A Conflagration of Ice, The Story of Crysari

[Sunset Fallow]

Betwixt and Between
Part Two

The wagon was parked so that it received the first light of the morning sun. Lem woke within a few minutes of me as I got up and started moving about. It was still cool despite the sun and I could smell breakfast cooking from a nearby house. I guess Lem could smell it too, she offered me a meal before I left. I thought we were going to share some hard bread, meat and cheese, but she offered to take me to an inn where we could have a regular hot meal.

“Come on. I’ll buy and then you can start the day off on a full stomach.” Lem motioned me to follow her.

“Well, no. I just want to get going.” I suspected that the offer of free meal wasn’t free. I’d be expected to provide her the ‘why’ to my travels north. Although I didn’t mind telling people of my past with a few edits about being a warlock, telling her I was traveling north to see another warlock was not something I wanted to reveal.

“But thank you…for the ride and the company.” I smiled and took a step away toward the road north.

“You sure? Ain’t no big deal and I’m gonna eat there anyway.” She stopped and was looking at me the way a puppy I once had would when he wanted to come inside the house. I was very tempted as I hadn’t eaten a big meal in a while, but not so long that I couldn’t resist. “And if you sit and eat, I can take you a ways further north. I got the time…now.”

That surprised me. I knew that a couple of towns back, she had a small mercantile business and a house and several pets she cared for. I was curious, but also a bit wary of becoming involved with her. She seemed nice enough, but like me there were things people never said. I suspected she was just lonely, but I wasn’t particularly inclined to be the cure.

“And we can talk about you mom, if you’d like.” She smiled at me then the way a cat might smile as she corners a mouse.

I took a step back. “What do you know about my mom?” I could see her smile widen as if she’d hooked me.

“Oh, you might be surprised what I know.” It wasn’t so much a smile anymore. “I liked you holding my hand…that was really nice.”

“No…that wasn’t anything. I..I..” I stumbled over the words watching as her skin began to smooth, her features change. I turned and tried to run, but my feet seemed mired in deep mud. I could hear wings…giant wings as if they were right behind me. It was that thing. Why? Why was I being hunted…I tried to scream but my voice came out a squeak. I fell and rolled to my back as the thing came for me, its claws extended as it flew above the ground and now seemed ready to pounce. I cowered back as it dove at me…

Then it was gone. I lay on the ground just outside the town where I thought I had first seen the woman who looked so much like my mother. It was the same spot, only the sun was gone. I had no idea how long it had been…a day…two days. It was dark and cold and my clothes were wet with sweat. I was freezing and starving, and my throat felt like old leaves. Was it dream? It all seemed so real. I was sure I had walked around the town. I had awakened after she came that first time, didn’t I?

I tried to stand and found I was wobbly and dizzy. I nearly fell, sinking to my knees to rest. I stood more slowly and looked toward the town. It was still a couple miles distant. I need to sit, eat and get something to drink. I pulled out my canteen and drank. The water was ice cold, probably nearly frozen…and I felt a wave of nausea as it hit my empty stomach.

I was cold, really cold. I started walking, my feet nearly numb and my legs stiff. I made it to a bunch of high brush and a few trees. I dropped my pack to the ground and dug out flint and steel, starting a small fire. I wasn’t sleepy, which amazed me since I’d hadn’t really slept for what…days? Or was I asleep? Someone didn’t want me doing whatever they thought I was doing. It must have something to do with where I was going. But they couldn’t know that. I needed to think.

I made a small meal of oats and dried meat and vegetables, warmed with some water and a tiny bit of the spices I carried. It tasted odd, but if was warm and filled me. I could see the sun begin to light the far horizon. However long I was away in that dream, it was getting light and I wanted to move, to be rid of this place. I cleaned my cup and made a strong tea, then finished up and began to walk into the morning sun. No more dreams…or whatever that was. No more.