Chapter 8

There is a sense of anticipation and foreboding in the air this morning. Aleatha and the others are already up and working on the maps, journals, and crystals. They have been able to match some of the clues to the maps along with even fewer of the crystals. It seems that when they have the correct clue with the correct map then, and only then, does the crystal start to glow. This wasn’t possible for the sisters because only I could find the first crystal, and I had safe guarded that knowledge so that they couldn’t find the right one on accident. "Aleatha, it looks like you have been able to match quite a few of the clues to the different maps."

"Thank you, you will have to leave the room though. Whenever you come in here, or even close to the door, all the crystals glow. When that happens we have no idea which map goes to which crystal."

"I’m sorry. I will leave you all to your work then. I will go get some leather bindings to put each map, clue, and crystal in for our journey. I would like you to join me in this journey. I don’t know how long we will be gone from this valley. All I do know is that there is something or someone out there waiting for me. There is strife and tension beyond the walls of this valley."

"I will gladly join you on your journey. I will have to prepare my medicines and herbs for a long trip. Hopefully I will be able to replace what is used along the way, maybe even find new medicines as well. I will work on getting all the maps together first though. When will we be leaving?"

"We will leave in a few days time. Quaine is getting together a few others that will help us along the way." I think that I will go and check out the stables, see if there is anything that can be used for the maps and see what there is in the way of bags for other things that will need to come with us. Maybe there will be other pack animals as well.

Walking into the stables I notice that there are lot of stalls. Several large stalls for horses, smaller stalls for pack animals and all of them with fresh hay in them. The stable is full of light and the smell of fresh hay. I notice about half way down the main corridor that there is a man throwing new hay into one of the stalls. He looks up and sees me, and quickly comes to me.

"I am sorry ma’am," he says with a bow, "I did not see you enter. I am trying to get the stables ready for you, and I still have a lot to get done. They are not as clean as I would like them to be."

"I think you have done a wonderful job. What shall I call you?"

"You do not remember your old stablemaster?"

"There are a lot of things that I don’t remember yet. When these stables reappeared, did you also reappear? If so, then you are not human."

"You are right, I did disappear then reappear with these stables, and I am not human, neither am I animal. May I ask, where is your horse?"

"He is down in the village, Quaine is checking him over thoroughly. I am sure once he is done that Starling will be here. Are there any pack animals here? What about the packs that go with them?"

"Yes, both are here. The animals are in the stalls on the next row, and all the packs, bags, and tack are in the tack room at the far end. I think you will find everything that you need. If not, let me know and I will make sure that you will have it."

"Thank you Stablemaster. I will let you get back to your work. I am sure that Quaine will want to look over the animals, there are some bindings and packs that I will need. If I cannot find what I am looking for, then I will certainly ask you to find them for me."

"As you wish, Ma’am." He bows, then goes back to work. This time though, I hear him singing, his voice is strong and deep and very soothing.

As I walk towards the tack room I can hear the pack animals moving around quietly, and softly calling to each other. The tack room is large and has several bridles, lead ropes, packs, bags, a few saddles, blankets, and what must be my saddle. It is off by itself with the blankets, bridle, and reins. They are not fancy, just well used, and there are runes on the saddle itself. The entire room smells of well cared for leather. Upon looking around further I find Shelving that has all the necessities of taking care of horses, mules, and the equipment that goes with them, including the exact type of bindings that I was looking for. Hanging on the wall next to the shelves are the packs that will hold the bound maps perfectly. I also find a bag that I think Aleatha will be able to put all of the medicines and herbs in that she wants to take.

After gathering the bindings, pack, and bag that we will need right now, I walk towards the entrance, and there, coming in is Starling all by himself. He puts his head down close to mine so that we touch foreheads. "Go with the Stablemaster Starling, he will take care of you and get you ready for the long journey we are going on." Off he goes to the stall that has been prepared for him.

I meet Samantha on the path back to the house. "I was wondering where you were. I hadn’t seen you or felt you all morning."

"I was over with Quaine checking on the horses, then talking to the villagers, he is trying to find a few that will be able to handle being on a long journey and that are not easily frightened by strange animals or people. He has only been able to find a couple of young men that will be suitable."

"Then we may have to find more in the next town outside this valley. There are several pack animals here in the stable along with all the gear that we might need. Quaine should talk to the people here at the house. The ones that have been going over the maps and journals seem to be of strong character. The only one that I will insist on taking is Aleatha, the rest I will leave to Quaine to decide upon."

Aleatha comes running out of the house to meet us. "When you left earlier the crystals arranged themselves on the maps that they belong to, then started glowing brighter in a pattern. We have been trying to recreate the crystals finding the maps that they go to without much success, until you got closer tot he house, then they floated over to the maps that each one goes to. Now they are glowing in a pattern again."

"How fascinating. Describe the pattern to me."

"It starts in the next map that we are going to then each one in turn in a counter-clockwise spiral. How did you make them do that?"

"I didn’t know that I had. All I did was ask myself which path should we follow on our travels. I believe we have our answer. Here are the bindings and pack for the maps and crystals. Mark each of the bindings with the order that we are to travel. This bag is for the herbs and medicines that you want to take. If it isn’t big enough or you need another one let me know and I will get another for you."

"Thank you very much. I will make sure that the maps are packed in the correct order. We have been able to put the clues with almost half of the maps, we will have the rest done before we leave."

"Good work, the last of the maps can be packed when the clues are placed with them. I don’t want to leave this valley without having all the clues, crystals, and maps matched up. We may not have the time to do that once we are traveling."

Quaine has ridden up during the last part of the conversation. "That is a wise choice M’lady. Only one map should be out at time while we are traveling. I have found two young men that are fit for traveling with us. I understand that there are seven others here at the house that I should talk to as well. Are there any that you want to take?"

"Yes the one that was just out here talking to us. Her name is Aleatha, she will be traveling with us as my healer, and she keeps me strong. Two of the ones in the house have been studying the maps; the other four have been going through the sister’s journals. They have been trading off on the journals so that they are not just reading the words of only one of the sisters. I will leave it up to you to decide which, if any, of these people will be coming with us."

"Thank you, M’lady. May my horse find shelter in your stables?"

"Of course, the Stablemaster will be happy to take care of him. You will also find several pack animals along with all the gear needed for a long journey. After you talk to the people in the house you can talk with the Stablemaster. He will help you choose which animals will be needed. I suspect that all of them will be more than ready for a long trip. Even the horses will be better for the time they will be in his care."

"By your leave, M’lady, I will go talk to the people in the house and then go talk to the Stablemaster."

"Of course. If you are hungry stop in the kitchen, the cook will give you something to eat." With that Quaine follows after Aleatha into the house, his horse finds his way into the stables and into the care of the Stablemaster. "Well, Samantha, the day has started off good. Nothing untoward has happened yet. Though I can feel the tension, and apprehension coming from outside this valley. This journey is going to be one filled with new discoveries. There will be new friends and new enemies. All of it necessary to reach my goal, whatever that goal may be."

"Then you are ready to make this journey. I am glad to hear it. Of course, I’ll be joining you."

"I’m glad that you are coming with me." Again there is that half-remembered memory at the back of my mind, I know that at some point I will remember whatever it is. Part of this journey will lead me to that memory.