Chapter FIFTY-ONE: Safe for Now-TALIA

...

On a large tranquil land mass far from total devastation, the Dreamer, the General, and the Chosen One arrived unharmed...

..

As soon as she stepped out of the portal, Talia felt slightly more put together. On this land, it was still nightfall for a little while longer. The bright stars shone brightly above near the high mountain and cliff peaks in the distance. Perhaps, because the night sky was still overhead, it was easier for her sleeping-self to stay locked in the Dreamworld, she realized.

No demons walked the lands, nor even wild animals were present as it was still night time. The valley was lush with bright green grass and wild flowers poking through the tall blades. A slight breeze blew giving the air a calm and peaceful balance. Large red apple trees lined even the steep hills. Talia watched as Tailor and the child appeared a moment behind. Tailor looked in awe over the land. Both were stunned by the contrast of the blasted ruins they left behind.

Tailor quickly rushed over to pick an apple and devoured it nearly whole, "Oh thank Aia! I have not eaten like this in months! Where are we?" He picked an apple for Talia but she politely declined.

Talia looked around. She looked for the Agriculture Shrine she had hoped to land near, but there was not even a farmhouse around. Just dark forest valley. She suddenly saw a cross sign with wooden arrows pointing in different directions. Tailor followed her as he munched on another bright red apple.

"I'm not sure. We are not where I wanted us to end," Talia said a bit panicked. She knew she would need to turn back soon to find Devin. She needed to try to find him one more time before going back to the Dream.

Suddenly, remembering she had a pocket full of glowberries from the Dreamworld that she brought along with her to entertain Dameon with, she pulled them out to help her see better. The berries glowed bright enough in the darkness to help her read the sign in front of her. She noticed right away that some of the towns had been pulled off from the post and discarded on the ground. Towns she knew most likely were destroyed or separated by the seas now. She looked to see if there were any clues on where the shrine may be, but there was nothing. Her eyes suddenly caught the top most arrow, with the name "Clearwater" carved faintly on it.

"There! Armaiti said his temple was near Clearwater...Tailor, I cannot take you the rest of the way. I must return to Thais...I need to find Devin. If I find him I shall bring him here...If I do not, I will return for the child...I wanted to take you and, and—" Talia suddenly stopped realizing she did not know the child's name.

"—It is Rhen...Rhen Pendragon...Alicia named her before she di..." Tailor said bittersweet, realizing it was the first time he had not had to call her "lass" or "princess." Sadness spread over his face.

Talia seemed surprised by her name having expected something a bit more regal and formal, "Goddesses, that is lovely—I want to take you and Rhen to Armaiti...but I'm afraid you'll have to be on your own for now."

"I understand. You need to try to find King Devin. I'll do my best, Dreamer Talia," Tailor said lacking confidence. He looked around at the vast landscape with the only light being from the starry sky far above. He had no idea what this foreign land was like. He never thought he would ever leave Thais, yet alone flee at a moment's notice. He doubted that Devin was even alive...

"Err...On second thought, Talia, perhaps, you shouldn't go back...It's not safe and I do not believe you will find the king. You saw how bad it was over there...It's best that you just take the lass and go even farther than we are now."

"Tailor, I cannot even hold her right now...If I wake...If I wake she shall be alone with no one near...You must keep the Chosen One—you must keep Rhen safe. The demon will never find you here. I'll return to you if I can or send for help...Regardless, I will find you in your dreams," Talia said as she readied herself to leave.

"You are already in my dreams," Tailor added in slyly. Talia nudged him on the side this time. "Err...Sorry, I have a thing for gorgeous red-strands!...I supposed I can finally settle down and find a wife," he said jokingly, rubbing where she had elbowed him. It seemed to be the end of the world, after all.

"She shall be a lucky wife," Talia said and winked as well at the same time, but also saddened at what had not been for her with the sun priest. "Odd that you have not found one yet, knight."

"Ah, alas, my career as General was my life. There was no time for a wife," Tailor said, finding he was relieved from all responsibly and could freely live his life as he pleased. "Now, if you can only find the blue-haired Pendragon, then perhaps I can have my own lass as well someday."

"Aye, that is my wish as well, " Talia said, still hopeful she'd find Devin alive.

So many possibilities came to Talia's mind if she failed to find the child's father. The possibility that Rhen was now orphaned weight heavily on her mind. If that were the tragic reality, then what kind of parents would the girl have from herself and the sun priest? Would they be able to protect her, Talia contemplated, the weight of everything upon her again. For now, she should not be too quick to assume the king dead.

With no further time to waste, Talia gave Tailor all the gold she had on her, and most of the restoratives and little food she had brought for the journey, to help them get them through her absence.

"Please, do not leave us here, Priestess," Tailor plead one last time.

"I must...Take care of the child. I'll be back in a span, " Talia said as she quickly opened another portal back to Thais.

Tailor turned towards the Highlands, knowing it would take him forever to reach the top. He wondered how he was going to find a Druid's temple in the goddamn middle of the night, all on his own in an unknown land, with a princess under his arm.