Land of the Moon

Chapter 3

Though we had sat and drunk with Daniel way into the night though he and Ema did most of the talking. I observed and listened to the chatter in the room finding out that most of the travelers were coming here from taking a pass at the base of the mountain then traveling on instead of too and through the Dark Mountain themselves. So, for the time being, we would be staying in Sage village. I looked out the window at the Dark Mountain watching as the clouds caressed the peaks into hiding. Sage Village, this village got its name from the sage plant that grew in abundance in the area especially at the base of the Dark Mountain. Today though the sky’s held no hint of rain except for in the Dark Mountain itself.

Ema was still asleep upon her bed of mats with a top made from a giant cloth stuffed with cotton, she was snuggled into a ball under her blanket. She and Daniel had talked about many things because the drinks had made Daniel's tongue a bit lose, and saying sweet words to Ema. I smiled remembering the rosy blush that arose on her cheeks though she blamed it on her accidental taste of the ale. I am glad that she enjoyed herself with all that she has been through. What I had planned for the day would be delayed so that Ema could rest up, since it would be a spell before we would sleep in any kind of bed again. 

Not long after I had returned to our room with breakfast Ema began to stir under her blanket. “Ema are you hungry or are you going to continue to sleep?” She just curled tighter into a ball in response to my question. I shook my head and set down the tray of food. I picked up an apple and started to cut it into slices adding it to the porridge to give some small flavor to it. When I finished Ema had sluggishly sat up and started to get out of bed. “Good morning sleepy little princess how is your head feeling this morning?” I asked her in a soft voice.

“It hurts a bit and I still feel a little fuzzy but it will pass, I'm sure. I don’t know how I got ale when I was drinking water.” Ema let a small sigh escape as she slowly made her way to the small table. “Thank you for getting breakfast Cecily and letting me sleep in. I know we need to find a group to head over the Dark Mountain with. If we don’t find anyone soon we will be forced to make the journey alone so we are not stuck here for long.” She gave a small smile as she grabbed an apple slice and started to nibble at it. “So what is the plan for today?” She winced a little as I'm sure her head hurt from the small amount of talking we were doing.

“Well, I thought you might like to explore the village as we plan our next step. And we can replenish our supplies as well. I think it would be fun for you as well to be able to look around and have a little relaxation right now.” I smiled as I began to cut up another apple. We sat in silence for the rest of our meal, watching as the sun slowly seeped into our room giving us a small taste of its warmth. As the pain in Ema’s head started to slowly leave her. “We will stay here at the Inn while we are in this town. If you start feeling uncomfortable, I will find us another place to stay until we leave. Remember to always listen to your instincts, Ema.” I looked at her as I bit into an apple slice of my own.

“I will Cecily. Thank you for always giving me advice and reminding me to be aware of my surroundings. Thinking back on how I used to be I have come far and have probably picked up some skills and tricks my father would not have wished for me to learn. Though I wish all of this would cease as  it is leaving so many in grief, as well as bringing about hatred.” Ema swiped at the few tears sliding down her cheeks. “No matter what we could try to prevent this, I know we would not be able to change the fate of our country. I just wish that we wouldn’t have to go through this darkness. I remember some of the stories from the old priest that the land had faced war, fire, and so much more before it was able to come to peace. It just seems like it is a never-ending cycle we are in, of war and bloodshed before we get a time of peace.” She whispered as she finally had finished up her breakfast.

I handed Ema a small cloth to wipe her eyes and nose on. She is wise for her age though having that good head on her shoulders has helped her get through this, and will help her further on in our journey and in her own journey of life. “I know it may seem like a never-ending cycle of war and peace but in those times of war, you also have to understand what they are going to war over. It is not always land and power. There are times it is to fight for one’s freedom from a cruel lord. Or to strike out and fight for your home because someone wishes to have it for their own gain and slaughter you for it. There are many reasons why nations and people go to war. It may not always be right or seem just, but you need to know yourself, believe in yourself, and know what it is you want to fight for in your life to keep it safe.” I gave Ema a smile before standing up. “ Are you ready to go and explore Sage Village? It will help you take your mind off of things for now.” Giving a small smile Ema walked over to get her boots on so we could leave. 

When we stepped out of Rose Thorn Inn the sun had already started to warm the village and chase the shadows into their small crevices for the day. Ema led the way first to a baker then on and passed others. The sun was high in the sky when Ema’s stomach started to growl for food. Thankfully we were not far from a small food stall selling meat pies. We stopped by and bought a few with the small coin we had limited to spending here in Sage. We stopped and wandered around a few more shops picking up a new water bag and pack to carry the few belongings we had. Before we leave we would pick up any food we might need to hold us over before we would have to hunt. Hopefully, we will make it through the Dark Mountain before it comes to that. Shifting out there would not be safe for either of us.

We were sitting at a table near the window in the Rose Thorn Inn watching as the sunset throwing its red and gold rays of sunset into the room coloring the walls. As we sat and drank waiting for our meal we listened to a room full of people talking and laughing. I watched as Ema let out a calming breath. I could tell she was concentrating on letting the room full of noise fade away so she could listen for anything that should stand out. I gave her a small smile once she was done, she was learning quickly though life on the run if you did not learn quickly you would surely die. 

Instead of the boy who served us last night we had a young woman serving us, she was not too young she looked to be a few years older than Ema perhaps twenty years or so. She must have been used to working here for a time, for she ignored the whistles and smacked the hands that reached out to touch her. After our meal instead of listening to see if there was any news of anyone traveling our way, we returned to our room and turned in early. 

Ema awoke throughout the night from fitful dreams. Her fears were making themselves known in her sleeping hours. When she awoke the fifth time that night I left my bed and walked over and had her lay her head in my lap. Like many times when we were younger and she had nightmares, I would sit like this. While I slowly ran my fingers through her long hair relaxing and helping her to sleep again. My oversized sleeping shirt kept me warm as I sat up through the night helping Ema to sleep again. It was not long when the sun started to peep into our room slowly pushing back the darkness. A yawn escaped me as I watched the sun slowly start to rise above the trees.

Very gently I moved, setting Ema’s head back down on her pillow and tucking her blanket snuggly around her. Thinking to myself that it would be good for her to get some actual rest now that her nightmares are no longer playing with her fears. I got out the small white rock crystal from my pack after I had pulled on my clothes, whenever I needed to leave a message for Ema I would use this. This rock crystal Ema and I  had fused with our magic. So all we would have to do is whisper our message into it and leave it for the other. Whenever the rock crystal had a message it would change from white to a light blue. 

“Ema I am going out for a bit, I will return before breakfast,” I whispered to the rock before I set the message crystal on the small table beside the bed then slipped quietly out of the room. The village was slowly waking to the morning sun when I stepped out of the Rose Thorn Inn. I could smell fresh bread baking from the baker's store down the way to my left and I could hear metal being pounded upon at the smiths across the way on my right. I smiled as the sun started to warm my face with its early morning light. The fresh morning air helped to calm me. I knew it would not be long before someone found out that the attack on the royal carriage was staged. Once word got out that she was out in the world Ema would be in even more danger. We were racing against time itself.

As I walked towards the north of town I saw a few of the leaves in the trees that had begun to change color. Fall was coming and that meant that winter would soon be upon us. We had to find a small group to travel through the Dark Mountains with soon or risk going it ourselves. I could take no chances of us being trapped in this village because of the snows or worse up in the mountains during the winter. While walking back to the Inn I spied a small group in the bakers, it looked as though they were a small group of hunters. I slipped into the shadows between the Taylors store and the Inn. There were many types of hunters right now; Demon Hunters, Vampire Hunters, Were-Hunters, Bounty Hunters, and Monster Hunters. 

I focused my sense of hearing on the bakers letting the rest of the noise become a small buzz in the background. From their conversation, I gathered that they were Monster Hunters stopping in to resupply before heading over the Dark Mountain to a small town called Pirn. The town seemed to be tormented by something stealing away young girls. They would rest in Sage Village for the night before continuing on to Pirn Town. This would be our best chance through the Dark Mountain, though I know Ema will want to keep traveling with them to help them on their quest. She always wanted to help others.

I quickened my pace up the steps to our room to give Ema the news. When I opened the door Ema was just slipping on her boots. “Were you able to get a peaceful sleep?” I asked her as I closed the door behind me. Ema nodded with a smile. I told her of the Hunters that I saw on my way back to the Inn. That they were probably the only people to be traveling our way for a while. “Let us go and get some breakfast before your stomach gets any louder.” I smiled and she agreed not even trying to hide her own smile as her stomach rumbled again.

When we entered the dining area for breakfast I saw the small group of Hunters sitting at two tables by the corner of the room. It looked as if the few residents in the room were keeping their distance from them as well. I caught Ema glancing at them, a young man in particular with his hood still on. He must have had long hair because there were small strands that had slipped to the front of his hood. I studied Ema as she took a seat so she would be facing in their direction. She was so focused on them that when the server came to ask us what we wanted it startled her a bit. Ema then noticed that I was watching her with a small smile. “Why are you staring at me like that?” She asked me.

“You seem to have found someone that has piqued your curiosity,” I replied back never taking the smile from my face.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Cecily.” Ema turned to look out the window. While still casting sidelong glances at the Hunters. 

Our meal arrived shortly after, there was no long wait since there were not many patrons in the dining area. Daniel the peacekeeper of Sage Village entered the dining area, we watched as he walked over to the Hunter's table. He was talking to the man that could have been like a brother. Their body type was similar, both big and muscled as well as the facial hair. Though the stranger Daniel talked to was much shorter as well as his skin color to Daniels. It was darker and not just from being out in the sun. I watched his reflection as he stood there talking to them, Ema’s eyes widened a little when he pointed towards our table. Her eyes shifted to me worrying about what he may be saying about us. I slowly breathed in and out showing Ema that she should do the same to calm herself and not jump to conclusions. 

By the time we finished our meal, Daniel was finishing up his business with the Hunters. He caught us as we were walking out of the Inn. “Ladies do you have some time to spare, I would like to discuss some things with you.” He asked us while glancing from Ema to me. Ema glanced at me and I gave her a small nod to reassure her it was fine. She agreed and we followed Daniel down to the little jail, his office was upstairs. It was a decent size room with some bookshelves and a wooden desk that sat near a wall with good sized windows, to let in the light from the sun. He motioned for us to sit in a couple of cushioned chairs facing his desk. Daniel cleared his throat before he began, “you told me that you two are traveling south. And you have to cross the Dark Mountain for that which can be quite dangerous especially for a traveler or two, even more so for two women.” He raised his hands up to hold off Ema’s comment. “Now I'm not saying you two can't handle yourselves or anything like that. I don't know if you have noticed the group that was eating in the Rose Thorn just now, but they are a group of Hunters. They are traveling south as well. I did mention to them that you two were traveling the same way and were trying to find a group to travel through the Dark Mountain with.” Ema and I glanced at each other as Daniel continued on informing us that the Hunter's agreed to let us travel with them. As well as telling us that he told them we knew healing magic.

We thanked Daniel once again before stepping out onto the porch. Ema was smiling, happy that we would soon be on our way again.