Chapter 13

The second day it rained. At first it started out as a light sprinkle. Then a slow drizzle pattered the travelers and they put on their hoods and wrapped their cloaks tight around them. Their long conversations stopped and they each lost in their own thoughts. Once or twice the horses slipped on the muddy road, and by the end of the day they were nearly soaked. The light patter that had started the day was now a huge storm, with earsplitting thunder and bright lightening.

"There is a small village not far from here," cried Dasian above the roar of the rain and thunder. "Some of Felipe's men are there, but we must take the risk."

His companions nodded and he led them off the trail. It was not long before they saw lights through the sheets of rain, and in no time at all, they were in the village. To Anaella's surprise and confusion, Dasian did not lead them to the local tavern. He led them to the edge of the village to one of the small huts; there he stopped and swung off his horse.

The hut door swung open and a boy about eleven stared at the travelers in bewilderment. When he saw Dasian's face through the dark hood, he squealed with delight and cried, "Dasian! Mama, it's Dasian!" Then he stopped and put a hand over his mouth in fear. A woman appeared in the doorway and smiled broadly. The boy took the reins of the horses and led them away. The woman ushered them quickly inside and helped take off their wraps.

Dasian hugged the woman briefly as she said, "Dasian, it's so good to see you again. Forgive Caleb, he is forgetful, and his voice was too loud, I fear."

"He was fine, Lenora. How is Mother?"

Lenora shook her head sadly. "She's failing everyday. I fear she is living her last."

Dasian nodded understandingly, and then nodded to his companions. "Aunt Lenora, you know my constant companion, Willy. This is Anaella, a fairy I found while seeking help from the wizards. She is one of my most entrusted spies."

Anaella smiled lightly at the praise and was a little surprised when Lenora hugged her warmly.

"You are most welcome here," she smiled.

More people filed into the room and Anaella was introduced to everyone in Dasian's living family. Lenora's youngest daughter, Orpah, clung to her skirts and stared at the visitors with her thumb in her mouth. She had recognized Dasian, and let him swoop her up into a hug, but she scanned Anaella and Willy cautiously. Lenora's husband, Cleatus, was brother to Dasian's mother, Dorcas, who lay sick in the next room. Dasian left quickly to see her. Caleb returned along with his younger sister, Irene. The little eight-year-old girl stared at Anaella in awe and wonder, as her mother fixed them some food. Lenora excused her daughter's odd behavior.

"She has never seen a fairy before," she explained.

"Oh, I don't mind," smiled Anaella. "Truth is I'm only half-fairy. My mother lived in a village like this one. It only happened she married a fairy, and had me. This is actually my first time to see a little human girl."

"Really?" Irene's eyes widened.

"Yes. I've only been around the men. Dasian was actually the first human I can remember seeing."

"How did you meet Dasian?" asked Caleb. "Was he fighting a dragon to save you from being eaten?" He pulled out an imaginary sword and swished at the air.

Anaella laughed. "Partly, yes. He had just killed a dragon, but not to save me. I was watching, and later I offered my help to guide him to the fairy home."

"That wasn't the only monster Dasian killed in the forest of Ardunt," said Willy, and proceeded to tell the fascinated children of his and Dasian's trek through the forest of Ardunt, and their search for the wizard spies. He greatly exaggerated the story, and kept the children's eyes wide with wonder. Caleb would sometimes act out the scene with an imaginary sword, or horse.

"Dasian is Caleb's hero," commented Lenora softly to Anaella. She smiled and nodded.

"I've noticed many of the villagers and common folk think of him as a hero. Even the enemy respects him."

Lenora nodded and brushed Orpah's head softly. "He protects us. Some are thinking of putting him as the king instead of Gespian. But he hates that kind of talk. He does not think himself better than anyone, but as their equal. Gespian once became afraid of Dasian and tried to kill him, but in the process, Dasian saved his life. He never doubted Dasian's loyalty again."

By the time Willy had finished his tale, Dasian had returned and Orpah was asleep. Lenora made beds on cots for Anaella and Willy by the fire, but she had Dasian sleep in the cellar, where he would be hidden. The candle was blown out, and everyone went to their own beds. Anaella sat on her cot, with her back leaned against the dirt wall and her arms resting on her knees. Willy had been snoring for a long time, but Anaella had some thinking to do.

She wanted desperately to tell Dasian he was in danger, but the witch's warning stopped her. Gahela could be lying, and both Dasian and Anaella could be safe from any magic. But somehow that didn't seem right. Anaella bit her lip and closed her eyes, wondering what to do. If Dasian were to be captured, his army was sure to panic and break up, leaving a chance for Felipe to exterminate the whole rebel militia and secure his already bloody throne. If he was killed, the whole army would be devastated, and there would be no hope left.

A new thought struck her. If Dasian were to be killed, she would likely go back to live with the fairies and marry Ryah. The only reason she was here spying, living among men, and riding through dark woods at night, was Dasian. His image flashed in her mind, when she first saw him. Strong, handsome, and daring, he had burst from the woods, riding his large, grey, prancing horse, glaring fiercely at the dragon. Perhaps Caleb had put it best; he had saved her from being eaten. Eaten by the lazy, graceful life of a fairy, eaten by the thought of never discovering who she was, eaten by the fact that she never would have met him and would have never known what it was like to be in love.

She shook her head fiercely, love? What was Anaella thinking? She wasn't in love, and she never would be. She was tired, and her mind was thinking like Rose's. She wrapped the coarse woolen blanket around her shoulders and stared into the red embers of the fire. She was tired, that was all. In no time at all she would be fast asleep. In love with Dasian? What was she thinking?

Her thoughts returned to what Dasian's father had taught him and she silently decided that it was the only reasonable option, though one word bothered her like a persistent fly. It's best to simply keep our mouth shut no matter the danger, and usually everything works out fine. Usually. Not always.