Elyar came to an abrupt stop. Before them stood a solitary figure wielding a sword and shield. Elyar did not need the man to turn around to know who he was. The small digitorch by the inn’s front door cast a hazy light over him. His long blond hair, which was usually in a ponytail, hung past his shoulders. He looked upset and haggard. Like he had not slept or eaten for multiple days.
“Frem, what art thou doing here?” Ruzur questioned his former comrade.
“What am I doing here?! What are you doing here?! Why are you helping this wild weaving child who is the reason for all of…this!” He was waving his hands gesturing to all the chaos and destruction.
Pushing past Ruzur Elyar stepped toward Frem. “Fine. If you think that I am the reason for everything that has happened than let us fight. Man to man. You verses me. No weapons. Just fists. If you win…I will return to prison. If I win, you step aside and let us leave.”
Frem thought about his proposal for a moment. Then, with what looked like a grin, Frem dropped his sword and shield onto the ground. “I can live with that. You aren’t going to win.” He laughed.
Elyar found non of this funny. Frem had clearly lost his mind. Now, while guards still searched for them, he had to wrestle with a man much his superior. Elyar took another step forward. Frem did the same. Soon they were a few yards away. Elyar tried focusing on his breathing to calm his nerves. He did not think it was working well.
Frem launched himself toward Elyar throwing a right hook toward his face. Elyar side stepped to the side to avoid the strike while taking a quick jab toward the man’s jaw. His fist connected causing his hand to hurt. Frem made a few more strikes toward Elyar’s chest. One landed giving him what will become a nice bruise. Elyar was able to dodge the other before dishing out his own strikes.
His first landed on Frem’s ribs. A satisfying grunt came from Frem. The second missed as his opponent spun around kicking his side. Elyar was not expecting such an attack. It landed half on his side, half on his lower back. Some stars danced in his eyes as the leg hit his wound. He staggered away trying to distance himself from Frem.
But the man quickly closed the gap keeping up his momentum. Another strike to the jaw landed on Elyar’s face. Then another toward the ribs. Frem started raining down blows that Elyar could barely keep up with. Soon he was on his knees in front of the man bloodied and bruised.
“I told you I would win.” Frem smirked, all too pleased with himself. He raised his fist to end the fight.
“You should have finished the job while you had the chance.” Confusion passed over Frem’s face. He hesitated just a second. It was all Elyar needed. Satisfied with his reaction, Elyar raised his right hand and whispered, “Svefn.”
Elyar nearly fainted from the weave’s pull. But he held on as Frem stumbled trying to fight the thread. But he finally succumbed and fell to the ground fast asleep. Elyar was about to check to make sure he had not hurt himself when he started hearing snoring from Frem’s direction.
Slowly standing, Elyar began stumbling toward the stables. “Let’s go.”
Jerome and Ruzur quickly caught up with him. As they walked, Jerome glanced over at Elyar with a look of concern and something else Elyar could not place. “What did you do to him?”
“I…put him to sleep.” Elyar replied while they opened the stable door. If they had thought it was dark outside, they were wrong. It was darker than dark within the stable. Luckily Jerome remembered where the digitorch was located and turned it on. A weak, warm light illuminated the stable. It looked like nothing had touched it. Hay, animals, and dust filled the space. Just as they were promised, four-horses waited for them. Fully saddled with enough provisions to make it a few days. And Sanders standing beside his own animal with a large smile on his face.
“I was wondering when you would arrive.” He moved to open the large double doors on the otheside of the stables. “That fight you got yourself into messed with my nerves.”
Elyar appologized to his friend. “Sorry, Sanders. I did not mean to scare you.”
As he returned from the doors he gave Elyar an unexpected embrace. Surprised, Elyar did not know they were that close. But he hugged the man back anyways. Once they broke off the impromptu hug, they all went about getting their mounts ready.
Jerome turned back to Elyar as he checked his e-steed. “What do you mean you put him to sleep? You have never been able to do things like that before? Have you?”
Chuckling a little, Elyar started walking his e-mair out the double doors on the other side of the stable. “No…and yes. I didn’t know I could do such things until the other day. It was actually Turon who made me think about weaving. If he thought what I did was wild weaving, than maybe I wasn’t using calligromancy like I thought. Maybe I can somehow weave.”
All four were standing outside the stable now. Ruzur had turned off the digitorch while Jerome closed up the doors after him. Each man quickly, and as quietly as possible, led their e-steed toward the edge of town. It was not a far walk, but they could be seen by a guard at any point. But they did not want to be discovered by the loud sounds a ridden horse could make.
Whisper yelling, Jerome continued, “let me get this straight. You can bless items through calligromancy, but you can also weave like some kind of magical being? Am I right in that?”
Elyar had to think about it for a moment. He could bless items, obviously, but did him weaving make him something magical? Like the fae? No, there had to be another answer. “No, I don’t think I’m magical. Maybe Koraxians can weave like other magical beings and we just prefer calligromancy? I don’t know. But I don’t think I’m anything unique.”
Elyar could tell Jerome was not quite satisfied. But he did not ask any more questions at that moment. Which Elyar was fine with because now he had a lot to think about. The edge of town opened up to them allowing them to hop on their e-horses. Once mounted they nudged their mounts into a steady trot.
They were only a few hundred yards away from Val when a horn blasted three times. Then the sound of e-horses galloping followed. They looked at each other, then back toward Val. But they could not see anything. They knew the guards were trying to pursue them, but Elyar could not tell if they had been spotted yet. They broke their covenant of silence of spurred their e-steeds its a wild gallop. It was now or never. The race was on.
They sped south until the village and fortress disappeared from view. But they did not stop at that. They continued at a breakneck speed. Elyar knew their mounts would not last forever at this speed. But he figured they could last a little longer.
It must have been a few hours before they let the e-steeds take a break. During the ride Elyar decided his e-animal would be named Angist. It fit her deep midnight blue coloring.
Elyar thought needed a rest fas well. His muscle were sore. Worst of all, his butt had fallen asleep about an hour back. It was now waking up. That was not a feeling he quite enjoyed.
While they sat or stood near their drinking animals, Elyar took the time to tell them about his most recent dream. “I need to tell you guys about something. I can’t have you freaking out, so please, don’t.”
the three of them looked at him with confused faces. Then they gave a quick glance at each other before gesturing for him to continue. “Shortly before you tried rescuing me..”
“Succeeded. Succeeded at rescuing you.” Jerome interjected.
“Yes, sorry. Before you SUCCEEDED at rescuing me, I had a dream. This time, my old tutor met me and we talked. I won’t bore you with the long story, but the short of it is that he is supposed to meet me here in two days.”
Ruzur interupted, “two days? How art we supposed to lay low for two days? Ist there a way for thee to dream weave and speak with him?”
Elyar was now confused and slightly interested, “how do you know the term dream weaving?’ I don’t remember saying it.”
“I knowth many things. Move back to the question.”
“Fine. I don’t know. I have never initiated a dream weave. I have received them, but never started. I can try though.”
Complaining, Jerome returned his snack he had been munching on, “Yes, please try. I rather not sit here on my butt any longer than I have too.”
Elyar did not move at first. He was lost in the depths of his mind as he thought about the last few hours. He was startled by Jerome, “I meant go now!”
“Oh sorry!” He scurried off a few yards away to get some privacy. His heart was beating fast as he tried sitting down. His back hurt more than before because of the stitches. I’m going to have to get someone to cut them out soon.
Once he was in a semi comfortable position, or the best he could find, he closed his eyes and tried to open his mind. The weave met him like normal. Its warm embrace washed over his arms as he soaked in its radiance. But now he was stuck. How could he connect his mind to another? He tried pushing his mind away from himself. There was really nothing to connect with so he was not sure if he was doing anything.
He decided to try something he knew would probably be risky. He moved more into the weave. The heat intensified. Sweat started dripping down his face, arms, and neck. He tried moving farther in, but the searing pain started becoming unbearable. Right before he pulled himself back, he felt a strange feeling course through his body. He could not tell what it was, where it came from, or anything else because the pain had become too much.
Thrusting himself away from the weave he took a few steps back. The pain faded. His hands and arms looked fine. The void went back to its normal cool state. He looked around to see if he could see anything. Nothing had changed. Even the weird feeling had faded the second he withdrew.
Strange. I wonder if anyone has completely submerged themselves into the weave’s thread? Is that even possible? The power a person could achieve if they could…
His mind wondered for a bit while he stood alone in the weave’s void. Now that he stood there he realized it was quite peaceful. There was no noise except for a soft vibration from the threads moving and tangling about each other. The rainbow colors emitted from the weave washed over him.
Eventually Elyar moved away from the weave. His eyes opened to see the dawn conquering the night. The sun shone brilliantly as its golden arrows pierced the land. A sea of green grass swayed around him as gusts of wind pushed and pulled them. The sound of birds and rustling leaves blended with the wind and grass. Elyar never knew why, but it always called down his nerves.
Sitting in this paradise Elyar forgot, for a brief moment, the chaos of the last few days and weeks. The numbness left from losing Kristiana softened just a little. He reached up and grabbed the fox and sword around his neck. He had forgotten for a second that she had given it to him. He stroked the steel absentmindedly as he watched the sun rise.
There were no signs of any pursuers. Maybe they had lost them. That was good news. The bad news was he still had no idea how to contact Pyke. If his timetable was correct, he should be at Val sometime that day. Which means he would learn soon enough that an escape had occurred. They would need to be on the lookout for Pyke as well as for guards, or…Frem.
Standing, Elyar new it was time to return to the group. It only took a few minutes for him to walk back to them. They were all sitting by a small fire enjoying a warm breakfast. Jerome was softly strumming on his stringed instrument.
As he took a seat beside the rest, Jerome handed him a bowl of morning gruel. Once he took a bit, hesitantly at first since it reminded him of his prison food, he realized it was well seasoned oatmeal. A gurgle from his stomach reminded him of how famished he was. Elyar shoved the food into his mouth like a boy after a long day playing.
Once finished, Elyar wiped his mouth and set the bowl aside. Sanders and the others were giving him quizzicle looks. “What? Do I have something in my teeth?”
“No…the guys and I, mostly Ruzur and Jerome of course,” Sanders started, “were wondering how your…dreaming went?”
“Oh. Sorry Sanders.” Elyar felt dumb. He did not really know why. But they were looking at him weird. “Um, I was…unsuccessful. But he should contact me sometime today. I’ll have to try and be ready to receive a dream or something.”
“So, Elyar, what are we supposed to do for the rest of the day?”
“Well Jerome, I think we should all rest. It’s going to be a rough few months.” Jerome stood up, set his instrument aside, stretched, and muttered somthing about having to pee. Elyar was not sure why he seemed in a slightly bad moon. Maybe it was the fact they were all outlaws now.
The rest of the day went by in relitive silence. It did not seem like anyone wanted to talk much. Sanders sat by the fire wittling a stick. Ruzur meditated for a bit before announcing he was going to go for a run and scout the area out. Jerome mostly sat around the camp playing songs and softly singing.
Elyar was the most restless out of the group. Everyone else kind of stayed in the same spot. Elyar on the otherhand could not stop moving around. First he sat by the fire, then he moved to a stump near his tent, then to a spot out in the grass.
It was not a warm day. But it was not cold either. The wind was cool, while the air was warm. A typical spring day in Elyar’s opinion. As he sat in the grass watching the clouds and grass respond to the breeze Elyar saw some ravens flying high above. Seeing them now reminded him how Val did not have a lot of birds when he first visited. But there were more when he returned. Ravens are strange birds.
He let his mind wander around. He thought about nothing in particular. There were a few times his mind wandered to the battle. Flashes of Kristiana being pulled from his arms raced through him. He reached up and touched the fox and blade every time his mind tried to drag up a memory he was trying to bury. The cold steel calmed his nerves. It was the last thing Kristiana gave him. Actually the only thing she gave him.
Elyar started feeling tired. His lids became heavy and his breathing deeper. He tried fighting it for a little bit. But he eventually yielded. Thoughts of heading back to his tent crossed his mind. After glancing over and seeing Jerome performing a silly song for the other two he changed his mind. Better a quiet place in the sun and grass than a loud spot in the shade.
Without further delay, Elyar laid himself down while still holding the pendant. It did not take long for him to pass from this reality and into the next.
“Elyar. Elyar!”
A voice was calling to him. But he could not see anything. It was dark. It was actually a weird sensation. Not only could he see nothing, but he could not feel anything either.
“Elyar! Focus on my voice!”
Ok. Focus on the voice. I can do that. just concentrate on where it had come from. Where had it come from.
“Elyar I think I can see you. Yes keep focusing.”
There it is! Ok. I know where it is coming from. He focuses in the direction he thought the voice came from. Slowly the world came into view. This time he was in a bedroom. Elyar did not recognize it, but he that did not mean much. He glanced around quickly. There was one bed with a wooden frame and a soft bed with a box spring, a wooden chair in the corner, and a soft digitorch hanging above the chair.
“Ah, there you are.”
The voice started Elyar. He spun around and came face to face with Pyke. He was standing by the door holding two mugs. His mentor took a few steps, handed him one of the mugs, and then sat on the bed. He motioned for Elyar to take the chair across from him. He strolled over and slid into the uncomfortable chair. Definitely not for lounging.
“I don’t have time for pleasentries, sorry.” Pyke began after taking a sip. Elyar waved away him apology. He knew this was not a time for small talk.
“How long have you been in Val?” Elyar asked as he took a drink himself. Hard cidared apple with cinnomon and a hint of something else he could not place met his lips and parched throat. Who knew one could be so thirsty in the dream world? Is it because I am sleeping in the sun? Never mind.
“Only a few hours.” Pyke was saying as Elyar snapped back to the present. “It did not take long to find out you had escaped.” Smiling he took another sip. “Well done with that by the way. I wasn’t sure you would be able to.”
Laughing, “I nearly didn’t. I had some help. If it wasn’t for Jerome, Sanders, and Ruzur I probably would still be in prison. Or dead.”
Pyke suddenly turned serious. He leaned forward while placing his mug between both hands. His eyes narrowed on Elyar. “I am concerned with what is going on. The rumor wheel is spinning some interesting stories.” Elyar shifted a little. It was not only the chair making him uncomfortable now. Pyke’s intensity was making him nervous.
“What are they saying?”
“It is rumored that a weaver hid themselves within the Val’s warriors and perposily destroyed the wall.” His voice quieted a little, “they claim it was the son of a duke. But no one knows his name.”
Elyar knew he was in trouble for weaving. He did not know he was also accused of treason. His back hit the wood hard as he sat back. Concern and shock washed over his face. “They think I am working for the Raven King?”
“That is the rumor.” Pyke’s face softened as he looked at Elyar. He could see the concern in his old mentor’s expression. “I am sorry. I know what it feels like to be abandoned by your people.”
“Thanks.” Elyar appreciated his statement, but it did not make him feel any better. I spent days helping the villagers, I trained them, fought by them, and nearly died for them. Elyar sat silently in his chair staring at the ground before him. Now they think I am a traitor. What the …
“I see you are distressed.” Pyke said breaking Elyar’s concentration. “You have been born into a precarious place.” Elyar shifted, but remained silent. “You were born to be the son of a duke, but born last. Raised to fight for the empire, which has trained on you. But hear me now, do not let your frustration lead you down the wrong path.”
Elyar heard what Pyke said, but he was ready to change the subject. “What’s the plan? We are a few hours south of Val. Where do you want to meet.”
Taking the hint, Elyar saw that Pyke wanted to continue their discussion, but he did not. “I am already about to leave. Lord Turon thinks I am on my way to your father. I will be ready in an hour or two and then I will head toward The Fork. Head to the hill just north and I will meet you there.”
Elyar nodded as Pyke spoke. He knew of The Fork, but he had never been there. His mind was having trouble staying on task. He kept bouncing between what they were planning, and what he had heard. How could they think I’m a traitor.
They finalized some other details before Elyar bid Pyke farewell. The room slowly faded as Pyke withdrew his connection. Once the room vanished, Elyar sat in the darkness for a moment. He tried calming himself down, but he only accomplished pushing the feelings down. Then he sat in the darkness. Its cold empty embrace felt comforting.