Drifting in the air, and still unable to move, Anular was able to see the trees growing taller and the canopy thicker as he drifted deeper into the wood. The soft sound of crunching footsteps on the forest floor from Audra, small creak in the distance and the sound of birds and other wildlife filled his ears. It was comforting. Then Audra spoke. “We will be home soon, Gran Gran will be able to patch you up. Then you get to take me to the city.” Anular tried to move again but something was now holding him, it was not just exhaustion, something was pressing against his armor. “Wind magic maybe?” Anular pondered. He just resigned to fate, decided that sleeping would be the best move, he was not going anywhere being bound by Audra’s magic. Shutting his eyes off to sleep he went.

“Falling, why and I falling?” Anular thought. Then awake. His eyes shot open. He saw a thatch roof above him. He sat up and found his armor and boots removed. He was in a thatch house, he could smell a cooking fire and food. Then he spotted someone that sat tending the fire. “Gran Gran?” Anular thought. “Ah your awake, you have been sleeping for a while. You have been through a lot. Your wounds heal quick.” Then Gran Gran turned around. Short of stature, long black hair with deep creases that covered her face. She was definitely one of the mountain folk. “I assume your gran gran?” Asked Anular. “Yes, I assume Audra mentioned me?” Gran Gran replied turning back to tend the pot that hung in the fire. “Audra told me that you will take her to the city. She has been wanting to go the city since we moved out here. I assumed that’s the deal. You get a fixed up and she gets whisked away.” Gran Gran’s voice was filled with annoyance. Like Audra bringing home random people was an everyday thing.

Anular, was not fully awake yet, so he sat, as this old woman talked at him.

Gran Gran looked over her shoulder, “You hungry?”. Before Anular could respond a bowl of soup was forced into his hands. “Eat up. You have a long way back to the empire.” Gran Gran said as she shuffled back to the pot. “It does smell good, and I am hungry.” Anular thought to himself. Then drank the soup and set the empty bowl down next to him. A few moments later, Audra came in. “Your awake!” Audra exclaimed. “How do you feel? You have been asleep for a few days. Gran Gran said that you were lucky to be alive.” Audra was beside him on the floor now next the the mat where he sat. “I’m fine.” Anular replied. “Where is my armor?” He said facing Gran Gran. “Your things are in the trunk over on that wall.” Gran Gran said then pointed a stubby finger to the brown and black trunk next to the wall. “When you are healed up, in a few days, you may collect your things and leave. As I stated before the empire is a long way from here.” Audra looked to Gran Gran now. “And I can go with him, right Gran Gran?” asked Audra.

Gran Grans turned to face Audra, “Audra we have talked about this, and I am not going to get into why.” Audra looked furious at this news. “Gran Gran you said when I was an adult I could travel from the village! I am 17 summers now. I am an adult! I don’t care if I am a sage. I want to see the world and Anular is willing to take me!” Gran Gran went white as Audra spoke in a raised voice. “You know your duty! You know what must be done! You know what we can speak of in front of others! We are done with this, we will talk later!” Gran Gran sternly said. With a dejected look on her face. Audra got up and went over to the fire and got herself a bowl of soup. Then returning to sit next to Anular. All the while Gran Gran gave her a glare of disappointment. “May I have another?” ask Anular, holding his bowl up. Hoping to break the tension in the room. Gran Gran turned to Anular, her face softened and she grabbed the bowl from his hand. “You promised.” Audra whispered to Anular whilst Gran Gran shuffled away and filled his bowl. “I will hold you too it, I don’t care what Gran Gran says.” Audra finished quickly as Gran Gran approached, soup in hand. Anular took it and drank this too, Gran Gran did make a good soup.

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