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chapter 4I looked through the woods at the town at the bottom of the hill. I would have to go in there eventually. Would they remember me there? Probably not, it’s been ten years. No one had ever paid very much attention to us orphans anyway. Not if they could help it. They probably didn’t even care when I left, just one less mouth to feed.I sighed, as I looked west. The sun was sinking towards the hills. I had promised Illiquith I would make it to town before night fell. I picked myself up and began down the path. Looking back I could see the treetops still glowing with the last of the sun’s rays. I remembered the last time I had seen the forest form here. It seemed so long ago that I ran into those woods, hoping to get away. Away from what I was now returning to. I made my way down the hill quickly. I had chosen a path that would take me around the high fences of the town, to the main road, which leads inside. I wished for the use of my magic, to float instead of walk. I was unused to walking such distances. At Illiquith’s home I would usually float everywhere, except for the few times I was told not to use my magic, then I would stay near the house walking only short distances. I stepped out on the road with my new shoes and began to walk into the town. I passed some newer buildings, which weren’t there when I had last seen the town. Past city hall, how small it looked, left down Fran Street to the White Oak Tavern. Everywhere I looked I could see stone. Stone buildings lined streets of stone. There would have been very little magic for me to use here, even if I were to try. It felt so dead to me. The town with all it’s stone had held little magic for me and it was a little scary. Of course I knew why. Illiquith had explained it all to me years before. The magic that my type of mage uses comes from plants and trees. In a town of stone there is no magic for me to use. It was creepy. After living in the forest for ten years, I had gotten used to there always being magic for my use. I paused outside of the tavern, looked at the lit windows and listened to the sounds of merriment coming from within. I sighed again. On my way into town I had passed many people I recognized but only one whom I had known well from before. They had all given me the same look; one of suspicion of a stranger. Few people ever passed through Renklan, and those who did were often criminals or outcasts. I pulled the door open and stepped inside. It was my first time in a bar. Many heads turned as I looked around and the voices lowered to whispers. The music kept on playing and soon everyone was back to doing what they had been before, drinking. I knew this was one place where I could find Illiquith’s friend, he had told me so. There was a man behind the bar serving out drinks. He smiled at me as I came forward. “I haven’t seen you around here before. Welcome to the White Oak! What can I get you?” The man said in a jolly tone, but the look he gave me was the same. I returned the smile and replied, “I’m looking for a man named Michel Sherren. Do you know where he is?” “Old Mike? Well yes I do. He’s that man sitting in the corner over there by the door.” I looked to where the man was pointing. Sure enough there was a dark man sitting all alone at a table in the corner. I walked across the room to his table; ignoring the looks the young men gave me. “Michel Sherren?” I asked the man. He had a kind old face with a large smile. His hair was brown and shaggy and his clothes were patched in places. I guessed he was about fifty years old. He got up with a smile. “Let me guess, you are Andrea right?” He smiled again. “My brother sent me word of your arrival.” The way he smiled reminded me of Illiquith. There were other similarities as well. It wasn’t too much of a surprise to me that they were brothers. I sat in the seat across from him and continued to study his face. “Well come on now. There is no need for you to stay here tonight. You can stay with me.” said Michel. I nodded and followed him out of the tavern into the dark street. He led the way down the street to the edge of town. There was a small house here on the edge of a cornfield. Michel led the way inside. Being so near plant life was refreshing and I soaked up as much magic as I could before going into that house of stone. Even though I wouldn’t need it, it made me feel better. Michel had lit a fire, which cast its glowing warmth about the room. It was a small house with few rooms. It was very cozy. Around the fire were high backed chairs. I sat in one and explained my situation to Michel, who only knew that I was coming and not the reasons behind it. “It’s going to be a tough journey to get there you know.” said Michel. He frowned. “I wish I could come with you but my traveling days were over long ago” He stopped and seemed to be lost in old memories, not very happy ones by the look on his face. He continued, “But I can give you good enough directions on how to get there.” He got out of his chair and went to a table in the back of the room. Out of a drawer he pulled an old rolled up piece of paper. He came back and handed it to me. As he unrolled it and he explained to me that it was a map he had made on his journeys years before. “You can use this. It’s not exactly accurate but it won’t have to be all you need to do is get to here...” he pointed to a spot on the map marked by the words “???????????” which read “dragon cave”. I was shocked. He wanted me to go into a dragon cave?? He was still talking, “...and take a dragon flight to here” he pointed to a location on the other side of what appeared to be mountains. That place looked like a town but I wasn’t sure. He continued, “From there all you need to do is …” He made it seem so simple. As far as I could tell, the hardest part would be getting to the dragon cave and getting a ride on the dragon before whoever it was that was hunting me down, found me. I’d have to be careful of bandits and whatnot but most importantly in not giving myself away by using my magic. While trying to get a ride with the dragon I’d have to use my magic therefore I’d be detected by follower. But when I get there, there would be no way of his catching up, unless of course, he knows how to ride to the dragons. That’s what made this trip so dangerous. I had to set off as soon as I could, so we spent most of the night packing and preparing. Michel gave me fresh food, some blankets and cloaks, and a lot of gold. I was to use some of the gold on other supplies in the next town, but most of it on my dragon flight. We also went over the spell I would have to cast in order to ride the dragon. Since I couldn’t use my magic I memorized the mantra for it instead. A mantra is a set of words that helps you concentrate on the spell. I rarely used mantras in my everyday life, as they are not necessary for the casting of the spells. Before the sun came up the next day I went for the water. Ironically I ended up at the same well I had been getting water from the day I left Renklan. I easily filled my two buckets and was heading back to Mike’s house just as the sun was coming up. Walking down the stone street I heard footsteps behind me. “Andrea??” a quiet voice called out to me. I didn’t stop. I knew who it was. “Andrea!” The voice persisted. This time I stopped, but I didn’t turn. Footsteps hurried up behind me and stopped a few feet back. “Hello Danny.” I answered. It was Danny, the same boy who had told me the truth behind the pranks so many years ago. I turned and looked at his amazed expression. He gave me a shy smile. “You remember me?” I asked with a little smile. “Of course I remember you! How could I forget! Where have you been? Everyone thought you were dead, fell down the well.” He asked. “I didn’t fall down the well,” I answered not really wanting to tell him the truth. He wouldn’t believe it anyways. “Then where were you all this time?” He asked this with such a pleading look, you know the one that resembles a begging puppy. I sighed. What could I tell him that he could believe? I can’t tell the truth, at least not all of it... “I...” I began “I ran away, went to the forest.” I tried to make it look like no big deal. The look on his face at that was one of many emotions, fear, shock, and amazement. “I know” I continued, “I didn’t expect to live either, but I managed.” Danny was dumbfounded for a moment, which was fine for me. When he got his voice back he said, “But you’re back now right? You are not going to leave?” He almost sounded desperate. “No. I can’t stay here.” “Well why not” “I don’t belong” “How could you not belong? You grew up here. It’s that why you came back?” I shook my head and sighed. How could I make him understand? “No. I belong with my own people, people from far away. I must find my people. I have to find them soon.” This was the must I could really say without giving away the terrifying reasons behind my brief return. “Can I come with you?” His comment amazed me; it was not what I would have expected. “Why?” “Because I want to get away from here, but there is nowhere else that I know of. If you are going somewhere far away can’t I came to? You’d need someone to travel with right?” I thought about this. Sure it’d be nice to travel with company but… “There are things you don’t know about me Danny.” “Why can’t I find out?” “You can’t come Danny, now leave me alone” I began to walk away form him. He followed behind and said, “Do you remember that night when I spoke to you?” He continued without waiting for an answer, “I couldn’t stand seeing you hurt, I liked you. When you never came back I was very miserable. I thought it was my fault, if I hadn’t said anything to you then nothing would have happened. Now you are back and you won’t let me come with you…and I’ll lose you again.” He stopped and turned away, back down the street. I stopped again but didn’t look at him; I looked at the forest instead. Someone had liked me when others had not. I turned and watched him until he had turned the corner and passed out of sight. He had liked me. Suddenly I felt awful. He had liked me and I didn’t see, I left and he thought I was dead. It must have been hard on him I realized. I had expected to die, but I hadn’t thought that anyone would actually miss me. I am a choice right then. Setting the buckets down on the road, I turned and followed Danny. He heard me coming and turned. I stopped a few steps away from him. “I-I would like you to come,” I confessed, “But the journey well be very dangerous. There are things at work that you do not understand.” He didn’t take long to think about it. “I don’t mind the danger. And things I don’t yet understand can be taught.” “Take a minute and think about it Danny. You’ll be leaving Renklan and you may never come back” “I want to leave here anyways. It would be better if I go with you. You need someone to travel with right? Besides I don’t care where I go so I may as well go with you.” He seemed determined on the matter. “You are right. I do need someone to travel with. If you come then you’ll need to be ready within the hour. Pack warm cloaks and blankets and bring all the money you have. Plus any food that may last while. But don’t over pack. You must be able to carry it on your back. When you are done come to Michel Sherren’s house. I’ll be waiting for you.” “I’ll be there.” He told me and ran off down the street. I turned and hurried back it mike’s house to tell him the news. On the way I almost forgot the buckets and had to go back for them. When Danny showed up at the door 45 minutes later I was already finished packing. I had had a brief argument with old mike over Danny’s coming, but he soon agreed with it. But he thought we should tell Danny the reasons behind the trip and give him one last chance to stay in Renklan. Danny showed up with a large pack. We went over what he brought to make sure he didn’t bring anything unnecessary. He had packed quite well in fact. He also brought a fair amount of money and a dagger. Mike approved of our supplies and we took another 10 minutes explaining to him the journey. We showed him the maps, told him about magic and everything, but his choice did not deter. He swore he would go with me anywhere. We were ready to go.
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