Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Aurya 18th 468 AC

Raena Silverthorne

On the third day, Raena awoke before the first hint of dawn touched the cave entrance. A faint, silvery-blue light from the waning moons still illuminated the interior, casting long, dancing shadows that flickered with the embers of the dying fire. She stretched, her muscles protesting the damp chill of the cave. Thankfully, the nightmares that had plagued her for so long had remained absent these past few nights, allowing her a measure of restful sleep.

She sat up, pulling her leather and fur bed roll tighter around her shoulders, and glanced towards the cave entrance. Jimmothy should return sometime today, she thought, a flicker of anticipation warming her despite the cold. Hopefully, with my teacher. The thought of finally learning to control her burgeoning magic filled her with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She had lived with this strange, unpredictable power for too long, and she yearned for the guidance to master it.

She rose, careful not to disturb Kimmel, who was still sleeping soundly near the fire. Ash stood near the cave entrance, his dark eyes fixed on the forest beyond, a silent sentinel. Raena approached the horse, her hand reaching out to stroke his velvety nose.

"Good morning, Ash," she whispered, her voice soft. The horse turned his head, his eyes meeting hers, a sense of quiet understanding passing between them.

She moved towards the entrance and looked out. The forest was shrouded in a pre-dawn mist, the trees looming like ghostly figures in the dim light. The air was still and silent. She took a deep breath, the crisp, earthy scent filling her lungs. Today, she hoped, would bring answers.

She moved quietly, beginning the morning preparations. First, she gathered water from the nearby stream, filling the horses' troughs and the large iron cauldron that hung over the dwindling fire. Then, she measured out feed for the horses, ensuring they had enough to sustain them until Jimmothy's return. Oatmeal would be breakfast again; it was simple and filling. They still had a good supply of dried berries, and she'd discovered a jar of honey Jimmothy had left behind, a sweet addition to the otherwise bland meal.

Just as she was adding the handful of dried berries to the steaming oatmeal, Kimmel pulled himself out of his bed roll, stretching and yawning. "Morning, Rae," he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," she replied, handing him a steaming bowl of oatmeal. She then gestured towards the jar of honey. Kimmel's eyes lit up. He smiled, a rare display of eagerness, clearly anticipating the sweet addition to his breakfast.

"Jimmothy should be back today," Raena said, her voice a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The thought weighed heavily on her mind, the eagerness to finally meet her teacher battling with the apprehension of the unknown.

"He won't be here until this afternoon, Rae," Kimmel reminded her, blowing gently on a spoonful of honeyed oatmeal before taking a bite. "He said he'd be back by midday at the earliest.”

Raena nodded, a slight flush creeping up her neck in embarrassment. She knew he was right, but her eagerness made her impatient. She glanced down at her hands, where faint flickers of flame still danced beneath her skin. Hopefully, my teacher can help with this, she thought, the anxiety about her uncontrolled magic returning in full force.

As if in response to her anxiety, the flames beneath her skin flared, brightening and casting a soft, warm glow that illuminated her face. She took a few deep, steadying breaths, forcing herself to calm down, and gradually, the flames subsided, returning to their faint, flickering state.

Kimmel watched her regain control, his gaze fixed on her hands. "It looks like it's easier to bank your flames when you're calmer," he observed, his voice thoughtful. "Like you're smothering a small fire.”

Startled by his comment, Raena looked up at him, her green eyes piercing. "It sure doesn't feel that way," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "It feels like a raging inferno trying to break free.”

Kimmel, unsure of what to say, simply nodded. He returned his attention to his bowl of oatmeal, letting Raena vent her frustrations in silence as he ate.

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Instead of eating, Raena began to pace, her frustration bubbling over. "You don't understand," she said, her voice rising. "This magic... it's right here, just under my skin, all the time. I have to concentrate just to keep it from bleeding out, from igniting everything around me. Sometimes, using it actually helps, lets out some of the pressure, but then it just builds up again, stronger. And my emotions... they're a mess. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm a walking bonfire. I feel like I'm constantly fighting a losing battle.”

"It seems like the breathing exercises work," Kimmel pointed out, his voice calm.

Raena stopped pacing, looking at Kimmel with a curious tilt of her head, her green eyes thoughtful. After a moment of consideration, she nodded slowly. "Yes," she agreed, "the breathing exercises seem to work the best. They help me center myself, keep the flames... contained.”

Raena stopped pacing, walked over to a nearby log, and sat down. She picked up her now-cool bowl of oatmeal and began to stir it, her gaze distant. After a moment, she took a bite, chewing and swallowing thoughtfully before speaking. "I just hope a teacher can help," she said, her voice filled with a quiet hope.

"I am sure a teacher will help," Kimmel reassured her. "I am sorry we didn't think of getting you a teacher sooner. But what we've managed to piece together about magic and channeling was working, up until now." He apologized sincerely.

Raena waved his apologies away with a dismissive gesture. "It's alright," she said, her voice calm. "I wasn't ready. I wouldn't have taken well to being taught before now. I've mostly tried to ignore my magic, to pretend it wasn't there. Maybe that's why it's so… unruly now.”

"Could be. We'll find out, Rae," Kimmel concluded, his voice reassuring. "We'll get through this.”

Raena nodded, a small, grateful smile playing on her lips. A silence descended between them as they finished their breakfast, the quiet broken only by the soft sounds of eating and the gentle rustling of the forest.

It was just after midday when Jimmothy arrived back at camp. They knew it was him when they heard his jovial whistle echoing through the trees, a cheerful tune that cut through the stillness of the forest.

Raena's heart leaped with anticipation, but her excitement quickly turned to disappointment as she saw that Jimmothy was alone. She scanned the tree line, hoping for a second rider, but there was no one. Her disappointment grew with each passing second, the silence heavy with unspoken questions.

Jimmothy, noticing her crestfallen expression, abruptly stopped his jovial whistling. The cheerful tune died in the air, replaced by a somber quiet. He guided his horse closer to the cave entrance, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a look of concern.

"It's not as bad as it seems, Raena," Jimmothy cautioned her, his voice gentle. "Just a few changes. Your teacher is unwilling to follow a man she doesn't know to some secluded spot in the woods. Instead, she would rather meet closer to town, outside the south gate. Neutral ground.”

"And still safe enough if Raena loses control of her magic," Kimmel murmured appreciatively, his eyes thoughtful. He looked forward to meeting this teacher. She was already making wise decisions and showing a shrewd mind.

Raena's disappointment faded slightly, replaced by a cautious optimism. "When does she want to meet?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

"Tonight," Jimmothy replied, his gaze meeting hers. "Especially if you are having control issues. She said it would be best to address them sooner rather than later.”

"We'll eat and then head out," Kimmel said, taking charge. "We'll plan to camp out if Raena starts to lose control during the journey. Otherwise, we'll stay in our rooms at the guild." He outlined the plan with a practical air.

Jimmothy and Raena nodded their understanding. Jimmothy, with a grin, reached into his pack and pulled out three waxed paper-wrapped bundles.

"I figured you'd say eat first," he chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Roasted boar sandwiches. Fresh from the guild kitchen.”

As if on cue, Raena's stomach emitted a loud, rumbling growl, echoing through the cave. Jimmothy's grin widened. With a playful wink, he passed her a bundle first.

They settled around the dwindling fire, unwrapping their sandwiches. The roasted boar was tender and flavorful, practically melting in Raena's mouth. She devoured her sandwich with an eagerness born of both hunger and anticipation, emitting a satisfied sigh when she finished the last bite. The savory taste lingered on her tongue, a welcome comfort before the journey ahead.

"I figured you'd both enjoy something other than camp fare," Jimmothy commented, a hint of pride in his voice as they finished their sandwiches. "So I picked these up before I left town.”

Kimmel offered a silent nod of appreciation, while Raena added a soft, "Thank you," her green eyes reflecting her gratitude. Once they had finished their impromptu lunch, they moved on to breaking down camp, packing their belongings and preparing for the journey to the south gate.

With the horses loaded and ready, they mounted and followed the winding trail that led back to the main road, the afternoon sun casting long shadows through the trees.

Once they reached the main road, they gave their horses their heads, letting them run at a brisk pace. They traveled this way for most of the afternoon, covering a significant distance before the sun began to dip towards the horizon. As evening approached, they were close enough to Eagle Point that Kimmel deemed it prudent to slow their pace, urging the horses to a walk. Exiting the overgrown forest, they emerged onto the open farmland that surrounded the town.