Peacebringer

Chapter Forty One - the Lonely Way Back

When Asha finally woke up, the sun was already approaching its high point in the sky. Her mouth felt parched, and she could taste dirt. The skin on her face was tight from dried tears, and her braids were fuzzy and misshapen from sleeping on the ground. She sat up slowly, at first unaware of her surroundings.

As she took in the forest around her, and the castle a little ways off, she started to recount the events of the previous night. They seeped into her mind like water being sucked into a sponge. Her hands were scratched and covered in dried blood from gripping the sides of the broken window, and the dagger Valda had given her was still fastened around her waist.

Valda... Her throat tightened again. Valda's dead. The thought sank in slowly, the way leaves fall gently through the air. And I have to be the one to tell everyone. That part came like an anchor.

Asha gazed at the castle again. She could see people moving through some of the windows. It was like nothing had happened. They didn't even come looking for me, Asha thought, suddenly surprised that her sleeping spot hadn't been discovered for so long. They didn't even try. Was it because she wasn't worth looking for? Was her Father too busy mourning Valda? Or had he intentionally let her go?

The crow reappeared, hopping around on the ground next to her. He looked confused, like he knew something was wrong.

"She's not here," Asha said. "Go home."

The crow just continued to stare.

"GO HOME." She shouted this time, and the crow fluttered away, cawing in fear. Asha felt horrible for a moment, but she couldn't bear having that crow around looking for Valda.

Asha carefully picked herself off the ground, feeling the soreness in her muscles both from spinning and from the fall. The night on the ground probably hadn't helped either. Her knees felt shaky, but she started walking towards the resistance base. Hopefully I can make it before sundown, she thought. She didn't want to spend another night in the woods alone.

As she walked, her sadness gave way to confusion. Her father's words and actions see,ed puzzling.

How could he not know why he was hunting spinners? She mused. He really didn't seem to know why he was doing it.

Also, he didn't really seem evil. He seemed like he wants to negotiate, to reunite with me and mom. Asha kicked at stones as she walked, thinking hard. Maybe he's not really aware of what he's done. Maybe Darkwater has somehow cursed him.

Cursing other living things had always been against the law in Karda, unless it was used for defense. If that's what Darkwater was doing, then not only was she a magic user, she was using her magic illegally. Which brought up another question.

If Darkwater is a magic user, probably a witch, Asha thought. Then why would she want to get rid of the other magic users. It doesn't make sense. If anything, it would make more sense for her to be trying to increase the power magic users have.

The whole situation didn't make sense. Darkwater appeared to have no motivation. She also oddly knew that Asha and Valda would be there. After a few hours of circular thinking, this lead Asha to an even bigger question.

Is Darkwater somehow spying on the resistance? If she is, then I can't really trust anyone.

Asha spied the resistance camp in the distance, and the tears started again. She was both relieved to be back to her newfound home, and devastated to be back alone. She pressed her palm and fingers firmly around the hilt of the dagger that Valda had given to her no more than twenty four hours ago.

She only wished Valda could have met their mother one last time.

She approached the base, her feet dragging in the dirt out of exhaustion, both mental and physical. She trudged all the way to Havi's doorstep, as she wasn't sure where her mother was.

She opened the door wearily and stepped inside. She vaguely heard someone calling out a greeting.

Havi appeared in front of her, smiling widely. The smile melted into concern when he saw her face and the fact that she came in alone.

"What happened?" He asked, already fearing the answer.

Asha choked out her answer, "Valda's gone."