Wylde Magic | Book 3

Six: Leaving the Mountains

I woke up to a familiar sensation. A weight on my chest, and a hard, sharp attack to my nose.

"Ouch!" I squeaked. My eyes opened to a fat black bird on me, begging for his breakfast.

"Alright," I mumbled. "I'm coming."

I rolled over, groaning as I reached into my pack for the last bit of dried cherries that I had held back for him.

"Here," I yawned, dropping the pieces onto the ground so he could gobble them up.

With a sigh, I sat up and pressed my fingers to my ribs. They were sore, for sure, but they were a lot better today than they were yesterday. If Purda's notes were correct, the potion just turned six weeks into two.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked around the barn. The fire was low, but it was still enough light to see by. I looked up, the thin trill of smoke was wafting out an upper window and into a gray morning sky.

Quietly, I brushed and braided my hair. It was a nice change to pull it all to the back of my head and out of my way. I smiled to myself, what would Thain think of it? I used to keep thick braids over my ears to hide them, and now I was fully happy with not hiding my features.

I stood when I was done, stretching, and walked out the barely open door.

The air was crisp and fresh, but warming quickly for the summer day ahead of us. I glanced around, quickly spotting Spaulder by the shores of the lake.

I walked to him slowly, taking in the scenery. My eyes picked at every tiny detail that had changed since I left this place. A building that no longer stood. The expanded forge in the blacksmith's house. The fishing boats that had all been pulled ashore, probably never to glide over the water again.

I sighed through my nose and took the last few steps to Spaulder's side.

"You are awake early, little one," Spaulder said, calmly watching over the slow motion of the water.

A small giggle escaped me as I looked up at the stoic but kind Spaulder. A literal dragon in disguise. "Puko is at fault. I guess he was hungry."

Spaulder's mouth crept up at the corners. "I see."

I leaned into him, resting my head against his arm. "Spaulder, is everything okay? You left to watch our surroundings pretty quick last night. I never really got to introduce you to Thain."

Spaulder moved the arm I had been resting on, he pulled me in close with it, embracing me as we watched the lake together. "I am sorry to have upset you. I truly wanted to keep watch. Those tree spirits that attacked us should not have gotten so close before I sensed them. My abilities have dulled terribly during my imprisonment."

I reached up with a hand to pat his arm. "I was worried you didn't care for Thain or the village or something."

"No, little one. With the tales of Thain you have already told me, I trust he is able to watch over you. I would not have left you and Schula alone with him if I did not care for him."

That made me smile. "That's good."

"Besides, he did come to speak with me once you had already fallen asleep."

I raised my eyebrows. "He did?"

"Mmm. Two warriors, coming to understand each other. He did not say much, but neither did I."

I giggled. "I can picture that, actually."

Spaulder grinned. "He did ask me one question."

"Oh?"