To The Cathedral Part 1

 

There was soon no sign they had camped at all. Everything had been cleared and the wood for the fire had been buried in the sand as best they could. The sea was calm and the night had been mercifully quiet but Elena knew that that was an exception.

 

She checked the Holy Water she still held in her voluminous saddle bags.

 

'We still have enough' she said to no-one in particular.

 

Oscar rode up to her side;

 

'We have enough but they are still after us. We must get to the Cathedral soon, I think we may only be a few days away.'

 

Elena nodded her agreement, they had all had spells of being banished outside the City. She had lasted longer but it was often a complete lottery. Around sixty per cent of those banished would never return, many would would adapt to the ravenous lives of the Outsiders, and very few would return. The odd Cathedral left from the days before the great conflict would offer sanctuary but even they were no longer considered sacrosanct by some of the more aggressive Outsiders.

 

There were five of them in this group. Elena had been with larger but they were too easy to attract attention. Smaller is better she said to herself as she quickly scanned around and called on the others to move.

 

She had somehow been elected as the Leader, it was just one of those things, she knew what she was doing so it seemed natural that everyone just seemed to follow her lead.

 

She had not wanted this life, no one had, or would. She had adapted to it and survived. As they moved off her mind wandered back to her childhood and her life in The City.

 

Her father was a teacher whose favourite saying was 'We are living at the end of History'. To him the confederation of like minded and enlightened City-states seemed the perfect way to progress. The larger cities of the island confederation had so out performed , economically and culturally, national boundaries that they had unilaterally declared independence and nationality and nationalism were becoming things of the past. Then they could not stand the burgeoning forces of the Theocratic Alliance and now they were bastions of the New Order, it was a world of City States and small villages, all pledging allegiance to their new masters. Only some of the so called Reform Cathedrals operated outside the strict new codes imposed by the City States.

 

They had a comfortable life, her father being a teacher and her mother a lawyer. She even had a nanny, a young Asian girl called Mira who had such an open and engaging personality. She saw more of Mira than her own mother, and thought nothing of it. Not until now that is, when her past life seemed an entire epoch away.

 

Elena was brought back to earth by the sound of something hitting the water. They all stopped suddenly and looked across at the larger sand dunes. Did anyone throw anything? There was every possibly they were being followed she knew the Outsiders would. It was at night that the real concern came, prime time for attack by the Cannibals who were without homes, and without any Outsider clan. They were happily eating each other to oblivion, but not quick enough.

 

Levi, Oscar's trusted soul mate turned his horse to face the dunes and reached for his crossbow. Oscar raised his hand and shook his head, no point in giving them the satisfaction of knowing that they were disconcerted.

 

Elena said;

 

'Keep together, don't pay them attention..not for now at least'

 

They kept close from then on, riding as close together as the five of them plus the two pack horses would allow.

 

The going was good, today they rode near the water so that the waves would wash away the hoof prints, if they felt they had more time they would have tried the softer sand, but time was becoming precious and that would have brought them near the dunes.

 

Elena remembered her first banishment well, she had given food to a couple of elderly Outsiders.(She laughed at the word, they were probably only a few years older than she was now, but sickness had robbed them of hair and had aged them rapidly). Any form of empathy for those living outside the walls or outside the few Cathedrals, was strictly forbidden and equally strict punishment was meted out. She was considered an orphan, she never knew what happened to her parents, her aunt took her under her wing for a short time, however Aunt Talitha soon tired of her niece, particularly with a new man in tow. The girls at her Aunt's brothel were much kinder, and made sure she grew into a street smart teenager. She needed all she had learned to live for a month outside the City, but somehow and to the surprise of everyone, not least herself, she completed her ninety day sentence and her girls as she called them, threw a party on her return.

 

Dusk was falling, in the new world there was little time to make camp, dusk would last barely an hour and then night would sweep in on its of cloak sweeping black.

 

A rustle from the dunes alerted them again. This time Oscar and Levi went to ride up but Elena had seen something first. She picked one of the small javelins from her pack and stood perfectly still, she knew something was there and they were using the dusk to look for pickings. A sharp snap of a twig was all it took for Elena to see the hunched figure and she let fly.

 

There was a shriek and then whatever figure was there had fled.

 

*

 

 

They made camp for the night and Oscar and Levi as well as the two women, Gretchen and Fflur made a cross of poles and hung a machete and some longer and larger javelins on it, as well as a round shield , it was there as a warning to others that there was a camp and that they would kill.

 

They say around the fire and talked for some time, before setting the rota. Last night Gretchen and Levi had been first watch followed by Fflur and Elena, the last watch before dawn was safe enough for one and Oscar fulfilled that role.

 

Tonight Fflur and Elena agreed to be first, and they gathered the weapons as the others laid out the rough rugs to sleep.

 

Of all the group Elena liked Fflur the most. It was always difficult to attach to anyone but Fflur did appear to be one of those that would adapt her personality to whoever she spoke to, without revealing the person beneath, Elena liked that. Keep yourself on guard all the time girl, she said to herself, the City is bad enough but out here you fend for yourself.

 

Sure enough within two hours of being on sentry duty, they heard the wolves.

 

An alpha male, bigger than the pack but leaner was first on the scene. He was a confident animal and after a cursory growl to announce his arrival he sat looking at them. Three others followed, but their attention was diverted and they turned and ran backwards toward something in the grass They soon left, maybe hunting a wounded animal or a solitary Outsider. Either way they were all glad that after a perfunctory look at them the wolves had decided on easier meat. Something had been caught and there was a gruesome snarling and gnawing in the near distance. Fflur found the sound of ripping flesh nauseating, even though she had heard it before. Elena stood perfectly still and put her arm on Fflur's young shoulder , she could feel the bones clearly, but she knew that Fflur's wiriness was one that belied strength.

 

'We'll let them eat for a few more minutes then shoot an arrow to make then run'

 

Fflur nodded without turning around, they wanted to let the pack know that they should not return.

 

Eventually the sounds stopped without causing them to intervene, and the two women were glad when Oscar and Gretchen took over.

 

Oscar and Gretchen were related, they never let on and no one knew, and they hoped no one suspected. They were first cousins who had both had a period of banishment. Gretchen, shorter, dumpier than Fflur was a quiet character. However she was also a survivor and she guessed , rightly, that she had killed more than Elena. Oscar had hoped his cousin would somehow emerge as the leader of the group but she was happy to leave that to Elena. She had formed the opinion that Elena had wanted it badly enough.

 

They had been fortunate to have some quiet nights of late, now they were nearing the Cathedral they knew perfectly well that that would change. Tonight, Gretchen and Oscar expected Cannibals.

 

 

They were right.

 

There was the familiar grunting, no matter how hard they tried, Cannibals gave off an animalistic grunt as they moved. There was also the heavy , distinct breathing as they approached. Gretchen turned to look at Elena who was already awake. She had the bottle of Holy Water in her hand , and as always when Cannibals were near it discoloured to a light cloudy blue hue. This was always a boon, but it only discoloured when they were close, and tonight they were too close.

 

They had all woken by now and all knew the drill. Cannibals , wherever they were encountered attacked a group the same way. One or two would stand in your direct line of sight while other would fan out to the left and right and then attempt an attack, once you were fighting them off on two fronts then those ahead of you would swoop in to finish the job.

 

 

Gretchen and Levi stood to the front with Elena and Fflur stepping out to the left and right , Oscar had his back to all all of them and knelt with his crossbow at the ready.

 

They had seen the cross, if it had been a bigger group of travellers they may not have bothered and taken the warning. But they sensed that this group was small.

 

Fflur noticed the first and her crossbow caught a small female figure full in the chest, knocking her backwards, another female came running straight after her but was clumsy and tripped over groaning body, she made the mistake of regaining her composure but by standing to her full height. Fflur, like all of them, could reload at a great speed and another crossbow quarrel caught this one in the lower abdomen. The shriek of pain of pain made Fflur shiver for a second but she could, and would , not feel any more emotion. Elena and Oscar waited for the others but they were slower, maybe older males. The two in front were desperate and charged immediately without waiting for another attack from the side. Levi and Gretchen let fly simultaneously but then soon realised their mistake as both quarrels felled the same target. A leaner, but still older male was now gaining on them. Gretchen looked in up in panic and in a few seconds he was almost on her, she could smell the sweat and see his toothless, gaping hole of a mouth. Some of the older Cannibals would wait for the young to kill and then suck whatever was left. This one was eager to kill for himself.

 

A javelin whistled past her and caught him full in the throat. The rasping and gurgling lasted for a second before he fell at her feet. She knew Elena had thrown but didn't look back. She pressed her foot to the side of his head and drew the javelin out to nearly its fullest extent and then thrust it back to make sure.

 

They were all breathing heavily now, and despite being veterans of life outside the City still felt a guilty excitement at what had passed.

 

Elena stood expecting another attack but was surprised there was nothing. Maybe the others had been waiting for their colleagues to fail and then they would eat their bodies. It was not uncommon. Any Cannibal group only stayed to fight, and few of them lasted any great length of time.

 

It was one of the girls at the brothel that had first told Elena of the Cannibals. She refused to believe at first , but barely a week later she one captured and brought in in a wicker cage. He was young, perhaps about seventeen, but his skin was filthy, he snarled at everyone and showed his black, pointed teeth. He was left in the cage as a curiosity for a few days before being flogged and then hung naked outside the City walls. He didn't last the night, the smell of blood attracted others and that was that.

 

Elena blinked several times to bring herself back to the reality she was now in.

 

She looked around

 

'No others?'

 

Oscar and Levi shook their heads; Gretchen and Fflur had tentatively taken a few steps forward to scan and turned back to announce the same.

 

'I think we should move' said Fflur.

 

They could all see that the horses had been disturbed and that now they were awake there was no point in staying.

 

'It is still some time before dawn, ' Elena replied but if we go by the light of the moon on the water we may make some good time.

 

Just then, Gretchen shrieked. A thin black hand had grabbed her by the ankle. It was the Cannibal hit n the abdomen. She had done well to crawl so far without being noticed and was using her last strength to get at something.

 

Gretchen swung down the crossbow hitting the creature on the side of the head. There was no point doing anything else, her erstwhile comrades would use her flesh, or failing that the wolves and jaguars..

 

They travelled on that early morning, pleased in a way that they could make good time.

 

They were not bothered for the next two days, even though they heard odd noises from the vast conifer forests that were springing up everywhere. Elena didn't like the thought they were encountering so few, why would they leave a group of five alone for so long?

 

Eventually, early one bright morning Fflur noticed something like a spire in the distance.

 

'Is that it ? ' She called to Elena, her face beamed as she pointed and the others rode up to ride abreast.

 

'The Cathedral of the Most Solemn St Anselm' said Elena, she took the Holy Water bottle from her bag and kissed it.

 

Gretchen laughed

 

'Is it really that miraculous?'

 

'It might be ' replied Elena and held it aloft to catch the sun.

 

The four of them were still smiling and laughing when the first Outsider patrol came at them.

 

They brought the horses to a halt and drew their javelins and crossbows.

 

Where had these been? Thought Elena, there had been no sight at all this morning.

 

There were six of them, untypically for Outsiders they were all female. This was odd, disconcertingly so.

 

Elena rode forward and could see that they had not drawn arms, these were not out for attack. She warned the others not to fire and saw that five of the group had stopped and that one rode out to meet her.

 

Their leader was an aged lady, a good ten years older than Elena at forty or so ( or so Elena had guessed ), she wore loose canvas trousers with a black waistcoat and an ill fitting corduroy jacket, much too big for her. The others wore well fashioned breastplates, Elena thought that these warriors had enough money, and reputation, to have them fashioned uniquely. She had aged well thought Elena, and had the shaved head of the Outsiders who lived nearer the City or the Cathedrals. Those living further out were generally less likely to take care of themselves.

 

'What have we here Sister of Eve?'

 

To all but the most aggressive of the Outsiders men were Brothers of Adam and women Sisters of Eve, the terminology of the Theocracy still permeated out here.

 

It was a standard polite greeting, so bowing to the dictates of life outside the City Elena replied,

 

'This Sister of Eve is travelling to the Cathedral with two other Sisters and two Brothers of Adam'

 

The Outsider smiled and bowed her head.

 

'You still do not recognise me?'

 

Elena's eyes narrowed.

 

'We fought together at the fall of Sailac, I think you must have been eighteen then.'

 

Elena rode toward her and remembered the bear like hug.

 

'Chara! You old vixen! So this is where the mercenaries of Celandine retire to?'

 

Chara laughed,

 

'Mercenaries never retire! Did you ?'

 

Elena took the group to meet her old comrade in arms.

 

'You are going to the Cathedral?'

 

Elena nodded and then showed her the Holy Water.

 

''A special delivery no doubt' Chara quickly scanned over Oscar,Levi,Gretchen and Fflur. She surmised that they were veterans of enough clashes to give her older women a good fight.

 

'We will escort you, the Bishop there is a fair man..'

 

'I know' Elena cut in, despite the years together in combat she was distrustful of revealing too much.

 

 

They rode on together Gretchen and Fflur finding a great deal to talk about with the Outsiders.