It took days before Keri could see a change in Aeronwyn. With Aeronwyn providing instructions, Keri managed to start a cook fire. A large pot they found was suspended over the fire by using spears that were tied together in a tripod. Aeronwyn had explained that with the preserving magic gone, they had to eat the fresh fruit and vegetables first. After that, the root vegetables could be added to water to make something called stew.
Among the supplies were fresh clothes and Keri, who had not taken a bath in about ten years felt insulted when Aeronwyn insisted she clean first before changing. Aeronwyn laughed when Keri complained but walked with her to the nearby waterfall. Standing just where the water could reach them but not overwhelm, at first the cold shocked Keri. Aeronwyn had brought along something she called 'soap' and showed Keri how to use it. As they stood naked under the water, Keri could see Aeronwyn was, even too thin from starvation, almost perfect. For the first time in a very long time, Keri felt ashamed of her broken, misshapen body.
Aeronwyn saw the look in Keri's eyes but said nothing. Once they were done, Keri had to admit that she felt better than she could remember. They dried off together then put on the clean clothes. They were both wearing robes like the one Keri remembered the priestess in her dream wore. That memory sparked some questions Keri had been meaning to ask.
"Aeronwyn, what is this place? How could this food be preserved? You called it magic. What is that? What was it I could see?" Keri looked at Aeronwyn expectantly.
"Wow. Okay, I will try and answer you in the same order." Aeronwyn looked thoughtful. "This is a temple of one of the Old Gods. You have met her. Long ago they were active in the world but then a great disaster struck, caused by a powerful mage. The magic used was so powerful it destroyed the ancient world and as a side-effect, imprisoned or killed all other magic users. As the Old Gods were too powerful to be killed, they were imprisoned. This place was intended as a refuge and these things were enspelled, probably by Althene Herself, to preserve them for Her followers. The food was preserved by that magic and for everything in this room, it was as if no time had passed from when the items were placed in here until now."
Aeronwyn paused to take a drink of water and looked at Keri with a slight smile. "Magic is the ability to manipulate the circles of power that inhabit everything. Everything had power, Keri, from the stones we walk on to the air we breathe. Some people are born with an ability to learn how to control that power but, until a little while ago, no one in the world could. A left over part of that great ancient magic had blocked magic in everyone until just a few years ago. Something happened that allowed those with magic to identify and release that power in others with magic."
"What happened?" Keri asked.
"Well, um, I did. It's a long story and you may not believe it at first but I was born when this place and the old world were still here. I was also under a spell and was asleep. When I awoke, the magic woke with me. What you saw, that blue light? That was a visible presence of the spell. Keri, I think you are a magic user and I think my use of magic around you has woken up your gift."
"Me? Aeronwyn, look at me! I am a cripple. The event that destroyed my body destroyed my life. I.." Keri was going to continue when Aeronwyn interrupted her.
"Stop that!" Aeronwyn said angrily. "Stop that now! You have a great soul and besides, most of those injuries can be healed. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You were chosen by a Goddess, helped a helpless prisoner to escape and have far more strength than you give yourself credit for. Gods, girl, do you even know how few people could do what you have done? Never feel sorry for yourself again. Do you hear me?"
Keri started to cry. No one had ever believed in her before, not even herself. Aeronwyn, misunderstanding, started to apologize. "No, please," Keri said between tears. "You are right. I just never understood it before. My weakness has become like a crutch but it has also forced me to become strong." With that, Aeronwyn gathered Keri in her arms and they hugged for a long time, neither speaking.
When the broke apart, Keri started to giggle. Aeronwyn joined her and in moments both women were laughing so hard that tears came. When, gasping, Aeronwyn finally spoke, she said "Gods, but I needed that! "
"Me too. Thank you." said Keri. "So now what?"
"Now? Now I see if I can call for help. We have the sea on one side and your people on the other. We need a way out!" Aeronwyn said matter of factly.
"How are you going to call for help from here? No one will hear you." Keri asked, puzzled.
"Oh, I think one or two might. I just wish I knew where I was."
"That I can tell you. The City of Spires, Capital of the Eastern Lands is right above where the prison was. Do you know where that is?" Keri asked.
"The Eastern Lands? Like the Eastern Island Kingdom?" Aeronwyn guessed.
"Um, no. I don't think so. From some of the prisoners we had I think the Eastern Islands are far to the north of us. We even had a prison claim to be from something called the Western Kinship, I think it was. He said a storm had blown him here. Unfortunately, my people treat everyone like an enemy." Keri said sadly.
"So, south and perhaps deeply to the west? " Aeronwyn bent to the ground and drew a crude map. She drew a large landmass. To the west of the landmass she drew numerous islands. "Easter Islands. I always thought it was strange they were called to but to the rulers of these lands, they are east of the Capital islands even though they are west of the Western Kingdom."
Below that and further west she drew a circle. "So, around here somewhere?" Keri looked and nodded. "I think so but I only have what I heard. I have been in the prison for nine years so my knowledge is limited." Aeronwyn smiled.
"Those I will call for help from are about here." She indicated a point south and east of the large landmass. "I don't know if it will be faster for them to come east or go west."
"How can they do that? Won't they fall off the world if they go east too far?" Keri pictured the flat world in front of her.
Aeronwyn grinned. "This picture is flat but the world is round, kind of like a ball. No matter which way you start, if you could travel far enough, you would return to where you began." To illustrate, Aeronwyn ran her finger around a piece of fruit. Keri, eyes wide, nodded.
"So how do you call so far away for help?" Keri asked.
"Leave that to me. I will need to prepare, so why don't you make us some dinner?"
