Page 31 of Earthbound

‘Isn’t it? Do you want to hear how it was made now?’ Alder asked eagerly.

‘No.’

Dart laughed.

‘This way, not far now,’ Mortah said.

‘Only one more fall to go,’ Lettle replied miserably. Her head was throbbing and bright stars still sparked in her vision.

‘Take some owen tree sap,’ Alder prompted.

‘I already have.’ She didn’t want to admit she’d finished the bottle after the first fall. Now she had none left to temper the pain for the next one.

They walked along the valley basin until they reached the lake.

Alder paused by the shore. ‘You see the hue of the water? It’s caused by particles from rock flour, that’s why it looks so powder blue. Guess what causes rock flour?’

‘Alder, stop trying to teach me about glaciers!’ Lettle said.

‘Aha, but you see, you learned something.’

‘This way,’ Mortah called, beckoning them towards her where she stood within a grove of trees.

When Lettle drew near she noticed that Mortah was trembling. Her eyes were glazed as though she was looking at the landscape through the clouded glass of memories.

‘Are you all right?’ Lettle asked.

Mortah turned to her, her eyes regaining focus. ‘It’s been a long time since I have been here. My arrival heralds the end of something.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You are not the only one to have been guided by the Fates this day,’ Mortah said quietly.

Lettle was about to ask more but then Alder spoke.

‘The trees…’ he breathed. He was looking up at the skeletal branches, the veins in his neck protruding.

‘What is it?’ she asked.

He turned to her with glistening eyes. ‘They’re alder trees.’

Lettle looked up into the boughs and noticed for the first time the distinctive catkins that set alder trees apart.

Of course, his namesake.

Mortah smiled at Alder. ‘We found you in the caves, just beyond them.’

Alder went to one of the trees and rested his hands on the bark. His breath fogged around him.

‘Are you OK?’ Lettle asked.

He nodded, but she could sense his thoughts were in turmoil.

‘The cave, is it far?’ he asked Mortah.

‘No, less than fifty paces this way.’ Mortah pointed and Alder strode forward in the direction she indicated. His jaw was set with determination.

As Lettle was about to set off after him, she heard a branch snap behind her. She turned around, unsettled, but couldn’t see anything. She hadn’t shaken the feeling that someone was watching them.