CACKLE- Book 1

Chapter Fourteen

"My husband won't be home for a few hours. He works in the village, down next to the bakery." She gestured with a thick finger as they made their way through town. A sweet smell reached Remi, it was coming from the bakery. She saw loafs of bread and small pastries through the windows. Her mouth watered as she wondered what they would taste like.

As they made their way through the village center Remi began to feel overwhelmed as she looked around. So many buildings, so many people! Women and men, children running in the streets, playing and pushing each other. Everything was so new, so different. She felt like a big sign was posted on her forehead, it must have read: 'I'm new here", because everywhere she looked people were staring. Looking her up and down, assessing, scrutinizing.

There were horses pulling carriages beside them and some of the horses were being ridden by men dressed in simple fabrics. Others were very large and being ridden by men with swords dressed in metal chainmail. Their horses were decorated with green and gold dressings and they were very clean.

How ridiculous, Remi thought. To have a horse with so many things attached to it. No wonder they lost to the demons, their horses probably tangled themselves in all their bedazzlement.

Kynthia watched Remi closely as they walked through the village.

"Those are royal horses." She said, "You don't look too pleased to see them." Suspicion danced on her every word.

"Oh." Remi couldn't think of what to say. Was she doing something wrong?

"They're... fancy." she managed. Unsure if this was the right thing to say. But when Kynthia laughed, a loud bark of a thing, she decided it must have been appropriate.

"Sure are. They're decorated like little cakes." Kynthia laughed at her own joke, elbowing Remi in her side. Remi wasn't sure if she should laugh too or elbow her back. She managed something of a laugh but realised it was a poor excuse for one. It sounded more like the noises the goats were making as they passed a little shop with animals for sale. Or perhaps the sound was more like she was trying to clear something from her throat. Remi blushed. "How far are we?"

Kynthia pointed ahead, "Just around that corner."

A little cottage started to come into view, surrounded by small hedges. There was a sign above the door that read 'Healer'. It was definitely Anna's home. She had described it perfectly, down to the multi-colored stone walkway and the pink shutters on the windows. It looked sweet and full of life. So very Anna.

Remi broke into a run towards the house. She jostled a man carrying a tray of bread who shouted. "Hey!" But Remi didn't stop. She dodged and weaved, sliding under the belly of a royal horse that stood in her way. The horse whinnied and bucked, but Remi was already gone. She pushed aside the gate and ran up the stone walk. She tried the door handle. It was locked. She pounded on the door. Her fist vibrating from the pressure as it collided hard with the wood door, over and over.

"Anna! Anna, it's me!!!" She yelled. "Anna!!" She was using both fists now, pounding hard on the door.

She was just starting to consider kicking the door in when she heard the click of a lock. The door swung open and there she was. Hair silver and long, a little frazzled. Her big brown eyes looked at Remi curiously and her brows creased together. She was wearing a soft pink dress that didn't feel like it suited her. Anna had always worn dark colours back home. Black tops, black pants, sometimes brown. Remi thought about it and she couldn't remember ever seeing Anna in a dress, other than her nightgown. Dresses weren't common or practical post apocalypse.

"What are you wearing?" Remi chuckled, unable to help herself as giggles gave way to full blown laughter. "Pink? You never wear pink. What is this?" She picked at a piece of frilly lace trim hanging from Anna's waist.

The crease between Anna's brows deepened. She looked down at herself and back up to Remi. "You came to my home, pounded on my door, to tell me that I do not look good?" She cocked her head to the side and began to close the door on Remi.

"NO!" Remi yelled, pushing her weight into the door. "I'm so sorry, I thought..." She began. This is exactly what she was afraid of. She took a breath and remembered what Anna had told her to say. "My name is Remilia Annabella Vikroth. I need to speak with you, please." Anna peered around Remi's side, eyes widening.

Remi turned to see what she was looking at. There were so many people staring at them. The man on the royal horse was still trying to settle the animal, and several people had stopped what they were doing just to look at her. The man with the bread was now picking up loaves off the ground and Kynthia was jogging along, or maybe what could only be described as a fast walking, to catch up to her. Her cheeks were turning red with effort as she made her way to Anna's gate.

"Oh, I..." Remi started, she wasn't sure how to explain.

Kynthia caught up to her then, standing a little too close as she greeted Anna.

"Healer." She said and bowed her head.

"I've told you to stop that." Anna snapped, waving a hand in the air. "How is your husband's toe feeling? Has the swelling gone down?" She asked.

Kynthia smiled, "Yes ma'am, that elixir did wonders for him, it surely did. Thank you so much!" Kynthia clasped her hands together, still smiling widely at Anna.

"This is Kynthia." Remi finally thought to say.

"Yes, I know her. How else would I have known about her husband's infected toe?" Anna asked. She was looking at Remi as though she had three heads.

Remi's cheeks flushed bright red.

"You can return the dress to me whenever, if you can remember to Remi. Or not, it's perfectly fine." Kynthia said, giving Anna a final bow before backing away. Never releasing her smile, not even breaking eye contact until she had backed up through the gate and turned back to the village streets.

Remi's eyes were pleading. "I need to talk to you. Privately." She begged.

Anna signed. "Did you do all that?" She asked, pointing back at the village square, now busy with people trying to pick-up the pieces of her pushing and shoving.

"Please." Remi said, ignoring her question.

Anna looked her up and down. "Come on in, I guess." She stepped aside and gestured to Remi.

Remi followed her into the little cottage. There were oil lamps on the walls, their light was dim but in the center of the room was a massive black cauldron that filled the space with silvery white light.

Anna shut the door behind them. "So, Remilia..." She rolled the word around on her tongue pronouncing each letter. "Would you like to tell me why you've stolen my name?"

"You gave it to me." Remi said.

Anna laughed a harsh little snort.

"You gave me this name when you rescued me. You raised me. You told me to take your last name so you would know that even though we are not of blood, we are of bond."

Anna hesitated. "Uh huh." She took a step back and surveyed Remi from head to toe. "Any recent head injuries?"

Remi sighed in frustration. "No. I'm not lying."

"I see. So when may I ask, do you believe this happened?" Anna's face was amused.

Remi took a deep breath, "Nine months from now."