still searching - the Gatherer

[singindemonhq]

I smoked straight across the valley. That cuts the effort - humans say “as the crow flies”. I was moving away from the marchers, too. That was as well, if I was going to solidify when I was startled. I’d started to hope that nothing here hunted by scent. I kept the mojo high. Marty's immune, but Nixi isn't, and I'd know her vibes anywhere.


The cottage was further away than it’d looked in the clear air, but the mojo carries well in this hyped-up magical ambient. I could hear the woman already singing as I got nearer to the place. The cottage was small and it’d been cared for, once. There were flowers right outside the windows, almost blocking the curved, bubbly glass. It must have given a pretty view, but distorted, and they’d have regretted it if rabbits came to the vegetable garden that had been roughly dug nearer to the fences.

The door was open, showing a badly painted picture of a man in uniform. The shabby woman working the soil was singing to it as she hoed something from the heavy clay.

I’m in our garden
so think of me there,
Remember me young
and remember me fair,
While you’re at war
please remember, I care,
Think of me gathering roses.

Storm clouds are gathering,
War came so fast,
You were my dearling,
Perhaps I’m your past,
Don’t you remember
How you saw me last -
Think of me gathering roses.

I miss you more
with each long passing day,
Shadows grow deeper, Love,
while you’re away,
You left in summer,
and now Love, it’s May,
Think of me gathering roses.

Shadows are deepening,
Our lands have changed,
I couldn’t do the things,
That we’d arranged,
Still in our dreams,
We need not be estranged,
Dream of me gathering roses.

As I listened she scooped the turnips into her grimy apron and wandered exhaustedly away through her unpainted door. She radiated loneliness. It went right through her song. There was no way my minions had been here.

I’d been prepared to cast glamour and ask if she could sell me honey or jam but as I came closer I felt the strength of the wards around the place. They turned me. Strange. Very strange. I guess I’ll have to go on looking. I hope they don’t ward their towns and villages that way.

Humans can still sometimes surprise me.