by Lisa Chitty
‘I didn’t think of that! You could be right.’ James seemed pleased that Abi had come up with another reason for the necessity of him wearing armour and carrying a sword, but somewhere in the back of Abi’s mind she had the feeling that James was going to end up in the thick of the action, as would Steve and Randall.
‘I’m not sure it’s up to much. It weighs hardly anything!’ Randall had lifted the breastplate of the armour off his mannequin and was holding it with ease.
‘Tell you what, I’ll test it,’ Steve said eagerly.
‘Not on you I hope,’ was Abi’s horrified response.
Steve looked faintly disappointed as he replied. ‘How about on the mannequin then?’ Before anyone could stop him he had taken his sword from its scabbard and swung it with all his strength at the mannequin. It rocked from the force of the blow but remained upright. Steve peered at the area he had struck and then cried out with glee. ‘Not so much as a scratch! It’s really amazing.’
Now that it had been tested, they were all eager to take their items and were quickly stripping the mannequins ready to take everything out to where Sasket waited for them.
Suddenly James stopped what he was doing. ‘Hold on a minute. What about Abi?’
‘What about her?’ Randall replied, most of his attention still on his own items.
‘You really aren’t that observant are you? There are only three sets of weapons and armour here. Clearly intended for us blokes. But there’s nothing here for Abi, is there?’
Randall and Steve also stopped and turned to look at Abi.
‘Women don’t wear armour though do they?’ Abi said in response. ‘Don’t forget that here women seem to be treated as being inferior. It is a bit odd though that’s there’s nothing here for me.’
Randall began looking around to see if he could spot anything hidden anywhere. Eventually he gave up and looked back at Abi and shrugged slightly.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said breezily. ‘I’m sure that there’s an explanation. Let’s get all of your things up to Sasket.’ Abi rose and went to help gather the various items.
Soon they were climbing back up and out into the fresh air. James was the last one to exit from the underground cavern and as he came out from the centre of the tree, the two parts that had opened to let them all in closed behind him. Once they were closed again there was no hint of a join where they had opened.
Sasket came over to admire what they had found and Randall, James and Steve proudly displayed their new items. Sasket then turned to Abi and as he saw that she was empty handed a slight frown crossed his face. ‘What about you?’ he asked her. ‘What was in there for you?’
‘There wasn’t anything,’ Abi replied, lightly shrugging. ‘Obviously I’m not intended to do anything where I might need to defend myself.’
As she said this a strange expression crossed Sasket’s face, like he was upset. He then turned, going to where Randall and Steve stood. ‘We’d better be getting back now that you’ve found your items.’
‘Wait a minute,’ Abi called out. ‘Why did you look so sad just now?’
‘It was nothing Abi, forget about it.’ Sasket continued walking away.
‘No. You know something and you’re not telling me. I want to know what you’re hiding from me.’ As Abi said this she went over to Sasket and grabbed his arm, turning him so that he had to face her. James had followed Abi and was standing behind her.
Sasket shook his head and his gaze passed from Abi to James, and once again a look of infinite sadness crossed his face. He ducked his head, sighed and then looked up again. ‘Abi,’ he began softly. ‘It really is best if I don’t tell you. Besides, what I’ve heard might not be true.’
‘But the fact that I’ve come out of that tree and I have nothing to defend myself with, makes you think that it is.’ Abi stated.
At this point Randall decided to intervene. ‘Leave it, Abi! He doesn’t want to say and I don’t think that he’s going to. Don’t start an argument now. Why don’t you help gather up everything so that we can leave here.’
Abi gathered herself up to protest but felt James’s hand on her shoulder. ‘Come on, it’s probably best that we do move on from here.’ With that James led Abi away from Sasket.
Randall and Steve watched for a moment before Steve turned to Sasket. ‘This is all about what happens between the Fiery Woman and the Strategist isn’t it? Something bad is going to happen and the fact that Abi’s empty handed has just confirmed it hasn’t it?’
Sasket nodded his head slowly. ‘But please do not ask me any more on the matter. It cannot be prevented so there is no point discussing it.’ He turned and walked away to gather his belongings. Randall and Steve regarded one another silently and despite the warmth of the day, both of them felt a sudden chill and had to suppress a shiver.
A short while later, they had managed to organise themselves, and all the extra things that they had had to arrange on the pack horse and were ready to go. James, Randall, Steve and Abi started heading towards the path that they had used to enter the clearing when Sasket called out. ‘Actually, it’s this way.’ He pointed to a different track going in almost the opposite direction. ‘We’ll get back quicker if we take a different route.’
The four of them turned and followed Sasket. Once again the undergrowth was dense, protecting the secrets of the clearing, and they had to hack their way through. However, this time it seemed easier and they were soon following a clearer path that led to a junction with a broad track. Sasket immediately turned left onto the track and Abi, who was next in line after him followed, but as she did so she felt a curious pull to the right and stopped dead. Randall, who hadn’t been paying any attention walked straight into the back of Abi.
‘Abi!’ Randall cried out. ‘If you’re suddenly going to stop like that you could at least tell me!’
‘Well, you should have been looking where you were going or not been walking so close behind!’ Abi snapped back.
‘Oh, pardon me!’ was Randall’s sarcastic reply.
But Abi refused to rise to the bait this time and just gave Randall a withering look instead before turning to Sasket. ‘Shouldn’t we be going right?’ she asked him.
‘No. Going left takes us directly back to the caves.’ Sasket gave Abi an odd look.
‘But wouldn’t it be an easier track if we went right?’ Abi persisted.
‘Er, Abi, just in case you hadn’t noticed, Sasket is the one who lives here. I’m sure that he knows where he’s going,’ James interrupted.
‘I do know that James. However, I do have a good sense of direction and it’s telling me right.’ Abi looked at Sasket as she said this trying to get him to understand the compulsion she had to go in the other direction.
Sasket continued looking at Abi for a while before he went on. ‘In a way, Abi is correct. The way that she wants to go is an easier but longer route.’
‘I’m all for easier,’ Randall proclaimed. ‘Let’s go right!’
Abi sighed gently with relief. She was going to be able to go in the direction that she wanted without having to explain why. It would have been difficult trying to tell them all, when she didn’t really know herself why. She just knew that she had to go right.
They carried on for a while on the track talking aimlessly amongst themselves. They passed several crossroads off the path, but continued going straight on. However, at one junction that Sasket walked straight past, Abi stopped again. She was being pulled once more in a different direction, this time to the left. ‘Sasket,’ Abi called out. ‘Don’t we want to go this way?’ She indicated the path to the left.
Sasket turned round and looked like he was about to protest but something in Abi’s face changed his mind as he replied. ‘Oh, yes. Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.’ He came back to where Abi stood and turned down the path she wanted to take. The others looked confused, but didn’t protest and followed Sasket and Abi.
This happened a couple more times, Sasket
going past turnings and Abi stopping him and getting him to go in a different direction. Abi was sure that someone was going to say something soon and when she re-directed Sasket for the third time, Randall protested.
‘That’s it! Everyone stop. I want an explanation for what the hell is going on here. Abi, you can’t possibly know where you’re going. So Sasket, why do you let her keep taking us in a different way to what you want to go?!’
Sasket didn’t know what to say and neither did Abi. Abi knew it was going to sound stupid, the fact that she was following a gut feeling. But that’s what was happening.
‘Come on’ Randall persisted. ‘One of you is going to tell me what’s going on here. I’m not taking another step until either one of you spills the beans.’
Again, his request was met with silence. As the silence went on, James decided to try and get an answer, but he directed his question to Abi. ‘Look at me Abi,’ he requested. As she did he went on. ‘Why are you taking us off in a different direction?’
For some reason Abi couldn’t avoid James’s gaze and so she had to answer him. ‘I have to,’ she told him. ‘There’s something out there that I have to get to.’
‘Oh great!’ Randall interrupted before James could say anything. ‘We’re wandering round in the depths of a forest, with no real clue, all because you think there’s something out there for you. How stupid can this get?’
‘It’s not stupid!’ Abi yelled back at him. ‘There is something. I have to find it and it’s guiding me in the right direction which is down this path!’
‘Do you know how ridiculous you sound?’ exclaimed Randall. ‘This is complete nonsense. Sasket, ignore anything that Abi says from now on and take us back to the caves.’ Randall then turned to Abi then. ‘As for you, you’re going to follow along behind with me. I’ll make sure that you actually come with us.’ He reached out to take hold of Abi’s arm and pull her along beside him, but before he could take hold, she ducked out of his reach and ran down the path that she wanted to take.
‘Oh, well done Randall, that’s blown it!’ Steve said with disgust. ‘Well handled, I don’t think. We’d better go after her, we can’t let her run around on her own.’ Steve then turned and also ran down the path Abi had taken. James and Sasket quickly followed, with Randall reluctantly bringing up the rear.
Abi ran on, determined to carry on towards whatever it was that was calling to her. She also didn’t want Randall to try and stop her, so she knew she had to keep running to keep ahead of him. Abi could hear the footsteps of the others behind her and occasional calls for her to stop but she continued her headlong rush, until she could barely breath and eventually had to slow down to a walk.
Steve was the first to catch up with Abi after she slowed. He was as out of breath as she was but he still had the energy to grab Abi’s arm and pull her to a complete stop. They both stood regaining their breath whilst they waited for the others to catch up. As Sasket, James and Randall joined them, at first there was just the sound of them all breathing heavily after their long run, but eventually they all had the breath to talk and it was Randall who spoke first.
‘What do you think you were doing running off like that and making us all run after you!’ he yelled at Abi. ‘Or have you forgotten your promise to me to not go so far away from us?’
Abi was momentarily stunned. She had completely forgotten the promise she had made to Randall not to wander off. It felt like it was a lifetime ago, instead of a few days. However, her anger soon got the better of her as she replied. ‘I don’t care about some stupid promise I made! I have to do this, and I’m going to whether you like it or not!’
‘What, and drag us all along in your wake? I suppose you don’t care either that you might be placing every single one of us in danger.’ Randall was getting just as angry.
‘I’m not placing us in danger!’ Abi yelled back at him.
‘How can you possibly know that?!’
‘I just do.’ Abi’s response was less than convincing. ‘No matter how much you yell at me or protest, I’m still going to go the way I want to. You can either leave me to it, or come along too. It’s up to you.’
‘Enough!’ James’s cry was loud enough to stop Randall and Abi in the height of their argument. ‘Abi, we’re not going to leave you on your own, but whatever it is that you’re doing is incomprehensible to the rest of us. I think we should call it a day and head back.’
‘Actually,’ Steve interjected. ‘It’s beginning to get dark. We won’t be going anywhere tonight. We need to find somewhere we can settle for the night.’
They all looked around and realised that Steve was right. So, forestalling any more arguing, they began to look round for a suitable place. Luckily they found a patch just large enough for them to light a fire and set the tents up not that far away. Despite the tension in the air they quickly set everything up and were soon gathered round the fire eating their evening meal.
Abi had said nothing further to anyone. James had tried to talk to her but had soon given up when she failed to respond to him and left Abi to it. She finished eating as quickly as she could and made for her tent, thankful that tonight she wouldn’t have to share. Abi lay on her back listening to the sounds around her, waiting. She knew she wasn’t that far from whatever it was she had to go and find. As soon as the coast was clear she was going to leave the camp and go on her own way.
It didn’t take long for the others to retire, but Abi knew she had to wait until they were sleeping. It seemed to take ages but eventually all sounds ceased apart from the nocturnal ones of the forest. Abi got up very quietly and left the tent. There was a full moon and she stood for a while taking in the beauty of her surroundings. Everything was bleached of colour, but somehow the scenery was more beautiful. Abi quickly headed off in the direction she knew she needed to go in when a voice stopped her.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
Abi turned and saw that James was standing not that far away. He had obviously seen her leave the tent and waited to see what she was going to do. Abi contemplated lying, saying that she just needed to relieve herself, but she knew she could never lie to James. ‘I’m going to find whatever it is that’s calling to me,’ she told him, lifting her chin defiantly.
‘Oh Abi,’ he sighed. ‘It’s really not a good idea. I know that this a strange world and that bizarre things happen here, but do you honestly believe that there’s something dictating to you what you have to do?’ He came to stand in front of Abi, blocking her way.
‘Yes, James. I do believe I have to do this,’ Abi replied softly.
James lifted his hands and placed them on Abi’s arms, gazing down at her. In the moonlight his features were sharper than usual and there was something about him that was taking Abi’s breath away. ‘Please, don’t do this,’ James implored. ‘I’m worried that something bad will happen to you.’
Abi could see that James was sincere in his worry and it nearly brought her to tears. ‘Please don’t try and stop me,’ she whispered. ‘Let me go and find out the truth.’
James sighed softly. ‘I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.’ Abi was about to protest when he went on. ‘At least not alone.’ He raised a hand and brushed it against Abi’s cheek. ‘I can’t let anything happen to you, so I’m coming with you.’ He smiled softly down at Abi and she smiled back. He then reached down and took her hand. ‘Now, which way are we going?’
Abi turned and led him away through the undergrowth. They walked side by side, still holding hands, their thighs occasionally brushing against each others. Abi was still feeling the pull of whatever was calling to her, but it was almost overwhelmed by what she was feeling for James. Where they touched, electricity seemed to be flowing through her. There was a definite spark between the two of them, and as Abi stole occasional glances at James, she knew he felt the same. They didn’t talk as they walked and they didn’t hurry either. Abi knew that she was close to her destination but it felt like she had all the t
ime in the world and she wanted to share this feeling for James for as long as possible.
Eventually they came to a lake. The moonlight was shimmering on the water, illuminating the shoreline. All that could be heard was the soft ripple of waves against the small gravel beach, and in the distance the sound of a waterfall. ‘I hope we’re not going for a swim,’ James whispered in Abi’s ear. ‘It looks a bit cold.’
Abi laughed softly and gently squeezed James’s hand. ‘Don’t worry, we’re not. We’re going to walk round the edge until we get to the other end, by the waterfall.’
James smiled back at her and they continued their way round the lake once again in companionable silence. They seemed to reach the lake end and the waterfall far too quickly and Abi was sure that James was as disappointed as she was that their moonlit walk seemed to be over.
‘Now what?’ he asked.
Abi reluctantly took her hand from his and walked to the cliff beside the waterfall. She placed both hands on the stone, palms spread flat against it. She knew she was looking for an entrance in, she could feel the call incredibly strongly now and knew that whatever it was, was just behind the rock. Abi walked along, her hands still in contact with the cliff, until she felt a serious of depressions. There were four in total, spaced so that you would have to use both hands, fully spread to apply pressure to all four at once. Abi pressed her fingers into the depressions and was rewarded when a rectangular section of the wall opened slowly inwards.
Abi turned back to face James. An expression of fear was on his face and she went quickly to him to try and reassure him. She took both of his hands in hers and gazed into his eyes. ‘Come on. It’ll be alright,’ she said softly.
James shook his head. ‘No, I can’t come with you.’
Abi was astounded. ‘But I thought we were doing this together.’
‘I can’t come with you, because I believe I’m not meant to,’ was his soft reply. ‘Whatever this is, I know that you have to do this alone and that I’ve come as far with you as I can.’
