Chapter21: Solitary Confinement

"Let me help you," said the voice.

It helped him stagger to his feet.

"Where am I?" he asked through a choked breath.

"No-mans land," replied the voice. He opened his eyes a crack. There was salt on his eyelids. The person was a 'she' with deep brown hair. She was wearing a grey ragged top and old black trousers that were torn in various places. There were no shoes on her feet.

"Where am I?" he repeated

"Twenty miles south of Gafura – farming village. We're on an unnamed beach"

"What continent?" he demanded looking at her in the eyes

"Mille Seseau," she replied surprised.

"Good," he said softly.

The sword blade had completely disappeared. Quietly he put it away amongst his wet coat pockets. His new shirt and trousers would be completely ruined. His hair was speckled with salt.

"What happened to you?"

"Air ship crash," he replied a headache pounding away. He was hardly able to think yet alone come up with a valid excuse.

"I see," she replied.

She didn't even seem to be surprised.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"Megufu," he replied and then coughed annoyed that he had just given away his real name.

"My name is Raga," she responded. She had a strange accent.

"Where is your home?"

"It's just over beyond that hill," she replied pointing.

His footprints were being left in the sand. The sand was wet. They would be erased by the next tide. The sky was sunny and breezy. The events of the night before were all hazy in his head. He was hardly able to think a straight line of thought.

"There is nobody else for miles around," she said at length.

"Why?" asked Megufu curiously

"I am a hermit. The land here is dangerous. We're in Tornado country. Waterspouts rise up off the sea. I've had my home wrecked too many times to count but at least it gets me away from people"

"You were saying…" said Megufu dryly

"You are the first person I have spoken to for 5 years"

"Why did you decide to seclude yourself?"

"Greediness. I decided that people were too selfish. I was originally a soldier in the Demingrad army"

"I thought they didn't allow women in the army?" said Megufu carefully

"Not in Serdio and Tiberoa they don't. I'm surprised you didn't know that it was different in Demingrad. Have you heard of Miranda?"

"Was she a dragoon?"

"Yes one of the three sacred sisters in the second dragon campaign. She put the law in place allowing women into the army after raiders from the west started attacking villages"

"You know your stuff," said Megufu quietly. He cringed in pain a moment stumbling on a stone.

"Easy now…" she said carefully helping him up. He couldn't stand without her support, "I know less than you think. I got fed up with people so I asked to be sent on a mission removed from home. I got sent as a missionary keeper of the peace to Mille Seseau. I was told about a witch in the hills who people were afraid of. I went to investigate and met with a woman who changed my life"

"Who was she?"

"Her name was Abrigal. I lived with her until her death. She taught me about medicine. She was an amazing woman who knew her place in the world"

"I'm sorry to hear that she died"

"I decided to follow in her footsteps and roam these forgotten lands. It is a beautiful life to live alone"

"I have to say it sounds tempting," replied Megufu, "I have not had a good experience of 'people'"

"Out here there is nobody to judge me. I can live as I please"

"Don't you get lonely?"

"I used to. Not any more"

"Your hands have calices on them," said Megufu looking that them

"I keep many plants. They need much work"

They came away from the beach through reeds and to Raga's house. It was a wooden shack. There was one bed inside and many wooden shelves with glasses on them.

"Sit down she said," and he did. Reaching up she took a bottle off of the top shelf and carefully brought it down. Taking the cork out she handed it to him saying, "Drink this"

"What is it?" he asked

"Healing Fog," she replied, "I made it myself"

Megufu did and felt immediately much better. His aches disappeared and several cuts and bruises healed up in an instant. Cracking two red rocks together several times she started a fire in the hearth.

"Thank you," said Megufu handing her back the empty bottle, "You have been very kind"

"Your welcome," she said taking a wooden bow off of a hook, "I'll be back. I have to hunt for something to eat"

"You hunt? With a bow?"

"Yes, I do," she replied, "I have to eat out here somehow. Warm yourself by the fire – it wouldn't do to let a guest go hungry"

Saying that she left the hut and walked away. It was desolate here. All he could here was the noise of the sea and the wind. It was beautiful yet so alone and silent. He was still soaked and was happy to sit by the fire. He checked his pockets to make sure he had not lost anything.

With a sigh of relief he took out his dragoon spirit. It was resonating slightly. He took off the black coat that was heavy with water and searched the pockets. Carefully he took out the other two dragoon spirits – the thunder and earth. Both were glowing dimly.

"That's uncanny," he said looking at the three of them. Gradually the light faded and dimmed down until it was nothing.

He gazed slowly into the flames and watched the sparks reach up the primitive chimney.

"I was lucky," he whispered, "very lucky"

The sea sounded distantly lapping gently over the sand. Somewhere a single bird twittered without any other to answer it.

"God…" he said to himself, "They'll still be after me"