The Relics of Illayan by Kathryn Knowles

Author:Kathryn Knowles [Knowles, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mad Endeavour

13

A Festival

Catanya ran, stumbling over her own feet. Faceless soldiers were pursuing her and her only weapon was a fragile stick she had grabbed off the forest floor. The harder she tried to run, the faster the soldiers gained on her. And then she fell, tumbling down a steep, never-ending hill until finally she crashed into the mossy earth at the bottom. Everything was calm. She was safe. A community had gathered around her and someone was helping her to her feet. But who was it?

Catanya awoke with a start. She sat in bed trying to remember how the dream had ended, but with every waking second it seemed to slip farther away.

In the dream, a group had gathered underneath a canopy tent somewhere deep in the forest, but the scene was unusual. The trees appeared ancient and gnarled, and the people were strangers to her. She hadn’t recognized any of them except—

“That man!” she said aloud.

She was sure of it. It was the thief from the woods. But why was she dreaming about him? What was he doing there? She groaned and pressed her hands against her eyes, as she swung her legs around the side of the bed to reach the floor.

She squeezed the bedpost and stood up, blinking bright spots out of her vision. “Get a grip on yourself, Catanya. It was only a dream.” She crossed the room to the wardrobe and began rifling through its contents.

She was eager to find Jémys. He always managed to take her mind off whatever was troubling her. In fact, she was starting to think that nothing in her life made sense anymore, except for him.

It was a beautiful, crisp morning. Catanya headed out to the garden, where she found Nelle. A gentle mist hung in the air and somewhere nearby, a mourning dove cooed.

“Good morning,” she said, yawning as she knelt beside Nelle on the edge of the cabbage patch. “Where’s Jémys?” She looked around, disappointed not to see him.

“Oh, you just missed him. He’s off hunting, but he should be back before noon.” She turned to face Catanya. “Oh, dear, you look a bit drawn. Are you ill?”

“No, I just had a restless night. I’m fine.” She stifled another yawn as she waved away Nelle’s concern. “What do you need me to do today?”

Nelle gave her an appraising look, and then seemed to accept Catanya’s assurances she was fine. “Well, I could use your help in the garden this morning to speed things along. Afterward, we can head to the orchard and start setting everything up for the festival tomorrow. Here.” She handed Catanya a basket. “You work from that side and we’ll meet in the middle.”

The vegetable garden was expansive. Besides the voluminous cabbage patch at one end, there were rows upon rows of beans, onions, potatoes, and carrots, all ripening in time for the harvest. The far end of the garden fence was overgrown by a thick row of raspberry bushes, which still held a few fruits.

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