Brian Rathbone: The Dawning of Power

Chase reached her side and cast her a sidelong glance. "You're going to the Masterhouse."

"I can't risk losing him," Catrin said. "I have to go."

"I'm going with you," Chase said as he grabbed her by the arm, making her stop.

"I coming too," Strom said. Benjin crossed his arms over his chest, and Osbourne did the same.

"I can't protect all of you. I can only protect myself. I must go alone."

"No," Benjin said. His stance and that of the others told Catrin that none of them would back down, and she relented. Somehow, she would have to keep them all safe.

Gerard led them along a well-trodden roadway, and after a series of sweeping bends, they gained the shelter of the valley. Ahead waited a bizarre town. "Welcome to Upperton," Gerard said.

Along the dirt roadway stood cylindrical, wooden buildings, and Catrin gasped. The others turned as she stopped, her hands covering her mouth. There stood what remained of the mighty greatoaks, and Catrin was filled with gratitude that they would live on as shelter from those in need. It seemed a fitting tribute. "Why did you use the greatoaks?"

"It was cold," Gerard said. "We needed housing. Your dad suggested we use the fallen greatoaks. It was a lot of work getting them here, but we used the ships we had to tow them to the lift. Took all our ingenuity to get them up here, but a couple of Greatlanders came up with a way to do it. Heck, they dragged a bunch of 'em to Lowerton as well."

Men and women gathered in the streets despite the cold, and Catrin guessed news of their coming had preceded them. No one spoke as she and her companions walked into town. Just as Catrin could make out faces of the townspeople, a cold wind gusted, bringing with it the foul smell. Everyone watched in horrified amazement as snow began to fall, for it was no ordinary snow. As if dipped in blood, each walnut-sized flake was a deep crimson.

The people of Upperton moved back into their homes, driven by fear. Surely this was a bad omen, and Catrin felt a wave of futility wash over her. What could be worse than having the darkest possible portent coincide with her return to the Godfist? The storm intensified, casting a filter of red over the entire landscape. Soon snow began to accumulate, making it look as if the land were bleeding.

The sound of wings caught Catrin's ear, and she turned to see three birds flying south. Everywhere she went, it seemed, someone was watching and waiting.

"We can't make the journey to Lowerton in this," Gerard said, "whatever it is."

"I doubt we'll be welcomed into anyone's home now," Strom said.

"I don't know how you do the things you do, Catrin," Gerard said, "but I don't believe this has anything to do with you. I was there when you were born. You're no threat to me or any other right-minded person. You can stay with me tonight, and we'll set out for Lowerton with the sunrise. By then the snow should've stopped."

The insides of the greatoak buildings were remarkable. Much of the furniture was carved directly from the walls, and the furniture that was freestanding was obviously made from the same wood. With the exception of the stone hearth and chimney, the mighty trees provided all the needed materials.

"There's not much food these days," Gerard said as he brought out a wooden platter covered with nuts and dried berries. "Next year'll be better. When the terraces are complete, we'll have all the food we need. The Greatlanders have it all figured out. Until then, we just have to squeeze by."

"I thank you for sharing what you have," Benjin said. "It was a long journey, and it's good to be home and with friends."

"That's prob'ly where ya should stay," Gerard said.

"Catrin believes her father is in danger."

"That he is," Gerard said, "and he went there knowin' it. He went 'cause he believes there's a chance to end the fighting. If you go south of the Wall, you might just ruin our best chance for peace."

Catrin sat, staring at the fire, conflicted. How could she be certain her vision would come true? How could she put everyone else at risk on the basis of something she did not understand? In her gut she knew. She had to go south; every instinct agreed. "I'm sorry, Gerard. I mean no disrespect, but I must go. I know my father is in trouble, and if he's in trouble, I doubt peace will follow."

"Sometimes, we must follow our feelings," Gerard said, thoughtful. "If you're goin', the best place to get over the Wall would be the eastern guardhouse; there're no breaks in the wall near there, but the wall is not very high. We keep a close watch on the guards, and the two fellows stationed there are terrified of you: Carter Bessin and Chad Macub. Their only job is to make sure no one comes over the wall, and they seem to be getting a bit complacent."

The names slammed into Catrin, and sudden memory overwhelmed her. Once again, in her mind, she entered the clearing where Peten, Carter, and Chad were attacking Osbourne. In her mind she saw Peten charging down on her then the world flying away.

"I'd wager they are scared," Strom said. "I would be too."

Catrin came back to herself, and in a moment that seemed to prove she would someday heal, she laughed. "We're going to scare the wind out of 'em."

"First," Benjin said, "we have to get there. I suggest we get some sleep. It's going to be an early start."

Knee-deep, crimson snow blanketed the landscape, giving everything a surreal appearance, which made Catrin feel as if she were walking in a dream. She pulled her hood closer as the wind blew, and drifting snow clung to everything. Beyond a large rock overhang, though, the wind died, blocked by natural rock formations.

Not far ahead roared a swollen, red waterfall, and Catrin recognized the plateau from afar, suddenly realizing that she was now approaching it from the same direction as the Zjhon army had, so long ago. Most of them had died here.

Looking around, Catrin noticed large mounds on the valley floor, and she no longer had to wonder where those she killed were laid. A great sadness welled up in her as they passed the gaping wound in the plateau, though it was already partly overgrown by bushes and trees that poked out of the snow.

Beyond, Catrin saw the terraces for the first time. Like giant snakes, one on top of another, following the contours of the land, the low, stone walls made for a mind-bending view. As soon as she saw them, their design made perfect sense; by creating narrow but level platforms down the slopes, they gained much valuable land for planting.

The roadway ahead was obstructed as a crowd of men worked with hammers and picks to finish the construction of a terrace. Two men argued in the middle of the road, and they seemed oblivious to the group as they approached. Then one of them looked up and saw them. "Whoa! You folks stay as far to the right as possible. Look out for falling rock." He shook his head and started to turn back to the other man, but when his eyes passed over Catrin, he stopped and watched her walk by. "Hey! Wait!"

Catrin was tempted to simply keep walking; she had no time for interruptions, but something in his voice made her stop.

"Where'd ya get that coat?" he asked. "I had one just like that. It even had the same tear on the shoulder."

"Rolph Tillerman gave it to me," Catrin said. "Are you Martik?"

"Yes!" he said, his eyes going wide, and he grabbed Catrin by the arms. "You saw my father? How was he? And my mother? And Jessub?"

"Yes," Catrin said. "I spent time with all of them. They're fine, though they miss you dearly. Wait. I have something for you." Catrin reached into the coat pocket and pulled out the drawing Jessub had given her. It showed Martik with Catrin hovering over him, protecting him.

Martik received it with wonder, and when he opened it, he was stunned. He stood for a moment with the look of a man whose thoughts were far away.