seen the likes o' that, I tell ya. Yer a clever girl indeed.'
Catrin blushed at his compliment, and her stomach practically roared in hunger.
Rolph heard the rumble and seemed to recall himself. 'Ye've not even eaten yet; shame on us. Come, let's feast to yer success,' he said, and she gladly followed him inside.
As Rolph entered the cottage, ducking his head under the low door, Collette stepped in behind and cuffed him on the back of his head. 'You great oaf, how could ya let that poor girl catch yer colt on an empty stomach.' Rolph made no argument, and Collette turned to Catrin. 'I saw what ya did out there, Elma. Yer brave and smart as can be. Couldn't be more proud of ya. To celebrate, I pulled out our last cured ham. We'll eat well this day, for ye've given us back our livelihood. Ya don't even know how many times those men tried to catch that rascal, and here you pluck 'im in a single mornin'. Tickles me,' she said, and she gave Catrin a warm hug.
'Did ya see that, Gramma?' Jessub asked as he stormed into the house, and rather than wait for an answer, he acted out the entire scene. His antics sent laughter into the air, and it was one of the most joyful moments of Catrin's life; she had truly helped these good folks, and it warmed her heart. Still she felt guilty eating the last of their meat.
'Are you certain you wish to serve the ham? Soup would be fine.'
'Nonsense! Ye've earned a good meal, and I'd say the first foal born should be yers as well,' Collette said in a tone that left no room for argument.
The meal she served was nothing short of spectacular, given the circumstances, as she broke out the best of their stores: ham, bread, and cheese were accompanied by sugared nuts and apple cider. Very little was said as everyone enjoyed the meal, but it was a merry silence. A weight seemed to have lifted from Rolph's shoulders, and he looked younger than when they had met.
'Ye've got to name that colt now,' Collette scolded Rolph. 'I don't think 'No-good rotten son of a common hussy' suits him anymore.'
Rolph laughed from his belly, and his laughter was contagious. Catrin's full belly soon hurt, and joyful tears ran down her cheeks. 'I think I'll call 'im Elmheart. What d'ya think of that, Elma?'
'I think that suits him just fine. I'll take pride in his naming.'
'That ya should. That ya should,' Collette said, nodding her head.
'As much as I hate to leave your hospitality,' Benjin said with a hand on his full belly. 'We should be on our way. We've a long way to go.'
'I'll not send y'off on foot. No sir, I won't. I may not have a horse to spare, but I've an ox and an old oxcart. If ye'd be willing to help me fix up the cart, I'd say ya more than earned it,' Rolph said, and Catrin's jaw dropped open.
'That's far too generous a gift for us to accept,' she said, and Benjin nodded his agreement.
'I'll not hear it. No, I won't,' Rolph insisted, and Collette added her vote to his.
'Are you sure you can do without?'
'Ah, I must admit our gift is not all it'd seem. Curly's no prize. He's cross-eyed and unp'dictable, but he'll pull a cart. B'sides, in a few weeks, the colt'll be broke, and I can use 'im to pull the plow if'n I needs to. We'll be fine.'
Rocks tumbled into the ravine as Lissa tried to regain her footing, the heels of her sturdy boots finding no purchase amid the brittle layers of shale. Using her gloved hands, she slowed her fall and eventually came to a stop. Before her stood only open air, below a sheer face that raced to meet the river valley far below. Using the skills Morif had taught her, she climbed slowly back to safety.
He'd always been a mentor to her and had listened when no one else would. She wished he were with her now, but she knew even he would make her go back, make her face what everyone seemed to think was her responsibility-her duty. No one could make her face that-no one. Instead, she made the choice for her people. She would rather they perish as free people than survive as slaves to the Zjhon and Kytes.
Better to be free, she thought as she searched for food and shelter. Better to be free.
Chapter 19
If you wish the devout to ingest poison, wrap it in pomp and seal it with ideology.
Catrin, Rolph, and Benjin worked on the oxcart in the afternoon sun. The cart was in poor condition, and one of the wheels was seized. After they removed the wheel and greased the hub, it moved more freely, but was still less than perfect. Catrin was glad to have the cart as it would make their travels much easier, and she hoped it would help them appear more like locals. Collette folded the blankets from the loft and insisted they would make a good cushion for the splintery wooden seat. Their kindness in such a trying time spoke volumes for their generous souls, and Catrin vowed to never forget them and all they had done for her.
When the cart was deemed ready for travel, Rolph led them to a pasture on the outskirts of the farmstead. On his way, he retrieved a bushel basket of hard corn still on the cob, and he handed an ear to Catrin.
'Take this out to him. Hold your ground now. He's harmless,' Rolph said with a mischievous grin, and Catrin reluctantly slipped through the fence.
Curly stood at the far end of the field, tall as a horse, half again as long, and twice as big around. His shaggy coat added to his girth, making him look like a barn on legs. As soon as Catrin stood within the fence, he turned and charged, building momentum as he came. Afraid she would be run down, Catrin did as Rolph had instructed: she held her ground, albeit with her eyes closed.
Heavy breathing and the pounding of his hooves grew closer, but just before she thought Curly would trample her, he stopped. When Catrin opened her eyes, he stood before her, eyeing her with one eye; the other stared off to her right. He snorted and nudged her with his broad head, and only then did she recall the ear of corn she held at her side. As she extended it to him, he grabbed it greedily from her hand. He shoved his ear into her hand as he chewed, nearly knocking her over. She scratched behind his ear, and he leaned into her, groaning with pleasure.
The ear of corn kept him busy for only a moment, and he nudged her hands for more. As she turned to walk back to the fence, he followed on her heels, occasionally nudging her from behind.
'I think he likes you,' Rolph said with a chuckle, and Catrin stuck her tongue out at him, which set him to laughing from his belly.
'He seems like a friendly beast,' Benjin said. 'We can't thank you enough for your generosity.'
'It's the least we can do.'
Catrin slid back through the fence, and they retrieved the oxcart. Rolph brought a yoke and lines from the barn, and Curly paced the fence excitedly, rattling the gate as he passed it. But as Rolph opened the gate, a bell rang out in the distance. Its peal sent a chill down Catrin's spine and raised the hair on her arms.
'Citizens call!' echoed across the distance. 'Citizens call!'
Despite Curly's protests, Rolph closed the gate. 'Well, let's see what news the crier brings,' he said, and Benjin nodded, showing no signs of concern. Catrin followed nervously as they crossed the fields to a small town. The call for citizens continued even after they arrived, giving those in more remote areas the chance to congregate with the rest. A large crowd had gathered around the crier, who stood atop a stage of crates draped with a red cloth.
'Good citizens, I greet you with news both grand and dire,' the crier said with a dramatic flourish. 'In the south of Faulk has been found the likeness of god and goddess, the very symbol of the Zjhon, with a life its own. It
