She stumbled one final time into a felled tree, and sat down heavily upon it. The tears brimmed in her eyes at her apparent failure when she heard the restless movements of a horse ahead. The hooves stamped the earth and rustled the leaves.
"Steady", she heard a masculine voice whisper to the nervous horse. Clare slid off the tree and tried to crouch near to the ground out of sight. She heard the horse moving now, closer to where she was. She froze, hoping that her clothes would blend well into the dark surroundings. Her heart sank at the thought that her adventure was done already, for whoever found her would surely return her to her father.
"Clare", the voice whispered louder, and she recognized Brennan's smile in the voice. "I know you're there, darling. Please come out." She heard Brennan slide from the saddle. His feet hit the ground solidly. She impulsively jumped from her hiding place and sought his voice in the darkness. The horse’s light coat glowed slightly in the gloom and she ran toward the dark figure at its side. She threw herself into Brennan's arms, the tears coming now with no restraint. "My brave little, Clare", he whispered. "It's a bit different when you are actually out here all alone isn't it?"
She withdrew from his embrace, and tried to peer into his eyes, tried to read his expression in the gloom.
"Why did you come? You promised that you would let me go." She suddenly felt hurt, despite her relief at seeing him.
"Ah, yes, and that promise I've kept. I let you go. Didn't I?"
"Well, yes. But why are you here? Have you come to take me back?"
"Perhaps. Only if£ you ask me to." For a sudden moment the thought coursed through her, with all of its simplicity and ease. Return. Sleep soundly through half the morning. Wed Brennan in the afternoon and spend a life of luxury with this handsome heir to the throne. The ease of it all wrapped its fingers around all of her heart and consciousness. Pulling her towards it, weakening all of her defenses, dispelling all of her arguments. Brennan laced his fingers through hers in that safe familiar way of his. She felt herself yielding to the comfort of the warmth of his hand, the pull of what he offered. But as she wet her lips to speak agreement, a flash struck through her mind. Swift as lightning. Terrifying in its reality, a vision.
The sea. Boisterous and angry. Rolling away from the shore, rolling backwards, away, forever away, and carrying with it something immeasurably precious.
"And if I say that I must continue on?" She slipped her hand out of his.
"Then I will escort you safely to the village. I assumed that is where you are headed."
"Yes, I am. You will return then once we reach the village?" He tossed his reigns back over the horses head, for he knew that she had made her decision.
"Yes. Uncle says I am not to be in the village for the
next few weeks. He said there are some political goings on and that my presence may agitate people. But you'll be there likely by morning if we leave now." He mounted and extended his hand to Clare. She took and he helped her mount behind him. As they started for the village a single bird began his morning serenade.
When they approached the village, Clare noticed Brennan glancing around nervously.
"Are you all right?" Clare asked
"What?" He started in the saddle. "Oh, yes. I just haven't been here for awhile. And you know Uncle didn't really want me to be around here much. I'm wondering, do you think anyone might report back to him if they recognized me?" Clare was surprised to see him so fretful. The thought of Astar having spies stationed in the villages startled Clare a bit, but it seemed perfectly in character for him.
"No, I don't think so", but she was not really sure.
"Where do you suppose that I should go when we reach the village?" She had been avoiding this question. She knew that she must get away, but where she was to go seemed a great mystery to her.
"I have been thinking on that, since we left the forest," Brennan started. "Because of your reason for leaving, the vision you spoke of, I would recommend you to someone I know of living here, but I take my life in my hands by even telling you of her."
"We've always kept secrets faithfully, Brennan. Haven't we?" Anything would be better than roaming the village like a vagabond.
"I don't even know that she is still alive. I've only heard Uncle speak of her before. The villagers I suppose would call her a witch, you know." Something inside of Clare went icy and then hot.
"Brennan, we do not believe in such things."
"I know dear. But obviously Uncle does, or he would not be so opposed to these type people. I believe her name was Ballina. She’s an older woman. She lives I believe on the outskirts of the village. She's quite a loner. You must never breathe to anyone that I told you of her, or advised you to visit her. Perhaps though, she can help explained the strange things you've experienced. What ever they are.”
Ballina. Clare repeated the name over and over to herself as they rode past the first few houses and shops which marked the entrance to the village.
"Here you are, then." Brennan jumped down and helped Clare. "I dare not go any farther. I'm sure to be seen. Ask the first person you see where Ballina lives. Answer few questions. The ones you must answer, I'd advise lying whenever possible. And above all else, please don't mention my name, Clare.”
"Yes, I know. Thank you." He looked at her for a moment, then mounted. He started to ride away as Clare turned to depart as well.
"Clare", he called back.
"Yes.”
"I didn't promise that I might not follow you." He grinned. "I never promised that." He laughed as he turned and rode off at a gallop. Clare sighed, secretly hoping that he might follow her.
The village had just started to stir, and Clare stepped into the first shop she found open. "Excuse me," she addressed a man behind in what appeared to be a bakery."Could you tell me where I might find a lady by the name of Ballina?"
"A lady. Ballina's no lady." The man went about his business again.
"Oh, well all the same, could you tell me where to find her?"
"What do you want with her. She'll get you in trouble."
"Well, that's my concern."
"Word tells that Governor going being cleaning her and her likes out sometime soon. Could be today." He carried on evading Clare's question in an infuriating way.
"Yes, I've heard. Where might I find her?" she tried one last time. The man turned now and looked at Clare seriously.
"Straight shot through the village. Her house lies outside the village a bit. By a bit of a creek."
"Thank you." Clare turned to leave.
"Keep a watch over your shoulder for Governor’s men. They'll lump you right in with her if they catch you there."
"Yes, I'm sure. Thank you." The man stood there shaking his head as Clare headed out the door. Ballina's house was very old and worn down. Clare had never been so near something so awful looking. There were a few chickens pecking in the dirt out front, and loud thumps and crashes could be heard from within. Clare took a deep breath and approached the door. She paused as another crash resounded from within, then she knocked. There was no response, but suddenly the noises from within went silent as if someone were now listening very intently. Clare knocked a bit harder.
"Blast it", someone whispered hoarsely.
"May I speak to Ballina please," Clare asked bravely.
"A girl. Since when does Astar send women to do his dirty work for him. Boys are bad enough, but now," the door swung open and an awful looking little women peered out from behind it, "they're sending little girls." The woman stared at her impatiently. "Well, you think you're going to drag me off to that castle up there do you? I could put an end to you with just this little finger, girl." The woman pointed her pinky finger at Clare. "You believe me?"
Clare stared at her for a moment gathering some more courage.
"Yes, mam. I do believe you." At that the lady smiled. Her teeth were very white and straight, the teeth of a young child.
"Oh!" the woman exclaimed. "Of course. I'd almost forgot about you. With that stupid Astar roving the countryside, popping up every where I turn. Every thing happens all at once doesn't it, girl?" She pulled Clare into the small house.
"Yes, I suppose it does." The woman plopped Clare down into the one chair that wasn't overturned.
"Excuse my housekeeping. I'm packing you know."
"Oh, are you taking a trip?" Clare's good upbringing demanded polite small talk no matter the situation. The woman looked at her in disbelief.
"Girl, we have no time for all of that. We'll have to talk while I pack, I haven't a lot of time, but I have a lot of things that must not be left behind." The woman scurried around the room filling an old leather sack with odds and ends. Clare could not think of how to start this conversation. She sat there silent and stupid. "Fine, then girl, I'll start. You have a question for me. You've seen something and you need my advice." Clare nodded. "Fine then. The vision that you have seen, I can not reveal it’s meaning, but I can tell you that it is no imaginings of yours. Heed the vision and any Visions you may have here after. Your decision to leave was a good one, your decision not to marry that starry eyed dolt was even better. You must get farther than this village though. I don't know a whole lot about you, but I do know that you pose some terrible threat to Astar. I'm not sure just what though. There. Happy? Now are you going to help me pack?
Ballina went on packing. Clare did not move. "Are you still sitting there girl? You don't want to be here when Astar's men arrive. I don't want to be here when they arrive. We must move!” the woman yelled.
"Where?" Clare felt a lump in her throat.
"That I do not know."
"Well, if we are both fleeing Astar, may I not go with you?"
"Me? Girl, of course you're gong with me. Why did you think you were here?"
"I was told that you could explain my vision to me, that you could help me."
"And I have, and I will. We're in this together from here on out. All of us."
"Are there others?" Clare asked
"Oh, yes. A few others, like you seeking somewhere safe,
"Ballina, what is the meaning of this?" A rugged man in his middle years stood in the door.
"Ah, Erris. Glad you could make it. Not a moment too soon." She began handing him her bags.
"We have talked this through a million times, Ballina. I'm not going." He threw the bags down on the floor.
"Oh, I suppose you'd rather stay and be flayed or burned alive, is that right?"
"I am an honest farmer, Ballina. I've put behind me all those crazy ideas you put in my head as a boy. I'm staying. I'm going to sell my pigs this autumn and finish my house. Maybe I'll even get married in a few years. How do you like that? I'm staying. I've made friends here. People like me and trust me as a good, honest working man." He folded his arms defiantly. "You won't take that from me."
Ballina stared at him.
"You idiot. You never had any of those things. You've only been playing at them. You are what you are, and a good slop of pigs won't change that ever. Now pack the wagon Erris, before all of us are taken in." At that point Erris looked at Clare. First he looked confused that she should be there. Then a look of disdain covered his face.
"Oh, and I suppose this is the Visionary you were always babbling to me about when we lived in Brolin." Erris looked at Ballina with an accusing air.
Ballina now looked at Clare with what could have been affection in her eyes.
"Yes, I suppose she is. It all fits together. But of course you, Erris will decide in the end if she is the one or not." Erris rolled his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Clare's fear was dissipating, but her confusion was growing.
"You, girl, have more ahead of you than just running away from a wedding. Much more." Ballina chuckled.
"Ballina you can't be serious." Erris still looked at them both as if he hated them. "She isn't going with us."
"Ah, so you've decided to join me then." Ballina raised n eyebrow at Erris in a small victory.
“I, wait, I didn’t say that,” Erris stumbled.
"Oh, but you did." Erris looked up at the ceiling of the mall house and sighed a great sigh. "Erris, dear," Ballina's voice took on a strange tenderness. "I know that you want to stay, and be a part of them, but what will happen come next winter? They will know. You can not hide from your truth." Erris dropped his head as a great reality descended on him. He picked up the bags and walked them out to the wagon.
"Girl, I hope that you have all you wish to take, because now we are leaving." Ballina followed Erris to the wagon, and Clare followed Ballina. Clare knew nothing of these two strange people, nor did she know anything of what lay ahead for her. The part of her that should have been desperately afraid, was not afraid, though. In fact Clare suddenly felt a brand new feeling, something she hadn't felt since she was a child. Excitement.
Ballina climbed into the back of the wagon, leaving the seat beside Erris for Clare. She stood at the side of the wagon waiting for him to offer his hand to help her. Instead he met her inquiring look with a silent stare. It took her a moment to realize that he had no intention of helping her. She gathered her skirt and climbed awkwardly into the seat beside him. He popped his reigns before she was settled in and she fell back into the seat with a thud as the horse hurried down the road.
'Oh!" she said then steadied herself by grabbing his arm. Her good training restrained her from reprimanding a man, but her subtlety was quick to find innocent ways of retaliation. Everything inside of Erris tensed in annoyance when Clare grabbed his arm. "That's certainly a swift animal there," she said pleasantly. Erris looked at her.
"You're just stupid enough to be anticipating this aren't you," he asked.
"Well, it's a nice enough day to be riding I suppose," Clare smiled. Erris made a sound of disgust and popped his reigns again, while Ballina chuckled.
"This may be more interesting than even I foresaw," the
old woman said and settled in among her bags.
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