Fan Fiction ❯ The Keeper of the Orbs ❯ Let Her Dream ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter Nineteen

Let Her Dream

 

It had been nearly four days since they'd left Lohavis. Sala sat before the flicking flames of the fire, watching them cast shadows on the river rocks that formed a hearth around them. Her hand went to the burn scar on her temple. Kale glanced at her. For four days she had been silent. She was pushing them away when she needed them most.

 

Sala continued to watch the fire. As she stared at the burning logs, Sala saw the image of her home village form in the flames. The dragon took shape and the popping sounds that the wood made as it burned turned into the screams of the villagers. Sala's heart ached as she watched her family's home take shape in the fire. So many people had died because of her and there was no real way for her to fix it except to reclaim all four of the Orbs.

 

Suddenly, her world went black.

 

A dark cloud rolled over her mind. Sala whirled around, hoping in vain to find someone in this dark world with her. She stopped finally and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, a young woman stood before her. Sala stared at the strange woman. How had she gotten there?

 

"Who are you?" Sala asked.

 

The woman pointed to the orb on her finger and then to the one around her neck. Sala touched the smooth glassy surface and her eyes widened. She knew this woman!

 

"Lady Zarad!" she whispered, shocked.

 

She nodded slowly.

 

"Why are you here?" Sala asked.

 

Lady Zarad pointed past the younger Draegan woman. Sala turned slowly, fearing what she would see behind her. What she saw made her eyes well up with tears. There before her stood the remains of the Draegan village. Corpses lay were they had fallen, rotting in the very streets. Sala took a step forward and paused.

 

"Grandpa!" she cried and ran to his hut.

 

When she got to where his hut should have been, Sala came to an abrupt halt. In its place was a cold pile of ash. He'd killed himself when it looked too desperate for him. Sala's legs gave way beneath her and she collapsed. Lady Zarad stood silently behind her.

 

"Is this how it really looks?" Sala asked, looking back at her.

 

The woman only nodded.

 

"Why won't you give me a real answer?! Why aren't me and Kale sick? How can we still be alive?! We're Draegan, too!" Sala demanded. "You're a Traekavin! I know you can talk! If you couldn't talk then you couldn't sing!"

 

Lady Zarad looked at her sadly. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Sala scrambled to her feet, fists clenched as she stood before the former Keeper of the Orbs. What in the seven hells was wrong with this woman?!

 

"Talk to me damn it!" Sala shouted, stamping her foot. "Tell me why I should go on if the only reason I was going at all had died?!"

 

Again Lady Zarad shook her head. She pointed at Sala's chest where her heart lay and smiled. Her eyes held something the Sala had never seen anyone have when they looked at her. It was hope. A tiny glimmer of hope, but hope nonetheless. Sala closed her eyes once more and a tear slid from between her closed eye lids.

 

She opened her eyes slowly and found herself looking up into the worried faces of her three companions. Sala sat up slowly and turned her sorrowful gaze towards Kale. The young Draegan male touched her face. Leaning into his touch, she kissed his palm.

 

"We're all that's left." she said.

 

Kale nodded. "Your grandfather?" he asked.

 

"Gone." she said simply.

 

It seemed that he wasn't even bothered by the news. Sala sighed heavily. She was alone now. All of her family had been wiped out by some unseen force. Sala felt the Orb of Wind sway and the Orb of Fire burned her finger. She looked into the darkness and smiled.

 

"Lady Zarad?" she whispered.

 

Only the hoot of an owl answered her.