Chapter 1
Dreams and Memories
Caspian
The night air was especially cool as I leaned on my elbows, sipping on the magic bottle of Alwine's. The others had fallen asleep, though my mind stirred with fascination as I glanced down at the fiery, red hair of the woman I loved. Her scarred body was still as she breathed deeply, sleeping soundly. My mind flooded with the many memories we had made together, both old and new. The alcohol had long since stopped burning a trail with every sip, and I was determined to not be called a ThimbleGut™ ever again. I sighed, glancing down at the village as candlelights were snuffed out and village homes fell into the quiet slumber. Odd as it was, this was my home, so unlike the home I had come from, but this was where I belonged. I ran a hand through my hair that was more shaggy than before, taking a deep breath of the cool air. My mind called up an image of my father shaking his head in dissatisfaction, telling me to cut my hair saying it is unseemly for a human of my social standing to have such long unruly hair. I shook my head to rid the image from my eyes. Thelran and Alwine rested soundly behind me, though I could sometimes hear the soft sobs coming from Thelran. I took another deep breath and glanced at the sky once more.
"May you find your place in the sky, Illine. Find your place among the moon, find your place along the river, and find your place in the woods." I wiped a hand under my wet eyes, sniffing as I took another pull from the bottle. I stared at the stars, watching the dark clouds pass overhead, the alcohol making my head spin. I sighed, setting the bottle in the grass before laying down and falling asleep.
***
I did not wake until the sun touched my eyelids, lighting the darkness with a deep red. Groaning, I sat up, trying to work the kinks from my neck and back. Serves us right, sleeping in the woods when we have perfectly good beds a few steps away. Maybe we had all grown too used to it. Rubbing the back of my neck, I squinted over the hill to see the village of Eodanor, barely stirring with the dawn. I pushed my hair off my forehead, trying to push it out of my eyes. The long fringe had grown frustrating. I glanced down and noticed Lysandra curled beside me still sound asleep. I took a deep breath, barely recalling the conversation we had maybe just a few hours ago. I stood, feeling my joints crack as I went, the stiffness of laying outside returning.
"Good," A voice reached my ears and I turned to see my mother standing behind me. "One of you is awake."
"Mother," I gave her a nod.
"I understand you stayed out here all night?" She eyed the others laying curled in a cacophony of sprawled limbs, Alwine snoring loudly.
"Yeah we did." I sighed. "I suppose we have gotten too comfortable with our traveling." I couldn't help the resentment that weighed on my voice.
"You chose to go with them." She scowled. "You were a young lord at the time, you could've decided it wasn't your problem."
"I couldn't do that. He," I scowled, recalling the thoughts I had toward that vile man, "I cared for him at the time, and he was growing worse by the day."
"I suppose I am to blame for your big heart," I noticed the small smile that barely curved the edges of her mouth upward.
"I think my big heart is what saved me, mother." I sighed, glancing down at Lysandra, who still breathed deeply.
"Where do your travels take you next?" She eyed the village and turned her gaze back to me. I began to open my mouth to utter a response when Lysandra flung up, a gasp escaping her lips before the blood-curdling scream erupted from her.
"NO!" She cried out and I jumped into action.
"What happened?" I moved to grip her arms as her clouded eyes worked their way into consciousness.
