Freedom In Sight

Chapter 5

Stopping to take a breath, Allon rested on his pitchfork, glancing over at Sabine. He felt the faint mark above his eye, the only remaining as evidence of Merek's anger. His other cuts and bruises had long since healed over the month since the attack. He smiled as he thought back to his impulsive decision to cover Sabine from Merek's pounding fists. He knew well what those fists could do to the more delicate gender. Even though Sabine had claimed to be able to take Merek's wrath, Allon had vowed years ago to protect the women that he cared about from Merek. He had failed once, and he wouldn't do it again. Allon shoved the bad memories out of his thoughts before they threatened to rise up. It doesn't do any good to remember. He thought before continuing to clean the stalls.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Sabine glance over at him. Over the past month, she had visibly relaxed around him. The only thing that brought the familiar tensing of her shoulders was the question, "Do you trust me?" He had tried to pry the secret out of her, but each time she changed the subject, or found an excuse not to answer. He knew he was onto something. Why else would someone try so hard not to answer a simple question? Each time his attempt failed, he would remind himself that she would eventually trust him even with that.

"You look pensive. Penny for your thoughts?" Sabine's brow held a tint of amusement and her smile lit up her eyes.

"They are worth more than a penny, I would wager." Allon joked.

"Oh, really? How much then, sir, must I pay to know what you are thinking?" Sabine giggled at their play.

"Oh, more than you can afford, m'lady." Her lighthearted laugh struck a melodious note in his ears.

Their playfulness continued as they completed cleaning the stalls and moved on to scrubbing the tack. Allon took the next moment of stillness to ask, "Do you trust me?" He saw her back straighten and her neck tense.

"Yes." Her soft reply was nearly lost in the wind. Allon wasn't sure he heard her correctly, but then she repeated her answer louder, yes.

Allon stopped scrubbing the saddle that he was working on, and sat down on the wooden floor. "I'm here."

Sabine hesitated before she put down the bridle that she was working on. "I told you that my worst nightmare came true, and I asked why I didn't stop it." She sighed before continuing, "I have had these dreams since I was little. They were kind of like nightmares. They always scared me, but they never came true. Until they finally did."

"What do you mean, 'Until they finally did'?" Allon asked, confusion spreading over his features.

"My last dream was the worst of them all. I saw Petra's demise. I saw blood and death. It was so vivid, so startling – I just knew that it was different than the others. I just didn't realize how different it would turn out to be."

Allon felt like his eyes had popped out of his head. A dream that came true, that means that she was a – He couldn't bring himself to even think it, but the word squeezed through despite his best efforts. A seer. She is a seer. "I don't know what to say." That is impossible.

"Please don't say anything – to anyone." Sabine breathed deeply. An uneasy feeling crept over her senses. After keeping the secret for so long, it felt strange for it to be out in the open. "You have to promise me that you won't tell anyone."

Allon still couldn't believe his ears. He heard his mouth promise her, but his mind was still a fog. She can tell the future. How is that even possible?