Take Note : It's All Different

26. Two Down

A voice spoke from behind me. It was a fair distance away and when I turned I couldn't see a person. All I saw were the woods I had just run past. Nothing unusual but that voice stopped me dead in my tracks and my need for breathe caught up with me. Panting I turned back around twice searching.

Then someone stepped out. Cloaked in green with a shadowed face. All I saw were his lips. Or at least the voice and the garments underneath the cloak suggested it was a male. What had the words meant?

"I thought it was you, Lady Angel. Dressed similar to the last time. So I guessed it had to be you." Andal. This was the boy from Andal this was,

"River? Is that you?"

"Of course. Lord Madison told me you would be running through these woods looking for Avonde around this time."

"Isn't this a little south for you? I mean you're east and west of the Daress River." For the main village or the village that contained the King's castle it definitely wasn't central. It was very far North of most of the other villages.

"I'm not restricted Angel, I can go anywhere. I just look after the west and east channels of the river. Here where this." He passed me a dark blue almost black cloak that looked like the night sky.

I put it on and instantly I knew that Tanner had given it to him for me. Only Tanner knew my fascination with the night sky and how the dark of night can hide even the clumsiest of people.

"If you've spoken to Tanner can you explain to me why these measures are being taken and why I am running for my life."

"No sorry Lady Angel I have no information for you."

He was the first person I had come across who could have been able to answer me but of course not. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get a full answer until I was united with Tanner even then he might refuse me the knowledge because knowledge is after all power.

"We need to keep moving River, that is if you are coming with me?"

"Yeah I'm coming besides how will you find the Stream of Memories safely without me?"

"Good point." He started running ahead of me.

"Shall we keep going then?"

"Yes." I ran after him. Keeping an even pace we ran and ran before we were unsure of which way to go. It occurred to me then that without River I wouldn't be able to find the Stream of Memories without falling in it first.

But why would Avonde want me to meet him there? And what impulse told me that he would be there and that's where I would find him. Is that even where I could find him? Is that the wrong place? Is there anything place? Could I be going in the seriously wrong direction?

"Calm down Lady Angel. It's almost impossible for him to go anywhere else. Besides you could always collect some of that water even if he isn't there because if someone catches you your memory will be wiped and you can't be used for evidence then." As we kept running I noticed how true that statement was. Avonde and Tanner would read this water as an escape plan in one circumstance or another.

What was the circumstance here though. It stumped me. I didn't want to feel selfish thinking that it was me. But I felt as though it was. Tanner taking precautions kind of told my instincts it was me but I wasn't told. What if it was about my brothers. What if it was Avonde and I would be interrogated if he went missing. What would he have done? What have I done? Mostly I was thinking what link am I missing?

As we ran my mind slowly drifted to watch the trees and my surrounding and to take notice of all things beautiful. I noticed strain in River's face and in his ever flowing eyes. I couldn't help but try to lighten the mood which was something I was never really good at.