At Dusk

Decision

Dawn was still hours off, but he was anxious to get on the move again. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling that Old Man Jenkins wasn't the only one on the attack, and that somehow the dead were rising, and that this wouldn't be over for a long time. He stood in the doorway of the healer's hut, staring out at the dark mountains surrounding their town. He knew there was an outpost for the large academy that taught magic not far off, just over the top of the mountains. Perhaps he could-

"Dern?" the head healer said quietly, breaking him from his thoughts. "There's nothing we can do for him. He-" She took a deep breath. "He may join Old Man Jenkins. We're worried that if he does there will be nothing we can do for the town."

He turned to her, calculating his options. "What if I took him to the magic outpost? Would they be able to do anything?" he asked her.

She gave him a sad look. "I'm not sure anything can save him. I'm sorry." He stepped outside, processing what she'd said. After a moment, she joined him. "If you want to try, we won't stop you. I'm merely telling you what I know from experience."

"Thank you," he said quietly. She left him, and he found a spot on an upturned barrel. He looked at the ground between his feet and closed his eyes, thinking. He was somewhat lost in thought when he heard someone approach.

He opened his eyes and saw two dainty feet in dark blue slippers. He looked up and met the eyes of Amelia, his longtime crush. She was the daughter of the butcher, a burly man who was rough, gruff, and no nonsense. He'd been trying to work the courage up to ask her out, or to ask her father for permission to date her, but he always wimped out.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently. When his silence answered her, she sat beside him, placed a hand on his arm, and held out a honeyed loaf. She was known for it.

He accepted her offer, and leaned his head on her shoulder as he nibbled on the bread. "By morning I'll be gone," he said. She pulled away from him.

"What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm taking my father to the nearest magical outpost. It's our best chance of ensuring he will be okay. I have to try." He looked up and met her bright green eyes, shimmering slightly in the torchlight, highlighting the flecks of sunshine yellow in them.

She hesitated only a moment, then pulled him in for a hug. "I'll ask the gods for your safe travels," she whispered in his ear.