changed in the village. Then, just as the sun was rising and the first cocks began to crow, she heard hoofbeats. She rose, stiff from the long sitting, and hastened to hide herself behind a tree.

A column of about twenty horsemen rode into the village along the road that led north. They rode in a strange kind of silence. There was none of the normal sounds of an army on the march. No harnesses jangled, no orders were given. Even the hoofbeats of the horses sounded muffled. As Catryn watched, they drew up in the village square, dismounted and tethered their horses, still without speaking. No orders were given. It was as if they were all so well rehearsed they had no need of commands.

As well it might be, Catryn thought, if this is what they do with every captured village.

The horsemen, or guards, if that is what they were, began to round up the people. Men and women obeyed them without resistance; children were as quiet and passive as their parents. After everyone who was out in the open was herded together on the small green in the village square, some of the guards began to search the houses. They made no attempt to knock at doors, but simply opened them, disappeared inside, and then reappeared either alone or with some person they had found within. Catryn held her breath as she saw them approach Mavahn’s house. Two guards went inside. They left the door open. They returned, leading Mavahn, who followed them willingly.

The guards were making a selection. Some of the men and women were being led over to where the horses were tethered. There their wrists were bound and they were roped together. Catryn almost cried aloud when she saw Mavahn chosen. The guards who had selected the men and women to be taken remounted their horses. One, who looked like their leader, held the long rope to which the prisoners were attached. The rest of the guards encircled the villagers. All was done in the same eerie silence. Then everyone stood still. They seemed to be waiting.

Suddenly, Catryn could not see from where, a man’s figure appeared. He stood before the villagers, his cloak billowing and blowing as if in a high wind, but the air was still. He spoke, finally breaking the silence. Catryn could not make out the words, but she recognized the voice immediately. It was Launan. She strained harder to hear what he was saying, but kept her mind well guarded.

He seemed to be giving orders, telling the villagers what they must do. They gave no signs of hearing him but, when he finished, they began to break off into groups. Many of the women returned to their houses. Some of the men began to hitch horses to carts; others took up implements and started for the fields that surrounded the village. As the sun rose higher, the village took on the appearance of the other captive village they had visited. All went about their normal routine, but nowhere was there any sign of vibrant life. They had become soulless slaves, as had the others. The rest of the guards now mounted their horses and rode off, leading the captive villagers. Catryn waited to see what would happen next.

A second figure appeared beside Launan. Bruhn! A laugh echoed across the space between her and the two figures. She could just make out Launan’s voice.

“Did I not tell you,” he said, “did I not tell you how easy it was? And even without the sword I will conquer Dahl. You will see!” The words were loud and defiant, but Catryn could hear the fury underlying them.

An equal rage began to rise within her, but she cloaked it carefully. Launan must not know she was here. She drew a deep breath and folded in upon herself. She lifted her head and drew in the scent. The scent of evil. Her eyes reflected back the light; sleek black fur gleamed. She padded softly and silently toward the two figures.

They did not see her. With every step her rage grew stronger. She was not thinking now of anything but what these two had done. They must be punished.
They must be stopped.
She felt the growl in her throat, but suppressed it. She was almost upon them; their backs were turned. She gathered her muscles for the leap. Launan first, and then the traitor, Bruhn.

But in that instant Bruhn turned and saw her.

“Master!” he cried and threw out an arm to warn Launan.

Launan whipped around just as the wildcat jumped.

It was as if she had hit a wall. A wall of solid, unyielding stone. Catryn fell back, dazed. The trees, the sky itself seemed to collapse down upon her. The brightness of the dawning sun disappeared, replaced by blackness. It was only with the greatest effort of will that she held onto consciousness.

When she could see again, Launan and Bruhn were gone.

Catryn recounted to Dahl and Sele the Plump all she had seen. Dahl’s mouth twisted as she told him of Bruhn’s part in it, but he said nothing, only continued to make ready for his journey. As she watched him leap onto the horse’s back and settle himself in behind its wings, she could not suppress her fear for him. He was going to battle and she was being left here. What would happen if she could not get to him in time? She glanced over to where Norl still lay curled up. If it were not for that boy, she thought, I, too, could be off. Like the Sele. I have the ability to travel quickly if I wish …

Of course! Of course, there was a way for her to get to Daunus—almost as quickly as Dahl, certainly as quickly as Sele the Plump. It would depend on the boy. On whether she could convince him.

“I’ll send the horse back,” Dahl began.

“No,” Catryn said. “There is no need for that.”

Dahl’s eyebrows rose.

“I will go as a cat. I can travel swiftly that way,” Catryn explained.

“And the boy?”

“He can ride me.”

“Are you certain?” Dahl asked.

“Yes,” Catryn answered. “It will be the quickest way.”

Dahl seemed relieved. “You will come to the palace when you reach Daunus, then?”

“I will,” Catryn said. “Be off, now. There is no time to waste.”

Dahl looked at the Sele.

“I will go where I am needed,” it said. “Do not worry if you do not see me.”

Dahl hesitated a moment further, made as if to say something else, then changed his mind. He set his face toward the south and spurred the horse into the air.

After they had left, Catryn approached Norl. The fire had burned low and he was lying asleep as close to it as possible. She knelt beside him. She had assured Dahl the boy could ride her; now she must convince
him.

“Wake, Norl,” she said, rubbing his shoulder.

He opened his eyes. “Mother?”

“Your mother is safe, Norl,” Catryn said. She could only hope she spoke truly.

Norl sat upright. “I must go to her!”

“That is not possible,” Catryn said. “Trust me, Norl, we will save her, but for now we must go back to Daunus.”

“To Daunus?” The boy was still befuddled. “Why must we go to Daunus?” He looked around him. “Where are the others? Where is the Sele?” His voice rose, at the edge of panic.

“They have gone on ahead,” Catryn answered. “We must follow as quickly as possible.”

Norl leaped to his feet. “I cannot leave my village!” he cried. “My mother will need me.”

Catryn drew in her breath. “She is not here, Norl. Launan—he who controls the dragon—came and took her with some of the other villagers.”

“Took her? Where?”

“Back to his palace, I imagine. She will be all right, Norl. I have been there. He makes the people work for him, but he treats them well. She will be safe, and after we have defeated him we will go back and set her free. I promise you, Norl,” Catryn said. “But for now we must go to Daunus and stop Launan.”

Norl looked at her, his eyes bright with tears.

“Did I not save you from the beast once?” Catryn asked.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice small.

“Then you must believe that I will save your mother.” Even as she spoke, Catryn felt the anger solidifying within her. She would do this. She
would
defeat Launan!

“This is what we must do,” she said then to Norl. “And you must be brave.” She watched the tears dry and his eyes widen with fear as she explained. “Can you do it?” she asked.

He nodded. The smallest of nods.

“You will not run away in terror when I shift?”

He shook his head from side to side. Again, the smallest of movements.

Catryn could only hope he would be able to keep his resolve.

“First we must take care of the horses,” she went on, making her voice brisk. “We cannot just leave them here. Come, we’ll find a stable in the village for them.”