Flight to Sryathindel

Chapter Twelve: Unwanted Request

Karea awoke to the blinding sunlight. She clenched the cloak and pulled it over her eyes. Her light breathing was all she could hear and then she smelt the fine scent of the cloak. She quickly pulled it down from her face and sat up, still clenching it though. Her eyes landed on Leo who was making a quick stew over a small fire. Karea reached up to pet Leland but he wasn’t there. Her head whirled around searching for him, but then she found him dangling from a slender tree branch over the stew. He wafted the sweet aroma and inhaled it with a wide smile. Karea raised an eyebrow. Leland was spending the late morning with Leo. She frowned at this thought and then realized it must be the cloak! She stood up and walked over to them, dropping the cloak in Leo’s lap.

“You didn’t have to,” she said quickly.

Leo looked up at her and then back down at the cloak. “A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed.”

She sat down across from him and wrapped her arms around her knees. She stared at the soup and listened to her stomach growl. Her eyes then wandered back over to Leo and then said, “Thank you.”

He smiled, “You’re very welcome.”

“Um,” Karea hesitated but then pressed on, “er, why exactly did you give up your cloak? Weren’t you cold?”

“You needed it more than I did.”

“But you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your own self comfort for mine.”

He laughed at this. “I wouldn’t want you to be ill. My main priority is making sure you are okay. If you are cold, then it’s my job to give you warmth. If you are hungry, then I will give you food. If you are tired, I will let you sleep. Karea, I want you to be safe, healthy, and content. It’s a long journey to the heart, and you best be prepared.”

“Ah, I see,” she replied raising her eyebrows.

“Understand?”

“Of course,” she stated with a smile. He gave her an odd look. She was getting into one of those moods that Leo felt unsure about. “You are simply doing what you must. You gave me your cloak because I was cold. There was no sentimental reasoning behind it. This is strictly business, am I right? You take me to the heart of Sryathindel, being the wonderful escort you are, and then I fulfill this so-called prophecy, and we go our separate ways. Right. There is nothing more to it.” She stood up and began to pace. “Nothing at all. We sleep. We eat. We ride.”

She glanced over at Leo to see him hide a smirk and hold back a laugh at her last statement. She stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes. She gave a sarcastic comment to this, “What are you? Thirteen? Ride on horseback. Don’t you twist the meaning of my words.” He lifted his hands into the air as if a police officer told him to, claiming he was innocent of such thoughts. She crossed her arms and then turned to look out into the forest.

“We just go along with our business and don’t mindeach other. There is no time for anything further. There is no friendship or perhaps something more. No flowers. No stargazing. No candlelight. No fluttering of the hearts.” She whipped around to face him and held out her hand as if ready to shake his. “Just… traveling partners.” Leo eyed her hand but refused to shake it. She withdrew her hand and continued.

“Nothing more, because that… that would just be… preposterous. It would be best if we just… simply… carried on… we mustn’t sit and linger in the sunsets or share an embrace or a moment so divine… so lovely… we just cannot because… because nothing more was meant to happen.” Her voice began to drift at these last words and she brought her hand to her heart, feeling the pain inside. She held back the tears in her eyes, and took a deep breath. “Right?” she asked, her voice beginning to shake. She turned halfway around, looking over her shoulder and catching Leo’s gaze. “That is why you gave me your cloak.”

Silence.

The seconds were counted in Karea’s head.

Then Leo stood to his feet and took Karea’s hand in his. “Think what you wish, but I can assure you that that is certainly not why I gave you my cloak.”

Suddenly all of the air was knocked out of her and she asked breathlessly, “It isn’t?”

“Karea, I gave you my cloak because I care… I care about you a lot…”

She took a step forward, “How much is a lot?”

He laughed, “With all my heart.”

She nearly fell into his arms at these words but quickly caught herself.

He strolled over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and brought his lips to her ear and whispered, “There was sentimental reasoning.” He pulled away, grinning, and then walked over to the stew that was now finished. He stirred it and then took a sip, offering some to Leland. Karea stood still entranced by his sweet whisper. She then pulled out of her daze and sat down with Leland in her lap. They quickly gulped down their soup, all of them were famished, especially Leland, though he seemed to always be hungry.

After their late breakfast, Karea helped back up their belongings and they were soon ready to travel again. She hopped onto the unicorn with Leland perched from the top of her head. Leo soon joined them after wrapping up some final packing. He looked over his shoulder, “Ready angel?”

She gave a nod of the head, “Let’s go.”

With a kick, the unicorn whinnied and took off into a canter and then motioned swiftly into a speedy gallop. The race for life had begun.

It wasn’t until late afternoon that a town was nearby. Leo contemplated whether to go through town or continue onwards through the woods. He knew the town would be safer, since after all they had reached a far dangerous point in the forest, and if they continued through there, it could be fatal. With that he gave a tug on the reins and changed directions. It wasn’t long before they exited the forest to find the busy village.

Karea looked around with great curiosity with Leland perched on her head, just as curious. The street was lined with shops and markets on the right and houses on the left with a dirt road separating them. Everyone was moving; women in stores, men outside, children playing along the side. One man haggles with another for an item while an old lady rocks back and forth in her chair, knitting calmly with her wide eyes fixed on Karea.

Karea felt the sudden change in the atmosphere around her. As she rode into town, all eyes turned to her, gaping like a hungry child. Everyone stopped. The rocker ceased to creak and the children’s laughter came to an abrupt halt as mothers shushed them and stepped outside their homes.

They were silent. Karea couldn’t even hear the unicorn’s hooves padding against the ground. All she could hear was her breathing as she inhaled and exhaled slowly and a faint ringing sound in her ear.

Karea tightened her grip on Leo, unsure what to think. Leland crawled down and quickly hid in the traveling bag. He poked his head out and watched with his inky eyes. She leaned forward and whispered, “Are you sure this was the best idea?”

He nodded his head and murmured, “Its fine. They aren’t going to hurt you. They are just surprised. I’ll explain later when we aren’t on horseback.”

Karea gulped and agreed, “Very well.”

But then the women in the rocker rose, dropping the knitting needle and yarn. She walked weakly to the center of the dirt road, crossing in front of Leo’s path. She stopped in front of the unicorn. Leo pulled the reins and the unicorn came to a halt.

Karea leaned forward, “What’s happening?”

“Don’t be nervous.”

She fell silent and eyed the old lady. The wrinkles heavily etched into her forehead and her blue veins nearly visible through her blotchy skin. She opened her mouth to speak, and soon her voice filled the air; a scratchy voice, hoarse and raspy, that croaked like a frog. She pointed a trembling finger at Karea and spoke:

“You have come. Angel of Sryathindel, you have come at last. For years I waited for you. I have been patient, knitting like you asked me to do. I assured the others you would come. No one believed me… I was mad… I had lost my mind… but here you are… Angel of Sryathindel… I bow down… you have come… at last.”

With that she fell to her knees and flung her body to the ground, bowing down to Karea. She began a prayer, speaking in a foreign tongue and crying out to the village. Her grey eyes were closed and for such an old woman at a ripe age, she spoke loudly despite her faltering voice.

Karea looked around, and soon a man stepped into the street, and he too began to bow down, joining in the prayer. One after the other joined. First the elderly and then the adults, followed by the children. They circled around the unicorn, rising up and bowing down. Karea’s heart pounded hard and beads of sweat gathered on the back of her neck. Leland growled to try and comfort Karea, protecting her if one of them came too close.

But they grew louder! They grew faster! Her eyes shifted – left then right! They were everywhere! They were in unison! Their voices shrieking and then falling to deep decibels! Then they would whisper… a haunting whisper that filled Karea’s ears and echoed in her mind. Their hands were reaching for her and their fingers were desperately outstretched. They were all trembling at her presence.

She closed her eyes – she couldn’t take it! Her head was spinning! She felt her hands pressed against her ears, trying to block them out but she could hear them! They were screeching in her head like nails on a chalkboard! Their chanting bounced off the walls of her mind! They wouldn’t leave! She couldn’t breathe! Karea began gasping for air – what was happening? She then heard one voice that stood out from all the others, suddenly washing them away; Leo.

“Karea, Karea! Are you okay? Karea! Can you hear me?”

Then suddenly she raised her voice – shouting at the top of her lungs:

“STOP!”

They froze like crickets.

Her breathe was quick and heavy and she pleaded, “Stop! Please, stop.”

The old woman stood to her feet, walking over to Karea. She resisted the temptation to touch her angelic body. Leland snapped forward, almost biting her hand. He growled and gargled angrily at her. The woman stared at Karea and then asked, “Why have you told us to stop? The prayer was for you, just as you requested.”

“I didn’t request anything! I didn’t ask for this!” Karea quickly whispered in Leo’s ear, “Are you sure I’m the fallen angel? She speaks of things I know nothing of.”

“Karea… I think I know why… we need to talk.”

“Indeed we do,” she muttered. Her eyes then turned back to the old woman. “I change my request then. I don’t want a prayer. I don’t want praises.”

“Then tell me, what do you want?”

Karea looked nervously to Leo and then back to the woman, “I want to make it to the heart of Sryathindel and save your land. I need not anything more.”

“No blessing? No prayer for a safe journey? No ceremony of celebration?”

“No, kind lady, I don’t seek any of that. I have a task to fulfill and I don’t want your extra attention. I just want to get this over with,” Karea stated. Her eyes then almost filled with tears and she whispered faintly under her breath, “and go back home.”

She could feel Leo’s eyes on her. She knew he heard that last statement. She could sense his reaction. He was almost upset to hear it; upset for her to want to leave him behind. She couldn’t help it… she missed England. She was thrown into this world and given a duty that seemed nearly insurmountable to carry on her shoulders. And then she felt a sudden pang of realization at these stirring thoughts. Leo was right; she was fragile and vulnerable. And it didn’t help that despite all this her heart was twisting and knotting with feelings for Leo. If only she could take him with her back to England! She glanced down at Leland who had also turned glum at these words and now she couldn’t help but feel guilt rising up in her.

They all stood to their feet and looked at her carefully, as if inspecting her to make sure she was the real angel. The old woman nodded her head, “Very well. If that is what you wish for then so be it. But angel, can we offer you a bed for the night?”

“When it comes time to sleep, I will find a bed to rest on. How much farther does the village continue?”

“A few more miles and then it becomes a ghost town… and then a trail that will lead you to another village. We are scattered about, not far, but not close. But the trails will lead you to the heart and you will arrive safely if you follow them. The woods are dangerous in this particular area… I strongly advise you to stay away from them dear angel. We need you.”

Karea nodded her head, “All right. Thank you.”

“I bid you best of wishes.”

Leo forced a smile, “Thank you. Do take care.”

Then the town’s people slowly cleared from the road, allowing Karea and Leo to continue their journey. Karea released a long sigh, “You have much explaining to do.”

“I know… I was afraid this would happen… but we couldn’t risk the woods.”

“I understand,” Karea said feeling swept by fatigue. Leland crawled out of the traveling bag, feeling more comfortable to be away from them, and perched himself back on Karea’s head. She looked over her shoulder to see the old lady still standing in the center of the road, all alone with her wide eyes fixed on her.