A Mess of a World: the Etched Stone

2.6) Damen

Morning came too soon and yet Damen arose with the sun.

He'd been trained since fourteen to do so everyday, and now it was a natural habit. He got dressed and put on his grey and green plate armor while recalling the previous night. The shield-symbol proudly showing on it didn't make him as excited to see it today.

Will we really have to take them with us? Damen wondered, inspecting himself in the mirror.

I guess so. He thought, exiting his room to meet up with Zaki'a.

He found her in the main room with Sama and Jade. They were in new clothes, which Zaki'a must have provided for them as they were too large for their childish statures.

Zaki'a had dark circles under her eyes, alarming Damen. She must have had more of her dreams, He thought as she mustered a smile and small wave as he neared them.

"Is everything ready?" He asked.

She nodded. "I bought extra supplies for our trip and our horses are awaiting us."

Their revelation of the possibilities of emmories being involved played back in Damen's head and still left him with questions. Rarely in Jaerik, a person would come across a Witcha, and something impossible could be granted for them at a price not many are willing to pay. Whether they paid such a price or not, it's a known fact that you can never find a Witcha twice.

It is another fact, although not as well known, that there were only three Witchas, who were sisters, and one specialized in mind magic.

She would be the only one powerful enough to erase one's memory, and Damen and Zaki'a had come across traces of emmories, which though it isn't the same thing, probably came from the same source.

The four ate quickly with time being of the essence and they mounted the two horses with Damen sharing with Sama and Zaki'a with Jade.

Two, despite one being a child, on one horse made for an uncomfortable riding experience, and once night fell Damen was happy to get off and stretch his legs. He helped Sama off first and then dismounted, checking the supplies and tying off his horse.

Damen frowned when he took in their surroundings. A valley of trees surrounded them and at their particular camp spot there were fallen logs that had been sawn and cleared of bark for sitting and a small stone pit for a fire. Courtesies of fellow travelers.

This will have to do, He thought.

While there was an inn coming up, it was already getting dark and the girls were anxious to stop.

There was a rusted woodcutter's axe by the logs. It had been beaten and mistreated and used well, but would still suffice. He handled it and its slick wood slid in his sweaty palms.

"Stay here with the girls, I'll get some firewood." Damen told Zaki'a as he passed.

The thick woods would hardly miss a few of its trees, and, with luck, he would be able to find fallen branches and use them instead.

Aha! There are some. He thought, hunkering over to them.

He bent over to grab the sticks when something sparkly caught his eye. Like an easily distracted child his eyes flew to the piece and he picked up some sort of small piece of jewelry.

What is this? He wondered, pocketing it. It was a shiny hook shaped object with a tiny knob on the bottom.

Guide her. A voice said.

Damen froze in place. He felt his eyes widen as they veered around, searching for the speaker.

The red-haired girl traveling with you... you must help her get to me... The female continued.

He didn't see anyone and the voice sounded so close it could have been in his head.

"Why?" He asked out loud.

A shiver went down his spine at her next words, All shall be explained at Spirit's Wood, but lead her astray and I shall end you. She must embrace her destiny, and you must help her get to me...

With that she was gone. He somehow felt her leave and she didn't speak again.

"Jade? What does she want with Jade?" He mumbled. Zillions of questions zipped through his head like stars too far above to grasp and understand. "What was she talking about?"

He hurried up with gathering the wood for the fire and ran back to the camp.

As soon as he made it to the fire pit he dropped the logs and sticks and rushed over to Zaki'a. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away out of earshot.