Two

            The morning air was chilly as Peter and Richard headed off to the fields.  Peter’s hair still tousled around as if a whirlwind had designed it.  Richard was so pleased to have him helping with the seeding.  He knew Peter was not a strong boy but his heart made up for it.  He loved him dearly and was happy to have him for company today.  There was much to do before Richard could travel to see Hardorin.  This seeding would have to be completed and supplies must be obtained from Paite before he could leave.

            Peter pulled the old mare behind him as the two brothers walked quickly to the field.  “I am going to be leaving for a couple of weeks.  I must travel to see Hardorin and speak with him on an urgent matter.  Will you be alright to take care of things while I am gone?”  Richard looked down to his younger brother.

            Peter looked very concerned at Richard.  “Is there something wrong, Richard?  I know there must be.  You and mother seem to be talking quietly so I do not hear you.”  His face became very serious.  “I am quite old enough to know about things now.  Maybe I could even help you in some way.”  He stopped and looked up to his older brother.  “I am not a child so much now.  I know much more than you and mother give me credit for and I am not stupid.  I know I will never be as strong and tall as you or most men for that matter.  However, I do have a brain and I tend to use it more than most because I am not physically able.  Please Richard, do not shut me out because of my size.  Yes, my body is weak, but my brain is that much more the stronger.”  He gently grabbed Richard’s arm.  “Please let me help in the way that is suitable for me to help?”

            Richard was taken back a moment by his brother’s words.  He studied the slight youth and then realized what he had said was true.  His body may be weak, but his brain certainly was not.  There were times in the past where Peter had done some very clever problem solving with planting plans or equipment repairs.  Peter, pampered because he was slight and pale, was a young man now emerging from behind those dark sunken blue eyes.  “You never cease to amaze me Peter.  You are right and I promise not to treat you as a child anymore.  After all, you will be in charge when I do go.”  The two brothers sat down on the tilled soil.  “I will tell you all that I know.  Firstly, things are not as they should be.  If you look around you, you will see that there are oddities about the land and sky.  There are no clouds anymore and very few birds.  The land is dried and brown and the soil is dead.”  Richard picked up a handful and held it to Peter’s nose.  “Smell this.  It just smells like death.”  Peter bent to the soil in Richard’s hand and after taking a deep breath, made a face.  “Do you see what I mean?  There are so many things not right including the strange fever that killed father.  I do not like the feeling I have in my stomach and mother has noticed as well.”  Richard dropped the soil from his hand.  “I have decided to go to Hardorin and speak with him.  Perhaps he has some answers.  I will leave the day after tomorrow.”

            Peter’s face was that of a concerned young man.  “I understand now what you and mother were talking about.  I wish I could go with you but I know I must stay here with mother and watch over her.  So let us get this seeding done today.”

            They both stood up and began walking quickly to the fields pulling the mare behind them.  “We will go to Paite tomorrow and collect enough supplies for you and mother while I am gone.”  A softer look washed over Richard’s face.  “I would like to go see Elise and tell her I will be gone a few weeks too.”  A slight blush coloured his cheeks and Peter chuckled.  “And I want to let Uncle Jarkat know I will be gone as well.”  Richard pulled back his shoulders and held up his head trying to hide his embarrassment over mentioning Elise.

            The two young men worked hard all day seeding the fields.  Richard would stop more often than he needed, to give Peter a chance to rest without feeling like a burden.  By early evening, they had finished and the two stood at the end of the field with hands on hips feeling rather good about their work.  Richard put his hand on Peter’s shoulder and told him he could not have completed it all alone and this was the truth.  For the first time Richard now realized Peter was no longer a child.

            When the two brothers had reached the barn, they saw their mother standing at the door of the house.  Peter took the horse into the barn and gave her hay and water while Richard went on to the house to see what it was that had their mother anxious for their return.

            As Richard entered the house, a large bird swooped down and landed on his shoulder.  “Skeet!  What are you doing here?”  The green and yellow bird squawked with excitement.  “Okay, calm down.”  Richard walked over to the table and sat at one of the large armchairs. 

            “He got here about an hour ago and has been drinking and eating ever since.  If Hardorin sent him, he told him not to stop until he got here.”  Anora’s voice held concern.

            Skeet was Hardorin and Richard’s messenger.  He looked somewhat odd but majestic at the same time.  A very rare kind of bird, some say magical, he had bright green feathers on his back and wings, but the stomach a face were painted lemon yellow.  His tail was almost three feet long and had at least a three or four foot wingspan, but his body was the size of a small bird.  Richard had named him Skeet after the shrill and loud squawking sounds he made.

            “Okay my friend, what news do you bring?”  Richard asked the bird.

            “Hardorin requests you come at once.  He needs urgently to speak with you.”  Richard and the bird had a mental contact that was unique to this bird.  If you bonded with it and it with you, then it would communicate mentally with you.  “There is trouble coming from Drummond, very evil trouble my friend.”

            Richard looked up at his mother gravely.  “It seems what we have been feeling is correct after all.  Hardorin has sent for me.”  He got up from the chair and the bird hopped down to the table.  “I was already coming.  I am off to Paite tomorrow for supplies and was going to leave tomorrow night.”

            “This is good.  We can leave straight away when you return from Paite then.”  The bird began to peck at a plate of grain on the table set there earlier for him.  “Now I must rest.  I have travelled non-stop to get here and I need some sleep.  I will go up to the rafters and be out of the way, okay?”

            “That will be fine,” answered Richard as he stroked the back feathers of the bird.  “Thank you for coming Skeet.  It is good to see you again.”

            The bird hopped up on Richard’s shoulder, brushed his cheek with his bill, and flew into the rafters.  There he tucked his head under a wing and fell asleep.

            Peter was standing in the doorway when Richard and his mother looked up.  “So what you suspected is true then.  Something is out of place.”

            “Yes, it seems so.”  Richard walked over to the window and looked out at the first sign of the stars.  “I told Peter all of what we were discussing.  He is old enough to understand now and should know what is happening in this household.”  Richard looked back at his mother.  She smiled with understanding and walked over to Peter, putting an arm around him.  “As he said to me, he may be weak but he is not stupid.”  The three of them began to laugh together.  Richard suspected it was the first laughter heard in that house for two years.

            The following morning they were all up and ready to go before the sun had first peaked over the horizon.  While having breakfast, they had made a list of what they would need and Anora pulled out the last of their coins.  “This should more than cover what we need.  Whatever is leftover you will take with you, Richard, for you journey.  When you get to Blane, stop in to see your Aunt Morga.  She will give you supplies and more coin for your return.  Do not worry about asking for coins from her.  She has more than she could ever spend in this lifetime and will have no objection in giving more than you need.”  She looked down at the coins on the table.  “Besides, if the crops fail, we will need as much as she can give to keep the farm.”

            “She is right, you know.  That old witch needs for nothing,” added Skeet, “all the local people give very generously to her for her services and healing.”

            Richard suggested for Skeet to stay at the farm while they went to Paite. Skeet could use the extra sleep and be well rested to leave that night.  He agreed.

            Peter went about hitching the mare to the cart and threw in some blankets as well as the small bag of food his Mother had prepared to take with them.  Richard was at the well filling the skin with water.  When all was prepared, the sun had just begun to paint the landscape with a golden glow, accenting the brown of the dried trees and grass.  It was an eerie beauty, which sent a chill through Richard. It had become obvious now that things were not as they should be.  Richard could feel it deep in his spirit and even touch it in the air.  Evil was at play here, but who and why?

            The ride to the village was short and they could easily have walked it had they not had to bring back supplies.  Many evenings Richard walked this road to town to visit Elise.  She was the mainstay in his life since his father’s death, comforting, and supporting him through all the bad times.  He loved her deeply and he knew she loved him.  One day soon they would marry and together bring the farm back to the glory it once had been.

            He closed his eyes and saw her standing in front of him, milk white skin, long golden hair, blue eyes that melted his heart, and a smile that would warm any man on the coldest of winter nights.  Elise lived with her father in Paite.  Her mother had died of fever several years ago and Elise’s father raised her alone.  They ran a small market store selling goods they purchased from local farmers and artisans.  Their store was a strong support for most through harsh winters or summer droughts and helped to pull through many hungry families.  Domi, Elise’s father, was a very well respected merchant and a very kind and generous man.  Every time Richard visited, Domi would ask him when he would be taking Elise away from him.  “I really wish you would take her off my hands.  She is such a bother to me,” he would often laugh.  Elise would turn pink and Richard would shake his head, “I am not so sure I need such a burden myself.”  They would both laugh and Elise, now not only embarrassed, but very angry, would stomp out of the room with Richard close behind her, catching her in his arms.  Kissing her softly on the forehead, he would hold her tightly.  Apologizing for his unforgiving rudeness, he would tell her how he could not wait to share his life with her and of his love.  As always, she would forgive him and they would kiss.  He was beginning to believe it was not anger that drove her from the room anymore.  She was very much a woman now, and learning the clever ways of one at that.

            The early morning sun was hot and the dust stirred up by the wheels of the cart was choking.  Richard took a deep drink from the water skin and handed it to Peter.  “This dust is too much, have some water.”  Peter also drank deeply and then passed it to his mother.  The buildings were now visible and they were almost there.  “We will have to be quick about our business and no lingering, I am afraid.  I must set out as soon as possible tonight.”

            “It is so bad now, Richard.”  His mother’s voice was only that of a whisper.  “The power of someone evil is destroying everything around us.”  She clutched her hands to her chest.  “When we return to the farm, we must talk Richard.  There is something very important I must tell you.  Now is not the time, please do not ask.”  She held up her hand to him to stop his reply.  Looking at Peter, “and you will also be told of this.  You both have the right to know of it.”  She took the water skin and drank deeply.

            Peter sat quietly beside Richard with his mouth slightly open.  He felt proud to be included in this, but fear also was stirring in his veins.  He always seemed to sense there was a quality of secrecy about his mother and her past, but he knew he should not ask, and only wait for her to tell of it.  Now he would finally know and he was not so sure he wanted to.

            Rattling and creaking, the old cart came to the main road of Paite.  The village was quiet and the dry breeze blew puffs of dust up from the road.  Some of the townsfolk were sitting on their front porches and some slowly walking to the assortment of different shops on the main road, but there seemed to be little sound and a dark feeling of dread hung in the air. 

            Richard brought the cart to a halt just outside the small general store owned by Domi.  They all climbed out of the cart and slowly looking around the main street, entered the store.  Domi stood behind his counter writing in a ledger.  After putting down his pen, he looked up and his eyes and smile grew wide.

            “Anora, Peter, and Richard!”  Opening his arms, he came out from behind the counter and hugged Anora.  “It has been too long since I last saw you.  How have you been?”

             “I am well, Domi.  I just keep on going, what else is there to do.”  Anora smiled at him and hugging him back softly kissed his cheek.  “It is so quiet, Domi.  It seems like death is stalking the streets.”

            “Aye, it does.  I can not explain it, just a feeling that drifts in the air, a feeling of doom that you can feel but cannot quite explain.”  He took her by the arm and led her to the entranceway of the back of the store and the living quarters.  “Come, Elise can make some tea for us and we can catch up.”  Waving at Peter and Richard he said, “You two carry on and get what you need.  We will tally it later.  I must talk with your mother a while.  It has been too long.”  He then followed Anora through the doorway and closed the curtain that hid the other side.

            Richard and Peter began to gather supplies and Peter chuckled to himself as he watched Richard glancing occasionally at the curtain.  “Do not worry big brother.  Elise will be there when we have finished here.  I am sure she is just as anxious to see you.”  Peter began to laugh as Richard moved faster.

            Domi led Anora to a chair by the table and Elise came running out of another room and hugged her very hard.  Anora laughed at the excited greeting from her and then holding her back looked at her up and down.

            “Elise, I cannot believe how you have grown!  Look at you now, a beautiful woman and no longer that freckled face girl with the dirty shirt with skinned knees.”  Anora was astonished how much she had changed.

            Elise blushed at the thought of her not so long ago youth and began to laugh.  “If only I can be as beautiful as you, Anora.  You glow with such radiance.”

            They all sat at the table and began to catch up on the news of the town, which for the most part was not really news.  Much of the feelings Anora and Richard shared seemed to be felt in the town as well.  Everyone was concerned with the dry spring and possible drought.

            “Many of the town folk are moving closer to Munten believing there will be more safety by the castle.  I think that is just the opposite.”  Domi sipped his tea.  “Something is not right there.  Since the High Drummond passed away and her son Tierk took over as Drummond, things just seem to be getting worse.  I feel it is something to do with him.  We need a High Drummond again, but for Tierk to marry and produce a female heir, well who would have him let alone sleep with him.  Spoiled bully I say, and always was.”

            Anora looked up at him through her eyelashes, a sudden feeling of dismay running through her body.  “It is rumoured there is a female child that was born in secrecy by the late High Drummond.”

            Domi starred at Anora in shock.  Turning to Elise, he pointed to the doorway for the shop, “Go see what those two are up to.  Maybe they are eating me out of business.”  He waved her to the door.  “I will be out there shortly.”

            Elise got up and quickly went into the shop, anxious to see Richard.

            “Please, Anora, do not talk of that here.  She does not know and I do not want her to find out.  She is too old now anyway and has had no training at all.”  He sipped his tea again.  “She is sixteen and will marry your Richard soon, live on the farm, and have a family of their own.  She does not need any other kind of life.”

            Anora looked into the shaken man’s eyes.  “You know it is her destiny and it will be fulfilled one way or another.  My sisters and I are all a part of that.”

            “Not anymore, you left your vows when you married Pendor.  The cycle has been broken now and Elise does not need to be part of that.”  He was trying desperately to keep his voice down and Anora could sense the deep fear in his words.

            She leaned over and gently touched his shaking arm, “Domi, she will become what she was born to be.  Even I did not escape my own destiny.  I may have tried to give up what I was, but it is still there none the less.  I know now what I must do.  I must teach her and my sons the ways.  They have to know.  What is upon us now is evil of the black crystal.  I fear the worst is yet to come.”  She took her tea and held it near her mouth.  “I will tell my sons tonight of my fate and theirs.  Now is the time, and you my dear friend, must tell Elise hers.” 

            Domi hung his head and starred at his hands in front of him.  A single tear slowly fell down the creases of his weathered face.  He pushed himself up from the table, “I will go tally the order and help the boys pack it in the cart.  Leave some time for Richard and Elise to be alone before you return home.”  He tugged at his tunic and smoothed the fabric down in front, “It may be quite some time before they can be alone again.”  He left the room and Anora finished her tea.