Frosted Ranger: Time's Illusion

Chapter 11: Seven Days Wasted

Back in the snow of the Neomic Frostlands, Melina trudges on through the snow. Walking next to the wagon being pulled by Kywin and the horse.

"Where are we going.." Melina asks for the hundredth time it seems. Kywin doesn't respond. He keeps his eyes forward, hands on the reigns of the horse.

"This is the 7th day of travel. Dayton is inside that wagon rotting away. We need to bury him."

"I have a friend that can help." Kywin pulls out a map from his bag. Unfolds it and looks it over. Melina looks to the wagon, her eyes still red from crying and the cold wind blowing into her face.

"You've said that. But where is this friend? Who is this friend? I've followed you blindly for seven days and i'm losing my patience, Kywin. Are you helping Dayton or not?"

Kywin sighs and stops the horse and climbs off. Melina stops walking to await Kywin's approach. Kywin steps up to her face to see into her tired eyes.

"Have faith, Melina."

"Have faith?" Melina laughs like its a joke. "My faith brought me here. My whole life brought me here. So much for faith!"

"Didn't Kyladir save you from the prison?"

"Kyladir has done nothing for me except for giving me this damn quest. Carsin has been more helpful in his grave back home in Rovmar." Melina holds out her arms. "This is what faith got me, Kywin. I can't even rip off my holy symbol in rage."

She pushes pass Kywin and keeps walking. "Avin. Not now." Kywin proceeds to get back on the horse and continue riding through the snow.

Melina returns to her thoughts of why Melissa let her go, but killed Dayton right in front of her. Seven days to think about it and Melina found no reason as to why he was the target and not herself.

Then the vision of the metal arm and the symbol on it. It calls out to her every night. She thinks to herself 'I know that symbol.' She shakes her head. "Take Dayton to your friend. I'm going back to Rovmar."

Melina looks to the sky and studies the sun while Kywin stops the horse again. "What? That's in the opposite direction. We passed the stronghold yesterday. Quit messing around, lets go."

"Good thing the day is still young." Melina begins to walk back the way they came.

"You can't be serious. I have all the food." Kywin sees she keeps walking away. He gets back off the horse and runs up to Melina walking away. He stops in front of her with his hands on her shoulders.

"You go alone, you could die. You can't defend yourself. You have no food. I'm running out of time with getting Dayton to my friend."

"Then hurry it up, Kywin. I'm getting impatient with you." Melina Misty Steps, the spell she uses to disappear and reappear a certain distance away from her starting point.

Kywin spins around to see her reappear and continue walking on without hesitation. "Leave me alone, Avin. I gave you control in the prison." Kywin gets back to the horse again to carry on once more.

Melina keeps thinking to herself. Many thoughts flooding and ravaging through her mind. Why was Dayton killed instead? Why was she let free?

Melina looks around and sits on a tree trump nearby. Closes her eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. She opens her eyes to see the golden image of Carsin reappearing in front of her.

"Kyladir still doesn't want to talk to me?" Melina shakes her head and looks to the snow at her feet.

Carsin keeps his minimal distance and paces through the snow, leaving no tracks behind. "He think it is best that I take form for conversations such as these."