The weather outside could not have been less in tune with the thoughts and feelings of the Green Rider who gazed out the small window of the mending wing room. Securely wrapped in a blanket Karigan happily watched the wind scour snow banks buffer trees and send flurries at any poor soul needing to brave the castle paths and courtyards that morning.
Some uncertainties still hung over her: the future she must change, the war that was coming and whether her eye would heal, but for now she pushed those things aside. She was finally home, back in the castle with many of her friends and Cade was here too.
When Karigan had woken a little while ago she had asked the menders if he was there, worried she had dreamt him up. They'd reassured her he was well on the way to healing and after she had pleased them by eating some porridge they had allowed her to see him.
A little battered and bandaged, but looking alive and wonderful Cade slept peacefully due to what he had been given him for his pain. Karigan had sat down beside him and taken his hand in hers, panning to wait until he woke. However Master Vanlynn had shooed her back to her own room, promising to tell her when he woke.
Master Vanlynn had then examined Karigan eye, and explained gently to her that it was likely she would loose her sight.
Turning away from the window Karigan was tempted to sneak across the hall again and look in on Cade, just to reassure her self he really, really, was there.
Movement from the waking figure by her bed stopped her. Captain Mapstone had been sleeping awkwardly in a chair by her bed when she woke. Karigan felt a fluttering of affection for her Captain, she was touched that the woman had endured such an uncomfortable night for her sake and she was glad to see her again.
"Karigan, how are you feeling?" Laren asked.
Not really sure how to answer Karigan sat down on the bed. "Wonderful, confused?" she tried. "Glad to be home. But how can it be winter, it was just summer?"
"I think I can help with that part." Captain Mapstone answered. She explained what the Elitians had told her of Lhean's arrival in Corsa in summer.
Karigan though of being swept up from that summers night, and of flying through the sky, of being carried by the God Westrion. She wondered why the God had wanted to bring her to now.
The Captain was watching her uneasily. Karigan wondered what her face was communicating.
"The eletians told me you where almost two hundred years in the future. Is that ture?" Laren asked.
"Yes. I don't know how far exactly from now but it was one hundred and eight six… years after…" Karigan found her self-faltering, unable to say what she had meant to. "After Sacoridia fell."
The look on the Captain's face told Karigan that her words only confirmed what Laren has suspected.
"It's not hopless," She quickly continued. "In that future, I never came back. We can stop it from happening with what I have learnt. That must be why I was sent. We have to stop it."
Karigan spoke of the time she had been taken to, describing the horrible empire that replaced defeated Sacoridia. She saw the Captain's face pale as she spoke of the horrors done, of the poverty and of course of the slaves. People from all of the lands alike chained together, worked until they dropped and treated like livestock.
The Captain stoped her. "I can see this distressing for you to talk about, I will hear it all when you report to the King. Is the young man, Cade, from this future?"
Karigan thought she must have been blushing as she answered. "Yes. Cade Harlowe, he was part of the resistance movement against the Emperor."
They sat in silence for a little, until Karigan thought she could hear the Captain's stomach rumbling.
"Hmm. I should be going." Laren said, standing up and stretching. "I'll sent a letter to your father as soon as the weather clears" she gestured to the wind and snow batted view. "If you want to include a note of your own."
"I will. I'd like to go home for a little while." Karigan thought of introducing Cade to her family. "Once I can be speared."
"I'm sure we can arrange you some time off." The Captain assured her.
After Captain Mapstone left Karigan asked for some paper. She was brought some and a small writing box to use on her lap.
Dear Father,
Contrary to what you have heard I am alive and well.
Then what?
I am sorry for all the pain this false news has surely caused you and my aunts. I wish I had been able to send word to you that I was all right, but that was impossible. I don't know what Captain Mapstone has told you about what happened after I went missing. It is difficult to explain in a letter, but I was a long way away.
I want you to know I haven't spent all of the time I have been missing in dreadful danger; I spent some time with kind people where I was well treated.
I hope to come home for a visit soon and I'll be bringing a friend of mine I'd like you to meet.
Know that I am indeed well, safe and happy.
Please give my love to my aunts, I hope to be seeing you all soon.
Karigan
Laren entered the Kings private study to report on Karigan's condition not yet decided on what to say. She found Zachary sitting at his desk looking and some papers contemplatively.
"Majesty?"
The King looked up from his desk looking like someone waking from a dream. She wasn't sure where his thoughts had been but she could tell they hadn't been focused on anything in the room.
"I have come to report on Rider G'ladheon's condition." Laren said.
That got his attention, Laren thought as he sat up in his chair.
"How is she?"
"She is slightly disoriented. Master Vanlynn said that was to be expected considering what she has been though. She has experienced things…" Laren paused thoughtfully. "And yet she seems calm and happy. It's odd, I've never know her be such an obliging, quiet patient."
Zackary laughed quietly at that with a small smile on his face. "Do you have any idea where she has been?" He asked looking more serious.
"She was time travelling." Laren answered, wondering how much she could leave for Karigan to tell. She didn't want to tell him Karigan had been in a future where they lost this war against Second Empire.
