Magic and Destiny: Fate

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

It was early morning when she got out of bed and got dressed. She always slept soundly in this village. Not all of the noise, and the constantly being woken up with regards to emergencies in the village. She really needed to get another helper to handle things throughout the night when she needed her sleep. Miranda sighed, and slipped out of bed. There would be no time for breakfast this morning. The children needed to be on their way to the village. She got dressed, and walked to the front room. It was still dark outside, so she could see the shining outline of her front door, still a blue green color. "Well then, I guess I'll have some tea while I wait."

She got the kettle and filled it a quarter of the way with water, and lit a fire in the fire place to warm it. She wouldn't need it for very long, so she tended to it minimally, only using twigs, and nothing bigger than a few sticks. No logs however, she would not need a fire for that long. When the kettle began to whistle, she removed it with a thick towel, to prevent burning her hand, and poured herself a mug of tea, draining the rest down the sink before she left the kettle on the counter to cool on a ceramic holder. She peered out her window. "Here comes the sun." She said, noticing the slight blue tinge on the horizon. Night would be away soon, and she could leave this home, and focus on what was necessary.

A two month journey with twenty-two children was not going to be easy. While they would not encounter any medved, there were still other dangers in the wilds. Ones she wished the children would not have to face until their training was complete. She had so many things planned in her future. The final examination of Draco, the Runners exam, and the training of the children all weighed heavily upon her. The hardest part would be knowing that she was preparing these children for war. A life of hard nights in the wild, and many times when they would starve, and dehydrate themselves.

She finished her tea and left the mug in the sink. Someone would be by to make sure that everything remained clean. She even gave permission to a few of the locals to use the place when she was not present, if they needed to in emergencies. She opened the door, now that dawn was upon them and breathed deep the fresh mountain village air. As she walked out, she already noticed there were several carts packed and loaded, three in all. Supplies, and a few weapons. The kids were all asleep still in the backs of each of them. She smiled to herself. To be young, and able to sleep after you have been woken and readied.

"Preparations ready?" She asked, walking up to one of the men in the village. It was Roland.

He turned and bowed to her. "The preparations are ready, aye. Just waiting on my son, and Dominic. Will Draco be joining us?"

She shook her head. "No. He had some other, more pressing matters that needed attending to, and he left late last night."

"I see. So many goings on nowadays it's hard to keep track of who is where."
He spotted his son Ash coming in the distance. He looked ready for a fight, which was good since he was to be a sentry on the journey to the village. "Bless him, he made it on time." He said, waving to his son. "Hurry up you slow lumbering monkey!" He shouted, and laughed to himself as his son quickened his pace.

"Sorry, father. Mother insisted I had breakfast before I left. Otherwise, I would have been here twenty minutes ago."

There was a creak and a thud as something landed in the lead wagon before jumping down beside Roland and Ash. "The important thing is you are here now." Dominic stated, clasping forearms with Roland, and then hugging his mother. "Morning mother. Everything is ready and the children are all within the wagons. The horses should have enough food to last until we get to the next village, where we will buy them some more feed and hay."

Miranda nodded her approval, and climbed up into the lead wagon. A horse was being led out to Dominic and Ash, who would be circling through the three wagons. Jeff and Zephyr took the reins of the other two wagons. Zephyr, he knew had experience with being able to drive a wagon. He was instructed since he was five years old in the care, and direction of how to utilize a horse and a wagon. What to do and what not to do.

Trotting around the small caravan one last time, he signaled for them to move out after assuring that everything was in order, and nothing was missing. He had gotten up early to take an inventory of everything that was going with them. They walked to the gates of the village, and bid farewell to the Sentries that had been posted there. No one stopped them. No one was allowed to see them off. Into the forest they rode, on a journey that would prepare them for life in this cruel world.

Atsuschi sat up in his/her chair, and looked off into the distance, as if he could see something that he couldn't. "Him." Was the only word that left his mouth.

A smile grew upon his lip. So, after all these years, he shows himself again. He thought to himself. He rang the bell that he had acquired soon after taking power. Three assassins entered the room through the ceiling.
"North, and track those who travel with the Oracle. Engage only if you can ensure complete victory." Like a shadow, they were gone, to follow the orders they were given. It would take them a couple of days traveling at top speed to get to them. It would be fun to see if the puny dog he had beaten so many years ago had gotten any new skills.

A low dark chuckle began to emanate from deep within his chest before it grew into a full throated maniacal laughter. Things were starting to get interesting.

To Be Continued in Book 2: Magic and Destiny: Knowledge