Chapters 34-36

Wanted

They gathered food and supplies from nearby shops, then prepared to travel back to Trilliah. Rienna figured she'd let Mæri know about the caves and ask her for directions back to Vieryen.

They traveled along the lake again and reached Mæri’s house just a couple hours before dusk. Despite having hiked all day, Rienna was feeling much better and could tell her magic was about halfway replenished.

Xio in one hand, Rienna raised an arm and knocked on the door. A moment later, Mæri opened it and looked down at Rienna. She looked exasperated as she realized who it was.

"Hello, Rienna. Come on in. What are you doing back here?"

Rienna stepped through the door and waited as Mæri closed it. "I have some news and also… need more directions."

Mæri sighed tiredly. "Alright." She led Rienna to the table they'd sat at before. They both sat down and she looked at Rienna with a stare. "What is it?"

"I blew up the crystal caves and want to know how to get back to Vieryen," Rienna said straightforwardly.

Mæri’s eyes widened and a look of uncharacteristic shock and disbelief appeared on her face. "You blew them up?! You said you just wanted to gather information!" she said.

"The crystals are alive. They wanted me to block off the tunnels," Rienna explained. She almost added that she had magic now, but she had a feeling that it might make this conversation more complicated than it needed to be. She’d likely figure it out later anyway.

"And now you're just going to go home?" Mæri asked, tapping the table absentmindedly.

"Yes."

"And then what? You're just going to blow up a mine and go back to whatever it is you do up in Vieryen?"

"Not necessarily. If I can think of a way to help bring down Sovereign Jenni, then I will."

"How? You're only ten-"

"Eleven," Rienna interrupted.

"-eleven years old," Mæri amended, continuing. "Either way, you are a child."

"I can still be helpful!" Rienna protested.

Mæri stared at Rienna for a moment, disbelief radiating through her eyes, posture, everything. "Okay," she said finally, throwing her hands up into the air. "I'll point out a path on the map I gave you. I don't know what else to do."

"Thank you," Rienna said with a smile. She pulled out her map and set it on the table for Mæri.

"Just don't get yourself into a situation you can't get out of. And don't thank me. You know very well that I can't just say no and let you wander the wilderness. And I have no control over you since you’re not a citizen of Westrikov." Mæri sighed and pointed to the corner of the North Western town. "Go here. The guards travel to and from Vieryen from this point."

"Than- er... Cool," Rienna said with a pause.

 Mæri looked at the ceiling and shook her head muttering, “A child. Why a child?” She stood and gestured exasperatedly to the door. "Now go. Please make it to Vieryen and not ask of my help again."

Rienna nodded. "Okay. Bye. Um, good luck."

"You too, child."

As she left, Rienna heard one last tired sigh and muttering before she closed the door.

She took a deep breath and prepared herself to search for a place to stay for the night. She had seen a small inn a little bit further in town that she figured she'd look into. She hoped it wasn't full.

It took a moment, but eventually she caught sight of the inn. A bell dinged softly as she opened the door and a cheery fire welcomed her. A tall woman in a dusty white apron tended to a pot of soup behind a counter.

No one else was in the room so Rienna approached her. "Hello. Can I get a room for one night?"

The woman looked up and smiled curiously. "Sure thing, dear. Is it just for you?"

"And my cats. Is that okay?"

The woman glanced at the mother-son pair. "Of course. Do you have fifteen coins?"

"Yes." Rienna unslung her pack back from her shoulder and grabbed her pouch of coins. She counted out her payment and handed it to the woman. She realized she only had two coins left from what Jen and Rildie had individually given her.

"Great. Follow me."

The woman led her up a set of stairs and to a hallway with three doors. She was brought to the room at the end and given a key.

Before Rienna could enter the woman grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. "I am Agie. Who are you?"

"Um, I'm Rienna," Rienna said cautiously.

"Rienna,” she said with a smile that quickly sobered. “This isn't exactly the best place for a child to be traveling alone, you know," Agie cautioned.

"It wasn't on purpose," Rienna said.

Agie’s eyes softened and she bent to hug Rienna. "Oh, poor girl," she said, seeming to have her own idea of what Rienna meant. "Well, I hope you find my inn a place of safety."

"Thanks. I hope so too." Rienna gently pulled herself free and smiled up at the lady as she shut the door to her room.

She let out a sigh and dropped her bag on the bed. She looked around and began to take stock of her surroundings. It was a nice room, considering. Actually, it was probably better than the room she'd been in that had cost her more. There was a small nightstand with an unlit candle and packet of matches. There was also a set of drawers and a small closet. There was no glass to make a window, but the doors that opened to the outside were secure and easy to move.

She turned to the bed where the cats had already made themselves at home. "Okay. I know we said we didn’t need to plan everything out, but we should probably form a plan."

"You did say that. And we haven't needed any plans so far," Xio pointed out.

"Okay. Yeah. We've been pretty careless this entire time," Rienna admitted. "However, we've had plans. They just weren't very detailed. And they went wrong a lot. Or they changed along the way… But we've had plans!” she insisted. “So we need a plan. Right now we just know we're heading back to Vieryen." She pulled out her map and pointed to her kingdom. "Assuming all the maps in Vieryen use the same Norths and Wests, which they probably do, this is the side closest to Westrikov."

"Unless the magic field disrupts the compasses," Xio interrupted.

"Right... But Sovereign Jenni probably could use previous maps for reference if that was the case. Anyway, if the directions match, we should have left from this point here, at the south-west end. This is probably where we should enter again, right?" Rienna said.

"Yes," Xio said slowly. "But that would mean going back through Trusten's forest."

"That's true…" Rienna sat down on the bed and stared at the map. "We could enter through the east, but that would bring us to the nobles' area. Then we'd either have to go all the way around the Palace to get home, or we'd have to go through the Dirt." She sighed. "I don't want to go through the Dirt Fields and I don't want to be seen around the main populated areas. We don’t know what the reaction to my leaving the Suppression was."

"What if," Xio said, walking over to Rienna and leaning against her leg hopefully. "What if… We just decide once we get there?"

"No. I want to decide now, even if we change it later," Rienna said stubbornly. “Better now than on the road.”

"Ugh. Fine. But I need food first if I am going to work my brains,” Xio said.

"Alright," Rienna said, rolling her eyes with a smile. 

Searching through her backpack, she came to the realization that they didn't have enough food to make it to Vieryen. She made note of it and handed the last pieces of bread to the cats and tried to enjoy another meal of only vegetables. When was the last time she’d had actual meat, anyway?

Rienna opened the window and leaned out, relishing the kind breeze that blew through the room. She looked down at the town below, and froze as a group of fairyeld guards marched up to the inn. They looked too serious to be coming in for anything other than business.

She quickly shut the windows and ran to the bedroom door, shoving her ear against the wooden surface. She heard the kindly woman greeting the guards, and then the guards gruffly asking questions that she was unable to understand. The innkeeper said something and she heard the sound of someone running up stairs followed by guards slowly stomping their way up.

Rienna's door suddenly opened and she stumbled backwards as a freckle faced boy peeked his head into the room. He looked straight into her eyes and said, "Quickly! Grab your stuff and hide in the closet! Make no sounds!"

Not having much choice but to trust the boy, she scooped up her bag and rushed into the small closet, closing it right as the cats came in. Cramped and stuffy, she waited as the guards mismatched footsteps got closer to the room.

A moment later she heard the door open and someone step in. "This is our first room. It's currently unused, so I can assure you no one is staying here. Unfortunately, we haven't had many customers recently. Not many people come to the towns nowadays. If you truly wish to examine the room. you may. otherwise, let's move on,” another boy's voice spoke confidently to the group of guards, similar to the other, but older. The guards grumbled in response, incomprehensible through the closet door. "Great! Now our second room is currently in use, but I don't believe they're here now. If you wish you can–" The boy's voice faded down the hallway and Rienna sighed in relief.

She held her hand to her mouth to quiet her heavy breathing and listened as the boy led the guards to the other few rooms. She tensed once they came back, but they passed by her door without opening it. She heard them go back down the stairs, and waited to hear the light ringing of the front door before slowly opening the closet.

Her door was still open from when the boy had shown the guards the room, but not too much. She was afraid that if she touched it the guards would come back and notice that someone had closed the door. It was an unreasonable fear, but she hid behind the dresser and waited a moment longer before standing up and peeking down the hallway.

There was no one there, so she continued silently down the stairs until she found an older boy and Agie in the midst of a hushed conversation.

"Hello?" Rienna called out.

Agie immediately snapped her head up to look at Rienna. Her eyes were wide with worry. "What are you doing down here!? Quick! Go back to your room and we'll be up shortly. What if they come back and you're still down here?" She waved her hands at Rienna in a shooing motion. "Quickly!" she insisted.

Rienna froze, eyes widening. She quickly nodded her head and ran back up the stairs to her room, shutting the door this time and quickly laying flat on the bed, making sure she was out of view from the window, even though the window doors were shut anyway and the room was dark. She stuck her head face down on the mattress and peeked warily at the room's door.

She tensed as she heard the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. They reached the hallway and there was a knocking on the door. "Child? Can we come in?" Agie said through the wood.

Rienna found herself nodding to no one before she rushed to the door and opened it, making sure to quickly sit back down on the bed. She worried over what may happen, but she assured herself that these people clearly wanted her no harm.

Agie came in and sat in a chair while the boy followed to rest against the doorframe. "Those fairyeld guards were searching for you for a reason, weren't they?" the innkeeper asked gently.

Rienna hesitated. "Maybe?"

"Why would they be looking for a child like you?"

Not knowing what to say, she just sat in silence.

Agie sighed. "We'll keep you safe for as long as you need, don't worry. Anyone hiding from those guards will be safe here… How could one of their own children become their enemy, though?" the innkeeper said to herself, looking down at the floor listlessly.

The boy at the door cleared his throat and spoke up. "I'm going to go get Mick, the dishes still need cleaning." He turned and quickly left the room.

Agie turned back to Rienna. “I understand why you may not want to answer. That’s okay, but know that anyone in this inn is safe from the fairyeld.”

“Okay,” Rienna said meekly.

“Good. You’re welcome to come down when you like. Though, I would wait a little bit in case they do indeed come back. I’ll make sure there’s food for you if you do.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind,” Rienna said.

Agie smiled, “It’s no problem, dear.” She put her hands on her knees and stood. “Enjoy your stay.”

“Thanks,” Rienna said as Agie left the room, closing the door behind her.

The Inn

Rienna didn't go back down stairs that night. She instead took the opportunity to get some much needed rest. After everything that had happened that day, she just needed a break and another chance to recover her magic.

When she'd woken up later in the night, she found half of a grilled cheese sandwich waiting for her on the top of the drawers. Based on the torn edges and cheesy residue on the other side of the plate, she suspected the cats had eaten the other half. She couldn’t begin to describe how gratifying sitting down and eating something that wasn’t vegetables was. It was absolutely delicious.

She soon went back to sleep and by the time she woke up again, sunlight was peeking through the cracks in the windows and the cats were lounging by the door. The chill air was refreshing and Rienna was struck by the urge to close her eyes and snuggle deeper into the blankets of the bed.

Xio, however, had other plans.

"Rienna! You're awake! You sleep for such a long time!" Xio said, bounding onto the bed and onto Rienna's chest. “I’m hungry!”

Rienna groaned and sat up, holding Xio in her lap. "Don't cats sleep even more than people?"

"I sleep frequently, not for annoyingly long time, like you. Now, come on! I want to get breakfast. That cheesy crunch-bread was very tasty," he said, leaping back onto the floor and to his mother who was sitting somewhat patiently by the closed door.

Rienna yawned and stood up slowly. "Alright. Let's go see if Agie is there."

As they walked down the stairs, smells of eggs and bacon wafted up from the rooms below. Sunlight pooled through the lower floor windows, lighting the chairs and tables.

Stepping off the staircase, Rienna saw Agie cooking behind the counter and walked over. Three plates were lined up on the counter surface with small pieces of bread placed on them. Agie turned, a pan in hand, and gently slid a piece of bacon and some scrambled eggs onto each plate.

Agie looked up at Rienna and smiled. "You're up. Here, take some breakfast," she said, sliding a plate towards Rienna.

Rienna reached for a plate and hesitated. "I left my money upstairs," she explained when Agie gave her a curious look. "Give me a moment. I'll go get it."

Agie stopped her with a shake of her head. "Oh, no, dear. No need to pay. Breakfast is free here."

"Oh! Thank you," Rienna said, surprised and glad to not have to spend her last few coins. She grabbed the plate and sat at a nearby table. "Isn't it expensive?" she asked, handing some of the bacon to her eats. "Feeding your customers for free?"

Agie just smiled. "Not as expensive as running an inn that’s only for locals."

Rienna paused. "You really don't serve the fairyeld? Why not? How do you manage that?"

Agie leaned across the counter to talk to Rienna, propping up her elbow so she could rest her chin on her hand. "Well, it's hard to make a place safe from the fairyeld if you let them sleep there," she said with a smile. "As for how I do it? Well, it helps that Trilliah is the least useful town for them, so there aren't many here in the first place. I also don't advertise as much as other innkeepers, and the locals know better than to risk sabotaging a safe haven by talking loudly about it."

"But how do you make a living? Especially one that can afford breakfast for strangers?" Rienna asked.

"I try to be very self-sustaining. We have our own hens and vegetables, and I have contacts who sell me other necessities with a discount. And there are the sponsors. People who can spare the money will sometimes donate a few extra coins each month before taxes."

"Huh," Rienna said, taking a bite of bread. "That's very kind of them."

Agie nodded. "Lots of people here wish the fairyeld would leave." She stood upright again and looked at Rienna strangely. "I've never hosted someone from the Crystal Sorceress's realm before, so please excuse me if I accidentally offend you, but I'm rather curious about what someone like you could have done to cause so much ruckus." She crossed her arms and looked at Rienna like she was trying to solve a puzzle.

Rienna sighed. "I... caused a bit of trouble for them down at the mines," she said hesitantly. She didn’t know whether it was something she should keep secret, but this woman clearly wasn’t going to bring her any trouble.

Agie raised her eyebrows. "You were the one who blew up the caves?"

"Um, yeah? It blew up a lot more than I expected, though." Rienna shoved more food into her mouth before she said anything else.

"I was under the impression that it was a 'rival sorcerer,' though," Agie said. "Why'd you blow it up, anyway?"

Rienna thought for a moment, What should I tell her? Would the crystals want other people to know they exist? "The usage of the crystals was wrong," she said, deciding that even though she trusted Agie, she should keep her magic as secret as possible.

"Hmm," Agie said, turning back to the food and dishes.

A loud man came stomping down the stairs and up to the counter. He grabbed a plate and nodded to Agie. "Thanks," he said politely before turning and trudging right back up the stairs, plate in hand. Gone as quickly (and loudly) as he'd come.

"Who was that?" Rienna asked after a moment.

Agie turned back around and leaned back against the sink, still scrubbing a glass. "His name is Brullo, I believe. He's been here a week now. Probably from one of the mining towns. Most of my customers are. Plenty of people panic when their names appear on the mining lists," she shrugged. After a moment she asked, "What's it like inside the Bubble?"

"The Suppression?"

"If that's what you call it."

"Well, it's a lot darker than here. There isn't much sunlight," Rienna started. "And... Um...There's a lot of fires, everywhere, to help light people's ways."

"That sounds very odd," Agie said gently.

"It's pretty normal to us since it's all anyone really knows." Rienna finished off her last bite of food and brought the dish back to the counter. "Thank you. I really appreciate the food."

"Of course, dear. It's no problem," Agie said with a smile. "I know you said you were staying only for one night, but if you need to stay longer, you are welcome to."

"Thank you," Rienna said. She turned and walked back up the stairs to her room.

Rienna took up Agie's offer and spent the rest of the day resting, only taking breaks to plan ahead, consulting with Xio and Xia on where they should travel. They agreed that despite the dangers of the witch's forest, if they could follow a group of fairyeld back to Vieryen, it would be a lot quicker and not cost them as much food. They also hoped that they may have the opportunity to steal food from any group they may follow, as they were likely going to be transporting crops from 'the magical crop fields.'

She decided to store more magic in her crystal as well. She risked draining the majority of her magicka into it and was relieved to find that the pain the loss created was continuing to lessen the more often she drained into the crystal.

Not wanting to risk being caught by a fairyeld, she stayed inside the whole day, only really leaving her room for lunch and dinner or the bathroom. Agie continued to be generous, even offering Rienna a chance to bathe and giving her extra food for the cats. She didn't push Rienna any more on the subject of the mines or Vieryen, even when Rienna came down for dinner and stayed for an hour by the fire.

The next morning, Rienna packed up her stuff and made her bed. She tucked both crystals in the bottom of the bag beneath her meager supplies. Her main worry was having enough food to last the journey.

Downstairs, Agie had prepared a baked potato and some over-easy eggs for breakfast. Two boys, the ones she’d seen when the guards came, sat at a table eating their own versions of the breakfast. They looked alike, clearly brothers and possibly Agie’s own children. The loud man from before sat in the corner of the room, eating as well.

Rienna sat down at her usual table and began to eat.

The cats enjoyed the whites of the eggs, but refused to eat the yolk, Xio claiming that, "It was just not right." Surprisingly, they also ate some potato, though not that much. Fortunately, Agie came over with an extra scrambled egg as a supplement.

"Agie," Rienna finally said after she finished her food. "Do you know how often the guards travel from Westrikov to Vieryen?"

Agie looked up from her work. She thought for a moment. "I don't really know, actually," she said with a small frown. "I think about once a week? Why?"

Rienna leaned back in her chair to let Xia on her lap so she could start licking up the residue on the plate. "I'm hoping to get back to Vieryen. We don't want to go all of the way around the forest. We were thinking we could travel behind the guards and through it."

Agie frowned slightly. "You think you can remain unseen by the fairyeld?"

"Xia will keep us light on our feet and we think that they won't be expecting anyone," Rienna said promptly. She’d been worrying about the same thing, but she couldn’t imagine the guards noticing them if they stayed far enough away; Rienna herself was small, and the cats were practically invisible at a distance.

"How would you even get past that giant barrier?" Agie asked. "It can’t let just anybody through. You would be risking yourself too much. You're still only a child."

Rienna couldn’t help the spark of anger. "I have a plan! I have a crystal, one from the caves, that cancels out a portion of the Suppression. I will be able to get in long after they've entered."

Before Agie could respond, the other customer spoke up. Rienna had hardly noticed he was there up until that point; when he wasn't stomping around, he was very quiet. "You have a way into Vieryen?" he said, leaning forward.

"Um... Yes? Rienna said after a moment.

"I will come with you to Vieryen," he said suddenly. “And I can help keep you safe,” he added for Agie’s benefit.

"What?! Um..." She wasn't sure what to say. This wasn't what she had been expecting. "I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name!" She only remembered that it started with a B.

"I am Dabon," he said. That does not start with a B, Rienna thought. Though, it did sound familiar; she could swear she had heard it before. "I want to go to Vieryen. I've been waiting for a chance for some time."

"Hold up!" Agie interrupted. "You said your name was Brullo, now you're claiming to be the council member of Lofun?"

Oh! That guy! Rienna realized. Mina said he’s missing.

Agie crossed her arms and aggressively stared the man down. He held his hands up, displaying his palms. "I didn't know whether this place was as trustworthy as it is advertised when I gave you that name. I underestimated the repercussions for speaking out against the fairyeld during the Lofun council meeting, I could not risk giving my name!"

"And now you want to go to Vieryen? For what?! You gonna try and start a rebellion there too? What makes you think that would work? You couldn’t do anything here," Agie said, raising her voice.

"No! That would be foolish! 'Start a rebellion in Vieryen?’" He laughed without humor. "No. I plan to sabotage the fairyeld and learn what I can of their systems before returning."

Agie laughed right back at him, even Rienna frowned at what Dabon was suggesting. "You think that's not foolish? You fancy yourself a spy?" She stood suddenly and grabbed her dishes, bringing them to the sink. "Du er et midote," she said under her breath.

"Aye! Jeg er ikke et midote!" Dabon protested in Queltan. "Detter smart. Westrikov og Rufdand ikke liker craestilet og vi vjil passer den med planen min."

"Nei! Vi vjil ikke!" she said and they continued arguing in Queltan, rapidly speaking loudly and angrily. Agie gestured at Rienna multiple times and Dabon looked fairly disgruntled by the lack of support he was getting for his plan. The two boys watched the encounter intently, seeming to take in every word.

"Um... Excuse me?…” Rienna said. “Wait...What are you saying?” She watched helplessly as the two adults fought. “Hello?!”

Agie glanced over and sighed, turning to Rienna while shooting a warning glare at Dabon. "Sorry. Dabon will accompany you to Vieryen if you would like," she said, shooting a pointed look at the council member.

"Me, too!" the older boy jumped in, suddenly at their table too.

"What?!" Agie said. "Luke, no. You are not going to Vieryen!"

"I'm going, too!" the younger brother piped in.

"No! No. Absolutely not! Never."

"Why not?" Luke asked, crossing his arms.

"Because it's too dangerous, that's why!" Agie yelled exasperatedly.

"She is younger than me and she is going," Luke said pointing at Rienna. "If she can go, I can go."

"Agie," Dabon said gently, "I was doing much more dangerous things at his age. I'd make sure he is safe. Plus, he is almost grown; he could use some experience."

Age turned her glare back on Dabon. "Sending him into Vieryen isn't just 'some experience!' It’s the thing that you want to get experience for!" She looked just about ready to explode.

"Actually, I really don't think-" Rienna started to say.

"Mom, I want to help! Mick doesn't need to come, but I'm seventeen!" Luke cut in.

"Hey!" said the other boy, who must've been Mick.

"And I've already talked to him about this possibility. He's forming a resistance," Luke continued. "I know I can help."

"Luke," Dabon said with a wince as the boy's mother began fuming.

"Why, du litte kietchma!" she said, and basing off of the looks on everyone's faces, Rienna assumed she had cursed. "Du... Du..." She was so infuriated, she could hardly speak. "Leave! Get out of here, you can grab your stuff out of your room later, I just want you out of my house." She pointed at the door and waited for the man to leave. He hesitated and she yelled at him again. "Go!"

"Ma!" Luke protested.

"No!" she said, holding up her hand. "We will talk later."

"Luke, it's fine," Dabon said. "I'll go. I'll be back in an hour." He glanced at Rienna for a moment before leaving, letting the door swing close loudly.

There was a moment of silence as everyone watched Agie expectantly. Her hands were on the counter top in front of her and her head was hanging, her eyes shut. She took a deep breath and turned around to clean the dishes. No one else moved.

Finally, Luke tried to speak up, "Ma, jeg vjil-"

"Nei," Age stopped him. She took another breath and turned back around. "The animals still need feeding and the chores to be done. As soon as you finish your food, get to it! And Luke," she said, holding up a finger to silence him. "We will talk in half an hour."

"I want to talk now!"

Agie fixed him with a stern stare. "No. You do not want to talk to me now. I am giving you the courtesy of talking after I’ve had time to think." She turned her focus back onto the dishes.

Everyone was still for a moment. Then Luke spun around and stormed outside through the back door. Mick returned to solemnly eating his breakfast, and Rienna, unsure what to do, stayed in her seat staring down at her cats.

A moment later she looked up to find Agie grabbing her breakfast plate. She sighed and looked at Rienna and gave a strained smile. "Sorry about that. I'm not usually one to lose my temper, but..." She looked down. "As you seem to have found an enemy with the guard, I take it you understand somewhat the terror they have wrought, yes?"

"Yes," Rienna said meekly.

"As I thought," Agie said, then paused. "I am not keen to send my son into the 'monster's lair' so to speak. But you seem unafraid. An odd trait in a girl of such a young age. Perhaps you can explain more of Vieryen and the fairyeld? I don’t plan on letting Luke go,” she said, “but, I worry that he may just as well sneak off and join this 'resistance' anyway."

Rienna thought for a moment. "Well, the fairyeld aren't as prominent throughout Vieryen itself, and magic is limited in the Suppression, even Sovereign Jenni's, so she won't likely be there. However…" She paused again and Agie looked at her expectantly. "Most people don't realize that people exist outside of the Suppression. Anyone from outside would cause... confusion. I… I don’t know how anyone may react."

"Oh, deare," Age said softly. "Med, hva... Sorry. What about the fairyeld? What do you know about them?"

"Oh. Well, they're supposed to be hand picked by the Sovereign, but they're also supposed to be much more exclusive then it seems they are. All I really know is that they are the only ones who can get through the Suppression. Legally, at least."

"And the camps," Xio piped in.

"Right... and there are at least three active… um… slave camps out there," Rienna said with a wince. "A group from Rufdand should have come this way recently with rescued kids."

"Yes," Agie said quietly. "Mick was one of them. He was lucky, though. He was only there for a couple weeks before the rescue."

"Oh." Agie's anger made even more sense now. Rienna wondered whether Dabon had known of what happened.

"Yes…" Agie said, blinking a few times rapidly. The innkeeper took a deep breath and smiled warily at Rienna again. "Well, thank you. Good luck on your journey. When do you plan to leave?"

"I was thinking just before noon. Do you know what time it is?"

Agie nodded. "Just past ten, I think." She straightened her posture. "Well, I better get back to work. Let me know when you're leaving." She turned and returned to her spot in front of the sink, taking Rienna's plate with her.

Rienna stayed in the dining room with the cats and, as promised, Dabon returned an hour later at about half past eleven to retrieve his stuff. He didn't carry much, but he still sagged somewhat under the weight. He handed Agie a handful of coins and headed over to where Rienna sat.

"So, Rienna," he said with a strained smile. "Is it okay if I travel with you? It's entirely your choice," he added, glancing at Agie.

"Well, I'm leaving soon anyway… so, I guess you could come with?" Rienna said hesitantly. When she had talked with her cats, they had agreed it would be useful to be traveling with someone who had some money, even though they didn’t know how well they could trust Dabon yet.

His smile turned a little more genuine and he nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I have been looking forward to such an opportunity."

"Um, okay," Rienna said awkwardly.

The boy from earlier, Luke, came through from the back. "I'm coming, too," he said, holding a pack and lifting his chin high. "Also if you're fine with it, of course," he added, looking meaningfully at Rienna.

"Uh…" Rienna looked over at Agie who was standing at another table. She looked tired and worried, as she had been since she talked with her son not too long ago.

"Luke," his mother said pleadingly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," was the immediate answer.

Agie sighed and nodded at Rienna.

"Then I suppose so," Rienna said. She almost expected Mick to show up as well, but there was no sign of the younger brother. It was a good thing, too. They were already going to have enough trouble staying hidden with two extra people.

Luke burst into a grin that was directed entirely at his mother. "Well, let's go, then! I think we can make it to Melavi before nightfall."

Dabon glanced doubtfully at Rienna and her cats, but didn't speak any objection. Instead, he said, "Good. Are you ready to leave?" and looked at Rienna.

"Yes," Rienna said simply, standing up from her seat by the unlit fireplace. She waved at Agie and tried to give a kind smile. "Bye Agie! Thank you."

"You are welcome, Rienna. Good luck." She returned to her son. "Remember, if I don't see you again in a month, and you haven’t sent any indication that you’re alive, you will be confined to this house for the rest of your life when you return. When you return. One month." She tried to look stern, but there was a glisten of tears in her eyes.

Luke's smile faltered. "Yes, ma. I promise. Goodbye, and don't give Mick any of my stuff while I'm gone."

Agie choked a laugh. "Nei, ikken." She sniffled and waved them off. "Now, go. Before I change my mind or you are left in the middle of the wilderness at night."

Dabon nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Okay, guys, let's go.” He shifted his bags to higher up on his shoulder and strode towards the door. Rienna quickly shouldered her pack and rushed after him.

On the Road

Though he had hidden in the inn for a week, Dabon made no effort to conceal himself as he strode confidently down the road. Rienna supposed it could be a way of hiding in itself, keeping away from fairyeld interest by acting like you belonged. 

However, it seemed to Rienna that a middle aged man traveling with a young child from Vieryen, a teenager, and two cats, was not likely to be seen as 'normal.'

Instead, their fortune lay in the crowds and the time of day. It was about noon, so everyone was busy. Fishermen were selling their fish caught from earlier that morning, people were socializing through food and music, and it was hot. The few fairyeld in Trilliah seemed to be relaxing in the shade, probably boiling in their excessive armor.

Soon enough, Rienna was too; the heat was devastating. Her hair was already a tangled mess, but it became worse in the heat and covered Rienna's neck like a thick wool scarf. She was on the verge of taking out the knife Rildie had given her and sawing it all off so as not to give her any more trouble. Fortunately for her hair, she didn't think she should bring out a knife among her fellow travelers. So she endured and was just grateful she didn't have as much stuff as Dabon, who was beginning to look a bit strained.

"So," Dabon said with some forced cheerfulness. "What brought you out here anyway, Rienna?" They were leaving the populated area and all that was left in front of them was a wide dirt road and grassy fields.

Rienna contemplated how much she should tell him and whether she should really be concerned at all. "Well, my cats convinced me that we should go outside The Suppression, but then we got stuck."

"How did you end up in Westrikov, though? And, if you don't mind, why did you blow up the caves? It's all very strange if you ask me." The man's words were breathless and his face sweaty as he struggled with his bags. Somehow, he still managed to maintain a happy demeanor.

Rienna frowned for a moment, then realized he hadn't been in the room when she'd told her story to Agie. She kept it short and said, "I found my way to Rufdand and then here. On the way I learned about the caves. The crystals were being used for evil."

Dabon let out a short laugh. "Ain't that right."

He took a strained breath and winced as he shifted his bags. Rienna looked at him, worried. "Are you okay? Xia could make those lighter for you, if you'd like." Xia meowed in protest and huffed, seeming to show off her own tired paws. Rienna bent down to pick her up. "Here, I can carry you." She was already carrying Xio on her shoulder anyway.

Xia let out an annoyed sigh but began to work her magic. Dabon soon took a sigh of relief and looked at the cat in wonder. "You could've been doing this the whole time?"

"It does take energy to constantly keep things light," Rienna said. "Your stuff will have to turn back to normal eventually."

"Ah. Thank you anyway. I was not as wise as the two of you in bringing so little."

They continued west along the dirt path for hours, pausing to rest only when they reached a fork in the road that branched off towards Rufdand. As they continued onward, the few trees began casting long shadows and the sun was lowering to the point of being directly in their eyes.

There were no trees or buildings directly ahead when the sun finally hit the horizon, giving them a perfect few of the sunset. It was dramatic and unlike Rienna's few previous experiences of sunsets of beautiful golden glory. Somehow, this one felt like the sun was fighting to stay above the surface, refusing to disappear below the horizon.

But eventually it did sink into the ground and the world was plunged into darkness. Rienna couldn't help but feel a little scared of the oncoming night. Usually she wasn’t afraid of the dark, but the sun’s dying malice and her own exhaustion had put her in a mood of tired despair. What would they do if they couldn’t get to the town that night and find a place to sleep? Would they keep going until they did? Or would they stop and sleep on the road?

Rienna set Xia down and fished out her crystal, adding more magicka to it and causing it to glow even brighter. It easily lit the ground in front of her, even from her palm, and turned everything beyond into grey shadows and eventually back to blackness.

"Is that the crystal that opens The Suppression?" Dabon asked, startling Rienna who was lost in her imagination of dark monsters beyond.

"Hmm? Oh. No, this one is different," Rienna said. "The one to open The Suppression is much smaller."

"Isn't that the same color as the supposed 'rival sorceress's’ magic?" Luke said.

"That's probably where they got the idea from," Rienna said, her nerves spiking. She didn't think that revealing her magic would be a good idea. In fact, she worried that it would cause more harm for her than good.

"Ah, that makes sense," Dabon said. "And it was your cats that led them to thinking you had magic, too, wasn't it?"

Rienna nodded quickly. "Yep. That makes sense," she echoed.

Luke gave her a strange look but said nothing. They continued in silence under the dim, blue light of Rienna's crystal.

Soon the lights of buildings appeared up ahead and they all staggered up to an inn where Dabon claimed to know the owner. It seemed to be the truth, because once the innkeeper saw his face, they were quickly ushered to a dark room without so much as a word.

The lighting of a candle revealed a cellar with five sleeping areas marked with blankets and pillows. Dabon explained that they were planning to set up another haven like Agie had, except for in the case that many people needed shelter at once.

Like if they rebelled against the fairyeld.

Dabon and Rienna took the beds on the ends and Luke the one in the center, leaving an empty bed between each of them. Rienna wanted to stay awake but couldn't after such an exhausting day. Even the hard bed seemed comfortable enough to her, and the warmth of the cats only hastened her descent into slumber.

She dreamed she was back in the crystal cocoon. The storm was raging around her but she still felt the cold panes of crystal against her skin. This time, Xio was nowhere to guide her.

Lightning struck her boat moments before the unnatural tornado did and she was flung off her clumsy ship. She hit the roaring water with a hard splash. She struggled to breathe as the ocean thrashed around her. Salt burned the back of her throat and she tried to find her boat in the darkness.

She was hit hard by a giant wave and pushed mercilessly underwater. She tried to use her magic to save herself but felt only the confines of the crystal as she sank deeper and deeper into the water.

She had missed her chance to escape her dream. She was going to spend the rest of her life in the darkness of the ocean, trapped inside an invisible crystal at the bottom of the world.

She woke up with a quiet gasp, shivering in her cold, stone-hard bed. She tried to stay as noiseless as possible while trying to catch her breath. She felt as though she had been drowning, but knew it had only been a nightmare.

She realized with a jolt that Luke was awake and watching her suspiciously. He saw that she’d noticed him and spoke up in a quiet voice that was hardly louder than a whisper. "You were glowing. The same color as that crystal of yours." It was a statement, a simple observation, yet it felt like an accusation.

"I-I was?" Rienna stammered. She didn't know what to say. Should she sound confused? Shocked? She was shocked, and confused too, but she was mostly scared that he would find out that she had magic and that something bad would happen. 

Luke nodded and peered at her strangely. "You seemed to be having a bad dream," he added. He clearly didn't think that it was that important. "Why were you glowing?"

"I don't know," Rienna answered truthfully.

"Do you have magic?"

Rienna opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. Was there any way to convince him otherwise? Was she being paranoid in her insistence to secrecy?

"Why didn't you say anything about it?" Luke asked, taking her prolonged silence as a yes.

More silence.

Luke sighed. "Okay. I do not know why you are trying to keep it a secret, but I won't tell Dabon, for now." He lay down and faced away from Rienna. "Try not to glow so much, though. I can't sleep well with light."

Rienna wanted to say something. 'Thank you.' Even just 'okay,' but her mouth was refusing to move. Soon the silence had dragged on too long to say anything and she settled warily back onto the blanketed stone.

They left early the next morning, before the sun had truly risen. Rienna had been the last one to wake up and wished she could have slept at least another hour before they continued their travels.

Everything ached. Even her arms. Especially her arms. She hadn't felt it in the moment, but carrying Xia, even magically light as she was, had clearly taken its toll.

The town was dead compared to how Trilliah had been at this hour. Quiet figures hugged the edges of buildings like ghosts, and even the birds were absent.

There were very few fairyeld, likely why Dabon had insisted on them being up this early. The few that could be seen were either drowsy from staying up all night or from waking up early for morning shifts. No one looked at them twice.

At least, that's what Rienna thought.

Dabon on the other hand insisted that they were being followed. He said so quietly and with worried wrinkles forming on his face. "They are not a normal fairyeld," he said. "Any of them would have confronted us outright. Whoever this is is much subtler."

Rienna resisted the urge to ask what the word meant. It would be too embarrassing, and anyway, there were more important things to talk about.

"What do we do then?" she asked, shooting a glance behind them.

Dabon kept his voice low as he explained what he thought. He stared straight ahead as if everything was completely normal and they were only chatting. "They must be part of a secret part of the fairyeld who are trained for espionage. We should try to get rid of them. Who knows how long they will follow us before they report to someone and our plans to follow a shipment to Vieryen are ruined."

Luke nodded as if what Dabon had said was completely reasonable and made total sense.

Rienna was not so lucky. The way she saw it, Dabon had just spun a conspiracy theory about super stealthy, elite fairyeld and proceeded to say that they could somehow lose them. 

Then again, if this supposed spy program was as good as the regular fairyeld training program, they might actually have a chance.

Dabon suddenly turned a corner on the street and hauled them all into some poor merchant's shop. The owner looked at them bewildered as Dabon smiled and nodded politely before going towards the back door.

"Hey! Wait-" the shop keeper started to say, but the group was already back on the streets, weaving between houses and alleys.

Eventually, they started walking a normal straight route and waited for a sign that they were still being followed.

Nothing.

"Do… Do you think we lost them?" Rienna asked quietly. There was something eerie about the silence in the shadows. If she weren't already trying to stay unnoticed, she would have still felt compelled to keep a low profile in this part of the town.

"I think so," Dabon said. "I'm not seeing them."

"Huh," Luke said. "That was pretty easy." Rienna was inclined to agree. It certainly hadn't been too hard, despite all her worries. 

"Careful. Don't speak too soon," Dabon warned. "They could have upped their game, or gone off the alert the guard. Either way, they’ll likely know we’re here soon.”

Dabon's words hung in the air, chilling Rienna's soul. This could have been so much easier if she had just gone alone. If she had had the resources, she would have.

Probably.

If she hadn't wanted to upset anyone by declining the offer.

She sighed in resignation.

They silently marched towards the edge of town, where the caravans with shipments to Vieryen should be located. They soon spotted their target: a group of fairyeld loading carts and preparing bags with rations and essentials. Another group had also just arrived at Melavi from Vieryen, jauntily greeting their fellow fairyeld and removing many boxes of supplies, mostly pertaining to mining.

Rienna watched as some of the newcomers bearing crates of mining materials were laughed at and enthusiastically brought to speed on what had happened at the mines. They weren't necessarily happy at the news, but it was taken more as a juicy piece of gossip than anything else.

She wondered whether most of the fairyeld even knew the significance of the crystals. Based on what she had experienced of their greed, she was surprised she hadn't heard of guards trying to claim the power for themselves.

As the fairyeld dispersed and a couple of caravans departed for Vieryen, the group of travelers crept closer to the loading zone. Unfortunately it was still not deserted and seemed under close watch by a pair of guards on makeshift crate towers.

"We need a distraction," Dabon said after a moment. "And one that will last long enough for us to get far enough away to no longer be seen."

Rienna looked over at the pile of mining materials that the guards had left. "We could set that wagon on fire," she suggested. A little more sabotage couldn't hurt… so long as no one got close enough to be burned.

Luke gave her a strange look. "Do you often set things on fire?"

"No," Rienna said defensively

"Hmm… I guess that could work," Dabon said. "We should wait until the departing caravans are no longer in sight and won’t come back if they see the fire."

They all nodded in agreement and crouched further into the shadows of the building next to them.

After a couple of moments, Rienna stood and started sneaking towards the wagon. 

Dabon quickly grabbed the sleeve of her shirt and pulled her back. "What are you doing? I'm not having you set the fire. Give me the matches," he said.

"Why can't I do it?" Rienna asked. She had no matches, only magic that she hoped to use once she was far enough away to not be seen by her companions.

Dabon looked at her like she was insane. She didn't blame him. "Because, even if you were not vital to us getting into Vieryen, you are a child for gods' sake. And if that weren't enough, Agie would kill me if she found out, and she's needed if we want any successful revolution."

"Well, why can't you use your own matches?" Rienna asked with desperate defiance.

"What? Why can't I-" Dabon stopped and glared, clearly very confused. "I don't have any matches. Luke doesn't either."

"Well, you can't use mine."

Before Dabon could say any more in response, Luke seemed to realize Rienna's problem. He grabbed Dabon's shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

Dabon hesitated, looking between the two younger people. Finally, he sighed angrily. "Just don't hurt yourself," he said sternly to Rienna. He turned and put his hand to his forehead. "Detter azie," he mumbled to himself in Queltan.

Relieved to not have to reveal her secret, though wondering what Luke had said, Rienna continued sneaking towards the wagon. It was easy enough; the guards on watch were uninterested in the pile of useless supplies.

Behind the wagon, she lifted a finger and focused her magicka into a hot flame that burned into the wood of a crate. Soon the wood caught fire and began to spread, prompting Rienna to dart back behind a building and make her way back to her fellow travelers.

By the time she got back, half of the wagon was already up in flames. Some of the townsfolk started to notice and began crowding around to see the fire better, keeping a distance and doing nothing to help.

The flame flicked over to more wooden crates. With a jolt, Rienna recognized the symbol on one of the untouched ones. "Uh! Let's get farther back!" she said quickly, grabbing her cats and rushing backwards in the alley.

"What?" Dabon said, looking between Rienna and the crates, confused. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Ay, nei..." he said. "Quickly, Luke!" He grabbed the boy’s wrist and pulled him farther away from the scene.

They quickly hid behind a building further down the street and peeked out to watch the fire. Guards were yelling, but gratefully none went close to the burning mess. Everyone watched with anticipation as the flame reached the explosives and began eating away at the surrounding crate.

The moment the fire got through the wood, the wagon exploded.

Pieces of wood flew far, even all the way to the building the party was hiding behind. People screamed and yelled as smaller fires caught on nearby crates, banners, and small vendor stalls. And, Rienna realized with a sick feeling, as pieces of charcoal and wood found their way to guards and bystanders.

Suddenly Rienna was being tugged away from the sight and into the chaos. One of her companions began to yell at her. "Hurry! We need to run while they’re still distracted!"

Rienna stumbled and began sprinting after Luke and Dabon along the road leaving Melavi. She felt Xia's power start to work on her and she practically flew out of the town, shouts beginning to fade into the background.

A while later, she huffed to a walk and looked behind her. She was relieved to see that while the fires continued, they appeared to be contained. Guards and townsfolk alike rushed around, stomping out lingering fires and hurling water at charred banners and signs. Overall, to Rienna's relief, it seemed like nothing would be too badly damaged.

A few minutes later, the caravan they had watched leave came into view. It moved along at about walking speed, bright purple banners standing out against the green landscape.

The group slowly followed the guards, walking off the path and staying behind hills and bushes. The caravan was a fair way away, but they didn't wish to risk the caravan noticing they were being followed.

A long, meter high stone wall came into view, stretching far forward and backwards along the road and beyond. At periodic intervals, watchtowers sprung up from the wall, looking outwards towards Vieryen and inwards to the four towns.

When they paused for lunch, divvying up half of their food supplies, Xio jumped onto Rienna's knee with a little squeak. "How much longer?" he asked, still panting slightly. "I's very tired."

Rienna nodded in agreement. "I know. I’m sorry but we can't stop until the fairyeld do; we need to be able to steal supplies if we're going to make it to Vieryen," she explained. "I don't know when they'll set up camp."

Xio wobbled dramatically. "I can go no more! I so exhausted that my paws are like the dough!"

Rienna rolled her eyes slightly and lightly pet the kitten's head. "If you'd like, you can continue on my shoulder again, or hang out in my pack. There will be plenty of room for you now that our food is almost used up."

Xio purred quietly at Rienna's touch "Yes, I wills sleep in da pack. Much more not hard than balance on your shoulders. Just don't be very a bumpy." Xio’s translating skills seemed to get a little wonky when he was tired.

Rienna smiled gently and suppressed a laugh. "Let's get you set once we start moving again."

They quickly finished lunch and continued along the road towards where they knew the caravan would be, Xio now in Rienna's pack and everyone's stomachs satisfied for the time being. With the caravan no longer in sight, they could precede quickly and without difficulty.

The sun fell from its peak once more and they reached the end of the stone wall. From their spot high on a hill, they could see a small moving speck on the road and a hint of purple near the horizon. Not far after the caravan a forest loomed, dark and daunting. Trusten Ylad’s forest.

By the time they walked over the next crest, the caravan had stopped just before the forest. The air had turned chilly, but Rienna was still sweating from exertion and Dabon too, looked like he was ready to collapse. Luke, while tired, was the only one who seemed to be relatively unfazed.

They put down their stuff and set up their camp, if you could call it a camp. They had blankets and food and were without shelter, so all they could hope for was a clear, warm night with little weather change. They couldn't even set up a fire without alerting the fairyeld.

Once they were set, they worked to form a plan. They needed to steal food from the caravan without being noticed, but also enough to serve as dinner and breakfast. They all agreed that only one person should go, but they couldn't agree on who.

"I will go," Dabon insisted. "I can carry the most."

"No you can't," Luke said. "You barely made it here. You are too tired. I should go."

"I could go," Rienna offered.

"No," Luke and Dabon said in unison. Even Xia gave a meow of protest.

"Okay, then," Rienna mumbled dejectedly.

"I will go. And that is it," Dabon said firmly.

Luke shook his head again. "You're too old! They have a watch set up. You would be too loud."

Xia meowed agreeably.

"I can't let you get caught," Dabon said. "Even if there's less risk in sending you, your mother would kill me, very, very literally this time. Absolutely no way I’m coming back from that."

Xia meowed again, more insistently this time.

"What is it, cat?" Dabon said, annoyed. Rienna shot him a glare that he didn’t notice.

Xio stepped forward hesitantly. "My mom says she will get the foods."

Dabon huffed a disbelieving laugh. "She can carry even less!"

Xia meowed indignantly and Xio translated. "She says she's the best choice since she can see in the dark and make things lighter." He glanced warily back at his mother, but continued. "She's also stealth because small and can escape easy if caught."

"Oh," Dabon said, bringing his hand to his chin. "That’s perfect, actually. She doesn't need light to see, and her magic will let her grab as much as me or you, Luke." He knelt in front of the cat. "How long do you think you'd take?" he asked, glancing at Xio for an answer.

"Half an hour at the most," Xio supplied as his mother responded. "She says she would wait until it is completely dark, though."

"Great," Dabon said. "Thank you." He stood and turned to Rienna and Luke. "The cat will get the supplies."

Rienna frowned but didn't protest.

Luke just nodded and sat down on his blankets to watch the glow coming from the caravan.

Stars began to appear in the sky, and soon after, Xia left, quickly melting into the night. Any warmth gathered during the day finally left and Rienna shivered under her blankets as she stared at the stars. She was comforted by the weight of Xio on her chest as she worried for Xia.

The moon rose in the south-east, in the direction of Westrikov. Rienna was surprised to see a crescent shape instead of a full circle. It almost looked as though a bite had been taken out of it. She knew this couldn't be true; the moon was supposed to be a giant rock, according to Jen. So what could have changed it so dramatically?

She gathered her courage and spoke up. "What happened to the moon?

"What do you mean?" Luke's voice said.

Rienna furrowed her brow. "I mean, why does it look like it got eaten?" And should I be really, really worried? she thought.

Luke laughed quietly and Dabon joined in, to Rienna's annoyance. "It’s okay, the other part of the moon is still there, you just can't see it."

"The moon goes through phases where it seems to shrink and grow," Dabon added. "I take it you never learned this in Vieryen?"

"No," Rienna said, embarrassed.

"Well, I guess you would have no reason to," Dabon said after a moment.

No one said more until Xia returned. A small parcel hung from her jaws and a somewhat larger sack hung in the air beside her. There were no signs of trouble from the caravan in the distance, only the flickering of a fire could be seen.

She dropped her loot gently on the ground in front of the humans and let out a soft meow.

"She gots some food. No one was seen her," Xio said.

"Wonderful!" Dabon exclaimed, enthusiastically hopping up from his seat to inspect the findings. He opened the sack and dug around a bit. He nodded. "Yes, good. Good. Salted meats, some bread. I think we should be set for the rest of the journey!"

Xia nodded sagely and padded over to where Rienna was sitting. With a purr, she crawled into the girl's lap and settled down for sleep.

"Hi," Rienna said. "Thank you."

Xia mewed and gently rubbed her head against Rienna's arm. She purred and laid her head down, signaling it was time for everyone to get some rest. 

Tomorrow, they would enter the forest.