CHAPTER SIX
Rain
The next day was dreary as rain from above pelted their saddle soar bodies making the
journey drag on and seem much longer. The day wore on without any distraction. It was almost
peaceful, and would had been a very good day for travel if not for the harsh rain. Early that
morning, Kel had decided against going to see the healer. She found that she would rather wait.
Waiting meant that she didn't know exactly what was going on inside her. The advantage of this
was if Kel didn't know, then she wouldn't have the pressure of keeping that extensive secret to
herself. If she had no clue, there was nothing to tell, thus minimizing her chances of slipping up
and ruining her life. Then she also had to face the fact that if this was true, even not knowing
wouldn't change things, and her existence would still be crushed. No longer what it once was. In
the end, Kel thought this was a great idea, if there was no secret that she knew of, then there
was also nothing to tell.
Kel was consumed that whole day by her own deep and imposing thoughts. No matter
how hard she tried, the facts kept coming back, pounding her head into the wall so to say. The
only thing that could divert and extract her from these reflections was the brutal cold. No matter
how hard she tried there was absolutely no way to keep warm through her rain soaked cloak as the
icy drizzle sent chills through her entire shivering body. Slowly as the day dragged on the sun
began to dip down behind the mountains. Darkness hadn't completely fallen when the horses
delayed and their pace slowed. They had reached their destination. Almost as a unit, the group began
to unsaddle their tired, dirty but faithful mounts. Kel mad no move. She sat in a daze atop Hoshi who
waited patiently for Kel to regain her senses. Suddenly two tall figures shrouded by the shadows made
their way out of the near by fiefdom to which the stables belonged. Abruptly someone ran briskly over to
Kel, lifted her from Hoshi's patient back and hugged her fatigued bones with an intense fierceness. Then
another pair of warm strong arms circled her tightly. Kel's thoughts come out of the haze and her eyes
leisurely focused on her mother smiling face. Kel returned the smile and hugged her mother back with as
much strength as she could muster. Then Kel searched the surrounding people, and her eye's fell upon
the broad grinning face of her oldest brother Anders.
"Come." Kel's mother advised. "Let's get you inside before you catch your death out here."
Both her mother and Anders began to push the frozen Kel toward the house. *Why do people keep saying
that?* Kel wondered vaguely.
"Wait." Kel said turning. "Hoshi."
"Don't worry about it," Anders replied. "I'll take care of everything for you. Just rest up."
Anders left them and headed towards the stables
once again.
"Watch out for Peachblossom!" Kel warned to his retreating back.
Ilane continued to guide the exhausted Kel into the house. Kel was so tired she was dead on
her feet. So worn-out she didn't notice that the house around her was almost in shambles. Kel was pushed
down the hall and into a room that used to be her own. Through her weariness Kel notice that the room had
changed very little since she had last slept here over seven years ago. The furniture was in the same places,
and although they were no longer on the floor her childhood toys were there as well. Ilane went over to the
homey fireplace and pulled a pot of boiling water from if hungry flames. Then she carefully poured it into a
waiting tub that sat situated next to the fading blaze. The tub looked warm and inviting as the steam rose
swirling towards to ceiling. Ilane smiled at her daughter.
"Can you bathe by yourself? Or do you need help with that too?" Ilane chuckled.
Kel smiled shaking her head. "I can manage. Thanks." She mumbled. "Can you make sure no one
even thinks of disturbing me until morning." Kel asked groggily. Then as an after thought she added.
"Unless the house catches fire."
Ilane patted Kel's arm lovingly. "Sure thing. I doubt there will be a fire, so rest well."
Kel quickly shed her rain and mud soaked clothes and lowered her aching self in amongst the steam
and warmth with a grateful sigh. Once in the watery comfort Kel relaxed. Sluggishly exhaustion took hold,
consuming her stinging body and mind. Her attention slackened and her body slid. Kel's head dipped rapidly
under the water's surface jolting her instantly awake. Shock and a little frightened, Kel washed quickly,
dried her sluggish limbs, and dragged herself to bed with out another thought or consideration. Within seconds
her heavy eyelids were shut and her mind drifting away.
Rain
The next day was dreary as rain from above pelted their saddle soar bodies making the
journey drag on and seem much longer. The day wore on without any distraction. It was almost
peaceful, and would had been a very good day for travel if not for the harsh rain. Early that
morning, Kel had decided against going to see the healer. She found that she would rather wait.
Waiting meant that she didn't know exactly what was going on inside her. The advantage of this
was if Kel didn't know, then she wouldn't have the pressure of keeping that extensive secret to
herself. If she had no clue, there was nothing to tell, thus minimizing her chances of slipping up
and ruining her life. Then she also had to face the fact that if this was true, even not knowing
wouldn't change things, and her existence would still be crushed. No longer what it once was. In
the end, Kel thought this was a great idea, if there was no secret that she knew of, then there
was also nothing to tell.
Kel was consumed that whole day by her own deep and imposing thoughts. No matter
how hard she tried, the facts kept coming back, pounding her head into the wall so to say. The
only thing that could divert and extract her from these reflections was the brutal cold. No matter
how hard she tried there was absolutely no way to keep warm through her rain soaked cloak as the
icy drizzle sent chills through her entire shivering body. Slowly as the day dragged on the sun
began to dip down behind the mountains. Darkness hadn't completely fallen when the horses
delayed and their pace slowed. They had reached their destination. Almost as a unit, the group began
to unsaddle their tired, dirty but faithful mounts. Kel mad no move. She sat in a daze atop Hoshi who
waited patiently for Kel to regain her senses. Suddenly two tall figures shrouded by the shadows made
their way out of the near by fiefdom to which the stables belonged. Abruptly someone ran briskly over to
Kel, lifted her from Hoshi's patient back and hugged her fatigued bones with an intense fierceness. Then
another pair of warm strong arms circled her tightly. Kel's thoughts come out of the haze and her eyes
leisurely focused on her mother smiling face. Kel returned the smile and hugged her mother back with as
much strength as she could muster. Then Kel searched the surrounding people, and her eye's fell upon
the broad grinning face of her oldest brother Anders.
"Come." Kel's mother advised. "Let's get you inside before you catch your death out here."
Both her mother and Anders began to push the frozen Kel toward the house. *Why do people keep saying
that?* Kel wondered vaguely.
"Wait." Kel said turning. "Hoshi."
"Don't worry about it," Anders replied. "I'll take care of everything for you. Just rest up."
Anders left them and headed towards the stables
once again.
"Watch out for Peachblossom!" Kel warned to his retreating back.
Ilane continued to guide the exhausted Kel into the house. Kel was so tired she was dead on
her feet. So worn-out she didn't notice that the house around her was almost in shambles. Kel was pushed
down the hall and into a room that used to be her own. Through her weariness Kel notice that the room had
changed very little since she had last slept here over seven years ago. The furniture was in the same places,
and although they were no longer on the floor her childhood toys were there as well. Ilane went over to the
homey fireplace and pulled a pot of boiling water from if hungry flames. Then she carefully poured it into a
waiting tub that sat situated next to the fading blaze. The tub looked warm and inviting as the steam rose
swirling towards to ceiling. Ilane smiled at her daughter.
"Can you bathe by yourself? Or do you need help with that too?" Ilane chuckled.
Kel smiled shaking her head. "I can manage. Thanks." She mumbled. "Can you make sure no one
even thinks of disturbing me until morning." Kel asked groggily. Then as an after thought she added.
"Unless the house catches fire."
Ilane patted Kel's arm lovingly. "Sure thing. I doubt there will be a fire, so rest well."
Kel quickly shed her rain and mud soaked clothes and lowered her aching self in amongst the steam
and warmth with a grateful sigh. Once in the watery comfort Kel relaxed. Sluggishly exhaustion took hold,
consuming her stinging body and mind. Her attention slackened and her body slid. Kel's head dipped rapidly
under the water's surface jolting her instantly awake. Shock and a little frightened, Kel washed quickly,
dried her sluggish limbs, and dragged herself to bed with out another thought or consideration. Within seconds
her heavy eyelids were shut and her mind drifting away.