Edited 1/29/22 - Please let me know your thoughts throughout the story, I'd love to hear for you :)

I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.

Enjoy,


Sowing of Seeds

"Is this necessary?"

Rose looked down at the water as it slithered towards her toes. She audibly gasped as its cold wetness insulted her skin, and she hastily backed away from it, stepping on shards of black, shining rocks that chewed at the skin of her feet. "Yes," she said with a shiver as a stream of seaweed edged closer, "yes, it is."

"I think, I'm fine as is," said Cai, sitting onto the ground stubbornly. "I an't gonna do it. You can't make me."

He hunched his shoulders and looked out at her mulishly, twiddling his thumbs. From a stone ledge above, Thorn looked laughingly at the scene before him and contacted her through their mindlink. The hatchling is probably a different color under all that dirt, he said reflectively.

Undoubtedly, said Rose smiling at the waves as they skidded to a bubbling halt on the rocky shore just before her feet. And his hair is probably white as snow. Rose shook her head with a laugh. "Thorn shan't let you on him until you bathe," she told the boy. "That's quite a long climb to the top of the cliff."

The boy looked behind them at the high precipice with widening eyes. Roughly, a dozen feet above the sea cliff bent inward creating a small quay, there it buckled just ever so slightly before soaring high above into the endless velvet sky with tiny pearls a-glistened in the velvety gloom. It would a tedious and time consuming climb as the shadows played off the edges of narrow headed rock and pools of saltwater filled every crevice. "You an't gonna make me climb that!" he said in a high nervous voice.

"No, I cannot," she said, "however I can leave you here."

Cai looked at her angrily, his mouth set into a grim line though she did not see it in the shadowing gloom of night. "Thelma wouldn't make me climb it or bathe!" he said dejectedly throwing a rock at her. It missed skidding to a halt before it was drowned by a spitting wave. She staggered back as the wave crashed against her, wetting her half way up to her knees and a piece slimy seaweed glided over her foot and coiled around her ankle.

The night was clear and bright, and Rose breathed in the salt air, willing herself to unwind as she was still very distressed from her unpleasant meeting with Ailis. The way the woman had assailed onto her was like a savage blow to her face, and she didn't know how she felt about it. She took another deep breath, a light breeze played in the tangles of her hair. "Cai," she said gently, back away from the coastline as another wave came forth. "Thelma is not here."

"That's 'cause you killed her," exclaimed the boy. "You and that horrible Boogey Beast of yers!"

Rose turned to Cai in exasperation. "I did not kill your sister, Cai," she said forcibly.

Cai stood up, stomping his foot on the ground, nearly falling over as it unbalanced him. "That an't the way I remember it!" He paused and his face creased up in sorrow. Tears began to run down his face, making little rivulets in the dirt. "I wanna go home! Take me home! I need ter feed them chick'ns! Namma'll be mad at me if I don't feed them! I havfta go!"

Rose did not reply, turning away to look back out at the ocean which was oddly hypnotic. She would stand there all night if she could just to stare at the crashing waves.

As Cai cried himself out, she waited, occasionally throwing pebbles into the inky water, and after a while he stopped though his chest still made little jumps and hiccups. "Where're we going?" he asked, his anger gone. He gulped hard. "I'm hungry."

She closed her eyes. "If you're hungry go wash yourself off."

Cai nodded, suddenly sensible, and hobbled ankle deep into the ocean to washed off his face and body. Rose turned away in an agony of modesty, and when the boy returned, she handed him the share pair of trousers she had packed. He quickly got dressed, and stood waiting as Rose untied her dress from around her waist and slipped her wet stocking clad feet into her boots. "When are we gonna get food?" he asked with a ghost of cheekiness.

Rose forced herself to stand patiently, as Thorn flew down from the small quay in the cliff where he made himself a perch. "Soon enough."

Cai looked unhappy at her answer, but he let her boost him onto Thorn's back and she climbed up behind him thankful that he no longer stank of urine. Now at least she could cope with the long ride, back to Haven Cove in a little less misery than was necessary.

They spent that night flying in the skies that bordered the ocean, for as long as possible before going inland. A cruel wind drove through Rose's and Cai's thin clothing freezing them almost instantly, and because of this Thorn flew over rising greens of a woodland where the wind eased and was not so bitter. As the dragon flew he was often silent, but his silence seemed calm, the wordlessness of abstraction of thought. When he talked with Rose it was trivial things that meant little to the both of them, their previous arguments seemed pity and soon they lingered in the shadows at that back of their minds, forgotten. Rose sat overlooking the chilled night sky in a dizzy tiredness, watching as the waxing moon rose and the clouds tore open releasing a wavering light. She was huddled as close as she dared to the boy in front of her for what little warmth he was worth. Cai, who was a tense jangle of nerves and was so cold he could hardly move, did not protest in the least taking to it as a warming comfort.

Eventually the sun rose over the horizon, sending pale glimmers of light but then the rays brightened and fell bright and new on the world below, awakening the birds so that they sung their tidings in a noisy chatter. Rose looked around. They were above a small beech wood, and a road was visible below winding carelessly through the trees.

Some hours later, Thorn moved them deeper into the woods, and finding a broad glade where the sun shone unimpeded, he landed. Cai was so stiff with cold he had to be lifted off Thorn, his teeth chattering. He sat on top of a sun heated rock, rubbing his bare feet until some life came back into them, watching as Rose untied the tattered mattress from Thorn's back. Rose set the mattress down and swung the bag from her back, taking out what little food she had left, she hadn't had the nerve to tell Ailis she had lost the coins given to her and was almost without food, and gave Cai his share. They were all grey with exhaustion, and Rose and Cai ate their meager breakfast wordlessly, as Thorn slept. Rose felt too tired to chew. She sat tiredly in the sun's healing warmth, happy to do nothing and move nowhere, watching the sun play off Thorn's scales. Cai examined his feet with concern and then stretched out on the mattress and slept peacefully in the sun. After an hour or so Thorn woke up. He and Rose talked through their mindlink so that they would not wake Cai.

When Rose hadn't returned from Culdaff Thorn had flown over the city, lightly tapping his mind against every person he could but all were with no sign of Rose's glow, and when he realized that she was not there he flew hard over the lands surrounding it. It seemed to him that she had vanished into thin air. He flew for days without stopping in an endless hunt for her, his mood blackening with each passing hour, and it was only by pure luck that he found her at last. He had shuddering with uneasiness for days and so when Rose refused to leave the small hut all he felt was a black anger.

I don't understand why you are telling me this only now, said she shaking her head.

Thorn snorted out a curl of dark smoke. I hadn't thought to tell you before.

It certainly explains a lot, Rose said. I wish you had told me sooner, though I probably should have known. I'm very glad you had found me when you did, Thorn, I don't know where I would be at this moment had you not.

They continued to different topics. They decided that they were to travel through the Serpent's Vale by night. Thorn wanted now to follow the roads, so not to risk further delay. A little while after they decided this, Rose woke Cai and made a meager repast of fruit and bread and told him of their plans for night travel, he nodded seemly indifferent. Once the sun slipped below the horizon, they mounted Thorn, Rose again putting Cai in front of her. They were all refreshed after their rest.

It was a beautiful spring night and no trace of the previous wind now troubled them; the air was balmy and gentle, and the stars blazed overhead casting a faint light on the spirals of clouds, and Rose reached out her hand as if to touch them though she could never reach far enough, and her fingers only grasped empty air.

They traveled this way that night, slowed by the clumsy mattress, passing a great forest that stretched far beyond the horizon, over its crowns which looked from such a height like little sprouts in a vegetable garden until they saw in the distance a cropping, a round meadow, with a house standing gallantly at its center. The scents of grass and flowers rose from below, released by cool night air and rousing wind. The boy fussed from within her arms his words lost to the sounds of wind and beating of wings. Rose felt the mixture of apprehension and excitement stirring within her as they neared the farmhouse.

At last they reached the edges of the crops to the east of the house, and Thorn landed allowing Rose and Cai to descend from his back. After untying the mattress and dumping it an outcropping of trees, they walked in silence until they reached the house, and Thorn returned to the sky likely to find himself a meal and later a place to rest. It was in the early grey hours of the morning, and though Rose was certain no person was awake she pulled the lever set into the wall. They waited for what seemed an age, in reality it was a short time, before the door opened and before them stood a tall man with a finely trimmed beard.

"Who's there?" he said, peering out into the dim light. "By the name of Arianwyn the Aged, girl! What are you doing here? Come in and be quick about it." He waved them inside into a well lit antechamber, and locked the door behind them. "Have you replaced Ailis with this boy?"

"No," she said with a shake of head, "Ailis sent me back with him. She requests that you allow him to stay here."

Padern scratched his chin thoughtfully. "You good with animals, boy?" he said bending down to the boy's level.

Cai nodded, swallowing hard. "I need ter go home," he said abruptly, but the request fell onto deaf ears.

"Is there any reason she requested him to stay here, that I need to know of?" he asked, straightening himself.

Rose bit the inside of her cheek. "He has no place else to go," she said.

Padern nodded. "So be it," said he. "We could always use another pair of hands. Did she request anything more?" Rose nodded and after telling him what else the woman asked for he rubbed his face tiredly. "It's too early for this. Come on, then, let's find the boy a room and hunt down these things."

Rose shifted her pack, and then Padern led them up several flights of stairs to the guest chambers. She blinked as they walked through the dimly lit corridors. Padern's house was big and grand, the ceiling just high enough to be lost in shadow, it was sparsely but richly furnished, and Rose often saw the glint of gold or a bright tapestry or they would turn on a landing and confront an exquisite statue glimmering whitely through the shadows. They passed many doors, through some of which they could hear the murmurs of waking or the greedy snores of slumber, once they passed a young man who stared at their wild state. Padern didn't bother to try to make pleasant conversation and remained ahead of them in content silence, his hands folded neatly behind his back.

When they came to a familiar looking hallway, Padern opened the first door and poked his head in. "This looks like a fitting room for you, Cai. Make yourself at home. I'll send someone to help you clean up and show you down to breakfast. I have no doubt you're hungry."

Cai, whose eyes were as big as saucers, nodded meekly and walked into the room. Padern closed the door behind him and turned to Rose.

"I know you wish to rest," he said, "but I have work to do and not much time before I must start. We'll find these things belonging to Ailis and then I'll leave you to your own devises. This sounds agreeable, yes?"

When Rose agreed, they made their way up yet another set of stairs and into a high chamber with white stone walls. She looked out the window set into the far wall as Padern swooped down on a large chest and searched through it, humming softly under his breath. A white crooked necked crane dipped its head into the reedy pond and above it was a swarm long tailed birds squabbling in disgruntlement, a small group of men marched towards the fields for a long day of labor but little else could be seen, and she began to tap her fingers against the grimy skirt of her dress.

After a time Padern poked his head out from behind the chest. "Did she say what it was that she wanted?"

"She did not," said she with a shake of her head.

He sighed in frustration. "How am I to know she wants back?" he said almost to himself. "You're the one traveling with her, come over see if you can figure out what it is that she might want. I'll be back briefly." He stood up and walked out the room, shutting the door none too gently behind him.

Rose bit her lip in debate, and then slowly moved to the chest and peered inside. The first thing she saw was a glass faced doll. It was precious thing, once a child's beloved friend, with dark hair poised into delicate curls under a fine netting of painted glass beads and elegantly painted sapphire-colored eyes. She wore a red dress that hugged close to her shoulders and arms and then flared out from around her hips in a generous fall to her feet, the sleeves opened out at her elbow like divine lilies. Rose stared at it for a long time, before setting it aside and took out a golden box with mirrors fastened to the sides, inside was a set of sharp edged knives, and a leather bracer covered with a protective silver guard, she set these aside as well and took out an empty quiver for arrows and scrolled parchments soft edged with age, a sword with a blackened hilt but little else. Rose sorted through the scrolls finding that they were maps and letters to a beloved, she scanned through the letters and then put them back but kept out the maps. She returned the doll and took the rest.

When the door opened it was not Padern but Tornac. For a time they remained apart studying each other's faces. Then with a sigh he come over to her, in his hands was a long sack, and down beside her. "Did you find Teirm to be well?" he asked.

Rose nodded and looked at the bag. "Padern sent you in with that, did he not?"

"He did," Tornac answered. "He's been in quite a rush these past mornings and had requested that I bring this to you." He looked across at her and handed her the sack. "What had happened?"

She shrugged, opening the sack. Inside was a bow. "It's a long story," said Rose examining the wood, and then pulled the quiver back out from the chest. "Ailis says we should pack what belongs to us and leave as soon as we can."

"You should rest before we go."

"No, I'll sleep later," she said standing up, thinking of the men who had seen Thorn. There was work to be done, and knowing this she shook off the remains of tiredness. "I'm well enough awake now. We should leave today, and be well out of here before light begins to fail."

Tornac looked at her strangely and then he too stood, shaking himself.

Soon they were packed and ready to leave Padern's House. Voirrey embraced them both fondly as they stood on the atrium overlooking for the last time the magnificent vista from her home.

"We shall miss you both," the woman said. "It has been good, having your company. May the gods bring your journey to a safe end."

"And may you and those of your house fair well," said Tornac, smiling. "Your hospitality has been the very best."

"You are welcome anytime," Voirrey said. "Do be sure to tell Ailis that as well."

"I shall," said Tornac, taking a step back. "Until we meet again."

"Good-bye!" said Voirrey, and she stood alone at the door and watched them as they vanished into the gloom of the woodlands.

She looked Starshine over with ill ease. The horse whinnied, her ears pricking forward, and Rose placed her hand onto the creature's silky nose. "It's alright, my sweet," she whispered soothingly as she twitched up her face in a painful wince. Part of the horse's left front hoof was torn away, revealing pink and bloodied and very raw looking flesh. "How is it that no one taken notice to this?" she asked.

Tornac, who was, with great difficulty, attempting to light a fire in the face of the biting wind, looked up. "What are you speaking of?" he said mildly.

"Whatever might be wrong with Starshine," said Rose, looking over the bare, empty hills of the Servant's Vale. "I don't understand how I haven't noticed it, as it's not exactly something that could be overlooked. It's little wonder he's been limping all this time!"

"Rose," he said. "What are you going on about?"

"Oh! Come here and see yourself," she said franticly waving him over.

Tornac shook his head, and dropping the tinderbox onto a rock ledge, but he came over and gave her an indulging look. Biting her lip, Rose bent down pointing at the horse's injury. He examined it for a time, and lifted the injured leg up to get a closer look. Starshine nickered in protest and shied away, at that moment something bumped Rose's elbow and she started with a yelp.

"Not you," she said pushing Thorn away. "You only frighten her. Off you go now." Thorn made a throaty sound that was meant to be a laugh, and he nudged her again. Then when he did it again twice over, she moodily mindtouched with him. What is it, Thorn?

Will you not be able to ride the creature for a time? he asked sounding far too happy.

His head swayed towards her once more, and she batted him away with her hands. It's likely, said Rose pushing at his snout. Though, it is also likely that Tornac may allow to me to ride with him and Arvid.

I miss flying with you, he told her dejectedly.

At last when she pushed his head away, it did not return. I know.

Thorn laughed his throaty laugh once more and she turned away from him, ignoring his continued pestering.

"What are we to do about Starshine?" said Rose, returning to her earlier grievance.

Tornac studied her face as she stared frowning at the wounded hoof. "We have two choices. One is to return to the farmhouse and hand Starshine over so that he can heal properly. The worst it will probably take is a few day at most. Or we treat the wound ourselves and go slow until it heals. And we have no way of know if it will heal."

"We don't have time."

Tornac gave her a sour look. "No. But it's the choices we have all the same. Starshine is injured and we cannot carry on as if he were not."

"We haven't far to go," she said looking out into the distance. "I could always fly with Thorn. He'd enjoy that, anyhow."

Tornac was silent for a time, returning to tinderbox as he thought over their options. A flame finally caught and he cradled it carefully from the kindling to the wood. "Ride with him if you believe you should but know that I don't like it."

Until Starshine gained his injury their journey to Teirm had been swift and uneventful. In a way Rose was more than glad to keep to the roads, it would be a pleasant balm to her nerves to be getting well out of the coastal region and back within the safety of being east of the Spine, away from those men. By now she had told Tornac of everything that had happened, and the man had more or less forgiven her for running off as she had. With this acceptance from him, a peace spread over them as they traveled and they made good time. They had left the woodlands behind them within the first couple of days and ridden swiftly down the Vale's road, the rock riddled hills all around them.

The first night Rose had sat morosely as she retold of her excursion, and Tornac sat not far from her, polishing her sword with a rag in a very serious manner. "I must ask," he had said. "What it is that troubles you? Your witnessing of the mother's and her child's cruel death or seeing that it was the Empire's men who dealt it?"

Rose did not answer but remained looking into the flickering of the flames.

"Good and bad are a reflection of the human heart," he said after a time. "There is not one without the other. Do you think that the Varden's men-at-arms are any different than the Empire's? That they have not washed their hands with the same vile blood? The King may not deem this a time of war but it is, as long as there is blood being spread there is war. And war, Rose, brings out the cruel likeliness in all of us."

"Those are not exactly comforting words," she said shifting on the ground. "Saying that there is small doorway of corruption in every direction we turn, even within ourselves."

"Aye," said Tornac. "Do not shut yourself to it, nevertheless, that would be the greatest mistake."

"How so?"

Tornac shook his head. "That's something Ailis wishes to speak to you about, and I agree that she should be the one to so."

Her frown deepened and she looked over at the sleeping form of Thorn. "What would the difference would it be between you talking to me about this and Ailis?"

Tornac shrugged and swiftly changed the subject, instead to scold her on the improper treatment of her sword. She hutched her cloak around her and stared balefully into the depths of the wood, pondering over what Tornac had said. Sometimes it seemed to her that he purposely placed that seed doubt in her mind knowing full well that it'd grow out well of her control.