6. Berne #3
Catrin clasped her hands over her mouth as she turned to the bed next to her. ''You really did it? And you brought ‘er here? Isn't she dangerous?'' she hissed quietly, moving away from the bed.
Berne chuckled at her concern. ''Ach, thanks for keeping your voice down.
My guest is injured and needs ‘er rest. As far as being a spy, I imagine she'd have had to know about us for her intent to be spying.
She's a scholar, a ballsy one, I'll say.
Problem is, she is here to find the Source, close as I can figure.
Caught ‘er trail a bit over a week ago and hoped I could scare ‘er away from finding us.
Instead, I frightened ‘er head-first into a tree well,'' he said as he grinned sheepishly.
''Sure and that's one way to catch a trespasser—'' Catrin chuckled.
''She's not dangerous, just curious,'' he interrupted. ''She has this silly way of narrating her day and she talks out loud to things in the forest when she gets bored. At night, she describes everything she saw aloud as she writes it in a wee journal.''
He smiled, remembering how she would stick her tongue out while thinking or greet the trees by name when she woke. She'd been so happy at her ''discovery'' of that ''new'' species of rabbit, the one that they'd been breeding for meat for generations in Sanctuary.
And there was the problem, she'd seen too much now.
This close to the source, everything had more magic than elsewhere.
She hadn't seen any modified animals that he knew of for sure, but the council couldn't account for everything she might have seen.
She had certainly documented a fair few footprints in the time that he had watched her.
Even word of one ''discovery'' by her could draw more scholars here, like bees to honey, which was the last thing they needed.
Berne looked up to see his sister smiling knowingly at him.
''Ach, are you back from wool-gathering?
'' she said warmly. Catrin was used to his mind wandering mid-conversation, and he was grateful for it.
Not many seemed to understand him the way she did.
It was part of the reason he spent so much time on patrol.
If he wasn't around people, he didn't need to feel odd for letting his thoughts take him where they willed.
''So she has a silly little way of talking to herself, hmm? '' His sister asked.
''Aye she does, it's adorable, she—'' Berne narrowed his eyes at her.
''Now Cat, don't get any ideas. The council could decide to execute ‘er later today.
I'm just trying to protect her. It's perfectly natural for me to have grown fond of ‘er.
I've been following her for a week. She's not here to cause trouble, and she shouldn't have to die just for her curiosity. ''
''I know, B, but I haven't seen you smile that way when talking about anyone in a long time, and, well, we both know she's not about to be allowed to leave.
Let me be happy for you. It is perfectly normal for you to have grown fond of ‘er.
Maybe you should let yourself in on that because from where I'm standing, it looks more like fancy than fond.
'' Catrin went on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before rubbing his head with her knuckles.
''Ach, aye, I'll try. Me mind's just all banjanxed with it all,'' he muttered.
''Let me know if you need anything for ‘er.
I imagine none of your clothes are going to fit ‘er,'' she winked and opened the door.
''The girls are dying to know what's going on, so if it all turns out, let me know.
They want a look at the Outsider.'' She walked away, waving her hands in the air as if an Outsider was some sort of mythical, magical being.
Berne smiled as he shut the door, but when he turned back to his home, his throat tightened, and his muscles were tense.
They really might decide to execute her later today if he didn't stop it.
He had come up with his plan that just might work on the walk back, and he hoped Sirin wouldn't hate him if that's what it came to.
1. The majority of people in Sanctuary baby-wear and it is often extended slightly beyond weaning, which happens most often between ages three and four.
2. I insisted that this was not even remotely sound logic, but Berne is quite determined for it to stay.
3. I will forever be disappointed that I was asleep for this hilarious display of fortitude.
4. I have come to understand that while this term is employed derogatorily here, many of the non-human individuals of Sanctuary and the Empire identify with the term monster.
5. Dear reader, if you think to yourself, this is just the sort of thing that would bother Sirin irrationally, you are correct. I still have no idea how this is achieved, or any of the Boundary dome for that matter, and it is a constant source of annoyance.
6. It’s become clear to me She created Sanctuary to be a charming storybook village. It’s a truly magical place, in the most whimsical sense of the word.