The Whispers Of Trees

14. One Step Forwards, Two Steps Back

The sun was only just beginning to peak over the distant hills, its rays caught in the low-hanging mist set just behind the rows of oak trees.

It seemed no one else was awake yet, only him and the birds that chirped cheerily outside. Through tired, squinting eyes Orym noticed the more healthy change in his companions appearance- as far as more healthy went for Alimar's usual deathly complexion. It brought some relief to know she had kept her word, but sent a shiver through him to know they really weren't dreams.

He rolled over, buying his time in peace and quiet before Alimar's recovered grumbling would persist. He pulled the blanket over his head as he had the night just gone and found himself staring into the warm glow resonating from behind the glass cylinder. It even felt warm in his palm, as the snow and frost had when he had seen Mirith.

All of it went beyond him, like the ravens flying over head, the swamping information and rules were becoming hard to follow and it was time he had alone that made it all the more confusing.

He didn't think it had been long since he himself had woken, long enough for the sun to strengthen, and long enough it seemed for Alimar to also awaken with his new-found health.

But Orym's heart couldn't have raced more, than when he pulled back the blanket from his head to see Alimar precariously perched on the edge of Pendula's mattress, his arm reaching out for a wooden box, golden key sat atop.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed hoping it didn't wake the woman, still dressed in velvet and her shawl.

"We owe it to the Ategane" Alimar whispered in reply, his body desperately trying to hold its balance as he leaned ever closer.

"You don't even know it's in there. I don't think it's a good idea"

Ignoring Orym's warning, Alimar's hand met with the box, which then met with the mattress and he and the box tumbled onto Pendula.

Orym was up in seconds, as was Pendula who was understandably furious.

In a frantic rush to grab the box and scuttle off the bed, Alimar may or may not have elbowed her more times than he cared to admit.

As he stood next to Orym with the rattling box and key clutched tightly against his chest, Pendula appeared to take a minute to observe what was happening in her dazed state. But when she came around, they had no time to react as the Vardo fell into darkness, despite the sun outside. Shadows grew around them as the psychedelic paintings of mushrooms, plants and animals began to float and dance like smoke around them, swirling their luminous colours of green, red and yellows.

It was mesmerising, as it was meant to be. She rose from the bed, not that either of them noticed, and began to step towards them with eyes as blue as the deepest ocean. She said nothing, but it was clear that she was showing them just a taster of what she could do.

Reaching Alimar, the smoke parting around her, she leaned in to gaze into his eyes.

"You thought you could steal from me did you wee scunner?"

"Did you think that would work on me, you... you trickster?" Orym fumbled, his confidence crumbling.

Her pointed gaze turned to him, fury and bewilderment clear, all of which turned sour as she noticed the vial in his hand.

"You dare use magic against me?"

"I'm not a magic user, I'm just using what help Alea has given to me. Clearly she's more powerful than you think, even for a Tulsi" he snapped.

Beneath the witty remarks, Orym feared for his life, enough for him to grab Alimar's hand and the hessian bag as he took off through the curtain and out of the door, down the slippery wooden steps, that nearly swallowed his foot, and out into the open.