Paradise, A story set in my world of Teir Options

[redsrock]

Here is the link to: Redsrocks Other Stories


The following is a story set in my world of Teir, and more specifically, the northeastern continent of Kazkaydia. I hope you enjoy it.

Paradise

Chapter One: Sweet Redemption

Escaping hadn’t been easy, and if it weren’t for my Domen claws we never would have gotten out to begin with. The Avlarians sure do go above and beyond to ensure that we Domen don’t escape their slave-pens. And it seemed like it took forever to cut through the rope that was keeping the iron cage lifted. Once I was finally able to cut through, the gate fell down and about two-hundred of us ran out of the pen. That was a whole three days ago. And now I’m still fighting through the snowy forests southward.

As for the exact number of survivors following our hectic midnight break out, I have no idea, for I had lead the pack springing out of the small Avlarian town as fast as my old legs could carry me. In two months I’ll be fifty years old…I think. And now, as I sit in a snow-covered tree that looms high above the even snowier ground, only two of my fellow Domen still follow me. The others were either captured or killed, and I pray to Shaol it was the latter.

“Azril, do you see any of them?” said one of my companions from behind, Razlo.

“Hush, fool! Do you want them to hear us?” I said in a stern whisper. “I don’t see any of them right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not there. Just be patient, Razlo! We move when I say we move!”

That certainly hushed him up, but I did feel a bit of remorse. Razlo had been a good friend of mine ever since we both met each other in the Avlarian slave camp some thirteen years ago, and to yell at him was…strange, to say the least. He was a good twenty or twenty-something years younger than me, and I felt as if I was acting like a father to him. But I had to be firm, or else risk the chance of being captured or killed. And if any of those two were to happen, again I pray to Shaol it be the latter.

Suddenly I heard movements from down below. We were relatively high above the ground, but I was still able to see down below clear enough to make out what was moving around, thanks to my keen sense of sight. (That was one good thing about being a Doman. Even as you aged, your senses never dropped in effectiveness) The sun was slowly starting to rise, meaning Shenzai was breathing once again, its rays offering a bit of light to help us along the way to Ibisaro, Ibisarian territory. According to a group of Domen slaves that had arrived at the Avlarian slave-camp nearly a month or so ago, the Ibisarians in Ibisaro were housing runaway Domen slaves. After this was learned we began planning our escape from the Avlarian slave-camp in Klor. Ibisarians housing Dome slaves was only a rumor, yes, but it was a rumor worth acting upon.

“Did you hear that?” My other companion, Jariic, asked; he only in his early teens. I quickly hushed him up by holding a finger to my mouth and giving him a scowl.

Down below a figure stepped out from behind a bush, and following that figure were two others. By the light-looking grey robes with a red diamond in the middle they were wearing, I knew they were Avlarian slavers. The scum had followed our trail after all. I still couldn’t believe how they could wear such little clothing in such frigid cold. Granted, the southeastern region of Klout wasn’t nearly as cold as the most northeastern parts. But still, it was cold enough for snow, so it was cold enough for me. I had always assumed that the Avlarians’ skin had developed a tolerance to the bitter cold, and that’s why they didn’t have to wear a lot of clothing. We Domen have a natural fur coat, yes, but I still wished I was wearing some kind of manmade coat. Even the ugly ones the Avlarians sometimes wore during the harsher blizzards that plague the land during the middle part of Aktel, what we Domen refer to as winter.

“Shh…” I said to my two companions. “We wait for them to head back north, and then we’ll move out. Stay here, I’m going to get a closer look.”

I was about to climb down the branches, but Razlo grabbed my arm forcefully from behind before I could do so. “And what if they catch you, Azril? This is not a good idea. Why must you get a closer look anyway?”

I turned back to him and whispered, “Because I have my reasons. Stay here and do not come down. If something is to happen, continue on without me, and remember to keep following the Ailic River.”

And then I left without giving either of them a chance to respond.

Climbing down the branches was harder than I expected it to be. ‘Course, climbing trees in general was harder than I expected as well. As a child I used to climb trees with my friends constantly. After that day when I was captured, however, it all changed. It was all hard labor after that. Two days ago, the day we all escaped from Klor, marked the first day I had climbed a tree since I had been turned into a slave to work for the Avlarian army, and more specifically the army based in the Vericor Sector of Klout. And though Razlo, Jariic and I had been traveling through the trees of the forest since we escaped, my old age has kept me back from getting used to things as they once were. Forty-something years will do that to you. I’m actually surprised I’ve lasted this long. Then again…maybe I’m not almost fifty to begin with…

As I crept down the tree-branches little by little I did my best not to slip and cause a sound that might give away my position, and doing so was much easier said than done. It was dangerous enough because the limbs were wet from the mostly-melted snow, but some of the branches were even frozen. I avoided those branches of course. Still, it was very dangerous, and I was starting to think that perhaps I shouldn’t have left my position to begin with.

“They can’t be too far,” said one of the men, the one who had stepped out of the bush first. I was hanging above them, fairly close to them now, only about ten yards high.

“I doubt it,” one of others from behind said. “They’re probably in the Yonderland now, Duric. Domen are fasts creatures.”

“Yes, Rechi, but one of them was an older fella’. I could see it in his limp. It was a slight limp, but a limp nonetheless. I wouldn’t be surprised if they stopped to rest. Keep an eye out for them.”

Close, but not quite. I didn’t have a limp, and the only reason it had looked as if I was limping back in the small town was because I had stubbed my toe one something hard while escaping.

The three turned around and started to continue along the snow-covered path, and once they were underneath me I sprang into action just as I had planned all along, for I knew they’d catch up with us sooner or later. I jumped from my position and landed on top of the leader of the trio, latching onto his shoulders with my claw-hands and bringing him to the ground. I quickly swiped at the Avlarian’s throat with my razor-sharp six inch nails, slitting his throat. The two men watched in horror as their leader began to gargle, struggling to stay alive. Then one of the other two, the one who had spoken, charged at me with an axe that looked as sharp as my nails. But he was as clumsy as most Avlarian warriors were, and I easily dodged his charge by rolling to the right at the last second as he brought his axe done. The axe-head hit the ground and was momentarily stuck. While the opportunity displayed itself I ran up behind him and dug my nails through his neck, leaving him to gargle on the ground as well.

And as the two dying men struggled to breathe even though they knew it was of no use, the last remaining Avlarian stood where he had been the entire time, his body shaking and his hands shaking even more. He was obviously scared, and I enjoyed that immensely.

“Please…leave me alone!” he yelled as I began to walk towards him. He fumbled for his own axe but dropped it because his hands were shaking so violently. He tried to grab for it on the ground, but I ran over and clawed across his right cheek, causing him to fall back several feet as I bent down and tossed the axe several yards behind me and out of reach for the last remaining Avlarian. And as he lay there, he held his hands up in surrender. “Just leave…I swear I won’t follow you!”

Tears were now beginning to fall down his hairy face, but I didn’t care. Tears and frightful emotion only made the scene more pleasurable. He and his people had killed and abused hundreds of my kind, and for unforgivable reasons at that. He deserved whatever I decided to give him, and no less.

By this time the other two Avlarians had finally passed away, ascending to whatever false afterlife they believed in, to whatever ridiculous false Gods and Goddesses they worshipped. The man that laid on the ground in front of me was about the do the same thing, but I would make him suffer. Slitting the other two’s throat was getting off easy. But just as I was above to begin, I was grabbed from behind, again by Razlo.

“What in the name of Shenzai are you doing?” He asked, looking at me as if I were crazy.

“I told you to stay up in the tree!”

“I was, until you decided to give away our hiding spot! Why did you do that?”

“They were going to find us eventually! It’s better to kill them now before they catch us later. This is for our own good, Razlo. Get back up into the tree with Jariic!”

But apparently that comment was worthless, for that’s when I realized Jariic was standing right behind Razlo, looking rather guilty for disobeying my orders. I was no official leader of anything like that, but I always felt leadership was an important tool.

“Zeg’reh!” I cursed loudly, my hands tightening with anger. “Get back up in the-“

Suddenly I stopped talking as I felt a hot, sharp pain go through my calcaneal tendon. I fell to the ground helplessly and found that the Avlarian had cut me with a dagger. Screaming in agony, I clawed once more at him, this time for the hand that was carrying the dagger. I knocked the dagger aside and then lunged from the seat of my bottom, pouncing on top of the Avlarian. With the adrenaline I was having I was able to hold the man’s two hands down above his head with my left hand, and then using my free right hand I dug into his eyes with my middle and index fingers. The man shouted in sheer anguish, trying his best to get free of my grip, but it was no use. I wasn’t budging.

When I ceased in digging into his eyes and brought my hand from his face, his eyeballs were still inside of their sockets, but it was hard to tell from all the blood that was pouring down his mouth and chin. Regardless, it was obvious he could see no more, for he was now crawling through the snow aimlessly, waiving his hands in random directions and screaming words that made no sense.

As I was walked towards him, now with his dropped dagger in my hand, this time Jariic grabbed me from behind. “Leave him be, Azril! He’s suffering enough! Let’s just leave before his yelling attracts more of them!”

I looked at Jariic with a surprised expression, for it was quite strange to see him so emotional. He was a quiet one, that much was certain. And I suppose it was because of him that I decided to end the fun. “One more moment,” I said sternly, and continued towards the Avlarian that could no longer see me. I stood above him and then sat down on his chest, and he was a position where he could not strike me with his hands or kicked me with his legs. I opened his mouth by pulling down forcefully on his bottom lip with my long nails, and then I brought down the dagger and shoved it down his throat. I then got up and stood beside his body and watched his suffer and struggle. And I smiled, maybe even chuckled. I’m not quite sure. It was certainly enjoyable to see him go through such pain… the type of pain my own people have suffered through for almost three hundred years now. Redemption was a sweet thing.

Behind me, Razlo and Jariic were gawking at me as if I were a monster, there pointed ears pointing straight in the air just as all Domen’s do when they feel something is bad. I’ll openly admit that my actions were somewhat questionable, but at the same time they were justifiable as well. It was the least I could do for the Domen that had died needlessly at the hands of the Avlarians. If it weren’t for Jariic’s sudden outbreak of disapproval I would have went even further.

“I…I can’t even begin to believe what just happened. Are…are you insane?” Razlo asked me.

“Insane? No...not even close. Insane is enslaving an entire race of people because of something that happened three hundred years ago. Insane is cutting off a Doman’s tongue just for the fun of it, and then shoving the tongue down that Doman’s throat. Insane is you in front of me, complaining because I am avenging the pointless deaths of so many Domen before us.”

My speech was started to become slurred because of the anger that was boiling inside of my veins. I couldn’t fathom why Razlo was so disapproving of my actions. If anything, I’d expect him to join in. Then again…he was always one to question rebellious activities. According to him, we Domen were supposed to “accept our role in the world of Teir.” I didn’t believe that nonsense of course, and neither most of us back at the slave-camp. It’s actually hard to believe that we’ve come to be such good friends, given that fact that we tend to disagree with one another. But, as I think I’ve heard before, opposites attract.

“This…this is just crazy, Azril! Look what you did the poor man! He was following orders! How do you know he really wants to see us imprisoned?”

“It doesn’t matter, Razlo! He’s part of them, so he’s one of them! I can’t believe you’re arguing this! What about your brother? He was killed just weeks ago by these…scum! And you’re still going to stand here and lecture that my actions are horrible?”

“He has a point, Razlo,” Jariic said. I was very happy for him to have taken my side. “The Avlarians do deserve what they get.”

“You too, huh?” Razlo exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “Fine! I don’t care. Let’s just get out of here before more of them come!”

The two continued southward towards Ibisaro, following the plan all of us back in Klorr had originally thought up. And I followed close behind, the blood under my nails and all over my hands having finally dried because of the frigid coldness.

[redsrock]

I think this chapter is either a wonderful hit or a terrible miss. I'm not sure which, though. Hopefully you can tell me...

Chapter Three: Delusional Deception


I woke up sometime the following morning, but only because Razlo forced me to. I had been dreaming at the time, and it was certainly a strange one. We were back at the slave-camp in Klor, except we were the slavers and the Avlarians were the actual slaves. I was about to say something to one of the Avlarians, who I think was the camp’s commander, when Razlo woke me up from the dream by shaking me violently.

“W-wha?” I asked, startled at being woken up so suddenly.

“I think it’s time to get going, Azril. It’s alright Mid Day.”

I immediately got up from my spot on the floor, grabbed my makeshift cane from a few feet away, and then poked my head outside. Sure enough, the sun was shining brightly, not that it helped the cold any. But then again, I was starting that think that perhaps it was only me who didn’t like the cold, because neither Jariic nor Razlo had complained even once.

“You know, you should’ve woken me sooner,” I grumbled, still not all the way awake.

“Yes, but your snoring was rather intimidating. Besides, you out of all three of us needed sleep the most. And Jariic was able to find a small settlement; an Avlarian village, and no more than a few miles to the southeast. I say we head there and try to find some supplies. Maybe some cloth packs to keep food and other things in.”

I looked at him questionably, cracking my old knuckles. “And how do you plan on getting these things? Asking the Avlarians really nicely?”

He chuckled a bit, but I could tell it was forced. It was easy to tell that he was still somewhat unsure of my questionable actions from yesterday.

“No, taking them of course,” he answered bluntly.

“But wouldn’t stealing go against Shaol and his almighty knowledge?” I asked mockingly, seeming to have pissed of Razlo. I found that quite humorous.

“There are times when one must resort to controversial acts in order to survive. Shaol said that himself , in verse seventeen I believe, and therefore I am not against such actions as long as we don’t take too much. Just enough for us to survive on, and as long as we don’t abuse the actions as well. Besides, apparently the place is deserted, or at least that’s what Jariic said. He couldn’t see anyone walking about, but of course he watched from the hill. I guess we’ll just have to find out when we get there. ”

“Yes, let’s-“ I stopped when I realized Jariic was nowhere to be seen. “Wait. Where is Jariic?”

“Just outside the cave, relieving his stomach of some unwanted company. He’s not feeling too well. He kept throwing up throughout the entire night, and neither of us got any sleep. You kept sleeping soundly though.”

“That’s too bad. Maybe if we’re lucky we can find some medical herbs as well. So you say the village wasn’t large?”

“No, not at all. From what Jariic said at least. I didn’t want him to leave in the first place, since he’s feeling sick and all, but he insisted that he helped with something. He looks up to you, Azril. You know that, right?”

“Really? I’ve never sensed it…”

That wasn’t entirely true. Jariic had been brought into Klor just a few days ago, and he seemed to have taken a special liking to me. He was quiet though, and never said too much. He wasn’t mute, because I’ve talked with him a little bit, but I think the problem is that he’s shy. I can’t remember who, but I think someone told me that his two brothers and parents fought back against the slavers when they were pried from their homes, while Jariic hid and watched them die. I don’t know how true that is, but if any of it is, may Shenzai and Heirkalai watch over his soul. Not only for Jariic himself, but for Razlo and myself as well. Depression can be a deadly tool if it goes too far.

“Very well. Lead the way.”




It took us only an hour to reach the village, and that’s only because we had to stop several times to let Jariic vomit the sickness that had overcome his stomach. Once we reached the settlement we waited the rest of the day so that we could travel into the village at night, just in case there did happen to be people inhabiting the village. ‘Course, another reason was for Razlo and Jariic to get some much-needed rest. I felt a tad bit guilty that I had been able to sleep during the night when they had not.

But once nightfall did make its appearance, Jariic still wasn’t feeling very well, and if anything he had only gotten worse. He complained of a terrible headache and slight dizziness. That’s when we all decided as a group that he would stay behind while Razlo and I checked the village for supplies, and for Jariic’s sake, specifically medical supplies. I didn’t want to say anything, but I was worried about Jariic. Domen weren’t known to become sick too often. Razlo also wanted me to stay behind because of my injury, but I wouldn’t have any of that. Besides, the injury was healing somewhat. Or…at least that’s what I told them. My limp told of a different tale, but thankfully Razlo didn’t argue this time.

We descended the hill we were positioned on and made our way into the village. For the entire day I watched and waited for movement, but there never had been any. There were seven small wooden cottages in, and three large buildings in the middle; one of them a two-level structure that we figured to be something of a storage house, and we decided to check their first. Sure enough, as we peeked in through a broke window, there were many boxes, barrels, and other containers were strewn about, organized in no particular order. Luckily the door leading inside was halfway opened, so we simply walked in and began looking inside the containers. But to our disappointment, most were empty, and those that weren’t really didn’t offer anything useful. We did find a few cloth sacks and some rope, which we took. But other than that, nothing.

We checked the other two buildings quickly, but they were totally empty, save for a few more empty boxes here and there. Then the rain started to pour, making things even more disappointing. We were about to head back up the hill, but something caught my…well… I can’t really explain what it caught, but it was more than just my attention. And Razlo felt it as well, for we both spun around on our heels and looked to the most northern cottage in the village. There was nothing unordinary about the house from the outside, but I could just…feel something from within.

“You feel that?” Razlo asked suddenly, startling me just a bit.

“I think so. What’s it feel like to you?”

“I…can’t explain. Almost like…something is tugging at my…something inside of me? Does that make any sense?”

“No, not at all. And I would call you crazy, except I feel the same way.”

At that moment I wanted nothing more than to leave the village, for something wasn’t right with it. I can’t explain it, but something very bad lived in the village, and it wasn’t about to let Razlo and I leave without meeting it. The two of us began walking towards the village, but I swear to you now we weren’t walking on our own…at least not totally. It was almost as if some strange force was leading us along. And I wanted to shout out to Razlo that we had to leave, but that would have been useless. Because as much as I loathed whatever it was I had not yet met, I also had the most severe craving to meet whatever it was that was pulling us towards the cabin. It was a someone, rather than a something. I knew that. I don’t know how, but I just knew. And Razlo knew as well. Again, I don’t know how…I just knew.

And as we neared the cottage my insides began to rumble, especially around my chest area. And then I heard something inside of me. I know that sounds crazy, but there was something inside of me saying something, and it wasn’t my inner conscience or anything like that. It was…someone else’s voice, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying, or who it was that was talking. It was somewhat of a loud whisper in a language I was not even remotely aware of. Razlo heard it to, for he turned to me and asked, “Did you say something, Azril? Please tell me you did?” And he asked this in a whisper, with the most terrified look I had ever seen on anyone’s face.

“No,” I answered, just as terrified as he. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

Without thinking, I grabbed the knob of the wooden door, and then the rumbling grew more violent, and the entire world seemed to shake. Razlo whimpered a bit from fright, but both of us stood our ground for whatever reason. I pulled the knob and opened the door, and then everything was calm. Everything was normal. There were no more rumblings, and there were no more voices. There was only the single room in the cottage, and a rocking-chair in the middle, with its back facing us. Someone was sitting in the chair, rocking back and forth, a terrifyingly disturbing ‘creaking’ sound with every rock. A chill fell down my spine, and it wasn’t just the wind that had caused it.

And then that someone in the rocking-chair spoke.

“Please do hurry inside and close the door. It’s terribly cold tonight, and I’m afraid my body isn’t as strong as it once was.”

It was an old and raspy vibrating voice, and a female one at that; shrill, and somewhat to the point of making me want to vomit. It was like a voice from the Bottomless Abode, or perhaps even worse.

“W-who are y-you?” Razlo asked with a frightened tone.

The old woman cackled, and I swear I heard thunder and lightning outside of the house as soon as she did. And then she turned…or rather, the chair turned, which made me want to run out of the cottage as fast as possible. The chair did not have any wheels, yet it turned without wrinkling the carpet it rested upon. Staring at us was the female woman, and I knew exactly what she was. She was a witch.

Her face was extremely pale, almost to the point of being completely white. And she had hair that was almost just as white as her skin, though a tad bit darker with what looked to be dark blue streaks. She was extremely skinny, almost too skinny in a way. There was somewhat of an angelic tone to her face, but it was mere deception and nothing more. I had heard about such trickery before. A witch would look friendly and inviting, but it was only a trap. She wore nothing but a long silver robe that told of many chilling tales that I did not want to hear. Her eyes were blank. They were neither black nor white. They were simply…nothing.

“Does it matter who I am, Doman? You are here, are you not?”

Razlo didn’t reply, but rather looked towards me. Again he looked at me to be the leader. “Why have you brought us here, witch?” I asked, trying my best to sound defying and brave. But according to the witch’s reaction, I failed miserably.

She laughed once more, this time clapping her hands. “You call me a witch, yet you’ve never seen a witch in your life, Doman. Why must you be so judgmental, hmm? After all, I could have poisoned your friend to death if I wanted to. But I did not. For if I would have killed him, chances are you wouldn’t have stumbled upon my home. And I certainly did not wish for that to happen, for I’ve been one lonely woman for quite some time. A few years in fact. Most feel the abnormal air and stay away. You two however have not, and this intrigues me. You have also not fallen to the sickness that your friend in the hill has. This interests me even more. Perhaps you are stronger than the other two?”

“Other two? What other two?” I asked, thinking about Looh and Jahk’ren.

“Two other Domen entered my humble home no more than a few years ago. Runaway slaves just like yourselves, and attempting to strip material away from my home, also just like yourselves. Thieves, to put it simply.”

I looked at Razlo, and then he looked at me. We were both thinking the same thing. “Where are these two Domen now?” I asked.

“You ask many questions, Doman. But this is my home, not yours. I feel that I have the right to ask a few questions of my own first. Don’t you agree?”

She smiled a sinister smile, and I could do nothing but nod. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Then again, I must ask one question first. Are you or are you not a witch? Answer this and I will answer anything you ask.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy the term ‘witch’, for the term ‘witch’ is too…negative I think. I prefer the title of sorceress, if you will. But either way, yes. I am a ‘witch’. Either way, does this really matter one way or another?”

“Yes, I believe so, because if you really are a witch then there should no need for questions. You hold on the answers to everything, yes? Isn’t that one of your…capabilities?”

She laughed again, and again I could swear I heard thunder and lightning from outside. “I do not hold the answer to life’s every question. You think this because that is what the fireplace tales tell you. It’s a myth, Doman and nothing more. However, I do have the ability to deceive, and it is such an exciting tool.”

Suddenly the room was filled with trees and other plants that reached high above the now endless roof of the cottage, along with a carpeted grass that smelled and looked tremendously lifelike. It was a deception of course, but the effect was still awe-inspiring in the most horrifying way.

“Ask your questions,” I said, peering up at the magnificently false trees.

“Firstly, where do you hail? The other Domen claimed to come from the Avlarian city of Klor.”

I looked at her, and she was smiling at me in the most mysterious way. “That is where we come from as well.”

“Excellent. Now, where are you heading for?”

“Ibisaro.”

“Ibisaro? Where the majority of the Ibisarions on Kazkaydia live?” she asked excitingly. “You will like them. Ibisarians are certainly fun to say the least. And why are you heading for Ibisaro?”

“To escape the life of slavery, but we’ve been told that Ibisarians are harboring runaway slaves.” I did not want to tell her that, for she could have very well been an Avlarian herself. I don’t know, it was hard to tell what she was exactly. But at the same time, I had no choice but to tell her.

Again she smiled. “Very well. That is all I have to ask. Now, Doman, you are to ask three questions, for that is how many I asked.”

“Were the Domen that passed by a few years ago named Looh and Jahk’ren?”

“I have not a clue, for they never told me there names.”

“Where they heading to Ibisaro as well?”

“Again I do not know, for they never told me, nor did I ever ask.”

Two questions down and I was no more closer to what I wanted to know. I had a feeling she wasn’t being quite honest, but was rather bending the truth in a way that I could not figure out.

“Why is it that our friend on the hill is sick from this air you speak of, when my friend here and I are not?”

“Because you bear the gift, Doman. That is quite simple, and I’m actually surprised you did not know it already.”

“What do you mean, gift?”

“NO! That is enough, Doman. You have asked your three questions, and unfortunately I must now leave for the time being. I have no doubts that we will meet in the future, Doman, for you are much different than your friend here. You have brutal and extreme, which I like. However, when we do meet again I am sure there will be more questions for me to ask, and more questions for you to ask as well. Until then, I shall be waiting patiently.”

Suddenly, I found myself back outside the cottage. It was still night time and it was still storming. But after I opened the cottage’s door, everything seemed…normal. The trees and other shrubbery were gone as well, replaced by a few cabinets, a table, and then a bed in the far corner. The witch was gone, as was the rocking-chair.

“Are you happy now, Azril? There nothing inside!”

I immediately spun around and saw Razlo standing behind me with his arms crossed and an agitated expression spread across his face.

“Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, completely confused.

“What do you mean what do I mean? We were about to leave but then you said you wanted to look inside the cottage. I told you there wouldn’t be anything inside, but you just had to look. And now that you have, there’s nothing there. So can we please go now? We need to check on Jariic.”

I looked at him dumbfounded, not believing what I was hearing. “What? What about the voices and the rumbling. And the…and the witch? What about the trees and the rocking chair?”

“What in the world are you talking about, Azril? Are you okay? Come to think of it, you don’t look too good…” He walked up and felt my forehead. “A tad bit sweaty I think, and not just because of the rain. Come on, let’s go. Maybe that fall yesterday did more damage than I thought…”

He tried to walk away, but I wouldn’t let him. Not yet. “Wait, Razlo. Are you trying to tell me that we never walked inside the cottage and talked to anyone?”

Again he looked at me as if I was crazy. “No, Azril…..we didn’t.” And then again he felt my forehead, but I pawed it away. “You don’t seem to have a fever, but all this nonsense is confusing. Come on, let’s get out of here so you can rest some more. I think the change in weather is getting to you. We’re not used to rain, we’re used to snow. Of course, this damn rain might as well be snow. It sure is cold enough…”

He walked away, leaving me by myself. Once he realized I wasn’t following, he turned around and said, “Are you coming or not?”

I shook my head, looked back at the normal-looking cottage, and then turned around and left the village with Razlo.

And as we continued through the forest, after resting for just a little more while we let Jariic clear his stomach again, I did not again mention what happened back in the village. I was determined that it wasn’t just daydream, for it had to have been real. Yet Razlo knew nothing of it. How could this be? I did not know, and quite honestly, I didn’t really want to. Not yet anyway.

I wanted to think it was all really a dream and nothing more, and I wanted to clear my mind of the thoughts and continue traveling towards Ibisaro without another thought besides freedom. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the witch, and the knowledge that I knew she held concerning Looh and Jahk’ren. It was plain on her face, yet I didn’t ask the correct questions. ‘Course, I knew I would get another chance later. I just hoped it was soon.