The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Disclaimer: Not Mine

The Journey From Oidhche Shamhna

Chapter 9

To Lands Unknown and Sights Unseen

They arrived at the stand of brush that hid the other three, finding they had already swept the ground to remove their trail and Helga had already attempted to rid the area of their smell. Rowena ran to Erwin, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close.

"They were near," she whispered frantically, pulling back and looking around. "Several of them. I could not understand the language but Salazar has been anxious to leave since seeing them."

Erwin frowned at her, then grabbed her hand and signaled to Helga to follow. They quietly went to where Salazar and Gryffin stood talking angrily with not just their mouths moving, but with their hands beating the air and gesturing wildly.

"Leave this for later, we go now," Erwin hissed at what he saw as childish behavior, pushing Rowena ahead, and reaching back for Helga's hand. "It ends now."

Together the five skirted the village. They kept to the shadows and darkness until they were well beyond the sight of the round earthen enclosure. Salazar began a slower pace as they came to a small stream, and taking off his shoes, he signaled to the others to do the same. They walked in the shallow, cool water to hide any tracks until the sun was slipping from the sky and the call of the day's birds changed to the calls of the night.

"We should be safe here." Salazar stepped out of the water and flung his cloak down on the ground. "Now tell me, Gryffin, exactly what was it you did back there."

"I bargained. I told you the deal I made. It was a good bargain, and a goodly sum added to it. They can find no fault with it."

"Something happened, something you are not saying." Salazar paced, oblivious to Helga and Rowena's attempts to build a small flame, and Erwin's growing unease.

"What terms did you set?" Salazar came close to Gryffin's face. "If you have put our lives at risk, so help me, you will have reason to test that blade."

"The blades are of your steel, the workmanship is theirs. Upon the death of each owner the blade will return to the dust it came from."

"What of your sword? What did you bargain there?"

"It was but a subtle ruse, a simple turn of the tongue." Gryffin looked at Erwin, licking his lips, knowing what he had said may not be simple after his death but it was binding and would hold. "I am Godric Gryffindor now, by your own naming. The sword is pledged to the life of Gryffindor."

Salazar quieted and narrowed his eyes. "They do not understand the meaning of more than one name."

"They did not ask."

"They will hunt the sword down, for generations if they must. It will not be forgotten," Salazar shouted at Gryffin and again paced, thinking to spend his anger. "That does not account for them seeking us out. They will not know the ruse until your death. There is more."

"Truly, Salazar, he bargained and I went to the stalls. It was the same as we did yesterday."

"What happened then? What is amiss?"

Erwin squatted down, emptied his pockets, and began to enlarge his purchases. First, he took the tea, which he handed to Helga and caught her smile as she put her nose to smell the herbs. He pulled out some cloth and enlarged it, tossing the black to the ground, and reached in again and enlarged the shiny cloths of brilliant blues and yellows, the color of the summer's morning sun. Smiling, he handed it up to Helga.

Salazar grabbed the fabric from Helga's hands, and pushing Rowena to the ground, he threw the expensive textile to the fire, turning angrily to Erwin.

"What did you bargain with? What promises did you make?"

"None, I asked the price and paid as told. It seemed a fair trade."

"A fabric only used by women. Did you not think they would seek whom you meant to clothe? Did you not listen to what I said? Is it any wonder they came looking for a female to bear their children?"

Salazar crossed the clearing in three easy strides, grabbing Erwin by the robes and pushing him back, only to advance on him again. "I told you unclaimed witches could be taken, and then you buy fabric to put on their backs. Fabric that, by the definitions I gave you, will always belong to them."

"I didn't think..." Erwin looked at Rowena horrified at what he had done.

"We should be fine here." Helga stepped between them, placing a hand on Salazar's chest.

He used his arm to push her to the side and stood glaring at Erwin, and pulled out his wand.

"Your pockets, finish emptying your pockets before my wand finds your throat and this time does not stop until it sees the other side."

Erwin took the ebony box, and then put it on the ground, stepping back as if it were a serpent that could sting. Looking up at Salazar, he hastily removed the parchments he had found, and threw them down near the box as well.

"That is all. We agreed on scrolls and parchments, I could not make them out, but the price was low." He looked to Rowena, who walked closer to look at them. "The box is of ebony, they said. I bought it only for the wood."

"He works in wood and stone, he would be able to see the beauty that perhaps we do not." Rowena moved closer to Erwin to stand in his defence. "And the scrolls seem but children's stories. They are nothing more than old stories written down to teach their history. Perhaps worth the money, I will need longer to translate them."

"What is in the box?" Salazar snarled.

"It is locked."

"What did the goblin say you were buying?"

"Just the wood of the box. I asked if he was selling the box or what was inside."

"And?"

"Only the wood of the box."

"Rowena, take your scrolls and stand away." Salazar walked slowly around the small box of black wood.

"Wait, I remember something he said. He said I do not know the contents. You buy what you see and take what you buy."

Salazar walked around the box, studying it as Gryffin waved his hand and "Alohomora" rang across the clearing.

"There is no use worrying about it." Gryffin walked closer, lifted the lid with a wave of his hand, and peered inside.

"What?" Helga said impatiently, trying to look around Gryffin's shoulder.

"Wands, anyone?" Gryffin's laughter rang out as the others rushed to peer in the box with him. "Well done, Erwin, well done indeed."

Rowena went down on her knees in front of the box and slapped Gryffin's hand as he reached to take one.

"Not so fast," she said as she bit her lip and passed her hand over the box. "They are weak, I feel no magic."

She looked up at the others as Helga came closer. "They look like the wands of children."

"Perhaps training wands. We can still use them for simple spells, for capturing food and such," Rowena said as Helga smiled.

"Real food," Helga said with a sigh.

Salazar tucked his own wand back in his sleeve and reached into the box, removing five of the more than a dozen. He rolled them in his hand and examined the workmanship, frowning and taking more from the box to do the same.

"They are not goblin," he said. "Perhaps a shipment to a clan that never made its destination. We will use them for now, and later may be able to use them in a trade."

He handed each a wand and closed the lid, shrinking the box and nodding for Erwin to again pick it up.

"We will walk all night. We need distance between the witches and the goblins." Salazar said evenly.

Erwin pulled Rowena to him roughly and leaned to her ear. "Stay close to me, just stay close."

She nodded up to him and stood on her toes to touch her lips to his, not caring that this was inappropriate and not done. She clung to him and sobbed into his chest, then she suddenly clamped her hand over her mouth and ran to vomit in the grass.

"Rowena," he said and started for her only to have Salazar grab his arm.

"Let Helga tend to her," Gryffin said with a smirk. "She will be fine in a couple of minutes."

"It lasts for only a few weeks." Salazar smiled and slapped Erwin on the back. "You have less time now than a few days ago."

Erwin understood the look and hints. Her sickness had already started. The baby that grew inside her would soon be visible to all who saw her.

In their village a woman with child was treasured. Gifts would lie at her threshold, her hearth kept full of food and the old women would watch over her and click their tongues if she walked too far or carried too heavy a load. He looked at her, and knew that in this world, little joy may make it to a child born of a banished witch, or fall on the whore of the man to whom she ran.

She would never taste the first milk in the spring after the weaning of the calf, or feel the softest fabrics from the wagons that came to trade. He was not to carry her to the birthing chair, or sing with her at the naming ceremony. He went to her, and helped her stand and held her, begging her forgiveness. He whispered of all the things he regretted she would miss, that he could not give her, as the others discreetly walked away and left them alone.

"It's not his fault," Helga hissed.

"He should not have her on this path. He should have thought this out," Gryffin said flatly.

"What? Leave her with a sadistic monster who bought her?"

"He should have sought a hiding place for her and the child, that or have her rid of it." Gryffin felt his heart race as Lara came unbidden to his mind. "If he truly wants her and this child he needs to grow up, put her someplace safe, and live without magic."

"I was younger than he when I claimed." Salazar shrugged. "It is the way of the Ravens. They do not think beyond today unless it is read in a scroll. If the child becomes a burden she shall lose it, and you, Helga, will not interfere."

"Both of you stop, do you hear me?" Helga pointed her finger and shook it angrily at them. "If what you have to say makes no difference on our trek, then do not put it out for us to hear."

"Gryffin speaks the truth, Helga. She should not be here. She puts our lives at risk and the child's as well. If her illness threatens us, we will not risk five for one unborn."

"We need to be just a little easier on her," Helga said.

"We cannot afford to slow. We still have distance to put between us and the goblins."

"Perhaps we can find a place to rest for a few days." She looked sideways at Salazar as they continued to walk.

"We must find a pass and reach the northern lands before the winter sets in. We will need luck, not pregnant witches to slow us down."

"He is right, Helga," Gryffin said. "We must not rest until we are there."

Salazar shortened his strides to let the two walk ahead of him. He was worried more of his clan than of the two following behind him. If he needed to put aside the witch and leave her behind, he knew he could do it. He could not lose four lives to save one, no matter how much he had grown to respect her, and if she insisted on saving the child, he would leave her as well.

It was one thing to walk to the cold north with only four others, but to imagine fourteen families of his tribe attempting the same trip in secrecy chilled him more than the wind. He had struggled with keeping order on the short trip to the circle. Now his people moved, fourteen families to meet him in the north, fourteen to the south to return to Iberia, the rest scattered to the wind.

His father was well prepared, and knew how to lead. Salazar was unsure of his father's brother, who would take the northern group. He could be often foolhardy and impulsive. He would be unable to leave any dead to make their own way as must be done. He would doom the many to save the one. He walked in silence, wanting the space between him and the others. He could not afford to become too close or to share their dreams.

.

.

In the morning, they stopped to rest. Helga pulled the cup that her Teacher had given her, and filling it with water, she was about to reach for her wand to heat the liquid for tea, when she saw steam rise over the rim. Dropping in a small portion of the fragrant herbs, she sat back on her heels and sipped from the cup.

The amount of tea went unchanged as she finished what she was sure to be a full portion. Handing the cup to Rowena, she encouraged her to drink, assuring her they now had plenty. Salazar took his turn at the cup, greatly relieved. They had as of yet been able to find no more than berries and nuts, and with the exception of the goblins' stores had no source of fresh food.

"Think of just one mushroom, one small piece of leek, perhaps a small bit of parsnip, nothing more than a mouthful, really." Helga looked at the cup and sighed.

"A cut of lamb, perhaps a little salt." Rowena smiled at the witch.

"A teaspoon of mead for sweetness," Gryffin added, chuckling.

"A leaf of rosemary," Erwin joined in.

"Coddled eggs." Salazar stood and looked around. "It should take no more than one with the cup."

All five were on their feet and looking up to the trees. Only Helga looked down. She slowly walked a short way and found a gathering of boulders. Climbing up on them, she looked closely into the crevices until she found what she was looking for. A small nest of a dove lay between the rocks. She got to her knees and reached down, disappointed to find it empty.

"Helga," Rowena called and waved to her from across the meadow. "I have found mushrooms."

The wizards looked at each other, chestfallen at the news. They wanted a joint of meat, at least an egg or another piece of cheese. They had need of another source of food, as the berries were becoming quickly past season, and the nuts harder to find. Helga watched Rowena pick the few mushrooms, and wondered how long the small witch would keep the child in her womb.

They sat in the open for the first time since leaving the circle. Helga passed her cup around as Erwin laid back and watched the sky with Rowena resting beside him with her head on his shoulder and her eyes closed. Salazar spoke quietly to Helga, discussing possible foods that may still be found at this time of the year.

Gryffin took out his sword from the inside of his robe and admired the markings. He watched as the sun glisten on the metal and reflected the color of the deep red jewels. He stood and began to practice, catching Salazar's attention and bringing him to his feet.

"Let us see what that fine sword can do, Lord Godric."

Gryffin and Salazar began duelling, the blades hitting and making the noise of battle. Salazar used both arms to raise his steel above his head and circle it round in an arc to fall on the side of Gryffin. He saw Gryffin take the same stance and begin to wield the sword in the customary slow path. Gryffin scowled and released one hand, allowing the blade to take the strength of only one arm. The sword sped to Salazar's arc, faster then his fine steel blade, and hit the blade, casting it out of Salazar's hand and onto the ground.

"My gods," Erwin came to his feet.

"I have never seen such a sword." Salazar walked to Gryffin and looked down at the sword still held in his hand. "I know it is not your arm alone that can find that speed."

"Keep it out of sight," Erwin said. "There are many that would take you life for a weapon such as that."

The wizards each held Gryffin's sword and felt magic and power simmer from it to their hands. They hefted it, and found the strength of only one hand could support its weight, its perfect balance making it easy to turn and thrust.

"Come eat, Gryffin," Helga called. "Stop showing off and come here. We still have daylight left."

Gryffin walked over to Helga and sat down next to her, laying his sword on the ground in front of him and tossing his hat on it as he reached for the cup. He drank the broth, ate the mushrooms until he was sated, then turned to rise, fining his sword gone.

"Whatever are you looking for?" Helga slapped his hand as it came to close to lifting her robes. "One more inch and I hex you."

"The sword, I cannot find my sword. It was right here, have you hidden it?"

"Gryffin, if you are going to tell me to help you look in your robes as Salazar did with his snake I will..."

"Helga!" Gryffin looked at her, not knowing if he should be shocked at her admission, Salazar's attempt, or the look on her face. "You really need to spend more time around proper witches and learn to talk to more than a house full of men."

They heard Salazar's snigger behind them and they both jumped up, looking guilty. Helga glared at Gryffin, yanking his hat from his hand and hitting him on the head with it. His hand flew to his mouth and he winced sharply in pain.

"Gods, woman, did you stuff it with rocks?" He angrily took his hat back, staring at her. Reaching into the hat, he pulled out not rocks as he suspected, but the hilt of his sword, followed by the entire blade.

The others stood looking at him, wondering at what they had seen. This was not a simple trick, not a mere spell of magic. Erwin frowned, looking from the sword to the wizard, unsure of which had been charmed.