Uninvited Guests

Chapter 134

With Elim and Tiller in town, doing who knew what, Erica was on edge all day. That made settling Bess down to bed a bit harder than it should have been. Children were always sensitive to the mood of the adults they depended on in her experience

Erica woke to a howling wind that shook the canvas of the tent. Bess clung to her in her sleep, whimpering but not waking. She pulled her granddaughter close, though whether it was to sooth her fear or ease the chill that had crept in didn’t matter. It seemed she had a long night ahead of her.

“Lady Erica, all is well,” Marlow’s deep gravelly voice resonated in the air. Elim’s guardian had been left behind to look after them. Supposedly the beast would be able to relay messages to him as well as act as a sentinel. Despite that Erica still felt uneasy knowing it was near. Elementals weren’t expressly evil, but they could be, and even the well meaning sort could cause trouble.

“Alright…” Erica grumbled. “Can't wait for breakfast.”

“Shall I hunt something?” Marlow asked.

“What? Oh, no. I’ll keep,” Erica replied after a moment. She was tired and sleep wouldn’t come at all if she got up and fussed around camp for a snack.

“Tell me, what exactly does your kind eat?” she asked on impulse. Too sleepy to consider that she’d likely regret the answer until it was too late.

“Pure earth and water mana, though we can chew things like wood and stone. I enjoy licking dew in particular,” Marlow replied. Erica let out a soft chuckle at that. The image of the stone dog laying in a field of grass licking the dew was funny, but not unfitting. As much as his presence worried her, he was a placid creature most of the time.

Bess stirred in her sleep again, possibly because the conversation was a little too loud or just the ongoing chill. Erica pulled her closer, wondering if she hadn’t made a mistake using the blankets from their old home instead of the new ones 42 had supplied.

Erica hadn't rejected them out of worry, they’d just seemed rather fancy and a little too heavy. She’d thought they’d be too warm but now she was wondering if she shouldn’t just go dig them out of the wagon after all.

“The pup is whimpering, why?” Marlow asked.

“It’s cold and the wind is making it worse,” Erica explained. “I’m going to fetch better blankets from the wagon. Watch her while I do?”

“Yes, Lady Erica,” Marlow replied. Erica got up and quickly found the blankets she wanted. The wagon was neatly organized thankfully. When she got back she found that the hound was sitting guard next to the entrance to her tent.

“Good boy,” Erica said softly and made a mistake. Without thinking about it she’d reached over and scratched Marlow behind the ears. Her family had kept hounds when she was younger and it was a habit, even if it was half forgotten. Rather than flinch away, or worse yet bite, Marlow just leaned into her touch, a thumping giving away that his tail was wagging.

“Well, goodnight then,” Erica said a bit awkwardly after a moment. The feeling of running her fingers through moss growing out of stone was odd but not exactly unpleasant, even though it was cold.

“Goodnight, lady. I will resume my patrol,” Marlow replied with a quiet dignity. As if he hadn’t just been wagging his tail in delight at a good scritch.

Erica smiled as she settled the blanket she’d brought back over Bess, then got back to bed. It wasn’t long before the wind died down a bit. It no longer shook the tent, though she could still hear it howling in the treetops. It was a little odd, but not an unwelcome turn of events.

In the morning Erica woke to the men talking excitedly. She also found she’d been half right, the new blanket had been perfect in the night, but felt a little much in the warmer morning. She left it be though, since Bess was still asleep. She moved to investigate what was going on.

Stepping out into the soft light that would soon grow glaring, Erica found herself looking at something truly odd. An earthen rampart about waist high had been erected. Not just a mound of dirt either, it looked like the ground had simply decided on a new configuration as grass and bushes still graced its slopes.

“Mistress Erica, do you think it's fey work?” August asked in a hushed tone.

“I doubt it, it's no fairy ring,” Erica said with complete confidence. “These woods are thick with natural mana. It was probably just a minor spirit.”

Spirits were considered standoffish but generally docile. The murmur of panic building in the camp tapered off and was replaced by relief.

With the matter settled for the moment, Erica joined in on setting up for breakfast, heading into the woods with her sling. Hunting didn’t take a great deal of time, but a bit more than usual as she was careful to make sure the rabbit she’d come across wasn’t sporting horns.

By the time Bess was up, the rabbit was spit-roasted over the fire. More likely Bess got up once the scent of the meat cooking caught her nose. She wasn’t a lark child, up with the sun. Only the scent of her third favorite meat was enough to get her up without prodding.

“Gramma, where’s da?” Bessie asked. She was still half asleep as she plopped down by the fire and snuggled against Erica.

“Still seeing to affairs in town. He’ll be back in a day or two,” Erica said gently. Her son was bent on some kind of mischief she only half understood, but she’d have rather Elim were back already. She hadn’t complained though, he was as hard headed as his father when he got a notion something wasn’t how it ought to be.

Erica sighed as she thought of Caster. Calling the man an idealist wouldn’t have been wrong, but it would have neglected a few key points. The term usually meant to disparage someone who couldn’t reconcile themselves to the fact the world didn’t work as they thought it ought to.

Castor had never had a problem with that, nor understanding why. He just hadn’t given half a shit about it and would see the matter corrected. Whatever had set Elim on his mission, it was something he needed to see through. Erica had known as much by the set of his jaw after he told her they weren’t just going to leave. He’d been awaiting rebuke but unyielding.

Knowing Elim was definitely Castor’s son brought a smile to Erica’s lips. In the past she’d been too caught up in looking for signs he resembled Linden Savex to enjoy his resemblance to Castor. Now though, she could see his father in his mischievous smile as much as his square jaw and not wonder if she wasn’t just seeing what she wanted to.

“Piss,” Betsy mumbled. She got up from her spot beside Erica and started trudging into the woods. Everyone around the fire laughed discreetly at that. Bess was a lot of things but shy wasn’t on the list.

Erica watched Bess as she headed out of the earthen ring surrounding the camp. She trusted her granddaughter not to go far, but wanted to make sure she wasn’t heading toward the nearby stream. The last thing any of them needed was for the little girl to tumble half asleep into the frigid water.

It wasn’t until breakfast was served that Erica felt like Bess had been gone a little too long.

“I’ll be right back,” Erica said, then sighed. Getting up she headed in the direction Bess had gone. It hadn’t been distressingly long, but it wasn’t as if Bess had never gotten distracted or fallen asleep doing something awkward before. The little girl also hadn’t gotten much in the way of good sleep the prior night, so the latter was more likely than usual.

“I can go with you,” August offered.

Erica shook her head, waving Agustus off as she claimed a spear from the wagon and put some stones in her apron pockets. She didn’t expect trouble, despite how she’d armed herself. She just wasn’t in the habit of being unprepared if it came looking for her.

It didn’t take Erica long to find Bess; the girl wasn’t being particularly quiet. Rather she was grunting and whining as she squatted with her back against a tree. Erica winced, quite familiar with constipation and how ungodly often Bess got it.

“Take your time and sit a bit lower, it might help,” Erica offered. She’d taken up a post on the other side of the tree while Bess labored. She was still a baby in Erica’s eyes but old enough to want a bit of privacy at such times.

“Lady Erica-” Marlow’s voice cut in suddenly. Erica gave a start and Bess squealed in surprise. Coming around the tree Erica found the hound a few yards away, not looking at Bess but where the girl could see him.

“Beast! Don’t come near a lady doing her business,” Erica said, annoyed at the surprise more than offended. She stood between Marlow and Bess, making sure he couldn’t watch her. He in turn titled his head like he was confused, speechless for a moment.

“As you say, Lady Erica,” Marlow said after a moment. “I came to tell you that strange men are approaching the camp. When the pup finishes, you should come further into the woods.”

“Bess, we need to go-” Erica said, all indignation fled. She turned, expecting to find Bess still against the tree but was surprised that she wasn’t. She nearly jumped at a tug on her skirt but turned to find Bess standing beside her.

“I’m done,” Bess said, patting her hip with an unhappy look in her eyes. She gave Marlow a dirty look that suggested his appearance had helped expedite the matter painfully.

Erica took Bess’s hand and they followed Marlow into the woods. They moved quietly at a steady pace rather than hurrying. There was no sense in letting anyone know they were away from the main group if they didn’t already.

Though the forest was thick, the path Marlow led them on was easy. Erica wasn’t sure if the hound was finding easy paths or they were opening before him. Either way they were making good time, others would be hard pressed to match.

“What sort of men were approaching?” Erica asked, once they were a fair distance away.

“Armed ones. Storm alerted me when they turned onto the road that leads toward our camp so we have a little time yet before they reach it,” Marlow explained.

“Did they wear livery?” Erica asked.

“Livery?” Marlow asked.

“Clothes with special colors and symbols,” Erica explained.

“I cannot see color and Storm didn’t mention it,” Marlow replied.

A horse screamed in the distance. Pulling Bess behind her Erica dropped into a defensive stance on reflex. Castor hadn’t only taught Elim to look after himself.

“We are not being pursued,” Marlow said placidly.

“Then find us somewhere to hide and help the men in the camp. We need them and I don’t want to lose the wagons,” Erica decided. If the hawk watched over them they’d be fine even if they needed to move.

“You are safe for now, but I cannot watch you from so far,” Marlow said flatly.

“Ask Elim if he’s fine with losing the bones of our kin,” Erica countered. Marlow flinched at that.

Castor and June had both been raised up to be moved along with the family. Once they had a permanent home they would be laid to rest again properly. Erica fully intended to rest beside her husband when her own time came.

There was a beat of silence and Erica had to wonder if she was seeing things because Marlow looked downright resentful to her. He growled faintly, though he’d looked back toward the camp as he did. He was calm again when he returned his gaze to her.

“Ahead is a glade protected by earth spirits, remain there and you will be safer than you are alone,” Marlow said finally.

“We’ll take shelter there,” Erica promised. Marlow stared at her for a long moment, then cast a glance at Bess before turning to go. He seemed to melt into the woods as he left and Erica’s question was finally answered. The hound had definitely been creating the path they were on because there was no sign of it now that she looked back the way they’d come.

“Come on love, we’ve got ground to cover,” Erica said, taking Bess’s hand. The path would not be as easy now and she felt the loss of the hound’s protection keenly as they hurried onward.