post10

Cassia shivered, looking at the place where the wagon had vanished. The only trace of its existence was in the dusty swirl in the road. She turned and ran to catch up with Atropos, who was already in the distance. They walked in silence for a while. Elongated shadows moved in unison with them, shrinking steadily even as Cassia felt its warm fingers touch her back.

They passed a small fork in the road, which read, “Main Crossroads, 5 miles.”

“Almost there,” Atropos murmured, picking up his pace. He trotted forward with an easy lope, his blond air streaming behind him past his ears. Cassia panted, trying to keep up. Honey, who chose to sleep again, bumped softly against her with each step. Every breath burned raw in her throat. Her arms hung slackly at her side, much too weary to lift the flask of water to her lips. She pushed herself onward, knowing that the Armet were close.

Atropos slowed and cursed. Cassia kneeled over, relieved. “What is it?”

Atropos scanned the road, which dipped and curved around a stretch of trees. He pulled Cassia just to the edge of the road, in sight, but away from danger.
Cassia strained her ears and made out a strange wailing in the distance. Honey, who was stirred when Cassia stopped, pawed at the sling, growling quietly. Cassia glanced at Atropos, whose eyes were still and distant, trained on the curve in the road.

When the first figure came into view his eyes narrowed. More followed. They were all women of indeterminate age. They all had copper eyes.

“More Witches,” breathed Cassia.

Atropos frowned. “They are traveling early.”

“We passed through territory of another traveling group two days ago,” Cassia told him.

Atropos said nothing, but his eyebrows furrowed. The Witches traveled gracefully, unburdened by luggage. Instead of chattering amongst themselves as they usually did while traveling, all the Witches had their faces to the sky, singing and wailing in unison.

The Great One sent the Witch and
The Wizard
To their death
But the Wizard slew the Great
And the Witch slew the One
And the war-drums cried and sang
Arche has fallen, war is upon us!

Cassia shivered. She recognized the chant as one of the Witch folktales that often doubled as a dirge. Their singing voices were plaintive and haunting, unlike their hissing speech.

“What news?” called Atropos to a tall, raven haired Witch.

She turned to him, her eyes glistening. “Arche has fallen, War is upon us,” she wailed, unseeing. Honey whimpered, struggling to get out and run. Cassia tucked Honey into her arms. She was afraid that Honey would be trampled by the Witches, who seemed mad with grief.

Atropos and Cassia watched uneasily as they continued their chant. The last Witches were closely knotted together; a light haired Witch was being dragged by two others. Her silver skin was pale and taut over her pale face. Her eyes were half lidded and unblinking. It was only a small band of Witches, so it was not long before they passed the two and disappeared in the distance.

“What do you think happened?” asked Cassia, still hugging Honey close. Atropos shook his head. “There’s no telling what happened. It’s best not to worry about it now. We need to get to the Armet.” He strode forward. Cassia sighed and followed.
“Atropos,” she asked. “How did you meet my father?”

Atropos was silent for a moment, remembering. “I met him ___ years ago, before I led the Brotherhood,” he said, “I was fifteen. Your father was just a year older. He’d just had a fight with his own father.”

“My father had a fight with granddad?” Cassia murmured to herself. Then she stopped and looked at Atropos. “Sorry.”

Atropos nodded and went on, “He packed his bags and rode into the forest. He intended to stay until his father tried to find him, and negotiate then. Except he wandered too far away from the edge of the forest, too close to Laddinley. In those days we were still extremely hostile to your people. Everyone was hostile to anyone not their own. I was assigned to keep watch over him to make sure that he would not wander too close to our borders.” A bird cawed raucously and he broke off. His hands tensed on his spear.

Cassia scanned the trees. It was just a bird, she hoped. “What happened then?” she asked in a whisper.

The corner of his lips quirked into a smile. “He got too close, and he realized where he was. And he began to panic.”

“Let me guess,” Cassia said dryly, “he was caught and you persuaded your people to let him go?”

Atropos laughed. “Something like that. Except he didn’t need my help. I just blundered through the negotiations. It was your father that freed himself. He that persuasive even then. He saw that we were low on game, hiding in our small section of forest. He offered up supplies from his family in exchange for a secret alliance.” Atropos sighed, “he talked about peace between all species. Peace in Arche.”

“So you accepted?”

“Of course we accepted. He returned to his house, and made good on his promises. His family ensured that no one of our enemies would ever stray as close to Laddinley as he had. And now that he is in danger, it his our turn to help him.”
“That was a fruitful alliance.” Cassia remarked.

Atropos nodded, “It certainly was. It is amazing how well it worked out for both of us. I suppose it’s all due to your father’s persuasion.”

“And integrity on both sides.” Cassia said, recalling something her history tutor had once said.

“Yes…integrity.” Atropos murmured. A stone marker read One Mile to Crossroads.

“Was any of my family hurt at all?” Cassia asked.

Atropos shook his head. “Thankfully, your father had scouts watching in a circle around the house. Everyone – your family, your servants – is safe at Laddinley. The scouts watching outside were laughing at the soldier’s puzzlement over the empty house.”

Cassia cringed. “Were they angry? Did they destroy the house?”

Atropos shook his head again. “The scouts said that they seemed uninterested in torching the place. Their orders, apparently, were to arrest Master Greystone, and nothing more. Since they failed, they no longer had a reason to be there. The soldiers wouldn’t have had a grudge on your father. Only Tempest really dislikes him. Besides, even Tempest would have enough sense not to publicly destroy the property of one of the most popular men in Arche.”

Cassia smiled. “Tempest won’t have an easy time trying to overpower him, then.”

“No, he won’t,” Atropos agreed. “Not with the normal citizens and soldiers.” He paused. “But there have been rumors. You heard the gypsy. Something is happening.”
Cassia looked at him.

Atropos shrugged, “I don’t know what it could be. But Tempest would need to strike a deal with bordering countries, perhaps Trictia, or Balpados across the sea.” He grimaced. “But I suppose we should not speculate. We are here.” Cassia looked up as they rounded another bend. The gap in the trees widened to show the large area where three paths struck across each other.

Cassia glanced around. “So where are the Armet?”