N. Walters - Fabric of Fate

She was starting to sweat. The room was moving but she wasn’t. The sense of vertigo swept over her and she groped for the end of the bed. She needed to sit down.

She didn’t make it.

Audrey fell to her knees and then eased herself down onto the floor. She’d rest a minute and then stand up. Good plan. The tapestry was crumpled in her right hand, fisted tight around the material.

She started to release it, but couldn’t. A huge flash brightened the entire room. Lightning was her first thought. The storm must be getting worse outside. But the brilliant light didn’t fade. Audrey felt herself being yanked backward.

As she was screaming, the world went black.

Abrah stared into the flames. It was late afternoon and already darkness cloaked the land. He’d be happy when the cold season ended. Usually he enjoyed this time of year, taking the down time to work on his wood-carving skills, plan for the upcoming planting season and practice his swordsmanship with his brother. But not this year. This year the cold weeks had dragged on and on until he wanted to beat his fists against the walls with frustration.

The long season hung like a yoke around his neck, choking him. Beside him, Carn stirred, raised his enormous gray head and stared at the door.

Abrah tried not to think of the dream he’d had last night, about the woman who’d been soft and willing beneath his hands. He’d enjoyed that part. There was nothing quite like the sweet smell of a female, and this one had worn the perfume of a summer’s day all over her skin.

What had disturbed him was the mention of the tapestry. Obviously, his conversation with Heroc had infiltrated his dreams, conjuring a woman brought by the tapestry. Better to stick to reality than build false hopes on dreams.

Beside him, Heroc stirred. The two of them had decided to make an early day of it. In the few short hours of available daylight, they’d checked rooftops and walls of all the cottages, making sure all their people were secure.

Tara had left a large kettle of soup resting near the hearth and platters of bread and cheese sat on the table beyond. They had plenty to eat but neither of them was hungry.

Several of the men, including the captain of the guards, had shared the midday meal with them but they’d all retired to their barracks for the evening. It was as though the entire keep was holding its breath.

Another storm was brewing. This one would probably be the last for the season. It also seemed as though it would be the worst. But they were safe inside and had plenty to eat for several days, if it came to that.

“You told Tara to stay home if the weather worsened?” He didn’t want to worry about their housekeeper who’d been taking care of their home since they were mere lads.

“Yes. And I told Malarc as well.” Heroc grinned. “If she won’t stay home on her own, he and his brothers will make certain she has other things to occupy her time than worrying about us.”

Abrah chuckled. Tara had been married to Malarc for almost thirty years and they still acted as though they were newly joined. His two brothers also treated Tara as the gem she was and they were all content.

Abrah wanted that for himself and his brother. His parents and uncle had had a similar arrangement. This keep had once been filled with voices and laughter. But now it was silent.

Carn continued to stare at the door as he pushed to his feet and growled. Abrah put his hand on the animal’s broad head. “It’s just the wind.”

Carn ignored him, slipped away from his touch and padded to the door. His gaze stayed centered on the large wooden slab and he let out another low growl. Then he turned his head and stared at Abrah.

“Oh no. You were out all day. I’m not going out in this mess again. Come back and sit by the fire.”

“What’s the matter with Carn tonight?” Heroc went to the hearth and added a couple of logs before returning to his chair.

Abrah shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe the wind is getting to him.” It had gotten much worse in the past hour. He was glad all their people were safely tucked away inside their homes.

Carn threw back his head and howled. Then he leapt up and leaned his huge front paws on the door, clawing at the wood. The fine hair on the back of Abrah’s neck stood on end.

“Carn.” Abrah’s voice was sharp but the animal ignored the command. That simply wasn’t like him. He jumped to his feet. “Something’s wrong.”

Abrah strode to the door and grabbed his long, hooded coat, tugging it on. His brother was beside him in a heartbeat, pulling on his own outer gear and strapping on his sword. “You don’t need to go out in this weather. It’s probably nothing.”

Heroc ignored him and yanked up his hood. “We go together.”

Abrah understood his brother all too well. Since they’d lost the rest of their family they tended to spend almost all their time together. They were all they had left.

“Let’s do this.” He yanked open the door, bracing his feet against the driving wind. “There better be something out there my friend,” he warned the dog. Carn ignored his master’s admonishment and took off like a shot, racing down the stone stairs with both men in pursuit.

Audrey was cold. And wet. She frowned, trying to make sense of what was going on. The last thing she remembered was falling to the floor. She managed to pry her eyes open but she couldn’t see much in the dark.

Why was it dark? And rainy?

She was outside. But that was impossible. She’d been lying on her bedroom floor only moments ago. She pushed herself upright and squinted to see through the dark and driving rain. The wind battered her. Her clothing offered no protection against the elements and she shivered as the cold sank into her bones. She had to find shelter. She could figure out what the heck was going on once she was safe and dry.

It wasn’t easy, but with the help of a nearby bolder, she managed to drag herself into a standing position. Its bulk helped to shelter her from the driving wind and rain while she squinted and tried to get her bearings. There should have been tons of lights around. After all, she lived in New York, the city that never slept. But there were no buildings, no streetlights and no people. Only impenetrable darkness.

“This isn’t possible.” Her mind might be telling her that but her body was shivering with the cold and wet. That was all too real.

One thing was certain. She couldn’t stay here. She stumbled forward, praying she was headed toward civilization of some kind. The heavy wind was making it difficult for her feet to find purchase on the uneven ground and she tripped and fell in the mud, just managing to catch herself in time to keep from striking her head.

Her lungs ached and her limbs were heavy. Audrey wanted to simply lie down on the ground and rest but she knew that wasn’t smart. She could die if she didn’t move. The longer she was exposed to the elements, the more the cold drained her energy.

Was she dreaming again? She didn’t know. The biting cold and driving storm felt so real. She couldn’t take the chance it wasn’t simply a figment of her imagination.

She pushed onward, half crawling, half walking, searching through the darkness for a light, a building, something. Anything. The wind tugged at her clothing and skin. The rain came down so heavy it made it almost impossible to see. Still she persevered.

Time lost all meaning as she trudged through the stormy night. She put one foot in front of the other, dragging herself to her feet every time she faltered.

A faint sound broke through the unending night. She stopped and listened but heard nothing. “Is anyone out there?” she called. The wind stole her voice, silencing it before it got beyond a few feet.