Creatrix

Chapter 15 - A Joyful Embrace

In the morning, Anika woke up feeling calm and refreshed; she’d heard no noise in the night. A distant soft singing was running through her mind and she didn’t know whether it was in her dreaming or out of it. It gently faded before her consciousness rolled out into her cool bedroom. 

Pale morning light shone through the curtains and reflected in shafts across the ceiling. The house was quiet. She pulled herself out of her bed, carefully lifted the heavy chair away from the door and crept across the landing. Making her way downstairs, she walked past the living room, to the kitchen. It had been cleaned up! 

Her stomach groaned so she pulled out a box of sweet cereal, tucked it under her arm and poured herself a cool glass of milk. She stole back upstairs, to the safety of her room, put the chair in front of the door, and sat on her bed eating the cereal straight from the box. She decided that there would be enough time to set off on the quest now, and do her chores later, so she shoved another small handful of dry flakes into her mouth and took one more mouthful of milk, before turning on the Lightcrystal. Checking it was fully charged, she eased her fingers into the rings, allowed her eyes to close and her reality to sway back. Anika again embraced an altogether different feeling of wakefulness.

***

She was happy to find an open link to Tyr when she arrived. His name showed up in green to the bottom left of her vision.

 ‘Hello, are you ready to set off?’  She asked quietly on the wind.

 ‘I’m right outside.’ he answered out loud. She heard him through the canvas and was grateful that she had taken time to pack the night before. She got into her armour as quickly as possible. It took longer than usual; she struggled into the chain mail and fumbled with the buckles until finally, securing the last strap, she took up her sheathed sword. She threw a long black cape over one shoulder, took a deep breath to steady herself and stepped into the dawn.

 ‘Hey there beautiful, are you ready?’ Tyr said as she emerged. Blushing, she turned her face away from him and secured her space.

 ‘Okay, let’s go!’ She said, trying to ignore the compliment and wishing to leave with little fuss or commotion. Eve’s mother had been watching out for signs that they were leaving, and when she saw them she ran down the path to Anika. 

 ‘Please bring my daughter home safely.’ The young woman said. She grabbed hold of Anika’s hand and pressed a large silver coin into it.  ‘Here’s a gift for you.’  It was a battered, chunky medallion, engraved with three serpents. All of them spiraled into the centre of the coin.

 ‘Thank you, I’ll do all I can to bring her back safe and sound.’ Anika reassured her.

They left the village and walked westward across rich farmland and after a time they turned left, heading southwest into a lane fenced with high hedgerows. Blackberries grew in abundance here. They hung heavy and ripe on their brambles, while between them; the whispering threads of spider webs caught in the sunlight. The scent of freshly cut hay hung heavy in the air; it was a charming morning. 

Anika had expected Tyr to be talkative and fun like he was before, but now he was more reflective, quiet and solemn; he said nothing as they walked. Occasionally, she caught him looking at her curiously. He looked as if he was trying to make sense of her, but when she caught his gaze, he looked away.

There was a large opening in the tangle of hawthorn and bramble, which turned out into an open plain. The land reached out before them and scooped upwards into a high ridge, where a dense evergreen forest cut into it from the west. The sun was drying the morning dew; a gentle hazy mist hung over the tall grass. Tyr was still not talking and Anika longed for his light banter.