Black wizards - Douglas Niles [92]
Eileen clasped Robyn's hand and gave the Great Druid a quick embrace before turning back along the shore of the Moonwell. Gadrric looked at them both sternly, nodding his gray, shaggy head gruffly as he hurried away.
"Wait, Robyn," said Genna softly. She looked at the young druid tenderly, hopefully, as Robyn turned back to her.
"Here," said the Great Druid, giving a handful of acorns to Robyn. The nuts felt warm against her skin. "You might find a use for these."
"Thank you."
"And this…" Genna paused and reached into a pocket of her robe. "I've been making it for you. It's not quite finished, but you may need it now."
The Great Druid held a straight stick, perhaps a foot and a half long. Intricate carvings covered it from end to end. Robyn took it slowly, and it, too, felt warm to her touch.
"A runestick?" she asked reverently. She took the druidic talisman and touched the carvings, each of which she knew Genna had inscribed with her tiny knife. The runestick was covered with pictures – a spiraling mural of the land around her.
Tears came into Robyn's eyes. There was no more significant nor caring thing that one druid could do than carve a runestick for another. "I will treasure it," she whispered.
"You will use it, I hope," said her teacher with a smile. "They're very near, now." Genna turned away and walked along the shore of the Moonwell. She joined Grunt at the south arch.
Robyn stood with Kamerynn, Newt, and Yazilliclick at the arch on the north side of the grove.
"We won't get to see anything over here," moped Newt, sitting on Kamerynn's proud horn.
"I'm fri-frightened," whimpered Yazilliclick, standing next to Robyn and unconsciously leaning against her leg.
"Let us tend to our duties," said Robyn as calmly as she could, "and remember, the goddess is with you."
With that, Kamerynn left them to stand before of the twelve arches circling the Moonwell. The spaces between the arches had been blocked off by their earlier efforts. Now thick walls of thorns and sturdy young tree trunks intertwined to channel the only approaches to the well. Grunt stood stolidly beneath one of the arches, Genna stood at the next, and then Kamerynn.
Robyn and Newt stood at the next arch. Spreading out to either side, the arches were guarded by little bands of pixies, armed with small but sturdy bows, and sprites, who would fight with their silvery swords. Most of the faeries were invisible. The few remaining wolves and boars guarded the arches across the circle, where the enemy army was least likely to strike.
Robyn remembered her teacher's blessing, and she felt certain that the goddess was standing with her. She was very calm, somehow detached from the madness around her. She also felt very strong. And as she stood guard to protect the most sacred place on the isles, her calmness slowly grew into a powerful, controlled rage.
"I'm frightened," whimpered Newt, landing on her shoulder and leaning against her.
"So am I, my friend," she reassured him, realizing that the statement was a lie. She realized that she was not afraid.
Then she felt a slight disturbance, like a flutter, in the power of the goddess. The night seemed suddenly blacker and colder as an unseen menace closed in.
"He has entered the grove," she whispered, not certain how she knew this.
But the ground felt strong beneath her feet, and the feel of the smooth staff in her calloused hands reassured her.
* * * * *
"How could he have escaped?" shrieked King Carrathal. He removed the Crown of the Isles from his head, holding it loosely in his hand as he mopped at his sweating brow with a delicately embroidered handkerchief. His eyes were wide with terror.
"He is resourceful," said Cyndre with a shrug. "And far luckier than any man has a right to be."
The king turned away and paced across his throne room in agitation. Once he had been able to meet with Cyndre again, he had assumed that everything would be all right. Instead it seemed that his problem was growing larger every day.
"See how the usurper seeks shelter in Doncastle.