Chapter 21 - Warmth

Brewer almost lost his balance and had to put a hand on the couch to steady himself. His heart leapt with joy. His soul was crushed with shame. Down on his knees he went. Great sobs wracked him.

“Sara, oh Sara. I’ve done such a terrible thing.”

Sara removed the familiar shiny belt from her waist. She did something to the jewel on it, and it sizzled to life, deadly in its intent.

Brewer’s head hung down, tears rolling down his cheeks, ready.

Snick.

The metal collar fell away. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I, I missed you so much,” she said.

Dare he hope? Sara filled Brewer’s vision. He slowly lifted his hands toward her.

She grabbed them, hauled him up. “I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner. I hope you can forgive me.”

Hesitantly, Brewer reached around her. She flung herself into his arms. The two embraced.

Sara released him and inspected the contents of the tent.

Brewer looked at her, at her belly. “Sara, you’re pregnant!” A fierce resolve lit a fire in his heart.

She grinned at him. “Welcome to fatherhood.”

He smiled and quickly wiped it off. “We have to get out. Now. You’re in danger.”

“I’ve been warned. Any other way out?”

Brewer nodded. He led her to the back flap. “We’ll need a disguise so people don’t mess with us. Grab one of the robes.”

Thick robes acquired, they went out into the yard. Sara used her belt to cinch the robe over her bump. Using the spear, she ripped a hole in the cloth privacy fence around the yard.

Huddled close with hoods drawn down, the pair walked down the main boulevard toward the town gate. There were a lot of rushing people with weapons in the street.

“There’s things I have to tell you,” whispered Brewer.

“Shh. It can wait.”

A squad of soldiers was marching down the street toward them. Brewer hung his head down, his heart racing but they went past the couple. He thought it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. Two Handmaidens trying to be demure, one with a spear, the other with an ill-fitting robe, were bound to garner suspicion. His gait increased.

“We should hurry.” He walked ahead of her, tugging on her sleeve.

“If we run, they’ll know we’re not who we’re supposed to be. We’ll have another chance. I have one more surprise for them. Any minute now.”

Brewer struggled to keep from breaking into a run. They did pick up the pace.

The gatehouse came into view. Twin explosions from behind them reverberated through the street.

Brewer jumped. “What was that?”

“A lot of my favorite plastic explosive going off.”

Brewer chanced a look back. “Where did you put it?”

“There were these two large wagons.”

Brewer stopped. Sara ran into him. She looked puzzled.

Brewer said one word. “Run.”

They broke into a flat run. The gatehouse creeped closer.

Ahead, armed guards stood at the gate. Weapons were drawn.

The sergeant in charge moved to block them. “Halt! Stand down!”

“The wagons! That was the wagons!” yelled Brewer as they rushed toward the open door.

The man’s eyes bugged. His jaw fell open and his spear clattered to the ground as the two ran past him. General disorder broke out in their wake.

Brewer and Sara sprinted through the door.

With the town walls behind them, Sara turned him off the road and onto the snow-covered field. The sparse amount of accumulation didn’t slow Brewer. He didn’t have any intention of slowing down.

“What’s going on? What did I do?” Sara’s words came out ragged as she ran.

“The wagons had some weapon from the Before Times.”

The snow acquired a ruddy orange glow, becoming brighter and brighter. Sharp shadows ran across the ground, shifting in a changing light, drawing closer to their anchors.

“Oh crap.”

“Get down! Cover your eyes!” Brewer pushed Sara down. He tried to get on top of her while covering his eyes with his hands.

Everything flashed white through his hands. A wave of hot washed over them. The ground shook, and a bone-shaking sound rumbled. Blinking away the dazzle, Brewer helped Sara up.

“Holy Gaia shit balls!” Sara was looking back at the town. Somehow, the walls still stood.

“We have to keep going. They’re going to be looking for us.” Brewer pulled his robe shut against the cold.

Sara turned to him. “Do you think anyone survived that?”

“I don’t know. I only saw what happened when one got used on a Cloister, not in the open. But if Lystra did, she’ll be sending people out looking for someone running away. That would be us.”

Sara nodded.

The giddy feeling at still being alive faded rapidly in Brewer. “Sara, I have to talk to you. I have so much to tell you, about the bad things I did. I’m not the same person.”

“I’ve changed too. So many things happened to me. We have a lot to talk about.”

She moved in and embraced him, resting her head on his chest. Brewer squeezed her tight, feeling her body against his, smelling her hair under the stars and moon. He didn’t want to let go.

Sara pushed him off. “That will have to wait. We have some distance to go.”

They walked side by side toward the rising mountains.

* * *

Silvery light filtered through the scudding clouds, offering some illumination. Sara pointed ahead with the spear. The white space of the glen glowed under the broken moonlight, plainly visible through the trees.

“Maggie’s there. We get on, ride through the mountains, and leave all this behind.”

Brewer nodded. At some point in their trek, he had reached out and taken her hand. She didn’t say a word but instead squeezed his hand and held on.

Maggie was at the far end of the snow covered meadow. Her head was erect, ears pricked up, stamping her hooves.

“Maggie!” Brewer stepped out into the open with Sara in tow.

They got a few steps into the clearing when Sara pulled Brewer to a stop. “Wait. I didn’t tie her there.” Immediately she dropped into a defensive pose, spear in two hands.

A single pair of hands clapping could be heard.

“Well done. A slight oversight on our part and you picked up on it. Well done indeed.” The Captain stepped out from the trees at the end of the clearing near Maggie.

“You!” said Brewer.

“I knew you would be involved in this somehow. I just knew it. And you.” The Captain gloated. “Sagaro. Do you really think a pregnant woman could sneak in unnoticed? Your tracks led us right here.”

Sara growled in the back of her throat.

A solitary “Ha” escaped the Captain. “Oh, I’m sure you are very intimidating. Especially to that weak excuse of a man. By the way, thank you for bringing this.” He stepped out of the way, revealing Sara’s canister. “We’ve been looking for it.”

Brewer was wondering why the Captain was revealing so much. It was out of character. “Sara, behind us.”

Sara pivoted. James had come out of the underbrush behind them.

“You are pretty smart, Brewer. I’ll give you that. James, kill them.”

A murderous grin widened from ear to ear. “Finally.”

James held his spear at ready, pointed at Sara’s eyes.

“Get back, Brewer.”

The two circled, feet shuffling in the snow.

Brewer went to the side where he could keep an eye on the combatants and the Captain.

The Captain watched, hand on his hip. Luann stepped out of the tree line, huge pack on her back, watching. A sudden smile appeared on the Captain’s face.

Brewer turned to see Sara and James. James had trapped Sara’s spear point in the ground and was using his greater strength to push her down. Sara strained to hold him back. James was closing the gap to her.

Suddenly, she dropped down and swept her leg, catching James’ foot. He stumbled but kept upright. It was enough for Sara to free her spear and recover. James spun around to face her.

“Ya thunk ya were pretty slick wit that, huh?”

Sara didn’t say a word. She jabbed at his chest which he pushed aside. He returned a stab at her face. She parried and thrust back at James’ face.

Brewer looked at the Captain. The smile was gone. He had stepped into the clearing, edging closer. Brewer needed to warn Sara.

He shifted his attention back to the fight.

Sara and James were locked together, haft against haft. She didn’t have traction and was being pushed through the snow. Sara glistened in the moonlight. Her teeth were clenched.

James was laughing. “After dis, gunna skewer yer worthless boyfriend like I shoulda back then. Is he the daddy? Make it one for all, you fucking breeder!”

He had his hand on her spear. She couldn’t wrest it away from his iron grip. Slowly, it was being pulled out of her hands.

Brewer was horrified. He had to do something. She was being pushed toward the Captain and didn’t realize it. She had to be warned.

“Sara! It’s a trap!”

Sara let go of the spear.

“Ha!” James held both spears aloft.

Immediately, Sara ripped the belt off and whipped its limp form straight down toward James’ head.

Still laughing, he brought his spear up to block the belt.

At the apex of the arc, Sara pressed the jewel in the buckle. Becoming straight and sharp beyond reason, it passed through the haft, the head and came out the crotch.

James’ face registered surprise for an instant before the two halves fell away. Red ichor created Rorschach art in the silver light upon the snow.

Gulping air in large breaths, Sara turned to face the Captain, sword shimmering.

The Captain had his gun drawn.

“That was pretty impressive. Won’t do you any good now. I think play time is...”

Luann brought a frying pan down on the Captain’s hand. Brewer heard a metallic ping and a sickening, dull crunch. The Captain screamed and clutched at his hand. Luann administered a left cross, silencing him. He went flying into the trees.

Luann turned to face Brewer. She signed, “I am so sorry for everything that happened to you. You didn’t deserve it.” Wet lines were under her eyes.

“Who’s the lugger?” Sara puffed. Her sword was pointed at Luann.

“She’s a friend. Luann, meet Sara. Sara, Luann.”

Luann signed hello at Sara. Sara dropped the point of the sword.

Brewer signed to Luann. “You saved us. This is going to be very bad for you.”

“I did save you. And now, you have to go. The others will be back soon.”

“What is she saying?” said Sara.

“That others will be back soon, and we have to go now.”

Sara nodded. Deactivating the belt, she went to the canister and tried to haul it to Maggie. “A little help?” she said over her shoulder.

Luann looked at Brewer and went to help her. She lifted the canister straight up with one hand and took it to Maggie.

Brewer signed, “You should come with us. It’s not going to be safe for you.”

“I know.” Luann looked off to the side of the clearing. Sara had wrestled the canister into position on Maggie and lashed it fast.

Luann pointed to the northwest. “There’s an old iron road that way. We were supposed to follow it. The rumor is that there is a settlement along it. If there’s a way through these mountains, they would know.”

Sara brought Maggie around.

Brewer ran to Luann and tried to embrace her. She pushed him away. “No, I let this happen to you.”

“And you fixed it. I will never forget you.” This time he succeeded. She was too large for his arms to get around her.

Luann hesitated and then put her arms around him. Brewer was engulfed.

“Brewer, come on! This is our chance.”

Brewer reappeared from the folds of Luann’s arms.

“She’s right,” signed Luann. “She’s smart. Keep her happy.”

“I will. Good bye, Luann.”

“Good bye and good luck. Go, my friend.”

Sara was already up on Maggie’s saddle. She held an arm out.

Brewer took it and went behind her. Snow was starting to drift down.

Together, they rode toward the promise of escape.

* * *

The snow whipped across her face, faster and thicker now, wind cutting into her bones. The precious light of the moon faded behind the clouds. Pitch black stained her vision. She felt Brewer’s hands on her waist.

“We can’t go on like this!” Sara shouted over her shoulder.

“We have to. Lystra will find us.”

“This is insane. I can’t see anything. We could get hurt.”

“If she finds us, it will be worse.”

Sara didn’t know what to respond. Brewer had been acting strange since she found him. Like he was guilty. Of what, she couldn’t imagine. She would ask him later, provided they survived this.

Maggie hadn’t run into anything so far. Just the occasional low branch, dumping additional snow on them. Those were cold reminders of the danger they were in.

There was a flashlight somewhere in one of the saddlebags. She needed to dig it out. Enough time and distance had passed that it should be safe. As if someone were stupid enough to be out in the howling blizzard. She pulled on Maggie’s reins.

“Why are you stopping? We have to keep going. It’s not safe.”

“Calm down. I’m getting a flashlight. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

Brewer was silent.

Sara dismounted and went into the packs. Brewer got off and stood over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I just don’t want to be caught and go back.” He buried his face in his hands.

Sara turned to face him and put a hand on his arm. “Hey, it’s alright. Look, I found you, and we got out. We escaped whatever happened in the town. We got past that guy in the clearing. We’re going to make it.”

There wasn’t enough light to see what Brewer was doing but his darkened form seem to shudder. She shoved her hand into the pack and pulled out the light. A quick couple of shakes and she thumbed it on.

Brewer had his back to her.

The beam held Brewer frozen in the cone. Furious white flecks swirled across the light. The wind blew in earnest, cutting through the coats and robe.

She reached and put her hand on his back.

He shied away from her touch.

“Brewer?” She hesitated. “Sweetheart?”

He spun around. “Don’t call me that.” His head tilted down, softly going from side to side.

“I don’t understand. What’s going on? What happened?”

Brewer’s shoulders slumped.

“It’s alright. You can tell me.” Tentatively, she put her hand on him.

He didn’t flinch this time. Instead, he moved close to her, wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She could feel the heat of his breath on her neck.

“I was weak. I didn’t stop her. I did things with her. I was so afraid.” He spoke in a whisper into her ear.

She pulled back to see his face. Slow tears rolled down, freezing on his cheeks.

“Did you want to be with her? Did you want to do those things with her?”

Brewer shook his head. He looked at his feet.

Sara said, “It doesn’t matter to me, what you did. As long as you want to be with me.”

Brewer mumbled, words lost to the wind.

“What?”

“I said I thought of you. To get me through what was happening to me.”

“Oh, Brewer!” She hugged him tight. “I though about you all the time, too.”

The keening wind intruded on their shared warmth, the only comfort they had had in a long time.

Maggie snorted.

Sara’s teeth were chattering. So were Brewer’s.

“Time to get moving,” she said. “Otherwise, we’ll freeze to death out here.”

They walked next to each other. Brewer held Maggie’s reins. The light made a bright tunnel in the darkness. Snow whipped through it.

An interminable time later, they reached a bank of snow stretching from one side to the other in front of them.

“The iron road?” said Brewer.

“Dear Gaia, I hope so.”

They climbed the slope to find a lane on top. There was an elevated lip on the edge Sara almost tripped on. It was barely visible through the accumulating snow. Brewer got Maggie to the flat surface with a lot of coaxing. They started west.

Sara was losing feeling in her extremities. She had a hard time flexing her fingers. Brewer was silent. His gait was mechanical, head down, watching the circle of light she projected in front.

The iron road was rising. The pines moaned on either side. The wind pushed on her. She was thankful that there seemed to be crosspieces under the snow to give her traction.

A strong gust cut through her coats. All she could see were furious white fragments assembled into a blinding wall. And in the space beyond the snow, there was a growing darkness the light didn’t touch.

Brewer slipped and stumbled. He was on his hands and knees.

Sara bent down to help him.

He pulled her close. “Take Maggie. Keep going,” he yelled against the shrieking wind.

“I’m not leaving you. You have to help me raise this kid.” The wind snatched her words away. She helped him up.

They leaned against each other and staggered forward.

The wind had picked up a deep bass note. The flashlight had died. She needed to shake it to life again but was too tired. The wind was winning. She could feel her body about to tip over from exhaustion.

Another step. Just take another step.

The wind cut off suddenly. She almost lost her footing. A shake and the light reignited.

Brewer stood next to her. Maggie nosed her way past them. Outside the wind screamed, deprived of its prey.

The sound of dripping water from deeper in provided a counterpoint to the sound outside.

Steam rose from Maggie. Sara’s coat dripped and Brewer’s robe hung heavily on him.

“Where are we?” The light went all about the smooth walls and roof. The texture didn’t look like rock.

“Something from the Before Times. There’s the iron road.”

Sara brought the light down. Twin shiny rails of some unknown metal impervious to the ages ran from the opening into the depths.

Eddies from beyond the entrance tugged at their clothes. Sara felt warm air on her face.

“I guess we keep going in.” The darkness drank the light. She looked at Brewer.

He nodded. “We can’t go back.”