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Authors: Rachel L. Schade
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no harm.” She drew a deep breath: “Those who do believe in the existence of the sedwa believe they are native animals to the Wastelands south of Toryn. And west of Misroth, beyond the Vorvinian Mountains. They are said to be remnants of many dangerous creatures that were killed off or expelled from Misroth through the protective spell that continues to ward them off from our land.”
The chair creaked as she stood and set down the book once more. “It’s about lunchtime. I’m sure you’re starving.”
I crossed my arms across my chest.
“That is all the book says about that matter,” Lyanna explained. “Only a few old books mention any of those myths about the Wastelands and the spell.”
As she bustled out of the room, I let my gaze wander around the room, settling on my view out the window again. The sedwa definitely exist. Did the one I encountered in the forest choose not to attack me because no humans have harmed any of them? Or was it going to attack me? Has someone been hurting them? Drawing a deep breath to settle my racing heart, I tried to thrust the image of the eyes far from my memory. Are the myths true? Are there other monsters out there, beyond Misroth?
A knock at the front door startled me out of my thoughts. I listened curiously as Lyanna answered.
“You’re out of school early.” Lyanna’s voice trailed into my room.
A boy’s voice answered. “I wanted to come over on my lunch break to see if she is all right, since I found her.” Avrik?
Lyanna’s voice was low. “She doesn’t talk yet. I’m not sure if it’s due to trauma or if she was always a mute, but she can’t tell us much, not even a name or where she is from, so…don’t upset her. But it’s good you stopped by; I’m sure she could use a friendly face, especially since you’ll be going to school together once she’s well. She insists she has no family, so unless circumstances change, she will be staying with us.”
My guess was confirmed when Avrik poked his head around the corner to peer into my room. “Hi, feeling any better?” he asked.
Sitting up, I nodded.
He shuffled into the room, sliding the books out of his arms and onto the floor and dropping an empty lunch pail and a bow and quiver beside them. “I don’t have a lot of time,” he continued.
I raised my eyebrows at the weapon, and Avrik grinned at my surprise. “I’m going hunting with Father once I return home,” he explained, and plopped into the seat Lyanna had left at my bedside.
“I don’t have a lot of time,” he continued. “But in case you didn’t already know, my name is Avrik. Lyanna told me you’re staying here. Evren’s nothing special, but I do have some friends I can introduce you to, once you feel well enough to go to school.” He hesitated, studying my face as if he could see every line of fear and pain etched on my forehead, every nightmare traced in the dark circles I knew rested beneath my eyes. “I’m sorry for…whatever happened to you. Maybe I can understand a little, though. My mother died when I was young…I never knew her…” His voice trailed away and he stared at his hands in his lap. Clearing his throat, he added quickly, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t trouble you with that.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him, wondering if maybe I had found a friend , if there was any way he could understand. He looked like he was about my age, built tall and lanky with hands and feet that didn’t quite fit the rest of his body yet. His tanned skin, the color of the sandy beaches at home, spoke of long days spent outside, maybe playing with the friends he had mentioned and doing chores for his father. Short chestnut hair swept up from his scalp like waves on the restless Alrenian Sea. When he lifted his head to face me, I found some comfort in the familiar brown eyes that had watched me with such concern when I’d stumbled into Evren yesterday.
I offered a half-smile to reassure him. Thanks for trying to
The chair creaked as she stood and set down the book once more. “It’s about lunchtime. I’m sure you’re starving.”
I crossed my arms across my chest.
“That is all the book says about that matter,” Lyanna explained. “Only a few old books mention any of those myths about the Wastelands and the spell.”
As she bustled out of the room, I let my gaze wander around the room, settling on my view out the window again. The sedwa definitely exist. Did the one I encountered in the forest choose not to attack me because no humans have harmed any of them? Or was it going to attack me? Has someone been hurting them? Drawing a deep breath to settle my racing heart, I tried to thrust the image of the eyes far from my memory. Are the myths true? Are there other monsters out there, beyond Misroth?
A knock at the front door startled me out of my thoughts. I listened curiously as Lyanna answered.
“You’re out of school early.” Lyanna’s voice trailed into my room.
A boy’s voice answered. “I wanted to come over on my lunch break to see if she is all right, since I found her.” Avrik?
Lyanna’s voice was low. “She doesn’t talk yet. I’m not sure if it’s due to trauma or if she was always a mute, but she can’t tell us much, not even a name or where she is from, so…don’t upset her. But it’s good you stopped by; I’m sure she could use a friendly face, especially since you’ll be going to school together once she’s well. She insists she has no family, so unless circumstances change, she will be staying with us.”
My guess was confirmed when Avrik poked his head around the corner to peer into my room. “Hi, feeling any better?” he asked.
Sitting up, I nodded.
He shuffled into the room, sliding the books out of his arms and onto the floor and dropping an empty lunch pail and a bow and quiver beside them. “I don’t have a lot of time,” he continued.
I raised my eyebrows at the weapon, and Avrik grinned at my surprise. “I’m going hunting with Father once I return home,” he explained, and plopped into the seat Lyanna had left at my bedside.
“I don’t have a lot of time,” he continued. “But in case you didn’t already know, my name is Avrik. Lyanna told me you’re staying here. Evren’s nothing special, but I do have some friends I can introduce you to, once you feel well enough to go to school.” He hesitated, studying my face as if he could see every line of fear and pain etched on my forehead, every nightmare traced in the dark circles I knew rested beneath my eyes. “I’m sorry for…whatever happened to you. Maybe I can understand a little, though. My mother died when I was young…I never knew her…” His voice trailed away and he stared at his hands in his lap. Clearing his throat, he added quickly, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t trouble you with that.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him, wondering if maybe I had found a friend , if there was any way he could understand. He looked like he was about my age, built tall and lanky with hands and feet that didn’t quite fit the rest of his body yet. His tanned skin, the color of the sandy beaches at home, spoke of long days spent outside, maybe playing with the friends he had mentioned and doing chores for his father. Short chestnut hair swept up from his scalp like waves on the restless Alrenian Sea. When he lifted his head to face me, I found some comfort in the familiar brown eyes that had watched me with such concern when I’d stumbled into Evren yesterday.
I offered a half-smile to reassure him. Thanks for trying to
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