The Barren Land
The Shepherd, Book I
A Novel by Jeffrey B. Linn
All Rights Reserved

Chapter XI

The moon, obscured by fouled atmosphere, gave just the suggestion of illumination, enough that I could detect the shadow of Nebiah's passenger slumped against her. I knew who it was, yet oddly felt no fear. Something in the fundamental nature of this being had altered since our last encounter.

Nebiah broke the silence. "Boy, you are rank!"

"With good reason!" I countered.

"It seems that Nebiah has not returned with her net empty," said the gatekeeper thoughtfully. He led on, and we all fell in without another word.

We arrived at the fortress as the skies were gathering a ruddy pre-dawn light. I could now observe our fellow traveler as she dozed on Nebiah's shoulder. She was beautiful, yet her face was lined. Her crimson gown was in tatters and her grimy locks hung like strands of kelp. We arrived at the little furnace that had perplexed me before. There at the direction of the gatekeeper we dismounted.

"Here the one who was known as the crimson witch will affirm that she is remade," he said. We stood facing the hearth, and when the gatekeeper motioned the woman approached it and knelt down. She removed an amulet from her neck and several rings and placed them on the slab. Then she stood and moved away. The furnace blazed suddenly and I could see that they were consumed. I became aware of the sound of applause, and realized it was coming from the ramparts. The large wooden gate parted and a young girl came trotting out holding a parcel. She presented it to the woman and retreated. The woman clutched the package as if it were a child. She approached the furnace and descended a stairway behind it.

"She will bathe in the pool below," mentor spoke into my ear. After a period of time she ascended, garbed in a muslin gown, her hair dripping. She tossed the remainder of her former life into the furnace, and all memory of it was consumed. At that precise moment the sun emerged over the eastern hills and washed her in the first true dawn of her existence. Shouts broke out upon the battlements.

"Did you not bear the brand of the dragon when you descended into the pool?" queried the gatekeeper.

The woman put her hand to her cheek. She gasped.

"Today I rename you Cassia," he continued. "The name given you as a child."

She was aghast. "How did you know?"

"The Spirit of the Shepherd told me just now."

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