Chapter Eight
The village girls arrived very early the next morning. Kellan groaned when she was roused out of bed. It seemed they had just gotten into bed.
"You seem quiet today," Celeste said to Rhoswen.
"Dreams," Rhoswen answered unconcerned. What Rhoswen didn't tell her was that the dreams concerned Celeste. They were vague and uncomfortable. Rhoswen needed to think on them.
Celeste treated them all to a bowl of creamy porridge with nuts and currants. She roasted some bread slices in the wood oven. These were buttered and dipped in honey.
"Thank you," Sherrie said surprised.
"I'm Tessa, and this is my sister Ella," the tall girl introduced them. "We already know your names," she added shyly.
Kellan was pleased to see that the girls were wearing clean boys clothes. She was a little confused though by the helmets, arm bands, and clubs.
"I'm sorry but we have to ask you some personal questions," Alana began feeling a little embarrassed.
"We are ten and eleven," Sherie told them. "We haven't started our flows yet."
"Grand-mama has been telling us stories," Tessa told them grinning mischievously. Tessa was tall and muscular. She had lively brown eyes and brown hair. The boys used to tease her about her boyish figure. That was until she thrashed them but good.
"So what's with the helmets and clubs?" Kane asked curiously.
"Oh those," Elle shrugged, "that's just to make it look good."
Rhoswen laughed. Elle and she used to swim by the old bridge—naked. She had the brown hair and eyes like her sister, but looked more delicate. She hadn't looked so delicate, smacking the crap out of the Kroger's mean old dog when it was dumb enough to attack them by the bridge.
Elle looked up to find Rhoswen grinning at her. She grinned back. They'd still be swimming at the old bridge if ma hadn't found out about it. That was a sad day, ma telling her to stay away from them witches. She was glad that Rhoswen hadn't taken it to heart. She definitely had not meant to hurt Rhoswen's feelings when she told her what ma had said. She had simply hugged Elle and told her that the water was getting a little chilly anyway—that next summer would bring warmer waters. Now, here they were ready to go into the enchanted forest. Elle felt a rush of excitement.
"We made these for you last night," Alana continued as she handed them all a bag that fit snug over their shoulders. "It's always good to have a bit of honey, some nice spice, some mean spice, some dirt, and some salt. We'll tell you what they are for after we get inside the forest."
"Can any of you sing?" Vevila asked.
"Tessa and Elle both have a fair voice," Sherrie told them.
"Good," Vevila said mysteriously, "that might come in handy."
"Let's march," Kellan told them heading out.
The entrance to the forest was well past the outer edge of the village. They quietly made their way through the sleepy village and along what used to be an open field. From this side, all they could see was the ocean.
Kane couldn't help but wonder what their side of the rift looked like. No wonder the money grabbers were trying to take over the other field. This one, which was rather large, was gone!
"There's only one place you can actually pass to get through to the forest," Kellan told them. "Anywhere else, and it's just too thick with brush. Some have tried to burn their way in. That was a very bad mistake. All they did was burn the farmers fields."
"The entrance looks a little scary," Alana told them. "It looks like you're walking inside the hollow of a tree. The path is actually between two trees, but they are so close together that it looks like one huge tree—and here we are."
Sherrie looked at the gapping dark hollow and shivered. It did look like they were about to walk into the rotted old tree.
"How would we get a cow to walk in there?" Tessa asked doubtfully.
"I think they see it differently than we do," Alana held her hand out to Tessa. Tessa took her hand hesitantly. "We've never had any trouble leading in our mares."
Elle put her hand into Rhoswen's. Rhoswen squeezed it reassuringly.
Sherrie pulled her chin up, determinedly gripping her club.
Kellan led the way into the gapping darkness. They hadn't even taken a second step and there was light. Sherrie was surprised to see the trees, and indeed there were two, which led them out into a sunny circular field. She looked around surprised. It had been gloomy with rain and fog outside, but here it was a crisp clear day. She couldn't even tell what time of the day it was. Elle and Tessa also looked around pleasantly surprised.
"Who enters our fair?" A loud bellowing voice demanded.
A black unicorn charged toward them. Kellan stood firm. Sherrie couldn't help herself, she took a step back. The O'Byrne sisters stepped forward.
"Open your eyes you old fool," Vevila sang.
"Or maybe it's true," Alana sang out.
"That the mighty have all fallen or fled," Rhoswen sang.
"Leaving nothing here but dread," Kellan sang.
"Oh I so hope not, for I so love them deer," Dara sang.
"To be charred, chewed and eaten with beer." Kane finished.
"Hello daughter's of woman," the unicorn stopped before them laughing. His voice was deeply musical, and alive with frolicking and seduction. "Is that the best you could do? It's been a long while. I would think you could come up with something better than that!"
"Hello Fathion," Alana called out. "We have brought friends."
"I smell them," he told them, "they are fine." The big black beautiful unicorn nodded towards them. "Would they like to come in and play?"
"I would," Tessa stepped forward and halted.
He walked toward her and positioned his horn so that she might touch it. She reached up and touched it trustingly for he was so beautiful. She was surprised to feel the shock of energy rush through her body. Alana was ready to catch her when she fell.
"Is there another with courage enough to touch a black unicorn?" He asked them.
Elle hesitantly stepped forward. He lowered his horn and she touched it. Rhoswen caught her and lowered her into the grass.
The unicorn looked at Sherrie—and she looked at him. Without a word of exchange, she stepped forward. He lowered his horn, and she too was laid gently in the grass.
"You have honored us, oh King," Alana said offering homage. "I am very grateful. Now they may enter safely to tend to their animals."
"We have seen what your mother has accomplished," he told them. "I am sad that she passed, for she played well. We don't like it when our favorites play with men, but are thankful for the daughters she has brought to us." He bowed to them and retreated to the far reaches of the forest.
Sherrie, Tessa, and Elle lay dreaming, learning of the things in the forest which might benefit them—or could harm them. It was truly advantageous for Fathion to have honored them with such a gift. For with the touch from a black unicorn's horn, came the knowledge of the grove.
The O'Byrne sisters sat down quietly. They could neither speak out loud, or even mind speak, lest they accidently intrude on these dreams. It could take minutes, hours, or even days. There was no way of knowing. They settled in to wait, remembering their own dreams of the grove from King Fathion's tender touch.