Free Shadowland by C M Gray Page A

the
children were silent, having given up their sobbing much earlier in the day.
    They made their way along the path as it crossed a
shallow river and then meandered close to the forest without ever entering it
again. When later they came across a blackberry bush, it proved a good
distraction as, happy for a while, they picked the few overripe berries left by
the birds, and crammed them hungrily into their mouths, grinning blackberry
grins. Nevertheless, both Usher and Cal knew they had to find more substantial
food and shelter before nightfall. The thought of another night exposed to the
weather without any proper hot food was not something either wanted to face.
    They finally moved on, entering open, rolling
meadowland with a small herd of deer grazing about two hundred paces away, next
to an isolated clump of trees. The largest stag had already seen them and was
watching them warily with head held high.
    ‘Don’t even think about it,’ said Cal, smiling at the way Usher was fingering
the bow he had taken from the fallen Pict. ‘We don’t have the time or energy
for a chase. Anyway, the village must be close and Meryn seemed sure we would
receive a warm welcome there.’
    ‘All right,’ said Usher, a little reluctantly, ‘but
I’m sure if I got closer through the trees, then we could have taken one of the
deer into the village as an offering.’
    ‘Just how do you think we would carry it?’ asked Cal, with a grin. He
slapped Usher on the back and, taking Clarise’s hand, encouraged the others on
once more with promises of warm fires, food, and the chance to sleep on soft
furs.
    They
trudged on through the remainder of the afternoon and finally arrived at the
village as the sun was dipping low on the horizon. It was larger than they had
expected and surrounded by a newly built palisade of timber. Several men were
erecting the last few heavy tree trunks, standing them upright into holes in
the ground, and then trimming the sides to fit close to the next before
pointing the tops to discourage anyone from climbing over.
    ‘It looks like they’re expecting trouble,’ said Cal, eyeing the workers cautiously.
Usher nodded, then wondered at how distrustful the world had become in such a
short time. Just a few weeks ago, they would have entered a strange village
secure in the knowledge that shelter and food would always be offered to
strangers, no matter from what tribe they came. Now here they were, wondering
if the reception they might receive would be hostile.
    As they approached, one of the men looked up and
waved to them, then spoke to someone they couldn’t see on the other side of the
wall. They stopped where they were and a woman came out wiping her hands on a
large cloth. Smiling, she beckoned them over.
    ‘Come in, ’ t’aint nothing
to be feared of here in Witney, not for children that is, anyhow. Come… come.’
    Usher bit back the retort that they weren’t all children
and pushed the others forward.
    ‘Let’s go in, she seems friendly enough,’ he
muttered. As they walked forward, he offered a smile to the woman and raised
his voice. ‘We were told by Meryn Link to come here, and then to ask for Egan
Dale. We…’ He didn’t get a chance to finish as the woman came forward and
gathered the small group of children into her arms; the girls immediately began
sobbing again.
    ‘Oh, you poor little things, where did you come
from?’ She looked up at Usher. ‘I’m Bell Dale, wife to Egan Dale and I know
Meryn Link well enough; too well, I’m afraid. Where is the old rogue?’ Without
waiting for an answer, she started into the village past the workers, guiding
the girls protectively in front of her. ‘We can speak once we have some food
inside you, but for now, welcome to Witney.’

Chapter Five – Witney .

 
    ‘ Nooooo !No… no… please,
it hurts!’
    ‘Oh, keep still, boy! You act like you’ve never
suffered a haircut before!’ Bell Dale pushed the bowl back onto Cal’s head and