The Legends of Famora: Dangerous Waters

Chapter 2

         Dennis had managed for three days to sneak away from the farm, but not for long. He had become concerned that he missed the girl, since he could only wait so long at the river before his Aunt would grow suspicious. He had made up wild fantasies of the young woman and how she had come about getting the scars across her body. Like maybe she was Dryadaliz who barely escaped the Barron’s wrath, or maybe she was a playful child and fell out of tree, or maybe her parents were mean and forceful. With the fish being spoiled, he had been using the excuse to go hunting just inside the woods. He didn’t like lying to his aunt, but she really did not leave him many options. She would not question that he showed up empty handed, since the land was so scarce.

            Aunt Sarrah had consulted the Moons of Theos about the fish. She had told him the following morning that the moons showed her of the sea’s longing for the Guardian of water for quite some time, but the water Guardian was not the only one who had been killed by Barron. He had slaughtered all five of them to diminish Amare Spiritum for his attack on the Dryadaliz. Guardians had helped guide the life energy into the elements of Famora since the beginning. The legends say that they had been brought forth like roots from the Alberovita, a tree that gave life to all things. Rumors says that the tree disappeared shortly after Barron took reign. Aunt Sarrah would say, “Even he knew he would go hungry if he were to bring harm to Alberovita.” He often heard Aunt Sarrah question the life force’s sudden demise, for some reason she believed the monster would not mess with things of great divinity.

            He arrived at the tree line for the fourth day, hoping to see the young woman. He sat down against the trunk of a tree and watched the river closely as he had the past few days, as if waiting for a sign to appear from the water. Maybe the large fish would return. He imagined the drained forest as that of the ones from stories, branches filled with leaves, small animals out scavenging acorns, birds singing in the back ground, and even the light breeze that had made for a perfect day during the suns hottest phase.

            Dennis must have dozed off, because he woke to a horse barreling up the path toward the river. The horse had come to an abrupt halt in front of the bridge, sending the rider to the bushes. She quickly brushed off her knees and jumped back on the horse. Urging the beast across the bridge. The stallion reluctantly obeyed, and once they touched the other side they barreled down the path. Alarms and excitement filled Dennis as they headed toward the farm. His excitement heightened as two more riders come galloping up the path. Two burly men looked at each other as they considered to cross the bridge.

            “Aye the gold will be worth it. They be ole wives tales anyhow.” The short stalky man said the taller slim rider, who nodded his head in agreement. They bolted across the bridge, and Dennis tip-toed around the trunk of the tree so they would not see him. He willed himself to be invisible as the two men raced after the girl. Dennis thought the girl had looked like the one he seen before, and his curiosity got the better of him. He took off running through the trees to join the chase. Branches as limbs slapped him as he pushed through the forest. Nothing this exciting had ever happened in their surrounding before. Most folks did not dare cross the bridge. Dennis ran fast, unbelievably fast. He never knew he could run as he did but in no time, he had caught up to the two men. Dennis crouched down to listen as they looked around.

            “She must have went off the path.” The short man said aloud. Then Dennis heard a crunching of debris across the ground. The two men jumped off their steeds and darted for the break in silence.

            One came out with the girls horse, the tall man held the girl by her hair, dragging her back through as she slung her arms screaming to get away.

            Dennis had to do something. She was the same girl. With her hair held back he could see her scars more clearly.

            “You devils wench!” The tall man hollered. “Shut up!” he said giving her a hard blow to the head. Her body gave way, and fell to the ground. The tall man scooped her up bitterly, and threw her across the saddle belly side down.

            Dennis thoughts raced as he lunged out from the tree line toward the men. He zoomed around them. The men were caught off guard, but not for long. The tall man drew a sword from his side, and plunged it through Dennis’s side. He laid on the ground paralyzed, pain unlike he had ever experienced. He felt his mouth filling with something, and he knew it was the end.

            Just before passing out, Dennis saw a red-headed woman, wearing a beautiful white gown. He had never seen his Aunt Sarrah so pretty before. He smiled as the lights went out.

***********

              What has he gone and done now? Sarrah thought to herself, seeing her nephew lying on the ground near death. She pulled out her locket that held traces of Odaire Spiritum, and began to chant. She only kept it for emergencies. Like folks venturing into their safe place. The two men turned to her obediently, and she struggled to fight the darkness that ran through her veins, calling out to her to take control. Using, Odaire Spiritum had its risks. She instructed them to leave the area and return to their homes, and leave the horses. Sarrah saw the bright white light emitting from the girl passed out across the black stallion. She had never seen such a dazzling aura in all her years. The light called to her, and Sarrah forced her way to Dennis fighting the influence the limp girl had on her. She knelt down beside Dennis, and felt his faint pulse.

            “I have failed you, my king.” Sarrah cried out. “I should have protected you more.” Tears flowed out, and she hugged her nephew. The rightful king of Famora. Her heart ached with love, pain, and guilt. Out of desperation she pulled for the non-existent Amare Spiritum to heal her nephew. To Sarrah’s surprise the energy faintly flowed through her, and she weaved the healing words of old through the energy guiding it to Dennis’s wound. She witnessed the wound seal itself from the inside.

            “Oh Thank Theos!” Sarrah knelt down over her nephew gratefully. A miracle! Theos must really love the boy. She thought to herself. He was still unconscious, so she loaded Dennis on one of the soldier’s horses and led the three of them to the farm. Sarrah felt an instinctive lure to protect the young woman, so much, that she was now inviting her into their safe haven.

********

            Dennis woke bleary eyed to two women whispering across the room.

            “Aunt Sarrah?” He called out hoarsely. He could see that he was in the cabin, but not in his own bed.

            “I am here sweetie.” Dennis heard her reply and rush to his side. She swept his hair away from his forehead in a comforting motion. “You are going to be okay. Theos smiles down on us.” His Aunt smiled toward him, he sat up from the hay straws he had been laying on. His memory started to return.

            “But he struck me with a sword?” Dennis said confused, the pain had been unbearable and he had felt his own aura fading as moments had gone by.  “How?”

            “I am not quite sure, I pulled for Amare Spiritum and it flowed through me. I believe Theos himself sent the gift. Aunt Sarrah whispered in his ear. “Truly a blessing.”

            Before he saw her, the pull came on him again. He felt the urge to protect the woman his aunt had been talking to. The young woman sat at the well-used table hiding her face. Dennis recognized her immediately. For a moment she looked toward him, and their eyes locked. She recognized him too.

            “Hey.” Dennis said to her. She seemed shy and ready to dart out the house at any moment. After an awkward silence, Aunt Sarrah spoke up.

            “Dennis, this is Taroh. She has been accused of being Dryadaliz.” She told him with a glare sending a message to keep his mouth shut. He and Aunt Sarrah knew the girl was not Dryadaliz. She did not have the pointed ears or tall frame that was signature for their kind. Aunt Sarrah had insisted that Dennis keep his hair long just for that reason. “I told her she could stay here for the night then she must be on her way, because we do not want to any trouble.”

            “Why do they believe she is Dryadaliz?” Dennis asked as innocently as he could, but the girl shook her head, and tears flowed from her eyes. Sarrah leaped over unexpectedly to comfort the girl. Dennis found it strange to see his aunt behave like this. She had always kept a detached attitude with most things, even Dennis. Maybe his near-death experience revealed another part of Aunt Sarrah.

            “You’re safe for now. Don’t worry.” Sarrah told her. Holding the girl in her arms.

            “I… I don’t know where I came from. Ms. Broom has been caring for me since I was a babe, but today she pulled out this decorative stick and told the soldiers she had found it with me.” The girl cried as she told them her story. “They said the stick was something Dryadaliz carry around. If they are right then I will be hunted until he finds me.” Dennis could feel the weight of her troubles and rejection she experienced. She had be talking about a Dryadaliz wand, but how would she end up with one.

            “Where is this stick you’re talking about?” Aunt Sarrah ask her, no doubt she had come to the same conclusion as he had. Even if she were able to get her hands on the relic, using someone else’s would be dangerous to the caster. Plus wands were useless without having access to Amare Spiritum.

            “I don’t know, the soldiers had it, the ones that chased me through the woods.” Taroh informed them. “I would love to get it back, then I might be able to track down my birth parents. It’s the first and only clue I have to finding where I come from.” Taroh told them. Dennis felt a pang of empathy as he could see her scars up close. He had always thought his life was bad, but seeing this young woman made him realize how blessed he was to have his Aunt Sarrah. Taroh noticed him staring at her, and quickly covered her face.

            “I will check the saddle for the wan… stick.” Aunt Sarrah corrected herself, then went out the door. Dennis took the opportunity to ask her about the river.

            “I saw you, at the river, you thought the fish was you fault.” He said softly so he didn’t alarm her enough to take off out the door. He had so many questions.  All she did in reply was nod her head.

            “The fish being sick is consequences of Barron’s rule.” Dennis told her. He wanted to tell her that she had the most beautiful and pure aura he had ever seen, but then again he had not seen a lot of people and that would reveal that he was Dryadaliz. He could tell that she still believed she was responsible.

            “Why do you believe the sick fish is your fault?” He asked Taroh. For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to reply.

            “Ms. Broom thought it too, she said since I been going to the river the fish have gotten sickly. I heard her tell the soldiers just before they chased me.” Taroh hung her head. “…and she always been saying how the crops started dying in the village since she brought me in.” Dennis was shocked. His need to protect her from the harshness of the world overtaking him.

            “NO! They are wrong. You are beautiful and special. You light up this very room with your presence.” Taroh was startled by his outburst, and even more by his words. He didn’t meant to scare her, but the thought of someone blaming her for the Barron’s own handiwork was upsetting.

            “How did you get the scars?” He asked her.

            “Ms. Broom says she found me with them.” Her reply made Dennis angrier toward this Ms. Broom woman. He became angry with Barron and the pain he caused indirectly to people across Famora. He also wondered why he felt this need to protect the girl. He had never experienced this with Junee or his Aunt Sarrah, at least not the same way. Dennis longed to help the girl even more, but he knew his Aunt would never go for it. Especially, since she was already on the Barron’s radar.

            Aunt Sarrah walked back in, she had not found the wand. Dennis had seen her many times tinkering with her own broken wand. He was not sure what she hoped to gain from finding someone else’s. Maybe a clue as to where another of their kind could be.

            “We should all get some rest. Today has been quite… exciting.” She said and placed blankets on the pile of hay for Taroh to sleep tonight.

            “Sorry I don’t have more comforting place to sleep. We are not used to company.” Aunt Sarrah said solemnly. 

            "Oh I am grateful, I slept in the barn at Ms. Brooms." Taroh told them. Again Dennis felt the anger boil up in him. He had always been an even tempered boy, so these new strong emotions made him feel unlike himself.