Part III
Chapter 12
Naming One's Enemy
Connie woke to a pounding headache. Groaning, she rolled over onto her back, relived that her body did not feel like she was coming down with another cold.
"Welcome to the waking world, Connie. We've got plenty of herbs to get you through the day so get up," Neda prodded her.
"I don't want to. I'm calling in sick," Connie mumbled.
"Rangers never call in sick. I have some hot tea ready."
The chill around her made her bones ache. Connie dressed for warmth, not caring that her gloves and scarf she wound around her neck did not match. Gingerly, so as not to jolt her headache into a worse throb, she walked into the kitchen area. A hot cup of tea was handed to her with a hand guiding her to a chair at the table.
Connie took a sip of warm tea and then a gulp, grateful for the relief it gave her throat and headache.
"You're getting a reputation for stirring up things," Ranger Morra said.
Connie looked around her surprised, spotting the ranger sitting comfortably in a chair by the fire, staring at her. Ranger Morra rose to come stand in the kitchen doorway.
"Hi," Connie said hoarsely. Ranger Morra looked older and in a less worn uniform. Winter gloves and cap were creating a bulge in her side leg pockets. Her hair was shorter and the boots she wore looked too clean.
"I didn't know you came up this far." Connie could not stop the smile that covered her face. The smile was returned.
"We rangers cover a lot of ground. Since you left the tower, it got so quiet we had to go looking for trouble."
"And here you are," Neda told her. "You look too clean to be working."
Morra ignored her with the same attitude one had for a pestering sibling and stayed focused on Connie. "Captain Neda tells me that you have a knack for sniffing out poachers."
Connie felt her face redden with the attention, but liking it. It occurred to her that the reason why she joined the rangers was because she wanted to see more of Ranger Morra, though she realistically did not expect to see her very often, if at all.
"The ones that kidnapped you are relatively new up here. The people Mel was selling his captures to are who we're interested in. We've been hunting the Briggs Brothers for ten seasons. They're murders as well as poachers. I spoke with the constable and she reported vandalism started recently, just as winter started. That's when most people around the Sanctuary stay indoors due to the weather, so I'm guessing our hunt parties have driven them up here."
"Mel was a shapeshifter himself. He must really hate that part of himself," Connie said.
"Yes. Mouse, is what he calls himself. He wasn't considered dangerous where he's resided for the last six years so his caretakers didn't keep a sharp eye on him nor notify anyone that he disappeared until weeks had gone by."
"What are you going to ask me?" Connie said.
"The poachers know about this camp and will continue to attack it. From Mel we learned it's a well organized gang. While you and your group act as bait going about your training, the Rangers of Lewah will pick them off." Morra leaned close to Connie.
"Don't go wandering off alone unless directed. I'd like to be there the next time you cross paths with these poachers. This last encounter with them will seem like a walk in the garden. You're marked as an important target."
"I've been marked since my birth, so I've come to learn," Connie said.
"You've encountered the Besardo four times that we know of and you've escaped. You're an issue that the needs to be resolved. The poachers will be used to trap you and whoever else happens to be around you. Everyone that you've ever come in contact with is now a tool to entrap you."
"You don't need to make it sound like it's her fault," Neda said impatiently. "Every royal family member that is in line to assume a crown is in the same position, Connie. Even Besardo aren't safe from each other because they will sacrifice one of their own to terminate a target."
"Cousin Jennifer is Besardo," Connie said worriedly.
"Your mother is safer where she is than in a castle. Jennifer is under watch. The Besardio team she associates with has been identified. And like the stone that is tossed into still waters, we will follow the ripples and know more about that group and its associates than they'll be aware of. You're going to do wonders to their membership," Morra smiled.
"I hope you mean that their membership will be diminished."
"Yes. They are marked and are known by all shapeshifters, which is why there is a drive to eliminate our comrades."
Connie nodded, remembering that there is a distinct feel to people who had chosen the Besardo's malevolent way of life just as there is a distinct feel to poachers. Killers in spirit and physically had an ominous energy around them, and depending on how immersed they had become in the injurious energy, was how easy it was able to spot a person of evil intent.
"I'm sure they know that I'll be under protection, so that means it will be my friends that will be their target," Connie said.
"They don't care if it's a friend or not. They will present you with an offer, your life for others," Morra said. "You have to make up your mind
now, that what you have to offer to your people and land is important enough for you to survive to claim your crown and rule."
Connie was going to give a quick answer that of course she took her responsibility of a royal person seriously when it came to her that she really hadn't thought about it from that point of view. What or who would she sacrifice to become queen?
"If they want trouble, I will take it to them. I'm not going to wait," Connie said firmly.
Neda smiled. "She doesn't sound sick at all to me."
Morra smiled too. "That would be one tactic. But before you eliminate anyone or add someone to your list, remember that looks can be deceiving and that's exactly what Besardo that have risen to the decision making table are -- masters of deceit."
"Every group has a leader. Do you know who is the leader?" Connie asked.
Morra shook her head. "No. Magick is surrounding that person. No one has been able to part the veil."
"Then I shall." Connie felt with her heart that it was imperative for her to find the leader and remove him….or her.
"Then let's prepare the area for your travel," Morra said. "And remember, whatever you see, be sure you're not seeing what another is wanting you to see."
Neda nodded. "There have been many hurt feelings over the years by accusations. Some bitter feelings have been taken to the grave or carried on by the next generation. Needless conflicts within the family should be avoided. It confuses the trail as well as supplies more member fodder to the lot."
*.*.*.*.*
It wasn't the type of circle that Ramla or Rozene taught her to protect herself with. It was what the Wolf, the creature of the ring had suggested. Her intention was not to just protect those around her but to keep them from knowing what she was about to do. Secrets are best kept when only those directly involved know.
Within the three protection circles was her own space that was cleared of any personal items that belonged to her, so the person she was hunting couldn't use to trace back to her. Everything had energy that could be identified back to its owner.
Connie wasn't so careless as to not veil herself, but her choice of covering was the skin of a wolf, the very wolf that was guiding her on this venture into a wilderness that had no known guardian or host.
*.*.*.*.*
Everything was in colorless shadows that gave the appearance of looking at reflections in a dark pool of still water. Even the movement of air caused ripples in this realm, distorting the shadows to silvery disjointed images. Connie moved through the space, sniffing and sensing for something the Wolf called melancholia in its flower form -- rotted.
Connie's years of developing sensory organs in her visits to various dimensions and realms was advantageous in not feeling off balance in moving in this strange environment. The first contact was an attack. There was no curiosity of who shared space. There was no sense of proprietary of the space. There was no sense of another filling the space.
To know how a body of energy can move through another without either affecting the other is something that needs to be experienced. As a diver would slice through the water, Connie cut through the first wave. There was no resistance or hindrance to her progress in this part of somewhere. The next wave was quickly followed with another and soon it was like a stormy sea, where froth rimmed waves spit white flecks of foam across the wind driven air. Here the flecks were sparks of energy, bright blue against a flat gray background. The rolling of energy beneath her feet were the waves, and those too she moved through as if they were nothing, which to her, were nothing.
Tactics were changed and other forms of attack came, as of yet, not touching Connie. She realized that soon whoever was trying to prevent her from entering this space was going to find a method to reach her. It was time for her to make her move.
Connie stepped past the silvery energy wall, using her claws to part the veil. Standing in the center was a robed figure with the cowl pulled low over the face, leaving only the mouth showing. A scowl on twisted thin lips turned into a snarl and something came flying toward her. Connie stepped aside and snapped at the figure. Grabbing cloth between her sharp teeth, Connie pulled on the material and the robe no longer covered the figure as it dissipated.
The space was neutral, being neither positive nor negative, dark nor light. It was space somewhere; therefore not a place to leave in light or bless with good feelings. Connie sniffed the air picking up the burnt scent of saffron. Something was left behind; a single crocus thread of rotting stigma. To bring it back with her would be giving a connection to her. Connie stood above it, using it to take her to the owner.
Quickly she moved through space and into another's circle. Her attacker was not expecting to be followed back and was busy opening up the protection circle. Connie watched as the figure straightened up holding the stone that closed the circle. Once the circle was opened, a familiar face outside the circle caught sight of Connie. The girls screech had the figure turning quickly and Connie pushed the stigma out of the neutral space into the figures broken circle and left.
Connie fled back out of the space and sat in her own circle. The coat of wolf fur slipped off her and morphed into the Wolf. Connie waited to be sure they had not been followed back before closing any opening and wiping traces of any energy she may have carried back with her. No chants were made; her presence was cleared. The pin space she had used to enter that realm was closed.
For a long time Connie sat in her circle thinking of what she had seen. Was the girl that appeared, a younger version of who she knew, a look-a-like relative or was it a look into the past? Or, was it how the figure in the circle saw the girl. Connie could not say for sure whether the figure was male or female, nor could she decide whether this figure was who she was looking for. There were many people looking for the leader of the Besardo. Was that why she returned the one thing that could have been used to track the figure back to his or her home? What if this person had left it purposely to entice the leader in order to entrap him or her?
Continued