Chap. 22
Islaria rushed to pack all the things they would need while Serenity and Esmera stood close by, watching her. Islaria grabbed some packs and threw it on Arabella’s back. There wasn’t much to bring, since most of it had been abandoned when the Malks ambushed them. Islaria finally stopped at Serenity’s bow on the ground.
“Is this your only weapon?”
Serenity nodded.
Islaria picked up the bow, stared intently and it, and gently handed it to Serenity. “This may just save your life, Serenity. Take it wherever you go and use it to defend yourself.”
Serenity held the bow in her right hand. To Serenity, it felt heavier and stronger, but it was probably just her imagination. “What about you, Islaria?”
“What about me?”
“You can’t defend yourself. And I don’t want to see you getting hurt.” Serenity gave the bow back to Islaria.
Islaria took it without saying anything. Then, she raised her head to look directly into Serenity’s eyes. “Do you have a sword?”
Serenity shook her head.
“Can Esmera breathe fire yet?”
Serenity shook her head again.
“Do you have another way of protecting yourself?”
Once again, Serenity shook her head.
“Then it’s settled.” Islaria handed the bow back to Serenity and whispered, “Keep it.”
“But how will you defend yourself?” Objected Serenity.
Islaria smiled warmly. “Don’t worry about me, Serenity. We have to worry about you.”
Islaria went back to Arabella while Serenity stood still beside Esmera. Serenity watched as Islaria prepared Arabella for riding. “Okay! Let’s head off!”
“How are we going to travel?” asked Serenity.
“Esmera can fly ahead or above us, while you ride on Arabella.”
“What about you, Islaria?”
“Serenity, didn’t I just tell you that you don’t need to worry about me?”
“But—”
“I will be running.”
“What?”
“As a fox, remember?”
Serenity did remember. Oh the humiliation when a small white fox beat Isabella’s best horse in a race. “Yes, I remember.”
“Then it is settled, again.”
Islaria then ran into the forest and appeared five minutes later as YoKo.
Stop, Serenity, commanded Islaria.
Serenity made Arabella slow down to a trot. “What?”
We cannot run anymore; the ground won’t let us.
“What are we going to do?”
Shh! Talk with your mind, Serenity. We could be heard. This is the deepest and probably the hardest place to get through in the Kothari.
Yes, Islaria.
How is Esmera faring?
Serenity let her mind into Esmera’s to find out that a few miles from here, there was a lake where they could get a drink. Good.
Islaria—in her fox form—took the lead and Serenity followed. They were at the bottom of a canyon, with large rocks and walls surrounding them from both sides. The warm afternoon sun was shining to Serenity’s right. She looked up a big boulder which was halfway covering the sun. Serenity shrieked. Standing by the boulder was a figure. Serenity squinted to see, but the sun was already starting to blind her.
A few small rocks fell by Islaria’s feet, and she glanced back at Serenity to see why she shrieked. Serenity, what happened?
Serenity looked back up at where she saw, or thought she saw, the figure. She blinked; the figure was gone. I’m sorry, Islaria. I thought I saw something but I think it was just the sun getting to me.
Islaria nodded, and then went back to leading the way. Something in Serenity’s mind told her that who, or what, she saw was real.
They arrived at the lake just as the sun was starting to set. They found Esmera swimming happily in the lake. Islaria caught a rabbit and they ate it with some leftover bread. Serenity got her blanket from Arabella’s back and put it on the floor and laid down on it.
Esmera soon came over and Serenity cuddled into her side. Islaria was down by the lake getting their water for tomorrow’s journey. Islaria said they only had maybe a week or so until they were out of the Kothari.
Serenity was about the fall asleep, until Esmera woke her with a thought. Serenity, you haven’t checked on Jason for a long time. You should do that to make sure he is okay. ‘ Half-asleep, Serenity pulled out her necklace and looked at it. Serenity was jolted up by what she saw. The necklace that was given to Serenity to tell her what was Jason’s health in, was pitch black. It bore no light or faint gleam whatsoever. Serenity moved over a little so she was under the moon’s light. She glanced at it again to make sure it was true. Yes, it was. The necklace was still black. The sign that Jason was dead.
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