As unknown eyes watch every move, vague memories of her life before remain just out of Mina’s grasp.
This chapter is free to read. Signup for free below to receive our alerts for future signup-only chapters.
Read the previous chapter, or start from the Prologue.
♫♪Suggested Music: on AudioNetwork
Little was said from then until they stopped an hour later for the night. The evening sun was sinking lower, but Yuila pleaded with Mina to help her pick raspberries from the thorny bushes near their camp. Mina consented, even as a bout of nausea passed over her. She fought it off, and felt better until after their supper of jerky-style meat and the red berries.
The next wave of queasiness was more persistent, but she refused to go into the woods. She sat against a tree as night fell, swallowing what she was sure to be blood and stomach acid, watching Yuila add bits of twigs to the small fire Edvard had made.
She looked up as he stepped near her with a canteen.
"Are you going to be all right?"
She nodded shakily as he sat beside her, opened the canteen, and handed it to her. She wished he had told her it was wine before she took a drink. She swallowed quickly, coughing.
"It's not strong, Mina. Even Yuila drinks it."
"I thought it was water."
"Sorry for that."
She pulled the blanket closer around her shoulders. "How far to Pantia?"
"Another day or two." He looked to her feet. "We need to get you some shoes. You can't go without."
She nodded and frowned as Yuila cast them a glance, then wandered into the woods. Mina noticed Edvard took no mind.
"Did someone leave you in the woods, Mina?"
She drew her feet closer and covered them with the blanket. "No. I just got lost."
"From where did you get lost?"
She could hear the frustration in his tone. "I don't know, Edvard."
He gave her a dubious look. "So you don't know where you belong, but you're quite sure you're not married, or a slave, or—"
"Yes." She looked up as a shatten alighted on a branch across from the fire. "That bird's been with us all day."
"It's a shatten. They're all over the place. It's not the same one." He looked into the darkness beyond the bird to where Yuila had gone. "It's just hanging around waiting on some food."
She sighed as he threw a twig at the bird and it flew off. "Where did Yuila go?"
"To meditate. She'll be back soon."
Even as he spoke, the younger girl returned, looking drained and a bit pale. She settled next to Mina and fumbled with her own blanket. She rolled into it and within moments, was asleep in a curled ball.
"How long have you been traveling together?" Mina asked as Edvard rose to his feet.
"About four days." He sorted through a saddle bag he had taken from the mule, pulling a long tunic from it. He dropped it into her lap. "Cover up your feet."
She thanked him and wrapped the heavy woad blue shirt over her feet. He disappeared into the darkness where she knew the horses to be. Beside her, Yuila murmured something in her sleep, then tugged at Mina's blanket. She shared part of her blanket with the younger girl, settling against the tree into a more comfortable position. At least the wine had diminished the spasms her stomach had developed since she ate the berries.
She glanced to where Edvard had gone. Despite all she had learned of his family, she knew very little of where she was, and who Edvard and Yuila were.
PG13, saga; teen, fantasy, non-Sci-Fi world travel, teen romance, clean romance, realm, magical realism, shadow world, school/new school, high school. #ReadFree with free signup. ♫♪
Future chapters may require a paid subscription (when available). Signup for free now and join us!
Thanks to P.G. Waters for the use of her story!