Yes. I like that. That is brilliant. It may not happen exactly that way bit, I think we have a premise. And premises are a very good start.
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So I'm thinking there's a plow horse, or it's supposed to be a plow horse, in Greyrock that's not very well behaved. The badness that Darin is sensing follows them to Greyrock. Darin tells Ridahne what's going on. The person that Darin is feeling has had run in with the pervious Gardener. They know how Darin figured it out. They go to kill her. Ridahne and the misbehaved plow horse save Darin (I'm not sure how on that bit) The horse's owner doesn't understand why the horse decided it liked Darin. It liked Darin because even the animals know that something is wrong with The Tree. Since animals aren't really evil they know what Darin is. That's why she's been lucky enough not to get eaten by wolves or something. Maybe that why Mitaja liked her. And I was thinking the plow horse only looks like a plow horse. I was thinking it would be more like Shadowfaw form LoTR. But not the king of horses. Just really impressive and Ridahne knows what it is really, and knows that he wouldn't pick Darin without a good reason. So she can't deny it anymore. Darin is the Gardener, Darin still tried denying it until Ridahne flats out says it. And Ridahne was right. If she wanted to kill Darin she would have done it already. And Darin is tired of doing it alone so why not. If that makes sense. I'm sorry for all the ands.
Darin would admit to a yelp of panic as the horse started moving a way that was unfamiliar. Ridahne's explanation did nothing to make her feel better. She could feel her heart racing as the Elf calmed the horse down. The human wanted to be off of it. She didn’t want to ride anymore. She tried to resign herself to the fact that she would probably have to. It wasn’t easy.
Darin felt obligated to point out, “I didn’t kill him. I just stabbed him. I suppose he could be dead because of me.” She shrugged. “But I wouldn’t know. He was breathing when I left.”
She watched Ridahne sharpen the knife. The butcher made sure that she knew how to do that. She had done it every time she actually used it. It didn’t seem to want to hold an edge. She was probably not taking care of it properly. She didn’t know how to check if she knew how to take care of it.
Darin shrugged, “I don’t know what you mean. How can one blade suit me better than this one? If you send a plow horse into battle it’s still a plow horse. I don’t know how to use a knife for anymore than cutting things like rope and vegetables. So, a better knife would be pointless. I can use a sickle, but I was told that wasn’t a practical defense for a trip in the wilds of Astra. Not that the person who told me that would know.” Suddenly she had to ask, “Can I use a sickle for defense in the wild?”
She hoped her hope wasn’t apparent in her voice. She knew how to tell if a sickle was in good condition. She knew how to properly swing one as well. Darin had to admit that it probably wasn’t practical. She was hoping the answer was maybe. It would be nice to use a weapon she was used to. She might have to make some adjustments, but it would be better than learning a whole new skill set. Though she probably wouldn’t be able to buy one. Sickles were too important to farm work. It wasn’t like a farmer would just sell her his for the meager amount of coins she had.
She found herself thinking about her farm. Technically it was her mother’s farm, but everyone in the village knew it was actually Darin’s farm. It wasn’t the most impressive farm in the village. There was only one field, and for the most part Darin grew the things that would get her and her mother from one harvest to the next. There were a few chickens, goats, and ducks. There had been one lone pig before it got fat enough to eat. It was a simple life. She hoped Thomas and Milla were keeping up the farm. They had promised that they would. Darin hoped she saw it again. She didn’t think she would. She didn’t even know what direction home was in. That was how lost she was. For all she knew she could have been traveling in circles for who knew how long. She really needed a map.
She found herself asking, “Have you ever heard of a town called Lively? If so, can you tell me how far we are from it and what direction it is?”
Lively was the closet town to the nameless village where Darin had grown up. It was the village where the lord that wanted to marry Milla lived. It was where the market was held. She didn’t have much hope that Ridahne had heard of it. There was still a better chance of her having heard of it than Darin’s home. If the Elf had heard of Lively at least Darin would be able to figure out where home was. Right now, that was all she wanted.
Suddenly Darin thought she saw something in the trees. She was overcome with a feeling a dread. It was the same feeling that she got when the bandits had surround her. She had to give it to Ridahne. The Elf may have been a traitor, but at least Darin didn’t feel a strong urge to run away from her.
Quietly, as not to draw attention to herself, the human asked, “How far to Greyrock?” She knew her eyes were supper wide, “We need to get out of here. Soon.”
Darin felt obligated to point out, “I didn’t kill him. I just stabbed him. I suppose he could be dead because of me.” She shrugged. “But I wouldn’t know. He was breathing when I left.”
She watched Ridahne sharpen the knife. The butcher made sure that she knew how to do that. She had done it every time she actually used it. It didn’t seem to want to hold an edge. She was probably not taking care of it properly. She didn’t know how to check if she knew how to take care of it.
Darin shrugged, “I don’t know what you mean. How can one blade suit me better than this one? If you send a plow horse into battle it’s still a plow horse. I don’t know how to use a knife for anymore than cutting things like rope and vegetables. So, a better knife would be pointless. I can use a sickle, but I was told that wasn’t a practical defense for a trip in the wilds of Astra. Not that the person who told me that would know.” Suddenly she had to ask, “Can I use a sickle for defense in the wild?”
She hoped her hope wasn’t apparent in her voice. She knew how to tell if a sickle was in good condition. She knew how to properly swing one as well. Darin had to admit that it probably wasn’t practical. She was hoping the answer was maybe. It would be nice to use a weapon she was used to. She might have to make some adjustments, but it would be better than learning a whole new skill set. Though she probably wouldn’t be able to buy one. Sickles were too important to farm work. It wasn’t like a farmer would just sell her his for the meager amount of coins she had.
She found herself thinking about her farm. Technically it was her mother’s farm, but everyone in the village knew it was actually Darin’s farm. It wasn’t the most impressive farm in the village. There was only one field, and for the most part Darin grew the things that would get her and her mother from one harvest to the next. There were a few chickens, goats, and ducks. There had been one lone pig before it got fat enough to eat. It was a simple life. She hoped Thomas and Milla were keeping up the farm. They had promised that they would. Darin hoped she saw it again. She didn’t think she would. She didn’t even know what direction home was in. That was how lost she was. For all she knew she could have been traveling in circles for who knew how long. She really needed a map.
She found herself asking, “Have you ever heard of a town called Lively? If so, can you tell me how far we are from it and what direction it is?”
Lively was the closet town to the nameless village where Darin had grown up. It was the village where the lord that wanted to marry Milla lived. It was where the market was held. She didn’t have much hope that Ridahne had heard of it. There was still a better chance of her having heard of it than Darin’s home. If the Elf had heard of Lively at least Darin would be able to figure out where home was. Right now, that was all she wanted.
Suddenly Darin thought she saw something in the trees. She was overcome with a feeling a dread. It was the same feeling that she got when the bandits had surround her. She had to give it to Ridahne. The Elf may have been a traitor, but at least Darin didn’t feel a strong urge to run away from her.
Quietly, as not to draw attention to herself, the human asked, “How far to Greyrock?” She knew her eyes were supper wide, “We need to get out of here. Soon.”
I had an idea! I had an idea! It involves horses. And the "knowing the hearts" thing.
You know I have no idea. Even if Ridahne sees the band on Darin's leg there's no way of knowing what's in it. The Gardener does have some powers, but they aren't physical. Darin's already got them, sort of. They are vague "know the hearts of men" type powers. It's why she's trusting Ridahne as much as she is. It's how she knew the bandits weren't planing on anything nice. It was how The Gardener knew Darin was next. Darin attributes them to instincts or gut feelings. If there's a way to use that that would be awesome.
Darin swallowed, but didn’t say anything while she thought. So, the Elf was looking for her. Not only that but she was a traitor. Darin wasn’t sure what to make of that. Apparently, the fact, that the Elf was looking for her was keeping her alive. She wasn’t sure what to make of that. The compassionate part of the human wanted to scream that she was right here. The practically part of her want to run as soon as they reached Greyrock. She wasn’t sure what part would win. The only part that made a lick of sense to Darin was that Ridahne appeared to regret oversharing. The human could relate to that.
In fact, she could relate right now, “I’m the bastard child of a farmer.” She shrugged her shoulder’s “Not that that makes you feel better, but I figured it would be less uncomfortable if I shared as well.” Darin continued, “I mean I’m a bastard, but that doesn’t really matter. Marriage isn’t really a thing in my village, so my parents weren’t wedded, but two people do make promises of devotion and fidelity to each other. That’s what my parents did. Then, when I was fourteen, my father just left. He didn’t give a reason. He didn’t say goodbye. He disappeared in the middle of the note. He took the farm horse, half the supplies, and both our hearts. Everyone in the village looked down on my mother for not being able to keep him happy enough to stay. They figured that she had done something to drive him away. So, no one was willing to help on the farm. That meant I had to step up. I taught myself though trial and error and have been doing it practically single handily ever since. My mother worries over me because you can’t work a plow in skirts, and I cut my hair on my sixteenth birthday. She’s worried I’ll never find someone to start a family with.” Darin sighed as she stared off in the distance, “There was no one else to do the job that needed doing to I kissed my mother goodbye, and started this journey knowing I was unprepared. But it’s got to be done. SO, I’m going to do the best I can.”
Not for the first time Darin wondered if that was true. Was she the only person for the job, or had The Gardener run out of time? Maybe she was just the first candidate he had found. He had died literally two seconds after giving her The Seed, and Thomas and Milla wouldn’t tell her what their conversation with The Gardener had been about. They said that she would know when she needed to know. Needless to say, the human felt woefully unprepared for the task she had been given. She didn’t feel like she would ever know why it had been given to her. She just knew that it was. So, she had to do it the best she knew how.
Darin gave her head a shake, “Enough about personal history.” She held up her knife, “This is my knife. I know it’s not meant for fighting, but I have stabbed a man with it.” She shrugged, “That was an experience.”
She didn’t think the man was dead. She had stabbed him in the chest, but she had stabbed him on the wrong side to get his heart. She wasn’t trying to kill a man. She just wanted to get herself and The Seed away from him and his group of ne’er-do-wells. Was that the right word, or was bandits better? Darin didn’t know and she didn’t want to know. She just wanted a few lessons on how to use her knife better.
In fact, she could relate right now, “I’m the bastard child of a farmer.” She shrugged her shoulder’s “Not that that makes you feel better, but I figured it would be less uncomfortable if I shared as well.” Darin continued, “I mean I’m a bastard, but that doesn’t really matter. Marriage isn’t really a thing in my village, so my parents weren’t wedded, but two people do make promises of devotion and fidelity to each other. That’s what my parents did. Then, when I was fourteen, my father just left. He didn’t give a reason. He didn’t say goodbye. He disappeared in the middle of the note. He took the farm horse, half the supplies, and both our hearts. Everyone in the village looked down on my mother for not being able to keep him happy enough to stay. They figured that she had done something to drive him away. So, no one was willing to help on the farm. That meant I had to step up. I taught myself though trial and error and have been doing it practically single handily ever since. My mother worries over me because you can’t work a plow in skirts, and I cut my hair on my sixteenth birthday. She’s worried I’ll never find someone to start a family with.” Darin sighed as she stared off in the distance, “There was no one else to do the job that needed doing to I kissed my mother goodbye, and started this journey knowing I was unprepared. But it’s got to be done. SO, I’m going to do the best I can.”
Not for the first time Darin wondered if that was true. Was she the only person for the job, or had The Gardener run out of time? Maybe she was just the first candidate he had found. He had died literally two seconds after giving her The Seed, and Thomas and Milla wouldn’t tell her what their conversation with The Gardener had been about. They said that she would know when she needed to know. Needless to say, the human felt woefully unprepared for the task she had been given. She didn’t feel like she would ever know why it had been given to her. She just knew that it was. So, she had to do it the best she knew how.
Darin gave her head a shake, “Enough about personal history.” She held up her knife, “This is my knife. I know it’s not meant for fighting, but I have stabbed a man with it.” She shrugged, “That was an experience.”
She didn’t think the man was dead. She had stabbed him in the chest, but she had stabbed him on the wrong side to get his heart. She wasn’t trying to kill a man. She just wanted to get herself and The Seed away from him and his group of ne’er-do-wells. Was that the right word, or was bandits better? Darin didn’t know and she didn’t want to know. She just wanted a few lessons on how to use her knife better.
Darin tried to relax the way she been told. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded. She constantly felt like she was going to fall off. And every time she did, she tensed up again. Maybe if she found something to distract her. After coming to that conclusion, the human decided to study her companion. Her sword was beautiful, but Darin had to admit that she didn’t know if it was practical. She supposed it was. She couldn’t imagine this warrior having anything that wasn’t.
Darin responded to her offer as politely as she knew how, “Thank you but I have a knife. I just don’t know how to use it, so I keep it in my pack.”
Darin knew it wasn’t an impressive knife, and it certainly wasn’t made for fighting. It was on of the butcher’s knifes. It wasn’t too long, Darin felt powerful using it. She knew it wasn’t much, but she had managed to use it to get away from the people who stole her pack mule. They had been planning to do something horrible to her, and they still thought she was a boy. She shuddered at the thought of what they would do with her if they had found out she was a girl.
Darin continued, “Though if you could teach me how to use it that would be great.”
She supposed she actually had two weapons, but she wasn’t using the second one for anything. It was a seem ripper the seamstress had given her. Darin had accidently poked herself on it just by tapping the end of it. It was sharper than her knife, and Darin wanted to keep it that way. She knew that the sharper it was the easier it would be to get The Seed out. That reminded Darin.
She asked a question she didn’t think would get a straight answer, “Who are you looking for? She must be important if you’re getting visions about her. Is she some sort of Elf princess? Do Elves even have princesses?”
Darin knew she wasn’t going to get a straight answer. Why would she? The mission that Ridahne sounded super important; like hers, and she was doing her best not to talk about it. It was just that an hour was a long time to spend in silence. Darin didn’t want things to get anymore awkward than they already were. After all, she had basically agreed to this woman teaching her some self-defense. Darin looked at the frankly scary looking knifes. She wanted to come out of the training, however brief, in one piece. She knew she was going to get injured at least once, but if she was lucky it would be minor.
Darin responded to her offer as politely as she knew how, “Thank you but I have a knife. I just don’t know how to use it, so I keep it in my pack.”
Darin knew it wasn’t an impressive knife, and it certainly wasn’t made for fighting. It was on of the butcher’s knifes. It wasn’t too long, Darin felt powerful using it. She knew it wasn’t much, but she had managed to use it to get away from the people who stole her pack mule. They had been planning to do something horrible to her, and they still thought she was a boy. She shuddered at the thought of what they would do with her if they had found out she was a girl.
Darin continued, “Though if you could teach me how to use it that would be great.”
She supposed she actually had two weapons, but she wasn’t using the second one for anything. It was a seem ripper the seamstress had given her. Darin had accidently poked herself on it just by tapping the end of it. It was sharper than her knife, and Darin wanted to keep it that way. She knew that the sharper it was the easier it would be to get The Seed out. That reminded Darin.
She asked a question she didn’t think would get a straight answer, “Who are you looking for? She must be important if you’re getting visions about her. Is she some sort of Elf princess? Do Elves even have princesses?”
Darin knew she wasn’t going to get a straight answer. Why would she? The mission that Ridahne sounded super important; like hers, and she was doing her best not to talk about it. It was just that an hour was a long time to spend in silence. Darin didn’t want things to get anymore awkward than they already were. After all, she had basically agreed to this woman teaching her some self-defense. Darin looked at the frankly scary looking knifes. She wanted to come out of the training, however brief, in one piece. She knew she was going to get injured at least once, but if she was lucky it would be minor.
Darin supposed she had a point, though it wasn’t just about the Elf. She didn’t know anything about Greyrock after all. She wasn’t sure she could say that out loud. She looked ready to hurt her just because her patience had run out. That would not be an agreeable idea. So, the human slipped her foot into the stirrup and let her hand hold the Elf’s so she could be swung on the horse. Darin came to a conclusion right away. She did not like riding. It might have just been because she hadn’t done it before, but she didn’t like it.
As she got mostly settled, she told her current companion, “Darin. I’m Darin. I don’t have a last name.”
She had never needed one. Home was small. Everyone there knew everyone else by sight. She knew that most people did have two names. She wasn’t sure why, but she knew that sometimes people had the same name as another person. That wasn’t usually a problem where she was from. She didn’t think it would be a problem for the Elf. She had never heard of a name like Ridahne. Then again, maybe it was a common Elf name. She wouldn’t know. Darin supposed if she needed a second name, she could be Darin Seed-Bearer. There was no way she was telling anyone that though. So, Darin would have to do. It had done just fine for the first 19 years of her life after all.
As they traveled Darin looked at her hands. She had hoped that the four years of working on her farm would have harden her hands at least a little bit. He mother certainly sighed over the state of her hands. They were the roughest out of all the girls’ in the village. Darin was starting to realize that the world was bigger than she thought. She knew that, but she hadn’t known that. Before the Gardener came the farthest she had every gotten from home was the market in the next town over. That was just about a day’s journey, so nothing like the two months she had been travel now.
It wasn’t really two months. It was more like two and a half. The Gardener had come to the village 3 months ago. It had taken about a week and a half for the village to get her set up for the trip. That was actually a good thing. Ridahne said she had been looking for the person she was searching for, for four months. So, it couldn’t be her. Of course, the Elf said a vision had started her journey. Maybe she had known about The Seed long before Darin had known. Though if she really was looking for her the vision didn’t seem to be particularly helpful. For that Darin thanked The Tree. Who knew what the vision told the Elf? Well, she supposed Ridahne knew. That didn’t mean the human knew. For all she knew the help Ridahne was talking about was help losing The Seed. Darin just finished telling half-truths. She wasn’t naïve enough to think she was the only one that did that.
Absently Darin mentally checked that she still had The Seed. She didn’t keep it around her neck. The last thing she needed was people questioning why she had a necklace where the pendant couldn’t be seen. Instead it was in a band around her thigh. The best seamstress in the village had sewn The Seed into a pouch that was tight around it. Then she had sewn it into a band in such a way that the band looked flat. The stitching was small and tight. She had done it three times. The for the pouch was linen that had been waxed so it was both stiff and water proof. The band was the toughest leather. It was then sewn around her thigh. When Darin was ready to plant The Seed, she would have to carefully cut it off of her, and then she would have to be extra careful to cut it out. It was probably over kill, but Darin didn’t care. She had been given this job for some reason unknown to her. She wasn’t going to mess it up because she was sloppy. That why, even though she couldn’t possibly lose it, she mentally checked for it every other second.
Darin could feel The Seed. It lingered in the back of her mind. It wasn’t words or anything she understood. Still, it had been that way snice The Gardener had given it to her. She could sense if there was distance between her and The Seed. She figured that would be how she would know that it was time to plant it. As for what it looked like; The Seed looked like an ordinary apple seed. It was small, black, and unassuming. Everyone in the village had looked at it. She was the only one that had the connection with it. Everyone knew it was The Seed as soon as they had seen it. Darin had tried mixing it with other apple seeds. Appearance wise it worked. Everyone could pick it out though. They had to see it though. So, the band hid it well enough.
Darin asked Ridahne, “How long till Greyrock?”
Now that they had been riding for a while Darin was convinced that she didn’t like it. The Elf seemed to move with the horse. Darin was being moved by the horse. She knew that the animal had to not like it. She didn’t like it either. The sooner she was off the happier the both of them would be. She knew that she would be stiff when it was over. If she could help it, she was never getting on a horse again. She didn’t think that would actually be an option. Though The Seed she could vaguely feel The Tree. It was dying just a little bit faster every day. She might not have time to walk the entirety of Astra.
As she got mostly settled, she told her current companion, “Darin. I’m Darin. I don’t have a last name.”
She had never needed one. Home was small. Everyone there knew everyone else by sight. She knew that most people did have two names. She wasn’t sure why, but she knew that sometimes people had the same name as another person. That wasn’t usually a problem where she was from. She didn’t think it would be a problem for the Elf. She had never heard of a name like Ridahne. Then again, maybe it was a common Elf name. She wouldn’t know. Darin supposed if she needed a second name, she could be Darin Seed-Bearer. There was no way she was telling anyone that though. So, Darin would have to do. It had done just fine for the first 19 years of her life after all.
As they traveled Darin looked at her hands. She had hoped that the four years of working on her farm would have harden her hands at least a little bit. He mother certainly sighed over the state of her hands. They were the roughest out of all the girls’ in the village. Darin was starting to realize that the world was bigger than she thought. She knew that, but she hadn’t known that. Before the Gardener came the farthest she had every gotten from home was the market in the next town over. That was just about a day’s journey, so nothing like the two months she had been travel now.
It wasn’t really two months. It was more like two and a half. The Gardener had come to the village 3 months ago. It had taken about a week and a half for the village to get her set up for the trip. That was actually a good thing. Ridahne said she had been looking for the person she was searching for, for four months. So, it couldn’t be her. Of course, the Elf said a vision had started her journey. Maybe she had known about The Seed long before Darin had known. Though if she really was looking for her the vision didn’t seem to be particularly helpful. For that Darin thanked The Tree. Who knew what the vision told the Elf? Well, she supposed Ridahne knew. That didn’t mean the human knew. For all she knew the help Ridahne was talking about was help losing The Seed. Darin just finished telling half-truths. She wasn’t naïve enough to think she was the only one that did that.
Absently Darin mentally checked that she still had The Seed. She didn’t keep it around her neck. The last thing she needed was people questioning why she had a necklace where the pendant couldn’t be seen. Instead it was in a band around her thigh. The best seamstress in the village had sewn The Seed into a pouch that was tight around it. Then she had sewn it into a band in such a way that the band looked flat. The stitching was small and tight. She had done it three times. The for the pouch was linen that had been waxed so it was both stiff and water proof. The band was the toughest leather. It was then sewn around her thigh. When Darin was ready to plant The Seed, she would have to carefully cut it off of her, and then she would have to be extra careful to cut it out. It was probably over kill, but Darin didn’t care. She had been given this job for some reason unknown to her. She wasn’t going to mess it up because she was sloppy. That why, even though she couldn’t possibly lose it, she mentally checked for it every other second.
Darin could feel The Seed. It lingered in the back of her mind. It wasn’t words or anything she understood. Still, it had been that way snice The Gardener had given it to her. She could sense if there was distance between her and The Seed. She figured that would be how she would know that it was time to plant it. As for what it looked like; The Seed looked like an ordinary apple seed. It was small, black, and unassuming. Everyone in the village had looked at it. She was the only one that had the connection with it. Everyone knew it was The Seed as soon as they had seen it. Darin had tried mixing it with other apple seeds. Appearance wise it worked. Everyone could pick it out though. They had to see it though. So, the band hid it well enough.
Darin asked Ridahne, “How long till Greyrock?”
Now that they had been riding for a while Darin was convinced that she didn’t like it. The Elf seemed to move with the horse. Darin was being moved by the horse. She knew that the animal had to not like it. She didn’t like it either. The sooner she was off the happier the both of them would be. She knew that she would be stiff when it was over. If she could help it, she was never getting on a horse again. She didn’t think that would actually be an option. Though The Seed she could vaguely feel The Tree. It was dying just a little bit faster every day. She might not have time to walk the entirety of Astra.
Darin didn’t like the way the Elf attempted to make sure it was just a journey for her mother. It made the girl warry. There was something about how eager the Elf was to know how long she had been traveling that set her on high alert. Though it was odd how quickly she gave up on that line of questions. Darin wasn’t going to answer any questions unless the Elf insisted. When the cat got off of her Darin slowly sat up.
Maybe she wasn’t the brightest, but she said, “A ride would be awesome. Greyrock is far enough.”
Darin didn’t actually know if that was far enough. She had no idea where Greyrock was in relationship to where she was now. She didn’t know where it was related to the whole of Astra either. Of course, she didn’t know where she was in relation to all of Astra, so it’s not like it mattered. The village she called home had no maps. Darin wasn’t really bothered by the fact that was lost. She had to travel all of Astra. She was hoping not all of Astra, but it could be all of Astra. She supposed she should be at least a little worried. It wouldn’t do to spend years wondering in circles. Maybe there would be a map in the Greyrock place.
Darin stood up and slowly approached the horse, “Well I don’t know who you’re looking for, but I needed your help down, and I guess that I need your help out of this forest. So, it’s good you came by.” She shrugged, “Maybe they’re in Greyrock.”
Darin was pretty positive that she was the girl the Elf was looking for. She didn’t know that for sure, but the way the Elf was talking about the girl needing her help, and the feeling Darin was getting made her willing to bet that she was looking for the person who had The Seed. Since that was her, she was being sought after. Darin wasn’t going to tell her that though. She wasn’t sure how much of this was a ruse to get her to trust the Elf. Right now, she couldn’t trust anyone.
Still, she was tired of walking. She had been doing nothing but walk for the past three months. Even before all her supplies were stolen Darin couldn’t ride the pack mule. There were two reasons for this. The first was that the mule wouldn’t move with people on its back. It was just that stubborn. The second was that Darin didn’t know how to ride. She never had a reason to. She worked a small farm in a small village. Though that reason did lead to her current predicament.
Darin looked at the horse with confusion on her face, “Um. How do I get on?” She slowly backed away, “Maybe this isn’t a good idea. I don’t know how to ride.”
Now that Darin was thinking about it properly this was a terrible idea. The Elf had her cat pin Darin to the ground and started demanding things she had no real right to demand. Darin had no clue where Greyrock was or even what kind of town it was. For all she knew it was a den of less than honest people. This whole adventure had her on edge. She had always been less trusting than most people, but now she was down right twitching with distrust. She wasn’t even sure what way was the right way anymore. She was convinced she was losing her mind.
Maybe she wasn’t the brightest, but she said, “A ride would be awesome. Greyrock is far enough.”
Darin didn’t actually know if that was far enough. She had no idea where Greyrock was in relationship to where she was now. She didn’t know where it was related to the whole of Astra either. Of course, she didn’t know where she was in relation to all of Astra, so it’s not like it mattered. The village she called home had no maps. Darin wasn’t really bothered by the fact that was lost. She had to travel all of Astra. She was hoping not all of Astra, but it could be all of Astra. She supposed she should be at least a little worried. It wouldn’t do to spend years wondering in circles. Maybe there would be a map in the Greyrock place.
Darin stood up and slowly approached the horse, “Well I don’t know who you’re looking for, but I needed your help down, and I guess that I need your help out of this forest. So, it’s good you came by.” She shrugged, “Maybe they’re in Greyrock.”
Darin was pretty positive that she was the girl the Elf was looking for. She didn’t know that for sure, but the way the Elf was talking about the girl needing her help, and the feeling Darin was getting made her willing to bet that she was looking for the person who had The Seed. Since that was her, she was being sought after. Darin wasn’t going to tell her that though. She wasn’t sure how much of this was a ruse to get her to trust the Elf. Right now, she couldn’t trust anyone.
Still, she was tired of walking. She had been doing nothing but walk for the past three months. Even before all her supplies were stolen Darin couldn’t ride the pack mule. There were two reasons for this. The first was that the mule wouldn’t move with people on its back. It was just that stubborn. The second was that Darin didn’t know how to ride. She never had a reason to. She worked a small farm in a small village. Though that reason did lead to her current predicament.
Darin looked at the horse with confusion on her face, “Um. How do I get on?” She slowly backed away, “Maybe this isn’t a good idea. I don’t know how to ride.”
Now that Darin was thinking about it properly this was a terrible idea. The Elf had her cat pin Darin to the ground and started demanding things she had no real right to demand. Darin had no clue where Greyrock was or even what kind of town it was. For all she knew it was a den of less than honest people. This whole adventure had her on edge. She had always been less trusting than most people, but now she was down right twitching with distrust. She wasn’t even sure what way was the right way anymore. She was convinced she was losing her mind.
Darin so glad the Elf was willing to help her. At least now she wouldn’t break something. She could have done without the comments about the wild being dangerous. She was well aware of that fact. That was why it was called the wild. Besides. It wasn’t like Darin was here by choice. If it was up to her, she would be back on the farm getting ready for the harvest. She supposed she did have a choice. It just wasn’t much of a choice. She couldn’t just let Astra fall.
Once she was on the ground the cat got closer. Darin held impossibly still as she was examined. When the cat decided that she was okay Darin let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding. With a slight smile she began running her hand though the cat’s fur. She thought that was the right thing to do since the cat had all but demanded it.
Darin whispered, “You really are beautiful.” Louder than that she told the Elf. “You’re right it’s safer. But, how did you?”
She didn’t get a chance to finish before the cat was pinning her to the ground. Darin was convinced the cat was bigger than she was. She tossed a look at the Elf. This wasn’t good. This is why she needed to get The Seed planted. No on wanted to be nice any more. Though why the Elf had decided to help her ground only to pin her to the ground was beyond her. People made no sense to Darin. Not for the first time Darin wished she was back on her farm. Why did it have to be her?”
Darin decided to answer the question without going into too much detail, “I’m a journey for my mother. It’s very important. Please let me go. I’ll try not to bother you anymore.”
There, the Elf wouldn’t be able to call her a liar. Darin was on a journey to protect her mother. It just so happened that it was also a journey to protect everyone in Astra. And it was very important. It was life of death important. Darin couldn’t tell her anymore. She may not have been prepared for the wild, but she wasn’t stupid. She couldn’t jus go around telling people she was on a journey to plant The Seed. That would a paint a target on her back. While it was true some people would be more willing to help her, Darin had no experience in telling if a person was bad or good. She knew that too. So, it was better to keep to herself.
Darin knew better than to try and struggle out of this mess. The Elf was clearly a fighter. Darin had none of those skill. Somehow, she didn’t think being able to plow a field would help her in this case. She could only hope that the Elf would take her answer and not question her further. It was a true answer, so if the Elf had someone to tell she was lying she wouldn’t be able detect a lie from her. At least that’s what Darin was hoping.
Darin was not above begging, “Please. I’m just a farm girl. All I want to do is finish my journey and go home.”
Also true. That was what Darin wanted. She wanted to figure out where The Seed wanted to be planted. Then she needed to plant it and make sure it would grow. Then she wanted to go home, back to her mother, back to her farm. In the back of her mind Darin knew that wouldn’t be the case. In the back of her mind she knew The Gardener had called her to do more than just plant The Seed. Darin wasn’t paying attention to that part of herself. If she did, she thought she might collapse from the sheer overwhelming nature of this whole adventure.
Once she was on the ground the cat got closer. Darin held impossibly still as she was examined. When the cat decided that she was okay Darin let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding. With a slight smile she began running her hand though the cat’s fur. She thought that was the right thing to do since the cat had all but demanded it.
Darin whispered, “You really are beautiful.” Louder than that she told the Elf. “You’re right it’s safer. But, how did you?”
She didn’t get a chance to finish before the cat was pinning her to the ground. Darin was convinced the cat was bigger than she was. She tossed a look at the Elf. This wasn’t good. This is why she needed to get The Seed planted. No on wanted to be nice any more. Though why the Elf had decided to help her ground only to pin her to the ground was beyond her. People made no sense to Darin. Not for the first time Darin wished she was back on her farm. Why did it have to be her?”
Darin decided to answer the question without going into too much detail, “I’m a journey for my mother. It’s very important. Please let me go. I’ll try not to bother you anymore.”
There, the Elf wouldn’t be able to call her a liar. Darin was on a journey to protect her mother. It just so happened that it was also a journey to protect everyone in Astra. And it was very important. It was life of death important. Darin couldn’t tell her anymore. She may not have been prepared for the wild, but she wasn’t stupid. She couldn’t jus go around telling people she was on a journey to plant The Seed. That would a paint a target on her back. While it was true some people would be more willing to help her, Darin had no experience in telling if a person was bad or good. She knew that too. So, it was better to keep to herself.
Darin knew better than to try and struggle out of this mess. The Elf was clearly a fighter. Darin had none of those skill. Somehow, she didn’t think being able to plow a field would help her in this case. She could only hope that the Elf would take her answer and not question her further. It was a true answer, so if the Elf had someone to tell she was lying she wouldn’t be able detect a lie from her. At least that’s what Darin was hoping.
Darin was not above begging, “Please. I’m just a farm girl. All I want to do is finish my journey and go home.”
Also true. That was what Darin wanted. She wanted to figure out where The Seed wanted to be planted. Then she needed to plant it and make sure it would grow. Then she wanted to go home, back to her mother, back to her farm. In the back of her mind Darin knew that wouldn’t be the case. In the back of her mind she knew The Gardener had called her to do more than just plant The Seed. Darin wasn’t paying attention to that part of herself. If she did, she thought she might collapse from the sheer overwhelming nature of this whole adventure.
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