“I really appreciate all the help, I do, but...”
I couldn’t pull away from Soren’s intense look. His eyes swam with concern. My throat tightened and I tried to swallow, but it hurt.
All I wanted to do was get out of there! I wanted to get out of bed, be able to stand on my own two feet, put on so new clothes, and leave. There was too much on the line if I stayed put.
Besides, whenever I slled Soren, felt his warm body, or looked into his eyes, I was like a giddy, lovesick puppy. That just wouldn’t do. Not to ntion that lady friend of his. Ashley... She really didn’t want around.
“Your friend is right... it is ti for to leave,” I insisted.
I tried to pull away from Soren and stand on my own. My legs shook and I plopped down on the bed. Tremors ran through my body and I felt weak and faint.
How could I get anywhere like this?
I had to try again. Gritting my teeth, I tried to stand. I strained every muscle in my body but I could only rise a few inches before I fell back on the bed.
A heavy, calming hand rested on my shoulder, keeping still.
I sighed and looked up at Soren. His hand was more comforting than it should have been. It was like that one touch told I could trust him and that everything would be okay.
“You know, you can take it easy when you need to. No one will think less of you for taking ti to recover after what you’ve been through,” he said kindly.
I scoffed and shook my head. “I really need to move on.”
“If you’re concerned about your safety, no one here will hurt you. I will make sure of it. Stay and rest until you are strong enough to make it on your own. I’m not sending you out there to die before you get to the edge of the village.”
His sentint was almost nice but there was a passive-aggressive undertone. After all the trouble he’d gone through to help patch up, he wasn’t going to see throw it all away.
If only he knew the danger he was inviting by allowing to stay. If he did, he might not have helped at all.
What choice did I have?
I could stay here among strangers and trust Soren’s words. A stranger, an ambitious male that could easily use for his own gain.
Or, I could take my chances and run away. Too weak to walk on my own, I’d never get far. Soren was right about that. I’d be far too vulnerable out in the open, stumbling around. It would also draw too much attention.
“Thank you,” I said. At least, so far, Soren hadn’t acted like a villain...yet. I really didn’t have many choices. It was the better of two bad options.
After that, my strength completely sapped, I laid back on the bed and got comfortable on the pillows.
“You’re welco,” he replied and left the room, locking it for before sleep took quickly.
***
Several days passed on my road to recovery. Every day I could feel my strength returning and my pain lessening. Soren even ca by to check on every day or two.
Our conversations were pleasant and he never made feel like he was trying to interrogate or rush the healing process.
If anything, he seed to want to slow down. But I wasn’t going to milk this or drag it out. I had to be on the move, and soon.
Ashley was still my main caregiver. She ca by regularly with food, clothes, and dicine.
Every day she asked, “Did you sleep well? Are you feeling better? When will you be leaving?”
She hardly seed interested in the answers to the first two questions. Only the third one.
After a few days, the questions beca more routine than insistent.
Maybe she was getting used to being there, or she was just tired of asking and getting the sa vague answer.
“When will you be leaving?” Ashley asked again as I finished my breakfast.
“Soon, I hope,” I said. I tried to convey that I didn’t want to be there any more than she wanted there.
I sat on the edge of the bed in a clean outfit she’d brought for . After several more days, I was strong enough that I didn’t need the painkillers anymore.
It was my hands and feet that still needed to heal. The blisters from the desert heat had really done a number on them. For a while, I couldn’t change the bandages because my fingers were too swollen, until now.
“Well, that’s a first,” Ashley said when she saw wrapping fresh bandages on my own. The cooling, healing gel was always such a relief on my raw skin.
“See, I’ll be out of here soon,” I tried to make it easy for both of us.
“Sure, whatever,” Ashley muttered. She collected my empty plate and left the room without wanting to converse more. I didn’t mind at all, for I had my own plans.
My feet were still sore but I could finally stand without shaking or excruciating pain.
Hobbling, I left my room for the first ti since I got there, balancing myself on the wall along the way.
The stairs were tricky but I made it downstairs. No one stopped as I limped through the front door and out onto the porch, where I was pleasantly greeted by clean, fresh air for the first ti in days.
I sighed happily and leaned against the porch railing. As I looked around the village, I realized that it really was in the middle of the desert. No matter what direction I looked in, whether close by or at the horizon, everything was covered or surrounded by the golden, scorching sand.
All the buildings were shabby and looked like they were in need of maintenance. Even the inn I was staying at could use a layer of new paint and even a new roof.
How did it survive the sandstorm?
I went back inside when the sun started to feel hot—I didn’t want to aggravate my blisters anymore—however, I realized sothing usual.
The interior of the inn was a lot nicer than the exterior. It was obvious that the owner of this inn had good tastes. It was cozily decorated with comfortable furniture and low lighting, however, that wasn’t what drew my attention.
What caught my attention was that although it looked beat-up from outside, the building structure from inside was totally the opposite.
The load bearing walls were well-kept brick or stones which looked very steady and the other walls were majorly built with solid woods.
Looking up at the ceiling, there was no sign of aging or damage, which ant that the roof which looked beat up was actually doing a great job protecting the inside of the building.
Lastly, I noticed that there were two layers of windows. The inside layer was new and clean, while the outside layer gave the building an old and rundown look.
I was surprised to find that the rundown appearance outside was only a disguise!
My energy started fading fast and I hobbled to the bar. I plopped down on a stool and my feet were pleased not to have weight on them anymore. I relaxed my body, listening to the conversation and soft music emanated from the restaurant.
The bartender smiled at and headed my way. “Would you like sothing to eat?”
“Oh, that would be great,” I said. I’d need my strength to get back upstairs.
I ate my lunch in peace. When was the last ti I actually sat down to enjoy a al? It was ironic that out of all the places in the world, it was in the rogue zone where I found shelter.
This inn seed to have so magical charm which made people feel safe and...hoy. Was it why those around , regardless how rough and tough they look, kept their decent manner inside the inn, making it a peaceful place for all who chose to stay?
If I wasn’t chased by my enemy, would this be a good option for to settle down?
What the heck was I thinking?
Ashley hated and wanted gone. She’d be happy to see the last of my backside any day.
Soren... Well, I thought he’d like to see my backside too, but for an entirely different reason. At least, he seed to like and was willing to help .
His scent and his body... oh, they were enough to make drool.
It was impossible not to think about him—the mysterious man who lived among the rogues, but lived and behaved nothing like a rogue. If anything, he was like an elegant alpha, or even a graceful royal, even though I’d never t a royal before.
Quickly, I shook my head and stuffed a bite of food in my mouth in case I really was drooling.
After lunch, I headed back to my room. The little walkabout was enough to exhaust my energy. As soon as I got to the bed, my eyes closed and I was ready to fall asleep again.
Except, I didn’t get the rest I was hoping to get.
A repetitive dream surfaced in my mind, taking down a long, winding road.
Suddenly, I was a child again. A woman held my hand, leading deep into the forest. I couldn’t see her face in the shadows.
I heard the woman’s voice. She was whispering words I didn’t understand, chanting spells that made no sense to .
“You must co find , young Mila,” she said.
This wasn’t the first ti I’d dread about her. When I was younger, this dream had just been a dream to . I never cared much about it. However, this ti, it wasn’t the sa.
The images of the forest were much clearer. The woman’s voice was louder and stronger than before, and I could feel the gnarled, rough skin of her hand in mine and slled the faint scent of herbs and tinctures clung to her clothes.
Details I had never seen before.
If my mind had such clear, crisp details, was it possible she was real? Had I t her when I was young? Or was she out in the world sowhere, calling to with so power that I wasn’t aware of?
As soon as I wondered if she was real, the dream beca even clearer.
The woman’s scent grew stronger and I could almost see the outline of her facial features through the shadows.
She spoke again. “Mila, go to the Miltern pack. Ask for soone nad Helen,” she said so perfectly clear I wondered if I was still asleep.
“Hey, what does that an?” I asked.
Suddenly, my eyes snapped open and I sat up in bed. The dream faded so fast and reality rushed in. I panted and clutched my chest. That was the clearest version of this dream I’d ever experienced! So clear that I had to question whether it was really just a dream?
Outside the window, the full, silver moon hung in the dark blue sky. She lit up the entire town and moonlight poured through the window.
Had I been asleep for hours already? It seed to be only half an hour ago I’d just had my lunch.
My mind was working faster than it had in the past few days. That woman had told to go to Miltern pack and look for Helen.
If I was willing to believe that she was real, I had to believe Helen and the Miltern pack were real.
For days, I’d been trying to figure out a plan for where I was going next and who I could ask for help. Now, it was as if this recurring dream gave the answer.
There was no point postponing my departure. I got out of bed and packed my things. Everything felt so much easier. Now that I had purpose and direction, my strength and determination had returned.
Just before leaving, I paused. I had no intention of saying goodbye but I wanted to leave Soren and his people sothing for helping .
I dug into my pack and pulled out the valuables I’d brought with and laid them out on the pillow. I had only brought them along in case I needed to barter for supplies. This seed like the right way to use them.
Soren saved and I made my paynt. Going forward, I did not owe them anything.
Quietly, I snuck out of the bedroom. Out of caution, this ti, I tiptoed down the hall until I ca to a door that was slightly cracked. Light stread out into the dark hallway.
Shadows moved around inside. Soone was awake and alert. I’d have to avoid them.
Holding my breath, I took one step by the room but I froze when I heard Soren’s voice.
“Now, what have you found out about the girl?” he asked firmly.
He had to be talking about ...
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