The Unicorn and the Thief

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Where would Regan go? Morgan wondered as he stared at the empty bed for a few minutes. The thing that concerned Morgan the most was that the bed looked as if Regan had not slept in it at all.

Morgan headed out to the barn to see if Regan had gotten up early to let Puss out. He hoped the sinking feeling in his stomach was unfounded, but feared the worst. When a search of the barn turned up nothing, Morgan headed out of his yard to question the other early risers in the village. No one had seen the silver haired boy that had been following him around.

“I shouldn’t have threatened his father.” Morgan groaned. Now this innocent all too trusting boy was at the mercy of an unforgiving world, and Morgan felt responsible for it. There was nothing to do but go back home.

When he made it back to his yard, he went to the barn to milk the cow and gather the breakfast eggs. He carried them both into the kitchen, still hoping that Regan would be sitting inside at the table. Morgan sighed as he pushed open the door then set about fixing a lonely breakfast for one. He was halfway through his food when he realized even Puss was gone. He wondered if she went with Regan, then hoped that she did. He would need a friendly face to take comfort in, and maybe she would lead him back home.

Morgan was just cleaning up his breakfast dishes when Arabeth and Genny came into the yard. Arabeth carried a basket over one arm; apparently the girls had met up on the way in to see him. Arabeth needed more medicine for her father, and to see what he had wanted to talk to her about.

Arabeth lifted the lid on the basket to pull out another delicious apple pie from her mother. Genny was the first to notice that Regan was missing, and asked where he was. It was with a heavy heart that Morgan explained to them that Regan had left.

“But why did he leave?” They chorused. “Where’d he go?”

“I’m not sure, where he went.” Morgan ran a hand through his hair. “But I think he left because I insisted on talking to his father.”

“You can’t talk to him!” Arabeth burst into a peal of laughter followed by a deep blush. She glanced over at Genny, then as the younger girl rolled her eyes Arabeth laughed again.

“What do you know of it?” Morgan asked. In light of their reactions, he had to wonder how much Regan had told the girls.

“Men can’t talk to unicorns.” Genny announced solemnly and patiently as if talking to a small child.

“Unicorns are legendary animals Genny.” Morgan tried to deny what Regan was. He gave up when she put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “All right… so he was a unicorn. Did he tell you?”

“No, Cordell did.” Genny dropped that tidbit of information like a bomb.

“Who’s Cordell?” Morgan asked. Had he been deluding himself that he ad managed to keep Regan’s secret? Was the joke on him?

“Regan’s father silly!” Arabeth explained.

“You’ve talked to Regan’s father?” Morgan sputtered. “The KING of unicorns talked with you?”

“Not talking… the way we do but yes.” Arabeth nodded. “He told me to help Regan get used to living like us. That’s why I was teaching him the words he needed to know.”

“And I was telling him what berries and plants were safe to eat.” Genny smiled. “He tried to catch a fish with his hands and fell in. I don’t think he likes the idea of eating them. He said they didn’t look good to eat.”

So in his own way Cordell was trying to help Regan, Morgan felt a measure of comfort knowing that. There was still so much that Regan didn’t know, and that only a man could help him understand. Morgan shook his head.

“Did he tell you anything about Bedell?” Morgan asked hopefully.

“Ew…He smells like old wet hay.” Genny wrinkled her nose. “Why would he tell us about him?” She rubbed her foot in the dirt.

“No of course he wouldn’t.” Morgan sighed. Cordell couldn’t and wouldn’t discuss such things with young girls. “Don’t worry about it Genny.”

“Don’t worry Doctor Petree, Regan wouldn’t leave because you wanted to talk to his father.” Arabeth consoled. “Genny, you should go clean the dishes. I have to get the medicine for my father and then I’ll go home.”

Genny nodded, then picked up the pail of dishes and waved as she left the yard. Her steps weren’t as light as they had been the few days that Regan had gone with her and her shoulders were slumped.

“Did you want me to come to visit yesterday to talk about Regan’s father?” Arabeth asked and watched Morgan nod. “He did have a message for you. I couldn’t tell you with Genny here, it would upset her.”

“He did?” Hope soared in Morgan’s heart. “What is it?”

“He said. The way things are done, cannot be changed by will, even mine.” Arabeth frowned. “And then he said, Mated in life, mated in death.”

“Thank you Arabeth.” Morgan handed her the canister of herbs. If he understood the message correctly, there was nothing either one of them could do for Regan. He assumed the rest of the message meant that Bedell and Regan were bound to each other forever. Morgan couldn’t accept that. “That’s all I needed to know.” He said dully.

“Mother said she would do some mending for you, if you needed any done.” Arabeth offered.

“If Regan was here, I’d have her alter some of my son’s clothes.” Morgan looked around the room.

“Maybe he will be back…” Arabeth trailed off.

“Maybe…” Morgan headed into his room and gathered a couple of pairs of pants, and shirts. “It doesn’t hurt to hope.”

“It’s all we have.” Arabeth took the clothes and folded them into the now empty basket. “I have to stop in to see Bronwyn; she had some sewing for me.” And with that, Arabeth left Morgan alone in his kitchen.

Morgan gathered up his supplies readying himself for doing his rounds. Just as he was putting the last bottle into his bag, the front door swung open with enough force to echo through the house. Morgan ran out of the infirmary to collide with a sobbing Arabeth.

“It’s Bronwyn!!” She stuttered, her hands clutched at Morgan’s sleeve pulling him towards the door. “She’s really hurt bad! I think she’s dead!”

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