"So, why are you here?" he said as if it were a simple question.
"I have no idea!"
"Well, you were out of luck running the way you were anyway. The path through the Trivial Mountains is long, and then you still have a way to go before you reach Beacoupe City," he said, and with a sort of smile, added, "And you wouldn't make it far anyway."
"So we're basically in the wilderness?" I said dumbly. He nodded.
"Well, the City of Hope isn't too far from here, but you ran in the opposite direction! And I assume you're from the City of Hope, since I don't see how you could have otherwise gotten here from Nattralli Village, or Beacoupe City. And I don't think you're out of Kheroshetyne Providence," the boy said.
What! Where was this I?
"Well, where is Rosedale?" I asked, trying to be calm, but almost panicking now.
"Rosedale?" he said looking confused. "I've never heard of any Rosedale around here. There is a stretch of enchanted forest named Roseland," he suggested, but then paused and observed me and added, "But you don't look very enchanted. No offense."
I shook my head.
"What's your name?" he asked, in a softer tone.
"Alice," I replied, trying not to start crying.
He smiled a little. "Don't cry, Alice," he said. Obviously, I looked as scared as I was. "My name is Aydine, by the way."
I tried to smile. For the first time now, I observed him. His hair was a bright blond, almost white. It was unevenly chopped around his shoulders, with shaggy bangs pulled off to the side chopped just past his eyes. He had clear, bright green eyes. He was pale, and had thick black hoops through his ears. He wore a ratty looking, long-sleeved navy blue shirt and too small looking light brown pants with mid-calf high fur boots. He wore a necklace with some large animal teeth around his neck. He had a burgundy tinted head band.
This wasn't America. Probably not even planet earth!
I laid my head down on the table.
"Look, I'm sorry for scaring you. But you were stealing one of my favorite horses. You can't much blame me," he pointed out.
"I'm sorry," I said not lifting my head. "I just don't know what I'm going to do."
"Don't worry. We'll get you back to Rosedale," he said in a quiet voice. "In Peak Providence, there are hidden towns. The only place really known is Hidden City," he said. "Maybe Rosedale is a town from there that nobody knows of!"
I shook my head. "No, I'm not even from your country I don't think," I said.
He reguarded me puzzled. "But this country is the only country," he said. "It's Camblia!"
Camblia? There was no such place on earth!
"I'm not even from the same world as you," I said. "I don't know why I'm here, and I don't even know how any of this is possible!"
"Maybe you have amnesia," he suggested. "And you're really from some town in Peak Providence, and you don't know it! Or maybe you're from the City of Hope and don't know it," he said.
"No, no! No amnesia!" I exclaimed thrusting my hands up in the air, frusterated. "I was at my house having a party, and I got tired and went upstairs to sleep, and the last thing I remember was closing my eyes and waking up in your house!"
That was kind of a lie...I was drunk. But I was tired too.
Aydine ran his fingers up and down a split in the wood, worn smooth by probably years of someone doing what Aydine was now. "Perhaps you got caught in some sort of portal," he suggested. "But that would mean Kheroshetyne was involved," he said, more quietly. "And that's not good. If they brought you through, it was for a reason."
"What is Kheroshetyne?" I asked, hesitant.
"It's the dark providence of Camblia," Aydine explained. "Long ago they did not agree with the laws of Camblia set by the royal family, or the tradition and honor that they upheld. So there was a war, and they were driven to a far edge of Camblia. It was a bad piece of land, with a volcano that spewed ash, and every thousand years, erupted. I saw it once," he said. "But that was a long time ago, and I swear I'll never go back there!"
I looked at him deeply in the eyes. He seemed very sincere. nd I had no choice but to trust him.
He continued his story of Kheroshetyne, "Their evil magic cursed them, and caused them to turn into beasts. Wolves of some sort, and they are very large and strong. Their leader is Helaria. She's very wicked, and widely hated among us. She hasn't risen against Camblia in many, many years though. She has lost every war against us! But she is powerful, and is always out seeking the dark powers held by the royal family."
"Dark powers?" I said confused. "If everyone in Camblia is against these dark monsters, then how can Camblia itself be dark?"
"Camblia is a beautiful side of darkness, my dear Alice," Aydine said with a sparkle in his eyes. And when darkness becomes beautiful, it can overcome whatever turns against it."
I smiled. It was so heroic. The way he described it certainly sounded beautiful.
"We must take you to the King," he said, serious now. "They must know you're here. And if it's not Kheroshetyne, at least they might be able to figure out how to return you to Rosedale," he said smiling a bit now. "We must leave right away! Camblia city is where the castle is, and it is an extremely long journey."
When Aydine said right away, I thought he meant the next day. He meant that very moment!
He got up right away and began to pack. He rolled his blanket and opened a chest and pulled out some large sacks and began filling them with clothes, bowls, plates, blankets, pillows, forks, and spoons. He also laid three canteens with the luggage. Then he lifted a floorboard, and took out several knives and daggars in elaborate sheaths.
"They have been in my family for generations," he explained. He removed a small brown sack. "Money for supplies along the way," he explained it.
I helped him take the bags out onto the porch.
We walked around the back of the wooden cabin, and through the woods again to the beautiful stable.
The stallions hung their heads over the doors in greeting. Aydine surveyed them.
"You like Cobalt, don't you?" he asked. I nodded.
"Alright," he said. "you can ride Cobalt."
He opened Cobalts stall door. The stallion strode out majestically and waited patiently for further instruction from his master.
Aydine took out a chestnut stallion with a blaze and four white stockings, and he also took out Thunderhead.
Aydine dug around in his pocket and finally pulled out a tattered piece of paper and a pen.
He scribbled on the paper and placed it on a bench, and used a bridle for paperweight to keep the note from blowing away.
"I've got a friend in the City of Hope who comes this way every night to visit me. He will come to the barn if I'm not in my house, and he'll see the note and feed the horses for as long as we're gone," Aydine explained.
We walked back through the beautiful, summery smelling forest, to the house. The stallions followed us.
Aydine and I loaded our luggage onto the chestnut horse, and bridled Cobalt and Thunderhead.
"What is the chestnut stallion's name?" I asked.
"Ember," Aydine said.
I smiled. "You think of good names for these guys!"
"Thanks," he said, blushing a bit. "Do you need a leg up?" he asked.
"Yes, if you wouldn't mind," I said.
I placed my foot in his hands. "One, two, three!" he said, boosting me up on Cobalt.
He swung up onto Thunderhead easily. "Ready?" I nodded.
We set out at a steady canter along the dirt path that I'd once been down already that day.
The stallions gait was so smooth, I barely felt it.
"Alice, you'll have to be brave," Aydine said. "The Trivial Mountains aren't called that for no reason. There are many dangers in them. But they are worth traveling for many people," he said. "to reach the Bay of Hope. Of course," he added, "I have travelled those mountains so much I doubt they'll hardly be trivial for us."
"What is the Bay of Hope?" I asked.
"Where my house is. It stretches farther though. It's pretty vast. A little larger than the Trivial Mountains. They say the Bay of Hope is a protected place. It is believed that no evil can enter into it's boundaries. I live right on the boundary of the Bay of Hope and the Trivial Mountains. Farther north it is nothing but sand. It is a vast beach with one path through to the City of Hope," he explained.
"Oh," I said. I was beginning to see that this place was mythical, like a fairy tale.
"Everyone comes for a different reason though," Aydine continued. "Some come to travel the Bay of Hope - they say you can never get lost in it. No matter what direction you go you will find something. Either the west Crystal River, or back to the City of Hope, or somethimes the shore of the Seas of Chance, but you will find something. Some go for the City of Hope. Alot of rare gemstones and metals are found there. And of course, they say you can find your destiny there. There is an ancient tree that is said to live in the graveyard. The Tree of Knowledge they call it. If you are true in your intentions and pure of heart, they say it will come alive and speak to you, and tell you your destiny," he said.
"Of course, I've never been to ask the tree my destiny so I don't know if all that is true, but I have heard fabulous stories. Perhaps we might have taken you to the tree, but first we must consult the King," he said seriously.
I was very captured by his story telling of the Bay of Hope, and the Tree of Knowledge. Despite my desparate situation, I wanted to know more about Camblia.
"Aydine," I said. "Can you tell me more about this place?"
He seemed surprised by my interest, but was willing to share information.
"Well, the lands of Camblia are vast. I will tell you about each place as we get to it, but what we are going into is the Trivial Mountains, as I've told you. They have many packs of wolves in them, as well as ravens, vultures, mountain lions, and other meat eating beasts. Not to mention it is a tiresome journey climbing the mountain roads and such. However, I have passed through many times and it has become rare that a beast will try to attack me. I've slain quite a few. And the journey will be easier on horseback. And on the other side is the Seas of Chance. They are exactly what they are called. You will find that the places of this country are named according to what they are most of the time. When you cross that sea, you're gambling a smooth voyage or a very rough one. They say it has alot to do with the Isal Tribe. I've heard that some of the tribe hides in the Sand Forest and uses telescopes to see if there are ships out, and they cast spells. Either way, many go to the Sand Forest in search of buried treasure. There are stories and rumors of men finding chests full of diamonds and gold, amongst many coins. There is a large island called the Sand Forest, and a smaller island directly east that is not named. We just know the very unsocial Isal Tribe resides on the small island. Long ago the Isal tribe compromised with the King and he granted the Isals isolation from the rest of Camblia. Nobody knows why they wanted to be isolated - it's quite a mystery, but they have become hostile. Like they are protecting something. It is strange. Anyway, that is everything behind us. The Bay of Hope is in Protection Providence, and we will soon be leaving that and entering Evapalation Providence when we cross the Heart River and leave Trivial Mountains. There we will be in a very vast field of grass. We will follow the path to Beacoupe City. It is not the only place to visit in the providence but we are trying to make haste, so we will not visit those. At least not right now," he told me.
"Wow," I said. "How many providences are there?"
"Seven," he said, and added, "Well, six. One providence is no longer a part of Camblia," he said his face darkening. "Kheroshetyne."
I nodded. "I'm sure one day Kheroshetyne will be a part of Camblia again and there will be peace."
He smiled. "You're kind, Alice. But I don't see how that will ever be possible."
We rode for a hours, chatting pleasantly, enjoying the afternoon. And for a while it almost felt like I lived there.