Waiting For Sunrise - The Books Of Beginning AU

42. Granny Peet's Brigade

Emma and Gabriel, along with the fourteen year old girl, Dena, and somewhere around twenty men and women all armed to the teeth, ascended the mountain along a path that could not be seen, but that all the warriors seemed to know by heart. They were headed for the other side of the mountaintop, where they would reach a secret tunnel used by the village to monitor the Dead City. Of course, the journey was not easy - the route was steep and rocky, and in the span of a half an hour, Emma had nearly twisted her ankle at least twice. After the second time, Gabriel promptly swung her onto his shoulders. 

"We must move more quickly," he said. His voice shook with restrained annoyance. He hadn't wanted to bring Emma along, but Granny Peet had been insistent. 

"She is tied to the Atlas. If you are to find it, you'll need her."

"That's right," Emma had added firmly. "An' you gotta take Dena, too. Otherwise I ain't coming."

 So Emma was outfitted with new clothes and supple hiking boots, and a knife was strapped to her belt. A matching blade was hidden inside Dena's coat. An hour later, the girls, Gabriel, and the band of warriors were given a blessing by the old wisewoman and were sent up the mountain. 

It was when they were nearly at the summit that Gabriel finally lowered Emma down from his shoulders. He called for the rest of the group to stop in a small cluster of pine trees while he sent a scout to the tunnel entrance. The brigade obeyed, sitting down, resting their feet, and checking their weapons. Two men called Gabriel over to talk to them, and he did so, their voices so quiet that Emma could not eavesdrop. In lieu of listening in, she chose to wander through the trees. Ten yards off, she found the mountain sloped downwards sharply, collapsing into a cliff face. Emma couldn't see how far down it went, until she found a large rock inclining upwards. She scrambled to the top and laid flat out on her stomach so that she could peer over the edge and take in the sight of the whole valley.

For the first time in days, she saw Cambridge Falls. The blue of the lake glittered like one big sapphire in the afternoon sun, and on the far side of it was the dark mass that was the dam, and little squares lining the dirt roads. Houses, Emma guessed. 

As she raked her gaze over the landscape, she found herself thinking of her brother and sister. Granny Peet had said that Dr. Pym was with them, so they had to be safe. Right? Yes, she told herself firmly, they were safe. Perhaps, by the time she and Gabriel and the warriors returned to the village, they'd be there, waiting for her. The thought made her smile - they'd be so impressed, so proud, when she made her grand return, Atlas in hand, having defeated the Countess's Screechers and rescued the poor men of Cambridge Falls. Michael would undoubtedly have a million questions about the battle, and Emma might just answer them, unless he was being particularly annoying, in which case she'd wave him off as though it had been nothing. He'd look at her in amazement. So would the Savages, when she made it back to her proper time and place and told them the story. Jake and Beetles would never be able one-up her on this one! Even Rafe and Miss B would be awed by her exploits - though they, and Kate too, come to think of it, would most certainly fret over her. She'd brush them all off, claim that it had been nothing. Act every bit the strong, unflappable fighter she had always wanted to be.

Emma's grin widened, and for the first time in seemingly ages she felt careless, head tilted back, face exposed to the sunshine and the breeze. She savored the beauty of the summer day and the pleasure of her expected triumph. Of being able to brag to the boys of her greatness, of seeing pride in the eyes of her sister and Rafe and Miss B and Gabriel. And, most of all, she savored the thought that once she got her hands on the Atlas, she'd soon be reunited with Abigail, and she could tell her friend everything. Abigail would listen to her, would ooh and ahh at all the right bits, would laugh at her jokes. Abigail would think that Gabriel was amazing and that Granny Peet and Dena were interesting and she would hate the Countess and those nasty Screechers. Emma wanted to share it all with her - after all, what was the point of glory if she couldn't revel in it with her best friend?