CERNUNNOUS - CULLEN PART 6

CHAPTER FOUR
CERNUNNOUS

Gathered just outside the cave were the twenty Kingsguard soldiers. Conon, Anton and their ten men were just inside the cave. Most of them carried torches, but Hrothgar had suggested they stay out of the cave with the light, hoping to get better interaction from the Duergar.
The Dreamweaver and the Shaman were deeper in the cave, standing where the light just turned into the shadows of the tunnel. Grimm stood behind them with his battle axe ready. They had all been waiting since dusk and the Dreamweaver knew that the Godsmen were getting anxious.
“You brought a lot of humans with you this time Hrothgar,” a thick guttural voice called from in the shadowed depths.
Hrothgar looked to the Dreamweaver and nodded. “I have visitors that have come to talk with you, if they may.”
“Talk? Why so many weapons if they just came to talk?” the voice called again.
“These humans have never seen you before and they are cautious. I swear none of them mean you harm,” Hrothgar looked at Grimm and Connon when he said it. “Just talk to this man beside me.”
“Tell the big one to back off some before I come out. I be cautious too.”
Hrothgar looked back at Grimm who scowled but edged back a bit. Connon held his torch up higher for a better look and all the Godsmen tensed up.
The Dreamweaver heard some scuffling and was astounded to see a short man come out of the black shadows. He stood maybe four feet high, was covered in hair from his bushy head to his braided beard, but even his arms were hairy.
His hair was tinted a dark red that gleamed in the firelight. His skin was an ashy gray color and his eyes were black all the way around. Like the eyes of a shark. He was bow legged and well muscled with knotty hand used to hard labor.
“Who be he?” the Duergar asked as he stepped into the light.
“I am the Dreamweaver,” the old man answered. “Who are you?
“My name be Scuttle. What have ye come for?” Scuttle asked, his tone gruff.
“I’ve come to learn about your people. Our King, High King Remus the First has learned of Faeries and wants to know more.” The Dreamweaver smiled at the short man and he crouched down so he wouldn’t have to look up to talk to him. Hrothgar did the same.
“You want to know about Faeries do ye? We live on the edges of your world and we like it that way,” the Duergar responded in his deep voice. He had an accent that sounded different and the Dreamweaver thought the human tongue must be his second language.
“Yes, you always have, but perhaps that can be different. Could we establish trade as you’ve done with Hrothgar? But between our peoples?” the Dreamweaver asked, hopefully.
“The King Under the Mountain would have to decide if we could trade more with you humans, but if you really want to learn about Faeries then go see the elves. They think they rule our kind anyway.”
“So you have your own King, but he answers to a higher authority as well? Where could we find the elves?”
The Duergar scowled and raised his bushy eyebrows as though he was mulling it over in his head. Finally he crossed his arms and looked past the Dreamweaver at the armed men.
“You’ll find them in the Danann Forest. Go as deep as ye can and you’ll be sure to be seen by them. But going in with armed men won’t make ye any friends. And elves be tricky, they will see you before you see them, that’s for sure!” The Duergar laughed as he finished.
“Perhaps we need a guide then!” Connon called from a few feet away. The Dreamweaver hadn’t noticed that he had come closer, flanked by his men. He did notice that Anton hung back again.
“Good luck to ye, but you won’t find a guide here human!” Scuttle retorted.
“Seize him!” Connon shouted and his men rushed forward. Five men shoved past the Dreamweaver and the Shaman as both men yelled, “No!”
Three of them had torches and all of them were armed with their holy maces. The flickering firelight lit up the back of the tunnel as Scuttle ran backwards into the dark. The five men chased after him deeper in and suddenly saw three massive figures coming back at them.
There were shouts and the torches were attacked first. In seconds they were knocked to the floor and barely illuminated the fight happening above them. The Dreamweaver saw dark shadows of attackers fighting with the armored Godsmen.
Within just a couple of minutes the men were all knocked down to the ground and the figures who had attacked them vanished. Connon charged in with the rest of his men but Grimm grabbed him and pulled him up short.
“Don’t go after them!” he shouted. “This is their territory! They’ll take you apart in the tunnels, especially if you lose your light!”
Connon was obviously furious and his face was contorted in rage. The other Godsmen helped their fellows stand back up and they were visibly shaken by the experience.
“It’s his fault we lost them!” Connon shouted, pointing at Hrothgar. “Seize him instead!”
Godsmen grabbed the Shaman, shoving the Dreamweaver aside again. The Dreamweaver tried to stop them but Grimm pulled him away.
“Grimm, you must stop this! It isn’t right!” he pleaded.
“The Godsmen aren’t under my command,” was all he said in return. The Dreamweaver watched them tie Hrothgar’s hands behind his back and lead him out of the tunnel.
“How will we get the Faeries to trust us when we mistreat our own people?” the Dreamweaver shouted at Connon’s back.
Connon spun back and stomped over to the old man, getting right in his face before his spoke.
“My goal is to watch out for people’s souls! Theses Faeries you’re so interested in are Demons and they will destroy man if we are not careful! This man traffics with them and may be able to find the elf demons we’re looking for, but I won’t trust him to come along without force.”
The Dreamweaver was so confounded by Connon’s words that he just stood there blinking at the man’s onslaught. He couldn’t imagine thinking that way and he was at a loss for words. He knew that it wasn’t right, but he was powerless here. He hung his head, ashamed of his weakness.
Connon stormed out of the cave and started commanding his men to go back to camp, in the village. Grimm gathered up his men and told them everyone would start for the forest in the morning, at dawn.
The Dreamweaver looked back into the cave and thought he heard soft laughter but saw nothing. He followed the rest of the men back out and towards the village. What could he do, he thought. He was just an old man, surrounded by soldiers.

***

The following morning, Cullen woke everyone up and immediately started asking Arthur to teach him how to use a sword. He knew knife fighting and he could fight hand to hand quite well, but he had never been able to use a sword.
Arthur was glad to teach, using the short sword he was wearing. Dragos also had a short sword but he didn’t act willing to teach anything. Tik had lessons in the Orphanage and Sonia preferred a bow.
So while they walked, sticking to the forest and off the road just in case, Cullen started his first lessons with the sword. Arthur remarked how quickly he seemed to master it and Cullen was happy that he took to it so easily.
It took the rest of the day and it was late afternoon when they finally found the Rom, camped in a grove of evergreens with branches high off the ground. When Tik saw the colored wagons through the trees, he took off running and laughing. The camp dogs sensed him coming and they ran out to meet him.
As Cullen and the other entered, Tik was being hugged and greeted by the whole camp. Alex and his wife were hugging Tik and each other, filled with happiness.
“You brought him back!” Alex cried when he saw Cullen. Cullen nodded and grinned and fell into the waiting embrace of the tall Rom. Tik’s mother came after and showered Cullen in kisses, with tears running down her face.
“How did you do it?” Alex asked.
“It was amazing father!” Tik answered. “He found a Rom circus and joined. They helped create a distraction and we all ran away, hiding in the city until we could escape!”
“And I see you brought more than Tik with you!” Alex exclaimed as he looked over the other children.
“This is Sonia, my friend,” Tik introduced, “And the boys are Arthur and Dragos. They were Captains in the Orphanage but wanted to be free like us!”
“It is amazing Cullen!” Alex said, “We never though it was possible.”
“Well I brought him back, but I have another task ahead of me and Tik wants to come,” Cullen announced quietly, hoping they wouldn’t be upset.
“You want to leave? You just returned!” Tik’s mother cried out.
“Mother, I have to do this. The Dreamweaver was taken too and the soldiers are using him for something. Cullen rescued me and I want to do the same for someone else!” Tik hugged his mother again.
“But this time you’ll have to get past soldiers, trained men,” Alex reminded them.
“We’ll find a way father!” Tik said confidently.
“Well stay tonight, eat with us and tell me all about what happened. Then in the morning, if you want to go, we’ll decide then,” Alex said in a tone that warranted no argument.
The children eagerly joined them at the fires and were treated to a large meal of rabbit stew and cheese and oranges that the Rom had traded for.
Cullen, as usual, made sure that he sat next to Sonia, and he shared his orange with her, hoping they could talk more. He watched her closely, marking every movement, still thinking she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He wanted to know everything about her.
“Tomorrow we will go see my father, and then from there we’ll pick up the Dreamweaver’s trail,” Cullen said quietly, hoping to have any communication with the girl.
“Just your father? Did you lose your mother?” she asked, innocently.
“Actually, I’m an orphan too Sonia,” Cullen explained. “I was left in the woods and found by a local villager. She brought me to the Dreamweaver and he brought me to the Outsider. That’s who helped raise me, him and the Dreamweaver.”
“I’m sorry,” Sonia said first. “I know what its like to lose your parents, but to be abandoned, that must bother you.”
“I wonder about them, who my parents might have been, but who could they be really? Probably just people from another village who couldn’t take care of me. I’m nobody special, and I was raised well. I can read and write and I know lots of things. The Rom helped raise me too.”
“Imagine if your parents were nobles or something? Perhaps you are special and you just don’t know it!” Sonia’s voice was soft and sweet and Cullen could listen to her talk for hours.
“Eh, maybe Sonia. But I’m just me and I like myself well enough. You’ll meet my father tomorrow and then we’ll go looking for the Dreamweaver. I hope we find him soon, I’m very worried about him.”
“Where did the soldiers take him, do you know?” Sonia asked.
“I heard the soldiers were going to the mountains. I guess we can go to the villages between here and there and ask around. Perhaps someone has seen them and knows more about where they went.”
Sonia smiled and Cullen’s heart jumped. “I’m sure we’ll find them. You’re very determined. And you did rescue us. I haven’t thanked you yet, but I should have. It was amazing; I never thought we would get away.”
“Can I tell you something?” Cullen asked, smiling back and wanting to trust her.
“Of course Cullen. What is it?”
“We had help.” Cullen took a deep breath and decided to tell her what he saw. “When the soldiers chasing us were getting closer, three white wolves jumped out and chased them off. I don’t know why.”
Sonia’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes and what’s strange is that I saw a white wolf before I went into the city. It came around my camp, but didn’t bother me. I’m sure they followed me into the city.”
“Cullen, that’s amazing!” Sonia said as she touched his arm. He got chills that she had made contact. “There must be something special about you, if wolves have come to help! Don’t you think? And all three were white, that must be rare!”
Cullen was so happy that she was touching him and talking to him that he barely heard what she was saying.
“Yeah, I guess that’s special. I wonder if they’re out in the forest right now, watching us?”
Sonia moved closer to Cullen. “Do you think? Gods, that makes me worried.”
Cullen beamed that she had moved closer for protection. He vowed silently that he would never let her come to any harm. And then he thought about what she said. It was special that wolves had come to his rescue. Maybe there was something special about him.
He thought about that long into the evening and at the end of the night, as everyone else lay down by the fire, Cullen walked into the forest. He started out between the trees, looking and looking for some sign.
Just as he turned to go back, he saw a flash of white in the distance. He spun back but couldn’t see anything. But he knew then. He knew they were out there, shadowing him. Why were they following him?
He went back to the camp and lay down near Sonia, excited by the idea that something extraordinary was happening around him.

***

Teodor sat with his back to his wagon, full from eating a large meal. He rubbed his stomach happily and belched. Dorin and Fane were sitting with him; they were the last ones still up before bed. They had been traveling everyday, headed towards one of the other Kingdoms, hoping to stop in another city for a show.
Teodor was quite pleased with the turn out he had in Holdfast and he knew having performed for the High King was an extra bonus for them. They had enough money to live on until winter, when they would decided where to hole up for the cold season.
None of the three men were talking, Dorin and Fane were both smoking pipes, just enjoying the quiet around them and staring into the sky that was full of stars. Teodor leaned back and looked up and thought of Cullen again.
Such an interesting boy. Invited by local Rom to be a part of their tribe and he had fit so well into the circus as well. His loyalty to his friend and the willingness to take on the other escaping children was commendable too.
He wondered, not for the first time, where Cullen was and what he was doing. He was probably at home by then, safe and sound, working with his father and enjoying his life. At least Teodor hoped that was the case.
All three men snapped to attention when a figure stepped out of the surrounding dark and into the firelight. Teodor recognized Vlad right away and his heart dropped in his chest. Funny, he was just thinking of Cullen and now Vlad shows up, he thought.
“Teodor, I’m glad I found you still up. I’d hate to have to wake you,” Vlad said with his oily smooth voice. He stood confidently, with one hand on his jeweled sword hilt, the other on his waist, expectant.
“I am surprised to see you Vlad. You’re far away from home,” Teodor said pleasantly in return.
“Not far enough though, eh?” Vlad questioned. “But since I’m here and you are here, we need to talk.”
“Do we?” Teodor asked. “What business would you have with us?”
Dorin and Fane both sat on the edges of their folding chairs, clearly tense and ready to spring. Both of them tapped out their pipes and placed them on the ground. Dorin was flexing his huge muscles.
“We do good ringmaster,” Vlad confirmed. “You were involved in a bit of a mess as you were leaving and I need you to tell me what you saw.”
“Oh, it was nothing really. Fane’s dogs got loose and ran around for a bit but we gathered them up quickly and were on our way.” Teodor’s tone staid cheerful and open.
“You seem to have lost a member of your show I see. The young boy, what was his name?” Vlad asked next, also staying sweet.
“Oh that boy ran home again. He wasn’t cut out for show business. He was just a farmer at heart,” Teodor said.
“His name please,” Vlad said, and the threat was clear.
“Don’t you worry about that boy!” Dorin said, a little loudly.
“I’ll warn you once Dorin, stay out of this and let Teodor answer my questions truthfully and everyone can go on their way.” Vlad’s voice changed and the level of threat increased.
“You don’t get to come here and tell us what to do!” Fane joined in. “We’re not in Holdfast today!”
“No you are not. Now answer the question Teodor. His name.”
Dorin and Fane leaped up together and rushed Vlad. Vlad pulled on his sword, but yanked the whole thing still in the scabbard free from his belt. He stepped to the side and whipped the sword into Dorin stomach as he lunged past trying to grab Vlad.
The air came out of him in a great rush and wheezing, he collapsed to the ground. Vlad, still moving swung his sword like a sledgehammer and clipped Fane in the head as he too tried to tackle Vlad. The resounding impact echoed in the night and Fane fell unconscious on top of Dorin.
“I trust that you will not try something similar Teodor?” Vlad said, all pleasantries and sugar again.
Teodor shook his head, alarmed and worried about his men. “Please,” he said.
“His name,” Vlad said again.
“His name was Cullen. He was from a local village, somewhere near the forest. We don’t know anything else about him, I swear!”
Vlad stood quite still and reattached his sword to his belt. “Was that so awful? I just needed to know what you knew so that I can find the children that ran off. I’m just following orders Teodor, you understand, don’t you?”
Teodor nodded absently and stood to reach for his men. Vlad stepped back from them and let Teodor get close.
“I barely touched them. They will be fine in the morning. Thank you for your time Teodor. We hope to see your show again.”
Teodor looked up as Vlad faded back into the dark night, his black clothes swallowing him up like a shadow. Teodor knew he was gone as he helped his friends into their wagons to sleep off the attack. He was filled with worry for Cullen, but what could he have done?
Everyone knew that Vlad was the High King’s dog, vicious and mean. There was no fighting that man. Teodor prayed that night that Cullen would stay far away from Vlad. He went to bed terrible unhappy.

***

The Dreamweaver had been riding for days. He had never been so deep in the forest before. The trees were vast, so high he couldn’t see the tops and so big around that a dozen men would have to stand fingertip to fingertip just to surround one.
The magic in the air was thick and the Dreamweaver knew that it made the soldiers very nervous. They were jumpy and startled at the smallest things, like the coatis that ran through the tops of the trees.
They had done some hunting in the edges of the forest, but they saw no more game this deep. The coatis were too quick and clever to be killed and probably didn’t taste very good either.
Grimm had found a river and followed it into the forest, going deeper than anyone had even gone before. The deep forest was supposed to be a place of great power and mystery. Legends of people getting lost and coming back changed were common.
The Dreamweaver was interested in the different trees he saw, and the flora that was different than near his home on the edges of the forest. He felt confident that there was magic and power here hidden in the forest. He felt that it was indeed the domain of the Old God Cernunnous, Lord of the Hunt.
He had taught Cullen about the old Gods, the two major ones being Cernunnous, Lord of the Hunt and master of the great forest that covered so much of Holdfast and his brother, Manawyddan, Ruler of the Ocean and the Seas.
The Rathians also had their own Gods, of horses and the grass, but the two brothers that the Dreamweaver had taught to Cullen were the two most common for this area. If you lived on the coast you prayed to the Lord of the Sea, and in you lived inland, you prayed to the Lord of the Hunt.
Cernunnous was supposed to be accompanied by white wolves with red eyes and ears. He was supposed to hunt in the deep wood and the Dreamweaver kept imagining what it would be like to see the hounds of Cernunnous come loping through the forest.
He thought about Cullen a lot, as he fingered the little wooden carving of a wolf. He wondered if the boy had gotten out of the city and he thought about how interested he would be of the deep forest.
He had loved the legends of the Daoine Sidhe, the elves of the wood and the stories of the old Gods. He loved creation myths and stories about wars between the Faeries of Light and the Dark Fae who had been banished thousands of years ago.
The Dreamweaver wondered how many of those legends were true, now that he had met a Duergar in person. If only he could have talked to him more, and learned about his people. He said there was a King Under the Mountain. What was he King of? Who were his people?
The Dreamweaver tried to stay close to the Shaman, who was led by a rope held by one of ten Godsmen at any one time. He wasn’t dragged but he had to keep up the militant pace that the soldiers were used to marching at. It was demeaning and cruel, but the Dreamweaver couldn’t make Connon stop. He had tried, repeatedly.
They marched on, day after day, going deeper and deeper, following the river. There was no way to measure the distance or guess how close to the middle they might be, but they continued on, day in, day out.

Connon rode his horse in front of the group with Grimm during the day. At night he camped among his men, and early in the morning before anyone else was really up and about, he would walk off by himself to pray.
The story of God was an old one, going back farther than anyone could recall. A man had preached about the old Gods being false and told people there was only one God, who made the world and everything in it. Connon believed with his whole being that it was true.
He believed in Heaven waiting for good men and a hell waiting for evil men. He believed that God had soldiers too, just like the Bishop. He prayed for safety for his men and guidance for himself.
He walked far away from the camp and the river, into the deep forest around them until he was hidden by trees and hills. He kneeled down by a black maple and he clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.
“God, please send me luck and guidance to find these demons here on earth in this forest. We have been searching but haven’t found them yet. I need to protect my men and Grimm’s men from the forces gathered against us.”
While he prayed he listened. Sometimes his ears would ring and he thought it was a sign that God was listening. Today as he prayed he heard something different. He heard someone approaching him from the forest. He opened his eyes.
Walking towards him was a figure, shaped like a man, but some much more than a man. His entire body glowed with light and Connon could barely make out his features. He had golden eyes that bore into the Holy Priest as he kneeled there, dumbfounded.
The figure walked slowly towards him and Connon saw that he had wings, giant white wings that flexed behind him. A glowing man with white wings could only be an angel, he thought. A real angel has answered my prayers!
“CONNON, WE HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYERS AND WE HAVE COME TO GUIDE YOU,” the man said, his voice deep and pounding into the Priest’s head.
“You are from Heaven?” he stammered, unsure how to react to the vision.
“I AM. FROM GOD’S SIDE I COME TO SEE YOU CONNON. YOU HAVE A TASK COMING AHEAD THAT YOU MUST SEE THROUGH. THERE IS GREAT DANGER FROM THE DEMONS OF THE FOREST AND MOUNTAIN AND YOU MUST STOP THEM!”
Connon nodded as tears ran down his face. An angel had come from Heaven to choose him for something. This was a dream! A moment he could never share with another human being!
“We are hunting the demons now my Lord,” he said, his voice ragged with passion.
“YOU MUST FIND FOUR TREASURES. THEN YOU CAN TRIUMPH OVER THE DEMONS. THE TREASURES ARE HIDDEN AMONG THEM. THE FIRST IS IN THE MOUNTAINS AT THE HIGHEST PEAK. THE SECOND IS WITHIN THE MOUNATAIN, IN ITS LOWEST CAVES. THE THIRD IS ON AN ISLAND IN THE WESTERN SEA. THE LAST WILL COME TO HE WHO HOLDS THE FIRST THREE. YOU MUST DO THIS CONNON. IT IS YOUR DESTINY.”
The man’s voice echoed and reverberated in Connon’s head. He was nodding too much and still weeping with joy. He reached out to the angel and could feel warmth coming from his glow.
“I will find them! I will fight the demons! Thank you for choosing me!” Connon started to rise and the angel stepped back.
“WE HAVE TRUSTED YOU WITH THIS. DO NOT FAIL US!”
The angel grew even brighter, causing Connon to turn away to shield his eyes. Then the heat and the light just vanished and the Priest looked back to find that the angel was gone as well.
He wiped his face and dried his tears. He stared off into the forest wondering at the mystery and glory of God. He knew he had to go to the Mountains first, but after they found the Faeries in the forest. Then he would tell the Bishop of his new charge.
Soon the world would know how powerful Connon was, with the glory of God behind him and the power of the treasures, whatever they may be.
He walked quickly back to camp just in time to see the soldiers rising and breaking everything down. Perhaps today they would find the demons of the forest and he could rid himself of the dirty Shaman they had been towing along behind them.

***

The following day from finding the Rom, Cullen rose early and stretched. Sonia was already sitting up and they exchanged sleepy smiles. Cullen wished he could sleep next to her, but he wasn’t sure if she would like that or not.
Tik was up with his mother, gathering more supplies for their journey. It seemed that the Rom were going to let Tik go too and for that Cullen was happy. It would have been strange to lead three relative strangers along on a rescue mission without Tik along.
Arthur and Dragos were up training with the weapons, going through the figures and poses that they knew from their training at the Orphanage. Cullen wished he could get a weapon of his own so he could practice more too. But he still had his knives and they would have to do for now.
Along with food and water, Alex gave Sonia and Tik bows and a quiver full of arrows for each of them. Sonia’s face lit up when she received the gift and Tik was excited with her. The two of them practiced a couple of shot at a tree and they were equally as good. Cullen was impressed and told them so.
At mid morning they were packed and ready to go. Tik’s mother was tearful and Alex held her close and told Tik he was very proud of the young man his son had become. Soon they were walking through the forest on deer trails headed for the Outsider’s farm.
It took close to two hours to reach it, and Cullen took them past the waterfall where he was found. He showed Sonia the little cave behind it and told her how he and Tik used to campo there as younger boys. She said she liked it there and Cullen beamed with joy.
He felt happy when he saw his father’s farm from the forest. There were the cows, pigs and sheep and the crop beds that he remembered. The Outsider was harvesting crops already and working hard. He had his shirt off since it was a warm day and Cullen could see his tall wiry frame slightly tanned from the sun.
Cullen called out as he and his group stepped out of the surrounding forest. The Outsider looked up, wiped his hands on his breeches and started towards the group. He grabbed Cullen in an embarrassing hug, but Cullen knew he had probably been worried the whole time so he just hugged him back.
“I am relieved that you have returned son!” he said in a joyful voice. “Who are these young people you have with you?”
Cullen turned sideways to point out each person as he introduced them. “You know Tik, but this is Sonia, Arthur and Dragos. All of them were in the Orphanage and all of them wanted to leave, so when I got Tik out, they came too!”
The Outsider frowned. “Someone will come looking for them Cullen. They will be angry that you escaped.”
“I don’t know how they would find us father. We disappeared in the city and no one saw us leave. We were very careful.”
“I hope so. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat? There’s surely enough for all of you. And Tik, it is a real joy to see you free again!”
Everyone agreed that they could eat, so the Outsider took them into the eight sided house and settled them into different chairs and prepared some food for them. He made sandwiches of pork and cheese, with fresh milk to drink. There were some fruits as well and the children ate heartily.
“Cullen,” the Outsider began, “What are you going to do with these young people. There’s only room here for you upstairs. Do you have a plan?”
Cullen sighed, knowing his father wouldn’t approve of the next step. “We are going after the Dreamweaver. I saw soldiers take him out of the city and I know they were headed for the mountains so we are all going to look for him.”
“The Dreamweaver?” the Outsider exclaimed. “And you’re going after soldiers? Cullen, they won’t care that you’re young! You can’t fight soldiers!”
“We hope to avoid fighting father. But we must find the old man! He was taken against his will, and we got Tik out, we can do this!”
“I don’t like this Cullen,” his father said in a low voice.
Cullen crossed his arms and looked his father in the eye. “I know that you don’t, but we’re going to do this. I would like your blessing but I’ll still go without it.”
The other children were uncomfortable and shifted in their seats. Dragos looked amused, it was clear he didn’t care for Cullen, but Arthur looked suitably worried for him.
The Outsider sighed deeply. “I can’t keep you here anymore, can I? You’re grown now and can do what you please. I don’t like it, but I won’t try to stop you.”
Cullen smiled and thanked his father. After eating and talking for a bit, the group was ready to leave. They wanted to get closer to the first village Cullen knew about, called Hillside by the next day.
Cullen hugged the Outsider farewell and the others thanked him for the food and hospitality. Then they walked off, following the small path into the village that was nearby and then continuing on through more forest towards the first village that Cullen wanted to check.
They camped in the woods that night and Cullen went off alone to pray to the old Gods h knew. He found a Redtree, its blood red leaves glowing in the dusk light, its gray bark also seeing backlit in the setting sun.
He found a flat stone and he put some meat and some tabac on it and closed his eyes. He kneeled in front of the stone and began to pray.
“Lord Cernunnous, I leave you offerings in hope that you will hear me. I am going in search of another friend and I have people that are counting on me to lead them. Please give me wisdom and guidance on my path.”
After a moment he added, “And please help me with Sonia. I want to know more about her and I hope that she stays with us for a long time. Watch over us Lord of the Hunt. Thank you.”
When he was done, he stood back up and walked back towards the camp they had chosen. When he was back seated with his friends and eating their small dinner for the night, a little figure came out of the branches of the Redtree.
It was tiny and dark purple with little gossamer wings fluttering on either side of its back. Wide bright eyes looked towards the camp as it scurried down the tree trunk. It gathered up the meat and the tabac in its little arms and then it flew back into the branches.
From the highest branches it took off again, gliding along with the wind towards the deep forest. Soon in was lost in the shadows as it flew away to pass along its message.

The group entered Hillside the following day. Hillside was more of a town than a village. It had farms surrounding it, but it also had shops in town. There was a tavern right in the center of town and a blacksmith. There was a baker and a candle maker and a messenger station that used crows to send messages around the Kingdom.
The town was busy and had people walking all around, going from one store to another or walking from house to house on different errands. Some farmers were delivering stock or picking up animals and wagons were going in both directions.
Cullen led the group along the dirt road into town, and all of them looked around at all the buildings. Cullen had been impressed with Holdfast City, but this little town was bustling with activity too. The only place that looked deserted was the blacksmith.
Right next to the blacksmith was a new building. It was framed out and had a steeple set up as though it were a church. Cullen supposed the town was building it even though he only saw one man working.
He was a large man, looking more like a blacksmith than a carpenter. One of his arms was bigger than the other which usually signified the blacksmith trade. He wore a shirt with the sleeve cut off and brown breeches. He was sweating in the spring heat as the season turned slowly to summer.
“We should go to the tavern to ask about the soldiers,” Arthur suggested.
“I want to ask the blacksmith about swords too. Do you think that’s him?” Cullen asked motioning with his head in the man’s direction.
“It looks like he could be, but why is his shop closed? Why is he building a church instead?” Arthur asked back.
Cullen shrugged and started towards the tavern. As they walked down the road they were approached by a woman in ragged clothing. Her hair was unkempt and knotted and he shoes had holes in them. Her hands and her face were dirty, and her eyes were pleading.
“Please, can you spare any coin? Any at all?” she asked, her voice scratchy and worn.
“I’m sorry, no we can’t,” Cullen said quickly, not wanting to part with his gold coin for a beggar. The woman wailed softly and backed away, ducking between two close buildings and out of sight.
“You done the right thing young man!” a burly man called from the doorway of the tavern. He was barrel-chested with wide legs and he was wearing an apron. He had a bushy mustache that flowed down either side of his grinning mouth.
Cullen walked up to him and the tavern slowly, noticing that Sonia was looking down the alley where the woman disappeared.
“Her name is Adelina, but you’d do best by not talking to her,” the man said again. “My name is Alin and I’m the Innkeeper. Who be you all?”
“My name is Cullen, and this is Tik, Sonia, Arthur and Dragos. We are looking for some information.” Cullen spoke clearly and confidently.
“Why don’t you come in and I’ll see if I can help you?” Alin moved out of the doorway and swept his arm in showing the way.
Cullen, followed by the others, walked into the building. It had an expansive open floor, with a long wooden bar along one wall and an entrance into a kitchen area. Pleasant smells were coming out of the kitchen already.
Alin walked behind the ball and started cleaning glasses as he looked over the young people in his tavern. Cullen found a table that could seat all of them and he motioned for them to sit down.
“So what are you looking for boy?” Alin asked, still with a grin. His cheeks were red and Cullen wondered if he had already started drinking.
“First, I noticed that your blacksmith is closed. Is it possible to find him and purchase something?” Cullen asked, staying cheerful as well.
“Costin is his name, and he’s just been so busy building the church that he hasn’t opened his shop lately. But I’m sure if you asked him he would help you!”
“That’s great. We’ll go speak to him next. My other question is have you seen any soldiers come through here, especially soldiers with an old man?”
Alin paused his cleaning for a moment. “What’re ya looking for soldiers for boy? Nothing good comes from bothering the Kingsguard.”
“The old man is a friend and I’m worried about him. I’d like to make sure he’s ok. We just want to know if you’ve seen him; the rest is up to us.” Cullen tried to sound still confident and firm, hoping to avoid this man’s helpful advice.
“They were here alright, and I recall an old man on a nag. He stayed on the edges but he was with ‘em alright.” Alin went back to cleaning glasses as if he didn’t care about the questions.
“Do you know where they were headed? We need to catch up to them if we can.” Cullen glanced at Tik, who was grinning with pleasure at their first success.
“They were going to the mountains, so I would guess they’re next stop would be Boulder. It’s a small village right against the mountains. Just follow the road north and you can’t miss it.”
“Thank you Alin. You’ve been very helpful,” Cullen said smiling. “We’ll go try the blacksmith now. Thanks again!”
Alin nodded but had stopped smiling. He obviously didn’t approve of young people chasing after soldiers, but he had given the information and that was good enough for Cullen.
Cullen led the others out of the tavern and when they got outside Sonia got close to Cullen.
“Cullen, I want to help that woman. Something is wrong if the village won’t take care of her, we should find out her story,” she said quietly to Cullen as the walked.
Cullen turned to look at her and was lost in her gray green eyes. Of course she would worry about the starving woman.
“Alright Sonia. Let’s see what Costin can tell us, and if we have money left over we’ll give some to her and try to help.” Sonia’s face lit up when she smiled and Cullen’s heart started beating faster.
They approached the building that Costin was working on and Cullen went right up to the structure to call out.
“Is your name Costin?” he called.
The blacksmith stopped hammering and looked over at the group. His eyebrows went up in surprise at the small gathering of young people and he nodded.
“Yes, that’s me. Who’s asking?”
“My name is Cullen,” Cullen said loud enough to carry. “And I need a blacksmith. I’m looking for weapons, if you have any.”
“I might. You have coin?” Costin called back.
Cullen nodded and pulled out his gold piece to show it. Costin nodded again and climbed down off the structure. He put down his hammer and walked through the building to step outside and closer to Cullen.
“What are you looking for?” he asked once he got closer. He was a big man and Cullen had to look up to talk to him.
“I would like a pair of short swords and a knife or two if you have them,” Cullen responded. “And I have a question for you that might seems odd.”
“Lets walk to my shop and you can ask your question,” Costin said as he led the way. Cullen hopped towards him to catch up and walked with him the twenty feet or so to his cold shop.
“We were approached by a woman when we entered the town. Her name is Adelina. Do you know anything about her?”
Cullen was surprised to see the man flinch and stop walking. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly before he started walking again.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” he said in a low voice.
“Please!” Sonia said, having overheard. “Why is she alone in this town? What happened to her?”
“It’s not your concern!” Costin said bitterly.
“Costin, please. We came here looking for soldiers, to see if they passed through. They have a friend of mine, an old man, and we’re looking to help him. But we want to know about this woman, and you obviously know something. Just talk to us please,” Cullen spoke softly but insistently, trying to get the big man to speak.
He sighed again, closed his eyes and waited a moment. Then he turned to face the group and he had tears in his eyes.
“Those soldiers came here,” he began. “And Adelina and I were caught together. She was married you see, and her husband demanded punishment. The Godsmen High Priest had me whipped and her strapped.”
“How awful!” Sonia exclaimed. Cullen put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. She leaned towards him.
“So after, I was told to build a church here because the Godsmen said we were without God’s laws. And Adelina’s husband put her out. She’s been begging ever since.”
Cullen had listened carefully and he was angry at the decision made by the High Priest and he was angry at how the town treated the woman. His body started to heat up as he got angrier and he gritted he teeth.
“Costin, do you love her?” he asked suddenly, feeling forceful.
“I – I do,” he admitted.
“Do you want to build a church?” Cullen asked next.
“I don’t! I just want to work with metal. That’s my calling, truly,” Costin sounded pained.
“Then you take care of Adelina and stop building this church! Do what’s in your heart to do, not whatever soldiers tell you to do!” Cullen proclaimed, his voice urgent and angry.
“But the soldiers, if they come back?” Costin wondered aloud.
“As far as I know there is no law that says you have to build a church because they said so! You don’t have to do it. And if her husband cast her out, then she can live with you. Do what’s right Costin, not what some man commanded of you!”
Costin stared at Cullen and could see the anger in his eyes, the challenge there. He nodded slowly and then more forcefully.
“You’re right! There is no law! And I do love Adelina! I’ve got to find her!” Costin exclaimed, suddenly needing to make up for lost time.
“Let me go find her Costin,” Sonia said, “You give Cullen his weapons.”
“Of course! Go, find her quickly and bring her here please!”
Costin grabbed Cullen by the arm and shook his hand. “Thank you young man, thank you! You’re right of course; I should have seen it myself. I was wrong!”
Costin practically dragged Cullen into his shop and there they started looking at knives and other weapons. Cullen selected a short sword for him, while Tik picked out another for himself.
Cullen found a knife for Tik and another for Sonia and Costin sharpened all their weapons so they were in perfect condition. Now Cullen could practice with Arthur. Dragos found a spear he wanted and Costin threw that in as well.
He took Cullen’s gold coin and gave him back several silver and copper coins in return. Then Sonia walked in with Adelina who looked fearful and worried.
“My love!” Costin cried out. “I’m so sorry that I left you alone! Please stay here with me, live with me and be safe. Come get cleaned up and we’ll talk.”
“This is real?” she asked Sonia, who was still holding her. She seemed like she would faint any second.
“It’s real,” Sonia replied.
Adelina flew into Costin’s arms and they embraced. Cullen was happy to witness it and to have played a part in such a joyful reunion. Sonia looked at him with a thankful gaze and Cullen heart beat faster for it. He had pleased her and that was wonderful for him as well.
Costin thanked everyone again and sent them off while he took Adelina into his house to get her cleaned up. Cullen gave Sonia her new knife which also made her happy and then they walked towards the other side of town.
The walked along the dirt road towards the mountains that were looming off in the distance. If the soldiers were still in Boulder, then Cullen would have to find a way to get him free. That would be difficult. But worth it.
He didn’t like this High Priest he had heard about and he wondered if he would be there too. What kind of confrontation would that be, he wondered. He was in high spirits though from his experience in Hillside and his joy in his step he walked towards Boulder, still hopeful.

***

The Outsider finished tying up the tomato vines and stood back straight. He flexed his arms and rubbed his lower back where it ached. That should be enough for the day; he thought as he picked up his tools and turned towards the house.
He stopped, surprised when he realized there was a man standing in the path near the house watching him. He was dressed in all black, from his gleaming boots to cape, and he wore a jeweled sword at his hip.
“Can I help you?” the Outsider called out.
“Perhaps,” the man said.
“What do you want?” the Outsider asked, weary from the day’s work but suddenly on edge. The man had a city look and the Outsider feared for his son. This man might be hunting.
“Are you the man known as the Outsider?” the man asked.
“I am,” Cullen’s father answered. “may I have your name?”
“I am Vlad,” the man said with a bow and great flourish. He swept back his cloak with one arm and bowed deeply. He came back up with his oily grin.
“What business do you have with me Vlad? I don’t know you.” The Outsider kept a civil tone, but he already felt threatened by the man’s presence.
“I am looking for your son, Cullen,” Vlad said. It was a simple statement but it made the Outsider’s chest get tight. This man was hunting his son! What could he say to help Cullen stay away?
“My son?” he asked. “I haven’t seen him since he ran off for the city.”
“Now ser, we both know that’s not quite true,” Vlad purred. “Your boy has been home, he was seen by the villagers, who also told me where to find you, so I know he’s been here. Where did he go?”
“What makes you think I would tell you anything?” the Outsider asked boldly.
“Because every man, no matter who they are, wants to live another day,” Vlad said, all the cheer going out of his voice and replaced with cold threat.
“You’re threatening to kill me if I don’t tell you where Cullen went?” the Outsider asked, plainly nervous.
“In a word, yes.” Vlad took a step towards the Outsider and he backed up into the garden he had a couple of tools but no weapon other than a knife, but this man was a swordsmen, probably well trained.
“I don’t know where he went ser, really I don’t!” the Outsider cried out as he backed away.
“You know something, so out with it!” Vlad shouted, the anger clear in his voice now. He drew his beautiful sword and the iron reflected the setting sun.
“He’s trying to find his friends, the old man, the Dreamweaver! Soldiers took him and he’s trying to find him, that’s all I know I swear!”
Vlad kept coming and the Outsider threw his tools at him. With quick precise movements, Vlad knocked them aside with the sword blade. The Outsider backed up till he hit the fence, then he pulled his knife and crouched.
“That’s all I know! Why are you still coming?” he cried out, his voice shaky.
“Because you made me draw my sword to get the answer. My sword is a thirsty mistress, and I cannot sheath her without giving her what she wants.”
Vlad came within a few feet of the trembling farmer and stopped. He waved the sword around in small circles and the Outsider watched for a moment and then lost control. He raised his knife up and lunged for his attacker, swinging as hard as he could.
Vlad stepped to the side, deflected the knife and whipped his sword arm up high before bringing it crashing down on the Outsider’s head. The blow knocked the farmer to the dirt and his head was bleeding from a terrible wound.
Vlad wiped his sword across the Outsider’s shirt and sheathed it. “Fool,” he said as he walked away. He walked slowly to the other side of the Outsider’s house and mounted his black horse he had waiting.
He spurred her into a gallop and followed the road towards the next village. If he rode all night he could be there by dawn. He was getting closer, he knew it. Soon those children would meet him and there would be a reckoning. He may not bring them back alive, he thought to himself, chuckling silently.

***

The Dreamweaver woke to someone calling his name. he opened his eyes and saw the pale filtered light of dawn and he remembered he was sleeping in the deep forest. He sat up and looked around at all the sleeping soldiers.
“Dreamweaver! Are you awake?” the call came again. The Dreamweaver turned around and saw that Hrothgar, the Shaman was also awake calling to him.
“Yes, I’m awake. What is it?” the Dreamweaver whispered loudly.
“Set me free! Everyone is asleep! You can free me!” Hrothgar called again, not bothering to do it quietly.
The Dreamweaver looked around again. He noticed that everywhere around him, among all the sleeping soldiers there were flowers. And not just any flowers, but the purple orchid that Cullen had been found with. The heady scent of them filled the air and made it hard for the Dreamweaver to think.
“They are enchanted I think Dreamweaver!” Hrothgar called again. “You can set me free and they’ll never know!”
The Dreamweaver kept looking at the soldiers faces. They were certainly unconscious, many were drooling they were so asleep. He raised himself up on shaky legs and felt things creak and pop. He was getting old, but life had so many mysteries to show him still.
He stood and walked carefully through the sleeping men until he reached Hrothgar, who was tired to a tree with a heavy rope.
“What do you know? Enchanted?” the Dreamweaver asked as he started working at the rope’s knots.
“Little winged creatures flew through the camp dropping those flowers. I felt weary but I saw this as a chance to get free, and I hoped you would be spared as well.”
The Dreamweaver struggled with the heavy rope but eventually he got it free. He sat back and looked at the Shaman who sat in front of him rubbing his raw wrists.
“Thank you! You are a true friend.” He said, smiling for the first time in days.
“I wish I could have freed you sooner Hrothgar. I’m sorry for Connon’s behavior.”
“I know, it wasn’t you that took me. It was him,” Hrothgar said it with such venom the Dreamweaver was afraid he would attack the sleeping man.
“What will you do now?” the Dreamweaver asked.
“I will go back home and try to keep peace with the Goblins and Duergar. I’m sure they’re angry that they were attacked.”
The Dreamweaver nodded. He guessed that would be his plan and he approved. Within just a few minutes Hrothgar was gone in the forest, headed back the way they came, along the river that would lead him most of the way home.
The Dreamweaver stood and looked around again at the sleeping men. All of them were out cold and vulnerable. He wondered what the winged creatures were that brought the flowers into the camp. He walked to the river’s edge and splashed some water on his face.
“Human!” a tiny voice called, its pitch almost too high to hear.
The Dreamweaver turned to see a bright orange little figure with gossamer yellow wings fluttering in the air behind him. Its wings were beating so fast they looked like a blur of color.
“Are you called to me?” he asked.
“I am! I am Pip! The Pixie. You are summoned!”
The Dreamweaver glanced at the sleeping soldiers again and saw nothing had changed. He motioned for the Pixie to lead and he followed him or her along the river’s edge through the forest.
He was speechless to see the little figure floating in the air before him, zipping ahead, then coming back clearly exasperated that the old human couldn’t move faster.
Soon he heard a rushing sound just before he turned a corner through some giant ferns and saw the most beautiful waterfall he had ever imagined. The water came rushing off the cliff before it, smashing into a pool of water that had boulders and ferns growing all around it.
The Pixie fluttered towards the splashing water and then flew back out. It hovered in front of the Dreamweaver and smiled.
“Now you meet Him!” and with that she zipped away, gone in a flash.
The Dreamweaver looked around wondering who she was talking about, and then he heard movement from behind him, opposite the waterfall. He turned to look and he saw trees moving and he stumbled back as a massive head emerged from the forest.
Twenty feet up was a head, made of moss covered wood, with a crest of branches that towered over the carved face. The face was simple, with two slits for the nose, two deep holes where gleaming blue eyes shined, and a cracked mouth.
The body was also wood, huge thick trunks for arms and hundreds of branches and wood for the body with back legs lost somewhere in the tangle of tree and creature. The head turned and face the Dreamweaver and he gasped in surprise.
“DREAMWEAVER, IT IS GOOD OF YOU TO COME. WE HAVE WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU FOR SOME TIME.” The voice that came out of the cracked wooden mouth rumbled like stones falling down the mountain, or like water running through the rapids of a fast paced river.
“You know who I am?” the Dreamweaver stammered. “Who, what are you?”
“YOU KNOW ME AS CERNUNNOUS, LORD OF THE FOREST, LORD OF THE HUNT. I AM ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING CREATURES OF THE WORLD. I WAS HERE BEFORE MAN, AND WILL BE HERE AFTER MAN.”
The Dreamweaver backed up until he found a rock, then he practically collapsed against it. He was astounded, amazed, and totally lost for the moment. This creature was the God Cernunnous?
“You are a God?” he asked, still stuttering.
“THERE IS NO SUCH BEING AS A GOD, BUT I AM THE ONE HUMANS HAVE WORSHIPPED FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. BUT I AM A CREATURE OF THE EARTH, AS ARE MY KIN.”
“And you know me? You wanted to speak with me?” the Dreamweaver continued asking questions, utterly entranced by the encounter.
“YES DREAMWEAVER. YOU CARED FOR A BOY, NAMED CULLEN. HE IS IMPORTANT TO US. THERE ARE CHANGES COMING AND HE WILL BE A PART OF THOSE CHANGES.”
“Cullen? You know the boy?”
“IT WAS I THAT LEFT HIM AT THE WATERFALL FOR YOU TO FIND. IT WAS PLANNED. HE NEEDS YOU NOW TO HELP GUIDE HIM. GREAT CHANGES ARE COMING AND HE WILL NEED YOU.”
“You? You left him there to be found? Why did you leave him, who are his parents, what is this all about?”
The Dreamweaver started talking a little loudly. This was a lot to take in all at once. He knew Cullen was special, but to have been placed near him to raise by a God-like being? This was outrageous!
“HE NEEDED T BE RAISED BY HUMANS, TO HAVE TIES IN THEIR WORLD. BUT HE IS A PART OF OUR WORLD TOO, PART OF THE FAERY REALM. WE NEED HIM NOW. DARK TIMES ARE AHEAD AND WE NEED A WARRIOR WITH TIES TO BOTH OUR PEOPLE.”
I don’t understand my Lord,” the Dreamweaver said. “He has ties to Faery? Will you tell me who his parents are? Will you tell me what this is all about?”
“I WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING, BUT YOU MUST GUIDE HIM SLOWLY. I MUST SPEAK TO HIM AND TELL HIM WHAT IS NEEDED. I HAVE SENT MY WARRIORS TO GUIDE HIM HERE. HE WILL COME SOON.”
“Then start by telling me why you left him for me to find. And tell me who his parents are.” The Dreamweaver sat down more comfortably and settled into his conversation with a God. He never though looking for Faeries would turn out like this. He wore a small smile even though he was being stern with the God.