Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or this world that they are in and I am making no money out of this. I just want to write a sequel to a really good book that I wish had one.

Chapter 9

Tanea sat, marvelling at the change. The boy had whispered instructions which she had followed. She imagined her mind, and all the surrounding minded around her on a flat plain, the boy had said this was rudimentary at best and would fail, but it would buy her time.

As she imagined herself on the plain she envisioned building a brick wall around herself so that nothing could get in. And all of a sudden her curses stoped bothering her. She had blocked out the outside world. She opened her eyes and started to get up, but her curses went off again. She tried the wall again, and this time concentrated.

When she carefully stood up again still concentrating, it didn't stop. "Huh, this must be something I have to consciously keep up, at least it works though. Maybe it will become instinctive." So, she continued she set up the camp for the night. When all was done, she lay down in her bedroll and fell into a deep, restful sleep.

When morning came, it was time to continue their journey. She hadn't been able to keep up that trick; of blocking out other people's minds overnight.

So, first things first, she built up that wall, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Her curses only bothering her slightly now, she stood up and began to pack up camp. Starting with the pots and bowls she left one cup out and, used it to give the boy his soup, washed out the cup and put it back in the pack.

She then went about putting the boy on the stretcher and packing the bedrolls.

She then mounted Merta, it was time to give Lance a break, her sore muscles aching in protest.

After all she had been riding for a week.

She then urged her goats onward, heading out of the town continuing their trek to haven.

As they were exiting via the gates, when a rider on a horse galloped bye. As he was passing by his right stirrup banged against one of the supply bags on Lance's back.

"Sorry there, I accidentally slept in, late fer work. Be that boy ok?"

"Tis but a scrape an the boy had an a'cident, he won't wake up, I be takin' him to the Healers in 'aven"

"Ah ye be a good lass, May ye have luck on yer journey. Don' mean to be rude bit I am late so..."

"Aye be on yer way, I need to continue me trip. Have a good day lad"

"You too lass"

At this they parted ways and Tanea turned, and continued their journey.

After they had ridden for half a day she decided to call a halt, so they could take a rest, the found a clearing, the morning dew of spring still fresh in the air. She dismounted, setting the boy down in the grass.

She then unloaded all the supplies and tied the goats to a tree, on a long leash so the goats could have a little room to roam and graze.

But when taking a closer look at the goats, Lance, who was carrying the supplies, wasn't looking as tired as he usually was, in fact he also looked a little wetter than he should too.

A horrible thought occurred to her. She ran to the supplies, checking the three big water gourds they were carrying, two had sprung leaks, one was half empty.

And then, a horrible thought occurred to her, when the man on the horse. Who's stirrup had hit her travel pack, and her water gourds.

She could fix the gourds, stuff some tree sap in the tiny cracks, let it harden. But the real problem was water. She would have to find more water, that one gourd could probably keep them going for a few days, if she rationed it. But at their current rate of speed, the next town was at least five days away.

And if she turned around, it would put them back a day. Not to mention those thugs, who would probably try to steal their supplies and goats again.

She didn't think she could fend them off by herself, and she couldn't count on the boy to wake up again and help her.

So they would have t carry on, and hope they found a stream. Hopefully they would find one in time.

As she was gearing up the goats, and packing their supplies a thought occurred to her. "How did the boy know about that blocking trick? And where did he learn it?" She shook her head, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

These were questions for another time. Right now, they needed to find water.

It was two days later, the last water gourd was empty, and they had yet yo come across a stream or river.

She had repaired the other two water gourds yesterday, when she had found a tree that had sap oozing off it. And after she had tried breaking an already hardened piece of sap. Finding it satisfactory she had poured the liquid form into the cracks and let it harden.

Now they were on their last day of water. They had found nothing in the past few days. It should have been easy, especially with the extra light of the sun.

But they would not be so lucky today... today the sky was covered with grey clouds.

It was time to set up camp, hopefully after a break, they would find some water.

They were under a canopy, the goats were tied to a tree, the boy; still on his stretcher, and she. She was seeing if there were any good mushrooms she could hopefully sell at the next village, or trade for supplies.

So it was quite a surprise, when it started to rain. At first she found it irritating, until she realised the gift they had been given.

Quickly she ran over to their packs and pulled out all three gourds, finding a clear area, she put the gourds down and opened the tops, letting them fill with rain.

They had water.