by A. D. Duling
“Where is my book?” she asked him and took another bite of the sandwich.
He grabbed it off of the nightstand and handed it to her. She took it giving him an “I feel so stupid” look.
She put her sandwich down and opened the book. “Where is the Empress?” she asked it.
She still resides in the east tower of the Chancellor’s castle. It answered.
“How do we get to his castle?”
Go west towards the city of Heron; continue on through the Forests of Darkness and you will find his castle hidden there. It wrote.
She closed the book and looked over at Hayden, “Can you get us there?”
He nodded.
“Good, I think we should definitely leave in the morning!”
He stood up. “Do you feel up to it?” he asked her. She nodded. He stretched, “Well as much as I would love to stay, I really need to go and sleep in a bed!”
She laughed.
He walked over to the door, “I’ve already packed and have asked a friend to join us. When you’ve finished eating, you’re more than welcome to take a bath. There are clothes on the chair for you.” He told her.
She laughed, “Are you implying that I stink?” she jested.
He grinned. “I am and you do!” He teased back and then went to bed.
Hayden was right, she did stink! She took a bath and enjoyed it immensely! Her wounds burned a little at first, but the warmth of the water felt too good on her stiff body; that she stopped caring! She buttoned up her shirt and tucked it into her trousers, cinching the belt to keep them up. She ran a brush through her hair and tied it up. She tidied up her mess and went downstairs.
Everyone was already up and eating breakfast. Sitting next to Hayden was a tiny blonde girl. He noticed her walk into the room and stood up.
“Anna, I would like to introduce my friend Valencia, who we call Val!” He gestured towards the girl.
“Don’t worry Anna, I’m a lot older than I look and tougher too.” the girl spoke.
Anna shook her head, “I didn’t say…”
“Val can read minds, Anna.” Hayden interrupted.
Anna smiled embarrassedly. “Oh…”
“Don’t worry Anna, I won’t do it all the time!” the girl jokingly assured her.
Anna laughed, “Good! Sometimes my thoughts get away from me!”
Val smiled, “I like you too, Anna Kippling.”
Anna laughed again, “Hey! I thought you said you wouldn’t?”
Val grinned, “I said not all the time.” She stood up. “I have something to give you Anna.” and she pointed over to an object lying at the end of the table. She walked over to it and un-wrapped it revealing a sword.
Val pointed to the handle, “Your family’s name has been etched onto the handle and each of the jewels represents something. This was Hayden’s doing, so I will let him explain.” She stepped aside.
Hayden walked over and pointed to the first jewel, there were four of them. “The emerald I picked to match the color of your eyes, it also represents your presence.”
“This diamond represents the light you have brought to Tatania.” He explained on.
He pointed to the third stone, “The onyx represents your strength and perhaps now even your stubbornness.” He teased a little.
She gave him a playful glare. “The fourth stone; the sapphire, represents your love, Anna.”
She admired it and ran her hand down the body of the sword.
“I cannot thank you both enough for such a beautiful gift!”
Val handed the sheath to him and he sheathed it for her. “I had this forged and Hayden contributed the stones, but this gift was not from us.” Her new friend responded.
Anna looked from one to the other. “Then who did?” she inquired. Hayden looked past her. She turned and found a couple standing behind her. She knew instantly who they were; the woman looked almost like her mother!
Her Great- Grandparents walked over to her. It was hard to imagine the great part, since they looked to young. They looked as old as her parents!
“I was beginning to think you did not exist.” She told them.
Her Great- Grandmother walked over and hugged her. “When we heard you were here, we could not wait to meet you!” She exclaimed and kissed her cheek.
“There is something I must tell you about grandma.” She somberly spoke.
The woman shook her head and hugged her again. “You don’t have to say anything…we already know.”
“Can I get a hug from this beautiful young lady too?”Her Great- Grandfather interrupted to lighten the mood.
The woman laughed and let go of Anna, “Of course you can!” She wiped at a few loose tears and stepped aside to let her husband have a turn.
He wrapped his arms around Anna and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I hope you are feeling much better, my dear. We heard about what happened to you the other night.” He softly spoke in her ear.
“Still a little sore, but I’ll survive.” She hugged him back.
“Of course you will, it’s in your blood!” he teasingly bragged and released her.
“Do I call you Great-Grandpa?” she asked him.
He laughed and shook his head. “No Way! You will get my lady friends thinking I am old!” he teased. His wife smacked his arm and he gave her a wounded look.
“How about we take off the great so your grandfather won’t feel so old!” she playfully suggested.
“That sounds great to me!” Anna played along.
“Now wait a minute! I happen to like the great part! It makes me feel… superior!” he teased.
“Gerald you are great at many things, but you are far from superior!” she playfully shot back.
“Alright woman, I surrender!” he laughed.
“And I thought Hayden was bad!” Anna added in.
“Did I hear my name?” Hayden called over.
The women laughed and walked over to the table together and joined them. Her grandfather sat down and started talking with Harmon. Corrine brought Anna a plate of breakfast. “You’re not going anywhere until you’ve eaten every bite!” she sternly teased. Anna smiled and picked up her fork in compliance.
Her Great- Grandmother noticed the pendant necklace around her neck. “You’re wearing her necklace!”
Anna nodded and chewed. “Yes and we just discovered the key inside it!” She shared.
The woman shook her head, “I was not aware of that, but I do know something about the pendant that you will like! May I see it?” she asked.
Anna reached up and undid the clasp and handed the necklace to the woman. Her Great- Grandmother put it on and held the pendant in her hand. She rubbed the stone. “Conceal me.” She said and disappeared!
“Reveal me.” Words followed and she reappeared.
“Amazing!” declared Corrine, who walked in just in time to see.
“Yes it is!” Anna agreed as the woman handed the necklace back.
“Do you have the matching bracelet too?” she asked.
Anna reached under her sleeve and slipped it off of her wrist.
“Now I’m excited to see what this does!” And she handed her the bracelet.
“With this bracelet you can go back in time, but only a matter of minutes.” She slipped the bracelet on and demonstrated above the stone, “You rub your finger over the stone as well and say: “Give me time.” And there you go!” She took it off and handed it back to her.
“But a word of caution, Anna; use it wisely.” She warned her.
Anna nodded.
After breakfast they all made their way outside.
“We will pray for your safety and look forward to your return.” Her Great-Grandfather assured her and she hugged them again.
Hayden climbed up onto Thunder and Val mounted her own horse. Corrine walked over to Anna and hugged her. “Be safe and take your medicine!” Anna hugged her back and climbed up onto her horse. Harmon walked up behind his wife, “Try to bring him back u
ndamaged!” He gave her a wink. She grinned.
Hayden trotted over to his father and reached down and tussled at his hair. Harmon reached up and slapped away his hand, “Let me alone boy! You had better return home in one piece, for your mother’s sake, you hear me!” he threatened.
Hayden nodded and smiled back, “I hear you!” He replied. He then gave the horse a nudge and rode off. Anna and Val gave their final waves and followed after him.
Corrine leaned against her husband. “I’m already worried.”She spoke to him. Harmon wrapped his arm around his wife. “So am I.”He agreed.
Chapter 14
Heron wasn’t far away from them, so it only took two days to reach it. When they neared its walls the following night; Hayden directed them away from the entrance and over to a cluster of trees.
“We are going to have to sleep here tonight.” He announced.
Anna looked over to the city. “Why out here?” she asked him.
He climbed down. “After the news of the Empress’s capture, Heron’s doors will not open to anyone during the night.”
Val had already dismounted her horse and started clearing an area to set up on. Anna climbed down and untied her blanket from the saddle. Hayden took the horses over to a nearby tree and fed and watered them for the night. He then grabbed some things for them and carried it over. Anna found a nice spot for herself and laid out her blanket. He handed her the medicine and the jug of water.
“How am I going to mix it?” she asked and a metal cup landed in her lap. “Oh…thanks.” She filled the cup almost full of water and then added the medicine. She stirred it with her finger and then drank it.
Suddenly a blanket shot out midair and Hayden guided it down next to hers. She gave him a quizzical look.
“Hey, this is only for your protection.” He declared.
She laughed at his comment. “What about Val?” she asked him and looked over at the girl who was already snuggled under her blanket.
“I don’t cuddle.” her voice spoke out from underneath.
Anna laughed again and looked back over at Hayden; he shrugged his shoulders. “Well, there’s your answer.”
“Well, I don’t cuddle either.”
“You don’t?” He gave her a sad puppy dog look and she laughed. He sat down and started pulling out their food. “Hey Val… Are you going to come over here and join us for a feast?” he yelled over to his friend.
“Too tired…” She answered without moving.
“Suit yourself.” He replied and handed Anna some jerky. She took it and ate it quickly.
“Hungry?” he teased her.
She smiled and finished chewing. “No just very tired.”
“Are you hurting a lot?” He asked her.
She shook her head, “Not so much anymore, just stiff.”
She took a drink of water and handed it to him. She then lay down, “Goodnight!” She announced and closed her eyes.
“Oh…I guess I’ll clean up!” He said.
Anna chuckled, “Thank you.” She said without opening an eye.
She fell asleep to his playful grumbling and the rustle of his cleaning up. Then what seemed only a minute later, a voice called her name. She reluctantly opened her eyes and looked over at Hayden; he was fast asleep. She closed her eyes and returned to her slumber. Just as she was about to go over the brink, the voice came again! Her eyes shot open and she sat up. She looked over at her friends and could see both their chest rising, apparently in deep sleep.
Anna….The voice startled her and she looked around, but saw nothing. Anna… the voice spoke to her again and she turned around. That was when she saw the soft glowing light coming from a tree down the hill from them. She stood up and walked towards it; when she was almost to it, she stopped and hesitated. The glowing was coming from a hole inside of the trunk. She looked around; no one was around. She thought about the possibility of it being a trap and pulled her book out.
“Is it safe to go to the glowing tree?” she whispered to it.
Yes, proceed. It answered her.
She put it away and continued on. When she reached the tree, she leaned over and peeked inside.
“Hello Anna…” A voice spoke from behind her.
She turned around and found a woman; whose body was glowing and pure white hair.
“Who are you?” she asked her.
The woman smiled in response. “I am Linden and I am the protector of the trees. They have asked me to give you a gift.” She walked over to the glowing hole and reached her arm inside. When she pulled it out, there was a silver bag in her hand. She then handed it to Anna.
“Inside this bag are beads; that when eaten will replenish your health.” She explained. “One life ring from a tree is required to create such a bead; hence a year of life is taken from the tree.”
Anna opened the bag and looked inside. “The beads glow constant, so you will have to eat one quickly if you are trying to stay hidden.” The woman informed her.
“Please thank the trees for such a sacrifice.” Anna told her.
The woman nodded. “We are thankful for your sacrifice as well, Anna Kippling.” She leaned over and kissed her cheek. “We wish you great luck on your conquest.”
She then stepped back and disappeared; the glowing from inside the tree did as well. Anna stood silent for a while before she made her way back towards her sleeping companions.
Sleep did not come as easily as before; too many thoughts clouded her mind. She was apprehensive of what lay ahead of her.. When the sun began to peek above the horizon, she gave up on the prospects of sleep and went for a walk until the other two woke up. After a while she walked over to a tree and sat down underneath it. She pulled her little companion out and blankly stared at its pages.
“Why is it only I can save the Empress?” She finally asked.
Words quickly formed on the page; only the chosen one can and you are the chosen one.
“Why am I the chosen one?”
You simply are. It wrote.
“You told me I had to kill the Chancellor to stop him; how do I do that?” She asked next, frustrated.
When the time comes, you will know what to do. Its words came again.
“Why do your answers have to be so uninformative?” She shot her question at it.
An answer does not always come in the form you want it. It replied.
“Ugg!” she yelled and threw it down, angrily pondering over its words. Afraid, she asked her question; “How do I save Hayden?”
Give up your life for his. It told her.
“I have to give up my life!” She squealed, “When does this happen?”
In two nights, she will kill him and you will give up your life for his. It answered her.
She was stunned by its response. “Who is she?” she asked the book.
“Anna!” Hayden called out to her.
She quickly put her book away and stood up as he jogged over to her. “You were asking it questions again, weren’t you?” He asked.
She nodded.
“What did you ask?” he probed.
“I asked about any major dangers on our way.” She lied.
“Oh and what did it say?” He asked, suspicious.
“It said to be cautious every step of the way.” She lied again.
He knew she was lying, but didn’t pry.
“Then cautious we will be.” He said.
She turned around and watched the sun continue its rise. He stayed with her and watched too. It was a beautiful sight!She looked over at Hayden and watched him for a while; he didn’t notice. She would never have enjoyed this moment, any more, on any other day, than with him on this one.
Chapter 15
Right from the outskirts, the Forest of Darkness lived up to its name. Its trees leaned and their branches loomed over them as the traveled through, as if to claw at them! Their wide trunks were lined so close to each other and the thick mud of the ground made it impossible to travel through unless on foo
t. They had to leave the horses tied to an outside tree. From the start their progress was slow; the thick mud of the ground swallowed them up to their knees. Barely a mile inside the miserable forest and they were already stopping to rest.
“There has to be a better way to cross through this place!” Anna shared her thoughts.
“Why don’t you ask the book?” Hayden suggested.
She pulled it out and opened it, “Is there an easier way to travel through this forest?” she asked.
He can ask the trees for help. It answered.
She read what it wrote aloud to them and put her book away.
“These trees are creepy.” He spoke out.
“They’re still trees…” Val pointed out.
He pondered her words for a minute and then finally stood up and walked over to a nearby tree. Anna and Val watched him. He leaned in and whispered to it; they strained to hear, but his words were too soft for them. He then stepped back and waited, they waited as well. Minutes ticked by, but nothing happened.
“So what is supposed to happen?” Anna asked.
“I asked it for help, it told me to wait.” He answered.
“Wait…they talk back to you!” she asked, surprised.
He gave her a stern look. “Yes Anna, they talk back to me.” He responded.
She shrugged her shoulders; “I was only asking!” she responded and smugly crossed her arms. Just then they heard a noise. It sounded like thunder and they waited to hear it again. When it came again it had sounded closer. The noise repeatedly came again and again; moving closer to them each time. All three were now standing up and looking around.
Anna reached down and put her hand on the handle of her sword, her heart beating.
“Look up, over there!” Hayden yelled to them and pointed ahead of them.
They looked and found their “thunder” to be the trees linking their heavy branches together towards them. Then the tree nearest them reached one of its large branches down and rested it upon the ground.
“What do we do now?” Anna asked.
“We climb!” Hayden said.
“It’s a bridge, Anna! They’ve made a bridge for us to cross!” Val exclaimed.