B1 Chapter 19 - The Journey

In my entire life, I had never actually taken a carriage before. Well, yeah, I don’t think I should count the slavers. It was pretty boring. I guess maybe that was the point, but it felt like a waste of geld. I left really early as to arrive in the nearby town around noon. This town was bustling with tons of activity. I guess that was why catching a carriage from here to the border would be easy.

Not that I actually had any intention of doing that. I walked around town for about an hour just to ensure people saw me. Or more accurately, so people didn’t see me leave immediately, I knew well enough that would be a detail some people would likely remember. I began the trek back towards the town I came from. It was going to take me all day, but I guess I was supposed to be gone a week anyhow.

Walking was way more interesting. I could observe the scent of flowers or the shifting shadows as the sun began moving towards the horizon, and all of it was accompanied by the sounds of the forest, the subtle chirps of birds, or the howls of other creatures.

Oh, I felt a tickle in the back of my head. I was getting close. I could feel Mother sensing me. Her telepathy was strong. Good thing I was getting tired and would rather sleep with her than alone in the forest.

“Is everything alright?” she asked me.

“Yes,” I thought. “Things are proceeding a bit faster than expected. How are the girls?”

“They are adjusting,” she said. “Do you need anything?”

“Just a hug when I arrive,” I said.

She didn’t respond. That tracked; she seemed to be relatively soft spoken. On reflection, I realized I did need something. Water. Preferably in the form of a bath. That sounded amazing. Mead would be great too, but that would have to wait.

The cave was as silent and dark as always. It looked no different than a normal cave, and even the skilled trackers from the guild had failed to notice the entrance to her room. It was a tight fit, but I managed to squeeze in.

I saw four people, two of whom were tall, two short. Tabitha, Bethany, Brandon, and Mother. I gave a curtsy. “I have missed you all.”

Tabitha came and hugged me. “Thank you so much,” she said. “Especially for bringing Tilly.”

“How is Tilly?” I asked.

“She is… it is an adjustment. She is sleeping,” Tabitha said.

“Her disappearance has gotten Nancy into a rage. She set up a magic defense network around the shelter. Nancy is hunting in the forest to pay for it,” I added.

Tabitha covered her mouth with a hand. “Really?”

“Was she just as mad about me?” Brandon asked.

I shook my head. “The guards saw you leave with your mother, so that was a different case. But it is good to see you up and around. Feeling good?”

“Great!” He said, doing a stretch to show it. “I've been trying to help Lady Schleim as much as possible.”

“Oh?” I turned to Mother. “He has been a help?”

She nodded. “Greatly.”

“So, what have you been doing?” I asked.

“I helped expand the bath and carve the water paths,” he said.

He took my hand and led me around a corner to a wide area dug out of rock. It could comfortably fit at least four people. “Oh, that is beautiful! I want to take a dip. I am gonna enjoy this.”

He turned to leave, and Tabitha, Bethany, and Mother came to join me. I slowly slide into the water after slipping out of my yellow dress. Hmm, it was freezing, but I didn’t care. It just felt so good. I hadn’t had a bath in a month. It was probably the harshest part of being in the city. I would have snuck out to the lake had it not sent Jackson and Nancy into pure panic.

“So, Lady Schleim was saying that your return means she will be leaving with you?” Tabitha asked.

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I nodded. “They think I am bringing my little sister with me. As far as everyone is concerned right now. I am taking a carriage to the border to pick her up.”

“So we are going to be on our own?” Bethany asked. “It is a bit nerve-racking.”

“Sorry, I was hoping to have more people with you by this point, but no one else is in an emergency situation, and Nancy is watching every girl like a hawk. The guild master is watching too, since two children have gone missing. The next few we get should probably not have kids. If it can be avoided.”

Mother placed her thumb under her lower lip. “Yes, that sounds wise. However, I would love to see the situation from my point of view. Oh, have you given me a name yet?”

I shook my head. “No, but it should probably be something with an A. Traditionally, siblings in Rumora are named with the same letter after all.”

“Alice?” Bethany suggested. “No one I knew in town had that name.”

“It is as good as any other, I suppose,” I said. “Mother, can you heat up the water?”

She chuckled. “I taught Bethany how. Want to do the honor?”

Bethany nodded as fire burst into her hand. It was intense, and she quickly pulled it under the water. It was surreal seeing the fire not be extinguished by being under water. It only took a couple of minutes before the water bubbled, and I just sighed in happiness.

“Not far, Mother, you taught her fire magic?” I asked. “All I have so far is the strength boost you gave me, well, among the defensive traits.”

“You suggested we wait until you know more confidently what you need for your job,” Mother said.

Yeah, that was true, but after suffering so long without a bath, it felt unfair.

“Momma!” a voice screamed inside my head.

I grabbed my ears in response.

Tabitha shot up. “Sorry, I will check on her.”

I looked around. “Was that Tilly?”

Mother nodded. “Yes. I gave her telepathy, but she still seems to be struggling with it.”

“Interesting, wait-”

“Yes,” mother said. “The idea is that she might be able to reach us in town. Not certain yet, but we were exploring the idea.”

“Maybe I should get telepathy too?” I asked, but Mother shook her head. I guess if Tilly already had it, it was a moot point.

Tabitha came back and slid into the pool. “The water is so nice.”

“Tilly is okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, just a nightmare,” she said.

I just sat back and let the warm water envelop me up to my ears. I missed this. When I first met Mother, we would spend days like this. Back when she taught me all the skills that had kept me safe up to this point. A small part of me wanted to stop. Cancel the plans and just stay here.

But that would be selfish. The smiles on Bethany and Tabitha told me that much. They had gotten to join this paradise because I braved the outside world and welcomed them here. If I quit now, then how many people who could participate in this would be denied? Would die needlessly?

I was the first, first blessed by my mother. But I would work hard because she was a miracle that could change the world. And it seemed wrong to keep that miracle to herself or to such a small handful. That much, I was certain of.

After the bath, we all prepared for bed. Since we had all been treated by Mother, none of us needed much sleep. The beds weren’t much either; the shelter had better sleeping material. But I didn’t need much to be comfortable.

I ended up staying four days with everyone. It was a much-needed vacation, but it had finally come to an end. Mother and I needed to return to the town I came from to rent a carriage home. We both were worried about the group we were leaving behind, but they assured us they could handle everything.

It was about an hour before sunrise on the morning we were prepared to leave.

“Alexis,” Bethany said. “Because of you, my son is healthy. I owe you everything. Never hesitate to ask for anything.”

“Yes, thank you,” Brandon said, kneeling.

“I feel the same,” Tabitha said with a curtsy.

“Without you, I would have lost my momma,” Tilly said, as she ran at me and gave me a big hug.

I smiled. “For now, just stay safe. That is all I currently want from all of you.”

“Tilly,” mother said. “Try to keep the telepathy with me open for as long as possible. I want to measure the maximum distance.”

“Yes, I will do my best, Lady Schleim,” she said, bowing.

“Well, for now, I shall be Alice. That goes for you as well, Alexis. Even in your thoughts. We don’t know if we will encounter another telepath or if thinking of me as mom will cause you to make a mistake.”

“As you wish, Lady Alice,” the four said as they dropped to one knee.

“I guess I should start calling you my little sister, then?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’ll be in your care, big sis Alexis,” she said with a smile. Given that her height was only about four feet, she very much looked like my little sister. “How was that?”

“Perfect,” I said.

With that, we began our walk, with any luck, we would be back in town around noon or not too long after.