I awoke to Vala shaking me. "Kaida, time to leave."

The sun was not even close to rising. I don't think we have been asleep long. I could still feel small effects from the night before.

Vala shoved my bag in my arms and told me to get ready.

Doing so, I stood and put my armor on, slowly. After washing my face in a basin Vala had put out, and readying myself fully, I took a seat at Vala's table. There were Buns, and other baked goods put out in a large bowl, and cups ready for water. I helped myself to a bread bun and a pastry that tastes like strawberries and mint.

Vala pulled the delicious pastry out of my hand after my first bite. "No, no, you must leave now." And shoved it into a pouch, adding a few more others, giving me a wink.

Walking to the door Vala stopped in front of me and turned around. Taking a pause before she spoke, "Be careful, Kaida. Go to the mountains of Perifrey. That's where Aadi was pulled from.. That is where your story will begin. The gods only show me what I need to know to guide you. Things will change, you can trust Aadi to make that happen. You will be tested. Be brave." After she kissed both my cheeks, squeezing my shoulders, she opened her door, and I left Vala's house.

Outside Bellator was sitting on a black horse. Two sacks sat one either side of his saddle, and his bow and arrow hung off the front of his saddle on a travel strap, accessible if he needed it for defending himself. He was wearing a brown cloak that reached back over his horse, and his sword on his back. A shield hung on the back right side of his horse.

Sigurd was next to him on his own black horse Dressed in his brightly colored clothing, a black cloak, and a large pouch in front of him. Inside the pouch poking out of the top was Willow's head. She was sleeping. I thought it was strange that Sigurd would have a fox for a pet, but then again, Sigurd was strange. Sigurd had a spear on his back. I didn't think Sigurd would use it. I imagined he would hide and wait for his enemies to leave.

A third black horse stood waiting for me. I clipped my shield to the side on a supply strap to the right, and stored my goods Vala gave me, in the front of the saddle. Storing my own pack on the opposite supply strap I was ready to leave. Making sure my sword and daggers were secure, I stepped into the stirrup, swinging myself up onto the saddle and drew in a deep breath.

The sky was still dark as we set off through the Village. The villagers were sleeping and their homes dark. Aside from the occasional undesirable, and drunk asleep on the side of the path, we didn't see anyone. We were silent while we made our way down the path towards the gate. When we got there, two guards stepped out in front of us. Bellator slid off his hood and stayed silent. The two guards nodded and opened the gates for us, locking it shut behind us without a word.

We travelled a good distance towards the mountain of Perifrey before the sun finally rose in the sky. Coming across a stream I asked, "Can we rest? I need to stand." I nodded towards the stream. "We can have a meal."

Sigurd eagerly agreed. "Yes, I am starving!"

While I was splashing water on my face and filling my water skin, Bellator, using the axe off his hip, chopped at a longer stick from a tree branch until he freed it, gave the top end of it a quick slice making it into a point, and walked into the water. It didn't take long before we had a couple fish on a fire. The smell was welcoming and my stomach was surely in need of some meat.

Willow was behind Sigurd eating fish she was stealing from him with no regret. They were arguing and fighting over whose turn it was for a bite. Sigurd seemed to lose a lot more than Willow.

"Willow, I will starve before my time with you as a friend." Sigurd scolded her.

I laughed and waggled some of my fish at Willow, who came and fetched it greedily.

"We shouldn't stay too much longer, we should try and get to the mountains before the sun starts to set." Bellator asserted.

Standing, he stomped out the remaining of the fire that was burning.

"What do you think we will find when we arrive at the mountains?" I wondered out loud.

"Despair, destruction, the END OF ALL LIFE!" Sigurd burst out, followed by a cackling laugh. "I have no idea yet, but its always best to expect the worst."

Shaking my head, I regretted speaking.

Bellator sighed, "We will go to the mouth of the mountain. We will enter there, and look for the cavern where Aadi was pulled from."

Going into the mountains. Not my favorite idea. I could hear my fathers voice in my head. "What worries you Kay, wormlings and Spiny tailed lizards? Be braver than that!"

He used to make my sister and I collect thonus beetle larvae for medicines in the small mountain caves that stretched across Duskenhills. Thonus beetles were large, and hard to kill. Their thick hardened wings opened to reveal bright orange thinner wings, and made a loud humming sound when flying. The head, the thorax, and abdomen were all bright red, with six black legs. They lived in caves where it was usually damp and dark. I never liked them much, but I did enjoy the crunching sound they made when you stepped on them.

I started thinking about my dream with Aadi as I settled myself on my horse. I didn't want to talk about it with anyone. I felt it was private. If Aadi wanted to speak to others he could do so himself.

I had questions for Aadi. I whispered, "Ota, guide me to the truths I seek"

Willow came running out of a bush breaking my thoughts. "Willow, you will regret that." She had snuck up and tried to rip the pouch of meat off Sigurd's belt. Willow hid herself in her sack after failing her mission, and Sigurd picked it up like it was his baby. Forgetting what happened between them, Sigurd started pushing his face in the sack, "I do love you, Fox"

Changes in my life have definitely come. I had companions. Crazy and all.

It was almost sundown as we finally reached the mountain base when Bellator started looking for a place to camp for the night.

"Where is the mouth to the mountain, Bellator?" I asked, as I climbed off my horse.

"Up, there is a path we can take but it is a hard one. It's better if we leave in the morning." He explained.

"Up, up, up!" Singurd sang out, hopping down from his own horse and placing his fox sack on the ground. "To the tomb of the undead god!" Willow crawled out from the bag and sat up, curling her tail around her legs in front of her.

The what?

Both Belleator and I looked over at Sigurd.

"What did you say, Sigurd?" I asked.

"That's where we must go. Aadi says we must face the undead god" He told us.

"Yes! The mouth will lead to the tomb. In the tomb waits the undead God." He nodded his head. "Yes, Praise Aadi."

"Tell Aadi maybe he could let his friend know we come with no disrespect." I mumbled.

I was running all the teachings I knew of the gods, trying to think of who the undead god could be. I decided I would make a sacrifice to Ota for protection, and to the undead god, so he knew we were visiting his tomb out of respect.

Bellator and I set to the task of preparing to camp for the night. Gathering wood for a fire I was deep in thought about Aadi and Amaia when Sigurd came up behind me.

Tapping me on the shoulder and then stepping in front of me, he handed me a wooden idol. "Aadi." he explained to me. "Keep this with you" I smiled and thanked Sigurd.

I appreciated the gift. I tucked the idol into my hip pouch.

"Do you often travel alone, Kaida?" Sigurd asked me.

"Not often. My father and I would do all our trade together, and I have gone to battle with him." I picked up a few more pieces of kindling before continuing, thinking about what my family might be up to at this moment.

"I have travelled alone before this, however. What about you, Sigurd? How long has it been you and Willow?" I asked

"Willy and I have been together always! I found her in a snare when she was a pup, I was a younger and more handsome man then, probably wasn't as crazy as I am now. The gods led me to her, and she saved me." Sigurd admitted. His face was sad for a moment.

"Sigurd?" I asked.

"Mmhmmm" he responded.

"Have you seen my death? Or rather, heard it." I wanted to know if I was going to die. If this was going to be the story of my end. I was not scared of death. I will face it bravely. Dying in battle was something any warrior would be proud of. I wanted to be prepared.

Sigurd didn't answer me. Instead he ignored me completely, turned around and walked back to our camp spot.

Thanks, Sigurd...

The night was colder than the previous nights. I laid on the ground beside the fire with my cloak over me. I could hear night beasts and other critters wandering around the woods that surrounded us. We had camped against the side of the mountain, and the fire was burning brightly reflecting off of the rock. I was watching the shadows of the fire dance across the surface when I heard a loud crack.

Bellator who was next to me moved just slightly, gripping his dagger. I followed his lead. Not moving, waiting for our visitor to approach us, I steadied my breath.

A young man stepped through the trees with his arms in the air. He was very young. Probably the same age as Aimee. Twelve, maybe thirteen years. A boy. His hair is short and blond, with a small mark on his chin. A spear pointing down to his neck. Wearing a green cloak, bow on his back, and scared. He was thin and probably in need of a good rest.

Bellator stood up, I followed.

"What do you want, boy?" Bellator demanded.

"My mother sent me to find you. I have a message from Perifrey." He confessed. Standing still holding his hands up, waiting to be told what to do next.

"Why didn't your father bring it to me, Bow?" Bellator asked the young man. Seemed Bellator recognized him.

"He could not." Bow told Bellator.

I waved my hand to the fire. "Sit."

He came over and sat beside the Fire, Bellator and I settled back down as well. I passed him some roasted grouse we had left from our meal earlier.

He took a few needed mouthfuls, swallowing them in a hurry, then gulped down some water from his pouch.

"Vala is being sacrificed. She is probably already dead." He informed us in a rush.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.