Page 15 of Aofie's Quest
The ground in every direction was barren, which made sense, for it was spring—planting season—yet something pricked my skull. A slight hint of fear and discomfort made my pulse quicken, although I tried to ignore it. Romulus had mentioned something about trolls. Perhaps that’s what was bothering me. A flash of light drew my eyes down and I clenched my fists. Violet light flared out. A warning. I quickened my pace and soon I was running down the road, away from the peaceful village where nothing seemed wrong.
“What did you tell them?” a young voice shouted, clear as a bell.
I stumbled, almost tripping over my own feet at the unexpected question. I pivoted toward it and saw Reish, the dirty orphan girl. She had straw in her hair and stood in the middle of the road, elbows akimbo. “Where are you going?”
“Reish,” I breathed in relief. I slowed to a stop but my heart still pitter-pattered like a drum. “Why weren’t you at the gathering?”
She shrugged, her thin shoulders moving up and down under her dirty frock. “I’ll walk with you for a while.”
I remembered that I’d found her and Turek quite far from the vale and I had nowhere to send her. Ordinarily, I would have told a child her age to go back home and stay with the elders. She was too young to be alone, and…odd. I didn’t think I’d been so distracted as not to notice her before she appeared in the middle of the road. I was a warrior, a hunter, and usually in tune to my surroundings. Pushing those thoughts away, I fell in step with Reish.
“What did you tell the villagers?” she asked.
I wondered if she’d had a meal as I explained what I’d told them and how they reacted.
“They will do what you told them?”
“I think so. They were celebrating.”
Reish tucked her chin over her shoulder, glancing behind us. “We should hurry.”
“Hurry?” I had the distinct feeling she wasn’t telling me something.
“Yes, to the river. That’s where you need to go, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Reish, is something wrong?”
A wary look covered her face, the same look I’d seen when I met her yesterday. She put a finger to her lips, and a whisper hissed from her mouth. “I’ll tell you when we reach the river.”
Cold fear gripped me and I picked up the pace, wondering why I was fleeing the village I’d just tried to save.
We passed one final hut and the dirt road ended. Green grass as tall as my waist waved in front of me, a vivid contrast to the barren land behind me. I stepped into it and a change came over me. The air had shifted to a buoyancy that left me feeling light and free. A tinkling rang in the air and beyond the grass were great oak trees, growing in clusters. Tears misted my eyes, leaving me with a longing for the beautiful, cool woods of Beluar where the songbirds fluttered from tree to tree, their melodies sweet as honey and as calming as lavender.
The tinkling sound came again, and this time I recognized it as a low whistle. Peeking from behind a nearby tree was Romulus’s light head. It appeared even more silvery-white in broad daylight. I smiled as I rushed to catch up with him, relieved my quest was back on track.
“Here comes the hero.” Romulus smirked when I caught up with him, Reish trailing behind me. “And who is this?”
“I’m Reish,” she said. “I came to warn you.”
Mockery faded from Romulus’s face and his gray eyes narrowed. He grasped the handle of the broadsword he wore on his back, his fist going white as he tightened his grip around the hilt.
Instinctively I moved between him and Reish to protect her, but Romulus was faster. His free hand shot out and grasped my upper arm. His grasp was strong and firm as he dragged me to his side. I meant to fight back but he’d surprised me. Was he trying to save me from Reish? Confused, I let him hold on to me as we both faced the girl.
She stood still as a stone statue, her emotionless face gazing up at us. I glanced from Romulus to Reish, waiting for action.
“What did you come to warn us about?” Romulus demanded, his voice harsh.
Reish pointed back to the village. From a distance it appeared like a sore spot of bleakness in a charming land. As I gazed at it, my hands shook.
“Run,” Reish ordered. “Go to the river. Hide. You can’t stop what’s coming.”
“What do you mean?” I begged.
What was happening? Why was Reish warning us? And why was Romulus obeying her? His grip on my arm was like iron and he spun, taking me with him.
I twisted away, turning back to the girl. “Reish!” I shrieked. “What do you mean?”
She held up a hand, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly luminosity, and the brutality of her words sank into my memory. “She captured you with her vines. They bit and scratched you, and that, on its own, would have been enough. Except she cut you, didn’t she? And extracted your blood. Royal blood. The kind of blood she needed to free herself. When the villagers rebel, she will strike them down.”
