Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 21

"Are you two okay?" Teddy asked as the wagon bounced on the dirt road. "You seem on edge this morning."

"We're okay." Aiden replied, glancing at Rina who looked completely out of it. "Right Rina?"

"Huh?" Rina answered, shaking her head, oblivious of the conversation. "Oh! Yes, we're okay Teddy."

"Okay. Well, we should be getting close." Teddy stated. "Once we're near enough, Squishy and Grape will stop and we all will go over the plan."

Rina and Aiden sat in silence, Aiden thinking about what sort of nightmare Rina had that affected her so much. He had never seen her so withdrawn from the world. He thought about his own nightmares and how Cladon tormented his dreams, wondering if the mad King could have possibly entered her dreams as well, then quickly dismissing it, knowing that Teddy has them both protected from Cladon's gaze. Aiden watched as she stared out the back of the wagon, obviously troubled by something she dreamt about.

Rina stared into the distance, trying to piece together her dream, if it was a dream at all or a premonition of the future. She thought about how Cladon talked as if he was on the same side as Teddy. Although her dream made her doubt him, Rina still trusted Teddy, the old Bermion in her dream sacrificed himself to protect her, something she felt that the real Teddy would do without hesitation. Her dream reinforced the thoughts that he was hiding something from them, something from everyone, about his past and relationship to the evil Sorcerer.

"We're stopping." Teddy told Aiden and Rina. "Come outside."

"Where are we?" Aiden asked as he hopped out of the wagon, only to see trees surrounding them.

"Just through those trees is Prison City." Arlington answered, pointing to the west.

"What's the plan?" Jr. asked.

"There will be Soldiers everywhere, even though the majority should be leaving for war." Teddy explained. "There will still be a large amount that we need to avoid."

"There's a city around the actual prison, which is why they call it Prison City." Squishy added. "Most the soldiers live in the city and work within the prison."

"Grape and Squishy will continue to steer the wagon, disguised as traders." Teddy stated. "The four of us will stay hidden until we find an inn. Arlington, Jr., you two will have to wait until nightfall, scout the prison and make your way to us."

"Once we're at the inn, Squishy and I will get a room. Teddy is going to cloak you three." Grape added, pointing at Aiden, Rina, and Ellie. "And take you to the room, where Arlington and Jr. will meet us."

"Once we all are there." Teddy said. "We will figure out the best way to enter the prison and get your mother out, any questions?"

"No." The group replied in unison, all knowing what needed to be done.

"Then until we reach the room, everyone must remain silent." Teddy told them.

Arlington and Jr. disappeared into the trees as Squishy ushered the wagon back on the road to their destination. Aiden sat in the back, anxious, knowing that he was so close to his mother yet unable to run up to her, wanting, more than anything, to be held in her arms, to be told everything will be okay. Despite how much he appeared to be stronger than he was the day he lost his parents, Aiden was on the verge of breaking down at any moment. He silently promised his father that he would do everything he could to keep Rina safe and to rescue their mother, that he would stay strong until the day comes when the time was right for him to let his emotions free. The closer they got to the city, Aiden could hear the chaos of people moving about, working, talking, laughing, all as one loud living sound. He wondered how anyone could ever live in such a deafening place, missing the quiet woods where he grew up.