Neoma (11)

The next day the sun was up and shining brightly, washing away any worries the group might have. Dmitri was wide-awake and whittling two pieces of wood the length of his forearm to look like daggers. He finished them quickly, and twirled them in between his fingers.1

Rachel yawned and rubbed her eyes excitedly. She sat up and watched Dmitri for a while, throwing rocks at him to see if he would ward them off and that was exactly what he did. “So how long will we take to get to the capital?” she asked.2

“We can get to Carnathan just before the first snowfall if we hurry, and we can wait out the winter there before reaching the palace in early spring. But if we keep going at the pace we were before now, we’d die in the middle of winter before we got anywhere.” Dmitri replied, grinning for the first time in weeks. “I plan on teaching them sword craft and you should teach them how to read and write at a basic level so we won’t have two dimwits to present to the council.”3

Rachel nodded, glancing over at Charles and Natty, who were sleeping at opposite ends of the tiny camp. Dmitri wasn’t going to go easy on them now that they were so close. There was so much that they had to learn in order to prove themselves. Natty didn’t have to prove much, considering no one would believe her… and she probably wouldn’t even believe Dmitri when he told her.4

The two sat and talked for a while after Charles and Natty woke up. Dmitri had swerved the conversation from the topic of Ce so that Natty, especially, wouldn’t hear. Once the two seemed awake enough in Dmitri’s opinion, he tossed a fake dagger at each of them.5

Charles caught the wooden dagger by the hilt, looking at it in fascination at how familiar it felt in his hands. He had never touched anything similar to a sword in his life. Natty, on the other hand, showed her interest by watching the dagger hit the ground in front of her with a lazy stare. She treated this new object like a fat cat who had no interest in learning anything.6

“Alright!” Dmitri said after he mentally interpreted their reactions. “I don’t think that the capital wants a bunch of clueless idiots wandering around so Rachel will be teaching you how to read and write at a good enough level to tell you never lived in Cot.”7

Charles seemed relieved at the mention of another person who wanted them to forget where they were found, but Natty snarled in disgust as Dmitri offered up the idea. “So what about these daggers?” she asked.8

“I was getting to that, clueless idiot.” Dmitri said, smiling a crooked smile. “And I will be in charge of teaching you the art of sword craft to protect yourself since there are a lot of money-seeking bastards snooping around.”9

Although Natty didn’t fully understand what Dmitri had fully meant, but she quickly tied it in with she or Charles being fairly important. However, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that Dmitri could be one of those “money-seeking bastards”. After all, he was taking them to the capital for some unsaid reason.10

“I already told you that we’re going to be traveling twice as fast for the second part of our ‘journey’.” Dmitri said, turning to look at Rachel. He ignored the somewhat surprised looks of Natty and Charles. “So we’re going to need a horse that will be able to carry some of, if not most, of our supplies.”11

Rachel nodded. “I could go find some food and stuff for you.”12

“No, I have a relative of mine who lives a mile or so east of here. He should easily be able to get us a horse along with the essentials.” Dmitri said, waving away Rachel’s offer.13

Charles set aside his wooden dagger and looked east toward the sun that hovered just above the horizon. “So what are the plans for today?”14

“We’ll leave now, I hope. We’ll then go over to my relative’s to pick up a horse. From there we head northeast until we reach Carnathan, which is the closest city to the capital, by the way.” Dmitri explained, seeing confused faces.15

Rachel cleaned everything up and the four picked up the few bundles, hoisting them over their shoulders. Dmitri directed them directly east, and they began their hour-or-so trip to Dmitri’s relative’s house.16


Natty had no patience that morning. She continuously questioned Dmitri about where they were headed and what kind of creative of his they were visiting.17

“So it this relative a boy or girl?” she asked. “An aunt? A parent? A––”18

“I have no siblings and no parents. I had an aunt, who sold herself to another man once my cousin was born. My uncle died ten years ago, I think, and my cousin and I never talk much.” Dmitri said, turning to smile a dark smile at Natty. “My cousin looks… different from normal people. He looks like his father, who was my father’s brother.”19

“Why are you telling me this?” Natty asked.20

“Because, for one, you asked. And I think it would do you good to learn why he looks like that.” Dmitri replied, glancing over to see Rachel staring at him with wide eyes.21

“Dmitri!” she hissed, but was ignored.22

“Does this have anything to do with that book you carry around?” Natty said with no curiosity or foulness in her voice.23

Dmitri looked back at Natty, flashing a wild, carefree, smile she hadn’t seen for what felt like years. He closed up the space between them, slowing so his pace matched Natty’s, and bent close to her right ear.24

The other two had stopped a Dmitri had once Natty froze. Rachel was looking at Dmitri with unbelieving eyes, but Charles wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention. Natty was a frozen statue, barely breathing, and resisting the urge to punch Dmitri in the face again.25

“Yes. And don’t be tempted to read one bit of it once Rachel teaches you how to read. I don’t was anything to be happening before it should.” Dmitri whispered into her ear.26

He swiftly resumed his position in the front of the line, leaving Natty to recover from what he has just told her.27

“Dmitri!” Rachel hissed again.28

“Yep?” he replied, clearly enthusiastic about not getting hit.29

“How could you mention the book to her? You know she’s going to read it, and why are we going to visit you cousin––I didn’t even know you had one––when you usually would have gotten a horse from Eru? Don’t tell me you’re going to try and prove Natty’s history!”30

“Oh come on! You’ll love my cousin; he’s just like you, only he’s male, and looks different. I just need a slap in the face to bring me back to reality––”31

Rachel’s hand suddenly flashed across his face, leaving a red mark on his cheek. Natty and Charles stared, as they had never seen Rachel react that way to anyone, especially Dmitri. He didn’t look the least bit angry, but just a bit surprised. Rachel apparently hadn’t ever slapped him.32

And then Dmitri began to laugh. Natty’s reaction was different from the other two. Her spirit felt lifted, as if laughter assured she was fine. Rachel’s facial expression didn’t change at all from Dmitri’s sudden outburst, and she turned an ice-cold shoulder on him. Charles smiled cheerfully, but his eyes were deep in thought.33

“Okay, okay. We’re almost there and you don’t need to take me that seriously, Rachel.” Dmitri muttered.34

Dmitri led the group in a tense silence until they approached a medium sized, well-kept cottage that was densely surrounded by trees. He knocked twice on the whitewashed door and whispered something under his breath.35

The door swung open and a casually dressed man who looked like he just hit twenty smiled calmly. He was very different in appearance, as Dmitri had noted. Natty couldn’t help but stare at his face.36

Dmitri’s cousin was very pale and his hair was pure white. The tips of his hair, mainly in the front and scarcer in the back, were colored the exact, un-shining black of Dmitri’s hair. His eyes were a milky white with barely noticeable specks of grey.37

“Falon.” Dmitri said, nodding his head slightly.38

“Dmitri! Long time no see, eh?” replied Falon in an accented baritone voice. He looked like he was going to shove Dmitri away before he noticed Rachel, who was trying to keep a calm face, and Natty. “Um… come in, come in! Can I offer you anything?”39

“I’m interested in a horse.” Dmitri said, cutting easily to the point and waving his hand dismissively. “And Neoma’s family line. I’m sure you kept that book.”40

Falon’s eyes widened, his eyes darted over his guests, and nodded his head. “I have the horse that is quicker than your temper and faster than the gods. Haven’t you already gotten Neoma’s family line memorized?”41

Natty smiled at the clever insult that was thrown at Dmitri by his own cousin. She liked Falon.42

“No, no. I just need to check something. Do you also happen to have Neoma’s timeline?”43

“What do I look like to you? An ancient archive? Her timeline is with Grandmother Sybyl, whose whereabouts I do not know.” Falon exclaimed, stepping out of the doorway. Without a word he walked with unatrual grace around the house and returned minutes later with a beautiful white and brown stallion.44

“His name is Godspeed.” Falon said, handing the reins to his cousin. “I’ll get that book, now.”45

“Good. Rachel, you go around back to where his stable is and set this beast up.” Dmitri said quietly when Falon was out of earshot. He then motioned for Charles and Natty to follow him into the house.