Alyssa Pennini's Blog, page 3

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 12

Previous Chapters

Exhaustion wasn’t enough to keep the pain away and Prea woke the next morning to prickling and piercing in her ribs with every breath she took. The pain was truly remarkable; she had never felt anything like it before. Any and all previous agony that had befallen her was emotional, none was physical. It felt as though she was dying, it was so hard to breathe. There was nothing she could do to lessen the pain, so she lay there, staring up at the lightening sky.

A low rustling began a few feet away, leaves crackled and crunched. Kael was awake. Prea knew she had to move; she couldn’t rely on him for everything. She propped herself up on her elbows, leveraging herself the rest of the way to a sitting position. She bit her tongue, forcing herself to swallow the scream as she glanced over at her remarkable companion.

She didn’t know where she would be right now if Kael hadn’t come across her path. Maybe she would have been fine, escaped those men on her own and been safe on the road the rest of the way. Maybe she wouldn’t have gotten injured. She couldn’t be sure what would have occurred if she hadn’t met Kael, but she believed that things happened for a reason. There was a reason why Kael had come into her life, and right now, whatever that reason was, she was grateful.

Kael had a kindness in him, a sense of honor deep within his core that made him unlike any person she had ever met. He looked up, caught her staring.

“We should eat quickly and set out. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours to get to Flint and then we can get someone to check you out.”

Kael helped her up and they ate before they set off to the northeast in the direction of Flint. They were moving away from the hills, the elevation evening out slightly as they walked, making this leg of the journey easier on them both. Within a few hours, they reached the outskirts of the town.

Kael had been to Flint before, and led Prea through the streets with a knowing familiarity. They reached the inn, crossing the threshold with a sigh of relief. There was only one vacant room, so, without any other choice, they took it. As the innkeeper’s wife made her farewells after showing them the room, Kael stopped her.

“My companion is injured. Could you please send for the apothecary to see to her?” Kael asked politely.

“Of course, sir. I’ll send him right up when he arrives,” she responded.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Kael closed the door and quickly appraised the room. It was bare bones, but still cozy, with only a bed, a chair and a small bedside table decorating the space. He threw both packs onto the floor in the corner and walked over to the window, opening the curtain to let the morning sunlight in. He stayed there for a moment, silently staring at something beyond. The warm rays filtering in brightened the room, making Prea feel more comfortable and relaxing her frayed nerves. She sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, careful to limit her movements. As soon as she did, Kael turned away from the rest of the world and crossed the room, kneeling in front of Prea.

“Don’t ask how I’m doing. I’m doing the same as I was before,” Prea said sharply. Kael looked taken aback when she lifted her gaze to meet his. “I’m sorry, I just feel like I’m burdening you. Why don’t you lie down and rest?” she suggested. “You’ve been carrying both packs for a day now. You must be exhausted.”

“I’m fine,” Kael said and stood, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Prea wasn’t convinced.

“Please, Kael. Lie down and rest. At least until the apothecary comes.” Prea wasn’t going to take no for an answer and Kael seemed to see that in her expression. He walked around the bed to the other side and laid down with a grateful sigh.

When Prea was satisfied that Kael was truly asleep, she eased herself up off the bed, crossed to the door and exited quietly. She would wait for the doctor in the hall and hopefully do all of this without waking Kael. Not long after she left the room, the doctor turned the corner down the hall and greeted her at the door.

“Good morning, sir,” Prea greeted. “My companion is sleeping inside and I was wondering if we could try to do this as quietly as possible. I don’t want to wake him if I can help it.”

“Sure, miss. I’ll do what I can.”

“Thank you,” Prea said as she opened the door for the apothecary. He waved her inside ahead of him, followed and closed the door. They stayed just beyond the threshold where the apothecary placed his bag on the floor.

“What seems to be ailing you, miss?”

“We were traveling through the woods when we came across a ravine south of here. I slipped on the precipice and fell over the edge, tumbling down to the river and rock bed below. My pack spared my back, but my sides and front took a beating on the jagged rocks,” Prea explained slowly. She paused. “It’s hard to breathe. My chest and arms hurt with any movement. Is there anything you can do?”

“Come, let’s take a look. Could you lift your shirt please?”

Prea did as she was told, lifting her tunic as far as she could before the pain became unbearable. The apothecary lightly prodded her abdomen and ribs, noting the tenderness and pain caused by his gentle touch. He soon finished his examination.

“Well, miss, you bruised a lot of your body in the fall including your bones. It looks like you’ve cracked a few of your ribs which is why you’re feeling pain while breathing and moving.” The apothecary dug through his bag, pulling out a few vials. “Here are some tonics for the pain. These should last for a few days. If you need more relief, turmeric is a good option and it’s very common. But I do recommend you rest for at least a week before easing back into any activity.” The apothecary packed up his bag and paused at the door.

“Thank you, sir. How much do I owe you?”

“Five of silver,” he said before taking his leave. She handed him the coins. “Thanks. Farewell.”

* * *

All was quiet for a few hours while Kael slept soundly on the bed next to Prea. She spent the time resting and reviewing her plans for the next stretch of travel. She was studying the poem and making notes in her small journal, trying to decipher some of the unknown clues. Kael woke suddenly, sitting up straight as confusion washed over his face. His head turned, taking in the light of the window before glancing around to face Prea.

“How long have I been out?” Kael rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“A few hours. It’s around lunchtime.” Prea gathered her map and journal into a neat pile in her lap.

“Did the apothecary come? Why didn’t you wake me?” Kael accused.

“He came and went shortly after you fell asleep. And I didn’t wake you because you needed to rest. You’ve been carrying both packs and taking care of me. You deserved some sleep in a nice bed for a change.”

“Thanks.” Kael laid back down on the bed, putting one arm under his head, the other resting on his chest. “What did the apothecary say?”

“He said I bruised a lot of my body in the fall, including some of my bones. And I cracked a few ribs in the process. That’s what’s causing all of my pain. He gave me a couple of solutions to use and so far so good. The pain has lessened. I’ll be ready to leave tomorrow.”

Kael studied her through narrowed eyes as though he didn’t believe a word she said. “He didn’t say anything else? Like resting for a few days?” Prea was never a very good liar and right now her face gave her away. “He did, didn’t he?” Kael concluded. “He told you to rest while you heal. And you’re still planning on leaving tomorrow?”

“I have to, Kael. I can’t waste time waiting for my ribs to heal. I need to be moving. I have to be in Rodor soon. Within the week, hopefully.”

“You can’t be serious,” Kael exclaimed and sat up. “You’re in no condition to be traveling. You can hardly move. What is so important that it can’t wait a few days for you to rest?” 

Prea remained silent, not knowing how to explain.

“I won’t help you anymore unless you tell me where you’re going and what you’re doing. You shouldn’t be pushing yourself, risking your health like this.” When she didn’t answer he jumped off the bed and paced around the room. He was fed up. “Why won’t you tell me where you’re going?”

The time had finally come, Prea thought, for the truth to be said, for her story to be told. He deserved it, didn’t he? Kael had been with her, saved her, taken care of her when she hadn’t expected it. He had been there for her, as no one else had, save her friends back home. But they weren’t here now; Kael was and would be for the foreseeable future.

Prea looked past Kael, into the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window. She could see the dust dancing in the air, little specks highlighted in the golden glow. She didn’t want to cry, but any thoughts of her family brought tears to her eyes. One escaped, sliding down her cheek.

“I told you about my fiancé Leal, but that wasn’t the whole story,” Prea began. “I guess I should go back to the beginning, though I’m not quite sure where the beginning is.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I was twelve years old when my parents told me and my younger sister, Alvie, that we were going to have another sibling. That was eight years ago and yet…it seems like it happened just yesterday.”

“When the time came for the baby to be born, something went wrong. My mother and the baby died, before the doctor brought them back, but it…it changed them. Mama was never the same after that and she died three years later when I was fifteen. My father still spent most of his time at sea, so I raised my baby brother Carr and took care of Alvie in his absence.

“All he ever wanted was to provide for his family and he did. Leal was my father’s second in command and they left on a trading voyage to Rodor as soon as the weather cleared early this spring. A few weeks ago we got word that their ship had gone down.” Prea’s voice broke and she could no longer contain her tears. Kael sat quietly beside her until her sobs subsided.

It took her awhile before she could bring more words to her lips. “Alvie was so angry at Papa. And Carr…Carr was in denial,” Prea continued. “We didn’t have bodies to bury, but I knew we needed to say goodbye. We live on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Aldin. We went out there and held a farewell ceremony. The next morning Carr wouldn’t wake up. He wasn’t dead, but he wouldn’t wake. The doctor came and couldn’t determine what was wrong with him. My sister works in the infirmary and she tried everything she knew, but nothing worked.”

“Prea…I’m so sorry. For everything,” Kael said consolingly. He laid his hand on top of hers and squeezed it tight.

“I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t…I can’t lose anyone else I love. So I formed a plan.” Prea turned to look him in the eye. “Do you know the story of Aylin and Ciro?”

“Of course. Everyone knows that story. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“The stone— the stone that Aylin and Ciro imbued with their powers, their eternal life—they left it somewhere on this island and I intend to find it.”

Kael interrupted her. “Prea, that’s just a legend. You can’t really believe that there is a magical stone that can heal your brother?”

“I can’t sit by and watch him waste away and possibly die, when there is something that I can do about it. He’s my baby. He’s eight years old. He doesn’t deserve this. He’s already lost enough as it is.”

Kael couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing. He got to his feet again and resumed his pacing while he tried to absorb all that Prea had divulged and her ridiculous plan rooted in legend and myth. He chose to play devil’s advocate.

“All right. Say it exists. Say it’s out there somewhere. How do you know where to find it? It could be anywhere.”

“It’s in the poem. It took some figuring, but the poem is a map to the stone. You just have to know how to read the directions,” she said matter-of-factly.

“And what does your sister think about this?” Kael countered. Prea just stared ahead, scrutinizing the wall across from her. Kael waited for a moment for Prea to look at him, but when she didn’t, he moved into her eye line. “She doesn’t agree with you, does she?” he pressed. “Does she?”

“It doesn’t matter. Nothing she said was going to change my mind. I have to do this. I need to know that I’ve done everything in my power to save my brother. And that includes attempting to find this stone. I believe that it exists. I believe it’s out there, waiting. And I’m going to find it.”

“And nothing I say or do is going to change your mind,” Kael stated. He didn’t wait for a response, but turned on his heel and left in a flash.

Prea’s head fell back, coming to rest against the hard wall behind her. His reaction shouldn’t be a surprise, she supposed. He argued the same points as Alvie did weeks ago. Prea had a feeling most people wouldn’t understand her choice or decisions.

Her eyes closed. The confession had been more emotionally taxing than she had anticipated. Exhaustion didn’t begin to describe how she felt; physically she was bruised and sore, emotionally she was drained. The fatigue and temporary lack of pain allowed her to drift off, and sleep quickly took her.

* * *

Downstairs in the inn’s practically empty tavern, Kael ordered a pint of ale. He couldn’t quite distinguish all of the emotions that were swirling around inside of him like leaves on a gust of wind. He had never felt this many emotions in his life, let alone all at once.

The moment he laid eyes on her, he knew there was something about her, something off with her. Women didn’t travel alone, and even fewer with no apparent reason or destination. It wasn’t just honor or duty that had him chasing after her, it was curiosity as well. She was strange, but interesting, and he wanted to know more. So he watched her, studied her.

Some of his questions and suspicions had been confirmed when he pushed her to tell him about Leal. But she was still cagey around him, holding something back. She only ever told him the bare minimum. Not much different from me though, he reminded himself. Not that there was much to tell.

He didn’t have any personal experience with love or the loss of it, but he imagined that it could force any number of people into a tailspin, have them doing things they wouldn’t normally do. It explained one of the puzzle pieces, but there were so many more that were still missing.

But this was…unbelievable. Families and relationships in general were a mystery to him. There had to be more to the story; there couldn’t be that much bad luck in one family. Maybe they’re cursed, Kael thought. They were already talking about legends, why not curses as well.

Then there was the mythical stone. It wasn’t real, couldn’t be real. It was just a magical story told to children for entertainment, a fantasy; there was no evidence that Aylin or Ciro ever actually existed.

And then there was Prea herself…she was still a puzzle, yet to be solved. And he loved nothing more than to find out how things worked.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 11

Previous Chapters

Prea found her way obstructed suddenly when her face met Kael’s back. The uneven ground had her vigilantly watching her feet, so she didn’t notice when he stopped abruptly. His body language gave no indication of whether or not he noticed her. Prea sidestepped, coming up beside Kael on his right.

Before them the ground gave way to a small river coming down through the mountains. The flow of water had carved out the earth over time, leaving a chasm with steep rock faces on either side. The water level was rather high, the effect of the warmer weather on the mountain source. Prea looked up at Kael, watching as he considered their options.

“Do you think we’ll have to backtrack all the way to the road in order to cross?” Prea asked.

“I’m not sure. We don’t know how far the road is. Our best bet is to follow the river downstream until we find a place to cross. If we don’t, then we’ll continue on until we reach the road and cross there,” Kael decided.

“All right.”

Kael turned and stalked off on the thin strip of ground between the tree line and the cliff edge. Prea hesitated on the edge for a few moments, as the space between her and Kael grew. Standing in this spot had flashes of her cliffs from home streaking through her mind. It was so familiar, yet different, and had her thinking of home. Not a minute went by, when she didn’t worry about her siblings. Was Carr any better or worse? Was Alvie still mad at her? Were Beda and Dal enough help? She didn’t know if anything changed and she would have no way of ever hearing any different until she returned. But she couldn’t return until her quest was complete.

Back in her reality, this cliff represented another challenge on her journey. How many more would there be before this was all over? Maybe she had overestimated her abilities, her motivation; maybe she was in over her head? But that wasn’t the way to think, now, was it? She could do this, she had to do this, for Carr.

Prea turned to follow Kael downstream. The minute she moved, the loose earth shifted beneath her and she lost her footing. Then the ground was no longer under her; instead she was tumbling down the craggy rock face towards the river. A scream escaped her lips before the first rock in her side forced all the air out of her lungs. Her pack saved her backside from danger, but its heft added to the blows to her front.

Prea’s face slapped hard against the river’s quick surface, her chest and stomach crashed against the rock bed below the water. Her pack’s weight pinned her to the ground and she struggled to keep her face above the water as it rushed past. Her whole body ached from the strength of the blows and the water’s cold temperature made it difficult for her to concentrate. It was getting harder for her to keep her head above water.

She needed to move. Now.

She wiggled her arms, struggling to get her pack off, but the shocking stabs of pain made it nearly impossible. With a herculean effort and one arm free, she pushed the pack off the rest of her body, stretching her torso to roll over and that simple movement caused a sharp cry of pain. Prea sluggishly maneuvered herself and her pack out of the river and onto the thin strip of dry, uneven riverbed. There was only about a foot or two where the water level had yet to reach.

Above her, she heard Kael yelling. She had yet to catch her breath but did her best to answer.

“I’m…I’m…” Coughing stopped her for a moment. “I’m down here, Kael.”

Prea raised her head, grateful that her neck had been spared from blows. Kael’s worried face stared down at her as he kneeled on the edge above.

“Good heavens, what happened?”

“Lost my footing,” Prea responded simply, taking shallow breaths. “Fell.”

“How bad are you hurt?” he called down to her. “Can you walk at all?”

“I don’t know, but I most certainly can’t carry my pack.” Kael stood, stripping his own pack off his back and prepared to drop it down the rock face. “What are you doing? How are you thinking of getting down here?”

“I’m going to drop my pack down and then slide down myself,” he responded matter-of-factly.

“Okay, I can see that working for the pack, but that’s a twenty foot drop and it’s practically straight up and down. I can tell you it’s not fun falling down it.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“What do you mean you’ll be fine? I’m already injured. We won’t do well if you get injured as well, would we?”

“Do you want me to help you or not?” Kael asked exasperatedly. “For one, I’m prepared to slide down. Two, I’ve had worse injuries than I could get sliding down this slope.”

“Fine, do as you wish,” Prea conceded.

She was sitting on what was some of the only dry land and turned away, leaning back against the rock. Her back happened to be one of the few places she wasn’t hurting and she didn’t want to see this in case it went poorly.

Kael let his pack drop down the slope; it bumped and tumbled along like a rag doll. With each bump, her body’s aches pulsed from its own blows. The pack came to a stop with a thump, tilting into the river with a splash of finality. The next thing she knew, Kael landed on his feet a few paces away.

Kael grabbed his pack, dragging it over next to her own and he fell to his knees beside her. His stormy blue eyes held worry and he brought his hand up to her left cheek, pausing close to her face but not touching, just for a moment. Kael lightly brushed his fingers along the line of her cheekbone and even that whisper of a touch had her flinching in pain. His fingers were bloody when he pulled his hand back. He got a piece of fabric out of his pack, wet it in the river and cleaned up her bleeding face.

“I don’t know how much I can do for this,” Kael murmured. “We’re going to have to get the apothecary in Flint to take a look at you. Where else are you injured?”

“My whole body aches. I’m sure I’m going to have bruises all over. But my chest…my arms and chest…hurt. It’s hard to breathe,” she stammered, struggling for breath.

“That’s not good. I should take a look.” Kael lifted his gaze to meet Prea’s, his eyes anxious and unsure.

Prea sucked in shallow breaths. “Go ahead.”

His hands were shaking slightly as they reached for the hem of her tunic and he lifted it slowly. Every labored breath met with sore and injured ribs, causing Prea serious pain. Kael stopped when he reached the bottom of her breast and held her shirt still. There were no scrapes or cuts, but most of her midsection was red and beginning to swell. His fingers swept easily over her ribs, searching for signs of a break but Prea couldn’t even handle that much pressure, as tender as it was.

Kael dropped her shirt. “All right, all right.” Her face had started bleeding again and he was quick to wipe it away. “I’m not sure what we should do. We can’t stay here but I’m not sure you can leave,” he admitted.

She had to take a few breaths before speaking. “Well, we don’t have much of a choice, do we? If we can’t stay here then we have to go,” Prea muttered in response. “It’s just going to be slow going.”

“Are you sure?” he questioned.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Prea paused. “Can you help me up?”

Kael stood, situating himself so he was straddling Prea’s legs and grasped her by the elbows. Prea bent her knees, took a breath and braced for the pain; she wanted to do it fast, before she could back out of it. Kael pulled her up as she screamed like a banshee in the night and tears flowed freely.

“Come here,” Kael said sweetly.

He pressed her unhurt cheek to his chest and put his arms around her shoulders as tightly as he dared. It didn’t take long for her sobbing to subside; really she just wanted the pain to stop. But she didn’t move. Her head rested against Kael’s chest for a few more minutes, listening to the steady beating of his heart. It calmed her, like the crashing of the waves against her cliffs.

At last she pulled away, keeping her movements slow and measured to avoid unwanted pain. Kael’s arms fell from her shoulders, dropping awkwardly at his sides. He hesitated, like he wanted to do something, but thought better of it. Instead he bent over, grabbed his pack and swung it onto his back, then picked up Prea’s as well. She wasn’t going to be able to carry it, so Kael was going to have to carry both.

“Let’s go,” was all he said.

Kael trudged off, keeping to the thin ribbon-like piece of dry land between the water’s edge and the rock face. Prea hesitated before following, allowing herself a moment to get her bearings. She looked upwards, noting the sun was still high in the sky, showering them in warmth and light. They had some time at least, to find a way out before dark came.

It was a slow, arduous process, and they moved like inchworms in honey. The slightest movement brought Prea pain, like knives stabbing every inch of her bones. It wasn’t much easier for Kael; he was an able-bodied young man, but he wasn’t a god. And if that weren’t enough, they were traipsing on an uneven, wet rock bed; lost balance and slipping were common occurrences. At times the gorge narrowed, their path of dry land shriveling up, forcing them into the river to plod along.

For hours, the two moved slowly, stopping and starting, stumbling and slogging along, step by step. A glimmer of hope came in the late afternoon when the sun was staring them in the face. It appeared as though the rock faces on either side of the chasm were sinking lower the farther they moved downriver. A welcome sign, given they only had a few hours left before darkness would force them to make camp.

The light continued to fade and the rock faces were getting lower, but not enough. Night was coming and it took every ounce of energy Prea had to put one foot in front of the other. Suddenly Kael stopped, dropping her pack to the ground like a rock. She looked around; the river was shallower here, the space wider overall and the edges of the rock walls were just a little higher than Kael’s head.

“We need to cross here,” Kael said. “I don’t see the walls getting any lower downstream and we really need to get out of here.”

Prea was out of breath and a burning ache radiated throughout every cell in her body. The whole time she tried to stay quiet, but she couldn’t keep the tears at bay; they had been flowing since she fell.

“All right,” was all she dared to say. If she let any more words escape her lips, she would scream, and screaming would help no one.

“I’m going to cross first, see how deep it is. Then you can follow,” Kael instructed. Prea just nodded.

With both packs slung over his shoulders, Kael began treading through the water. As he reached the middle, the water level reached just below his knees which was a good sign. He made it across, dropped his cargo and turned, beckoning her to follow.

Prea slowly waded into the river and the cold water seeped into her boots. The shock of the icy water had her gasping; the gasping had her crying out, her ribs protesting against the sudden expansion of her lungs. Midway through her boots and pants were soaked, her feet and legs growing numb in the impending darkness. As she reached the other side, Kael grabbed hold of her hands, leading her carefully onto the rocks. He didn’t let go; instead he held on while she steadied herself and her breathing.

Prea looked past Kael to the rock wall beyond.

“I don’t think I can do this. It’s too high. I can hardly walk, let alone climb a wall,” Prea confessed to Kael.

“You can do it,” he assured her. “We’ll do it together.” He waited until she turned her face back to him. “Prea, we have to get out of here. It’s getting dark, the temperature is going to drop and we can’t make a fire down here.”

“But how…” Prea trailed off.

Kael was already moving towards the wall, grabbing both packs on the way. He picked one up over his shoulder, gauged the distance and tossed the pack up and over the edge. He did the same with the other before turning back to Prea.

“Come on, Prea,” Kael called, waving her over. “I think I have a way to do this. I’m going to have you get on my shoulders and then lift you up. Does that sound all right?”

“I don’t really have a choice, now, do I?”

“Come now. Face the wall, it will help you with your balance.”

Prea did as she was told, turning to the rock. She placed her hands on the craggy surface and spread her legs. Kael kneeled down, threaded his head through Prea’s legs and slowly lifted her up onto his strong shoulders. She walked her hands up the wall as Kael lifted her until her hands reached the top. Her chest was even with the edge, but she wasn’t going to be able to pull herself over, not with her injuries.

Kael placed his hands under Prea’s legs right below her rear end.

“I’m going to raise you up as far as I can. You’re going to have to get yourself the rest of the way.”

“Okay.”

“On the count of three. Ready. One. Two. Three.”

Kael pushed up as hard as he could, his hands squeezing Prea’s legs tight as he struggled with the task. Prea locked her elbows when she was able, contracted her abdomen and dragged her left knee up and over the edge, howling in pain. She crawled on the smooth ground, away from the edge, crying and moaning every inch of the way. Once she was safely ten feet away, Prea turned over, sitting down on her backside, and attempted to calm her breathing.

Meanwhile, Kael backed as far away from the rock face as he was able while staying on dry land, before running as fast as he could at the wall. He planted one foot a few feet above the ground, propelling himself upwards. He grabbed the edge with both hands and hoisted himself over.

Prea let out a shallow sigh of relief as Kael became visible once more. He detoured, grabbing their packs and dragging them towards her. They were finally on the correct side of the river and here the land was more open. The tree line was still a little ways off, so their journey for the day was not yet finished. Kael reached her, falling to his knees beside her. He softly pushed her hair away from her face, lightly traced the gash along her cheekbone with his fingers.  

“How are you doing? Can you walk any farther? We just need to get inside the tree line and then we can make camp.” Prea nodded. She needed to preserve what energy she still had in order to make it to the forest.

Kael stood, holding out his hand for her. As he had before, he helped her up quickly and held her while she screamed. They set off for the woods to the north and, before long, they crossed into the forest. They walked on for another ten yards or so through the trees before finding a place to set up camp. Kael released his load, gathered wood and began making the fire.

Prea could do nothing more than collapse to the ground, turning over to lie on her back which seemed to cause her the least amount of pain. She fidgeted until she was the most comfortable she could possibly be and closed her eyes.

The warmth along the right side of her body woke her; a strong fire had bloomed. Kael sat across the flames, rummaging through both packs to dry anything wet and to find what food remained.

Prea turned her head to the side. “I’m sorry.”

Kael’s head snapped up at the sound of her voice, confusion clouding his face. “What do you mean, you’re sorry?”

“I’m sorry for all of this. You should be off doing what you want, not taking care of me.” Prea paused. “You didn’t sign on for any of this,” she muttered, waving her hand in the air.

“Prea, you didn’t and don’t make me do anything. I offered to take you to Colter, safely, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. And I didn’t exactly fulfill my promise, did I? You’re hurt. I didn’t protect you.”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that? You can’t protect me from accidents and nature and myself. You couldn’t have prevented me from falling. It just happened. But…thank you. For helping me. For getting me out.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Kael murmured. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 10

Previous Chapters

Prea sat up, her back rigid, in the middle of the woods. The first streaks of light crossed the sky as dawn approached. Kael was still sleeping a few feet away, so clearly she hadn’t screamed out loud. No, she thought, that was only in her dream.

Prea had dreamed of Leal in the time since the accident, but none had been so real. She didn’t want to imagine the man she loved being scared, cold and alone as the sea took him, as he fought for his life, his struggle for air. Imagining his pain, how his lungs filled with water, was unbearable. But now she had a remarkably vivid picture of exactly what that looked like and it would not leave her mind.

Prea leapt to her feet and ran. She made sure to stay close to the camp, but as soon as she was out of earshot she broke. She fell against a tree, clutching it as if her life depended on it and she sobbed. Prea had been so busy with Alvie and Carr, with the legend and her mission, that she had been able to function normally. But now she was alone; sure, there was Kael, but really she was alone. And if she kept having these dreams…she didn’t know if she could survive. Kael would notice soon and she still didn’t know what she should do, what would she say?

Prea’s breathing was fast, her tears making little rivers down her cheeks. She needed to get ahold of herself, she couldn’t keep losing it; Carr needed her. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if anything else happened to her little brother. Something clicked and her brain started working again. Back in the recesses of her memory, her mother was saying, Focus your whole mind, body and soul on your senses and everything will get better.

She closed her tired eyes and let herself feel.

Prea was leaning against a tree, her shoulder pressed hard into the trunk. Her left arm was wrapped around it, her fingers rubbing the scratchy, uneven surface of the bark. She could smell the fresh dew on the morning air; the musty scent of leaves and pine. Her hair was rustling in the wind, brushing back and forth against her back, tickling her cheeks and nose. Her sobbing eased up, her breathing steadied.

She rested her head on the tree, cocking it to the side. Prea could hear the sweet sound of the birds chirping good morning. The breeze whispered to her of calm and tranquility, the sounds of little animals scurrying could be heard off in the distance, and the crackling of the fire back at camp echoed to her ears through the forest. Her pounding heart slowed back down to normal. It was time. She pushed off of the tree and stepped away, her eyes still closed. One deep breath, two deep breaths, three. She opened her eyes.

* * *

The warmth was fading, but the light was growing brighter. Kael rested his hand on the familiar earth beneath him, grabbed at the leaves, needles and dirt and let them fall through his fingers. He moved his head to the right, opened his eyes and felt his stomach drop, which he didn’t think was possible in his current position. He jumped up. Prea wasn’t there, lying on the other side of the fire. Kael quickly glanced around. Her pack was still here, but there was no sign of her. He stood still and listened; nothing. Sure, he heard sounds, but none were Prea. He was about to go looking for her when he caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye, walking back toward the camp.

“Where were you?” Kael demanded when Prea returned to the camp. She stopped abruptly, taken aback by his demanding tone.

“I…I needed some space so I took a walk. I’m sorry,” Prea said, not sure why she was apologizing. She walked over to her pack and retrieved some food for breakfast, then thought better of it. The dream had upset her stomach. She glanced over at Kael who appeared to be confused, or maybe it was conflicted.

After a few moments he looked more resolved, jaw set as he spoke, “Well, we should eat and then try to get going. If we make good time, we will be able to get to Colter in less than a fortnight. If need be, we can stop in Flint on the way.”

It all sounded good to Prea, though she barely registered anything going on in the world around her. “That sounds fine,” she replied automatically and gathered her things.

It didn’t take long before they were packed up, the fire put out and the two stood, eyeing each other for one final moment. Kael looked like he wanted to say something, thought better of it and instead said, “All right then.” He turned and headed off.

Prea followed, studying her companion from behind. She didn’t know what to make of this man. He had come into her life out of nowhere. Literally. She had accepted that she was on this journey alone, but she couldn’t help but be grateful for his assistance and his company; there was something to be said of companionship, of no longer being alone.

But he was an odd man. His reaction to her return to camp was unexpected, to say the least, and Prea didn’t want to have to explain herself or re-live her pain. The story was so long, complicated and emotional and he was a stranger; he didn’t deserve the knowledge of her pain.

* * *

The two walked on a soft carpet of mud and leaves, needles and moss; an endless sea of greens and browns spread in front of them in every direction. The life of the forest, the energy and sounds, were almost too loud for Prea the first few days; the noises echoing as if she were in an amphitheater. They were far from alone, yet a sound maker was rarely seen. For the most part, though, they were left alone to trek wherever they pleased.

A week passed and the days looked much the same: walking, a little talking, occasionally resting or eating. Prea couldn’t be sure, but Kael appeared more agitated than usual; his feet stomped on the ground, his gait quick and abrupt. She could even see the outline of his muscles strung tight down his arms, his hands clenched in tight fists.

And she had a tickling feeling that she was the reason for his irritation.

The distance they covered in a day was getting shorter. Perhaps it was her lack of physical prowess, or maybe it was the discrepancy in the lengths of their legs. Or perhaps, perhaps, it was the utter scarcity of meaningful sleep in the past few days.

Sleep was an elusive bird, a ghost on the wind. It had been ever since the night she had dreamed of Leal. The clamor of life and her new companion were enough to occupy Prea’s thoughts for the first few days. After some time though, the clamor dulled to a light buzz and faded into the background of her mind. Just as she eased into her silent relationship with Kael, her comfort level rose and her mind steadily relaxed.

Perhaps others may see this as a relief, but Prea could no longer avoid the dream and the emotions it triggered. Every night as she closed her eyes, the image of her love being ripped away from her into the depths of the ocean was stitched in vivid detail across the inside of her eyelids. She couldn’t banish it and it took all she had not to drown in her grief.

“Come on, keep up,” Kael chided. He was used to traveling alone and his irritation with having to wait for a companion was growing by the minute. “We’re not making good time. You have to keep up if you want to make it to Colter on schedule.”

“Sorry. Sorry, I’ll try harder to keep up.”

Prea powered through as best she could, brushing her hand along the trees as she passed. As always there was energy in the touch, but now it was different. It was as if she was connecting with the life inside the tree and, because of this bond, the trees were offering up some of their energy for her. Gratefully she accepted the small bit of help, even if it was potentially imagined.

Time ceased to mean anything to her; the light changed around her, the sun gliding through his daily pilgrimage across the sky. But time seemed too complex for Prea’s tired mind. The only thought she could summon and focus on was putting one foot in front of the other. Now and then, she was certain the invisible hand of the wind was at her back, gently propelling her forward.

A strong hand with a tight grip on her upper arm halted her progress.

“Prea! Prea!” Kael’s irked voice sliced through the fog in her mind. Her eyes lifted to meet his before drifting down to his hand wrapped tight around her arm. He released her. “We’re done for the day. Maybe after a good night’s sleep we’ll be able to compensate tomorrow for the distance we lost today,” he said, resting his pack on the wooded floor. “Come on, let’s gather some wood for the fire.”

Prea nodded mutely and dropped her pack. She wandered around aimlessly, stumbling as she collected kindling for the fire. After bringing back what she could, she wilted to the ground. Her exhaustion bore down on her, as if she were being buried alive. But the grief was crushing her spirit.

She feared her mind; its memory, its imagination, the pictures it could call up on a whim. Prea scooted closer to a tree until her back melted into the trunk and she drew her pack alongside her. Legs splayed out in front of her, trousers catching on twigs and leaves, Prea gazed into the flourishing fire. The fluidity of the flames sucked her in, mesmerizing her.

A falling log, the shifting of the fire, jolted a confused Prea out of a long awaited sleeping spell. Night had arrived, and looking across the fire, she saw Kael slumped against his own tree. The flames had dulled, the blackened kindling dispersing. She shifted and rose clumsily in her sleepy state, brushing dirt and earth from her backside.

It was chilly, she thought, they needed more wood for the fire. Prea quietly tiptoed around their campsite, gathering branches in the dark. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the blackness and, as she rounded a tree, she saw him.

He was standing twenty feet away and yet she could see him absolutely clearly, as if he was standing directly in front of her in bright light. She must be dreaming, Prea thought, this couldn’t be happening; it was impossible. He turned the corner around a tree and her feet moved without her permission, following him. Her feet sped as she searched through the trees, but he was gone. It must have been a trick of the light, or her mind playing games. Dejected, she went back to the task at hand, leaning over to collect more wood but, as she rose, she spotted him again, this time closer. Dropping what she had gathered, Prea ran after him.

“Leal!” He disappeared again, reappearing someplace else. She followed, shouting his name into the darkness.

But when she rounded the next tree, she ran straight into Kael. He grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her. She was frenzied.

“Did you see him? Where did he go?” She looked around frantically, trying to break free of Kael’s firm grasp.

“What are you talking about?” he demanded. “There’s nobody here except us, Prea.”

She shook her head. “No, no that’s not true. He was here. I saw him. I saw him.” Kael worked hard to keep hold of her. “Let me go, Kael. Let me go!” she screamed. “I need to find him.”

“Prea, there is nobody out here. We’re the only two for miles. You have to calm down, Prea. Now.” He tried shaking her again, tried to reason with her. Prea looked at him desperately, but she only saw pity in his deep blue eyes. She choked back a sob. Her legs gave out, but luckily Kael was there to catch her and he gently steered her back to their camp. She reluctantly accepted the painstaking truth.

Leal wasn’t here and she would never see him again.

He lowered her to the ground and took a minute to bring the fire back to life before he sat down beside her. “Prea, what is going on?” Kael asked. “What were you doing wandering around the woods? Who were you talking about?”

The tears came again and she looked away from Kael. “I…I thought I saw someone. Someone I used to know.”

Kael waited intently for more information. When he didn’t get any, he became impatient. “Out here? You thought you saw someone out here in the middle of nowhere?” Nothing. No response. “Prea, who did you see?” he demanded.

She was tired of keeping all of this to herself, tired of always being the one responsible for everything. She took a deep breath. “His name was Leal. He was a sailor and my father’s second in command. I loved him. We were going to be married and now he’s gone.” Prea looked Kael directly in the eyes. “He died at sea a few weeks ago.”

* * *

For Kael, the past week had been a conflict of emotions. On the one hand, he felt a connection to Prea and wanted to protect her, but, on the other hand, he longed for his independence. His internal war had turned to outward irritation as their progress slowed and Prea had trouble keeping up. But he couldn’t leave her alone, couldn’t turn his back on her. He was a man of his word and he would get her to Colter. So they rested before his irritation boiled over.

Guilt now festered in place of his irritation, and this connection to Prea pulled at the edges of his heart. This explains a lot, Kael thought to himself. She was running away from her grief, away from the life she could no longer have. He didn’t know what to think anymore; he hadn’t known what a young woman was doing traveling alone, but he never expected this. She was hurting, clearly, but he didn’t have any experience with grief or losing someone he loved. He didn’t know how to help her.

“Why did you think you saw him out here?” He was curious.

Prea sighed. “That first morning when I was gone from camp when you woke I had had a dream. It was actually more of a nightmare. Up until that point, I had done all I could not to feel anything; not the pain, the loss or the grief of his death. The dream was…vivid and so real. It brought all of those feelings crashing down over me, drowning me,” she explained quietly. “I ran. I didn’t want to wake you, but I couldn’t breathe. My despair was consuming me and I needed an escape.”

Prea looked into the dancing flames as she played with the twigs beside her. She absorbed the warmth of the fire and vigilantly tried to keep the image of Leal drowning out of her mind. It didn’t work and tears fell from her face, splashing onto the ashes of the kindling.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Kael wondered quietly beside her.

Prea’s head jerked up in surprise. “We had just met; I wasn’t going to spill my heart out to someone I didn’t know. And I didn’t want to deal with it or talk about it or anything. I just wanted it to go away,” she confessed.

Kael watched her closely, truly seeing her for the first time since they’d met. He studied her as she gazed into the fire; she looked exhausted, like she might drop at any minute. Good heavens, when was the last time she actually slept, Kael asked himself. He racked his brain trying to remember any other clues that he had missed. Then he remembered that he had only seen her eat a few bites of food in the past week. He gasped.

“Prea, when was the last time you slept? Or ate?” he asked.

“What?” She looked up at him blankly. The flames always lulled her into a trance, making her forget everything going on in and around her. “Did you say something?”

“When was the last time you slept or ate anything?” Kael reiterated, his voice sharpening in concern.

“I don’t know about eating, but I haven’t been able to sleep since that…since I had that nightmare.” The night wind cut through their camp, leaving Prea shivering in its wake. She held her hands up to the fire, absorbing its heat. “I’m scared, Kael,” she whispered. “Every time I close my eyes I see his face. It was so real; I could feel his pain, see the fear in his eyes.” 

Another breeze whipped along her front, blowing ashes and sparks into the air around her. “I never let myself think about his last moments. This dream brought it to the front of my mind and I can’t get rid of it.” She turned to Kael beside her, shaking her head back and forth. “I can’t get it out of my head, Kael. I can’t get it out.”

He watched and listened patiently. She looked at him with fear in her eyes and appeared younger, desperate as she silently pleaded for his help. He couldn’t stay quiet any longer.

“Prea, you can’t keep doing this,” Kael said softly. “You’ve been hallucinating. You need to eat, but, more importantly, you need to sleep.”

She dropped her head into her hands. “I don’t think I can.”

He barely heard her, she spoke so quietly. Kael stoked the fire a bit to keep it going before he sat back against a tree. He leaned forward and grabbed Prea’s arm, tugging her slightly.

“Come on,” he suggested, as she looked back at him over her shoulder. “Come on.”

Kael didn’t know if she made a conscious decision or if her exhaustion was just too extreme, but Prea slowly shifted back until she was curled up against him. His arm tightened around her and her head fell to his shoulder.

“Sleep,” he whispered against her hair.

In the arms of a man she did not know, Prea finally closed her eyes after days and days spent awake. Her will was weak, almost nonexistent, as she finally succumbed to the thing she feared the most.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 9

Previous Chapters

Prea’s back was being forced against the rough bark of a tree. A young man was pressed up against her front, immobilizing her and his hand was covering her mouth, effectively silencing her. She panicked and struggled against his hold, glaring up at the man’s face, into eyes the dark blue of the night sky, waiting for him to release her. He appeared to be listening for something or someone else.

“Please forgive me. I don’t mean you any harm. We need to get out of here,” the man said, loosening his hand on her mouth.

“Get…” Prea tried to scream before her mouth was covered again.

“Please don’t yell. There are men following you. I heard them talking at the inn in Ashton. We have to get away from the road,” he explained quickly.

So far, he hadn’t hurt her or done anything inappropriate. And there was sincerity in his eyes. He was listening again and this time they both heard the faint clip of hooves against ground in the distance. He turned his eyes back to her and Prea nodded silently as her heartbeat began to race in time with the echoes of the enemy horses. He released her, grabbed her hand and they immediately started moving. “Quietly, quietly.”

He moved swiftly and efficiently through the brush and trees. The man’s lengthy stride made it hard for Prea to keep up, despite him holding her hand. They moved almost silently through the forest for a few minutes before they began to slow. Eventually the two came to a stop, the road nowhere to be seen from their position and the stranger released Prea’s hand.

She studied the young man beside her; he was tall with wavy bronze hair, angular features cut into his face save for a softness around his eyes and mouth. She stared at him silently, waiting expectantly for an explanation for his sudden and drastic interference in her life.

He turned back to Prea, facing her. After a moment of studying her in return, the man began to speak quietly. “I meant everything I said before. I was staying at the inn in Ashton as well, and after you left I overheard some men. They were talking about a girl traveling alone…about following her…catching her…and…” He looked away.

“I don’t understand,” Prea said confused. Kael looked at her pointedly. “Oh…you mean…they were…they were going to have their way with me.” She shivered from the memory of Almer’s unwanted touch the night before.

“Yes. I was leaving at the time myself and I know the area. I thought I could get ahead of them through the woods and reach you first. I wasn’t going to let them hurt you when there was something I could do about it.” He paused. “I’m Kael, by the way. Kael Farron,” he said, holding his hand out towards Prea.

She was no longer frightened, but grateful for his assistance. She didn’t feel any ill will coming from him, quite the opposite; she felt something, maybe safe again. All Prea knew was she could trust this Kael Farron.

“I’m Prea Reed,” she said, grasping his outstretched hand.

Kael and Prea waited where they were in companionable silence. They were safely away from the road, but that was also the problem. Given it was out of their line of sight, they were unaware of whether or not the men had passed by yet. For Kael, it might not have been a problem, but Prea didn’t know how to find her way without the road.

Kael broke the quiet. “So Prea, where are you headed?”

“I’m going north towards Rodor, ideally through Colter. But I don’t know my way except for the road,” she said by way of explanation.

“Even if you knew the way, I’m not sure you should be traveling alone. I’m heading that way myself. I can get you to Colter and I can do it through the woods, if you’d like?” he offered.

Her friends would probably think she was crazy, but Prea knew that Kael could get her to Colter. And safely. “That would be great. Thanks.”

Kael steered them deeper into the woods in what Prea could only assume was a northerly direction. They were situated on the left side of the road which cut across the center of Alder. West of the road, the land rose first in hills then to mountains toward the center of Valtera. East of the road, the forest was virtually flat all the way to the coast. As long as they remained at the base of the hills, they could follow that line all the way to Colter, theoretically at least.

They traveled for a while in silence with Kael leading the way while Prea lagged behind, the uneven terrain causing her problems. It wasn’t exactly awkward, but it wasn’t comfortable either. It seemed they both were waiting for the other to start the conversation.

Kael finally spoke. “So Prea, what has you journeying to Colter?”

“Uh.” What should she say? How much should she tell? “I have business in Rodor that I need to attend to,” Prea answered vaguely.

He looked back at her for a second. “Really? What kind of business?”

“Personal,” she said simply. She had already spent quite a lot of time arguing with her friends about what she was doing, she didn’t want to do it with strangers. Plus, it was her business and hers alone. No one else’s. And he had yet to earn any other information.

“All right. Don’t tell me,” he said unconcerned. “Where did you start out from?”

“Uh, Beech. It’s right on the Bay of Aldin.”

“That’s far. How long have you been on the road?”

“About a fortnight.”

“That long on your own?” Kael wondered, surprised.

“Yes.” Prea was done answering questions. “Why were you in Ashton?”

“Same as you,” he answered and couldn’t help but note she had shifted the focus of the conversation. “I’ve been in Alder for a while. There aren’t many towns on the inland crossroad. I wanted a warm place to sleep in a nice bed.”

“Understandable. Do you normally travel by yourself?”

“Yes. Most of the time on the unbeaten trail. I like spending time in the woods.”

“So do I.”

The conversation subsided and silence resumed, staying for hours. His initial curiosity seemed to be satisfied given how much she was willing to reveal. Kael appeared to be a quiet man and he was used to being alone.

“Why are you helping me?” Prea asked out of the blue, causing Kael to stop and turn. “Most people wouldn’t. Why are you?”

“Why are you trusting me?” Kael countered.

“I asked you first,” Prea said childishly.

“They’re equally intriguing questions.”

“Well, aren’t you stubborn.”

“So are you,” Kael argued and they squared off, arms crossed in the middle of the woods.

Prea sighed. “You didn’t—don’t feel like a threat. I follow my instincts and intuition; they’ve rarely steered me wrong,” she said, looking him straight in the eye. There was more to it than that, but she wasn’t going to reveal it all. “Your turn.”

It took him a minute to respond as he scrutinized her face. “There’s something about you. Don’t ask me what it is; I don’t know.” Kael looked away, trying to find the right words. “Maybe it’s honor or duty. Maybe it’s something more. You were headed in the same direction as me and I could help. I don’t know what else to say,” he finished with a shrug.

When she said nothing else, he turned and resumed walking. They traveled in silence for the rest of the day until the sky signaled night was on the horizon.

“We should stop now,” Kael suggested. “We won’t be able to see much longer before night falls.”

“Let’s make camp then,” Prea said, nodding in agreement and glancing around. This was as good a place as any, she supposed. They put their packs down, and both instinctively began gathering wood for a fire. 

The weather was warming up, but the nights were still on the chilly side so the fire would provide welcome light and warmth in the darkness. The brush was thick underfoot and the canopy overhead would protect them if it happened to rain.

Prea had become more capable in the time she had been traveling, but it wasn’t exactly based on normal skills and abilities. She had honed her additional sense of feeling energy so it would be easier to make a fire. After paying strict attention, and much trial and error, she had discovered a difference between the wood that was likely to burn and the wood that was not.

There was energy in all things in nature, not just the living. Prea had realized that if the energy she felt was deep inside, a flame was less likely to ignite quickly. On the other hand, if the energy she sensed was closer to the surface, the easier it was to light. She supposed it had to do with a transference of energy as there was an element of fire in everything and fire itself was energy.

Prea focused on the task at hand and didn’t see Kael watching her gather or discard various pieces of firewood and kindling. He stopped.

“What are you doing?” Kael asked.

Prea paused and looked up at him, confused. “Collecting wood for the fire.”

“I know that. Why do you only keep some and put others back?”

She looked down at the wood in her hands and then glanced at the piece she had put back near her feet. It took a minute before she saw her actions as he probably did, odd and illogical. “The ones I put back aren’t good for a fire. They won’t light as well.”

“How do you know?” If he hadn’t been curious before, he was now.

“Uh,” Prea started. She didn’t know how to explain what she felt. Everyone in Beech knew her family’s beliefs about nature, most having had Isa as a teacher. But her family had never discussed particulars with anyone else. Not even Beda and Dal. More often than not, it was just a feeling and not one that could be easily expressed. “I just do.”

“Really?” he wondered incredulously. “You just know?”

She didn’t want to have this conversation. “Do you want help or not?” she snapped.

“Usually things are quicker if I do them myself,” he said, eyes narrowed. “But I guess you can help.”

Once they had gathered a good amount of kindling, Kael started the fire. Prea sat down on the brush, resting her back against a tree as she watched his graceful hands work, quickly catching a spark. He was skilled in nature and the elements, that was clear. He fiddled with the fire for a few minutes before sitting back against a tree himself.

Prea watched the flames, fascinated by the changing colors and how they danced atop the wood. The soft light and warmth pulled her in, lulling her into a kind of trance. The fire radiated power in this small makeshift campsite of theirs. In that power, Prea could see the stone, she could feel it in the heat of the flames. Her heart somehow filled with the stone’s immense energy, the eternal love between Ciro and Aylin. The fire and its power threatened to engulf her, here in the woods.

She wasn’t prepared for this, for these feelings, the ones that reminded her of those she lost. And with the power and love, came the sadness and despair. Prea had been on a mission, focusing on the task at hand, pushing down her feelings and now they were coming back with the force of a strong current.

Something touched her arm, breaking her trance. Her cheeks were wet with tears she hadn’t realized she’d shed. Prea raised her gaze from the fire, surprised to find Kael’s concerned eyes looking back at her. She looked down and saw his hand resting lightly on her arm. At her glance, Kael removed his hand and shifted back as he sat down.

“Are you all right?” Kael asked. “You were watching the fire for a while and then you just started crying out of nowhere.”

Prea wiped her cheeks dry. Looking away she responded, “I’m fine, it’s nothing.”

When her gaze finally returned to the man sitting across from her, she still saw concern as he waited for her to elaborate. Kael didn’t look like he was going to accept her answer, but what was she supposed to tell him? That she was on a quest to find a magical stone that no one thought existed? Or that she had felt the stone’s ancient power in the fire? Or that she could sense the eternal love shared between Aylin and Ciro? And that she had been overwhelmed by the reminder of her own love and loss? Would he even believe any of that? She didn’t know what to tell him; she wasn’t sure how much she wanted to say about her family or her past.

Prea decided to be as diplomatic as possible. “I just got overwhelmed, is all,” she said lamely, raising her eyes to meet Kael’s, silently pleading for him to just leave it be. After a long moment, Kael reluctantly accepted her words and left it alone.

Prea gathered some wood later on to make sure they were well stocked for the night, then settled down, attempting to make herself as comfortable as possible on the ground. She lay down, curled away from Kael in the increasing darkness, feeling the heat of the fire against her back. She didn’t know how long she lay there with her eyes closed before sleep came for her.

* * *

Kael sat across the fire, up against his own tree, watching his new companion fall asleep. He couldn’t fathom what a young woman was doing traveling alone, especially through the woods. He felt an unusual urge to protect this girl, this young woman he had only just met. It was an odd feeling that he didn’t understand, but he was curious.

He heard a small sound and Kael sat up straight, listening close. His heart sank when he realized that Prea was crying softly in her sleep. Before he could sit back again, he heard one word escape Prea’s lips. Leal.

* * *

Alvie walked home from the infirmary in the darkness after a long day at work. She avoided spending time at home because the house still felt off, even though Beda was living in Prea’s room. And it would feel that way until Carr and Prea were back home.

Tonight, though, Beda was having dinner with her parents and the house would be empty once again. Alvie thought she was mistaken when she saw light glowing from inside and found the door was unlocked. Walking through the house, she made her way to the kitchen, dumping her stuff along the way. When she reached the kitchen doorway, she stopped.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, making Dal turn away from the counter.

“Thought you could use some company,” he answered, returning to his dinner preparations at the counter. “Beda mentioned you’d be alone.”

“So you’re making me dinner?” she asked suspiciously.

“Yes.”

“Why?” This didn’t make any sense to her.

“I need a reason?”

“Prea already got Beda to stay here and I’m sure she made you promise to check in on me, but you don’t need to cook for me. You have your own life.”

“Yes, I promised Prea I would check in on you. But, believe it or not, this isn’t just for your benefit. I like spending time with you.”

“You do?”

“Is it that surprising?” Dal asked seriously.

“I just always thought you were nice to me because of Prea. Or talked to me because she asked you to.”

“Most of the time she did. But that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it.”

“Okay,” she replied, though she was unsure. This whole conversation made her unsteady.

“How’s Carr doing?” Dal asked.

“No change,” Alvie answered, sitting down at the table.

“Prea will come through. Have faith.” Dal brought two bowls of soup over to the table, setting one down in front of Alvie and he sat across from her. “It’s not much.”

She smiled and met his calm grey eyes. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

* * *

Prea was comfortable, warm and happy; she didn’t want to open her eyes, not yet. Everything was perfect right now, but she turned over anyway and opened her eyes. There he was, lying next to her in bed. Her heart leapt at the sight of his profile, his hand resting on his chest. He looked so peaceful and young in sleep, his chestnut hair splayed across his forehead, his eyelashes catching the light from the sun coming through the window. She could see his eyes moving back and forth under his lids; he must be dreaming something wonderful, Prea thought. She just lay there, watching him sleep, loving him with all her heart.

When she couldn’t take it anymore, Prea raised her arm and brushed her fingers lightly over his skin, tickling him. His lips spread slowly into a grin as he brought his other hand down on top of Prea’s, holding it tight. He moved his head to the side, towards her, finally opening his beautiful hazel eyes that sparkled in the sunlight. Leal. His smile widened.

“Good morning, Sweet Pea.”

She couldn’t remember being happier. “Good morning yourself, handsome.”

“Come here,” Leal said as he grabbed Prea around the waist and pulled her towards him. He looked straight into her eyes, into her heart and soul for what seemed like forever.

“I love you,” he said eventually with more vehemence than she had ever heard.

“I love you, too,” Prea responded with passionate certainty. “I will always love you.”

Leal leaned in slowly, pausing at the last second before brushing his lips lightly against Prea’s. It was a kiss of good morning, of love and of home. He pulled back slightly, and everything was perfect; being there with Leal was perfect.

A loud clap of thunder pierced the sky and suddenly they were surrounded by sea water, the waves rising around them. The bed tipped and Leal slid into the ocean as Prea reached for him, panic rising in her chest. She stretched, grasping for his arm, but there was nothing she could do. It was as if he was being pulled under, away from her. The fear in his eyes was a dagger to her heart and it was the last thing she saw as his open mouth sucked in his last watery breath. All Prea could do was scream.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 8

Previous Chapters

“You’ll understand someday why I’m doing this. When you have your own family, you’ll understand it’s your job to keep them safe, to watch them live and grow and become their own person. You’ll want to give them the best life possible,” Prea explained to her sister. “That’s what I’m doing, Alvie; my job is to keep you and Carr safe. The two of you have your whole lives ahead of you. I’m trying to protect that.”

Prea embraced a speechless Alvie one last time in the doorway of their home. She pulled away from her little sister who was no longer a girl, but an impressive woman, albeit a little naïve.

“I’ll be back soon, Alvie, I promise. And when I get back everything will be better and Carr will be awake and happy,” Prea said in farewell as she turned and walked away without another glance.

She met her friends outside Beda’s family’s shop which was on the main road leading out of Beech. The salty fog rolled off the bay and past the docks, creating a creepy haziness as if everything was shrouded in a gauzy white film. The sun was still low in the sky, just peeking out over the horizon like a mischievous child. The sea breeze was crisp and heavy with morning moisture and the wind rustled, as Prea came face to face with Beda and Dal just outside the door. Horses weren’t especially her forte, so the plan was just to go on foot through Alder until she reached the border town of Colter and passed into the land of Rodor.

Her friends looked wary and confused at their current situation, their eyes narrowing as they took in the large pack over her shoulders.

“What are we doing here, Prea?” Beda asked, breaking the silent tension between the three. “You tell us to meet you here at dawn but don’t tell us why. Out with it, Prea,” Beda added bluntly.

Prea looked from Beda to Dal, suddenly scared to tell them. They won’t understand, Prea thought, they’re just like Alvie. “I’m leaving for a little while. I’ve found something that can help Carr, but I have to go retrieve it personally,” she replied vaguely.

“You found out what’s wrong with him?” Dal asked surprised.

“What is it?” Beda added.

Prea hesitated, trying to find the words. “We…didn’t find out what’s wrong with Carr. He’s still the same,” she began quietly, hands clutching the straps of her pack as she stared at her feet. She took a deep breath. It’s now or never, she thought, and spoke before she could talk herself out of it. “I’m going after the stone from the story of Aylin and Ciro.” She waited for the uproar.

Unlike her sister, Beda remained silent after her declaration. On the other hand, Dal just laughed. “Are you crazy? You’ve never left Beech and now you’re going to just up and leave, going who knows where? You won’t survive a night on your own.”

“I can handle myself,” Prea argued, taken aback by his reaction. He was never this direct. “I know what I’m doing.”

“No, you don’t. This is my family’s business. My brothers are stationed in posts all over Valtera, receiving and relaying information, news and anything else. All they do is travel. And you know that. What’s your plan? Do you even have one?”

“Yes, in fact, I do,” Prea responded indignantly. “I have a plan, I have a map, I know where I’m going,” she added, though the last was a bit of a lie.

“How do you even know the stone’s out there?” Dal wasn’t going to let this go. “How can you be sure you’re going to find it? And what about your family?”

“Dal, stop attacking her,” Beda interjected sternly.

“What?” Dal demanded, turning on Beda. “She’s going to get herself hurt or lost or worse. What are Alvie and Carr supposed to do then?”

“You could trust her,” she countered softly, acting as the middleman. “Prea’s not stupid. And she’d never do anything to hurt her family. Or us, for that matter.”

“I know that,” he argued.

“Enough!” Prea exclaimed, quieting her friends who both turned to face her. “Do you think I want to leave Alvie and Carr alone? Do you think I want any of this? I wish to the heavens and back that I didn’t have to do this. That I didn’t have to deal with any of this.”

“Prea…” Beda interrupted.

“You two are my family. You know that. But there are only two people left in this world that are my flesh and blood. I can’t lose another person I love. I won’t survive it. So, yes, I’m leaving even though I’ve never left before. Because I have to. I don’t have any other choice.”

“All right, Prea. What do you need us to do?” Beda offered finally.

Prea released a low hissing breath when she heard the words she most wanted to hear. Beda trusted her and her instincts completely; they had known each other forever and the two had long ago come to a certain understanding.

“We moved Carr to the infirmary so he’s always being looked after, but I don’t want Alvie to be alone in the house. Beda, it’d be great if you could move in. If not, can you both stop in now and then to check on her? She’s angry with me, but I don’t want her to feel alone. She already accused me of abandoning her and I don’t want her to be right,” Prea directed.

“Okay, we can do that,” Beda assured her as Dal remained silent. “Right, Dal?”

Prea’s gaze turned to Dal who had his arms crossed over his chest, a look of stern reproach on his face. Beda looked at him too and nudged him in the ribs with her elbow as his silence stretched on.

“Right, Dal? We can do as Prea’s asked,” she prodded. He looked from Beda to Prea before staring out into the fog past her.

He didn’t answer and her heart beat harder every second the silence dragged on. “Dal?” she asked, unsure of him for the first time in her life.

He sighed and looked to the ground. “I don’t like it and I can see how Alvie thinks you’re abandoning her, but I’m not going to stop you. You have reasons for doing what you’re doing and I trust you,” he said and lifted his eyes to hers. “We’ll take care of Alvie and Carr,” he promised. “Which way are you going?”

“I’m taking the crossroad all the way to the Rodor border,” Prea answered.

“All right. It’s not a well traveled road, but you won’t get lost. You’ll pass through a few towns before you make it to Colter at the border. Rest in all of them. Take your time and regroup while you’re there, with food and preparations. It’s always better to have some sort of plan and more supplies than you think you might need, better that than not enough.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“Hurry back.” Dal stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.

“I will, I promise,” Prea whispered. “Thank you, Dal.”

“Be safe,” he replied, grabbing Prea’s face in his hands and kissing her lightly on the forehead before he walked off into the fog.

“Don’t worry, Prea. I’ll stay with Alvie,” Beda said. “We’ll keep them safe.”

Prea laughed a little without feeling. “There’s no such thing as not worrying when you’re a guardian to children. Worrying is all I do.”

“Well, they will be safe while you’re gone,” Beda said as she brushed hair out of Prea’s face. “I love you, Prea. Be safe.”

“I love you, too,” Prea whispered and hugged her friend tight in farewell.

* * *

The sun was full and blazing as Prea reached the outskirts of town and she stopped to take one last look at her home. Her life had become unrecognizable these last few weeks and it seemed it would never be the same again. A new phase had begun and she had no choice but to follow whatever came next. After a deep steadying breath, Prea turned her back on the town and set forth into the unknown.

She moved west until she reached the crossroad that cut all the way through Alder to Rodor. There were a few towns along the way, but for the most part it was just forest. It didn’t take long to cross into the dense woodland that occupied the majority of the land in Alder. The entwined web of leaves and branches above caught most of the light, only allowing a few rays to creep below to the forest floor dotting the dirt road with pools of dancing light.

She walked for hours, stopping occasionally for rest or food. It was the first time she had ever truly been alone, with no distractions and only her thoughts to keep her company. Her friends and family had always been with her, around her, in her life. It was an odd feeling and it only exaggerated the emptiness she already felt.

Animals, birds, wind and land helped calm her mind as she let instinct take over. She didn’t want to think or feel and, now that she was alone, she was dangerously close to losing it again. Prea tried to keep her mind blank as she focused on the sound of her footsteps on the ground, but no matter how far she traveled she never came across anyone else. Only when the light began to fade did she think about stopping and making camp for the night.

Prea hesitated for a moment as her heart skipped a beat, looking up and down the road in both directions, ensuring she was indeed alone before moving into the woods. Twilight gave the forest a spooky feel and the air chilled, sending a shiver across her skin as she cautiously made her way through the surrounding trees. She only ventured far enough to be out of sight.

After slipping her pack off her shoulders and propping it against a tree, Prea began searching the area for kindling. Fire was a familiar element, used for cooking, heating and bonfires back home. Her skills were…unconventional, but she was not incapable. She had a way with fire and, more importantly, she had a firestone. Her only problem was finding the correct wood to use.

Alder was full of many different trees and this forest was no different, but it was ultimately unfamiliar. It was frustrating and took more time than she would ever admit, but eventually Prea got a flame to ignite. And it took all of her skill to keep it alight as she settled in to her first night on the road.

Immediately she pulled out the food from her pack and rationed a little off for the night, given she had no idea how long it would take to reach the first town. And after dinner there was nothing.

The dark encompassed her, with the flames providing the only light and small amount of warmth around her. Cold and quiet were her only friends, expanding the loneliness surrounding her. Pulling her knees to her chest, Prea focused on the fluidity of the flames. The unrelenting movement calmed her, slowed her breathing, lulling her into a sense of safety.

A branch cracked, the sound echoing through the air and her head snapped up, her pulse began to pound.

“What was that?” Extending quiet was the only available answer and the longer it lasted, the more she relaxed.

She stoked the flames and started to drift off, leaning back against a large tree. It was hard to get comfortable between the uneven ground, the rough bark and the unnerving atmosphere. Uneasy rest came and went, but sleep never truly found her. Before long a howling cry filled the night, waking her abruptly and she jumped up in surprise. The fire had started to wane, but her eyes scanned the darkness looking for the source of the noise.

Her blood began to freeze as icy fear swept through her. The forest back home felt different: comforting, friendly, welcoming. But these woods were home to creatures both large and small. And many creatures at that. She was far from alone, surrounded by things she could hear but not see.

Prea’s stomach twisted and she suddenly felt sick, her mind racing with all the possible fears in the world. “What have I done? What have I gotten myself into?” Another sound echoed through the trees, but it was indistinguishable and that frightened her even more.

“What have I…what have I…what…” Her lungs would not fill, the air insubstantial and unsustainable. It seemed impossible for her to get a handle on her breathing and the world began to spin. “I can’t do this. What…what was I thinking?”

Prea fell to her knees and her hands shot out as the ground continued to sway. Her heart beat faster, blood pulsing loud in her head as her panic rose until she was crying in the darkness. And she couldn’t stop.

“Why didn’t I listen to Dal? He knows what he’s talking about. I never…I never should have left.”

The fire almost burning out provided a much needed distraction from her panic and, as she worked to keep it alight, her nerves finally began to calm. Sleep was the furthest thing from her mind, but she forced her gaze to remain on the fire. The tears dried up as she focused on the flames, watching them grow and move, letting reason come back. “But Carr needs this. He needs me to do this.”

* * *

Dal checked the infirmary at first chance, then the Reed home, but found Alvie wasn’t either place. There was only one other place she could be. He turned the corner around the back of the house and found Alvie kneeling in her garden tearing weeds from the ground.

“What are you doing out here?” Dal asked and saw Alvie jump at the sound of his voice.

“The house is empty,” she answered as if this was sufficient explanation. Beda had yet to move in.

“I know. But why are you out here?”

“Because the house feels like a graveyard,” Alvie yelled, standing and throwing weeds to the ground. “They’re all gone, but I can still feel them. Like an echo. But it’s not comforting. It’s excruciating.”

The wind blew Alvie’s hair and she brushed it back with dirty hands.

“I’m here,” he said quietly.

“Yes, you’re here. My sister’s friend is here, but she isn’t. How could she do this to me? How could she leave me here alone?” She was screaming now and kicking at the ground where she loosened a stone beneath the dirt. Alvie snatched the rock and heaved it towards the woods with as much strength as she could muster. “She abandoned me!” Alvie turned back to Dal. “I hate her, Dal,” she managed through gritted teeth, her body still vibrating with pent up rage. “I hate her.”

“I don’t agree with her choices, Alvie. But I know Prea has only ever done what she thought was best for you and Carr. Like when she made sure your life didn’t change much after your mother passed. You might not be able to trust her right now, but you can trust me. I’m here for you. Know that.” They stared at each other until Alvie saw the sincerity in his eyes. “Now how about I stay with you while you attack some more weeds,” Dal suggested with a hint of a grin.

“All right,” Alvie answered after a moment, before she returned to the earth and the task at hand.

* * *

It wasn’t easy, but Prea managed, walking as long and far as her feet would carry her in a day. Even though fear kept sleep away once darkness fell, it only took about a fortnight before she reached the small town of Ashton. The entire town encompassed less than a mile of the road, with a row of buildings on each side. Can you even call that a town? Prea thought absently. Well I wouldn’t know, would I? Her feet were sore, her legs burning, her exhaustion unbelievable and, when she reached the inn, she almost cried in relief when she crossed the threshold.

Prea was greeted by a rather portly innkeeper with ruddy cheeks who sat on a stool, the legs of which appeared as though they could buckle at any moment, leaving the innkeeper in a heap of splintered wood on the floor.  

“Well, hello there. How may I help you?” said the innkeeper warmly.

“Good day, sir. I am in need of a room for the night,” Prea answered politely.

“A room we have,” the innkeeper replied and took her money, before leading Prea up the narrow stairs to a door by the landing on the third floor. “Here you are, miss. If you need any help just holler.” He laughed. “Let’s see, what else? Ah, the inn is joined by the tavern next door when you’re in need of food. Enjoy.”

Prea let her pack slide off her shoulders, down her back until it finally rested on the floor.  Surprised that she was still upright in her condition, Prea dragged her feet as she shuffled to the bed where she collapsed on the soft pad and closed her eyes.

Two weeks out in the elements, two weeks without a bed and she was on the verge of tears when a building came into sight. How was she going to make it the rest of the way? She was weeks away from her destination, possibly months. It was becoming a more daunting task the further she journeyed. But those were just faint murmurs in the recesses of her mind as her exhaustion yielded a dreamless sleep.

Hours later, Prea woke to find night had fallen and she walked to the window in her room overlooking the road below. The sky was dark, the moon not yet at its peak, which gave her an idea of the current time and she watched the barren road as she stretched out the kinks in her tight muscles. A fierce low rumble grew in her stomach, forcing her gaze away from the window. Prea quickly brushed out the ratty mess of hair on her head and pulled it back so it was off her neck before going in search of something to pacify her hunger.

Faint sounds floated upwards as Prea stood on the third floor landing and closed the door to her room. She silently descended the creaking stairs and snuck past the innkeeper who was back on his stool, snoring lightly as his head rested against the wall.

Prea padded outside to the next building and entered the small town tavern, stopping in the doorway at the sight of so much wood; wood walls, wood floors, wood tables and a wood bar. There were a few patrons inside; some individual customers and a group of rowdy men were drinking pints in the corner. The door closed behind her, bumping her completely into the tavern where a young man by the bar signaled her to sit down.

“Pick anywhere you’d like, miss. I’ll be right with you,” he said.

Prea nodded and took a seat at an empty table in the middle of the room. She looked around, suddenly nervous about being alone in the company of these strangers. This was the farthest from home she had been in her whole life and she was uncomfortable with her loneliness.

The young barkeep came over. “Hello miss, what can I get for you?”

Her frayed nerves lessened a little as she looked into his kind face. “Could I get some water, please? And do you have any vegetable dishes?” Prea asked softly.

“Sorry, miss. Could you say that again?” he asked as Prea was distracted by the hoots and hollers directed towards her from the drunk men in the corner. She couldn’t really make out what they were saying, but she didn’t think she wanted to know.

“Oh, could I have some water and do you have any vegetable dishes?” she repeated louder as she tried to avoid fueling more comments.

“Uh…” he said as he eyed the men in the corner for a moment before turning back to Prea. “We have a vegetable soup.”

“Yes, that will be wonderful. Thank you,” Prea replied politely. She looked around at the other individual patrons who all happened to be men. She was now acutely aware of the fact that she was the only woman in a room full of men and her vulnerability was blatantly obvious. She sat quietly and minded her own business as she waited for her dinner. But soon she was interrupted when one of the loud men came over and sat down right next to her.

“Well, hello there beautiful. What’s your name?” the man slurred into her ear, so close she flinched. “Don’t worry, love. You have nothing to fear from me. My name is Almer. What’s yours, darling?”

His heavy breath was warm on her bare neck and the stink of ale on his lips made her queasy. She tried to stay as calm as possible, but she had no experience in these kind of situations.

“My name is Prea. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, keeping her voice steady and hoping that politeness would be enough.

“Well, Prea, you should come over to my table and meet my friends,” Almer said, moving to brush a strand of hair from her face. This time, she not only flinched but deliberately moved her seat away from him.

“That’s a very kind offer, but no thank you. Take no offense, but I’d much rather be left alone,” she answered firmly.

“You don’t need to meet my friends. We can just stay here, just the two of us. Let me buy you a drink,” Almer insisted, moving towards her and leaning in.

Prea held her ground; she did not move away, but straightened her spine and sat up as tall as she could. She turned, looked him dead in the eyes and spoke clear as day. “I do not want a drink. I would like to be left alone. Please, leave me be.”

“Oh beautiful, you don’t want to be alone. Just let me buy you a drink,” he repeated and she was now afraid that he would never leave her alone. His advances were unwanted and she could not get rid of him.

“No,” Prea exclaimed. “Please…”

A bowl was set down on the table in front of her, along with a glass of water. She looked up and saw the friendly face of the young barkeep standing before her.

“She asked you to leave her alone,” he said to the drunk Almer. “Go back to your friends or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Prea kept her eyes on her food as a rejected Almer rose clumsily and reluctantly turned to his table of friends in the corner of the room. He would not leave quietly though, and when he passed behind her, he trailed a finger along her shoulder. Prea shivered. As soon as he walked towards them, the rest of the men burst out laughing at their defeated comrade. But Prea kept her eyes on her food.

“Are you all right, miss?” the young man asked quietly.

“Yes, thank you,” Prea replied.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them give you any more trouble,” the man declared and walked away, leaving her staring at his retreating figure in grateful appreciation.

Unbeknownst to her, the whole exchange had caught the attention of another of the tavern’s patrons. The man sat alone, silently debating whether or not to intervene. Like the young barkeep, this man kept an eye on Prea for the rest of the night.

Prea ate as quickly as was humanly possible without choking and finished her soup in record time. When she was ready to leave, the young barkeep walked her to the door, collected her payment and wished her goodnight as she left.

That other interested patron watched Prea leave, his eyes following her through the window as far as he could, knowing there was only one place for her to go.

Prea returned to her room at the inn, making sure no one saw what room she entered. The whole exchange in the tavern had rattled her more than she had let on. There was more to worry about than she first thought. Now she was finally getting an idea of the dangers a young woman could come across while traveling alone.

She locked the door and pushed the lone chair in front of it. It wouldn’t do much good against an intruder, but it gave her a little more peace of mind. In spite of her worry and fear, her exhaustion had her falling asleep as soon as she climbed into bed and her head hit the pillow.

* * *

Dawn rose and so did Prea, setting out on foot heading north on the road, leaving Ashton behind her. She moved quickly as she attempted to put as much distance between her and those drunk men as physically possible. Her advantage was in waking early; she would be gone long before they woke and safely on her way.

The road looked the same; the dirt path, lined with trees and covered by branches and leaves. It stretched out in front of her, going straight for miles before making a turn. It must have been hours since she left when a sound in the distance stopped her in her tracks. She wasn’t alone on this road anymore, she could sense it; the hairs were rising up on the back of her neck.

A look over her shoulder confirmed there was no one else on the road, but she could still feel a presence. She listened closely for any more sounds of footsteps or hooves in the distance, but there was nothing. Prea didn’t have time to listen long when she was grabbed from behind and dragged into the woods. She didn’t even have time to scream.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 7

Previous Chapters

Books were everywhere, surrounding Prea in the library; they were opened, closed, cracked, upside down and right side up. She had been at it for days, reading every book inside the Reed household: history, science, geography, legends and lore, she had read it all. And still she found nothing. Her eyes were red and puffy with strain and exhaustion from the continued reading so Prea was taking a break. She sat cross-legged on the floor, her back against the sofa and played with her hair. The sinking feeling was returning, the one signaling her lack of hope in the existence of a cure for her brother.

She didn’t want the despair and hopelessness to take root and pull her down. That would help no one; not her, nor Alvie and especially not Carr. In her time of need, she dug through the mountain of books beside her and found the one that always made her feel better. She knew the book by heart, having heard it a thousand times during her childhood. It was the book of old tales; the one that regaled the beginning of Valtera, the magic of the land and the power of the heavens. It was the legend, the story of Aylin and Ciro.

Prea pulled the book into her lap, running her fingers over the embossed leather cover. This book had been passed down through her mother’s family for generations; no one truly knew how long it had been. She cracked the well-worn spine, parting the delicate pages so they opened to the story she sought. The weight of the book in her lap calmed her nervousness as she began to read the story of her childhood.

Though their love had combined and resulted in many children and grandchildren, the man and woman wanted to leave a token of their love on the Earthly plane. When the man and woman from the heavens felt their time on Earth was coming to a close, they performed a ceremony. In this ceremony, they imbued a stone with a little of their essence, melding their love and powers together for eternity.

She had read that passage hundreds of times, maybe even thousands, and never thought much of it. But reading it now felt different. Prea believed the story was true as she had been taught her entire life; that Aylin and Ciro came from the heavens and lived in the land of Valtera. She believed in their powers, in the spell and the existence of the stone. This was the right path, the answer to all of her problems.

The stone held the powers and essence of the sun and the moon, everlasting entities, which meant it held immortality. She didn’t know if it could be done, but maybe there was some way to use the stone and its powers to save Carr. It didn’t take long for the seeds of hope and determination to bloom deep within her soul. She stood, gathered the books splayed out around her, and put each back in its rightful place. She knew her course, knew what had to be done, now she just had to find out how.

Prea brought the book with the story back into the kitchen and sat down to study its contents. The story was familiar, but she had to dissect every tidbit of information if she was to determine where the stone might be hidden. She poured over the pages, consulted the history of the land and tried to find some correlation between the two. But she didn’t even know where to start; Alvie would be better at this, Prea thought, she’s the intelligent one. Her hope started to wane as the day went on and she was no closer to finding an answer in the words.

Discouraged, Prea retreated to her bedroom and welcomed the solace and comfort of sleep. Her mind was still alert, thoughts racing around trying to find some meaning in the jumbled mess that was her life. Her muscles relaxed, the tension slowly seeping from her body and her mind followed, thoughts fading into unconsciousness.

* * *

Out of the darkness came a blaze of light, blinding her where she stood. Her hand rose, shielding her eyes from the glare. When she opened them again, she had to blink several times before the black dots receded from her vision and, when she could see clearly once more, she had to blink again to make sure what she saw was real. The scene was still there when her eyes opened, but she couldn’t believe it. She had never seen anything this beautiful in her entire life.

Grass created a plush blanket beneath her feet as she wiggled and curled her toes between the green blades. The grass curved around the edge of a stone courtyard in the middle of a mountain valley where the stones glowed white in the gleam of the sun, reflecting beams of light all across the space. The air was pure and held a lightness that could only be found in the heavens, the musical chirping of birds sweet in her ears. On the opposing side of the courtyard was a building carved into the solid rock face at the base of the mountain. As she bathed in sunlight and watched the courtyard, three children ran out onto the stone floor kicking a ball around.

The three boys, clad in simple white tunics and trousers, played as their golden curls fluttered in the wind. Lyrical laughing filled the air as two little girls appeared, skipping hand in hand, gracefully avoiding their brothers. They wore white dresses as they wandered around picking and smelling the colorful array of flowers dotting the courtyard. The children giggled and squealed a sound of ethereal joy, the boys romping around as the girls danced. When the happiness turned to fighting, two beings finally emerged from the rock haven.

They were dressed similarly to their children, their white clothes on the verge of blending seamlessly with the color of their skin. The man called to his children, warning them to behave as they should. The children continued, though, as if nothing happened, and the man shook his head in exasperation. Children will be children, nothing in the universe would change that. The man and woman moved with the grace of angels to a bench in the courtyard as they sat holding hands and watched their children play. Their eyes glittered with pure joy and their smiles beamed with never-ending love.

The image faded, the light changed, darkness fell and when light came once more, the scene was no longer the same. The courtyard still shone in the sun, but only the song of the birds traveled with the breeze. The shadows of the man and woman were visible at the other end of the courtyard in the entrance to the rock cavern. She unglued her foot from the swaying ocean of grass and stepped onto the smooth surface of the stone.

Prea crept to the center of the courtyard, attempting to get a better view of the couple; she still couldn’t see and moved closer until only a few feet separated her from the magnificent pair. They were facing away from her, still dressed in white. The woman’s long waves of hair cascaded down her back, now pure white like her skin and dress. The man’s curls matched hers. They stood in front of a wall carved with their likenesses reaching out towards each other.

A hush fell as the woman raised her hand, palm up, and held it there as she muttered something and waited as a beautiful stone appeared out of nowhere, resting lightly on her skin. And in this moment, Prea witnessed the two place the stone against the wall, whisper a few words and pull their hands away leaving the stone set into the rock. They turned to look at the valley, to capture everything one last time and commit it to memory forever.

They were so close; if Prea reached out her hand, she could almost touch them. They were elderly now, yet still stunning, their skin seeming to glow slightly in the light; bright blue eyes the only color on their faces now. A silver tear trailed down the woman’s face, as they walked towards Prea, walked through her. She turned, her gaze following the lovely couple; within a few seconds, the couple’s image drifted and faded as they returned to their home in the sky.

* * *

When morning finally came, Prea woke with renewed hope in her heart. It wasn’t the first time she had seen something, but it was the first time she had seen something useful. Everything had been confirmed in her dreams, and, though most people would think nothing of a dream, Prea believed in its truth. She rushed back to the book and flipped to a page with a map of Valtera. The dream had answered the most important question: the stone was hidden in the mountains. The land of Valtera was divided into five cantons, each representing a cardinal element. She lived in Alder, the canton with the most trees and the one that represented the earthly element.

The River Nairne and the Bay of Aldin separated Alder from its neighbor Nodin to the south. Nodin was all grassy plains, allowing an unobstructed surface for air and wind. The canton of Egan was located in the southwest, a land of hot weather and sandy earth. Delmar encompassed the western third of Valtera, where most of the land was dominated by rivers flowing through wet marshlands with inlets around the coast. Lastly, the canton of Rodor bordered Delmar and Alder in the north and represented the ether element, its hilly terrain providing a clear view of the sky.

Mountains ran across the center of the island from north to south, cutting the land in half. People could only pass by the northern coast of Rodor or the southern coast of Nodin and Egan. No one had crossed the mountains anywhere near the middle, the peaks were too high.

But Prea knew for a fact that the stone was hidden somewhere in the mountains. That was her first clue; she could use the story and the poem to determine the course and path to make it to that final destination. She would need to figure out a few of the other directions before she left, but some could wait until she was on the road. Inspiration sparked and the map to the stone seemed to piece together in front of her eyes. She didn’t know where it was all coming from, be it instinct or intuition, but Prea knew what she needed to do and where she needed to go.

There wasn’t any time to be wasted; she had made up her mind and now she had to prepare. She rushed up the stairs where she dug out a large backpack and started assembling the necessities.

“What should I take?” she wondered, never having left her home. Being a geography teacher, she knew the land in theory. Terrain and weather would change, hot to cold and everywhere in between. She would need to pack for everything, every situation she could think of, yet still make it manageable.

“I’ve watched Papa pack for his trips hundreds of times,” Prea muttered. “But he also had a ship which provided relief from bad weather. I’ll only have a bag.”

“Let’s see, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. We’re in spring and the weather will only be heating up. But I’m heading to the mountains where it’ll be cold. So layers,” she finally determined and started searching through her clothes. Boots, shirts, sweaters, one of her father’s jackets. Prea gathered it all on her bed, then moved on to the kitchen, pulling out the densest and longest lasting food they had.

“I’ll be able to stop in some towns, replenish things.” Papa and Leal had told her about many of their trips: what they did, where they went, what they used and took. But knowledge was only so useful without experience.

The more she looked for things to pack, the faster her heart beat and an internal war began in her mind.

Am I crazy? the doubt asked.

“Very possibly,” she answered herself. There was so much to do, so much to think about. She took the food and returned to her room, laying it all out on her bed with her clothes. It seemed like an impossible task. She didn’t know how long it was going to take, how far she would have to go or if she would find what she sought. “But I know the stone is real. I know where it is. And I know how to get there.” For the most part, she added silently.

How are you going to survive? the doubt persisted. You don’t know what you’re doing.

“I’ll figure it out,” she said through gritted teeth. “I can do this. I have to do this.”

What about Alvie? the doubt wondered.

“Alvie,” Prea muttered. Her sister had never been left alone, never had much responsibility or worry in life. Prea had taken all of that on alone. She wanted her sister to remain a girl for as long as possible. Alvie didn’t deserve to be abandoned, left alone to fend for herself. “But what about Carr?”

The doubt didn’t have an answer for that. She paused in her packing and went to check on her brother. Prea watched him, frozen in his bed, being kept alive with fluids, herbs and nutritional solutions. Alvie was taking care of him. There was nothing Prea could do for him here, just watch and pray. It was agonizing. She moved to his bedside and held his hand.

“I’m scared, cricket,” she whispered. “You’re supposed to be driving me crazy, annoying Alvie and being our little brother. You’re supposed to be awake and healthy.”

She waited, ridiculously hoping that her words would have some miraculous effect. Nothing happened. “I’m going to save you, Carr. I’m going to make this better. I’m going to make everything better.”

Prea released his hand and kissed his forehead before leaving.

It took the better part of a day to collect all of the important items, and it took the rest of the day to determine what she really needed and what she could live without. The doubt continued to fight her resolve as the rest of the world passed by outside. Prea noticed none of it.

“What are you doing?” Alvie asked out of nowhere, causing Prea to jump out of her skin.

“Good heavens, Alvie, you scared me half to death,” Prea choked out as her hand registered the crazy beating of her heart through her chest.

“What are you doing, Prea?” she repeated without emotion.

“I’ve found a cure for Carr, but I’m going to have to leave for a little while to collect it.”

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing in this land that can help Carr. We don’t even know what’s wrong with him,” Alvie argued, doubt evident in her voice.

Prea looked away. “It’s nothing medicinal or herbal. It’s the stone…the stone from the story of Aylin and Ciro,” she stammered.

Alvie’s jaw dropped. “That is a legend, Prea. It’s just a story. It’s not real. You’re chasing a fairy tale. What are you going to do, just leave me here alone with Carr?”

“You know very well it’s true,” Prea countered. “We have an entire book full of proof downstairs.”

“That isn’t proof. It’s just a bunch of stories. It’s what Mama’s family believed. That doesn’t make it true.”

“You can’t still think that after all these years?” Prea argued.

“That’s exactly what I believe.”

“You didn’t always,” Prea reminded her quietly. “You used to believe it all.”

“Well, things change. I grew up and realized that magic and fantasy don’t fit into reality.”

“So this is about Mama?”

“No. This is about you abandoning me while you go on a ridiculous quest for a magical cure.”

“Where do you think it all comes from?”

“Where what comes from?” Alvie asked confused.

“I know you feel it. We all feel it. Mama did, I do. So do you and Carr. The power. The energy from nature, the land, the elements. Where do you think your skills with the earth and healing abilities come from? It comes from your lineage, your ancestors.” Prea paused and Alvie made no move to speak. “You know it’s the truth.”

“That’s beside the point,” Alvie countered. “Power, abilities, magic. None of them are going to help Carr.”

Tears welled in Prea’s eyes. “Alvie, do you think I want to be doing any of this? No. But Carr needs my help and I will do  anything I can to save him. I have to. I would be doing the same thing if it was you,” she explained, looking her sister square in the eye. “You’ll be fine. You can handle yourself and we’ll move Carr to the infirmary so he won’t be alone. I’m going to ask Beda to move in here and make sure Dal checks in on both of you so you’re not alone. Everything will be all right, I promise.”

“Everything is far from all right, Prea,” Alvie retorted bluntly. “We’ve lost Mama and Papa and our brother is lying unconscious down the hall. And now you want to go gallivanting off who knows where searching for a mythical object that doesn’t exist.”

Prea looked at her sister and saw her again as the child she still was. Alvie had been given two more years where she remained blissfully unaware of the stresses of reality. Now she was seventeen and Prea was putting her in an unbelievable situation, abandoning her when she had no one else. But it couldn’t be helped; Alvie had to grow up so that both sisters could give Carr the rest of his own childhood.

“It does exist. I know it. I’ve seen it. I don’t want to leave either of you, but I can’t do anything here. You can. But out there is a possibility, something that I can do. I can’t keep sitting here, waiting. The two of you are all I have left and I’m not going to lose another person I love. I can’t do that. I won’t. You may not believe in the story or the stone, but I’ve never let anything happen to you in your life. Do you trust me?” Prea asked.

“Of course I do, Prea,” Alvie answered immediately. “But you’re talking crazy.”

“Then you have to trust that I know what I’m doing. And I do. I will bring the stone back and I will save our brother,” Prea proclaimed. “Then everything can go back to normal…or whatever normal will be then.”

Alvie spun on her heel and walked away from her older sister and Prea let her go. She could hate Prea all she wanted, but something had to be done and she was the only one left to do it.

Living Rainbow

By: Alyssa Pennini

Our world would be such a boring place

If there were only just one race

Instead we create a striking tapestry

With stunning threads of diversity

The hues range like a living rainbow

Differing on the surface, although

Beneath our varying skin tones

We all consist of blood and bone

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 6

Previous Chapters

Silence filled the night as the moon rose over the sea to the east, its reflection washing the water’s surface in silver brilliance. Time continued in the darkness as the other side of life was awoken, rising from their daylight dormancy. A snowy white owl soared across the star speckled sky and landed on a high bough behind the Reed home. As midnight neared, the air stilled, the branches froze and the sea calmed as the moon reached its apex in the black sky.

Time stopped; an indistinguishable occurrence in the late hours of night. The owl alone withstood the brief suspension of time; its only noticeable movement was the blinking of its glowing golden eyes in the darkness.

The moon began to fade in the west as the sun ascended in its place. The pure white feathers of the owl ruffled in the wind when the magnificent bird spread its wings and took flight in the gleaming morning sunlight. It hooted once in farewell before disappearing over the treetops. The owl’s lonely call drifted down through the air and window into Prea’s bedroom, pulling her out of her dreaming state. She climbed out of bed, crossing to the window as she stared into the world waking outside. Prea watched as the sun rose, just as it did every day, as the animals and birds and wildlife stirred in greeting of a new day. The world did not stop, time did not stop, because her family had lost people they loved.

Without thinking, Prea’s body and feet moved the familiar path of her morning routine, ending in her usual spot on the precipice. She did as she always did, coming back inside only when the sun was fully above the horizon. That was the end of normality for the morning, as Alvie was not there greeting her as she returned. Prea climbed the stairs, looking for her siblings.

Outside Alvie’s bedroom door, Prea knocked and waited for an answer. Nothing. She opened the door slightly and stuck her face through. “Alvie? I was thinking of taking Carr to school today and maybe staying myself. It might be a good idea to go into the infirmary for a little bit. Get your mind thinking of something else.”

“I don’t know, Prea,” Alvie groaned beneath the covers. “I’ll think about it.”

“All right. Please do, think about it. You don’t need to go in for a full day. Just get out of the house some,” Prea said, stepping back and closing the door quietly. She moved down the hall towards her brother’s door, hesitated, then knocked.

“Cricket?” Silence. “Carr?” Prea asked softly, opening the door. Still there was nothing but silence. She slipped past the door and entered the room. Her brother’s back faced her, body under the covers, unmoving. Her heart beat faster as a jolt of panic shot through her; no stirring, no movement. Prea rushed to his bed, grabbed his arm and shook him.

“Carr?” Prea called anxiously. She pulled him towards her so he was lying on his back. His eyes did not open, his mouth did not move, his body remained fixed. She continued to shake him vigorously, desperate to rouse him.

“Alvie!” she screamed. Prea moved instinctively and put her ear to his face and listened; he was breathing, at the very least. Alvie ran into the room, the panic in Prea’s voice bringing fear into her own eyes. “He won’t wake,” Prea cried. “He’s breathing, but he won’t wake up.”

Alvie pushed her sister out of the way and began to examine Carr. She was all business and checked his pulse, his breathing, his temperature. Everything seemed normal, but he remained unconscious. “Prea, go get the doctor. Hurry,” Alvie ordered calmly.

An enormous feeling of déjà vu overcame Prea’s senses as she fled down the stairs and out of the house, running as fast as she could to the doctor’s door. Reaching the entry, she banged her fist against the solid wood.

“Doctor Locke? Doctor Locke?” Prea yelled just as she did eight years ago. “Doctor Locke, it’s Prea Reed. Please come, something’s wrong with Carr.”

The door opened suddenly, throwing Prea off balance and she almost fell into the good doctor. “What’s happened, Prea?” Doctor Locke inquired hastily, leading Prea into the street as they hurried back to her house.

“I don’t know. I went to wake him this morning and he wouldn’t open his eyes. He’s alive, but nothing wakes him.”

“I’ll have to examine him before I make any determinations about his condition,” Doctor Locke instructed as they crossed the threshold of their destination and rushed upstairs. Alvie leapt out of the way as the doctor arrived.

“I’ve checked everything Doctor Locke: his pulse and breathing are steady and normal, but his body is limp and he has no reactions or reflexes to stimulants,” Alvie advised.

Doctor Locke listened as he went to work, examining the small boy who lay still in his bed, blond curls a halo around his head. Alvie was positioned at the ready beside the doctor, prepared to help with anything he needed. Prea, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth in front of the door. Nothing changed; no matter what the doctor did, Carr did not move, did not wake.

Eventually the good doctor backed away from Carr and stood, pausing before turning to face the sisters. His grey eyes were bleak and perplexed and he looked at them as though they were small children. “I can’t find any explanation…any cause for his unconsciousness. He is a perfectly healthy eight-year-old, except for the fact that he won’t wake. We can try some herbs, poultices and such, but I’m not sure they will do much good. I’m sorry, girls, but we will just have to wait and see what happens,” he explained sadly, patting both Alvie and Prea on the shoulder before leaving them be.

* * *

A faint sound swelled to a shrill whistle, reverberating loudly within Prea’s ears, shocking her dull senses back to her sharp and present reality. The water was boiling in the kettle and Prea was gazing out through the kitchen window towards the forest but wasn’t seeing the trees; in fact, she wasn’t seeing anything. The window perfectly framed the blur of the natural world in her eyes.

Prea’s foggy mind was confused as she picked up the kettle and poured herself a cup of tea. When did I put the kettle on? How did I get in the kitchen? Prea asked herself, looking around the empty room for something to trigger her memory. This was happening more and more; she had no concrete memories of the past week, since her brother had slipped into unconsciousness. As her tea steeped, she racked her brain trying to summon anything from that time. Alvie had spent the days searching the infirmary for any information, herbs or potions, any cure for what ailed Carr.

There was a brief knock at the door, then Prea heard soft footsteps heading in her direction. Beda entered the kitchen, her red hair braided over her shoulder, concern shining in her eyes and a sad expression on her face. Beda simply walked over to her friend, her skirt swinging, and hugged Prea with all the love she possessed and Prea returned her hug with all the strength she could conjure. The old friends parted, still clasping each other’s arms as Beda scrutinized her friend’s face, searching for answers. “How are you doing, Prea?” Beda asked softly.

“I’m lost, Beda,” Prea confessed, looking away and out the window. “I don’t know what to do anymore. We’ve tried everything and nothing’s worked. He’s just lying up there, unmoving.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she willed them not to spill over. “He’s just a little boy.”

“I know, Prea, I know,” Beda whispered before dragging Prea and her tea over to the table where she slumped into a chair. Beda watched her friend closely, unsure of how to help or what to do. “Prea, you managed when your mother passed and Carr was practically still a baby, you’ll manage now. You’re stronger than anyone I know. You’ve raised that little boy and you’ve done an amazing job.”

“Really?” Prea argued quietly. “I’m pretty sure that, right now, I should be categorized as a failure.”

“You are not a failure,” Beda assured her. “You’ve done the best with what you’ve been given. You were a fifteen-year-old girl left with a crying three-year-old. Not to mention a depressed twelve-year-old. What do you think your parents would have done differently if they were still here?”

“I don’t know. But they were older, wiser, had more experience. I was a kid. Good heavens, I’m still a kid. Now I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and I’m afraid all I can do is sink. What if I can’t fix this?”

“Since when do you talk like this? This isn’t you. Doubt isn’t a part of your vocabulary.”

“How can I have faith after all that’s happened, Beda?”

“I don’t know, Prea. You’re the one who tells the rest of us to trust and have faith. That everything happens for reason.”

“What possible reason could be behind all of this?”

Beda sighed. “Only the heavens know that, apparently.”

“Well, I wish they’d share some of their plans with me.”

“Don’t we all,” Beda muttered sarcastically and Prea’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t give up. You will find something. You just have to keep looking.”

“I don’t even know where to start,” Prea murmured.

“What have you tried so far?” Beda wondered.

“I don’t really know, to be honest. Alvie’s been doing what she does best: herbs, potions, salves, anything she can think of. I’ve done a few of the healing rituals Mama used to do when we were younger.”

“Okay, that’s good. I have to go, but maybe you need to try things outside of the infirmary and medicinal books,” she suggested. “It’s just a thought. You’ve always been better with…‘other’. I’ll come by and check on you later, all right?” Beda rose, kissed Prea on the head and left.

Her mind started click, click, clicking. They had tried everything logical, everything related to health, medicine and the infirmary. Now it was time to look at the illogical. Prea jumped to her feet and hurried into the library. There were hundreds of books; the entire family loved to read. There were some that Prea could rule out as completely irrelevant, but there were more that held possibilities.

Her mind sharpened with the options as she sat down on the floor and cracked open the first book. The familiar scent of old paper and leather filled her nostrils as dust puffed up into her face, making her sneeze. As soon as the dust settled, she went to work, on a mission to find a cure for her brother.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 5

Previous Chapters

The sea was dark and choppy, waves crashing against the base of the cliffs behind the Reed home. The first signs of day inched over the distant horizon, blotting the inky sky with warm splashes of light. The wind whirled around her and Prea’s hair danced on the sea breeze. She wrapped her sweater tight around her body in defense against the crisp morning air as she stood in her usual spot atop the rocky edge, looking out into the nothingness that was the ocean. It no longer held her hopes and dreams; the sea symbolized nothing for her anymore. It just reminded her of an absence that could never be filled.

Yet it still pulled, calling her to this very spot. She took comfort in the immensity of the ocean; it meant there was something in this world that matched the enormity of her loneliness. It was time to go back inside, but she was having trouble moving from her current position. Just as the sea called to her, she felt equally unable to leave, compelled to stay right where she was. Deep down, a part of her was still waiting, hoping that none of it had really happened, that it was all just a dream.

“Prea?” Carr’s voice called through the trees, making her turn away from the trance-inducing ocean. For the second morning, she had let herself get wrapped up in her own emotions and had forgotten about the two people asleep in her house beyond the trees.

Prea turned back to the rising sun, breathed deep once more, and, with all her might, unglued her feet from the ground. “Until tomorrow,” she whispered to the sea and walked away from the cliffs.

Prea crossed into the strip of forest separating their house from the ocean and immediately felt closed off from everything. The cliff and sea left her open, allowing her to feel whatever she needed to feel. But the safety and security of the trees reminded her to be guarded, to protect herself from whatever was to come.

“Prea?” Carr called again as she shuffled through the trees.

“I’m coming, Carr,” Prea responded, the leaves shaking on the limbs above her head as the breeze weaved through the forest. She clutched her sweater close with her left hand and held her right hand out, letting it brush lightly against the bark of the neighboring trees. The familiar scratching against her fingertips calmed her mind and body as the musical chirping grew in the high boughs above her.

Prea caught sight of her brother waiting on the far edge of the copse behind a tree, peering into the woody landscape. She exited the forest a few feet from where Carr stood, his back facing her.

“Carr,” Prea murmured, trying not to startle the boy. A jolt sent him jumping back, spinning around to meet her. “Come on,” she prompted, holding her hand out to him. He crossed the few feet between them, grabbed her outstretched hand in his and they walked back to the house together.

She had decided that she wasn’t going to push Carr to acknowledge or accept the reality of their situation, not directly at least. He was in denial, that was abundantly clear and she wasn’t going to feed that denial. But she wasn’t going to force him out of it either.

The two spent the morning together, eating breakfast and reading stories. They did not see or hear Alvie for hours while she remained in her room, ignoring any interaction with her siblings, though that wasn’t such an unusual occurrence in their household.

As the afternoon wore on, Alvie resurfaced and joined them downstairs still wearing the dress from the last time Prea saw her. She was weak, tired and hungry as she stumbled through the house and into Prea’s waiting arms. Alvie leaned against her sister and Prea held her tight, providing the only comfort in her possession.

“Alvie,” Prea whispered into her ear as she stroked her sister’s silky toffee hair. Their embrace lasted a long time as Prea tried to say everything without speaking because she didn’t have the words. She pulled away and held Alvie’s face in her hands, brushing the stray strands away from her puffy, red eyes.

“Sweetheart, how are you doing?” Prea asked, tears growing again in her own eyes. Her sister’s pain brought her own back to the surface, but Prea knew she had to be strong for her family. She blinked once and the tears spilled, streaking down her face. A deep breath in and the emotions were quickly buried before they could erupt and make things worse.

“I’m exhausted…and hungry,” Alvie murmured as Prea led her into the kitchen.

“Sit down and I’ll make you something to eat,” Prea instructed. “How about some tea?”

“Yes,” Alvie sighed and sat down at the table. “That’s fine.”

Prea gathered some food, brewed some tea and watched her sister closely. Alvie was so different, her personality quite the opposite of Prea and Carr’s, which resulted in the distance between them. They didn’t really understand each other.

“Aren’t you angry?” Alvie asked out of nowhere.

“Angry?” Prea wondered, confused.

“Angry at Papa for dying.”

Prea stilled for a moment. They hadn’t actually talked, mainly Alvie just yelled. “No, I’m not mad. Lost? Scared? Empty? Yes. Angry? No. At least not right now. Papa didn’t choose to leave us. He was doing his job, doing what he loved and what provided for his family. He didn’t want to leave us.”

“I don’t know what to do without him, Prea. He understood me. I didn’t have to say anything, he just knew. He was my Papa,” Alvie said, crying renewed.

“Oh, Alvie,” Prea muttered sadly. She moved over to her sister and brushed the brown hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what to do either. But you’re not alone.”

“Why did this happen? We already lost Mama, why did we have to lose Papa, too?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the universe has bigger plans.” She didn’t really believe it, but she thought it might help to say it. There had to be a reason, otherwise it hurt too much.

“If you believe that, you’re crazy,” Alvie replied quietly.

Prea ignored that comment and set the steaming mug down in front of her sister, placing a plate of food beside it. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

Prea played with her fingers, fiddling as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say. “I was thinking that we could go out to the cliffs at sunset…and say goodbye. I think it would be good for us,” she muttered.

Alvie’s head jerked up in surprise at her sister’s statement. “I…I don’t know about that,” she stammered softly, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I can handle that.”

Prea reached across the table and squeezed Alvie’s hand. “Sweetheart, you’re never going to be ready to do it, none of us are. Who knows? Maybe it will help some. And we’ll all be together.”

* * *

Time dragged on, afternoon shifted to early evening and the sun began its descent. The sisters returned to the kitchen dressed in purple, the color of mourning. It was an odd feeling, dressing up to say goodbye to those they loved and lost, but each did it in the way they felt most comfortable: Prea in a tunic and trousers, Alvie in a dress.

The two set out to gather and prepare for the night’s ritual. “Can you get some bay laurel and rosemary?” Prea asked Alvie as they stepped outside. Alvie nodded. “I’m going to get some periwinkle.”

Once back inside, Prea and Alvie placed their haul onto the kitchen table. Alvie retrieved some twine while Prea created three separate bunches, each containing a bit of the three herbs.

“We have bay laurel for communication with the dead and protection. We have rosemary for purification and happiness. And we have periwinkle for immortality,” Prea said quietly as they tied the bunches together, one for each of them. Once they finished, it was time.

“You ready?” Prea asked her sister, picking up two of the bunches and handing the third to Alvie.

“I’ll never be ready, not really…” Alvie’s voice trailed off.

“Cricket?” Prea called as she walked to the door. “Come on, we’re going out to the cliffs.” Her brother came running at the sound of her voice.

“Why are we going to the cliffs?” Carr asked on the way.

“We’re going to say goodbye to Papa and Leal,” Prea explained, leaving Carr very quiet. As they reached the edge, Prea handed Carr his floral bunch. They stood shoulder to shoulder with Prea in the middle, flanked by her younger siblings. Carr was nervous and twitchy, fidgeting to Prea’s left, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. In stark contrast, Alvie was frozen in place to Prea’s right. They stood at attention as the sea breeze swirled while the splashing and crashing of the water below echoed around them.

Silence ensued as Prea found she couldn’t bring words to her lips. She closed her eyes for a moment and felt the wind kiss her cheeks, took comfort in the strength of the earth beneath her feet and let the sounds of the sea and sky fill her mind. She steeled her heart, opened her eyes and spoke on the breeze, “Papa, you were everything I could ask for in a father. You were loving, kind, strong and helped me become the person I am today. I miss you so much. I miss your guidance, your hope, your faith.” Her voice broke only once as the tears flowed again and she looked up into the darkening sky. “I know you’ll always be there, a light in the darkness, watching over me and I just hope I can make you proud. I love you.”

Carr stayed, but his discomfort grew the longer Prea spoke and, once she finished, the boy threw his bunch of flowers into the sea and darted back to the house.

“Carr…” Alvie turned and called after him.

“Let him go,” Prea ordered, looking over her shoulder. “He’ll have to face it eventually.” Her head spun back to the sky and sea as she continued. “Leal…” Her voice caught in her throat. “You saved me…you brought hope and vision and light back to my life; you helped me live again. I miss you so much. I love you…I’ll always love you,” Prea finished and raised her arm, palm up, clutching the bay laurel, rosemary and periwinkle. As another breeze blew from behind her, she uncurled her fist and let the sprigs slip from her fingers.

Prea watched the sprigs float on the salty air as they dipped and drifted on their descent down to meet the sea’s clear surface. Her hand came down to rest at her side before she clasped her sister’s free hand and held it tight. Alvie’s grip returned the pressure, her chest rising and falling fast as her breathing quickened. Alvie’s mouth opened and she choked on a sob. “Papa, I miss you so much. You were the best father…you understood me. I don’t know what I’m going to do now that you’re gone. I love you, Papa,” Alvie cried on the cliff’s edge. The plants fell from her hand, bouncing on the ground before dropping off and tumbling into the vast blue ocean.

The two Reed sisters, one light-haired and one dark, clad in the violet shade of mourning, embraced each other in their grief under the darkening sky while the wind howled and the birds sang goodnight.

The Legend of Valtera: Chapter 4

Previous Chapters

That feels lovely, Prea thought, feeling the sun ’ s warmth caress her face as rays cut through the bay ’ s sea breeze while they wait at the docks. Today ’ s the day. She can see their ship on the horizon and Carr is jumping up and down with excitement. Alvie is waiting just as impatiently. Papa and Leal should be disembarking any minute. She can ’ t wait to see his face again, his chestnut hair blowing and his golden eyes gleaming like the sun as the smile spreads wide across his face. Their eyes lock and she can ’ t help herself. She runs down the dock towards him, into his strong arms. He grabs her tight, holding her close, embracing her with unconditional love.

Prea’s eyes flew open and her lungs gasped for air, but she couldn’t breathe. The sudden return to her reality threatened to consume her. Prea looked beside her, grateful that Beda and Dal had stayed with her and were now slumbering softly in her bed, still wearing their clothes from yesterday. But right now, she just wanted to be alone. She slipped out of bed, padded silently down the stairs, and headed for the cliff wearing her sleeping clothes and nothing else. Once her feet hit the cold ground, she ran through the trees, falling to her knees at her spot on the edge.

“I can’t do this…I…can’t,” she choked on her despair, sobbing freely. “Leal…I miss you so much. How am I…I can’t live without you.” She folded in half, clutching the earth in both of her hands, trying to cling to something tangible as she drowned in her grief. “You were supposed to protect each other,” Prea yelled, tearing earth from the ground. “You were supposed to return to me, safely.” She tossed the earth into the bay. “Both of you.”

Staring down at her empty, dirty hands, she wept until there was nothing left. Exhausted, Prea laid her head on the cold, hard ground and closed her eyes.

She was alone. All of her guides, her advisors and mentors, were dead. Who was she going to turn to? Now she had no one. There was just emptiness inside her. She had lost her faith with Papa and her hope had gone with Leal.

She wasn’t sure how long she lay there, trying to escape the truth that she would never again see the two men she loved most. The rising sun had done nothing to warm her curled up frame.

Prea heard Beda and Dal calling her name, but she ignored them. She didn’t want to talk, or think or feel. She just wanted it to be over. Their voices were getting closer, clearer through the trees.

“Prea,” Beda screamed when she saw her friend’s prostrate form and ran to her side. She pulled her into a sitting position, rubbing warmth back into her hands. “Prea, you’re frozen. What are you doing out here? We have to get you inside.”

Prea shook her head, avoiding Beda’s eyes. “No. Just leave me.”

“It’s Carr,” Dal said, coming up behind her. It was all he said; it was all she needed.

Her head snapped up. “What’s wrong?”

Dal took her hands from Beda, pulling her up from the frozen ground. “He’s coughing again. Alvie won’t come out of her room and we can’t get him to stop. You’re the one he wants.”

Prea’s mind sharpened as she hurried back to the house. “Where is he?”

“In his room,” Dal answered. She was much too tired to deal with this, but she had an idea as she entered through the door. Grabbing a book, she took the steps two at a time.

The sight of Carr’s face as Prea ran into his room was a shot to her heart. There was panic and anger on his little face that morphed into reluctant relief when he saw her.

“I’m here, cricket. Don’t worry, I’m here.” She pushed his hair out of his eyes and stroked his cheek. “Come here,” she instructed, sitting him down on his bed. Opening the book to the page she wanted, she placed the book in Carr’s hands. “Here. Read this out loud. Read it to me.”

Carr looked at her through tears, before turning his eyes to the words on the page. It was the book of old tales opened to the story of Aylin and Ciro. The whole book was a connection to their mother, especially for Carr who had few actual memories of her, but this story in particular made everyone in the family feel better. He stammered through the first sentences as Prea rubbed his back soothingly, but gained traction the more he read and by the time he finished the story, he was breathing easy.  

“You weren’t here. I needed you and you weren’t here,” he said accusingly. “Where were you?”

Prea pulled Carr onto her lap and held him tight. “I’m so sorry. I was…It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to worry. I’ll be here; whenever you need me, I’ll be here.”

How could she be so selfish? Her grief and despair had her forgetting about her siblings, her responsibilities, the promise she had made. I’m so sorry, Mama, Papa. I promised you both I would take care of them. I promised. I won’t let you down, she proclaimed silently.

“What happened to your hands?” Carr asked sometime later, his head against his sister’s.

Prea pulled away looking at her hands as well. “I was angry with the earth,” she said sadly. It was the only reason she could summon. A ghost of a grin crossed her face when she heard Carr’s stomach rumbling. “How about we get you some food, cricket? Come, let’s see what Dal and Beda are up to.”

The two found her friends in the kitchen talking quietly, as they entered the room. “Go on,” Prea said, nudging Carr towards the table. She needed to confer with her friends.

Beda looked at her, concerned. “How are you, honey?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m fine at the moment. You two should go home. You have work and need to get back to your lives. We’ll be all right for now.”

Beda looked at Dal, then back to Prea. “Are you sure? We don’t have to leave.”

“No,” she assured them. “I have everything under control right now. And I need to deal with Alvie.”

Dal nodded. “All right. Just let us know if you need anything and we’ll be here.”

“I know,” she said hugging them each tightly for a minute. “Thank you both.”

As they left, Prea stood in the kitchen and felt numb. She couldn’t stand around and do nothing, however. Carr needed food and she had to check on Alvie. “Carr, are you hungry? Let me get you some food.”

“Yes, I’m starving.”

“Okay. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Shouldn’t Papa and Leal be home soon?” he wondered.

Prea’s head snapped up at his question and she turned to look at him. His golden curls were tangled, but his face was calm and untroubled. He was simply waiting for food. It was as if last night never happened.

“Cricket. Papa and Leal…their ship went down. They’re gone.” Prea moved over to the table, patting Carr on the back. “Papa and Leal are with Mama now.”

“No. That’s not true,” Carr exclaimed, his voice rising in anger. “They’re supposed to return any time now. You’ll see.”

She was dumbfounded and didn’t want to argue, so she finished the food and set a plate down in front of Carr. She outfitted another plate and took it upstairs. She hesitated outside Alvie’s room, unsure of what she would find behind the door. Prea raised her hand and knocked lightly a few times. She paused again, waiting for some response. Nothing. Prea knocked again and announced she was coming in. Her sister was lying in her bed, facing away from the door.

“Alvie, sweetheart, I brought you some food,” Prea said softly as she entered.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat something,” Prea persisted.

Alvie was silent. Prea put the food down on her bedside table and sat down on the edge of Alvie’s bed. She laid a hand on her sister’s arm and could now hear her crying quietly. “Sweetie.”  Alvie pulled her arm away from Prea.

“Just leave me alone, Prea. I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to talk. Papa’s gone and he’s never coming back,” Alvie yelled.

“Alvie…”

“He left us and got himself killed,” she screamed. “So just leave, Prea.” 

Prea stood quickly, as if Alvie had slapped her across the face with the force of her anger. She left her sister crying in her room, the interaction leaving light tears rolling down her own cheeks.

She was in charge of two children who needed their parents and didn’t have them. Prea was all they had and she had no idea what she was going to do. One was in denial, one was angry and she was lost. She didn’t know what to do, but that didn’t matter now, did it? Prea couldn’t let her parents down; she had to stay strong. She had made promises to both of them and she always made good on her promises.