A Nightingale's Tale

Chapter Twenty

The cold water woke her, as she began to slide past her nose in the bathwater. She tried to take a breath, but her nose and mouth filled with water, she coughed and jumped up, water splashed onto the dirt floor. She shivered naked in the copper bathtub. She had been asleep for a while, it seemed. Her heart ached with the loss of Edna but was revived with a new ferocity to find Arabella and keep her safe. She couldn’t let herself fall into despair or she would never find her.

There were new clothes laid out on a chair beside the tub, Sofia’s blue sweater and a pair of jeans. She touched the soft cashmere, it was Sofia’s favorite sweater. She slid the clothes on her damp body and squeezed water out of her hair. She needed to be near a fire to warm up. Killian, Sofia, Lyon, Simon, Oliver, Helen, Henry, Braun, Edgar, Annora, Frei, Meredith, and Willow stood around one of the larger campfires. They were trying to keep their voices down.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Sofia said.

“You have no say in any of this. You aren’t going anywhere,” Killian said

“And, why not?” Sofia said.

“Because we aren’t going there at all!” Lyon said.

“I agree with Lyon,” Annora said.

“It’s our only option, though,” Willow said, and Henry agreed.

She looked at them, all these very different, creatures she had grown to care for. She couldn’t fight the feeling though, that Onyx wasn’t lying. She started to notice the cuts and bruises that were fading on everyone, even Sofia. She had a large scar on her arm in the shape of a dog that Lydia always assumed was from birth. But now she thought, a brand maybe? Lyon looked as true to form as she imagined a thief, or worse, would wear. Willow was regal, but she hadn’t been with them long, or so she had said. She had noticed before the cuts above Killian’s ears like he had been cutting his hair with a dull knife. Could it have been from something else? Helen, the gentle giant, was covered all over with small pock marks like tiny stab wounds. Was she only noticing these flaws now that Onyx had said something, or had she always noticed them, but they had meant little to her? Even if Onyx was right, what was she going to do? Say something to them? If it was true she could easily be killed for even asking, she truly didn’t know these people. And if they weren’t, she would be offending them for even believing them to be such awful things and they could send her off without any information in Arabella. After she found Arabella, they were going to leave anyway. She only needed them to be on her side for a little longer.

“What are you talking about?” Lydia said as she came into their view.

“Oh great, she’s awake,” Lyon said. Sofia elbowed him in the side.

“I was about to come and wake you. You just seemed exhausted, so I let you sleep,” Killian said while coming to her.

“Thanks, and thanks for the clothes,” She said to Killian then Sofia.

“Of course, and you should eat something,” Sofia said.

“No, I’m fine. What are we doing next?” Lydia said.

“Lydia, you’ve had a rough day…” Killian started.

“Where are we going next?” Lydia insisted.

“We aren’t going anywhere until Lyon tells us where this swamp person is,” Henry said. Lydia smiled at him.

“I’m not going….” Lyon said

“No, one asked you too. I just need a map. And, honestly, I should just go alone. Completely alone,” she said as she looked at Killian.

“What are talking about? Of course, I’m coming,” Killian argued.

“I don’t think you should, any of you.”

“Lydia, you aren’t going by yourself,” Killian said.

“I’m coming also,” Sofia said.

“What? No, you need to stay here and help everyone,” Lydia said.

“I’ve healed everyone that I can. What do you think I’ve been doing while you all have been running off to the city?”

“I can't let you do that,” Lydia said.

“It's not up to you,” Sofia said.

“Killian, this is ridiculous,” Lydia said, “You all are acting like this is no big deal. Do you have any idea what’s coming next? When I finally find out where she is, which might not even happen, I have to rescue her. Do you know what that means? No, of course, you don’t. How could you? I’m going to have to fight whoever is keeping her there and hope I can take them down before they kill me.”

“You think I don’t know that? Why do think I want to come with you? You can't do this on your own. You may think you're indestructible, but I assure you, you aren’t. You cannot do it alone. Why is getting help from anyone such a challenge for you?” Killian yelled.

“Because I’ve never needed anyone.”

“No, you’ve never had anyone, there’s a difference.”

“You’re one of us, you’re just as much family,” Sofia said.

The people that all rallied behind her to help her in her most trying time, couldn’t have been criminals, she thought. But then again, even if they were, she didn’t care. She was no less of a criminal herself for the things she had done and would do very soon.

“I can't let you risk your lives for someone you barely even know,” she said, trying for one last argument to persuade them to stay behind.

“You aren’t, we’re choosing this with you.” Helen said.

“Lyon, where is he?” Sofia yelled at him.

“I’ll draw you a map, but I can’t make promises…” Lyon began.

“Lyon, we need your help more than you know. Please, just come with us,” Sofia said.

“We’re in this together,” Camille said.

“Together,” Braun agreed.

“Killian, you can't be serious?” Lyon said.

“Fine, Lyon, if you don’t want to come you don’t have to. I always thought you loved getting into danger in the other realm, but I guess when it’s here, you can’t handle it. We’ll be gathering supplies. Have the map ready by the time we're done.”

Killian prepared some food for the road while the others put together make-shift armor and weapons. If they had been criminals, they didn’t look like it in that moment.

“Everyone ready?” Killian said.

Lydia giggled to herself when she saw her misfit group of warriors. Simon, Camille, Braun, Willow and the others had fastened random pieces of metal to themselves to for makeshift armor. Camille wore a bucket on her head that kept slipping over her eyes. The others were still attaching random bits of metal and kitchen supplies to themselves. There were no other people she would rather be heading to battle with more. However, she had no intentions of letting any of them getting near armed Guardians. If the man in the swamp had any real information she would come up with a plan to get separated from them and do it on her own. There was no way she would let one of them get hurt for her mistake, never again.

“Let’s do this,” Lydia said.

They all cheered and raised broken sword, sticks, and pans in the air as weapons.

“Lyon, we need the map,” Killian yelled at his tent.

“No, you don’t,” he said emerging.

“Lyon, we need the map to find…”

“I’m coming.”

“Really, you don’t have to,” Lydia said.

“Unfortunately, Lydia I do. Me, you, Killian, and Sofia are the only ones that can go.”

“What, why?” Camille protested.

“Are you going to put huge centaurs in the bed of the truck, no offense Braun, and Frei. We have to drive.” Lyon sighed, swung a satchel over his shoulder, and headed to the truck.

“It's ok, we’ll be fine,” Killian said to the disappointed group.

“Be safe,” said Helen. They all waved goodbye.

“Thank you,” Lydia said to her friends and went off to find the magic man of the swamp.