Iona, Part 3

The forest was humid, but a nice breeze cooled the air as Sasha and Iona walked on the trail. Iona checked the device Healer had given her. Al tracked the time back in Sanctuary. After ten seconds in her time, one second passed in the pocket dimension. She was happy that time was slower for Nessa. 

"You know that the passage of time is the same, no matter how much you check it." Sasha gave a friendly smile. Iona knew she was right but couldn't help but feel anxious.

"I know I only met Nessa yesterday, but we already have a deep connection. I don't want to be gone from her for too long."

"I understand. I actually felt the same way. I know Healer has a lot to do, and I want to take on some responsibilities as well, but we promised we would make time every evening for each other, at the least. I am hoping we are back before evening in Sanctuary."

Without saying it out loud, the two women quickened their pace. They reached the top of a hill and saw a village about an hour away. Iona hoped they could learn more about the fruit from locals. Al could only tell them that a fruit called peokin could be found here. The shape, color, size, and any other description must be determined from the planet itself.

"Sasha, how will we communicate with the people here? Do you speak their language?"

"We both do. Have you not noticed we have been speaking different languages? Yet you understand me perfectly."

Iona stopped for a second as she realized Sasha was right. The words the woman said to her weren't from her native tongue, yet she understood them. Sasha looked puzzled, and Iona quickly recovered and kept walking.

"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize that. But how?"

"I don't know how it works, but the Preservers called it omnilingualism. For some reason, anyone who leaves the timeline from which they originate can understand the written and spoken language of a timeline they visit. However, it can be dangerous. You didn't notice until I pointed it out, but if someone figured it out right away, it could cause problems."

"So we should limit communication with people?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I hope some merchants sell the fruit, and we can figure out what they are without saying a word."

Iona let the situation sink in. Although she thought monsters and bandits were their most significant threats, even peaceful villagers could create a dangerous situation if she slipped up. Iona was happy that Sasha was with her. Healer was strong and friendly, but Sasha was much more experienced with worlds like these. They still had a while to walk, so Iona courageously asked Sasha about Healer.

"I know you and Healer reunited a couple of years ago, but how did you first meet?"

Sasha's expression was unreadable. After a long silence, Iona was about to apologize and tell Sasha she didn't need to answer, but Sasha spoke up first.

"We met when we were both hired to create a teleportation device. We thought we had figured out why the previous models didn't work, but our device created a wormhole. Many people were instantly killed, but others like Alex and I traveled to other timelines." 

Sasha grew quiet again, and Iona let the silence linger. Sasha continued after clearing her throat.

"But that's not what you asked. We met in the lunchroom on his first day. I had been there almost a month, and he was the only other teenager there. Many older men had hit on me, but Alex just sat with me and talked. I don't think I said a single word; I was just irritated that yet another man was bothering me. But soon we became good friends. I don't know when I first felt for him, but I realized it the night we devised new plans for the device. I should have said something then, but I guess in the end, things worked out the best way they could."

Iona listened intently to Sasha's story. She was amazed at how ordinary yet extraordinary Healer and Sasha were. When she ate meals with them, they were just a quirky young couple, but she knew Sasha was almost seventy years old and Healer was extraordinarily powerful. She had seen him practice his magic and thought he could destroy a planet without breaking a sweat. Still, at the end of the day, Iona could imagine them as two young teenagers eating a simple meal in a cafeteria together. 

"I'm jealous. Maybe I can find one of the old Guards to fall in love with."

"Maybe, but there's always room for another in our relationship." Sasha winked at Iona, and once again, her face burned. She thought it was utterly red this time. Iona didn't know what to say, but Sasha's smile was all she needed to see to understand that Sasha was serious. Iona ignored the invitation for now and focused on her mission for Nessa.

The women walked in silence until they reached the village. Many people rushed through the small streets, and there were plenty of merchant stalls. To Iona's disappointment, though, none were food stalls. She pulled Sasha aside and whispered to her in a side alley.

"Should we ask for directions? You have me worried about the omni... whatever."

"Omnilingualism, but yes, we should see if a place sells produce.

They walked into a tavern and asked the pretty young host about a food market. The girl gave them a skeptical look. Iona had noticed that most of the women in the village wore more modest attire. Only now did she realize, standing next to a woman with unparalleled beauty in a tank top and shorts that barely contained her curvy body, just how out of place they must look.

"Yes, there is a grocery store around the corner, but how will you carry your items?"

"Oh, we are just curious about the local food. We won't buy more than we can eat in one sitting."

The girl narrowed her eyes but said nothing more before returning to the papers at her desk. Sasha politely thanked the girl and then turned to leave. Three large men wielding clubs blocked their path.

"Hello pretty lass, seems you wandered into our territory."

Sasha looked completely unfazed, but Iona was trembling. She instinctively took a step back, running into the girl's desk. A second later, she felt a knife against her throat. Sasha looked at Iona out of the corner of her eye and winked. Iona was shocked, her life was in danger, why was Sasha so calm.

"Well, handsome man, it seems the girl behind the counter has taken my companion. I'm afraid that in order to join you for the evening, she will have to come with me. I can't handle three men at once."

The men stood stunned, and Iona couldn't fathom the tone of Sasha's proposal. Her sultry voice turned the faces of the attackers bright red, and they turned to the girl with the knife. Their eyes pleaded with her to let Iona go, but as soon as she did, red spikes filled the room, impaling the three men and the girl. They each tried to scream but could only choke and spit out blood before they all fell silent and went limp. Iona threw up at the sight, and Sasha rubbed her back.

"Let's go get that fruit and go home."