Into the Realm: The Chronicles of Carter Blake, Book I

Chapter 7

1

"It's me, Keeper Dearbhaile, Carter," I said, confused.

"That be an odd name," she said. "Tell me, Keeper Dearbhaile Carter, where be we?"

"No, no. I'm Carter. You are Keeper Dearbhaile. What's wrong?"

"Okay, you are Carter. Ye still have nae answered me question: 'Where be we?'"

"We're in a forest about a day's travel north of the Vaush-Tauric's palace."

"What be a Vaush-Tauric?"

"A channel of some kind to the draconic gods," I said, as something dawned on me. "Do you know what happened to us?"

She shook her head. "Nae."

"What do you remember?"

She thought for a while. "Opening me eyes an' seein' ye leanin' over me, then askin' ye who ye were."

"Fuck," I muttered. "What about before then?" I said a little louder.

She pondered for several minutes more. "Nothin'."

"Well, this is just flipping wonderful!" I muttered.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I be sorry, Carter," she said. "I dinae mean tae upset ye."

"Whoa," I said. "You are not at fault at all. I'm sorry I caused you to think that." I tugged her over and wrapped my arms around her. "We'll figure something out."

"How?" she cried.

"You are one of the smartest people I've ever met, and I've heard, once or twice, that I am kind of smart, too. I'm sure if we put our minds together, and search for a solution, we'll find one."

"But, I'm nae even a whole person," she said, plaintive. "O' what aid can I be tae ye?"

"Lacking your memory in this case isn't as bad as you might think."

She pushed away and looked me in the eyes. "Why?"

"Before you lost your memory, you were upset with me because I was acting like an ass to you. My pride wouldn't allow me to shut up and listen to your wisdom."

"Ye would listen tae me now? Why?"

"Now I have something more important than my pettiness in front of me, reason begins to reassert itself."

"So, what be more important tae ye than yer pride?"

Without thinking, I blurted, "You are."

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine in a feather light kiss, surprising both of us. She pulled back. "I be sorry, Carter. I do nae what came over me, just then."

"I-it's," I stuttered, my mind scrambled. "D-don't let it worry y-you."

"Are ye okay, Carter? Ye are nae speakin' like ye had been."

A big goofy grin spread across my face. "I've never been kissed before."

"Oh? Did you like your first?"

"I did," I said with a wide smile.

She giggled. "Good."

I rose and reached out to her. She clasped my hand as she got to her feet and we headed off into the brightening day, hand-in-hand.

2

Around mid-day, we came to a swift moving brook. We stopped to drink and refill our water skins.