Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone Read Free Book Online

hysterical. She just
keeps shouting that her baby has been mortally wounded. Peten's
hurt bad. The Masters won't say if he will live or die, but he did
wake up for a while this morning. I think he'll recover myself; he
didn't look nearly as bad as most were making him out to be." He
stopped, and Catrin turned to look him in the eye. Her lip
quivered, but otherwise she maintained her composure.
    "I didn't do anything, Chase. I don't know
what happened," she said, and Chase remained silent. "The last
thing I remember was Peten bearing down on us and swinging his
staff at my head. I saw my reflection in his staff, Chase. It was
coming right at my face. How could I not have a mark on my head?"
she asked, not anticipating a response. "At the very moment I
expected his staff to crush my skull, there was a loud bang--like
thunder but without the lightning. Just before I passed out, it
looked like the world was flying away from me, and when I woke, it
was like being in a nightmare."
    "I believe you, Cat. Besides, even if it was
something you did, you were just saving Osbourne from those boiling
townies," he said.
    She didn't like the insinuation that it could
have been something she did, but she couldn't blame him. What
evidence was there to prove otherwise? She began to doubt herself,
but for the moment, she clung to what she knew to be true.
    "They were going to kill poor Osbourne; I
just know it. They probably would've gotten away with it too. I'm
sure they would have just made up some story about him trying to
rob them or some other rubbish, and that is just the kind of thing
the Masters would believe of us farm folk," she said.
    "They'll believe worse than that. The main
reason I came was to warn you: rumors are spreading. Some say you
are a witch or monster, and others have even claimed you are a
Sleepless One. There have been some who have spoken up for you, but
several suffered beatings as a result. I don't think it's safe for
you to go into town right now; too many people have lost their
senses, and they are starting to believe some of the crazy things
people are making up," he said sadly.
    Catrin sniffed and wiped her eyes but made no
other sound.
    "I'm truly sorry, Cat. I feel like this is my
fault; if I hadn't brought that snake in, none of this would've
happened. I'll do anything I can to help you, and I'll always stand
up for you--"
    "No," Catrin interrupted. "I don't want you
getting hurt because of me. Keep your thoughts private. You'll be
more help to me if you just listen and let me know what people are
saying. Perhaps you could bring me my lessons," she said, but her
voice cracked, and she could not get the rest out.
    "Don't worry. I'll bring your lessons to you,
and I won't do anything stupid, but I'm not going to let them get
away with telling lies about you either."
    "Thank you," was all she could manage to say
without sobbing, and they walked back to the farm in silence.
    As they approached, her father and Benjin
waved, and they held up the bass in silent greeting. Benjin let out
a whoop of glee on seeing the fish, and her father just shook his
head. Benjin met them halfway.
    "Nice catch ya got there, li'l miss. Here,
let me take those. I'll get started on the cleaning," he said with
a smile. Catrin started to object, but Benjin grabbed the fish and
looked quite happy carrying them off to be cleaned and
filleted.
    "You go get washed up for dinner!" he shouted
over his shoulder, and Catrin was happy to oblige; she was wet,
dirty, and in need of a good scrubbing. After she and Chase washed
up, they joined Benjin and her father in the cottage and were
greeted by the smell of vegetable stew.
    "I knew you wouldn't come home empty handed,
li'l miss. I'll just boil the fish and add it to the stew; we'll
eat like kings," Benjin said as he stoked the fire.
     
    * * *
     
    Chase pulled the rough but warm blanket
around his shoulders as he curled up in front of the fire. Everyone
else slept, but he could not. His thoughts