The Witching Stars

Chapter 3- Dry Sands Cold Hearts

Retracing our footsteps, we enter my shack house once more. Inside, Noriel quickly tells me to pack anything valuable and heavy clothes for a long journey. Grabbing my bed roll and a few bed sheets, I stuff them into my sack. Noriel hands me the pot full of jerky and stale bread, to which I stuff it as far as I can between the blankets.

“Do you have any spare clothes?” he asks. “We will be gone for a long time.”

“This is all I have.” I reply solemnly, looking down at my torn and bloodied clothing.

Noriel sighs deeply, “Here, this will have to do for a replacement for now.” He says as he takes off his robe, revealing thick leather armor underneath it. It also seemed, that the robe and cowl are separate pieces, so his face still lies hidden underneath the silver hood. Pulling the extremely large robe over me, Noriel has to scrunch it up multiple times before my hands and feet finally become visible again.

“I’m like a giant silver snowman.” I laugh, and try to wave my arms up and down. With no reaction, Noriel grabs my bag and continues to look around the room for anything else we might need.

“We are ready.” Noriel says. Sudden fear grips me. Leave. Leave as in, go away, perhaps forever. Am I ready to go? Have I ever really left this place before? True I’ve tried to leave, but I could never make it far. Glancing up at Noriel, a question rises in me. Do I trust him to take me farther than I have on my own? Heck, do I trust him to keep me safe? Noriel snuffs out the fire, and grabs a few pieces of charcoal to take with us. Well for now, I can’t answer any of these questions. All I can do, is just go along.

Exiting the house, I halt for a moment outside the door. Gazing upon my childhood house, I wonder for a moment about my past.

“Ni’ela?” Noriel calls, realizing I’m not following. Coming back over he looks up at the house as well.

“It’ll be better right?” I question, my voice quiet and small for once. No reply. “I mean, it can only improve. After all of this, how can it possibly worsen?” fumbling with my hands, I swallow sharply.

“You would be surprised at how far things can fall apart.” Noriel finally says, with a quick turn he heads off. “Come along now Ni’ela best to keep moving forward.”

I don’t move for a bit, before I turn away from my home and venture forth to what seems like an already new world.

Hurrying through the snow, we enter the stables before anymore snow could pile down upon us. Turning the knobs on the lanterns that hang from the ceiling to let their dim lights turn into bright beacons, we both shake till the only feeling that’s left is the cold leftovers of snow. Down the line of stalls, a single whinny calls out. Frostbright sticks her head out, her eyes wide as another whinny escapes her. “Frostbright!” I call, racing over to her. Hugging her head, I give her a big kiss as relief floods me. She is something familiar to me now, something that would remain mine.  At least Maverick had the sense to keep her safe. Opening the stall, I bring her out and saddle her up.

Noriel strides toward a tall bay whom has its ears pricked forward at him.  Patting the gelding’s head, he opens the stall. With a snort, the horse steps out. Picking a large saddle, Noriel begins to saddle the horse up.

“So you’re just going to take some guys horse?” I rebuke.

“The man whom owned this horse died in the Deceiver assault.”  He responds, mounting the bay.

“How do you know that?” I argue, getting on Frostbright as well.

“He told me so.” Noriel assures.