Page 37 of Curse of Immortality
Althea stood in silence hoping that Zosia would show herself just like she’d done with Maeve and in the myths that Althea had heard about so many times before.
She gasped in wonder when the leaves began to lift from the ground and fly around Althea’s body. Taking a step back from the tree she stared at the leaves. Just as Zosia had done with Maeve, she whispered through the wind. It was startling to Althea to hear a soft and melodic voice echoing in the air. As Zosia spoke it sounded like her voice was far away yet also just beside Althea’s ear.
“Follow the leaves,” she whispered.
Althea looked to the few leaves that were still dancing around her body. As if they took Zosia’s words as a cue they blew through the air and guided Althea through the woods.
For hours, Althea and Tobias followed the leaves that danced elegantly in the wind. Only the last rays of the sun were left when the leaves finally fell to the ground. Standing on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, Althea spun and turned but saw no one.
Tobias was as tired as she was, but he still kept going a little further and across a small hill they met a peculiar sight. A woman sat on the side of the road with the head of a horse in her lap. The large animal lay on its side with closed eyes, and nearby stood an old, rickety-looking enclosed wagon. Althea stared at the woman that the leaves had guided her towards. Her hair was blonde, and her long blue dress looked dusty and worn. With her head leaned down over the horse, the woman didn’t see Althea and Tobias at first.
Although Althea had asked for Zosia’s guidance to find an Earthen, she kept a safe distance from the woman as she carefully approached her. Based on first looks it was impossible to spot the difference between a human and an Earthen.
“Is your horse sick?” Althea asked softly, but it still startled the grieving woman, who looked to be in her thirties.
Looking up, she dried her eyes and answered, “I’m afraid old Brendan gave up. He died in my arms.”
Not sure what to do, Althea watched the woman closely and prepared herself to run if she showed any sign of danger.
With wet eyes, the woman gently put the horse’s head down to rest and rose to her feet.
“My name is Annabel, miss. Can I help ye?”
Althea stayed at a distance. “You speak…” She frowned but didn’t finish her sentence. Annabel still understood and answered anyway.
“My accent is Scottish. It’s not so common in these parts, but surely ye’ve heard it before.”
Althea had never met a person from Scotland and shook her head. She tried to sense the woman’s energy and picked up on a guardedness. It seemed they were both trying to determine if the other was a danger.
Dry-washing her hands with nervous energy, Althea opened her mouth to speak but closed it again before she pushed herself to take a chance. “Are you an Earthen?”
Annabel was quiet for a long moment, but then she admitted, “Yes, I am.”
The relief in Althea’s heart showed on her face. “Me too.” Slowly Althea moved closer to the dead horse. Squatting down, she rested a hand on its still body. “What happened?”
“Brendan lived a long life. Longer than I thought possible, but we’ve known for a while that his time was coming. We’ve been best friends for more than ten years and I’ll miss him every day.” With warmth in her gaze, Annabel stroked the horse lovingly.
Althea sympathized. “I know what it feels like to lose someone you care about and I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”
Looking up at her with furrowed eyebrows and sad eyes, Annabel sighed. “Brendan was more than my best friend. I also depended on him for traveling.”
“Well, where do you need to go? I’m sure we can help you.” Althea gestured toward Tobias, who was grazing on the side of the road.
“I’m always traveling. With the dangerous times we live in, I wouldn’t dare settle down, but I don’t want to hide either like so many other Earthens. Brendan and I have been traveling throughout England, Wales, and Scotland for the last decade. That way I’ve been able to heal humans without staying long enough for them to grow suspicious.” Annabel looked toward her small, enclosed wagon that Brendan had been pulling on the trail until his legs had given out and Annabel took him over to the soft moss where he’d closed his eyes for the last time.
“Maybe we can help each other then. I left my home after I lost my family and I asked Zosia to help me find other Earthens so that I wouldn’t be alone. Tobias is strong and if we ask him nicely, he might not mind dragging the wagon.”
Swinging her long blonde hair to one side, Annabel reached out with a warm, maternal expression on her face and placed a hand on top of Althea’s. “I understand loneliness and I’m glad you and Tobias found me. I would gladly accept if you would like to tag along with me for a while.”
For a long moment, the two women smiled at each other, exchanging a feeling of relief, and understanding that they had both suffered greatly in their lives.
“Come, let me show you my humble home,” Annabel said and led Althea to the wagon. It was small and there was barely room for her bed let alone all the herbs and jars she had inside.
“It’ll be cramped, but we’ll make it work,” Annabel said with optimism.
With the night already upon them, they agreed to camp for the night. “Aren’t you scared they’ll accuse you of witchcraft?” Althea asked as they sat admiring the stars in the sky.
“I wouldn’t be living on the road if I weren’t afraid,” Annabel answered honestly in her Scottish accent.
