Finding Me (Chapter 8)

Chapter 81

It was around noon when the group awoke from their sleep.  Filled with new energy, they got ready to spend the day in Ide’s Song.  Canace and Melissa were cleaning the room when Canace happened to glance in a mirror.  She noticed that most of the cuts and bruises that had been on her face a week or two ago were gone.  She did not look as tired, and a slight sparkle gleamed from her eye.  Smiling to herself, and then went to stop Melody from messing up the pillows.2

After breakfast had been eaten, the four (and one dog) took a stroll down some of the streets.  It was a beautiful town that was shaded by enormous trees that spread their leaves over it in blessings.  It had a magical atmosphere that warmed the heart.  Although they were in one of the best spots in the land, Melissa was yawning uncontrollably as if tired or bored. 3

“For goodness’ sake Melissa!  Is there even one more yawn left in you?”  Danny asked as they walked past a needle store.  Melissa answered in a yawn. 4

“I think she could set a record in yawning,” Canace commented with a giggle.5

“I think she already has,” Jay said teasingly.6

“Oh don’t bug me,” Melissa yawned, “We were all up late last night.  I’m still wondering how we would’ve gotten to an inn if Canace hadn’t known where one was.” 7

“Come to think of it, Canace, how did you know where the inn was?”  Jay asked her. 8

Canace thought to herself for a moment as she rubbed her head.  “Well, that’s a good question.  I saw it in one of the flashbacks I had.  One of them I was on some street in Ide’s Song, I think anyway.”  9

“Did you see any food stores?”  Jay asked with a smile. 10

“Jay, you’d think of your stomach before your own life if you were in danger!”  Danny exclaimed, “We are all going to starve because of you! If one day some town in Calder is hit with a famine, we will know you were there.” 11

Jay frowned while Canace and Melissa laughed.  Shaking it off, Jay said to Danny, “Something has been on my mind for awhile.”12

“What’s that?”  Danny inquired.13

“Canace seems to have many skills, and I have found one that made me wonder if she has a skill with the sword.  Would you mind testing her today for me?”  Jay asked, stunning Canace and Melissa.14

“Me?”  Canace was a bit confused, “Jay, what in the world would make you think that?”15

“Well, remember that poor tree you took your anger out on?” 16

“Yes.”  She felt a little guilty about it. 17

“How did it look after you were done with it?” 18

“Um, it didn’t really have a look at all.  It was a big mess.”  Canace felt even sorrier for the poor tree.19

“Exactly my point.  Not everyone can do that and go from tree to no tree.”  Jay informed her. 20

“Wow,” Danny nodded his head, “Sure, let’s head over to the fields.  I do not think there will be any trees in the way there.  I have an extra sword you can borrow.”21

“ If you two are sure about this,” Canace mumbled, a bit nervous. 22

“Melissa, why don’t you and Jay go look around town?  See if you can find Canace a sword that will suit her.  Take Melody with you.”23

“Great, a day with my doom,” Jay muttered to himself. 24

Canace looked alarmed, “Hold on, you want to get me one even though you don’t know if I can even handle it or not?”  She played with her necklace nervously.25

“Even if you don’t do well, and my hunch proves wrong, seeing what you’ve been through, you might need it.”  Jay told her. 26

Danny turned to Jay, “We’ll meet you in at lunch near one of the sword shops-”  27

“The one on the street with tons of flowers!”  Canace piped in.28

The three looked at her in confusion, then listened as Danny went back to what he was saying, “And have Canace pick out one if the ones you think she will like…” 29

“Good luck Canace,” Melissa yawned.30

“Melissa, those yawns had better be gone by the time we get back!”  Danny warned her.  Melissa just nodded as she tried to stifle another yawn. 31

* * * * * * * * *32

She was on a rock, no, a wall of rocks.  She was hanging by a rope that was tightly secured a few feet in front of her.  She looked up, and saw the edge of a cliff about fifty feet up.  She did not want to look down, but she had no have a choice.  She looked down and saw she was dangling hundreds of feet in the air.  The ground below was a grassy plain, and she saw a small town in the distance.  She peered over her shoulder and then said, “Are you sure about this?”  Next to her was that boy from her other memory!  He grinned at her, then replied, “Don’t chicken out now; we’re almost to the party.  You’re the one who didn’t want to take the stairs, remember?”      33

Canace felt herself smile, “And be crowded by all those blockheads?  No way.”  She and her mysterious friend sat dangling while admiring the view. 34

“You know, past those mountains, there are thousands of people out there who don’t even know we exist.”  Her friend pointed out, “They go on and on with their lives, never bothering to explore the unknown.”35

Canace found herself nodding in agreement, although she did not know what he meant, “Yes, I know, we are reminded of that every day.”  For a moment, she was quiet.  “They are afraid.  But why Luke?  Why are they afraid?”  He had a name!  Luke!  I remember him now!36

Luke working at his bench, “Knock it off!  I’m trying work!”37

Luke with a gleam in his smile, “I wouldn’t touch that-”  38

Luke looked into her eyes, “I’m not sure.”39

“Will they ever find us?  Will one ever come?”40

“I hope so, I sure hope so.”41

* * * * * * * * *42

Jay and Melissa had located the smiths’ shop that Canace had mentioned, and were looking at what he had to offer.  There were swords of all sizes, from daggers to top quality long swords. 43

“Do you have anything else?”  Melissa asked a bit impatient.44

The smith did not look pleased, “I will see what I have…”  He turned to leave the room.45

Jay grabbed his arm before he left the room, “No need, we’ll just look from what we have here.” 46

The man nodded and left to go eat lunch with his family.  “Melissa, what ever the nice man has presented to us is fine.  He gave us his best work, you shouldn’t ask for anything else.”47

Melissa made a grunting sound and looked back at the swords before them.  There were few swords of quality that would suit her.  Jay glanced at the lot, and then picked one up with care.  It had a black sheath with silver insignias running along the sides.  He pulled it out, and it shone brilliantly when it hit the light.  It was light, but long and quick moving.  48

“Think Canace will like this one?”  Jay asked, holding it up for Melissa to see.  Melissa glanced over to it and studied it carefully. 49

“Maybe it’s too sharp.  She could cut herself if she is in the middle of one of those flashes.”50

“I doubt she would,” Jay replied, “Besides, she needs it, seeing how she is on some one’s wanted list.” 51

“Well, what about this one?”  Melissa held up a shorter sword with a light blue sheath that had a light sun on it.  It looked nice, Jay thought, but he could tell it was too dull at the point.  Jay peeked out the window instead of giving her an immediate answer, and saw Canace and Danny walking towards the shop. 52

“You can ask her now.”  Jay motioned over to the door as Canace and Danny stepped in.  Looking at Danny, he noticed that he had a cut in his left cheek. 53

Melissa stared at it, “Danny, what happened to you?  Don’t tell me you’re losing your touch!” 54

Canace looked at the ground a bit ashamed while Danny rubbed the cut.  “No such luck Melissa, I’m as sharp as ever.  Canace remembered something in the middle of trying to hit me and when I touched her, she snapped out of it and continued her slice.” 55

“I was so excited that I didn’t realize that he was standing right next to me.  I said I was sorry.”  She smiled an apologetic grin. 56

“So, how did she do?”  Jay asked putting the sword on the table.57

“Your guess was accurate Jay.  Aside from the cut I got, she is pretty good.  I think we just need to help her remember some of the things I’m guessing she knows, and she will do fine.”  Danny smiled at her admirably and Canace noticed a slight wave of jealousy run over Jay’s face and disappear. 58

“So, what swords did you find for her?”  Danny asked as he leaned against a wall. 59

Jay held up the one he had liked, “I think this one will work for her.  It is light and quite flexible.”  He watched Canace’s eyes glow at the marvelous object he held in his hand. Then Melissa showed the one she found, which Jay thought it looked a bit like scrap. 60

Canace looked at them both with interest, then chose the sword Jay had, saying, “This one certainly looks like care went into making it, and has beautiful designs.”  She took it from Jay and admired it close up.61

At that moment, the smith walked back in.  Canace, Melissa, and Melody went outside while Jay paid for the sword. 62

“May you be blessed,” the smith said in response to the price Jay paid. 63

“And you and your household,” Jay answered back. 64

As the two walked out, Danny pulled Jay over to the wall before they reached the girls. 65

“What is wrong?”  Jay questioned his friend.66

Danny sighed, “It was Canace again.”67

Jay frowned, “What about her?” 68

“It was how she fought.  It seemed as if she were slowly learning how to use a sword.  And her moves looked just like the one’s taught back at school.”  Confusion swarmed Danny’s face. 69

“But you said you have never seen her before at the school.  Maybe there was a chance that you just never saw her.”  Jay suggested. 70

Danny leaned against the wall, “I know every one who has ever gone there Jay.  No student comes or goes without me knowing about it.” 71

“Maybe there was one you missed, or maybe they were never marked as attending the school, but did.”  Jay tried. 72

“There were but four that I wasn’t familiar with.”  Danny told him, “One was a kid from Vinkeville, another from the swamp that had to be isolated before he even got into a classroom he was so wild.  The other two all I know about is that they were siblings from a distant land.  They had private tutoring for some reason, and only knew their teachers.  They were never allowed to talk to other students for some reason.” 73

Jay thought about this, “I don’t think she’s from the swamp.  She is definably not wild.  I doubt she would travel from a distant land to here again with out her sibling.”74

“So she could be from Vinkeville?”  Danny did not buy it, “I don’t think so.  Folk down there are close with people in Rosemary’s Bend and Daliyn’s Peak.  We would know if some one were missing.” 75

“There’s nothing we can do about it now but wait to see if she can remember anything else,” Jay told him, “Come on, let’s head back.”  So they walked over to the girls and puppy where Canace was having fun experimenting with her new sword.  She was swinging it about, pretending to hit unseen enemies while Melissa stood watching in embarrassment and Melody jumped around.  Jay tapped her on her shoulder, and narrowly avoided getting his hair trimmed.  “Can you take care of these guys a little quicker?  We have to move on to the next town.”  With one final strike, Canace triumphed over the imaginary enemy.  “Onward friends!  Nothing can stop us!” 76

She ran ahead leaving the others to trail behind slowly.  “Some one has a big ego now,” Melissa commented as she watched Melody run after Canace, “Are you sure this was a good idea?” 77

Danny nodded, “She needs protection from whoever is out to hurt her.  With the sword by her side, her skills will give her the upper hand in the battle.”78

“Either that, or they will find themselves injured in her recklessness and pride,” Melissa was not convinced.  Jay silently agreed, remembering his hair. 79

“Well, it’s either she’s safe with it and uses it right, or we are all dead.”  Danny said bluntly. 80

“Hurry up you guys!  We got to go!”  Canace called to them from the end of the street where she and Melody waited. 81

“Hope that she’s safe!  And that we can have lunch!”  Jay added, his stomach growling ferociously. 82

“Are you guys coming or not?”  Canace yelled to them.  She saw Danny motion for her to come back, and reluctantly trotted over to him.  83

“Are we going or not?”  Canace demanded.84

“I’m hungry,” Jay told her, “And I’m not leaving this beautifully shaded town until I have something to eat!” 85

“Yeah, we’re hungry too, not just the bottomless pit over there.  Maybe we should grab lunch.”  Danny advised as he rubbed his stomach. 86

“I’m not hungry!  Let’s just go!”  Canace urged her friends, “We can be there by nightfall if we hurry.”  A loud growl was heard and Canace blushed as Jay Danny and Melissa looked expectantly at her.  “Okay, so maybe I’m a bit hungry.”87

“Anyone know where to go?”  Melissa inquired. 88

“Third street over, second shop is a bakery” Canace sighed. 89

“How about we get some food, and eat as we go?”  Danny asked, “That way we can get there faster, and eat at the same time, pleasing everyone.”  He felt proud of his suggestion.90

Jay shook his head, “No way.  I am getting some food, and I am eating under that tree right there.”  He pointed to the main purple tree that covered most of the town. 91

So the four went over and got a few spice cakes from the bakery, then went to sit under the enormous tree that loomed over them in a protective way.  After finishing up and maybe teasing Melody a bit, they started making their way to Celestial. 92