by Ellie Smith
Chapter 4
Yanar opened her eyes and blinked up at the cave walls that were brightly lit by the morning sunshine. She recalled the mudslide and sighed heavily. She said another prayer for the soldiers and Mimina then quickly rose and dressed in her frock. Although the dress was tattered and torn it was the only thing she had to wear. Yanar thought it would do quite nicely in helping her portray the part she would have to play in case she met anyone during her journey. She dare not let anyone know her true identity. After combing her long dark hair with her fingers Yanar tied it back with a few strands of thread from the dress. A quick look around the cave and Yanar left her makeshift home, venturing out into the first rays of morning sunlight. It was a beautiful day; almost sparkling after the heavy rains. She made her way quickly across the grassy field to the roadside. Although the muddy ruts were still evident there was already signs of the surface drying. Yanar turned and looked at the muddy hillside that now showed no signs of any guards or horses then, after a sad sigh and another prayer for those lost, she turned and walked in the opposite direction. She had walked for almost an hour when she happened upon several bushes that were laden with dark blue berries. She recalled Benzant telling her how he had lived on such berries for several days in the mountains and Yanar decided if Benzant could do it she could too. She picked two and tasted them, marveling at their sweetness. After eating several handfuls of the delectable berries, Yanar filled the pockets of her dress with them then moved on. They would help her keep up her strength until she could find more substantial food. As she rounded a small bend in the road, Yanar came to a sudden halt, her eyes widening at the sight of a second road. Which way did she go? Her gaze followed both roads as far as she could see hoping what lay ahead on either would give her some kind of clue. But she could see nothing. No houses, no villages, and no ancestral castle. Both roads seemed to meander into separate valleys that were divided by a large mountain range. Yanar sighed thoughtfully. If she took the wrong road she could end up further away from her destination.
"You look as if you are lost."
The male voice startled Yanar and she jumped then spun fearfully. She backed up several paces as her gaze focused on a man who was standing on the roadside less than twenty feet from her. His clothes were even more tattered than hers and Yanar thought he looked as if he had also been caught in the rainstorm. His pants were caked with mud to his knees. His dark hair, partially covered by a strange looking hat, hung in stringy strands that came almost to his shoulders. Her gaze went past him and she saw footprints leading up to his location. Obviously from walking in the road, she thought as her gaze met his again.
"You need not be afraid of me lass," he said and took a step toward her. "I am not a highwayman." His gaze slid over her attire casually. "No matter, even if I were," he said with a slightly cocked eyebrow. "It is obvious you have nothing to steal." He took another step before his gaze shifted to the fork in the road. "Are you lost and know not which road to take?"
Yanar summoned all of her courage then clamped her hands onto her hips as she had seen Mimina do more than once. "If it is any business of yours," she snipped. "I was admiring the view of the two valleys."
"Ah," he said with obvious amusement, his dark eyes dancing vibrantly. "So I was going to play the good Samaritan for nothing." He waved his hand into the air in a dismissing gesture. "Very well lass. Good day. I shall leave you to admire the view." With that, he went past her without giving her another glance.
Yanar watched him as he veered onto the rightmost road. It was obvious he knew where he was going. Perhaps there was a near village that way. A good Samaritan was what he had called himself. Was he? If so, she could have easily gotten instruction from him on which way to go. Yanar watched him until he was a safe distance in front of her then trekked after him. After all, she thought to herself, certainly he wouldn't be roaming around as lost as she.
Several hours past and Yanar was beginning to feel hungry again. All of the berries she had stuffed into her pockets were gone. Her gaze searched the road ahead and she sighed. And so was the stranger. His stride was, most assuredly, longer than hers and he had left her behind without even knowing that she was following him. She was alone again. Yanar looked over her surroundings and sighed dismally when she did not see any villages. Her gaze lifted to the high sun. Almost noon, she determined. That meant she only had a few hours to find an inn for the night. An inn? Yanar scoffed. What innkeeper would allow such a waif as her entrance into his establishment? None, that was most certain. She would just have to make do with what she could find, even if it meant sleeping in another cave. Yanar heard a rustle and looked up to see the same man she had seen at the fork sitting under a large tree near the road. She frowned when she realized he was watching her with extreme intentness.
"You sure do walk slow," he said with a smile as she neared. "I've been sitting here waiting for you for almost an hour."
"What do you mean, waiting for me?"
"I saw you come the same way I did," the man said. "I even slowed my pace so you could catch up to me. When you didn't I decided to wait for you here, where it was cooler."
His casual air rose Yanar's curiosity. But it also bristled her. "I did not come the same way you did," she announced hotly. "We just happen to be traveling in the same direction, that's all. Now, if you do not mind," she said and resumed her steps. "I have a journey to continue."
"Does that mean you do not wish to share the meal I gathered for us?"
Meal? Food? Yanar, who had been several paces past the man, stopped and turned slowly. Her gaze dropped to a large cloth he was unfolding and she eyed the berries, red apples and a variety of unfamiliar food stuffs it held. Yanar heard her stomach growl but forced the pain aside as her gaze met his again. "Thank you but no," she decided would be the best answer.
"Oh come now," he insisted and held the cloth toward her. "I know you must be hungry. Please, come and sit here in the shade and eat." He saw her hesitate and added, "I assure you lass, I wish no harm to you."
Yanar looked at the berries again then slowly moved into the shade. She sank to the grass warily, her gaze never leaving the man's face.
"Please," he said with a gentle smile as he laid the cloth halfway between them. "Eat as much as you would like. There is plenty more if you find you are still hungry."
Yanar took a few of the red berries and found they were just as sweet as those she had found that morning. She watched the man pick up a red apple and bite into it, then chose another of the apples and began to eat it. "You are most kind," she said as she took a handful of the berries and nibbled on them.
"Thank you," he said congenially as he took another apple. His gaze shifted to the distant hills. "Are you on your way to Verdice?"
Verdice? It was a name that was totally unfamiliar to Yanar. She tried to recall the name of the village that was near the ancestral castle but could not. What did she say? Yanar decided she needed to be as vague as possible. "I am not seeking any one place,” she told him with as much certainty as she could muster. “I am just traveling."
His head swiveled and he looked at her tattered dress. "Traveling without baggage or parcels?" His thick eyebrows met just before he turned back to the hills. "That is quite odd. Even more odd than a lass traveling alone."
Yanar decided he needed to be gotten off the track, and quickly. "And why can a lass not travel alone? Do you not think I am capable of it?"
"I did not say that. I just think it odd."
After finishing the berries she had in her hands Yanar rose to her feet and looked down at the man. "I thank you for sharing your meal with me kind sir, but I must resume my journey. Farewell." With that, she hurried down the road quickly. She could not allow this man to question her. Questions led to answers and answers led to assumptions. That was something Yanar could not afford. And she certainly did not need someone telling her she should not be out here alone even though she knew he was right. When Yanar heard a noise, she
looked up to see the stranger walking beside her. Her frown was instant. "What are you doing?"
"Traveling," he said with a smile.
Yanar sniffed. "If you think you are going to follow me..."
"It was not I who followed you lass," he interrupted.
"I was not following you!" she snapped as she stopped and faced him. "I simply happened to be going in the same direction as you." Before the man could answer Yanar turned and quickened her step, hoping to put some distance between them. This stranger was beginning to irritate her; not just because he was right, but because he was there. She did not need anyone guessing on where she was going or why.
"I am quite pleased to see that you can keep up a good walking pace."
Yanar rolled her eyes when the familiar voice came from directly beside her. She glared at the man but decided not to respond. Perhaps if she kept silent he would get the hint and allow her to continue on alone.
The pair walked in silence for more than ten minutes before Yanar slowed her pace. The quickened steps had taken their toll and Yanar found she was growing tired.
"I am glad you slowed some," the man said, still at her side. "I was beginning to think you were trying to get rid of me."
"I am," Yanar snapped and glared at him again. "I prefer traveling alone."
A soft smile curled his lips. "I have already surmised that lass." He thrust an apple toward her. "Care for a mid-afternoon snack?"
Yanar looked at the apple then sighed wearily before taking it. "Thank you most kindly," she said and took a bite of the juicy apple.
"You are most kindly welcome," the man replied. "My name is Arvinthal."
Name? He had given his in obvious assumption that he would get hers. What did she tell him? She could not give her real name. Yanar took a bite of the apple as her thoughts jetted wildly. What name would she use? She thought of all the women's names she knew. There were many but one name had always stuck out in Yanar's mind; a name she had read in one of her books. Yanar had thought, when she had read the book, that she might like to, one day, name her daughter after the heroine. "I am Coriandra."
“A lovely name," the man said thoughtfully. "I recall reading that name in a book many years ago." He looked at the road ahead. "Since we appear to be traveling in the same direction would you mind if we traveled together?"
As she finished the apple, Yanar thought about his suggestion. She did not like the idea of the stranger being with her. He seemed to be full of questions. But, on the other hand, it would be nice having a traveling companion. Yanar was sure she could find a way to curb his curiosity. It would also be much safer than traveling alone. "I guess it would be alright," she said as she tossed the apple core into the bushes and looked at the stranger. "Ready to get started again?"
"Of course," he replied with a smile. "Whenever you are ready."
The pair walked on together for almost an hour before Arvinthal broke the silence. "We should be able to reach Carcimala before sunset."
Carcimala. Another name she had never heard of. Although she had learned about all of the larger towns and villages in the vast kingdom there were obviously many smaller ones she did not know about. Yanar decided that, once back at the castle, she would learn more about the kingdom that would, one day, be hers to rule. "How many villages are on this road?" she asked, hoping she would recognize the most important one; the one that stood beside the ancestral castle.
"There are many," Arvinthal answered. "At least six or seven between here and the country's border. But they are all small." He gave her a sideways glance. "If you would have chosen to take the other road, you would have found only two villages...Modenista, the first you would have encountered, is quite small and two full days walk from the crossroads. The second village is another full days walk beyond Modenista and is a good-sized village. That is Tartania."
Yanar’s gaze shot to full width. Tartania. That was the name of the village at the ancestral castle! She was going the wrong way! Quickly, to cover up her shock Yanar faked a twisted ankle and slumped to the side of the road. "Oh," she moaned, rubbing her ankle as she tried to collect her thoughts. What was she to do now? If she turned and started in the other direction Arvinthal would become suspicious. If there had only been signs at the crossroads telling travelers which way to go. Yanar decided, once she became queen, there would be road signs at ever juncture.
Arvinthal rushed to the woman's side and knelt down. "Are you injured lass?" he asked, total concern in his voice.
"My ankle," she whimpered, hoping it sounded convincing. "I must have twisted it on one of the ruts."
He examined her ankle with a curious frown then rose. "I will get some cool leaves to wrap your ankle," he said and hurried into a wooded area nearby.
Yanar pressed her forehead against her knee and closed her eyes. She had to get away from the stranger. But how? He was too close for her to be able to run now. Without a doubt, he would see her flee and follow her. And then the questions would come and with abundance. She sighed wearily. An entire day's journey for nothing! Just then she heard a rustle in the bushes and looked up to see Arvinthal appear carrying several wide leaves. Yanar felt pangs of guilt for lying to this considerate stranger but she dared not reveal her true identity. "You have quite a vast amount of knowledge," she commented as he adeptly draped the cool, moist leaves around her ankle.
Arvinthal seemed to hesitate before he glanced up at her. "I have met many people during my years of travel. They have taught me many things." His gaze met hers. "We will stay here tonight and allow your ankle to rest." He gestured over his shoulder toward the wooded area. "I found an old campsite while I was gathering the leaves. After you have rested a while I will help you over to it."
Just before sunset, Arvinthal helped Yanar to her feet and, wrapping his arm around her waist, helped her into the wooded area to the campsite. "Rest here," he instructed, perching her against a large tree. "I will find our evening meal."
Yanar leaned her head back against the tree and closed her eyes. Perhaps, if she could awaken early, while Arvinthal was still sleeping, she could sneak out and be a good distance away before he awakened. It would give her the head start she needed and he would, most certainly, think she had went on to Carcimala. He would attempt to follow her, not knowing she had went in the other direction. And she would be rid of him. Yes, it was a good plan.
After a meal of berries, apples and other various fruits, Yanar stifled a yawn then leaned back against the tree.
"You look exhausted," Arvinthal noted with a deep frown. "Perhaps you should sleep now so you will be rested for the journey tomorrow."
"Perhaps you are right," Yanar said and yawned again. She eased herself to the soft grasses, making sure to favor her ankle. "Thank you for the delicious meal. You are truly the kindest man I have ever met during my travels." She closed her eyes sleepily and, after a prayer thanking the Gods for watching over her on her first day's journey, was quickly asleep.
"You are quite welcome lass," Arvinthal replied as he watched her eyes close. He smiled softly as his gaze lifted to the darkening skies for a moment then turned and laid down a few feet away.
