Chapter 14

I LISTENED WITHOUT REALLY HEARING, fascinated with their unusual accents. They had what sounded like a hint of a Scottish burr to the 'r' in words, well developed consonants but with heaviness to their 'w' so it sounded more like 'wh'. Something about the way they spoke triggered an odd sensation in my mind and a weird sense of anxiety; how are we speaking with them?

The sudden thought of not understanding them, or being understood made me nauseated and I pushed it away.

I'll just be thankful, I thought, squeezing my legs back under the bench seat while blocking out those concerning thoughts. I'll just be thankful.

Studying the people and what they wore distracted me while Sian asked Henja for the directions to the castle. The variety of styles and lack of corsets surprised me. I couldn't see any evidence of electricity or modern technology, yet what they wore felt rather modern. A couple of women seated nearer us wore mid length skirts of a dense fabric, belted at the waist. Their long sleeved, slash neck tops laced down the front or sides; one woman had a bright blue ribbon laced down the front of her dark brown top. A quick glimpse down showed fleece lined knee-high boots with long laces wrapped fully around them. It surprised me; I guess our outfits aren't that unusual then.

Gran Nina had shifted from her seat and stood near Henja, listening to the conversation while openly studying us. She met my eyes with a bright smile, her face dissolving into a mass of lines. The look of delight almost made me giggle and I smiled back. The older woman wore baggy trousers held up by a wide belt just visible beneath the side splits in her tunic that fell to her hips. Her white hair had the occasional streak of brown and she wore it in a long plait, draped over a shoulder. The little boy who'd been patting Lucky dashed to Gran Nina's side, pointing at the cat while tugging on her pants. Gran Nina smiled down at him, nodding and the two chatted away.

'We'd like to stay the night at your Inn if you have room, wouldn't we, Catherine?'

I blinked in shock at a sudden shove from Sian.

'Oh! Ahh, yes. Certainly, that'd be great,' I assured Henja.

Right, focus on the conversation Cat, I thought, feeling a tad dazed as I tuned back in, listening. Sian had arranged dinner and breakfast, as well as a bath. I felt like cheering when I heard that part: a bath! I wonder if I can get my clothes cleaned? Sitting in the crowded room made me rather aware of the unpleasant scent of sweat from our sprint here.

Loi interrupted Sian. 'Henja, would you be able to arrange us some supplies, for the next few days?'

Henja lit up, eagerness at the prospect of business apparent on her broad face. 'Of course, it will cost extra though?'

'That'll be no problem,' Sian assured her. 'As long as it's enough to reach the next village.'

'Yes, yes. Though I should warn you, it'll take around a month of walking to reach the castle. You must make sure to stock up well at each village.'

Loi gave me a look of concern at that. I pressed my lips flat and shrugged.

One month of walking; damn that's really going to suck. I hope there are plenty of villages in between here and the castle.

KASSIE LISTENED HARD WHILE SHE pretended to focus on Lucky. One month to the castle, she thought, feeling her stomach sink; with elgrids about and likely other creatures too. She pursed her lips, trying to think of another solution but nothing presented itself. She lifted her head and stared at the man who had spoken to them before.

'I just wondered what other creatures we should watch out for, ah-' Kassie gestured at him with a smile. The man jerked his head back as if surprised and stared with squinted eyes at her for a moment, before replying.

'Wrenwick.'

'So, what other creatures can we expect on our journey, Wrenwick?'

Wrenwick frowned while he thought it over. 'When you reach the woods, you may have to watch out for gragnolls, though I haven't seen many lately, what with all this craziness going on in the South. It appears to be attracting them in hordes. We haven't had many issues with uglies lately. Those elgrids that followed you are the first we've seen in weeks.'

Henja interrupted, 'You'll need to watch out for the leeni too.' She nudged Wrenwick in admonishment. 'And of course, dragons.'

Sian's head snapped up at that. 'Dragons?'

'Ooooh yes,' Gran Nina looked amused at Sian's shocked expression. The little boy beside her listened with wide eyes. 'We do get a few around here, though they tend to go for the cattle, not wee scrawny girls.'

CURIOUS I ASKED, 'HOW BIG do the dragons get? Do they breathe fire?'

Wrenwick spoke up, glaring at Henja and Gran Nina for butting in. 'The biggest dragons can be the size of a large barn with a wing span four to five times larger than that, but they don't breathe fire. At that size there isn't really any need. It's the little dragons, around your dog's size, that breathe fire. They are usually rather civil and most castles employ one or two for keeping their fires going.'

Sian looked fascinated as I glanced to see her reaction; at home her favourite mythical creature was the dragon. The thought of a real-life dragon just seemed ridiculous and yet at the same time, I couldn't shake the image of those things, those elgrids that had chased us here.

What kind of place is this? Memories of mythical creatures I'd read about as a child sprung to mind; what else might be real here?

A loud knock on the door distracted me. The men who'd chased the elgrids off entered and gave the all clear for everyone to leave. Henja called out to us, shouting brief instructions of where to find her Inn, then dashed off along with everyone else.

We walked out, blinking at the bright sunlight then wandered in the direction Henja had instructed while studying the village.

Judging by the number of houses that stretched out before us and back another couple of rows I guessed that around one to two hundred people lived here. Locals watched us curiously from their doorways and the sides of the narrow roads. Some called greetings, others gaped and a few children followed for a way, shrieking with high pitched giggles if we glanced back. The gravel crunched underfoot as we walked along, making anyone near us turn and stare. It felt like the road got longer the further we walked, with eyes watching from everywhere. Beside me Kassie made soothing noises to Lucky who half crouched, curled around Kassie's shoulders. The cat wasn't happy and kept uttering long, low warbles that made Audi anxious. She walked between Kassie and me, her eyes constantly on her feline friend.

Behind us Loi muttered, 'Centre of attention much.'

'Look. We're nearly at the Inn,' Kassie sounded relieved.

We all picked up the pace and reached the two-story building quickly. Pausing on the skinny front deck, Loi knocked lightly then turned the handle, pushing the door open. I followed, holding the door for Kassie and Sian.

'Girls,' Henja called out in delight from the back of the large front room. 'Come on in. Quick, quick, dinner will be ready soon and your baths are waiting out the back.'