Read Online Echoes from the Lost Ones by Nicola McDonagh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicola McDonagh
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and stuttered out my name expecting the usual cries of expectation. But no, not a thing occurred. Instead, the divinely creaturelings embraced me one by one and uttered their own epithets.
“Well now, let us all to the meeting house and partake of refreshment together. Walk with me stranger and inform me of the threat you are most assuredly fleeing from.”
Audrey entwined her arm in mine and I inhaled a whiff of her odour, an aroma that caused my nose to twitch with delight. It was as if I was surrounded by flowers all in bloom. I breathed in her perfume and let Audrey guide me towards a large wooden house adorned with garlands of wolf bane. I turned my head to see Wirt all but drowned by a sea of waftly Ladies eager to caress his cheek and face. Such was the atmosphere of merry, that for the first time since leaving Cityplace, I actually felt at ease.
I waved to Wirt, but he was engrossed in chat with the Ladies and did not notice my gesture. So I dropped my hand and walked with Audrey to the meetinghouse. It was a jolly building to be sure, the colour of a summer sky and it had big red and white flowers painted here and there. We climbed the five wooden steps to the entrance and Audrey let go my arm. She opened the door, which boasted a huge gold knocker fashioned to resemble an oak leaf, and flicked her fingers in way of presenting the interior.
“Come in, come in and sit. Our dear Wirt will soon follow I’m sure,” Audrey said and pointed at a host of finely patterned soft bags propped against the walls. I plonked myself upon a vastly sized pillow the colour of the rising sun, sank into its squishiness and let out a rightly sigh. I gazed around the room and saw such splendid chattels. There was a table as big as three Manlymen that near filled the entire space. Silver candlesticks ran the length of it and high-backed chairs with curly carved legs were pushed underneath and each had a plate and shiny cutlery set in front.
A fireplace the size of two Nearlymen belched out roaring heat and a sweet pine-scented smoke. Before it, curled up quiet-like upon a red woven rug, lay a brindled kittlecat and its three kittles. Before this day, I’d only ever observed said felines on my lapcom as vids or games. A red-haired Lady with big green eyes and freckled skin entered carrying a tray with two large mugs upon it. She gave said cups to Audrey, winked at me, bowed and left us alone.
“That was our dear Odelia. She is a prize to be cherished, as are all or dear friends.” Audrey lifted her chin and scrutinised my face through half closed eyes. “You are from Cityplace are you not, my dear?” Audrey asked and handed me a cup of steaming wet. It smelt like sweeties, only better and I took a grateful sip.
“Choco-real and no mistake.” I gushed. Then realised the rudeness at not answering her query and added, “Is right, I am a Citydweller. Or was.”
“I wonder if you would tell my humble self, why you are here with little Wirt?” She sat next to me and brushed a lock of dirty hair from my somewhat mucky brow.
“I have no reason not to tell. The Agros took my bro-bro and a City guard gave me cause to believe that their trail wandered deep into these woods. He did not, however, give forth the info that a Clan of Nearlymen and Manlymen abided near with.”
“Ah. No need to expound further. I saw the discolouration upon dear Wirt’s features. At the hands of those hideous males?”
“More than once from Wirt’s own mouth,” I said.
The Lady turned her pretty hands into witch-claw clench.
“Do not fret,” I said. “I delivered a sentence to fit the crime.”
“What did you do, my dear?”
I opened my gob to answer, but caught sight of Wirt entering with the Ladies. He strode up to the table and said directly to Audrey, “She sang and sent the raptors upon them. We fled and left them bleeding.”
“Oh dear, I fear that they will be out for retribution,” Audrey said and took my hand. “You and
“Well now, let us all to the meeting house and partake of refreshment together. Walk with me stranger and inform me of the threat you are most assuredly fleeing from.”
Audrey entwined her arm in mine and I inhaled a whiff of her odour, an aroma that caused my nose to twitch with delight. It was as if I was surrounded by flowers all in bloom. I breathed in her perfume and let Audrey guide me towards a large wooden house adorned with garlands of wolf bane. I turned my head to see Wirt all but drowned by a sea of waftly Ladies eager to caress his cheek and face. Such was the atmosphere of merry, that for the first time since leaving Cityplace, I actually felt at ease.
I waved to Wirt, but he was engrossed in chat with the Ladies and did not notice my gesture. So I dropped my hand and walked with Audrey to the meetinghouse. It was a jolly building to be sure, the colour of a summer sky and it had big red and white flowers painted here and there. We climbed the five wooden steps to the entrance and Audrey let go my arm. She opened the door, which boasted a huge gold knocker fashioned to resemble an oak leaf, and flicked her fingers in way of presenting the interior.
“Come in, come in and sit. Our dear Wirt will soon follow I’m sure,” Audrey said and pointed at a host of finely patterned soft bags propped against the walls. I plonked myself upon a vastly sized pillow the colour of the rising sun, sank into its squishiness and let out a rightly sigh. I gazed around the room and saw such splendid chattels. There was a table as big as three Manlymen that near filled the entire space. Silver candlesticks ran the length of it and high-backed chairs with curly carved legs were pushed underneath and each had a plate and shiny cutlery set in front.
A fireplace the size of two Nearlymen belched out roaring heat and a sweet pine-scented smoke. Before it, curled up quiet-like upon a red woven rug, lay a brindled kittlecat and its three kittles. Before this day, I’d only ever observed said felines on my lapcom as vids or games. A red-haired Lady with big green eyes and freckled skin entered carrying a tray with two large mugs upon it. She gave said cups to Audrey, winked at me, bowed and left us alone.
“That was our dear Odelia. She is a prize to be cherished, as are all or dear friends.” Audrey lifted her chin and scrutinised my face through half closed eyes. “You are from Cityplace are you not, my dear?” Audrey asked and handed me a cup of steaming wet. It smelt like sweeties, only better and I took a grateful sip.
“Choco-real and no mistake.” I gushed. Then realised the rudeness at not answering her query and added, “Is right, I am a Citydweller. Or was.”
“I wonder if you would tell my humble self, why you are here with little Wirt?” She sat next to me and brushed a lock of dirty hair from my somewhat mucky brow.
“I have no reason not to tell. The Agros took my bro-bro and a City guard gave me cause to believe that their trail wandered deep into these woods. He did not, however, give forth the info that a Clan of Nearlymen and Manlymen abided near with.”
“Ah. No need to expound further. I saw the discolouration upon dear Wirt’s features. At the hands of those hideous males?”
“More than once from Wirt’s own mouth,” I said.
The Lady turned her pretty hands into witch-claw clench.
“Do not fret,” I said. “I delivered a sentence to fit the crime.”
“What did you do, my dear?”
I opened my gob to answer, but caught sight of Wirt entering with the Ladies. He strode up to the table and said directly to Audrey, “She sang and sent the raptors upon them. We fled and left them bleeding.”
“Oh dear, I fear that they will be out for retribution,” Audrey said and took my hand. “You and
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