Chapter 2
"Secret Plans and Mysterious Dreams"
Arianna gasped and woke with a start at early dawn. She was drenched in her own sweat and was panting heavily as though she had been running, which in her dream, she was. Her long scarlet hair was tangled all over her head, a few strands hanging in front of her eyes. She pressed her palm to her heart that was beating speedily in her. Sitting up straightly, she exhaled deeply and brushed the scarlet strands out of her face, trying to calm herself down. It was just another one of her nightmares. Habit made her reach for the glass on her bedside table but then she stopped. Not knowing why she did, she tried, for the first time in many years, to recall in her mind the vivid images of her dream.
She remembered running in the forest, something was chasing her. She looked up and saw a gold jewel blinking high above the trees. She tried to reach for it but she couldn't. She then heard a loud menacing growl and fluttering of wings behind her so she forced herself to run faster. Then a few feet away, she saw a jeweled sword stuck to a tree, stopping to pull the sword out of the trunk; she yanked it out and was ready to face her pursuer. When she spun around, the heavy sword in her hands, the path behind her was empty until suddenly she saw a large red star floating towards her. When it was a few inches away from her it turned into a large amber lion with bright red wings, which roared and opened its mouth to consume her...
Arianna opened her eyes.
Now that she thought about, her dreams varied from time to time but they always had that terrifying bird-lion, which always roared before it consumed her and that would always happen just before she woke up. Looking at the glass filled with tea, she was wondering if she should take it or not. Then, her fearless look of determination from yesterday morning returned to her face and she decided that if she was ready to become a true hunter, she might as well start enduring her nightmares like a bold and unafraid hunter facing a wolf or a large bear. Arianna looked out the window, it wasn't so entirely dark now, and light was already shining beyond the horizon.
The scarlet haired lass smiled and thoughtfully said, "This is going to be a grand new day."
After getting out of bed, she quickly changed out of her sleeping wear and into her working clothes. Then she slowly climbed down the ladder careful not to make any noise lest she might awaken her grandfather. Going outside, she started to do her morning chores of cooking and cleaning then after which she headed towards the barn to do more of her chores.
Opening the barn doors, she took in the sweet scent of fresh hay and morning dew. The cow mooed as she came into their view.
"A pleasant morning or should I say dawn to you Bernita," Arianna greeted the cow with a bright smile, " I hope you won't mind me coming in so early today. I had my nightmares again and since grandfather has given me so many chores to do, I think finishing it early would be a good idea. It would give me more time to myself later in the day."
Arianna laughed softly to herself when she started thinking how people might react to see her talking to animals. They might think she must be crazy pretending that the animals could actually understand her but her grandfather never reprimanded her for it, so she thought it wouldn't be any cause of alarm if she was talking to the animals or, in reality, talking out loud to herself. Arianna did wish one time in her life that somehow she might find a way to really talk to the animals so that they could probably answer her back. But, shaking her head, she knew that would never happen. Taking out a large fork, she tossed a few fresh straws of hay into the food crate of the cow. Then going to the other side of the barn, she pulled out a pail of oats from a small cabinet and walked towards the horses stall to fill their food bin.
"I brought a few carrots for you two," Arianna whispered with a smile as pulled a few cut pieces of carrots from her apron pocket which she tossed into their bin of oats. The two chestnut horses neighed with glee and Arianna then got a small hand brush, which was always placed on a small box near the fence, and started to rub down the horses.
As she was brushing the dark chestnut horse, she accidentally tipped a small pail of water nearby that splashed all over the place, half-wetting the horses' hoofs.
"Oh gods! How clumsy of me!" she cried as she started wiping some mud off the dark chestnut horse, just then she spotted a strange dark mark on the horse's hoof.
"Helli, what is this?" she asked as she took his hoof into her hands and tried to clearly make out the mark. To her surprise, the horse jerked away and whinnied loudly causing her to fall on her back. The light chestnut mare neighed wildly too and stood up on her hind legs. Arianna scrambled away and when she was a safe distance away from the horses' stall, she gazed at them with fright and confusion, "I-I'll just finish your brushing later then."
Wondering how strange events were becoming lately, she reached a hand into a huge sack by the doorway and dumped handful of birdseeds in her apron pocket for the chickens. As she picked up her egg basket, she had a strange feeling of many eyes watching her but when she looked around, there was no one except the animals and they were acting like their ordinary selves. Arianna went towards the hens' coop and started sprinkling birdseed all over that the hens crowded around her excitedly clucking as they pecked the ground. As the hens were busy feeding, Arianna looked into their nests and took out the eggs nestled inside placing them carefully into her egg basket. Then a flash of red feathers caught her eye, turning about she saw the old red rooster perched atop a fence looking at her. Smiling, Arianna said cheerily, "Well, a good morning to you, Fredol. I hope you still aren't sore at me because of that incident with my arrows—"
The sound of footsteps interrupted her and Arianna straightened up to find her grandfather walking slowly towards her.
"Well, I perceive my granddaughter has decided to have an early start in the day. Your tea was untouched, no nightmares last night I suppose." Baltook said with a kind smile so unlike that of the day before.
Arianna smiled back a little uneasily and shook her head, "No nightmares grandfather."
Her grandfather approached her and nodded his head, "I see. Well, I just came here to comment on the meal you made this morning. It was extremely appetizing, it seems you've outdone yourself this time Arianna."
Arianna laughed modestly, "I couldn't have done it without your tireless cooking lessons grandfather. I've learned a lot. I guess it was about time to make you see the fruits of your labors in me."
"I have and I enjoyed it immensely."
Arianna stooped down again to finish her egg-collecting task. While she was busy sorting out the good eggs from the bad ones, Baltook cleared his throat, "Uh, speaking of lessons Arianna. There is something important I want to talk to you about."
Without looking up, Arianna replied, "Yes, grandfather?"
"I don't want to go be equivocal about this, so I'll go straight to the point. Arianna, I'm sending you to town today."
Arianna's head shot up and she looked curiously at her grandfather, "To town? But harvest season hasn't even started yet? Why should I go to town? Do we need new materials? Tools?"
Baltook shook his head as he leaned on his staff, "It isn't that. But… you do remember that talk we had yesterday?"
Arianna nodded slowly. How could she forget that talk yesterday?
"Well, I did some thinking while I was in town yesterday and I was at first planning to give you to Old Wallita, the elderly lady next door to be her student but it turned out that she, the gods bless her soul, passed away the other day. But, things took a brighter turn when I was in town yesterday. I happened to bump into one of her daughters, Lilianne is her name and, after offering her my condolences, we had an interesting conversation… and a few moments later the subject turned to you."
Arianna listened intently as her grandfather continued but she had a strange feeling she wasn't going to like what he was going to say. Her grandfather was sounding too sincere today. The slight hesitation in his voice was not too comforting either; it definitely was something she wouldn't like.
"I confided in her my concerns about your… upbringing and she graciously offered to take you under her wing and give you a lesson or two about how to behave like… a young lady like you should behave. It seems she has taken over the occupation of her mother as a governess."
Baltook paused in his conversation to see the reaction of his granddaughter. But Arianna was silent and said nothing, her eyes downcast as she was fingering the hem of her torn apron.
"And, seeing as it was an offer I really couldn't refuse, I took it."
No! Arianna thought as she stood up quickly and said in disbelief, "Grandfather, you didn't!"
"Oh, but I did."
"I can't possibly go to town and live with that… that woman, I would feel so out of place!"
"She has two daughters and a few girls who are about your age under her supervision, I have no doubt that they'll make you feel at home there."
"Well I do have that doubt! Besides, who's going to look after you or the farm? And finish the chores?"
Baltook smiled knowingly, "Now, Arianna, you of all people should know that I am perfectly capable of living alone. Besides, I'm sure that Hollin can take care of the other things."
"Hollin?"
"Yes, my child, Hollin the baker's son. I asked him yesterday if he would be willing to assist me with your daily chores since you would be gone for a little while and being the humble helpful boy he is, he accepted. Since he's also your closest friend, I believe he won't find any trouble at all."
Arianna subtly clenched her fists; the thought of Hollin taking her place in the farm irritated her.
"Am I really leaving for town today grandfather?" Arianna asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
"Yes, Arianna. I have your trunk in the cart and we can leave as soon as I have Helli and Fressica ready."
Arianna folded her arms stubbornly, "You can save the trouble of doing that grandfather because I am not going."
Baltook frowned, and said in a soft but stern voice, "Arianna, this is not the time to be stubborn. Don't make me lose my patience with you again today."
Trying to control the rage of emotions inside her, she dropped her arms slowly and decided that it wasn't worth getting yelled at again. So with a heavy heart, Arianna reluctantly consented.
Baltook looked pleased, "Very well then. After you have finished here, you may go to the cottage and make yourself look agreeable."
Arianna nodded and after she stored one last egg in her basket, she stood up and walked out of the barn in silence.
At last, that girl has finally come to her right senses, Baltook thought.
"Did you feel that strange vibration yesterday Agmon?" Bernita asked, moving into view from behind the hay. "It could have only come from her. Agmon, do you think it right to be sending her into town today? She shouldn't be learning how to sew garden dresses or bake pastries! She should be learning the Animasi rites, chants and spells. She's of age Agmon and she can feel it. Her spirits are calling to her—"
"The more reason to send her away from all of this," Agmon interrupted roughly, "I am fully aware of her calling Bernita, do not think for a moment that I have just simply ignored the signs of her Animasinian spirits."
"Then why are you sending her to town Agmon? Now that her powers are growing, shouldn't it be controlled? Agmon, I revere you as the wisest man I know but now I'm starting to have my doubts." Bernita persisted.
Agmon said nothing and his brows were knotted with deep thought.
"Her inner eye is awakening. She has already seen signs that we are no ordinary animals. She saw my Animasinian mark." Helli announced from his stall.
Agmon looked up at him, his gray eyes were shadowed with worry and concern that his plan was not going to turn out in the way he expected it to be.
"This then proves that my rash decision making was in the right. Arianna cannot be asking questions, not yet and not now. It is too soon. I believe the country air is invoking these sensations in her and I am sending her away from it."
"But Agmon—"
" I cannot face her and tell her all of this now, it is too soon!" Agmon shouted out loud, breaking the silent mental conversation.
The Animasi stared in surprise at the old man's emotional outburst. It was the first time he had ever reacted in such a manner, Agmon eyes were filled with tears and he spoke aloud to them,
"She's my granddaughter… I know that she may not be in reality but she is one in my heart… she's my only granddaughter and I am only doing so to protect her as I had promised her father long ago. She's still too young to know the truth, she cannot handle it all yet, it would break her! I would rather the most terrible death than see Arianna shattered because of the knowledge of who she truly is!"
There was a long silence in the barn.
"What danger is there about telling her that she is the future Queen of Grethania?" the pig snorted quietly.
Terrible danger, said Agmon.
"Do you think the Sorceress could have felt that vibration?" said Fressica, trying to channel the subject differently.
Fredol joined in the conversation, "Impossible! Her realm is more than a thousand leagues away from Vasdenin and besides, the vibration sent by Arianna's spirits are too vague to be called hers when felt in far away lands"
"But there may be a possible chance. In any case, we must be prepared." Answered Helli.
"Then so be it. But Arianna is still going to town and if nothing happens while she's there, we will stay here for a month or two. If something does happen, we will leave right away or wait till after the Spring Fairy Festival." Agmon announced gravely.
"The Spring Fairy Festival is a week from now." Bernita said.
"A week is the longest time the Sorceress can take to act on." Agmon replied.
Silence resumed in the barn.
"Helli. Fressica. Come, it is time to go. Arianna must be finished and waiting for us at the moment." Agmon announced after a while and after preparing the two horses, he walked out of barn holding their reins in his hand.
