19. Garrek
19
GARREK
I stared out at the charred, still-smoking land that had once been pastures for my herd. The rolling expanse of grass that would have fed my cattle all season was now nothing but dead, crisp ground.
Killian, the cause for this latest disaster, stood meekly beside me.
“Garrek-”
I held up one hand to silence him, scrubbing the other vigorously down my exhausted face.
“Don’t talk. I need to think.”
I lowered both my hands and settled them on my belt, glaring out at the burnt land. At least the porch we stood upon remained intact and no animals had died. Luckily, Killian, thick-skulled as he was, realized how serious what he’d done was and had roused me in the night for help. Together, we’d gotten the shuldu and the herd to safety. It was only the freakish luck of a late spring storm’s rain rolling through that had halted the fire and spared the house and barns.
But the fences were gone. And so was the grass. From what I could see, my herd had fewer than five days’ worth of sustenance. I could start digging into my stores for next winter, but they were already low considering we’d only just come out of this past winter. And then I’d have less for the next cycle.
Blast! I dug my claws into my palms so that I wouldn’t grab Killian and shake him the way that a poisonous part of me wanted to. I’d been hurt enough times as a child. No matter how foolish and rebellious and angry he was, I’d promised myself I’d never lay a hand on him.
He wasn’t angry now. For once, he appeared contrite, hanging his young, white-haired head in what had to be a good helping of shame. My convict-ward may not have cared about me, about my property, or even about himself. But he cared about the animals. And there was no doubt he could now see what his foolish little fire had cost them.
Thankfully he had enough sense, and enough remorse, to wake me when he did. Otherwise…
With a growl, I pushed that thought away. The shuldu and the cattle were alright. But we wouldn’t be able to stay here. I hated the thought, especially while managing such an unpredictable convict-ward as Killian, but we’d have to load up and spend the rest of the cycle travelling from pasture to pasture while my land recovered. It would open up my herd – not to mention us – to all sorts of risks. But there wasn’t any other choice. The fences and the food were all gone.
“I have to call the warden,” I grumbled. I pointed a fierce tail at Killian’s small body. “Don’t move.”
I coughed as I made my way into the house, the smoke from last night making my insides feel as wrecked as my ranch. I picked up my data tab and used it to call the warden.
It didn’t take him long to answer.
“We had a grassfire,” I said by way of greeting. On the other end, Warden Tenn inhaled swiftly, then swore.
“How much damage?” he asked.
“Killian and I are alright. Animals survived,” I grunted. “Buildings too. But the pastures are nothing but ash.”
Killian, who’d been watching me through the open doorway, averted his bright white eyes.
The warden sighed harshly.
“What was it? Lightning?”
“Something like that,” I replied flatly, pinning Killian with my gaze. “I’m going to have to spend most of this cycle travelling with the herd. Let my land recover.”
Warden Tenn grunted in agreement. He was quiet for a moment before suddenly asking, “Are you going towards the mountains?”
“Haven’t planned the route yet. But probably. Why?”
“If you are, I’ve got someone to send along with you.”
“Not another convict-ward,” I groaned, a steady ache building up behind my eyes. I couldn’t handle the stress of two of them. My heart would give out.
“No, not another convict-ward,” the warden replied. “Don’t worry. She’s just a human.”
I froze.
“She’s one of the new brides. She needs to get out Oaken’s way and you’re going to be the one to take her.”
He said one last thing before suddenly disconnecting the call, allowing me no room for argument.
“Her name is Magnolia.”