Heart of the Goddess: Chaper One (pt 3)

DREAMS (pt 3)

Roon plucked a claw worm from a silken bud on one of the maize stocks. He stared at the little brown insect pinned between his gloved forefinger and thumb. The pincer on its backside opened and closed rapidly in a useless attempt to defend itself. Roon tossed the vermin onto the ground and then squashed it under his heel. He had completed three whole rows today. The ground between the rows was littered with the fruits of his slaughter. While he worked he contemplated the strange dreams and his parents’ odd behavior. He was no closer to understanding any of it now then he had been at the breakfast table.

He scanned the field of man-high stocks of maize. Several of the farmhands were still working their rows and leaving their own trails of carnage. The sun was well past its zenith, but still plenty hot. Where had the day gone? He wiped his forehead with his sleeve and headed for the barn. Larin would be there by now. Perhaps he had come up with some answers about Old Mother’s strange appearance…or his dreams.

The smell of manure and hay assaulted Roon’s nose as he approached the barn. He paused, crinkling his nose. His heart raced. Nothing to be afraid of. Horses are my friends. Inside, Larin was replacing a horseshoe on Duster. The old brown gelding stood patiently on three hooves while Larin positioned the U-shaped strip of metal into place on the fourth.

Roon’s knees shook and his palms were slick with sweat. Swallowing back an urge to flee, Roon approached horse and brother with slow determination, wiping his palms on his shirt as he went. His eyes clung to Larin’s friendly face. “He stands so still for you.”

“Of course. He’s a good ol’ horse.”

“But, whenever I try to do it he fights me.”

“That’s ‘cause he senses your fear. Animals know when you’re afraid.”

“How?”

Larin shrugged his shoulders. “They just know. You have to show ‘em who’s in charge.”

Roon traced a circle in the dirt with his foot and gaped up at Duster’s placid face. “You’re in charge, old boy.”

Larin laughed. “Shhh. Duster’s likely to take it to heart and none of us will be able to deal with him. Before you know it, he’ll be one obstinate old horse.”

“Okay,” Roon said with a smile.

“Come on over here and help me with this shoe.”

Roon stepped back before he could stop himself. “I don’t know…”

“It’ll be fine. Trust me. Just step over here and grab his leg down low and pull it like you mean business.”

Roon hesitated before doing as his brother instructed. To his amazement, Duster stood perfectly still. Roon held the gelding’s foreleg while Larin tapped in the nails. By the time the procedure was done, Roon realized he wasn’t afraid any more.

“Done,” Larin announced. “Nothing to it, little brother, see?”

Roon nodded. “Thanks.” With his fears quenched, Roon’s thoughts returned to other matters. “Hey Larin?”

“Yeah?”

“You have any idea why Mother and Father were acting so strange?”

The smile left Larin’s eyes. “I’ve been thinking about that all day…”

“And?”

“I don’t know, little brother, I really don’t.”

Roon tried to hide his disappointment. “Sure. I couldn’t think of anything either. What about Old Mother, the way she turned red?”

Larin shook his head. “No idea, but I still say it is important.”

“Yeah,” said Roon. He decided not to bring up his dreams. There really was no point. No one understood. No one believed they were real.