Almost Home #2
The men who opened the gate must have sent word ahead because all the families were soon pouring out of the houses and racing over to us.
Some of the men I traveled with raced to catch small children in their arms. Others just led the horses behind the large building, presumably in the direction of the stables.
A slender older woman with silver hair tied loosely back from her face walked up to Ballard and hugged him fiercely.
I never thought about the fact that Ballard might have a wife.
It wasn’t long before I was the one clasped in a tight hug by the same woman, trying not to flinch under the unfamiliar contact.
“Welcome to our clan and your new home! I can only imagine what you’ve gone through to get here, and I’m very thankful you did it.
Come, you must be hungry and tired. You also look in want of a proper bath.
” Without even giving her name, she whisked me away from the crowd and into the large building.
The first level of the building looked like a large meeting room that could hold everyone in the clan, a large wooden chair carved with intricate designs at the front.
Ballard’s wife led me through the room and into the large kitchen, which featured a huge hearth with room for three large cooking pots to be used all at once.
A smaller pot was hung over the fire, filling the room with its savory aroma.
I was placed at a long wooden table with benches on either side and promptly served with a bowl of stew and soft, flaky bread.
“Now that’s better. Eat your fill while we heat the water for your bath,” she said, smiling warmly at me.
I nodded, thrown off by the kindness she was giving me. I was more accustomed to the disdain the other Norden nobles tended to throw our way.
I tentatively scooped some of the stew, unsure of what could be in it, and sniffed.
I wanted to ask, but I held my tongue as my mouth began to water uncontrollably.
I sipped from the spoon, and that was all I needed to know before quickly finishing the bowl.
Ballard’s wife and one other woman came back into the kitchen carrying a large cast iron pot filled to the brim with water.
I was amazed at how effortlessly they carried such a heavy pot and hooked it over the fire to heat.
“I’m glad to see you like the stew. Would you like another bowl?” Ballard’s wife asked.
My cheeks heated with embarrassment because I so badly wanted to be gluttonous and say yes.
Thankfully, my stomach growled and gave me away, and without me having to say a word, my bowl was filled once again.
This time she sat down across from me and smiled, her soft brown eyes showing it was genuine.
I instantly felt safe with this woman, who seemed to give off comfort and love in everything she did.
“I’m so glad you decided to come here to live with us. I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders.”
I choked on the food I was swallowing, surprised by this woman’s candor and directness.
We hadn’t even exchanged names yet, and she was already talking to me like family.
She quickly stood up and thwacked me on the back, helping me catch my breath, which sent me into another fit at the shock of being hit by a stranger like it was totally normal.
“Now, now, no need to get all excited,” she cooed. Once I was all right, she sat back down.
“Thank you…” I said, hoping this would trigger her to tell me her name.
“Goodness, it seems I’ve completely lost my manners. We don’t have guests in these parts of the mountain very often. My name is Helena, and as you have already guessed, I’m Ballard’s wife.”
“I’m Cassarah, daughter of Baron Charles and Baroness Adeline of Norden. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I parroted perfectly, just as I was taught.
“My, my, what the proper lady you are. Goodness, people are going to have to get used to that, I’m afraid.” Helena giggled.
“Please don’t,” I said, automatically reaching out to grasp her arm. “I want to learn to be more like everyone else. They need me to adjust to and understand them, not the other way around.”
“Well, aren’t you full of surprises,” Helena said, patting my hand. “Let’s leave that talk for tomorrow. For now, let’s get you washed up and into a proper bed.”
It was at that moment it struck me I hadn’t called for Vasin yet. He was waiting alone in the mountains for me to reach out to him.
“I have to find Ballard first. Vasin’s alone and waiting for me. He’s vulnerable right now and can’t be left defenseless in the mountains,” I cried out, beginning to panic. How could I have forgotten him so easily?
“Calm down, child. I’m sure he’s fine. I’ll send for Ballard, and he’ll help you figure all this out,” Helena said, grabbing my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
I began to panic, unsure if I could reach him from here.
We’d traveled so far from where we’d left him to wait.
Previously, I couldn’t even reach him from my home to the castle, and this was easily three times that distance.
I closed my eyes, reaching deep to find that thread of connection Vasin and I shared.
Panicking, I grasped that stronger connection rather than relying on our mental link.
Upon harmonizing, I was immediately swallowed by that strange, warm sensation that let me leave my body and join with Vasin’s.
“Cass, why are you here like this? You shouldn’t use this power unless I am close by to protect you,” Vasin scolded.
“I didn’t know if I could reach you by calling. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you.”
“I sense your worry, but you must understand that using this power leaves your body like an empty shell, vulnerable to anything. Since you are already here, I will go ahead and take the location from your memories. While I do this, you mustn’t look deeper into my mind.
The information contained here is more than any human can comprehend. ”
“I understand.”
The sensation of Vasin looking into my memories was a strange feeling but not altogether unpleasant. It felt as if a soft wind was blowing over me, combined with a nagging feeling that someone was watching me from some unseen place.
As he sought the information he needed, I caught sight of something from the corner of my eye that looked vaguely familiar. I couldn’t place why it was familiar or even tell you what it was. All I knew was I had to find out why it was here.
I could feel myself being drawn deeper, all the while something in the back of my mind cautioning me that this was a bad idea.
Yet the urge to know was greater than any fear or warning.
Just as I was within reach of it, everything changed.
A torrent of flashing colors came first, followed by being bombarded with memories, emotions, and sounds I’d never experienced before.
I could feel my brain trying to figure everything out and failing to understand.
I felt as if I would explode from all the stimulants, but I didn’t know how to escape it.
“Cassarah, what have you done? I told you not to enter deeper into my memories. Quick, try and close your mind before it’s too late. Think of your body, where you were last, what you were last doing. Quickly now, or you’ll be lost here forever.”
I tried to do as he said, thinking of the large kitchen I’d just been sitting in with Helena.
I tried to remember what it felt like to have my hands resting on the well-worn wood, the smell of the stew, the taste of it.
No matter what I thought about, I couldn’t seem to get a grasp on my real body.
It felt like I was being torn in all directions.
Just when I thought I was done for, I heard someone calling my name.
“Cassarah, wake up,” Cole’s voice pierced through the chaos, giving me something to latch onto. “I did not traipse all over God’s green earth to find you just to have you die without doing anything helpful. Dammit, woman, wake the hell up.”
I felt something connect to my face, the sting of what could only be a slap.
Anger rose inside me in response. I could feel the power of my Birthright pulling me back into my body, ready for a fight.
I opened my eyes to find that the room was flooded with a pale blue light that seemed to dissipate as my eyes cleared.
Cole looked down at me with an irritated frown while Helena was wiping tears from her face.
“If I’d known you were going to be this much work, I would’ve left your ass in Norden,” Cole said before he stood up and left the room.
“Vasin is on his way,” I croaked out before he disappeared through the doorway.