Melody's Unicorn by Richard Swan

Author:Richard Swan [Swan, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78535-726-8
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
Published: 2018-05-25T04:00:00+00:00

Brocéliande

Melody and Erec didn’t talk as much after they’d left Clíodhna safely behind. In one way they felt closer to each other, because of the emotions they’d revealed to the banshee queen. In another they were shyer, more aware of the differences between them, and the mysteries that surrounded them. Erec stopped teasing Melody and acting as if he knew everything about Faërie and she was the ignorant outsider. For her part, Melody was quiet because she was pondering all that had been said and all that she’d learnt since she’d entered the Otherworld. She was no closer to knowing where her quest would lead her, but she was more sure that she had a rightful place in it.

Despite her preoccupation she noticed that the landscape was changing. They left the last of the trees behind them and emerged onto a rolling moor, where the lush greenery and rich forest was replaced by short grass and low shrubs. It wasn’t bleak, like some moors Melody had been on, and the change from the shade and depths in the woodland was refreshing, like a dip in a clear sea. Their path led down a gentle slope to a shallow river that trickled and bubbled its way along a stony bed. They stopped to drink from its pure water, and found that it was easy to ford without the water reaching much above their ankles.

As they crossed the river and walked up the slight slope opposite, Melody could sense Erec becoming uneasy beside her. He didn’t say anything, but she knew that something was wrong. Looking around, she couldn’t see anything that would cause anxiety. The moorland was empty, dotted here and there by splashes of yellow that might be gorse bushes. Perched in one nearby was a bird that was evidently some species of warbler, and its clear and musical song was carefree and loud. It wouldn’t be singing like that if there was danger nearby. The sky too was clear, with a few light clouds scudding along on the breeze. All in all it was a lovely day, and Melody’s own mood was cheerful. She was walking a straight line across the moor, her path unobstructed, and her feelings were of anticipation. She didn’t think she had far to go to find her goal.

Cresting the ridge they could see, a good distance in front, a dark line on the horizon which might indicate a new band of trees. As they walked towards it Erec’s pace began to slow, and eventually he stopped.

‘What’s the matter?’ said Melody, keen to move on.

‘Is that where you’re going?’ asked Erec. Melody wasn’t sure whether he was nervous or afraid, but there was clearly something that he didn’t like.

‘Yes. Of course. That’s the way the track goes, straight on.’

‘Then I can’t go with you any further. I’m sorry.’

‘Why ever not? It’s only some trees. They look friendly.’

‘They’re not “only some trees”. It’s the beginning of a huge forest. Those trees guard the borders. We don’t go there.

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