Chapter 10
At first Bree slept soundly, but then the dreams started.
First, she and Horland were sitting down beside a clear burbling stream, enjoying one another’s company, and chatting as if they’d known one another all their lives.
She laughed at his jokes and he laughed at hers, she was content and loving his closeness, so when he took her into his arms and kissed her, it was the most natural thing in the world for her to return his kiss. Everything about that dream felt right.
But before she and Horland could go any further, the dream switched, and she was a bystander to Garlain and Horland fighting one another. It only touched Bree’s mind that her father was a young man, not much older than Horland.
Horland’s sword nearly took off Garlain’s hand, but Garlain swept his sword around and nearly took off Horland’s head.
Bree’s heart pounded, she didn’t want either of them getting hurt or worse, killed.
Fear had her screaming at them to stop, but no sound came out of her mouth no matter how hard she strained.
Horland stood with his sword drawn, shouting at Garlain, “What have you done with Patricia?”
Garlain’s eyes were circled with black as if he hadn’t slept for many days. “She is gone from this world.”
Bree’s heart broke at the sight of her father. She remembered his smile but now his lips were thin and tight; she remembered his loving gaze, but now pain and sorrow filled his eyes.
Horland raised his sword. “You killed her.”
Garlain shook his bent head. “Nay, it was God’s will.”
Horland stepped closer to Garlain, his sword ready to strike.
Garlain lifted his head, sighed, and waited.
“Draw your sword,” Horland demanded.
Garlain didn’t move, he just stood there regarding Horland with wet eyes.
Horland raised his sword high and as he brought it down on Garlain’s head, Bree woke up with a start, her pulse reverberating painfully in her temples.
She sat up—she had to tell Horland the truth. Her gaze swept the small clearing. Horland was gone. The girl stirred but didn’t wake.
Should she wake her up? Gazing down at the child’s peaceful face, Bree decided to leave her. If Horland went too far, she would have to come back and wait for him to return.
She covered the girl with her cloak and got to her feet.
She’d stay close enough to hear if the child awoke.
Hoping Horland went the same way he did the night before, she hurried along the only path.
Stopping every now and again to listen for the child or Horland, she deliberated on how she would tell him.
Patricia is my mother and she died. Patricia was very sick and died.
I knew Patricia and Garlain because they are my parents, and Patricia died of a terrible sickness.
She stopped and looked over a small lake.
The day was brightening but the sun still couldn’t penetrate the forest’s canopy completely.
The sound of what Bree thought was rock against rock echoed over the water.
She couldn’t see anything but deciding it must be Horland, she followed the track circumnavigating the lake.
Halfway around, she spied Horland bent over a large rock. Although Bree stepped lightly, he must have heard her because he turned his head and smiled widely at her. “Good morning.”
Bree stopped in her tracks. “Ah, good morning.”
He stood up and held an open palm above the rock. Crayfish shells were strewn all over and around it, and a pile of cray meat teetered on the edge. “This pond has a bountiful supply of crayfish. Are you hungry?”
“You bet. They look great.”
Holding out his shirt, he scooped the pile onto the material. Bree grimaced. That was going to smell later.
The walked back to the clearing, Horland humming a tune Bree didn’t know.
Once there, he stood over the sleeping girl and said, “Wake up, little one. Briana, you get some water and I’ll renew the fire.”
Although Bree thought some avocado would have been a perfect side to the crayfish, she enjoyed it immensely, so much so, she’d forgotten she wanted to tell Horland the truth.
And now that some time had passed and Horland appeared to be in much better spirits than the night before, she wasn’t so sure she should tell him.
They soon put out the fire and continued their journey.
The path had once again widened and although the sun still couldn’t penetrate the canopy, the air warmed.
Bree enjoyed the clean forest air, breathing in the forest scents.
The girl sidled up on Horland’s other side and he took her hand, swinging it forward and backward as they walked.
As soon as she could, Bree walked along beside Horland and grinned up at him. “Are we there yet?”
Horland shot her a perplexed look. “You need not keep asking, I will tell you when we are near. We are getting closer, but there is some way to go.”
Bree glanced at the child who seemed to be content holding Horland’s hand.
Who was she? Something told Bree the girl could talk if she tried.
After all, she could scream and laugh, so she had to have functioning vocal cords.
Maybe she had been traumatized somehow; maybe she chose not to talk.
Whatever the reason, Bree hoped she felt safe with her and Horland, and maybe she would come out of her shell and finally talk.
She nudged Horland in his side. “Looks like you got a friend there.”
“I am glad of it. Children are honest and undemanding creatures.”
Bree thought about her cousins and how she kept their parent’s secret from them for years. “Oh, I don’t know, some kids keep secrets and they might lie if they think the truth will hurt them or someone they care about somehow.”
He thought about that for a moment. “In some circumstances, that might be true, but,” he held up the girl’s hand in his, “not this one. She can’t speak so therefore, can’t lie, and she never makes a fuss.”
The child gazed up at Horland, her eyes full of adoration, but Bree noted the shadow that passed over her face the moment Horland looked away.
Bree frowned. Something was worrying her.
Although she appeared to trust that Horland would keep her safe, maybe she was a little frightened.
After all, the forest was darkening more and more the deeper they went.
Even Bree would have preferred it lighter.
She decided to keep a closer eye on the girl, make sure she wasn’t too scared.
It was hard to tell how much time passed, but Bree thought the ache in her calves meant they’d walked at least for two hours or more. The day grew hotter, so Bree figured it was past midday. She took her cloak off and tied it around her waist.
Checking the girl, she asked, “Are you hot in your coat?”
The girl nodded and took it off. She carried it in her arms.
Bree said, “Here, I’ll fix it.”
She showed the girl the sleeves and twisting the coat so it wouldn’t drag on the ground, she tied the sleeves around the girl’s waist with a knot at the front. “There, feel better?”
The girl beamed at her and retook Horland’s hand.
As they walked, Bree and Horland made small talk.
“Why’s it getting hotter in here?” Bree asked.
“The thickness of the forest stops the cold winds penetrating.”
During the afternoon they chatted about the plants. Coming across a shrub covered in yellow flowers, Bree asked once again, “What are these ones?”
“Gorse.”
“How is it you know so much about plants?”
“All knights study flora. If we are to go about the kingdom, many days spent alone in the wilderness, we need to know what we can and cannot eat. Look there,” Horland pointed to a stand of green stems topped with clusters of white flowers.
“I’m pretty sure they’re wild onions,” Bree said, plucking off the flowers.
“They are three-cornered leeks.”
“Same thing.” Bree popped some flowers in her mouth.
“Yes,” Horland said. “I can see that they can be known as such. We should harvest some for a tasty addition to a meal.”
“Definitely. Want some?” Bree held out the flowers to the girl.
Taking them and sniffing, she shook her head and handed them back to Bree.
“Yeah, they taste better than they smell.”
They plucked the plants out of the ground, bulbs and all, and packed them into Horland’s pack.
Bree munched on the flowers as they walked and wondered how she was going to bring up her father.
Horland sauntered along. She knew now from his gait that he was relaxed.
While she was enjoying the company of a laid-back Horland, she had to know what he intended doing once he’d found Garlain. Did he just want to talk to him, or did he want to hurt him in some way? She also wanted to know what happened to end their friendship.
Plants, so close to Bree’s face they filled her vision, had her stopping and leaning back. “Ahh.”
Horland’s face came into view behind the plant. “Did you not hear me? These too are edible.”
“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.” She peered at the plant. “It looks like some sort of celery.”
“They are Alexanders and yes, they taste somewhat like celery mingled with parsley.”
“We should pick some more then.”
The girl and Bree picked the plants and Bree’s nerves tingled along her backbone.
She didn’t have to look to know Horland was watching her, but she had to know what his expression was, so she quickly glanced over her shoulder.
She plucked a celery plant out of the ground.
She should have known by the tingles down her back that he was admiring her.
She frowned. She didn’t know how to feel about that.
She stood up and turned to face him. He averted his eyes and she almost laughed at the look on his face. His face flushed pink and he looked like a little boy caught stealing candy.
Bree and the girl emptied their harvest into Horland’s pack.
“We should continue,” he said and started marching along the path.