Liquid Diamond (14 page)

“
You still have not answered my other questions. What are you doing in my master’s home?” demanded the old woman, showing signs of her spirit.

Not wanting to jeopardize their safety, Natalia chose not to contradict the old woman.

“
We’re on our way to Ghost Mountain to find the Clique. We needed a shelter for the night and when we found this place and nobody was here, we thought it would be okay,” replied Natalia.

“
That’s right, we just needed a place to rest for the night,” said Catalyst, hoping his words would carry more weight with the old woman.

“
The Clique, I see. You’ll have a hard time finding them,” said the old woman as her eyes misted over and turned to a dark green. Seeing this transformation, Natalia knew exactly what this being was and what she was capable of doing.

“
Do you know where they are? Can you tell us?” asked Natalia hopefully.

“
Yes and no. They come, they go, they travel far and they travel fast. It’s impossible to know exactly where or when they will be,” replied the old woman, trying to make sense of the people, places and things she was seeing.

“
Can you tell us anything about where they might be?” asked Catalyst.

With her eyes still staring off into nothing, they misted back to pure white as she returned to her evil self.

“
No, I will tell you nothing!” snapped the old woman.

“
But you’re a spirit – surely you saw something that would help us?” said Catalyst, almost begging.

“
I have seen a great many things, but each of us has our own journey to make in this life and the unknown path is as important as the known path. Right now yours is the unknown path.” Leaving just as fast as it came, the spirit disappeared out of the door.

“
That, Natalia, was a hag.”

“
I know, we have them on Earth, only ours show up when you deny their existence and scare that right out of you. They don’t hang around guarding someone’s abandoned home or answering questions, and all of that stuff sounded like a lot of needless babble,” interrupted Natalia.

“
Well our spirits do. They can also see into the future and they’re supposed to help those in need. I don’t know why she wouldn’t tell us where to look for the Clique, but she must have a reason for it,” said Catalyst.

“
Of course she did. Did you not see how evil she was when she came through the door? She’s only trying to make things harder for us,” said Natalia.

“
Maybe, but what if she did tell us, Natalia? What if that information leads to real danger or even death because we chose to avoid what was coming or maybe ran right into it? I have to believe she wouldn’t tell us for a better reason than to make things harder. Even if that were the case, do you really want to know the future and ruin the point of getting out of bed tomorrow?” asked Catalyst, trying to make Natalia feel better.

“
Only when it comes to the lottery, but I see your point,” laughed Natalia.

“
Lottery? Hmm,” mumbled Catalyst, wondering just what that was. An hour later Natalia had eaten half of what was on Catalyst’s plate and was now fast asleep, while Catalyst cleaned up the food from Natalia’s shattered mess and kept watch over her.

#

As the Elf sat on his self-made throne eating what meat he could from the leg of the Blemmye Catalyst had boiled, he knew he needed to save his life from the vengeance of the Clique. So with the thigh of the Blemmye in hand the Elf set off. Maybe the strength of Natalia’s ten-year-old little girl perfume would be strong enough to leave behind enough of a scent for him to follow – after all, he could still smell it throughout his lair.

Heading into Domnyar’s village, the Elf followed the scent to and then from Domnyar’s hut. At the edge of the swamps, the Elf not only could smell the scent but see the oily trail left behind in the water. Although it only stretched out a few feet from the edge, it was more than enough to tell the Elf which way he needed to go.

“
If I can get ahead of them, then I can sneak up behind them as they pass by and this time tomorrow my debt to Sirdis and the Clique will be paid in full. Ah, this is going to be so easy, they won't even know what hit them,” said the Elf to himself as he bounced the Blemmye’s thighbone in his hands.

Not being exactly stupid, although he didn't know just where they were, he was able to make a good guess as to where they would have to go, and knowing that Natalia was only Human, the chances of them still being somewhere in the swamp were more than good enough for the Elf to plan around that, and plan he did.

When the sun rose the next morning, Catalyst chose not to wake Natalia while he made a small breakfast. He woke her gently but she still managed to growl at him for his efforts. Nonetheless, they had to move on.

Dragging herself from the comfortable warmth of her blanket with the thought of the old trader fresh in her mind and the fear of the spirit, Natalia refused breakfast as she pushed herself upright.

“
Did you dry my shoes, Catalyst?” asked Natalia as she looked for the fire he was supposed to build and hadn't.

“
You had one wet shoe and it dried itself, but now it stinks of swamp. Sorry,” replied Catalyst, handing her the shoe.

”
Ew! This smells worse than my nextdoor neighbour, Measha. Oh well, I'll just do as I always do,” said Natalia as she took her perfume from her pocket and sprayed more than enough into both shoes. With four sprays into the air it was just enough for Natalia to walk through.

The Elf found his point of ambush and, in need of an accomplice, he set about boiling the thighbone. Just as he would have it, an accomplice came to him, a beast so simple minded that all the Elf had to do was touch its back and concentrate on what he wanted it to do. The beast set off as it sniffed the air for the scent of Natalia’s ten-year-old little girl perfume.

Holding the door open for Natalia, Catalyst had it ripped from his hand and slammed in his face.

Turning around at the sound of a creak, Natalia’s stomach contracted in fear at the sight of the old woman standing there.

“
How did you get in here?” asked Catalyst without concern.

“
I've been here all night, watching, wondering, contemplating just what to do about the two of you,” replied the old woman.

“
We watched you leave,” said Natalia.

“
You only saw what you and I wanted you to see, but it matters not. What does matter is it seems I have little choice but to offer the two of you some help,” said the old woman.

“
You could tell us where to find the Clique,” said Catalyst.

“
That I will not do, but I will give
you
this,” replied the old woman, handing Natalia a stone axe.

Taking the axe from her, Natalia handed it to Catalyst.

“
Just what are we supposed to do with this? How's this going to help us?” asked Catalyst, hoping for a clue in what was sure to be a riddle.

“
I have done all that is required of me and I will help no more. Now leave this house,” ordered the old woman.

Ripping the door almost from its hinges with just a look, the old woman threw Natalia and Catalyst out with a single glance.

“
What do you think that axe is for, Catalyst?” asked Natalia.

“
I don't know, but the spirit can see into the future and since their nature is to help those that need it, you can bet this is going to come in useful,” replied Catalyst, putting the axe into the fitsall.

Walking in silence for a time, Natalia was able to rest her mind. Catalyst was paying more attention to her than their surroundings so he hadn't noticed the noises coming from the swamp. He had no idea they were once again being stalked.

Without so much as a ripple in the water, a Blemmye rose behind them, slashing and tearing at the air as it tried to grab one of them. Smacking the Blemmye with the fitsall, Catalyst took Natalia by the hand and ran, leaving the Blemmye on its back in the swamp.

Well aware of the sounds around them now, Catalyst could hear the sounds of hooves splashing through the water trampling the Blemmye as the beast headed straight for them.

“
What now?” said Catalyst, not knowing which way to run.

Grabbing Catalyst, Natalia dragged him behind some trees as the splashing of the hooves came to a stop and the gurgling from the Blemmye faded with its life.

Peeking around the tree, Catalyst came face to face with a Horrabbull, standing eight feet at the shoulders, with the body of a bull and the head of a horse. Catalyst just froze. He had seen these beasts before but had never been this close to one.

Natalia could only see the enormous rear end of the beast. She took Catalyst by the arm and pulled him away ever so quietly. They moved from tree to bush to tree trying to escape the huge animal, but being the size of an elephant the Horrabbull had no trouble following behind them at a gentle trot.

“
Here it comes! Run, Catalyst!” yelled Natalia as she tried to make a dash for it.

Pulled back by Catalyst, Natalia found herself standing right beside Catalyst and his new friend the Horrabbull. It didn't take much for a gentle nudge of its nose to wipe away Natalia’s fears.

“
Well imagine that, it saved us from that Blemmye and it wanted to say hi,” said Catalyst.

“
What is this thing?” asked Natalia amazed by its gentle nature.

“
It's a Horrabbull. Somewhere, somehow, someone must have cross-bred a horse and bull or they did it to themselves, but I doubt that,” replied Catalyst as he petted the beast.

“
If they’re so gentle, why did you hide?” asked Natalia as she watched Catalyst stroke the Horrabbull’s face.

“
I've never been this close to one before
–
I didn't know,” replied Catalyst, feeling silly.

After catching their breath for a moment and thanking the Horrabbull, Catalyst pulled Natalia back to their walk.

“
Let's get out of here before something else happens,” said Catalyst as he took out the map again.

“
This way, Natalia,” said Catalyst taking her by the hand to help her through the mud and water. Right behind them followed the Horrabbull, nudging them both.

“
Well what do you think, Natalia – think it wants to give us a ride?” asked Catalyst jokingly.

“
Well we could try getting on, but you first since it was your idea,” replied Natalia smiling at the thought of getting out of her boots and not having to struggle with the swamp all day.

“
Me first, always me first, first in the swamp first in the houses, first up a tree. I thought you were Russian and were supposed to be braver than that,” said Catalyst trying to avoid climbing on to the Horrabbull.

“
I am Russian, I am brave, and I'm also a girl, so yes, Catalyst, you’re supposed to be a man. You first,” said Natalia showing him the left side of the beast as she used her intelligence to manipulate Catalyst.

Watching Catalyst climb the beast and get settled, Natalia could now finish what she had to say.

“
Hey, Catalyst, I am Russian, I am brave, but I'm also a girl and smart enough to never get on an animal that size without knowing if it's safe, so yes you first,” laughed Natalia, mocking him for his complaining.

Turning to answer her, Catalyst shifted the wrong way, hit the wrong spot, and with a buck of its bum, Catalyst found himself sitting chest deep in muddy water.

“
See, brave, not stupid,” said Natalia taking Catalyst by the hand and pulling him to his feet.

“
Come on, let's just keep walking,” said Catalyst smirking at it all, happy to see Natalia happy again.

Nudging Natalia continually as they walked, the Horrabbull slowly pushed them from their path.

I think it wants us to go this way, Catalyst. Animals are pretty smart. Maybe there's trouble that way and I don't want to argue with it,” said Natalia.

“
Agreed, but the map says the next house is that way,” replied Catalyst, following anyway.

“
Catalyst, look at the size of this thing. I think it’s best just to go with it for now. We can slip away a little later,” said Natalia. When they came upon a mud hut about an hour later, the Horrabbull trotted off and simply vanished into the swamp.

“
Well that was a waste of time. Now we have to go back all that way because there's no way I'm spending the night in that,” said Catalyst.

“
Why do you think that thing wanted us to come here?” asked Natalia, confused.

“
I can answer that,” came a voice from inside the mud hut carried on a stench so foul it made them gag.

“
It's amazing how easy it is to take control of some creatures’ minds. All I had to do was make you two think you were safe and you followed it right to me,” said the vile old Elf, stepping from the shadows of the mud hut.

“
But we left you for the Riverfray’s dinner,” said Catalyst, surprised.