Huntress
The Fourth Tale From Carrock
Page 2 of 2
It was just as she had left it: the tumble-down awning of birch branches and vines over the opening to the cave. Sunlight lazily drifted through the leafy canopy of the old oak on which her father had built the platform where she slept during the fair days. Over there was the small waterfall that provided freshwater, a small arm diverted from the larger stream that splashed merrily away back in a small, private clearing that served as her bathing place. The trees and bushes formed a living palisade around her summer home.
Dido gave a little cry of delight as she stepped from the trees and twirled around in the soft afternoon light. She was home again. She dropped her staff, cloak, bow and quiver next to the ring of stones, not noticing the single large paw-print in the center of the ashes. She took a quick sip from her waterfall before walking over to the cave. The heavy bearskin covering was still there, too, just as she’d left it when Kyle had taken her away to the castle. She reached out and gently touched it, before pulling it aside and looking into the cave that served as her storage place and bedroom on rainy nights. She glanced around, surprised at the disarray. The carefully arranged wicker baskets were overturned and two of her prize clay jars were shattered, two spots marking where they had shed their precious contents. The blankets in the corner that marked her pallet were all pressed down and an unpleasant smell of wild beast wafted towards her. The shock in her face slowly hardened, her lovely mouth turning down at its corners, lines appearing between her eyebrows.
A growling behind her made her turn suddenly. It would have been better if she hadn’t because it was that sudden movement that caused it to see her. The bear bounded forward across the clearing. Dido yelped and tried to rush past the arbor and over to the oak tree. The bear was now almost upon her, gave out another roar and lifted its paw to strike.
“Ursus!” came a rich, clear voice from behind the beast. Its claws stopped in their downward stroke, sparing Dido for the moment. It turned to see who had called it, noting the tall woman who now stood just yards behind it in the clearing. She was only armed with a spear, dressed in rough home-spun tunic and trousers, her raven hair tied back, a leather thong with a curious amber stone in it around her forehead. The pause was only momentary as the brute bounded towards her, snarling, lashed out with its deadly paw. She threw up her cloak to catch the heavy blow. It thrust the thick cloth aside but contacted only air. The roar subsided to a bewildered growl as the big head turned from side to side to see where its quarry had gone.
Now behind it came the howl of a wolf and it spun around again. The woman was now standing between it and the frightened girl who hadn’t been able to move since the bear had nearly caught her. It let out a roar, angered.
“That’s enough, Ursus!” the woman commanded. The big brute shook its head and began to advance more cautiously now. It froze as it heard rustling behind it, the smell of wolf suddenly heavy in the air. It looked back to see seven huge wolves break from the forest, gray, watchful shadows. There was a rumble from deep within its throat and it made to turn away and lumber off. Then, quick as a wink it reared and tried to strike for the woman again, but she was faster, swinging her spear down heavily on its snout. The bear staggered back, looked at her stupidly and then collapsed. She turned toward Dido and held out a hand, a warm smile on her face.
“He shouldn’t be bothering you any more, child.” The voice was maternal and the swarthy features warm with affection.
“Is it — is it dead?” Dido asked as her breath came back.
The woman sighed.
“Unfortunately yes.” She looked at it with sorrow in her hazel eyes. “You see, he went rogue and not even I can reverse that.” She looked back at Dido. “He won’t hurt you any more, child.”
“Don’t call me that,” Dido muttered, pushing herself away from the rocky face of the hill and standing up straight. “And who are you?”
“My name is Lora,” the woman said kindly and then uttered a series of yips and barks. All wolves but one turned and silently disappeared back into the underbrush. This one came over to Lora, sat down on its haunches in front of her and blinked at Dido curiously, tongue lolling out.
“And this is Swift.” The younger woman remained tense, warily eyeing the beast. Lora laughed.
“Don’t worry, she won’t hurt you. She wouldn’t hurt any human if she could help it.” Here she became thoughtful. “It’s said that there is even human blood in her ancestry.”
“She’s a wolf,” Dido said matter-of-factly. “You have saved my life, Lora, and I thank you for that. I’d offer you something to eat, but that bear has eaten all of it.”
“Well, let’s take some of it back then,” Lora replied, loosening a large flint knife from her belt that Dido had missed seeing before.
“But didn’t you say...?” she sputtered. The other woman shrugged.
“It’s not much use to let the carcass lay around and just because I speak to animals doesn’t mean that I don’t eat them every once in a while. After all, we each need to do our part in keeping things going in an orderly fashion.” And with that she turned and busied herself with skinning the bear. After a few minutes’ hesitation, Dido slipped into her cave, retrieved her two knives from the niche above the doorway and went to help her.
“Son?” The gentle question made Kyle look up. His mother was crouched next to him, a look of concern on her face. Wordlessly he held out the slip of paper. Tabea took it and let her eyes glide swiftly across the paper.
“So she’s gone,” she sighed softly, eyes becoming moist.
“Damn Dad!” Kyle muttered, then looked at his mother darkly. “She said it was your fault, too.”
Tabea sighed heavily.
“And after all I did to try to make her feel welcome.” She shook her head. “She really must have missed her forest — far more than I ever missed the farm.” Her son glanced at her, surprised. “Oh, yes, she told me about where she came from — at least before she became so fearful of everything that went on here at the castle.” She breathed out heavily again. “She’s a woodland creature, Kyle, not suited for this ordered life. She needs the fresh air and the green of the forest. It might have been a mistake for me to be so insistent that she become a real lady.”
“She already was a lady,” Kyle shot back. “That’s why I fell in love with her.” He looked out towards the mountains. “Ever since I’ve been a little boy I’ve had this image of the perfect woman in my head. She was a wild girl, someone from the forests who could talk with animals and live off the land — a lady who ruled over the animals as we rule over people. She was dark, with black hair and brown eyes.” He sighed. “And while she lived away from civilization I always imagined that she could adapt to living in the city.” He looked over at his mother now. “It’s a bit like what they tell about Dad’s once being a wolf. He still has that wildness, you know.”
“And Dido was that woman?” She now sat down next to him, drawing her knees up under her simple dress. Kyle shrugged and gazed back at the darkening sky.
“Sort of. When I first saw her I thought, ‘There’s my perfect woman.’ But then I realized that she was different from what I had imagined. Not worse or better, just different.”
“Were you disappointed?”
“Somewhat. Then yesterday I finally realized that it was tougher for her to adapt than I thought.”
“She’s young.” He looked over at his mother.
“Only three years younger than me.”
“That can be enough to make a big difference — as you see with you two.” Tabea nodded, then fixed him with a thoughtful gaze. “Do you love her?”
“Of course!” he exclaimed. “You know that I want to marry her.”
“What are you going to do?” The look in her blue eyes made him suddenly blush.
“I’m going to go after her. I think I know where to find her.”
“And then?”
“And then I’ll ask if she’ll come back with me. We’ll work this out and maybe she can spend some time in the forest...”
“And if she doesn’t?” Tabea asked gently.
He paused suddenly, looked away and didn’t say anything for a long time.
“If she doesn’t,” he finally answered haltingly, “I’ll let her go. She needs to be free.”
The fire crackled merrily in the small ring of stones. Dido sat, knees drawn up, watching the bear meat packed with fragrant herbs and berries sizzle on long spits of fresh birch. Across from her Lora was cleaning her flint knife gently, Swift sprawled beside her, head on her paws, eyes shut, but ears lightly moving back and forth.
“You made good work of that bear,” the older woman said.
“The meat will last me a while once I smoke it,” Dido replied matter-of-factly, gazing back into the fire thoughtfully.
“You’re going to stay here even after he took over your cave?” Lora was genuinely surprised.
“It’s my home. I just haven’t lived here over winter and spring and so it thought it could move in.” She continued gazing into the fire.
“Lora?”
“Yes?” The dark-haired woman put away her knife as she answered.
“How did you do that with the bear?” The brown eyes now flicked up at the other woman and the girl’s lower lip protruded slightly.
“What?”
“You just hit it with your spear! You didn’t even draw blood.”
“Oh!” Lora drew out the sound as she smiled thoughtfully. “Let’s just say that my office gives me special gifts. I use them to protect those who need protection.” Here she chucked. “Though usually I have to protect animals from humans, not the other way around.” She looked piercingly at the girl. “But I think I remember you. Your name is Dido and your foster father was Neb the Wood Hermit. He found you as an orphan and raised you. I remember when you were nine years old, he came down with a strong fever. You tried to help him and then you caught it, too. If your dog Thurga hadn’t come and gotten me, you both would have died.” This whole time Dido shifted uncomfortably, but then suddenly her mouth dropped open as her eyes brightened.
“Wait a minute, you’re the one — the Watchcarer, the one Pa always told me about. I thought you were a dream!”
“I can seem that way if I choose,” Lora admitted. “But I hardly am a dream. I’m glad to see you’re well. I’m also glad that I found Ursus when I did. Neb would never have forgiven me if I’d let a rogue bear kill his daughter.”
“He couldn’t say anything if it did,” she replied, just a bit sullenly. “He’s dead you know.”
“Yes, two summers ago. And last fall you went away with a young man — a noble I think.” Lora studied Dido carefully as she spoke.
“Kyle.” It just popped out, before she could stifle it.
“Kyle à Carrock.” The Watchcarer’s gaze suddenly had turned inward. “I remember him quite well. A bright little guy.” She smiled. “He wanted to marry me.” Dido’s mouth dropped open.
“What?”
Lora laughed brightly.
“Oh, he was only eight. He doesn’t remember me clearly any more. I won’t let him.” She looked closely at Dido. “You care about him, don’t you?”
“What is that to you?” the girl snapped back, frowning.
“Well, if he came and took you to his castle, there must have been something there.” Dido bit her lip, and for the first time a bit of moisture played around her eyes.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Her voice was choked
“All right.” Lora pulled one of the spits from the fire and poked at the meat. “That bear will certainly last you a few months.”
“If I don’t have any unexpected guests.” The girl’s voice now became clear again and a slight smile played at the corners of her lips. “Otherwise I’ll just find something else to eat — I’m a huntress, you know.”
“Hm.” Lora smiled, replacing the spit. “I wonder what old Neb would say to that.”
“Pa was the only other person who cared about animals as much as you.” She laughed lightly at the memory and picked up her own spit to test it.
“Dido.” She looked up at the other woman. The Watchcarer’s eyes suddenly had taken on a piercing quality, the firelight now flickering in their midst. Dido shivered and her Adam’s apple moved slightly.
“If you’re such a great huntress, you should know when a quarry is worth pursuing.” The girl nodded, almost involuntarily.
“Then let me tell you,” Lora said quietly, “he is the best quarry you’ve ever pursued. Don’t let him get away.”
The sun had barely peeked above the horizon, and the castle courtyard was still in deep shadow as Kyle put one foot into the stirrup, grabbed the saddle horn, and pulled himself up on Hogart’s back. He straightened himself and drew a deep breath before clicking his tongue. The horse shook its head and started to clop-clop towards the gate.
A shadow detached itself from the wall and reached up to grasp the Hogart’s bridle.
“And where are you off to so early?” Dylan asked benignly.
“As if you’d have to ask,” the young man snapped back, glaring down at his father.
“To find your runaway girl.” The gray head shook back and forth once. “I need you here, son. Benedic can find her.”
“No, Father, she needs me there.” He made an abrupt gesture towards the mountains. Something in the green eyes of the older man flashed brightly, before they narrowed. Kyle blew out his breath again.
“Look, you let me go and find her and when I come back you’ll have your precious heir to Carrock, whether or not he has a bride at this point. Deal?” Dylan slowly let go of the bridle.
“Is that what you want?” he asked, almost in a whisper.
“No. I want Dido to be my wife whether or not I have to be the lord of this land. But I may not get that.” He looked back at the mountains and his voice cracked. “I at least have to try...” The gray head nodded once.
“I understand. Go, son. Go and find your woman.” The young man looked down at his father, brows rising and mouth dropping open just a bit. He blinked, then slowly began to smile. He let out a quick, “Ha!” and dug his heels into the horse’s flanks. Hogart reared with a bright whinny before pounding off through the gate to where she lived.
The light gently laid itself over her, outlining every facet of her face and body. She lay on her side, head pillowed on her arm. The stained skin dress had slid a ways up her legs as she breathed evenly. After a few moments she drew a deep breath and blinked, then closed her eyes again. She drew a breath and then sneezed, now finally coming awake. She sat up and stretched, looking around, a slightly puzzled look on her face, before running her hands through her long, loose hair. She let out a long yawn and glanced towards the fire pit. There were only a few embers left, barely glowing in the bright morning sun. Spits of birch in the ashes but there was no one else there. Dido blinked again, brow furrowing slightly, as if she were trying to remember something, but then shrugged and got up. She looked around and barely registered the slight mound where she and Lora had buried the remains of the bear that they weren’t going to eat or use. Then she turned and shuffled towards the leafy barrier to her private stream for a bath.
By late morning her head was a little clearer and she’d gotten through tidying up the cave and now was looking up at her tree, when she heard the stealthy approach. It was only a little sound, but she reacted instantly. She reached up to where she kept her weapons in the arbor, strung the bow and knocked an arrow, taking careful aim towards the woods where she’d head the sound. She drew the bow, the feathers now just touching her ear. Her eyes had taken on a steely cast. And then she saw him as he stepped from the trees into the sun.
“Kyle!” she whispered, dropped the bow and arrow and rushed towards him. He just saw her before she had her arms around his neck and her lips on his chin. He wrapped his own arms around her and gently kissed her mouth. Their greeting was wordless as they collapsed on the soft sod, kissing and caressing furiously.
After a few moments the passion had subsided.
“You came after me,” she whispered.
“I couldn’t help it, Huntress,” he replied happily. “I love you.”
“Then stay here with me.” She snuggled up next to him, one arm across his chest the other around his shoulder and neck, head resting on his shoulder.
“You know I can’t do that.” She looked up to find a softness in his green eyes. She squeezed him tightly before releasing him and straightening up.
“So you’ll go back to that prison.”
He nodded sadly.
“Why?” Her lips curved down in a pout.
“Because that’s were I belong, Dido. That’s were I must be.” He gently took one of her hands and she let him have it. “We Northkin were given a mandate to rule the lands justly. If the line were ever broken Carrock would lose its blessing and fall into disarray, as when my father was young. You know he was in exile...” He looked squarely into her eyes, brow furrowed, mouth firmly set. “I can’t let that happen again. The people need more peace than the few years we’ve had since the Hun-Halk were finally driven off. Father’s getting old...”
“He’s only in his fifties,” she interjected.
“Still, he needs me to be here for him and the family, and the land. Do you understand that.” Impulsively she took his hand and pressed it to her lips.
“If you stay now you could have anything you choose,” she whispered. He sighed and withdrew his hand.
“No, even if I did stay, I couldn’t do that.” Once more his countenance became serious. “Dido, as the heir to the throne I can only have one mate at a time. If I — if we were together now I could never take another woman while you are alive. We’d have to marry — and some day I’d need an heir, just like my father now has an heir. I don’t think you could handle my being there and your being here.”
“Who says I couldn’t?” There was now a slight edge to her voice.
“All right, maybe you could, but I couldn’t and neither could the people.” He shook his head. “I wish I could make you understand.” His hands opened and closed helplessly. “As the son of the lord of Carrock I have to be a good example to the people.”
“That’s just your father speaking.” He winced at the scorn.
“No, I’ve been thinking about that. I believe it, I really do.” He now looked her straight in the eyes. “If the leader is good he will have a strong influence on his people for good. If he is evil, his people will suffer and become corrupt. I can’t let that happen. I’m not my own — not like you are your own.”
“So what do you want?” Her voice was flat, unemotional, beautiful face now devoid of any emotion.
“I want you to come back with me,” he said in a near whisper
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll go home and you can stay here in your forest.” His voice cracked as he said it. “Stay here to be a huntress.”
“So you’ll just let me go, like that?” she asked bitterly, her eyes now glinting dangerously.
“No, Dido, I wouldn’t. That’s why I’m here. Now.” A soft smile crossed his features. “Oh, Dido, I love your wildness so much! If only we could find a way...” He reached out and touched her cheek. She grasped his hand and kissed his palm, before leaning forward and giving him another kiss.
It was late afternoon as she walked him to the edge of the forest where he’d left Hogart to contentedly crop the fresh grass of a small meadow next to the road.
“So this is good-bye,” she said sadly, her back to the woods she loved, her face to the man she loved.
“It doesn’t have to be,” he replied softly. He looked back towards the east where the castle lay, then back at Dido. “Come with me, dearest. We can work something out.” He held out his right hand.
Dido looked at him and bit her lip, then she looked back at the woods. And the soft summer breeze leapt joyfully down from the tree-tops and embraced them both.
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