Chapter 72 The Secret Garden
Dinner was actually tasty, given how simple it was, but the sage had made a big difference, along with some salt that Magdala had given us.
Otsiano asked us to spread out our map. He tapped the area we were in. “The Waypoint is about thirty miles from here, toward Mount Tanuragh. It’s at the base, in the outer foothills.” He pointed to a place on the map. “Right around there.”
Reggie marked it in pencil. “What about Devastey’s prison?”
“It’s close to the Waypoint, up on one of the mountain peaks.
Queen Rheyna did her best to make the route as inhospitable as possible, but it’s possible to get there if you’re cautious.
I’m not going to tell you where the keyport is—the place where the key will activate.
Not yet, at least. I don’t want any chance of you knowing and then getting captured by someone… ” He paused.
“You mean Zaran, right? If we got caught by Zaran and we knew the location, he could torture it out of us,” I said, shivering.
“Yes, actually,” he said, staring at the map.
“Wait,” Ray said. “Does Zaran think we know the location?”
Otsiano met his eyes. “Yes, he does. I’m certain of it.”
“That means, even if we don’t know, he’ll torture us, thinking we do,” Ray said. “We really need to avoid him catching us. He won’t just—” he stopped abruptly.
“He won’t just kill me for the key, you mean,” I said.
“He’ll go after everyone in the party, thinking any one of us will know the location of…
what did you call it? The keyport.” On one hand, I wanted to smack Ray for thinking that he and the others might be left alone if Zaran captured me, but I also understood his reasoning.
All this time, they’d come with me, thinking I was the main target. Now, they knew they were all targets.
“We’ve got your back,” Thornhold said, scowling at Ray.
“I didn’t mean…I’m sorry,” Ray said. “Erenye, I really wasn’t thinking along those lines. Please believe me,” he added.
I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s all right. These whole past few weeks have been one big clusterfuck. I think we’re all shell-shocked. But we’d better gain our grounding and fast, since we’re spending a life-time here.” I turned to Otsiano. “How hard is the journey to the Waypoint?”
“Not difficult at all. It should be easy walking, but I can make it a little easier. I can’t travel with you, but I will be there when you arrive, and we’ll plan out the next step.
You should activate the Waypoint first, though.
That way you’ll have an easier escape, should you need it.
” He paused to eat a few spoonfuls of stew.
“Think of it this way, if you want a brighter view of the situation. At least you’ll have seen different lands of Abarria, and you can make a more informed decision on where you’d like to settle in. ”
We set up the tents, then gathered close to the fire.
It wasn’t cold—cool, yes, but not cold. The stars shone overhead, a million lights shimmering down on us.
The crackle of the fire was almost melodic in the growing darkness.
It was oddly comforting, being here, and I felt safe because Otsiano and the Glass Unicorn were with us.
After a while, I broke the silence. “You meant it, before, didn’t you? When you said that we were to work for you after this is over?”
Otsiano nodded. “Yes, you especially. But all of you are welcome, if you want to join me. There are many wrongs to be righted in this world, and many in need of help.”
As the sparks from the fire popped, flying up to scatter in the air, I considered what it would be like, to be a pawn of the gods. Probably not always pleasant, but there were far worse ways to spend one’s life.
I yawned as I stretched my arms over my head. “I guess I always wanted to be Xena,” I said.
“I miss having a home,” Brynn whispered. “As soon as we’re done with the key…”
I knew what she was considering. “Think twice, because remember he’ll be expected to produce an heir. Could you handle being a mistress? A second wife?”
She ducked her head, and I thought I saw a tear run down her cheek. “No,” she said, her voice muffled as she pressed her chin against her knees, wrapping her arms around them. “I couldn’t. But I like him…so much.”
“Love doesn’t conquer all,” Ray said. “If it did, I’d be home with my girlfriend.”
“This means that Geoff will never see his wife and daughter again,” I said.
“I hope he’s doing all right, and Liesel too.
And my baby Star.” The Frazzle Cat had been on my mind for a few days now.
I missed her. I hadn’t really focused on the bond that had formed almost instantly, but the longer we were gone, the more I felt it peeking out from my subconscious.
“The sooner we get done with the key, the sooner we can travel back to Liesel’s house, via the Waypoints,” Thornhold said. “So, let’s focus on the next steps and get this done with.”
“Can you find us back there? Back near the Dark Woodland?” I asked. “What’s that land even called? Where Dusmaria is located.”
“The land there is called Goldenfield. It’s primarily agricultural,” Otsiano said.
“Goldenfield…I like the sound of that,” I murmured.
“I live in Goldenfield. It rolls off the tongue. I wouldn’t mind being Liesel’s neighbor.
At least she remembers that it’s a game.
Or…was a game. And there are others back there.
I know there are people all over Abarria who were employees, but they’re probably stretched out, distant from one another.
Maybe we should hold a meeting for everybody who remembers home… what used to be our home.”
“You have time to think about that later.” The Glass Unicorn turned to face us. He’d been munching on some nearby clover. “Right now, keep focused on the task at hand. it’s too easy to slip up if you’re dwelling on the past.”
I stood, dusting my hands on my trousers. “He’s right. Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow, we head for the Waypoint, and we need to set off at a good pace. Zaran’s probably in the Summer Kingdom by now, or near enough. We can’t afford to mope, and we can’t afford to goof around.”
And with that, we chose up watches, and headed for bed.