Fire's Grace (Being Edited)

Chapter 9

We were out of that cramped room before dark. I had the rope tied around my hands again. The road to the capital is long and bumpy. The guards have said that it is about 100 miles to the capital. I am on a road to an uncertain future. A road away from my brother.

The guards stopped the cart after about 20 miles of travel. Just like the night I failed an attempt at running away, the guards tied the rope tighter. Not that they had to. I can barely move without a stabbing pain in my shoulder.

I couldn't sleep that night. I would fall asleep just to be woken up by the wind. After multiple failed attempts at sleeping, I finally gave up. I made it look like I was sleeping though. And it was through the fake sleeping that I heard the conversation between the captain and Cal.

"I know you told Emma your name. You broke the code by doing that. You know breaking the code means death. Then you went and made it worse. Promising to help the captive find her brother? Really! How do you think Emma will feel after you run off without her? I will save you the cost of an early death, but only because you are family. My brother would never forgive me if I killed you. So run and never look back. You got it Cal?"

"Yes uncle. I understand."

"Leave!"

I heard Cal run into the forest. I wanted to cry. I was about to as well. But I heard the captain come over to me. He stands above me.

"He should no longer be an issue. Your lover left Emma. Without you," The captain walked away after he said this. I hope he thinks I am asleep.

I hear the captain go to his tent to sleep. It is then the tears starts falling down my face. I can feel my head hurt from stress lack of sleep. I can feel the throbbing pain in my shoulder. I feel the hot tears run down my cheeks. But none of it matters. My brother was right. You can never trust any of these guards. Even if they say they are your friend. They just lie.

I heard Cal run into the forest. He stepped of leaves that fell. Likely, he ran back to his small town. But now there is something else. It is coming towards the camp. No. It is coming towards me! I fight the urge to turn around and see what is coming towards me.

"Emma, wake up."

"Cal?"

"It's me."

"Why are you here? I heard the captain send you off."

"He did."

"Then why are you here?"

"I couldn't leave you behind. I made you a promise."

"Thank you Cal."

"No problem," Cal cuts the rope binding my hands. "Now, it's time for us to run."

Cal is nearly silent leaving the camp. Other than stepping on leaves, I am also silent. It is a cloudy night so you can't see the stars or moon. The path is obscured so I almost fall a few times, if not for Cal. The trees of the forest appear to be a dark mound that stretches on forever. The breeze blows around us making my hair get in my face. It would be a great setting to sit and relax if we weren't running for our lives.

I can't stop thinking about how the captain will react when he finds me missing. Or how Ben will act when he learns that I have put my trust in the hands of the people he hates. Or one of them. I decide to ask Cal what he thinks.

"Cal?"

"Yes Emma?"

"What will the captain so when he finds out I'm gone?"
"I wish I knew. Let's get as far away as we can before he does find out though.

"Yeah. Okay."

The night got colder and the trail got to hard to navigate in the dark. Cal said he thought we should rest. We were able to traverse a good distance before we had to stop. I just hope it was far enough.

As Cal starts a fire, I walk around our makeshift camp. I want to ask Cal questions. But I also don't want to pry into his past. I want answers to the questions, but I don't want to hurt Cal. Especially after he came back to the camp to save me. I try to bring myself to ask him one question. And I eventually succeed.

"Cal, can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah. Go ahead."

"How long have you been a part of the guard?"

"Ever since my parents died. When I was two to be specific. My uncle, or the captain as you know him, thought I should start training. He asked the captain at the time and he said it was okay."

"Oh."

"If we are asking questions, it is my turn. Do you have any powers?"

"I don't know,"

That night I willed the fire to rise like in Ben's stories. To my disappointment, it didn't. I am starting to get worried. I am coming to age soon. I still don't have the powers. I will hopefully get the powers soon. Maybe I will just get them late?

"Cal? I don't remember you with us when I was arrested and shot. Why not?"

"You don't remember because I wasn't with you. While you were unconscious and in the hospital, my uncle came and found me. He said he needed my help with the newest captive. So I agreed."

"That explains it, but also raises another question. How long was I unconscious?"

"I don't know exactly. You were unconscious for about a week after I came."

"A week! It's already August?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"August is the month of my birthday. I am about to get the powers, if I do get them."

"Well, that is a good thing. Isn't it?"

"Not exactly. I am already a runaway prisoner, a female, and the daughter of a magic user."

"Okay, I get your point. Well, try to get some sleep. We will have to start moving by dawn."

"Cal, one more question. Do you have powers?"

"My dad did. My powers awoke last week."

"So, you must run too. What are your powers?"

"You said one more question. But I will answer. I can see the future. Now, go to bed please."

I try to sleep but I have too much to think about. Cal has powers. I may have powers. I am free. I am going to find my brother. It is just too much exciting things to think about. I can't sleep. I keep trying and eventually II fall asleep.

More dreams. Ben is running again. Running through a dark forest. There is a small, orange ahead of him. He goes towards the light. I think he is hoping I am safe. Or that I am at the light. I wish I could tell him I am okay. He stops running as soon as he gets close. I wake up.

I look around and see Cal holding his bow. He has an arrow notched and ready to fire. I wonder what he is worried about. Or if he saw or heard something. Or someone as I remember my dream. Soon I hear footsteps in the direction Cal is facing. My heartbeat quickens. I fear it is the captain, Cal's uncle. Based on the look on Cal's face, he is thinking the same thing.

"Step into the light!" Cal commands.

I am not ready for what I see. The person who comes into the soft glow of the fire raises his hands in mock surrender. He stands there with a darkness in his eyes. His clothes are torn and his once short, brown hair is now long and tangled and matted. He looks like he rolled in the mud. I have to look stunned right now. This is not the brother I know.