“Greetings.” He waved his hands in the air to show he carried no weapons. “May I approach?” He stopped, waiting for our response.
“Yes. Please come.” I reached my hand out when he was close enough and he shook it firmly.
“Thank you. We were nervous when we first spotted your party. I’m sure you understand.” The man glanced at each one of us, pausing longer on the giants, clearly uneasy at their size.
“Yes. We are aware of what has been going on. How is this path? And to the south?” This would be our first real indication as to what we were up against.
“It’s not been untouched. I would turn around if I were you.” He looked back at his group and nodded. They visibly relaxed and dismounted, but remained together.
“Same thing ahead of you. May I ask why you’re on the road?” I held my hand up to the giants and they dropped their hands to their sides. While they didn’t look any less intimidating, their large biceps were less apparent.
“I’m trying to get back to my wife. She’s with her mother. These are my sons and brother.” He pointed to his party.
“Then we mustn’t keep you.” I smiled at the man then motioned for Iri to pull the carriage over so they could pass.
“Thank you. And good luck with your trip. Be careful.” The man bowed slightly before right back to his horse.
We moved the carriage, and I watched the men remount their horses and trot past. Something told me their story wasn’t the whole truth, but whatever they were doing wouldn’t hold us up any longer.
We carried on the path for some time, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Just as the silence became overwhelming along the road, I suddenly felt a wave of weakness. With a dizzy sensation beginning to overwhelm me I carefully lay down where I’d been seated in the back of the carriage. My back was jostled against the wood as we traveled over the bumps and rocks, but it was the best I could do.
“Are you all right?” Astor leaned over, his eyebrows raised with concern.
“I’m fine. I just need to have a little rest.” I smiled to reassure him everything was okay. I didn’t want him to alert the others.
I closed my eyes and rolled onto my side, away from Astor and the two giants who were lumbering along closer to the back of Astor’s side of the carriage. Someone was calling me into a dream meeting, but I didn’t know who. The presence was familiar, but they hadn’t shown themselves yet. The only thing I knew for sure was that it wasn’t Runa. The signature was unfamiliar.
I tried my best to focus as the carriage continued to bounce up and down, opening my mind to whoever was summoning me. Slowly, against the distractions of my physical body, I sank deeper and deeper into a dream state until I was back in Mother Ofburg’s house. Had she been the one who called me?
“Aria. Thank goodness you came.” Mother Ofburg ran toward me with open arms. I embraced her, unsure what was going on. How had she been able to call me to a dream meeting?
“What’s going on?” I was glad to have her back on my side, but worried at the same time.
“I need to ask a favor of you. I know the last few times we have been together, things were different. I was cold and rather mean.” Mother Ofburg grabbed my hands in hers. They were warm and held on to me tightly.
“It doesn’t matter. I handled things wrong.”
“No, listen to me. There’s something I need to tell you. It’s how I knew you were a dreamwalker. There was a prophecy about a dreamwalker from our village who would one day wake Dag’draath. The Healers council got together, and we banished all the known dreamwalker gifts as they occurred. We thought we could stop Dag’draath from coming back if we ensured the prophecy couldn’t be fulfilled.” Her hands began to shake around mine.
“But I could dreamwalk. It didn’t work on me.” I tried to make sense of what she was telling me.
“Only because your mother hid you. Your mother saved your gift and by the time we found out, it was too late.” Mother Ofburg’s face grew pale, and she pulled away to sit on a chair, looking drained. “It’s taken a lot of energy to reach you. I don’t have much time left.”
I sat next to her and tried to process everything she had just said. “Is that why you took me in? It wasn’t my mother’s idea after all?”
“That’s not why I called on you. We need your help. Will you come? We won’t survive if you don’t.” Mother Ofburg`s voice was quiet now, faded to a fraction of her normal strength.
I began to feel the pull back to the present, but I held on. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come and my tongue felt thick I grabbed her hands again and tried to give her some of my energy so we could speak longer.
“What do you need our help with?” I tried to get her to answer, but she started to cry and wouldn’t answer me. I wasn’t sure if she knew I was even with her anymore. It took everything I had to stay with her.
“Please come, Aria,” she called out into the room, unaware I was right beside her, holding her hand.
“I’m coming, Mother Ofburg. I won’t let you down. Can you hear me?” I yelled louder. I began to feel the bumps on the carriage ride, and I knew I didn’t have much time left. “What’s happening in the village?”
“They won’t leave us alone,” she cried out. “We can’t fight them all.”
“The ur’gel?” I yelled back, but she didn’t respond.
“I hope you heard me, Aria.” Mother Ofburg put her head in her hands and cried.
I hung on for as long as I could. I had to get back to the village to fight whoever was there. I prayed it wasn’t Widow or anyone she was working with but I knew without a doubt that they were there for me.
I opened my eyes and found myself back on the carriage, but it wasn’t moving any longer. I rolled onto my back to see Sade, Beru, Iri, and Astor standing over me. They were talking, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
I tried to speak, but my mouth wouldn’t move. I closed my eyes and opened them again, and they seemed to know that something was different. Slowly, my hearing came back, and I could hear them arguing about what happened.
Astor yelled at Iri for driving too fast and me bumping my head. I managed to sit up with their help. “It wasn’t the drive. I was called to a dream meeting. It was Mother Ofburg. Something is happening in my village, and she’s begging us to help.”
Everyone was quiet. I could tell I would need some encouragement for them to go with me. “I won’t beg you to come, but I must go. I can’t leave them when they need me the most.”
Sade leaned down and offered me a drink from her flask. “How is Mother Ofburg?”
“Not good. She was weak-minded. Crying uncontrollably. I’ve never seen her in such despair.” I drank all the water in the flask and thought back to her face. In all the time I’d known her, I’d never seen her cry or ask for anything.
“Let’s stop for lunch.” Sade looked at the others. “I know it’s early, but Aria needs time to rest. We can decide what to do after that. The village is just a little east of the route we are taking, and not all that far off where we were going.”
Beru, Iri, and Astor nodded and jumped off the carriage.
“I’ll get the fire going. Give her some time before you let her move.” Iri led the others into the trees for firewood.
“Mother Ofburg. Wow. How did she even reach you? She’s not a dreamwalker.” Sade sat down next to me.
“She must have had help, but all I saw was her. It didn’t last very long. She couldn’t hold the dream together, so I don’t know much.” I wanted to tell Sade about what Mother Ofburg had told me, but I didn’t need another reason for them to dislike Mother Ofburg.
“What was it like seeing her again? After the last time.” A soft smile fell on Sade’s face.
Sade knew how important Mother Ofburg was to me, even if things had fallen apart in the end. “It was like going home.” I smiled. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it there. I had intended on never going back.
“I don’t
want to sound like a downer, but what if it wasn’t her? What if it’s Dag’draath’s way to get you to come to him?” Sade interrupted my thoughts.
She had a point, but I was positive I’d know if it wasn’t really Mother Ofburg. Her energy would be different. I was sure I would know. “I can’t say for sure. I have to go with my gut. Even if it was Dag’draath calling me, I’d still go home if it meant saving my family.”
“I’m not sure I want to go.” Sade looked down. “I think you’ll have a hard time convincing Iri and Astor as well. They already don’t want to go south.”
“We were going to my village earlier anyway. Before we decided to go south.” I had to get Sade on my side. If I could convince her to come, the boys would follow. Beru’s opinion didn’t matter at that point. I just had to convince Iri. Or even Astor. If Astor came, Iri would have to come.
“Are you able to get up?” Sade stood and offered me her hand.
I reached up to grab it, grunting at the work it took to stand. I was in no shape to go to the village. It had been a while since I had last dreamwalked, so getting back to myself would take longer than usual. Another reason for them not to want to join me to help Mother Ofburg.
“I’ve got it. Thanks.” I pulled away from her hand, walked to the end of the carriage, and jumped off. The ground seemed closer than I thought, and I fell over from the miscalculation.
“You’re not all right Aria.” Sade helped me to my feet.
“I’m not, but I will be. I just need to sit down by the fire and rest a little. Food will help.” I convinced Sade to take me over to where they were starting a fire.
“Sit here.” Beru motioned to Sade to drop me on a bed of hay he’d just finished constructing.
She took me over and helped me get on the ground without falling on my face. Beru handed me a drink and sat down next to me. “I’ll go with you.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at us. They seemed irritated Beru had spoken up first when they were still on the fence.
“I’ll go too.” Sade was next, and I knew her quick reply was in an attempt not to be outdone.
“Me too,” Iri called out.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go too.” Astor let out a massive sigh and then filled his mouth with food as if he didn’t care either way as long as he was eating.
I smiled at my friends. Their loyalty still astounded me. We could help Mother Ofburg quickly and hopefully be back on the road south the next day.
Chapter 13
We changed directions as soon as we packed up. My village wasn’t too far out of the way from where we were but I rode in the back of the carriage, in case Mother Ofburg tried to contact me again. It would be easier than if I were riding on one of the horses.
As I lay on my back, I stared up at the sky. The bright sun and cloudless blue were a sharp contrast to the inner turmoil I kept quiet from my friends. My fear for my family kept me moving east. Even after the way I left things with my brothers, I’d still give my life to keep them safe. Ironically, the war started with that same devotion I had for them. One they all seemed to have thrown away so easily.
The Helgirth and Gordo chose to walk. Both had been silent bulwarks our entire trip, keeping us safe for such small coin for what they’d done for us. I realized again I knew nothing about either of them. Did they have families? Were they a couple? Why had they agreed to take on this quest with us, knowing their lives would be in constant danger? Even now they kept pace behind the carriage, speaking quietly in their own language and appearing as relaxed as if they were out for a stroll
Astor sat with Iri as he drove the carriage, so I had the back to myself. I’d done my best to pack the hay down, so each bump and hole on the path didn’t send my body flying as much into the air, but my efforts had been only mildly effective.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember what Mother Ofburg had told me. I replayed the dreamwalk over and over, wondering if there was anything I’d missed. The raw desperation in her voice brought tears to my eyes. There was no way it was a trap. Someone was tormenting her, perhaps to get to me, but it had really been her and she needed my help.
I opened my eyes again and took in a few deep breaths to calm myself. There was nothing I could do until we got there. I had to stop reliving that moment, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face and the tears as they rolled down her cheeks.
I sat up, and my eyes found Beru and Sade, who rode behind the carriage in front of the giants. They met my gaze and I lay back down on my side, not wanting to talk at that moment.
My thoughts switched to my family. I hoped they were safe and whatever had Mother Ofburg so scared hadn’t hurt any of them. My thoughts drifted to my niece and how much I’d already missed of her growing up. I’d finally get to hold her in my arms.
I wiped tears off my face, which I hadn’t noticed falling. I had to prepare myself to see my family as well. To hear them chastise me again—if they even opened the door when I arrived.
I heard someone from the front of the carriage stir. They made their way back to me. It was easy to guess who, just by their size. “I’m here for you, Aria.” Iri placed his hand on my shoulder.
I wiped the rest of my tears and sat up. “Are you sure you want Astor driving this thing?” I partially joked with him.
“The horses know what they are doing.” He offered a smile and passed me an apple. “Food always makes it better.”
I grabbed his offering and took a bite. The pie lady was right. They were the best apples ever. We ate our apples quietly, and I glanced back at Beru and Sade. They seemed to be having a friendly conversation for a change and were smiling and joking.
“It’s nice to see things look like they are getting back to normal.” Iri watched them as well.
“It is. It didn’t seem like it was going to for a while.” I steadied myself and sat up on one of the benches opposite Iri.
“No, it did not.” Iri half-smiled.
Iri had proven to be a wonderful friend to me. He reminded me of my father in a way. I knew I could tell him anything, and he’d always give me the best advice. It was a pity he’d never had any of his own children. He would have made a wonderful father. But I don’t think he would have ended up being the great warrior he became instead. Choices, I thought, not for the first time.
“Thank you for following me blindly wherever I seem to want to go. And I know I ask you to follow blindly.” I took another bite of my apple.
Iri shoved the last piece of his in his mouth and reached over to pat my knee “I believe in your cause. You’re not asking too much from us. We’ve always fought evil. Now we fight together.”
I put my hand over his and smiled. He made me feel at ease and deserving of their affections. “Thank you. There’s no other team I would want to be with.”
“Whoa!” Astor called, as he pulled back hard on the reins to stop the horses.
I held onto the side of the carriage, so I wouldn’t fall back onto the ground.
“What is it?” Iri jumped down from the carriage and helped me down. Beru and Sade jumped off their horses and we all rushed up front with Astor.
“They barricaded the road.” Astor pointed to the thick mound of trees in our path.
It was the only road to the village, and the trees were too dense to take the carriage through another way. It would take at least two days to pull the large trees down with our horses.
“We have to leave the carriage here.” Beru said what I didn’t want to admit.
We’d only have four horses to travel with. Not enough for everyone. We would have to choose who was more valuable.
“I can’t leave Astor.” Iri said.
“Not even with the giants?”
“They’d have no way of getting away fast.”
“We could leave them a horse.” Beru was quick to find a solution.
Iri walked away from us and pulled Astor aside. He placed his arm around his shoulders, and they turned their backs to us.
“Do you think he will leave him?” I looked toward the one who knew him best: Sade.
“I don’t know. It would be hard for him if he did and something happened to Astor.” She watched as intensely as I did.
They finally broke up and walked back to us.
Iri took a few moments to tell us his decision. “Astor will ride with me on a horse. Then Beru, Sade, and you will each have a horse. The giants will stay behind with the carriage. This isn’t their fight, and they’re too big to enter unobserved if stealth is needed. We’ll do our best to hide it, so they aren’t spotted.” Iri’s decision was final. There was no chance of changing his mind, so no one tried.
“Let’s do this, then. What are we waiting for?” Sade went to the carriage and jumped into the back to rummage through the items.
I jumped on to help as well. We didn’t have much in the way of weapons—we hadn’t been able to arm ourselves in the last town, and what weapons we’d possessed before had been lost during Beru’s battle. The only ones we had left were for close combat.
“I hope they have something in the village we can use to fight.” Sade stretched, sighing.
“I still have some things hidden in my family’s barn. We could stop there first.” I dug straight down to the floor to make sure we didn’t leave behind anything useful.
“Let’s do that. We’ll be better off fighting with rocks than anything here.” Sade nodded and got off the carriage. “Need help?”
“I got it. I’m feeling better. I’ll be good once we get there.” I jumped down and felt all my muscles tense as I hit the ground.
We packed what we could and loaded up the horses. Iri, Astor, and Sade led while Beru and I hung behind them. We left the giants to hide the carriage and told them we would be back as soon as we could.
We headed off into the peaceful forest. I inhaled the sweet smell of the pine trees and relaxed with the soft sounds of the horse's hoofs as they walked through the grass. Sade and Iri bantered quietly in front of us.
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