Chapter 3 - The Last Week

     Sunlight pressed its way through the curtains in Talin’s bedroom, ushering in the morning. He resisted its call for a while, even as the faint chirping and singing of birds drifted through the barely open window. Eventually though, he succumbed to the call of the day and got out of bed with a yawn and a stretch, stepping over to the window and drawing back the curtains. A swaying sea of green greeted him, as the tall grass outside caught the morning breeze. Above, only a few scarce clouds lay across an otherwise clear blue sky as the sun slowly crept upward in the distance. The shadows cast by the trees in the field had begun to shorten as mid-day approached, before Talin finally made his way downstairs to the kitchen.

     "Good morning, Talin," Myra said, with a warm smile. "Glad you decided to finally wake up. There’s a little breakfast left over if you’re hungry."

     Talin yawned again, and sat down at the table. "Thanks, Mom. Where is everyone?"

     "Everyone’s out, honey," she replied, looking out the window. "Elora left very early this morning, said she’d be back in a few days. And Ashira took Fey out to the woods to pick some flowers."

     His mind turned to the events of the previous day. "Even with that bandit attack yesterday? I mean...its not like it happens very often, but..."

     "Oh, they haven’t gone far. Besides, honey, the town guard has doubled their patrols today. Today’s probably the safest day to be outside in a while."

     "I guess," Talin said, after chewing on a piece of bread. "I’m just glad Ash was able to help that girl. She’s in at Maikara’s clinic, right?"

     "That’s what she said." Myra opened the window, letting some of the cool spring air into the house. "I’m sure Maikara will take good care of her. If you’re so curious, you could go check on her on your way to the market, maybe?"

     "My trip to the market?" Talin asked, looking up from the table with an eyebrow raised.

     "Why yes dear," Myra said, smiling. "The one you’re leaving on in a few minutes to fetch me some food for dinner!"

     "Oh...that trip to the market. How could I have forgotten?" he replied, with a distinct note of sarcasm.

     Myra laughed a little. "Well, in a week you won’t be around to run little errands like this for your mother, so you’ll have to work twice as hard while you’re here!"

     Talin smiled back, knowing she was right. "Okay Mom. I guess I can live with that."

     After finishing up his breakfast and getting a list of supplies from his mother, Talin set out toward the center of town. The trip along the main road didn’t take too long, from the outskirts of the village into the Ariko market square. As midday passed the sun’s warmth grew, though a refreshing breeze picked up now and then. There were a few people scattered along the road, traveling to and from the middle of town, most of who waved a greeting to Talin as they walked past. For the most part though, the only company along the path was the occasional bird flittering by or the squirrels darting between bushes. Every so often, a home would be visible through the trees, as people lived somewhat scattered across the countryside near the road.
     Talin passed by a few more familiar buildings and houses, placed closer together as he neared the market. People strolled about the square, in and out of the stores and town offices that surrounded the open area. A fountain stood at its center, crafted from stone. Its centerpiece was a beautifully sculpted dragon, made many years ago when it was still common to see dragons roaming the skies. The local lore said that the dragon watched over the village, protecting Ariko from its enemies. A few even claimed that the statue spit lightning at the Ra’aka raiders when the village had been attacked eight years prior. Most of the villagers were skeptical about the story, but at the least it made a good tale for the children.
     Giving a glance to the dragon as he walked by, Talin stopped in front of one of the smaller buildings in the square. A small sign hung above its door, indicating that it was the town healer’s office. He walked in, as the door was open. The building was one large open room, with a few beds in the back and various healing supplies lining shelves on the walls. Herbs of all shapes and colors, along with bandages and bottles filled with different colored fluids almost seemed to decorate the shelves, though their true purpose was of course for aiding the injured. The healer, Maikara, sat beside one of the beds as she tended to a young man’s wounded leg. The rest of the beds were empty.

     "Good morning," Talin said, greeting her.

     "Oh, hello Talin," she said, as she turned her head to see her visitor. "Is there something I can help you with today?"

     "No, I’m fine," he replied, as Maikara returned to her bandaging. "I actually stopped in to ask about the girl Ash brought yesterday..."

     "Oh, right! The girl from Rikan," she responded, still wrapping the bandage. "She was just fine. I was surprised to see her sitting up in bed this morning after I kept her overnight, but she was anxious to get home. I didn’t keep her any longer, and she left, oh, a while ago. It’s a good thing you and Ashira found her when you did. I don’t know if I would have been able to help her otherwise..."

     Talin smiled, as Maikara finished bandaging. "Well, I’m glad we were able to help. I guess Ash is getting better at healing faster than I’d thought."

     "She sure is," Maikara said. "She’s a natural at it, too. It must be her elven blood."

     "Thanks again for taking care of the girl. I need to finish up some errands, so I’ll be on my way." Talin waved, "Nice chatting with you."

     "Good to see you as well, Talin," Makira replied, with a smile. "Have a good day."

     Talin walked out, back into the town square. He stopped by Mr. WigginsEgeneral store next, one of the longest running establishments in Ariko. Talin talked with the old grocer for a bit as he gathered items from the supply list, as he typically did during his shopping trips into town. He mentioned the coming trip he would embarking upon soon amidst the usual banter about town rumors, the weather, and all the other news Mr. Wiggins had heard from the other townsfolk. It was then that the reality of his voyage finally struck Talin, that soon he would be leaving the familiarity of home, possibly for quite a long time. It was an odd feeling, a mixture of uneasiness about the future, and excitement about the coming adventure. Through his other errands about the market, it popped up again a few times, as he talked with other friends and acquaintances.
      With his backpack fully loaded with food and other supplies, Talin set out to return home. It took him a little longer to get back with the extra weight to carry, but nothing out of the ordinary happened along the way. By the time he got back in the early afternoon, Ashira and Feylin had returned home from their trip into the woods, and the vase on the kitchen table was now filled with a fresh bunch of wildflowers. Everyone helped unload the supplies and food from Talin’s bag, and they all sat down for some lunch.

*****

     Ashira walked back to her bedroom after lunch, leaving Feylin to run about and play outside with some of her friends. She closed the door behind her, and took a seat on the bed, leaning against the wall. Her room was decorated with the many belongings she had collected over the years, from dried flowers hanging on the walls to the pretty little pebbles she picked up out in the woods. She had painted her walls as well, depicting a hillside with trees, grass, and a blue sky above. It had taken a long time, but she truly did feel at home there now. She looked up at the wall, lost in her own memories for a moment.
     Almost fourteen years had passed since Ashira had come to live with the Katari family. Myra and Tristan had treated her like one of their own children, and were it not for her pointed ears, most people would have believed she truly was. She was barely five when the great battle at Cedra took place, becoming one of the many orphans left by the fall of the great city of the Elves. Little of her life before then remained, as most of her blood family’s possessions had been destroyed, and her mind had all but blocked out the terrible events that had taken place. Her mother’s cape, which she nearly always wore, and a few little trinkets and toys were all that remained. She also retained one other gift from her past, her innate magic and healing skills. One of the few things Ashira remembered about her real mother, Amirol, was her great ability to heal, and that was why she tried so hard to follow in her footsteps. She never knew that her mother was actually one of the high healers of the Cedran Elves, and that the exceptional ability passed on to her was why she could use magic without any real training.

     Ashira picked up a little wooden sword that sat on a shelf amongst other toys long unused. She held it up in the light and looked at it, remembering her misadventures with Talin when they were children. The two of them were always together, Ashira usually following her older ‘brotherEaround, as they would go on pretend adventures out into the woods. One time, in a ferocious battle against a hollow oak tree stump (It was a dragon, of course!), Talin slipped and cut his arm on some sharp rocks as he fell. He was only eight at the time and started crying out in pain, as the edge of the rock had opened a gash across his forearm.

     "Owww!!"

     "Talin! You okay?!"

     "It hurts!"

     "You’re bleeding! Don’t die Talin!"

     Ashira had started crying, too. Instinctively, she reached out toward Talin’s arm, and as she did, her hand started to glow. A bright light emanated from the cut on his arm, and the bleeding slowly ceased. They both stopped crying, still sniffling a little.

     "What’d you do Ashy?"

     "I dunno...it was just like mommy used to do."

     "Whatever it was Ashy, thanks!"

     Talin proceeded to give her a big hug.

     "Eww! You’re all dirty!"

     It was the first time she learned about her abilities. She had seen her mother heal wounds a few times, but never really knew how it worked. Little things like that would happen every so often, until she started training now and then under Maikara, Ariko’s town healer.

     "Lets go home Talin."

     "Okay, I’ll race you there!"

     She put down the wooden sword. In just a few days, she’d be setting out on a real adventure, with real danger. Her response was much like Talin’s, a mixture of excitement and fear of the unknown. She knew in her heart that this journey was right, that her destiny was out there someplace...

*****

     While Talin and Ashira spent the week preparing for their adventure, Elora traveled to the city of Westport to arrange their transportation to Arsalun. She returned to Ariko on the eve of their departure, arriving just after the start of the party Myra had prepared to send off the soon-to-be adventurers. The night was filled with good food and many friends and neighbors, finally ending as the moon sat nearly atop the starry sky. For that last night Talin and Ashira slept in their own beds, though their anxiety and excitement kept them from getting a true full night’s rest.
     They awoke to the welcome smell of cooked eggs and bacon, wafting through the hallway from Myra’s kitchen. With some help from Feylin, she had prepared a large breakfast to send off the three soon to be adventurers. Before long they were all seated around the table, eating their last home-cooked meal for a long while. When breakfast was finished, Myra walked over to one of the cupboards, pulling out a pair of small wooden boxes. On the surface of each were delicately carved runes, which Ashira recognized as the language of the Elves. She looked up at Myra, wondering what the little trunks could possibly be. Talin wore a confused look on his face as well, as he had never seen the items before either.

     "Talin, Ashira," Myra said looking at each of them. "I have something for each of you before you go."

     "What are they?" Talin asked, looking up at her.

     She pushed the two boxes toward them, the longer of the two toward Ashira, and the smaller more square one to Talin. "Go ahead," she smiled. "Open them."

     Ashira smiled up at Myra, reaching to open the rune-covered lid. Inside lay a wand carved from wood very similar to the box itself, with runes down its side. A pointed crystal was embedded in one end, sparkling in the light from the kitchen window. She picked it up carefully from its case, feeling an odd rush of energy in her right hand as it closed around the smooth wooden surface of the wand.

     "Ashira, my dear, that was once your mother’s," Myra said, placing her hand on Ashira’s shoulder. "Your real mother." She smiled down at her, already fighting back tears, "Even I forget sometimes that you’re not truly my own child. I’ve held on to that for you for a long time...and I think you’re finally ready to use it."

     A tear ran down Ashira’s cheek, as she stood to embrace Myra. "Thanks, Mom."

     "This is..." Talin said, as he looked upon the wooden bracelet that had been inside his box. It appeared to be three intertwined thin branches of wood, but upon closer inspection it was actually one branch impossibly connected to itself so that it had no beginning or end.

     Myra smiled down at her son. "You’d forgotten about that, hadn’t you Talin."

     "It’s been ages since I’ve seen this," he said, as he took the bracelet and slipped it over his wrist. He thought it odd that it fit so snugly, as he remembered it fit just as tight when he was seven or eight years old. Elora glanced over at the bracelet, curiously, as he put it on.

     "Don’t lose it, dear," she said, with a nod. Finally her battle with the tears was lost, as the streamed down her face. She put her arms around Talin, "Stay safe, my son. Stay safe..."

     "Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll come back soon enough," he said, with a smile as she let go.

     Soon after, they were ready to depart. Somehow smiling through her tears, Myra bid them farewell, as did little Feylin. With that, their journey began...

     They set out for the coastal city of Westport, which Talin figured would be about two daysEtravel from Ariko. By nightfall on the second day they would reach the gates of the port, and be ready to sail for Arsalun. Elora told them that she had already arranged for a ship, and it awaited their arrival. They traveled along the main road between Alamor and Westport, which skirted the Cedran Forest to the east of Ariko. It was a very well trafficked route, considered safe and often patrolled by Alamor’s Emerald Knights. Travelers along the road varied from individuals and groups on foot, to horses, wagons, and even the occasional large merchant caravan. The region between Ariko and Westport was mostly flat, though a few hills could be seen here and there. A few trees dotted countryside, less and less the further from Ariko and the Cedran forest they traveled. As they made their way west, the tall trees of the great forest, and the Alamarain Mountains further in the distance to the east slowly faded from view.

     Along the journey, they passed by a number of interesting travelers, occasionally stopping for a short while to rest, chat, or eat. A few were from Ariko, though nobody that Talin or Ashira knew particularly well happened to be on the roads that day. A few merchants were selling various wares and travel supplies, but the group was well stocked. The most interesting conversation of the day was certainly when they stopped for lunch, joined by a band of Dwarves traveling to Alamor. The group of ten was a drama troupe, set to perform in the large city theatre. They even treated the adventurers to a scene from their play, complete with a song and dance. If nothing else, it gave the trio something to joke about during the rest of their travels. After lunch they continued on till twilight, finding a suitable place to set camp for the night. Ashira picked out a spot quickly as the sun fell, spurred on a bit from her tired legs.
     After Talin collected some wood for a small campfire they cooked a third meal. Ashira prepared a simple stew from some vegetables they had brought along, and they ate some bread as well. Each had worked up a good appetite from a full day’s travel, and the stew looked promising.

     "Close, Ash," Talin said, smirking. "But you still have a little ways to go to catch up to Mom’s cooking."

     "Is that so?" she replied. "Nobody’s making you eat it," she added, matter-of-factly.

     "Now now, children," Elora chimed in, jokingly condescending. "Can’t we all just have a peaceful meal?"

     "Okay, Mom," Talin said, laughing.

     Ashira joined in, sticking her tongue out at Elora.

     Elora laughed nervously. "I’d like to think I look a little too young for that."

     "We’re just joking around, Elora" Ashira said with a giggle. "Don’t worry about it too much."

     "I know, I know." Elora paused, leaving an odd silence for a moment. "Let’s eat! The stew will get cold, you know."

     Talin didn’t need convincing. He grabbed a piece of bread and started eating, and the others followed soon after. For a while they sat around the campfire, talking, and trading old stories and jokes. Ashira decided to tell a ghost story, about the specter of an old traveler who had been murdered along the main road. Every night he would prey upon any unsuspecting people foolish enough to sleep under the large dead oak tree where he’d been killed, she told. With the help of a little magic she’d been trying to learn, she illuminated a large tree a little distance away at the climax of her story, getting quite a reaction from Talin and Elora. Ashira fell over laughing, much to their chagrin. After they all calmed down, it was finally time to turn in for the night. Each would watch over the camp for a third of the night to look out for any dangers. Talin volunteered to go first, so Ashira and Elora tried to get some sleep. Elora, of course, took a little bit longer to drift into slumber.

*****