Call of Ring(Compleled)

25 The Plain of Aeryn

         Blake woke to the first light. The princess was still asleep, but the surviving servant was awake now. He was only a few yards away, tending to a morning fire with a spear fully clutched in his right hand. The fire was serving two functions. It was brewing some coca leaf tea, and simultaneously providing flame to cook fish. As Blake made eye contact with the servant, the servant bowed slightly signaling a gesture of respect. But his face bore both a look of quiet sorrow and contemplative gratitude.

         “He must be grateful to be alive, but also mourning the loss of his fellow servant,” Blake thought to himself.

         Blake rose to his feet, and as he looked toward the pool of water, he noticed that the water had somehow returned to a piercing blue color. On the shore, he noticed a rotting carcass of that awful large fish like an animal from the night before. It was mostly a skeleton now. The servant must have salvaged whatever flesh he could glean for cooking. Blake then noticed a pile of earth that had been disturbed over by the large rocks. A mound of dirt was visible. The servant must have pulled his comrade from the water, or whatever was left of his body. He had given him a proper burial.  

         “I’m sorry for your loss,” Blake said in an empathetic tone.

         “Thank you for your kindness,” replied the servant. “Thank you also for saving my life, and for healing my leg. That was incredible!”

         “You’re welcome. I’m learning more and more each day,” Blake replied still shocked by the effect of the wood element he had somehow sensed and acted upon.

         Blake looked back at the sleeping beauty of the princess. The servant poured three cups of tea. It was Blake’s turn to wake Sophie and help to cure what was sure to be a hangover on her part. Blake leaned over her petit body and gently touched her on the shoulder that this time was covered by her gown.

         “Good morning my beautiful princess,” he said softly.

         “Sit up and have some coca leaf tea.”

         “Good morning to you too, my handsome prince charming,” she replied a half-smile and groggy voice.

         “How could she be so beautiful, at her first waking moment?” he wondered.

         It was the first time she had complimented him on his looks, but surely he wasn’t fit to be called a prince. The three of them sipped their teas. They also ate some fish.

         “We should continue our journey so we can hit the Plain of Aeryn as soon as possible. I’m hoping it won’t be much further,” said Blake.

         Princess Sophie and the servant didn’t reply with words, but they listened intently as Blake continued to speak.

         “We should take turns washing up at the pool, but we shouldn’t risk immersing ourselves in it for a full bath for obvious reasons.”

         “I’ve already been in for a full bath while you both slept. But I did so willingly risking my life to retrieve my comrade’s body. To be honest, I would have been okay to die along with him,” declared the servant.

         “It’s normal to feel these things after such a horrific tragedy. We’re glad you’re still with us. We will need you for this next part of the journey,” Blake replied.

         Blake wandered down to the pool of water, inspecting it carefully before he stepped in. Princess Sophie was right behind him, and she followed him in. They both splashed themselves, wetting their heads, faces, hair, and arms. They also rubbed their legs up to their knees. The servant looked on with his spear still clutched in his right hand. Both their gowns had gotten wet with the water, but they weren’t fully soaked. Blake was secretly thankful that this world held a tradition of women dressing in white gowns. He stared at Sophie’s body but tried to do so without being noticed by her.

         “Well, we should go now, before I prove to be too much more of a distraction for you,” she said with a smile that seemed to be reading his mind.

         Blake was now blushing again, but he was able to respond, “I’m sorry. What you suggest is a necessary idea.”

         Princess Sophie replied in a whisper, “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad that you seem to be enjoying what you are looking at.” She winked again, and the left the pool of water.

         As soon as they safely exited the water, the servant left his post and readied the horses. He had already filled the water jugs earlier in the day, presumably as they slept.

         Before mounting his horse, Blake looked back once again at the scene of the oasis. A cluster of seeds caught his eye, high up in one of the palm trees. Blake picked up a rock and chucked it at the tree. Something fell to the ground. He picked it up and returned to his horse. Blake plucked a few round seeds from the cluster and offered a few to the princess first and then the servant.

         “These are called dates,” said Princess Sophie.

         “They’re sweet!” Blake replied with surprise as he sampled one.

         Blake attached the cluster of dates to the back of his pack and then mounted his horse. The servant led the way, followed by Princess Sophie. Blake brought up the rear.

         After about an hour’s ride, Blake thought he saw the scene on the horizon changing. And sure enough, there was no supernatural sensing of an element required. The end of Desert Blanche was coming into view. They must be arriving at the tip of the Plain of Aeryn. The crossing of the desert had not been without threats, and it had taken more than a day, but they had made it successfully. The Calvin School of Magic awaited their arrival. Blake wondered what would come next.