Whisperings of Magic (18 page)

She took the boy by the hand and led him into the village. The townspeople went about their business as usual. They paid no attention to Catryn and the boy. When they came to the path that led to Norl’s house, he stopped.

“There is a stable beside our house. A farmer uses it to store his grain,” he said.

“Very good,” Catryn answered.

They led the horses to the stable and pushed the door open. Inside it was warm and heavy with the smell of grain. Norl and Catryn found stalls and filled the mangers with fodder. Just as they finished, a figure appeared in the doorway.

“The farmer!” Norl whispered.

Catryn stared at him, momentarily nonplussed. Then she remembered how Launan had spoken to the villagers, commanding them. She placed herself directly in front of the man.

“You will care for these horses until I return,” she ordered.

The man looked back at her, unresponsive, but he set about pitching more hay into the mangers.

“And bring water for them from the well,” Catryn added.

The farmer turned, picked up a bucket, and made his way out of the stable and down the path to the well.

Norl looked after him, then turned to Catryn, puzzled.

“Catryn?”

“Yes?”

“That farmer—what ailed him?”

Catryn hesitated. There was no way to explain, however, except to tell him the truth.

“He has lost his soul, Norl. That is what the dragon does when she swoops down upon the people and steals their shadows. She steals their souls as well.”

There was a silence, then he spoke again, his voice small.

“And my mother? Is that what happened to my mother?”

She could not lie to him. “Yes, Norl. That is what happened.”

Another silence.

“What does the beast do with the souls?”

“We think she carries them back to her den and keeps them there.”

Norl stared up at her, eyes wide. “When you save my mother, will you save her soul as well?” he asked.

Catryn looked back at him, and it seemed as if she were seeing into the clear blue sky itself. The look of trust on Norl’s face was almost enough to break her heart.

“I will,” she said.

“You won’t be afraid?” Catryn asked when they were once more within the shelter of the trees.

“I won’t,” Norl assured her. He looked apprehensive, but also a bit excited. “What will you look like? Will you be very big?”

“Yes,” Catryn answered. “I will be big. I will look like the biggest cat you could possibly imagine. Almost as big as a horse. Remember,” she added, “I will not be able to speak to you, so you must do exactly as I’ve told you. And I will be able to understand you, so you can talk to me.”

“I’ll remember,” Norl answered. He nodded his head, his eyes bright.

Catryn was relieved. For the moment, anyway, he had ceased to fret about his mother.

“Stand there. Don’t move,” she ordered. She took a few paces away from him, then drew in her breath.

A shimmer in the early morning darkness of the trees, an instant when time itself seemed to pause—and an enormous lioness stood before Norl.

In spite of himself, he let out a cry and fell back. Catryn held herself still.

Come, Norl,
she thought, even though she knew he would not hear her.
Don’t be frightened.

“But I
am
frightened,” he said, his eyes fixed upon her.

Catryn froze. He could not have heard her.

“I thought you said you would not be able to talk to me,” he said then.

You can hear me?

“Yes—I can hear you.” A puzzled look came over his face. “But you’re not talking, are you? How is it that I can hear you?”

You’re hearing my thoughts, Norl. Well done, she hastened to add, to reassure him. You must be a clever boy, indeed.

“Hearing your thoughts? How can I do that?”

Catryn did not know the answer to that question. And she didn’t have time, either, to think about it.

It will make things much easier, she sent her thoughts to Norl. Get on my back now. We must be off.

Norl looked at her apprehensively, then sidled up to her. Hesitantly, he put out a hand, but did not quite dare touch her.

Don’t worry, Catryn encouraged him. Climb up. I’ll hold still for you.

Norl took a deep breath. He grasped the fur at the back of her neck and pulled himself up. Catryn turned her head to look back at him. She could smell the fear on him, but he held himself steady.

Lean down and hold on tightly around my neck, Catryn told him. I am going to run as fast as I can.

She felt the boy’s arms encircle her neck. He drew a quick breath, then took a firm hold.

Now, we go!
She began to lope, slowly at first, but picking up speed as she felt the boy secure upon her back.

Keep your head down,
she thought to him, then swerved off the path and into the trees.

Once she felt confident that Norl would not fall off, she let herself run full out. Dodging trees, avoiding obstacles by scent and by instinct, she almost forgot the reason for their haste and lost herself in the joy of movement. How free she felt in this form! She cast around continuously as she ran, but could detect no scent of evil.

They sped along in this manner until the sun had risen high above them. Norl had not said a word, nor had his grip slackened. When the warmth of the sun’s rays began to streak stronger and stronger
down through the branches of the trees, however, Catryn heard him speak.

“Can we stop?” he cried into her ear. “I don’t think I can hold on any longer.”

It was as if he had called her back from another world. She could have kept on forever, it seemed. Reluctantly, she slowed and then came to a halt under a tall tree that gave good shade. A stream trickled by at its foot. She realized suddenly that she was thirsty.

There’s a stream here. Drink,
she thought to him. She wondered for a moment if he would really hear her, or if she had just imagined it, but he slid down her back and ran toward it happily. She followed more slowly, then sank her muzzle into the water and drank deeply.

“I’m hungry,” Norl said when he had assuaged his thirst.

There is bread and cheese in the pack you carry on your back,
Catryn sent. As Norl bent to open it, she gathered into herself and returned to her own form. Norl jumped back, startled, then grinned.

“I like how you do that,” he said. He bent back to the pack. “Do you want some of this?” he asked, holding out a fistful of bread and a chunk of cheese.

Catryn looked at it. She had not been able to bring much. It would have to do them until they reached Daunus. She calculated quickly. It had taken them several days to reach Norl’s village from Daunus on
their way north, but they had been traveling slowly. Still, it would be at least two or three days before they could get back to it. It would be best to save the food for Norl. She could forage for herself in her cat form.

“I’m not hungry right now,” she answered. “I’ll eat later.”

After he had eaten and she had repacked his bag, she shifted back to her cat form. Norl leaped up on her back eagerly this time, twining his fingers firmly into the fur around her neck. She began to trot, then lengthened her stride.

Careful as she was, however, by the end of the second day there was only a crust of bread left and the rind of the cheese. Catryn worried for Norl. Then she remembered. When she and Dahl and the Protector had had need of food, the Protector had disappeared into the trees and returned with a marvelous fruit that had satisfied their hunger completely. Deliverance fruit, he had called it. Green and lumpy on the outside, but the flesh inside had been moist and cool, satisfying thirst as well as hunger. A magical fruit, he had said. It contained no seeds and could not be grown. He had refused to show Catryn where he had found it, however, saying only that if she were in need and had the necessary faith, she would find it.

“Wait for me here, Norl,” she said now. “I will return in just a few moments.”

Norl looked at her, worried. “Where are you going?”

“To find us food,” Catryn answered. “Stay.” Back in her own form now, she strode confidently into the bushes that surrounded their small campfire. Once out of sight, however, she paused. She had no idea what to look for. She took a few steps in one direction, stopped, retraced her steps, then moved off in another direction. Then she caught herself.

This is nonsense, she told herself. It is not like me to be so confused. Think, Catryn! Just
think
for a moment. She closed her eyes.

“If you truly need, and have the necessary faith, it will be delivered to you.”

“We are in need,” she said aloud. Then she opened her eyes. Not two paces away from her a small tree bloomed. White flowers covered its branches, but, at the same time, nestled amongst them, grew fruit. Green and lumpy, just as she had remembered. She hurried to fill the sack she had brought with her, then returned to Norl.

The boy had not budged. He stood exactly where she had left him, staring into the trees. When she emerged, a huge smile split his face.

“Here,” she said. “Eat. You have never before tasted anything so wonderful.”

When they had gorged themselves to their fullest, they pulled their cloaks around them and settled down for the night. Norl curled himself close to Catryn. In the cool darkness, the warmth of his small body was welcome. Only then, replete with the goodness of the deliverance fruit, did she allow
herself to think of what had happened between them. How was it that he could hear her thoughts? Who was this child?

The next morning, as they trotted away from their camp—Catryn in her cat form, Norl now riding easily—Catryn suddenly paused. Something in the air attracted her senses. She pricked her ears. Her whiskers twitched. She threw up her muzzle and scented the air.

“What is it?” Norl asked, but she was too intent to answer.

There was something here. She could feel it.

Get off, Norl, she ordered.

“Why …?” He stared around, instantly fearful.

There is nothing to fear, Catryn thought quickly. But there is something… something here …

Norl slid off her back and Catryn resumed her own form. She lost her cat sense, but could still feel a tingling running down her spine. There was magic here, she could sense it. She took a hesitant step forward and felt herself running up against a wall. An invisible wall.

“Catryn?” Norl’s voice was taut.

“It’s all right.” She smiled. “Come here, Norl.
Stand beside me.” She raised her hands and began to unfasten the air in front of them. Bit by bit, she worked a gap wide, from high above her head right down almost to the ground.

“Come.” She took Norl’s hand and led him through.

As she had suspected they would, they stepped out into more forest, but she knew where she was. She had found the portal Launan had used to spy on them that first day of their journey. They had reached Daunus.

Quickly, she changed back into cat form. We will run as fast as possible to the city, she told Norl. Then I’ll change back again and we will go to meet Dahl.

Norl nodded. He looked a little dazed, but bursting with curiosity as well.

“How did you do that?” he asked. “Where are we now? What …?”

We are close to Daunus, Catryn broke in, forestalling further queries. Mount, Norl. There is no time for questions.

She felt him clamber up on her back, then clasp her tightly. He laid his cheek against her neck. She could feel his warm breath, smell the good boy smell of him. Unconsciously, she began to purr—a deep, rumbling purr. “How do you do
that
?” Norl asked now. “I’ve always wondered how cats purr.”

Be quiet, Norl. Hold on tightly,
Catryn answered. She was not about to tell him that she didn’t know herself.

They broke out of the trees and there, shimmering in the sunlight in the middle of the wide plain that lay before them, rose the walls of Daunus.

Catryn sent a quick mind scan into the city. All seemed normal. She raced across the plain and up to the gate, which was closed. A guard’s face peered out from a narrow window. She could see the astonishment in his eyes. That was a good sign. At least his mind was there. The astonishment turned to fear as Norl jumped off her back and she shook herself back into her own form.