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Authors: Ruth A. Casie
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how far is it to Avebury, Fayne Manor, or is there another place closer where I can find some help?”
“The nearest village is a long day’s walk from here. I will gladly help you get there in the morning. It’s faster by wagon. From the look of you, you need some rest. Besides, it’s not safe to be on the trail at night. There is safety in staying together.”
He handed her a dark brown wool cloak that he had retrieved from the wagon. “Put this over your clothes. It will keep you warm. The night will be cold.”
She wrapped herself in the cloak and sat down, her back propped up against a large rock. She tipped her head back, closing her eyes briefly, and took a deep breath. He watched as she calmed herself and relaxed.
“Thanks. You do stay in character.” She yawned and stretched her arms. “You’re right, rest would be good.”
He smiled. They both settled themselves for the night, Doward on one side of the fire, Rebeka across on the other.
Rebeka woke to a nutty smell. Her mouth watered and her stomach gave an unladylike growl. She looked up and saw Doward hovering over the campfire, stirring the pot.
“Good morrow, Rebeka Tyler. I hope you slept well.”
She stretched, got to her feet. “I did, Doward. What smells so good?”
“I made us something to break the morning fast, oatmeal, some bread, cheese and tea. I hope you’re hungry.”
Rebeka rubbed her hands together as he spooned the thick porridge into a bowl. “I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.” She took the offered bowl.
“Your bruises look better. How’s your leg?”
“It seems to be all right,” she said sitting down and looking under the bandage. “It aches a bit.” Her head still down, she peeked at him from under her thick lashes. “Doward, I know you offered to take me to the nearest village, but I’ve given this a lot of thought. I got here by coming down the mountain. It must be the way back. I see no other alternative. I was looking for a way up yesterday but stopped when it got dark.” She took some berries Doward offered and sprinkled them on her oatmeal. Her eyes closed and she took in a deep breath as she savored her meal.
“There is a way up. It’s close by.” He ate his berries. “It’s a steep climb with many turns but it can be done.” He licked the last of the sweet syrupy fruit off his fingers. “When you’re ready we’ll break camp. I thought you might want to go to the top. I’ll take you there.”
Breakfast done and the wagon loaded, they were ready to leave. Rebeka picked up her meager belongings and joined Doward. The wagon swayed with a rhythmic almost hypnotic beat as they headed down the trail. She kept alert and scoured the mountain side.
“Doward, is that the path?” Her voice was breathless.
Doward turned to see where she pointed. “Yes, it starts right past the large boulder. It’s not an easy path to find. You’re a good tracker.”
She jumped down from the wagon before it rolled to a complete stop. Staff in hand she started to climb.
Doward stopped the wagon, hobbled Shade and followed her up. At a fork in the trail she stopped and waited for Doward to catch up.
“We should take the trail to the left,” he said as he reached her. “Both will take us to the top, but the trail—” he gulped for breath, “—the one on the left, will bring us closer to where you came down the mountain.”
They went on for another quarter mile. Doward examined the ground and the skid marks Rebeka had made. He bent down and picked up something and handed it to her. “I think this is yours.”
In her hand was a crushed receipt for the audio player. “I was beginning to think I was going crazy. It isn’t much farther to the top. We can follow these marks.”
It was a difficult climb.
“Doward, follow me, put your foot here. Yes, that’s right.”
“Are you certain you’re not a mountain goat?” he panted.
“No, Doward. I’m an experienced mountain
“The nearest village is a long day’s walk from here. I will gladly help you get there in the morning. It’s faster by wagon. From the look of you, you need some rest. Besides, it’s not safe to be on the trail at night. There is safety in staying together.”
He handed her a dark brown wool cloak that he had retrieved from the wagon. “Put this over your clothes. It will keep you warm. The night will be cold.”
She wrapped herself in the cloak and sat down, her back propped up against a large rock. She tipped her head back, closing her eyes briefly, and took a deep breath. He watched as she calmed herself and relaxed.
“Thanks. You do stay in character.” She yawned and stretched her arms. “You’re right, rest would be good.”
He smiled. They both settled themselves for the night, Doward on one side of the fire, Rebeka across on the other.
Rebeka woke to a nutty smell. Her mouth watered and her stomach gave an unladylike growl. She looked up and saw Doward hovering over the campfire, stirring the pot.
“Good morrow, Rebeka Tyler. I hope you slept well.”
She stretched, got to her feet. “I did, Doward. What smells so good?”
“I made us something to break the morning fast, oatmeal, some bread, cheese and tea. I hope you’re hungry.”
Rebeka rubbed her hands together as he spooned the thick porridge into a bowl. “I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.” She took the offered bowl.
“Your bruises look better. How’s your leg?”
“It seems to be all right,” she said sitting down and looking under the bandage. “It aches a bit.” Her head still down, she peeked at him from under her thick lashes. “Doward, I know you offered to take me to the nearest village, but I’ve given this a lot of thought. I got here by coming down the mountain. It must be the way back. I see no other alternative. I was looking for a way up yesterday but stopped when it got dark.” She took some berries Doward offered and sprinkled them on her oatmeal. Her eyes closed and she took in a deep breath as she savored her meal.
“There is a way up. It’s close by.” He ate his berries. “It’s a steep climb with many turns but it can be done.” He licked the last of the sweet syrupy fruit off his fingers. “When you’re ready we’ll break camp. I thought you might want to go to the top. I’ll take you there.”
Breakfast done and the wagon loaded, they were ready to leave. Rebeka picked up her meager belongings and joined Doward. The wagon swayed with a rhythmic almost hypnotic beat as they headed down the trail. She kept alert and scoured the mountain side.
“Doward, is that the path?” Her voice was breathless.
Doward turned to see where she pointed. “Yes, it starts right past the large boulder. It’s not an easy path to find. You’re a good tracker.”
She jumped down from the wagon before it rolled to a complete stop. Staff in hand she started to climb.
Doward stopped the wagon, hobbled Shade and followed her up. At a fork in the trail she stopped and waited for Doward to catch up.
“We should take the trail to the left,” he said as he reached her. “Both will take us to the top, but the trail—” he gulped for breath, “—the one on the left, will bring us closer to where you came down the mountain.”
They went on for another quarter mile. Doward examined the ground and the skid marks Rebeka had made. He bent down and picked up something and handed it to her. “I think this is yours.”
In her hand was a crushed receipt for the audio player. “I was beginning to think I was going crazy. It isn’t much farther to the top. We can follow these marks.”
It was a difficult climb.
“Doward, follow me, put your foot here. Yes, that’s right.”
“Are you certain you’re not a mountain goat?” he panted.
“No, Doward. I’m an experienced mountain
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