Fire Bringer (16 page)

At first Rannoch had wanted to move and run, run anywhere, but he had only been able to lie there, helpless and afraid. But, as he watched, he grew strangely calm again and he closed his eyes in his dream as he opened them on the hill. Although Rannoch felt alone there on the hill, there was also a strength stirring in that inner sense that was awakening in him. Rannoch shivered as he heard the wind moan gently above him. The scent of the earth was heavy around him, and then suddenly he felt that tingling and shaking all over his body. As though drawn by a force he didn’t understand Rannoch got up and looked over to Quaich. His head was resting on Morar’s warm stomach, rising up and down with her steady breath. But the fawn’s own breath was shallow and painful and his legs twitched as he shivered bitterly.

Quietly, without waking Bracken or the other deer, Rannoch picked his way over to where Morar and Quaich were lying. He looked down for a while at the helpless little deer and then, quite suddenly, he lay down next to him, curling his legs up and resting his own body against Quaich’s. The little deer stirred but didn’t wake and after a while he seemed to relax, warmed between his mother and the fawn. That night, Quaich dreamt of his father and as he did so his breathing became gentler and more regular.

By morning Quaich had recovered a little, though Rannoch had left his side by the time he awoke. He sat in the hollow as his mother licked and groomed him. But it was clear to the hinds that he was too weak to travel. He suckled greedily at Morar’s side that day while the others brought her food and, towards Larn, he was even up and walking around. The deer decided to stay where they were for another night though, and so they settled down again under the stars. Again Quaich dreamt that his father had come to him in the night and warmed him and the next morning he felt very refreshed and well enough to travel.

The weather had also grown a little warmer, and the deer set off again through the snow, heading north-west. They came on a shallow burn at midday and drank from its waters and even found a clump of blackberries with a few shrivelled fruits on its bushes. It was hardly enough for a full-grown deer but at least it was something and the hinds insisted that the fawns have what there was. Beyond the burn they came to a peat moor and crossed its soft flanks, slipping through the slushy snow into pools and bogs where man had cut away the turf to feed his fires. Rannoch’s fawn mark was soon obscured from falling again and again into the brackish puddles.

So on they travelled, uncertain of where they were going or what they were looking for, feeding as best they could and turning away to the west or east to avoid the few signs of man they came across. They travelled like this for three suns, crossing hill after hill, rising higher as they did so yet seeing no sign of other deer. At last the slopes dropped away into a wide valley and below they saw a great river and a forest beyond.

Bhreac grew anxious as they came down the slopes to the river’s edge, for it was wide and swollen and its fast current bubbled east and west as far as the old deer could see. But the deer’s hearts had lifted at the sight of the forest stretching away to the west, as it promised food and shelter, and now they were determined to cross.

Alyth ventured into the water first but the river was soon up to her haunches and the swift stream tugged so hard at her legs that she was nearly knocked over. So she backed out again and the deer turned west, running along the river bank.

Rannoch and Tain rushed on eagerly ahead and, after a time, the two fawns shouted back that they had found something. They had come upon a narrow section of water where a length of thick hemp cord had been strung right across its width. Though there was no raft in sight, for it had been tied carelessly one day and had been washed away in an autumn torrent, this was a ferry point where man had used his ingenuity and learnt to keep dry and safe by pulling himself from one bank to the other on planks of wood. The deer had no notion of what the cord was for but it gave Rannoch an idea and, remembering how the rope at the bridge had stopped him tipping into the ravine, he suggested that the deer could use it to stop themselves being swept away by the river.

Bhreac wasn’t at all happy with the idea for she hated water but the others thought it a good plan and Alyth ventured out first, going slowly and letting the rope steady her in the middle of the river where the current was fastest. In fact this was the shallowest part of the river, the only place where the deer could have crossed in safety, for at its deepest point the water only came up to her haunches.

Though the river was bitterly cold Alyth was on the other bank in no time and calling to the others to follow. The hinds led their fawns into the water, making sure that there was always a fawn between two adults, although the twins insisted on crossing together. Canisp went first, followed by Bankfoot, then Bracken and Rannoch and the rest. Bhreac grumbled sourly as she brought up the rear.

The fawns were soon soaked as the river rushed cold and furious over their fur and made their legs quiver. But all of them kept their heads well above the surface and, steadied by the rope, picked their way over the stones. Rannoch, Bankfoot and the twins had all reached the further bank and were shaking themselves dry, when Willow suddenly cried out.

A heavy branch that had broken off a tree high in the hills and fallen into the plunging waters, was rushing downstream straight towards Quaich. Quaich, whose legs were weak and who was making slow progress, froze and began to shake uncontrollably. The little fawn would have been hit full on if Bhreac, roused by Willow’s shout, hadn’t thrown her body in front of him.

The log struck the deer full in the side, spinning off her flank and only narrowly missing Quaich. The old deer was badly winded and far away from the rope. The river bed dropped away suddenly and Bhreac slipped, plunging forwards and disappearing into the water. Her head came up again, spluttering and wheezing, but the current had her now and hurled her against the cord.

Her neck caught on it and for a moment she was held. But suddenly, as the blocked waters gained power, Bhreac was swept under and away. Morar and Quaich managed to gain the bank but, although she kicked and struggled desperately, Bhreac was carried further and further downstream.

The hinds and the fawns ran after her, shouting frantically as they watched their friend fighting to keep afloat. But the strength was gone from her and her head kept plunging down into the icy depths. On the deer ran along the bank, watching the ghastly spectacle helplessly. Suddenly they all cried out in horror. Ahead lay a great rock. The river was bubbling and foaming around its granite sides and Bhreac was hurtling straight towards it.

Bhreac hit the rock full on and her body went limp. To the right of the rock the river gave onto a small tributary and now Bhreac’s body was carried into it and away from the torrent, so that in the foamy swell she was lifted right onto the sloping bank where she lay motionless.

The hinds feared the worst but as they approached, the fawns let out a joyful shout. Bhreac had raised her head. She staggered to her feet and looked around her. Then her legs suddenly buckled again and she sunk back down onto the bank. By the time the deer got to her Bhreac was quite still, her eyes open but not a spark of life coming from the dark orbs. Bhreac’s great, kind heart had given out.

The fawns stood watching in horror as the hinds licked and nudged her. But it was no good. They all stood there, staring down blankly at their old friend. It started to snow again, the flakes dying on the foaming water.

Very quietly, Shira came up to Bracken.

‘Come, my dear,’ she said gravely. ‘The little ones are cold and Bhreac would have wanted us to think of them first.’

Bracken was too stunned to speak. Walking slowly and looking back as they went, Shira led the deer over to the shelter of the trees.

That night they were too dazed to know what to do. They kept to the edge of the forest, near the river and looked out mournfully as the swirls of snow shawled the land with a cold beauty. They talked very little and spent most of their time foraging half-heartedly for food. The fawns settled down to sleep as best they could beneath the trees while their mothers talked quietly together.

With Bhreac gone they felt leaderless and desperately alone, but worst hit was poor Bracken. She knew that without Bhreac she might have given up long ago.

‘Oh, Herne,’ she muttered to herself as she watched Rannoch and the others sleeping, ‘let me be strong enough to protect him.’

The next day the hinds agreed that they should keep to Bhreac’s plan to head on towards the High Land and press north-west, using the forest for cover as long as they could, but also keeping on the edge of the open. This way they could have a better command of the country and watch for any signs of the Draila.

The deer set off late that morning. It had stopped snowing and the day was clean and clear. It was about midday when Canisp pulled them up. She had noticed tracks on the edge of the trees. They were slot marks and all around them lay deer droppings, scattered about like little blackened acorns.

‘Herla?’ whispered Bracken.

‘Yes,’ said Canisp, sniffing the ground and twitching her nose, ‘and the slots are quite fresh too. But not red deer. Look at their size – they’re much smaller than ours. And you notice the way they point at the end?’

Now, on the lower branches of the trees and the bushes, the deer began to scent the musk that the unknown Herla had rubbed off from the glands on their own bodies to mark their territory.

‘We’d better be careful,’ said Fern, ‘until we know if Drail has sent word. Not many of the Clovar acknowledge Drail but some came to pay their respects to him at Anlach.’

Bracken nodded. Though all deer are called Herla, Clovar is the special term red deer use for other species in the Great Land, including roe and fallow deer.

‘I’ll go ahead with Canisp,’ said Fern. ‘You stay here with the fawns.’

The two hinds set off straight away and the others waited nervously as the sun rose high into the blue, its weak yellow light softening the snow. Afternoon was approaching when they sighted the hinds again. In the distance, further up the valley and clear of the forest, Fern and Canisp were running back towards them. They were flanked by four stags. The fawns were amazed, for their antlers rose like palms from their heads and they were small, hardly bigger than the hinds at their sides. The friends stirred fearfully, but Canisp called out to them as she ran.

‘It’s all right,’ she shouted happily. ‘They’re friendly. They’ve never even heard of Drail. And it’s wonderful. There’s so much food.’

The stags were fallow deer and they bowed their strange antlers to the hinds as they reached the trees. The most senior deer was called Scarp. He was rather a handsome, dappled deer with splendid fanning antlers, but he had a strange, lost look and a tendency to stare. He bowed especially low as he came up to them.

‘Welcome,’ he said. ’Canisp has told us all about your journey. Very terrible, I’m sure. Well, never mind, you’re safe now. That’s all that matters.’

The other stags were soon inspecting the fawns and welcoming the hinds. They seemed particularly interested in the bucks. The hinds were all rather bewildered by the warmth of the stag’s welcome, for although it is not that unusual to see different species of deer together in the wild, it usually takes time for them to learn each other’s scents and habits. The fallow deer showed no such reserve.

‘You must all be very tired,’ Scarp went on, ‘and hungry, I’ll bet. We’ll soon see to that. Come along, come along.’

Scarp turned and, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, made to lead them back in the direction they had come.

‘Wait,’ said Shira, stepping forward suddenly. ‘This is all very well but we don’t know anything about you. I mean, how many of you are there? How far is your herd? Where’s the Home Oak?’

Scarp looked rather expressionless.

‘The Home Oak?’ he said. ‘I don’t know what you mean, I’m sure. But as for how many we are and where the herd is, you’ll see soon enough.’

Canisp had already called Bankfoot to her side and was getting ready to set off but Shira looked doubtfully at Bracken and Scarp saw it.

‘Please don’t worry,’ he said immediately. ‘You’re among friends now, I assure you. Please come along.’

‘Come on,’ said Alyth. ’What are we waiting for?’

‘I suppose it’s worth taking a look,’ said Shira.

As the others set off with the stags, Bracken turned to Rannoch.

‘Rannoch?’ she whispered softly, for she could see he was holding back. The little fawn was standing in the shadow of the trees, shaking.

‘What is it, my little one?’ said Bracken. ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘Oh, Mamma,’ said Rannoch, ‘I don’t know. I don’t think they really mean us harm. But. . . but I don’t like their eyes.’

Bracken nuzzled the fawn.

‘Well, let’s follow them at least. But stay close to me,’ said Bracken as confidently as she could. ‘I promise, whatever happens, no harm will come to you.’

Bracken and Rannoch set off too. The trees swung west in a great arc and after a time the hinds and the fawns spotted a large herd of fallow deer, grouped over a wide stretch of open ground and mostly sitting down. They noticed immediately how close the hinds and the stags were to one another, even intermingling in places. They were ruminating in the snow but as the deer approached they hardly stirred or looked up. There wasn’t much pasture uncovered but Bracken noticed how extraordinarily well fed they all looked. Even fat. Scarp led the group through the herd to the edge of the forest where eight more stags were waiting in a semicircle.

‘We would like to thank you for your welcome,’ said Alyth as they arrived. ‘Where is the Lord of the Herd?’

The stags looked at each other in bewilderment, before a deer called Dearg stepped forward. Like Scarp his eyes had a strange, faraway look.

‘We have no need of a Lord of the Herd here,’ he answered quietly.

‘No lord?’ said Alyth with surprise. ‘Who’s in charge? Perhaps a captain of the Corps, or an Outrider?’