Day 25

Rachael Ceronio got up and saw that the horses were gone.

“Wake up!” she shouted.

“The horses are gone!”

The whole camp woke up. Some were not sure what was going on while some leaped into action.

Tẽra whistles for her horse. A distant nay replied.

Tẽra walked into the bush looking for her horse.

“Sherralee! Sherralee!” she called.

Rachael followed Tẽra.

Shane looked around lots needed to be done. Nikki ran after Tẽra and Rachael in pursuit of the horses.

“James, start packing up the tents, Lakisha and Jessica please make breakfast for everyone. Sugar please do a head count, Joe check our supplies. Zazo and men please do a perimeter check.” Shane gave out duties so that things would still get done.

It was first light and sunrise would soon follow.

“Rosaleighm, Keimoni, find someone to help and let’s get everything ready for the return of our horses. Let’s not waste light.”

Keimoni helped take down tents, he was quite good at it as he had done it so many times. Nikki had designed them all the same way.

Rosaleighm ran after Zazo, she wanted to patrol with the warriors.

While Zazo was on patrol he heard horses. His men hid and got a better view. They watched as a group of women and girls on foot with spears and other weapons, tracked their horses prints towards their camp.

Zazo sent his fasted man to run with the warning.

He met Rosaleighm on the road. But he didn’t stop, he kept running.

When he got back to camp to told them.

“Warrior women headed this way. Looks like… they track us.” He panted.

Shane and Keimoni looked at the camp that was only half down.

“We will not have time to avoid them.”

Shane thought of a story with Keimoni.

They left everything as it was, put water on rags and let the two tents they were still up as they were. Then Shane had Joe, Sugar, James and Lakisha lay in the beds as if ill.

Shane put the wet rags on them and used red sand to discolor their necks and other parts of their skin.

Shane sent Keimoni to tell Zazo and his men not to come but hang back until the woman have passed.

The women arrived in the camp.

“What is this?” she shouted.

Shane came out of the tent.

A woman struck him.

Jessica grabbed a stick and held it like she was ready to fight.

“It’s alright.” Shane told her.

“I am a physician with the sick. This is my sister helping me care for them.”

The woman looked at the camp.

“Where is Tiffany?” she asked.

“I do not know?” Shane answered.

“We know she came this way and she was with a travelling party.” She said slowly entering the tent.

There were people laying on the floor in beds of blankets with wet rags on their foreheads.

“You are the queen’s woman.” She said to Joe.

Keimoni translated.

“You are Keimoni the Viden. Where if Tiffany?” she ordered.

“They went on ahead. The sick are to wait for help. Do you not see that Tiffany is not here? There are no horses, no fighting men. I am to follow, return to the castle later to serve my new Queen Ginger and report of the fever that took the travelers.” Keimoni said.

She kicked Joe who barely flinched.

“What sickness is this?” She demanded.

“I don’t yet know, but everyone became ill suddenly.” Shane said.

“You say Tiffany is further along the road?” she demanded.

“She didn’t stop with the sick, they kept going. There is a village half a day from here. Once the sick are well, they are to go there.” Keimoni said.

“Ummm,” she contemplated.

“Let’s go. Take whatever you need.” She ordered.

There supplies got taken.

“Stealing from the sick. You savages!” Jessica shouted at them.

But they carried on.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Zazo had sent Rosaleighm to find Tẽra and tell her that there was danger.

But Rosaleighm had not found them in time.

The angry women and children carried on down the road as Tẽra came into view, riding Sherralee. Rachael and Nikki were also riding and behind her with the other horses.

Zazo’s man ran over gesturing her to get down but saying nothing.

Tẽra quickly got off her horse and hid in the long grass. So did Nikki and Rachael. When he got to them, he explained that there was danger. Women warriors wanted them. They were chasing after Tiffany.

Tẽra waited until the women were far enough down the road that they couldn’t be seen. When she got back to camp, most of the tents were down and the food was half cooked.

Zazo came running over.

“I believe they are Kaneeda’s women.” He told her.

“This does not surprise me.” Tẽra said “They got here faster than expected.”

Keimoni then broke the bad news that the road was not safe as he told them Tiffany went ahead.

“It was clever.” Tẽra said still feeling like it was inconvenient.

Rosaleighm came running into the camp.

“I can’t find…” she looked at Tẽra “You’re back.” Rosaleighm was relieved.

“Yes, I am. How were the pie deliveries?” Tẽra asked.

“Horrible.” Rosaleighm said.

“Why?” Tẽra asked wanting to know if she had learnt anything

Rosaleighm glared at her.

“They were so sad and so grateful that I brought them pie. They didn’t know it was me. They were hungry but they still gave me some, their landlords wanted money so they were getting thrown out into the street, like I was. I couldn’t help them. I felt bad because I killed the dad who earned money. I see why he chased me away. He needed his food for his family. Now they are all in a bad way and I am to blame. So, it was horrible!” Rosaleighm told her.

“Now you see why you must never kill because you are upset or feel they wronged you. Even if they were unkind, maybe they have reasons you don’t see or understand.” Tẽra said.

Tẽra opened her arms.

“Come here, you did good going to those families.”

Tẽra hugged Rosaleighm.

Everyone ate and once they were ready to leave, they had to decided how they were going to get there.

“I think we ride the horses in the straight line for the mountain. Stay off the road.” Jessica suggested.

“Is there another road?” Tẽra asked.

But there was not. So, Jessica’s idea was the only other idea that didn’t mean losing too much time.

They walked off the road and headed for the mountain.

Finally, they came across a path made my animals. It was a little trail that led towards the mountain. However, the path did not stay smooth and nice. It became quite treacherous. The path went down a steep hill and Sugar’s horse slipped, causing Sugar to fall off. Bruising her shoulder, arm and face. Next the path crossed a stream. This was great until they drank the water.

The water tasted like soup and cause them to feel nauseous. The ill feeling group pressed on and came to a fork in the road. The one side was used more often the other side less often.

They all agreed to follow the more used path. They now were walking next to their horses as the sand was so soft the horses kept sliding. They finally came to a stony pathway. The thirsty group remounted their horses and walked along.

Around mid-day they reached the mountain. They started their accent. The rocky mountain made it hard and forced them to walk with the horses often, instead of riding.

There were very few paths to follow and some just ended like the one they were one.

“Why did we stop?” James asked.

“Because the path just ended. No sign of it anywhere.” Nikki called from the front.

“Let’s off road it.” James suggested.

So, they kept going. It was a lot more difficult and the hot sun made it worse. Thirsty, hungry and lost, they pushed on. They couldn’t turn back as there was pursuers. They couldn’t go to the side as there was nothing to go to. So, onwards they pushed.

Finally, they came to a small little creak, it wasn’t even 10cm deep but it was drinkable. They all drank not even thinking about whether it was safe or not. Fortunately, it was safe. But this little joy did not last long. They heard voices and they were getting louder.

Filling up whatever they had with water they moved. Trying to hide behind great boulders and adding speed to the stride. This led them into a thicket. The claw hooks of the plants gripped them tearing clothes and flesh.

“Ouch!” Lakisha yelped.

“Shhhh!” Sugar responded.

“It cut me!” Lakisha snapped.

“Shut up!” Sugar hissed.

The thorns scratched them and hooked into anything and everything.

“We have to get out of these thorns!” Tẽra moaned tearing her dress free from one plant and falling into another.

Nikki and Zazo helped Tẽra out of the thorn bush she had fallen into.

Zazo lifter Nikki onto his shoulders without warning.

“What do you see?” he asked.

Tẽra translated.

“If we keep going to the left, we can get out of this. Straight ahead gets worse and the right leads to some kind of a cliff face.”

Tẽra translated again.

“Stay on my shoulders and guide us.” Zazo said.

Nikki pointed and called out what was ahead.

“Maybe I should have asked Drake to bring us?” Jessica grumbled to herself.

She knew she couldn’t ask him to bring her when she was running away, leaving a letter as a goodbye. She didn’t want him trying to stop her or persuading her to stay. She was afraid he could persuade her to stay.

“That would have been a great idea.” James said as he heard her.

“Next time.” Jessica said.

Shane took Jessica’s hand. He looked at her knowingly. She smiled in appreciation, then fell. She couldn’t get her foot free. The thorns gripped her shoe unforgivingly and refused to let go. For every one they removed two more gripped on.

Shane untied her shoe and pulled her foot free.

“My shoe.” Jessica whimpered.

“I’ll help you.” Shane said he put her on his back.

“How long can you keep that up?” James asked.

“Hopefully long enough.” Shane answered.

It was a difficult walk and by the time they got free Jessica had lost a shoe. Joe had an unwanted haircut and Sugar was wearing shorts. Her shorts had started out as pants but little by little the thorn bushes took their piece. Joe has fallen and her hair got stuck, Rosaleighm had to cut her free.

Keimoni looked like a peasant cover in festering sores. He was having a reaction to the plants.

Once free they rested and figuratively licked their wounds.

Then they were surrounded by Viden.

“Tẽra it’s nice to meet you. Your truth will be kept with us for future generations.” A woman said to her extending a hand to her.

Zazo’s hand was on his sword.

“I am Jagvi of the Viden council. I am a friend to Fiona and Ranger.” She explained.

“Why did you run into the thorn thicket?” she asked in English.

“We were being casted by people who believe Tẽra is Tiffany, they want her dead.” Nikki explained.

“It was my people who were trying to catch up with you. We recognized you from the memories we got from Fiona and Ranger.” She explained.

“Do you have water?” Lakisha asked.

“Come, we have food and water for you.”

The young woman led them with the six other members of the search party back to green grass, and a table with fruit, bread, honey, water and herbal tea.

“Who are you?” Keimoni asked.

“Jagvi, I am to led you to the door. Do you have the other crystals?” she asked.

“Yes, we do.” Tẽra answered.

Everyone ate and drank.

Joe came to Jagvi.

“I know you don’t know me, but I have a big thing to ask of you. That girl there she must stay here. I cannot take her to earth with me. She wants to come with me but she must not. But even more important, that woman there named Sugar must not return to earth either.”

Jagvi looked at her and said nothing. Her expression said ‘what makes you think I care?’

“Kiss me.” Joe said “See why I cannot have Rosaleighm come with me.”

Jagvi kissed Joe.

“What!” Sugar exclaimed seeing it.

“So, this is why you never killed me?” Sugar stated.

Joe ignored her hoping that Jagvi had seen enough to know the Joe was not equipped for motherhood.

Jagvi looked at the Vibash child.

“Go to Spice. Let her be your mother. Become a Vibash and a leader for your people.” Jagvi told Rosaleighm.

“I am going with Joe.” She insisted.

“I have a more important job for you. You are a Vibash and you are free, I need you to guide the new queen, and keep Sugar from going to earth. Return to Spice in the castle and learn. I too was a child warrior, but strength needs skill to make it truly strong.” Jagvi said.

It took a lot of convincing to get Rosaleighm to agree to stay and not go with Joe. Jagvi finally convinced her that she needed to protect her people who had been slaves with the skills Joe taught her. So that what happened to her will never happen to another little girl.

Rosaleighm told Joe she was going to stay. Joe was happy and sad. They hugged and even cried a little.

Rachael went to Keimoni.

“This is it. I am leaving. I will never see you again.”

She kissed Keimoni like it was the first and last time. She wanted him to see why kissing was nice and she also wanted to remember it.

Tẽra explained that they were waiting for Viola who was not yet with them.

Jagvi said she would only destroy the door to earth once Viola had gone though.

So, they went to the door. The circle of rocks with glowing stones looked like something from a sci-fi movie.

They held hands in the middle, Sugar was between Joe and Rosaleighm. Tẽra was on her horse and Rachael had her horses with her.

“Will we go to the right place?” Nikki asked.

“I don’t know.” Jagvi answered. “You will go to earth.” She assured.

As the last stone was placed Rosaleighm pulled sugar out of the circle.

It was instant everyone was gone. No one left in the circle.

Sugar hit Rosaleighm.

“You stupid child! Why did you do that?”

“So, you cannot hurt Joe.” Rosaleighm stated.

Sugar sat in the dirt. She was going to have to wait for Viola. The sun had set and darkness fell on Sugar, not only on her face but also her heart as the feeling of being trapped forever consumed her.

Rosaleighm, Keimoni, Zazo and his men all started on their journey back to the castle.

Joe’s men had gone their way once Joe had gotten back to the castle.

Sugar slept on the cold mountain all night but Viola never showed. Jagvi and her people were nowhere to be found. Sugar woke at first light because she was too cold, shaking and shivering she began to wonder if Viola was even coming or if she too had decided to stay like her sister.

Sugar made her way down the freezing mountain looking and hoping for another earth face. Or anyone who could help her get home.

* * *

Drake had Yair read him the letter Jessica had left for him. Her blue diamond earrings where with the letter.

Dear Drake,

You have been the perfect picture of a prince. I wish I was strong enough to tell you in person but I am afraid for many reasons. I am leaving, I am going home to earth. I have thought about staying with you and the idea was something I wrestled with. But I know your parents will never accept me and even if it is not a good enough reason you for it is for me. I cannot stay where I am afraid for my life. I wish things were simple but they are not.

I know that by the time you read this I will be gone already. We have found a way home. You will be a great leader and you will meet someone who will love you more than I do and she will be loved by your parents too. A true royal woman.

I am not getting to the point. I am saying goodbye and thank you for being the best thing about Chayim.

Love

Jessica.

Drake was sad but he understood. His parents had made it so hard for her to feel safe and they would be happy to know she was gone. But he was not happy about it. He found it hard to not think what could have been. She was fire and the dragon riders had been fighting so long they had lost theirs. He felt like Jessica brought life back to them. Challenged them to be who they wanted to be but felt to worn out to be.

She made him happy even if she made everybody else cross. He liked her defiant strong will, that believed right was right and there was no reason good enough to forgot that.

Drake chose to return to the palace and start rebuilding their people and cities. He wanted to be the prince he would have been with Jessica. He found time did not heal all wounds. You just learn to live with some.