Chapter 14

(Happy 4th of July!!!!!!)


Krennan woke Deanna in what seemed like an hours time.
She stood and tightened Krennan's saddle once more, almost in a daze.
She blinked and wiped at her eyes, digging the sand out. She took out her canteen and poured some water into her hand and used that to wipe her eyes; hoping that the cool water would make her eyes more alert, but to no avail.
"Why am I always tired, Krennan?" She asked as she led him back to the main road. "It just doesn't seem fair."
She mounted and they resumed their path.
She looked up at the sky and saw the stars were wrong for dusk, which is what it was when they first went into the forest.
She halted Krennan and stared at the stars.
"Why didn't you wake me earlier, Krennan?" She asked. "It's dawn, not dusk."
He snorted in reply and began walking forward again, ignoring the stunned girl on his back.
                                                                        * * *
Finn and Cadman reached the town before dusk the second night. Finn pulled the wagon in through the front gates and looked for the sign to the Inn.
Cadman was passed out in the back from having too much brandy.
He saw the grapes which signaled that it was the Inn and headed for it.
He jumped down from the wagon after securing the horses to the cart, and the cart and horses to the pole out front.
The horses each gave him a wounded expression.
He walked inside and spoke with the Inn Keeper about three rooms, which the Inn Keeper said had just opened up.
He took Finn to examine them. They were clean and modest. Perfect.
He bought the rooms and went back outside to take care of the oaf in the back.
He glanced in and saw Cadman still passed out. He climbed in and shook him, trying to get him to wake up, but to no avail.
"Fine," He said. "You want to play, we'll play."
He jumped down from the wagon and walked over to the watering box right in front of the Inn for the horses, took a bucket and filled it with water and began walking back to the wagon, a smile on his young face.
                                                                             *
The Inn workers were busy setting up the rooms that the newcomer had requested when they heard a scream coming from outside.
They all looked out to see what was happening and they saw a soaking wet man chasing around a younger man, who was laughing very hard, but, despite his laughter, still managed to stay just out of the other man's reach.
They all shrugged and resumed their work.
                                                                          * * *
"How did you know what to do back there?" Cayle asked. "I had no idea that woman was the elder."
Alroy shrugged as his only response.
"Aren't you going to answer me?" Cayle said. "How did you know to interact with them like that? I've never known how to tell the elder from a tribesman."
"Guess you weren't paying attention." Alroy said. "OK, we're almost there, should we stop for lunch or keep going?"
Cayle looked at the road ahead. He could almost see the towers that alerted any traveler that there is a town ahead.
"It's not that far, I say we just head straight there." He said.
Alroy nodded.