Journey of Darkness

by Samantha Jacobey

  “I had one,” the girl informed her, raising her chin as if to brag. “I can’t believe it’s been so long ago. Back in Nalen, he courted me, proposing nearly every day.”

  “And you refused him?”

  “Of course! He’s at least forty and a family friend at that!”

  Pausing her searching of the material, Meena faced her. “You refused because of his age, but with the Mate it doesn’t bother you?”

  Staring at her with wide eyes, Ami flushed. “That’s different. I knew Ru all my life, like being courted by kin. Piers was far more exciting, hearing of his adventures and learning of his life, fresh and new as love should be.”

  “Well, I’ll take what I can get. If he never makes me his bride, I can live with that,” Meena blushed as well, resuming her weighing of choices.

  Noticing the pink hue, Ami giggled, “Are you embarrassed? You look warm.”

  “I am not embarrassed,” Meena replied evenly. “I’m thinking of the way he makes me feel. I have not been so happy in many years.” Again dropping the material she had been inspecting, she turned to the girl. “I wish this for you, Amicia Spicer. Someday, I hope you will feel the joy of your life.”

  “I do feel it. At least, I think that I do,” Ami sighed, looking away and fixating on the shop keeper still lurking nearby. He watched her covertly and smiled at her when their eyes met. She extended a slight nod in his direction, noting his firm jaw covered with red stubble; the face of a man, yes, but similar to the boy in Nalen, she was sure of it.

  Pulling herself away from their rapport, she returned to the matter at hand. Considering the amount of time it would take to sew the new clothing, she changed the subject. “This is going to take us months to sew,” she pointed out, glaring at her hands as she complained. “Perhaps we should be less ambitious in our purchase.”

  “No, we’ll get a machine,” the older woman suggested, indicating a contraption that hung on the wall.

  “How does it work? I’ve never seen one before.”

  “They are quite simple and very useful,” the clerk proposed, reminding them of his presence.

  “Yes, it will look different once it’s assembled,” Meena agreed with him. “You use your feet to run it, like a potter’s wheel.”

  Her features melting into a frown, Ami leaned in and whispered, “Can’t we just use some magic and poof them together.”

  Laughing, Meena quietly replied, “Magic is useful for many things, and making suitable fitting garments isn’t one of them.” More loudly, she announced, “I’m getting this for the Mate, and a new robe for Animir. We’ll get a second bolt for you and the boys.”

  “You care for all of us,” Ami pointed out more meekly, feeling as if she had misbehaved. “Meena, you are so kind. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I want you and Piers to be happy together. I really do,” she said with a full smile. Noticing a bolt of sheer material, fine and soft to the touch, she sighed, “We should get this for you.”

  “I know what it’s for,” Meena shook her head. “I’d rather not.”

  “Why? Because you think he will never ask? So what. We can make the dress and you can keep it in case he ever does.”

  Glaring at her, Meena clenched her jaw. “You still think I should waste my time with false hopes, dreaming of something I may never have while missing out on all that I do.”

  “Hope is never false,” the girl clipped, meeting her gaze. “Dreams are what keep us alive. Knowing that there is always more, whether we are meant to have it or not. This is why I came to Eriden, with the hope of finding my past and dreaming about my future. With Piers or without him, I still have things to look forward to, and so do you.”

  Nodding, Meena smiled. “I feel the same. But if we take this, Piers must never know. I do not want him to feel that it is expected of him. I am truly happy with what we have.”

  “Then we’ll only take enough for the dress, and we’ll hide it in with the rest.”

  “What about your gown? One day, I expect you will give a man your hand. The chance for you is even greater than mine,” Meena informed her.

  “All right, enough for two gowns,” Ami agreed.

  Wafting to the vendor, Meena listed their choices, “We’ll take each of these, please. Do you have any heavier weaves?”

  “They are over here,” he directed, pointing out the next selection and remaining close to them once more in the new area of his store.

  “For more pants,” Ami observed, glancing down at her own. “You’re not getting anything for yourself?”

  “A few changes were packed for me when we left Whitefair. I shan’t need any for a while.”

  “And how are we going to carry all this?” Amicia asked in dismay when the bolts for the trousers were added to their pile. “Piers will not be pleased.”

  “We’ll manage. Perhaps a third litter that the two of us can carry,” the older woman suggested.

  Her features drawn further at the possibility, Amicia pouted.

  “Don’t look so glum. Are you in the mood for a skirt, or do you want to stay with the britches?” Meena asked in a protective, motherly fashion.

  “A dress would suit you,” the shop keeper observed, plying her with another grin.

  Her cheeks flushed, Amicia looked down at her legs, then sighed. “I was given these when I was found on board the Sea Serpent. They actually belong to Bally,” she recalled. “I had never worn pants before, but I do enjoy them. I guess we can make me a skirt if you like, but I wouldn’t mind another pair of these,” she insisted, refusing to abandon her wardrobe entirely.

  “Very well then, I think we are settled,” Meena confirmed. “I believe this will be all,” she informed the shop keeper.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, moving to gather their selections and collect the sum. The young proprietor appeared to be only a few years older than the girl. He continued to steal glances at her as he worked, and his interest in her hinted he might care for more than merely selling her wares. He smiled fully when addressing her, which added a sparkle to his pale blue eyes. Touching the fine material of the special bolt when he came to it, he inquired, “You are betrothed?”

  Meeting his gaze, Amicia spat, “Certainly not.” Flicking her eyes between them, she could see the smirk on Meena’s lips as the young man stared directly at her in awe. “I mean,” she stammered, “wishful thinking, perhaps.” Finding her manners, she managed more politely, “A girl can dream, yes?”

  “Of course,” the shopkeeper grinned. “You live near here?”

  “We are new to the area,” Ami replied, shaking her golden locks at him.

  “I see. Then perhaps we will see each other again when you are in town,” he suggested, his eyes fixed firmly upon her flushed features.

  Noting the connection between them, Meena added, “We will need a large basket for each of us to tie on our backs for carrying it all, as we have some distance of walking ahead of us.”

  “Yes, I can provide those as well,” he agreed, still sharing covert glances with Ami.

  When he turned his back to pack their goods, Meena giggled, “And here I was thinking Rey would be your intended, but I see you might fancy another.”

  “What?” Amicia whispered, her thoughts distracted as she watched their haul loaded into the carts; she could not shake the feeling she had met this man before.

  “Nothing,” the older woman sighed. Despite the girl’s claims, it was indeed fortunate Piers had never agreed to take her hand. Amicia was obviously not ready to commit herself to any one man if a cloth maker could so easily turn her head in such a short time.

  Handing over the coins, the girls hoisted their loads and left the shop a short time later. Arriving at their meeting point, each of the men were equally weighted, but Zaendra and Animir had not been so fortunate. Only able to acquire a small amount of dried fish and fruit, they were able to help carry the bundles out of the city and back to their camp in the woods.

  Dropping everything on t
he ground, the group gathered around and gazed at their additions. “I can’t believe you bought so much cloth,” Rey observed, pointing at it with an open palm.

  “It’ll be all right,” the Mate defended. Rubbing his chin before taking a seat on a large stone, he observed, “It was bound to happen at some point. We’ve acquired more than we can carry.”

  “Nonsense,” Meena laughed. Spreading one of the blankets, she stacked a few of the bolts of material upon it. Tapping the staff against the ground, she chanted a small spell, and the items shrank before their eyes.

  “What the devil,” the Mate spat, on his feet.

  Catching one of the rolls of cloth, Ami held it up, in shock that it was now about the size of her forearm. “Incredible,” she breathed.

  “I told you magic does have its uses,” Meena laughed, gathering another lot for adjusting.

  “You mean you’ve been able to shrink this stuff down the whole time, and you let us carry it?” Reynard demanded, glaring at her.

  “Well, I couldn’t deprive you of your share of the work, now could I? Besides, this is my contribution to the group. That and making the clothes once we are settled,” she informed him, finishing with the second collection of gear.

  “You already contributed when you got Oldrilin back,” Piers informed her, helping her repack the smaller goods. “We should only condense the things we won’t need until we reach our destination.”

  “Very well,” Meena agreed with a smile. “Whatever makes you happy, Mate.”

  Ruins of Abolia

  While the others repacked their gear, Bally and Animir hunted down a rabbit for the stew pot, and Zaendra helped Ami locate the vegetables and herbs to flavor it. Setting it over the fire a short time later, they spread out their blankets and then sat around it to eat as the last rays of the sun disappeared.

  Staring at the woman across from her through the dancing flame, Amicia thought about what she had said at the weaver’s stall. Noticing the way that Piers seemed to fawn over her, she wondered if he would still act that way after he got what he wanted. Watching them kiss a moment later, she grew bright red as she realized he may already have.

  “Are you ok, love?” Rey asked, scooting closer beside her. “You look a little flushed.”

  “I’m fine,” she shrugged, fighting the urge to stare. Using him to draw her focus, she leaned over to examine his clear hazel orbs. “Don’t you ever tire of chasing me?”

  “Nope,” he chuckled, catching her chin and using his thumb to trace the scar on her bottom lip.

  Leaning against his chest and snuggling beneath his arm, she closed her eyes and listened to the beat of his heart. He’s right. Letting go of Piers is easier with someone else to hold, she mused.

  Eating their meal, they spoke in low tones to avoid drawing attention in case anyone might be out wandering in those particular woods. Falling asleep soon after, they arose with the sun to pack away what remained and head out on an unmarked trail.

  The going varied with the terrain as they reached for the western shore. Once they found the ocean, they would follow the coast north, only going as far as they must to find a place to build their ship, which turned out to be easier said than done.

  Small groups of houses dotted the coast anywhere that a beach had formed, and the rest of the shore formed cliffs or reefs, both unsuitable for their needs. For two weeks, they kept up a steady pace, covering twenty to thirty miles a day but finding the place for which they hunted nowhere in sight.

  “Is it me, or has the air changed?” Rey observed as they broke camp the morning of the eighteenth day since Heewan.

  “I feel it too,” Ami agreed. “The trees are thicker and it smells…” she inhaled deeply, “fresh.”

  “I believe we have crossed the northern boundary,” Meena supplied, wrapping herself in her robe. “From here on, this is considered troll country, so we should keep our eyes open and take great care.”

  “I still don’t think they will bother us,” Piers disagreed. “We are going to stay on the water line, so I’m fairly certain they will never even know we are here.”

  Packed and ready, they had only walked a few miles when they noticed a set of rocks stacked in an odd fashion, with a second matching pile that had been toppled a few feet away. Lowering their packs and litters, the group took the opportunity for a break while they examined the stones. Running up on the second for a better view, Bally looked around, grinning widely.

  “I know you’re not going to believe this,” he panted, staring down at the stones upon which he stood, “but I think this might have been a community.”

  “Why wouldn’t we believe it?” Rey laughed. “Towns rise and fall. Why should those in Eriden be any different?” His hands on his hips, he breathed deeply, observing the tall grass that swayed in the northern breeze.

  Observing the pillar that still stood, Meena remarked, “I believe you are right. The name Abolia is carved here.”

  “Abolia,” the Mate repeated, joining her to inspect it for himself. “Does that name mean anything to you?”

  “No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I’ve never known of a settlement this far north.”

  A sick feeling in her gut, Amicia slid her hand in her pocket and toyed with her hamar gem. She had taken a preference to it over the merdoe ever since a dragon had become a permanent fixture in her life. Focusing, she called to him. “Lamwen, are you there?”

  “Always, my princess.”

  His reply brought a smile to her lips. Something about the way he used the word sounded like a term of endearment, a sharp contrast from a creature known for being the most brutal in the land.

  “We’ve reached a settlement, or the remains of one…”

  “Abolia.”

  “You know of it?”

  “It fell before the great war,” he provided.

  “Are we safe here?”

  “I like your hair when it blows in the wind.”

  Swinging around, she searched the horizon, then dared to look up for a moment, still not seeing him.

  “Is something wrong?” Rey asked, standing beside her.

  “No. Should there be?” she replied, a quiver in her voice.

  “I don’t know,” he laughed. “You seem jittery all of a sudden.”

  “I’m fine,” she lied, her heart ready to beat its way out of her chest. “Are we safe? That’s all I need to know,” she added to the voice inside her mind.

  “I’ll warn you if I see anything,” the dragon replied.

  “You have your moments,” the man before her was saying, “where I’m not even sure you’re here. Like your mind has wandered off somewhere else.”

  “I’m here. I’m just worried about who might be around,” she explained, forcing a weak smile.

  “Aye,” he nodded, offering his hand.

  Taking the appendage, she wondered what Lamwen would think of her doing so as they followed the others to have a look around. Leaving their litters for the time being where they had laid them, she hoped the dragon would in fact warn them if they fell into danger or anyone else approached.

  A few hundred yards to the east, they came into what could be none other than Abolia. Walls still stood in places, but most had toppled with time, and a few bore the signs of a fire.

  “Could the dragons have done this?” Bally inquired, examining the marks.

  Her heart in her throat, Amicia considered calling out to ask but decided it wouldn’t be wise, as it could sound like an accusation. Instead, she followed Rey to a wide square of open grass, surrounded by a short fence. Rows of stones lay inside, and although the names on the rocks had all been hidden by time, the cemetery itself still remained.

  “They were here a long time,” she observed by the number of rows. Doing a bit of quick math, she frowned. “There are thousands of graves here.”

  “Aye,” Piers agreed, turning slowly to take in the view. “I doubt we will find anything useful here. Perhaps we should get the gear a
nd move on. We still have daylight left that we shouldn’t waste.”

  “Hey guys, over here,” Bally yelled, waving from outside the fenced yard.

  Leaving by the way they came in, they gathered at his location, where bleached bones lay within the grass. The Mate knelt beside them, poking a skull and noting there were more hidden within the blades.

  “These are not the people who lived here,” he observed. “They are far too recent.”

  “How recent?” Ami asked, sidling closer to Rey. They had fought off the men to get out of Whitefair, and she still had nightmares about it.

  “Hard to say,” he shrugged. “One of these is crushed, which takes a lot of force. There’s no smell or anything else left, which means enough time for the rest to decay. A few years,” he guessed with a shrug.

  “I think we should go,” Meena advised. “These bodies aren’t buried, so they were left out for a reason. A warning, perhaps.”

  Cutting his eyes over at her, Piers hated her honesty at that moment, as that kind of talk would only serve to scare the others. “We’ll go then,” he acquiesced, gathering their weapons and what remained of a helmet and chest guard.

  “Why are you taking those? They don’t look very useful,” Rey observed.

  “They can be reformed,” the Mate advised. “You never know when a scrap of metal will come in handy.”

  Marching along the path, dark clouds hung low in the sky, threatening rain. Quickening their pace, the Mate urged them along. “We may have to find shelter and call it a night.”

  “Please not here,” Amicia begged in a soft whisper. “Are you bringing in a storm on us?” she asked of her giant friend.

  Laughter echoed between her ears.

  “That’s not funny, Lamwen. We don’t wish to be wet.”

  “Well, it isn’t me. Can’t it just be time to rain?” he reasoned.

  “We need some protection,” Rey agreed. “Let’s push across to those cliffs hanging off the mountains on the far side of this settlement.”

  “That’s a few miles from here,” Piers challenged, appraising the distance, keenly aware that would mean walking straight through the remains of a forgotten city. Looking at Meena, he laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. “Know any rain charms?”