CHAPTER FOUR

And on que.

She heard the book fluttering from the the sack and she retrieved it. The stick and pyrex had long disappeared.

New writings were appearing.

To find help, follow he that has a mouth but does not eat, runs but doesn't not walk, has a bed but never sleeps.

She looked at the riddle thoughtfully. He that has a mouth but does not eat, runs but does not walk and has a bed but doesn't sleep.

Hopefully this wasn't some sort of scary forest creature.

And then she heard the running of water.

The journal meant a river. Why didn't she think of that? Come to think of it why didn't the journal simply tell her to follow the river. Maybe the journal was one of things that were better left not understood.

She picked up the bindle and started heading towards the sound of running water. When she arrived at the river bank she put her things down then washed her face to rid herself of the dried blood and dirt. She folded her sleeves and used her hands to cup water for her face.

She froze and stared at her reflection.

She touched her face to make sure it was really her. When the reflection followed her actions,she stopped and stared.

The girl staring back at her was her, except she had black hair and mesmerising grey eyes. Her hands moved to her hair and she pulled it infront of her eyes. It was black.

What the heck just happened? People don't just dramatically change hair and eye color when they take a single trip, even if it's to the middle of nowhere.

She heard the journal fluttering and she picked it up.

Time waits for no man.

Well what a polite way of telling her she was wasting time. She thought with a frown.

She quickly finished cleaning her face and what she could of her clothes without drenching them and followed the flow of the river downstream.

She walked for a little while and then arrived at a wide wooden bridge. A few feet from her was a street lamp. Except it wasn't like any street lamp she had seen, matter of fact she'd only seen electric street lamps her whole life. This one had a candle inside a metal frame. She watched insects gathered around it only to die a painful death once they touched the live flame. She turned her attention to the roads left then right. Both sides had spaced out lamp posts. She could see they led up to a distance lighting the road. If only she knew which way to head on the dusty paths.

Soon after she heard thudding on the dirt road when she looked at the left side she saw .... horses pulling a... cart.

What part of town was this?

The wooden cart was a closed horse drawn carriage with four wheels and a raised closed drivers seat incase of the rain.

She watched with fascination as the horses got closer and closer.

" woah now what dyou see girls" a man cooed at his horses when they began to neigh noisily.

The man was wearing a medieval hose and tunic. For his shoes he wore clogs of thick leather. Around his shoulders was a cloak made from sheepskin.

He hopped off his seat and took his woolen hat off and stared directly at Silvermist,who was standing in the dim light..

" A bit far from the village aren't you young lady"

" ummh actually that's where I was headed" she heard herself nervously reply.

The short man with a gray beard and kind eyes looked up and down at her. Taking in her bizzare outfit. If he saw the blood on her clothes he made no comment.

" You ain't from around here, are you?" he asked though he sounded like he already knew the answer.

" ummh no"

" Well I won't bother to question you any more . I have got a week's worth of traveling to do" he stated and wore his woolen hat. " Now if I keep questioning each strange thing I see I won't get there in time will I?" Silvermist shifted her weight. Not quite sure if it was a rhetorical question or if he expected her to give him answer. " Come on I will drop you off then"

" Thank you " She replied.

Being the gentleman he helped her unto the large driver's sit then climbed up beside her.

" Come on Bertha and Tammy get going". As if understanding him the horses begun to move forward.

They had traveled for sometime and she wondered who lit the lamp posts or changed the candles when they burnt out.

She knew nothing about this place and she had questions that needed answers. She didn't know when she'd meet a decent person so if she wanted to know things now was the time.

" ummh earlier you said that you can't question each strange thing. What exactly did you mean "

The man stared off ahead before answering her.

" The orbis ain't the same place it was before the king died. Under the queen's rule everyone's a dead slave. She's been doing wicked things for a while now and no one has a say and they can't stop her"

Orbis well atleast she knew she was in the right place." What wicked things?"

" Papa are we there yet ?" a voice called out from within the carriage.

Silvermist almost jumped out of her seat in fear but managed to control herself at the last minute.

The small opening behind her revealed figures huddled up to keep warm and they all appeared to be.. young girls.

" Now Galena we talked about this " The old man quietly scolded. " You remain quiet and when we get there I will inform you"

She saw the child join the others and then she turned back to the man.

" Where are you taking them?"

" I don't know" came his quiet reply. " Somewhere safe.. hopefully"

She couldn't ask any further not when his last statement sounded like a dismissal.

" Selo, just like all other places, isn't safe anymore" came his tired voice after sometime. He sounded so tired and sad. "The queen's reign has bought much harm than good. If you're going pass through the villages don't let the queen's soldiers take you. Heaven knows what they do to girls"

She gulped. Was she supposed to get worried.

After that they didn't speak and travelled quietly through the night.

She wasn't sure when she had dosed off but she was later woken up by someone gently shaking her.

" Selo approaches " the man said as he looked forward.

She didn't know what to expect but this was definitely not on her list.

Along the now narrow road were rows of small houses with thatched roofs and wooden doors. The small cottages were made of mud and stone.The houses looked abandoned with the exception of light coming from a few houses. The village air smelled thickly of manure and dirt.

He stop the carriage near a bright lamp post.

" Am going to have to drop you off here. I wish you could come with us. But you look like you came here for something and won't leave with it" he whispered. " if you choose to stay you must find somewhere to hide soon. Be warned If the queen's soldiers find you it won't be pretty"

Silvermist got off the cart and stood by the lamp post.

" Thank you Sir" She said as she brought out her hand with the intention of shaking it.

The man looked like he had seen a ghost when he finally got to see her face. Before she could say anything he took out a whip and hit the horses. The horses then took off into the night.

Silvermist blinked as her hand fell to her side and she watched the carriage become smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

" Well that was rude" She whispered to herself. She looked around and hid behind one of the abandoned houses when she heard footsteps approaching.

" Did you hear that? " she heard a voice ask.

" Sounded like a horse and whoever it was seemed to be in a hurry"

" Must be trying to smuggle girls right from under our noses. Get Chadron and his team to track the carriage"

Silvermist peeked from her hiding place and infront of her were two huge men. They wore chain mail armour made from thousands of metal rings. The armour sparkled in the moonlight. Around their waists were sword belts containing swords. In their left hands they carried shields with a symbol she couldn't see from her position.

She watched them disappear and then she sat down. Those were definitely the Queen's soldiers and like that man said, she shouldn't get caught.

She heard the journal fluttering from the bindle and grabbed it before its noise drew the attention of the muscular soldiers.

To find what one seeks, follow the song there ones guide will be found.

She closed the journal and listened for whatever song that needed to be heard.

The village was quiet, too quiet or atleast this part was.

Where exactly would she find this song?