Bound Spirits

Chapter Four

Alena woke up in a strange place for the second time that day. Or at least, she assumed it was the same day. Light was coming in from a nearby window and she didn't think she had slept that long. The fact that there was such a large window letting in the light told her that she was not in the same place she had fallen asleep. Instead, she was lying on something much softer than the floor.

When she sat up, she saw that she was on a couch and covered with a blanket. She kicked the blanket off and then stood up. Although it was strange to wake up there, she did at least feel much better. She was still hungry, but she was sure she could solve that problem easily enough. 

"Di vok," said a voice behind her. She turned around quickly, shocked to hear Shynian, even if it was pronounced a bit odd. Zahari was standing in the doorway, holding a small book in his hand. 

She didn't respond and he started to flip through the pages of the book. Curious, she walked over to him and put a hand on the book. With a slight pull, he let her have it and she stared to look through it. Not only did it include a small dictionary of Shynian words, but it also had drawings and written descriptions of Shyn.

"You've been to Shyn?" There were very few traders that came from the north, and as far as Alena knew, they all came from one place. "I'm in Fiamett?"

"You speak Tanti?" Zahari asked, surprised. "Why?"

"It's common for Shynians to learn it," Alena said, still looking through the book. "Is this Fiamett?"

"Yes, but what I meant was why didn't you say anything before?" 

Alena didn't answer him, instead continuing to look at the book, reading some of the Shynian words that were written. Soon, a large hand blocked her view of the book, and she looked up to see Zahari looking down at her. She tried to pull the book back, but he kept hold of it.

"I don't really care why you didn't speak before, but now that I know you can, what's your name?"

Alena really did not want to talk to him, but she could at least try to get information from him. What she wanted to ask most was how to get back to Shyn, but there was one thing she needed to know first. "Did I have a sword when I was found?"

"You're not going to tell me your name?"

"Not until I find my sword."

Zahari let out a sigh and then said, "The man who found you, Atthon. He did have a sword when I saw him. I don't know if it was yours or not, but it could have been. He doesn't normally walk around armed, and as far as I know, he's had no training."

"Where can I find him?"

"He lives not too far from where you were found. He's got cacti growing around his fence."

"What's a cacti?" Even though Alena had no idea what that meant, she decided she could figure it out on her own and moved around Zahari, hoping to find a way out of the house so she could go and retrieve her weapon.