Weaver's Curse

As she walked across Zircon’s countryside that day, flashes of warmth twinged in the markings on Indeara’s neck. It was a pleasant warmth, completely different from the burning heat that had flooded through it the day she’d remembered the tower.

The tower…

She struggled to remember what her connection to that place was, but drew a blank.

“You okay, Indeara?” Vassa asked.

“Hm?”

“You’ve been frowning.”

“Have I?”

“Yeah.” Vassa said.

“Just trying to remember something.” Indeara said.

“Is it the tower?” Vassa asked.

“Yes.” Indeara said.

“Do you think you could draw it?” Sedine piped up. “I could ask my friend about it.”

“I could try. I’m not sure if I even know how to draw, though.” Indeara said. “Weirdly, I haven’t tried it since I woke up.”

“Give it a try when we stop for lunch.” Sedine suggested. “We’re making good time, so I think we can spare a few hours today.”

“How far off are we?” Indeara said. “From the peaks?”

“We should reach a town called Dover within two days.” Sedine said. “After that, the peaks are about a day’s walk. I’ll have to contact the Weaver again when we’re a little closer to figure out which peak she’s in.”

“Are we stopping in Dover for supplies?” Vassa asked.

“Some of them.” Sedine said. “We’ll have to be careful. I’ve been on edge since we ran into Fayen… There will be some smaller villages in the mountains that we’ll stop for most of our foodstuffs in.”

“Why don’t we head to a smaller town and Indeara and I can go in and see if they’ve redoubled their search efforts?” Vassa said.

“Good idea.” Sedine said. “But be careful. Fayen saw Indeara two. If by some small chance any of them are there, make sure he doesn’t see her.”

“Obviously.” Vassa said.

“Smaller towns,” Sedine mused. She reached back and pulled the map out of her pack.

She began studying it as she walked.

“There’s one called Quill not too far from here.” Sedine reported after a few minutes. “We should be able to reach it by evening without getting too far off course.”

They stopped shortly after for lunch. Surprisingly, Sedine produced a sketchbook and set of pencils from her pack, and handed them to Indeara.

Indeara opened the booklet to a blank page and shut her eyes, focusing on the memory of the tower. She began to draw.

She lost focus on what the other three were doing as she laid down line after line on the paper. And as the minutes passed, a decent representation of the tower took shape on her page.

“I did my best,” she said, handing the sketchbook to Sedine.

“Nice job. It looks creepy.” Sedine said.

“I don’t think I made it look as sinister as it did in my memory.”

“I just want to know what drove past-you to go somewhere like that.” Sedine said. “Because that would be a big ‘no thanks’ for me.”

“Me too.” Vassa said.

“Vassa, you grew up in a town full of monstrous hogs that consume human flesh. I think you’d be able to handle it.” Sedine said.

“Doesn’t mean I’d want to handle it.” Vassa retorted.

“Fair enough.” Sedine said.

“I wouldn’t want to go there either and I’m one of those monstrous hogs you mentioned.” Pinky said.

“Anyway, I’ll show this to my friend and see if she recognizes it while you two are in Quill.” Sedine said. “Pinky, would you mind watching my back while I sleep.”

“Sure.” Pinky said.

“Please don’t eat me in my sleep.”

“You’d probably taste disgusting.” Pinky said.

“On the contrary! I think I’d taste delicious! However, please refrain from finding out.” Sedine said.

“It will not be a particularly arduous task.” Pinky said.

They shouldered their packs and kept walking.

Eventually, Sedine let them walk back towards the main road. They came to a crossroads, marked by a sign leading towards Quill.

“We’ll be waiting in the woods here.” Sedine said. “Hopefully they’re not infested with brigands.”

“Or feral hogs.” Indeara said.

“If they happen to be infested with my distant cousins, I shall conquer them and rule over them as their queen.” Pinky declared.

“If that happens, please be merciful on this innocent traveler.” Sedine said.

“No promises.” Pinky said.

“Stay safe.” Indeara said, clapping Sedine on the shoulder. “We’ll be right back.”

Sedine nodded, and she took the road to Quill with Vassa.

There was some sort of celebration going on in Quill, so no one paid the too of them much attention. They skirted around the bonfire in the village green, where people were roasting sausages and singing, and headed for the nearest tavern. Indeara kept an eye out for the man called Fayen while they walked.

“Let me take the lead.” Vassa murmured to Indeara.

Indeara nodded in agreement.

Vassa strolled up to the bar, and pretended to suddenly notice the five posters with Sedine’s face on them plastered on a nearby support beam.

“Are they still looking for her?” she asked the barkeep in an exasperated tone. “You have no idea how tiring it gets seeing her face everywhere.”

“I think I’d have some idea.” The barkeep said, smiling slightly. “Seeing as how their esteemed lordships demanded that I hang more of those in here.”

Indeara stepped back, so that she’d be close enough to listen, but it wouldn’t be obvious that she was with Vassa.

“They came through here yesterday with bags full of these blasted things.” The barkeep continued, sighing.

“Ugh.” Vassa said.

“But,” the barkeep said, leaning closer. His voice lowered to a point that Indeara could barely hear him. “I’ve heard rumors that they’re stopping every merchant caravan they encounter and doing searches. Makes me think someone must have sighted the lassie.”

Indeara’s fists clenched.

That is not good. Not good at all. I guess he recognized her after all…

And on top of that, they’re searching caravans…

Which might mean, that they have some sort of reason to believe she’s travelling with merchants. Could they have had a false sighting?

Instinctively, Indeara knew that they weren’t that lucky.

“Hey!” a voice said.

She turned, and saw none other than Fayen Collis standing behind her.

“I thought it was you!” he said.

Well, shit, Indeara thought.

“Pardon?” she said, deciding to play dumb.

“I ran into you and your cousin in Amina a few days back,” he explained. “You might not recognize me; you were having a bad migraine.”

“Yes, I’m afraid I don’t recognize you.” Indeara said.

“You’re a long way from Amina,” he said curiously. “What brings you out here? I’m Fayen, by the way.”

If I tell him it’s none of his business, that’ll just make him suspicious.

Indeara fumbled for a convincing lie. “Following my fiancé. I heard he came this way, but it seems I just missed him. I’m… Mildred.”

Idiot! Who’s named Mildred these days?!

“Fiancé, huh?” Fayen said. “What does he look like.”

Indeara hurriedly described Nigel Diddlesworth, the first man that popped into her head, to him.

“If I’d seen him, I’d tell you.” Fayen said. “I’m afraid I haven’t, though.”

“Drat.” Indeara said.

“Is your cousin with you?” he asked suddenly.

Oh fuck, he definitely suspects us.

“No, she stayed in her home back in Amina. Not a lot of point in dragging herself along with me. It’s not her fiancé, after all.” Indeara said.

“Ah. Is it safe for you to be travelling alone?” Fayen asked worriedly.

Stop being so damn nosy!

“I haven’t run into any trouble yet.”

She glanced over, and saw that Vassa had finished talking to the innkeeper. Wisely, she hadn’t come over.

As soon as they met eyes, Vassa nodded towards the door, as if to say, “meet me outside”. Indeara gave her the slightest of nods to show that she understood.

“Where are you heading next? I know some people that could perhaps escort you?”

“Forgive me, sir, but you are a complete stranger…” Indeara said.

“Oh, yes. Forgive my rudeness.” Fayen said. “If you’re absolutely sure, I’ll go now.”

She waited for him to disappear into the crowd, and made sure there was no one following her before she rejoined Vassa.

“That was Fayen.” She muttered to the other girl. “I don’t know why he’s here, but I don’t like this. We need to exercise the utmost caution when rejoining Sedine.”

Vassa agreed. The two quietly made their way out of Quill, taking the long way around back to Sedine’s hiding spot, and checking to make sure no one was following them every few feet.

Still, Indeara felt uncomfortable…