"We had made good time today. Another day and a half, and we will reach Greenflower," Riley told Osmond.
It was near dusk and the sun sank behind them. The Carashall hills loomed far ahead. Its red light rained down over them, casting shadows and bringing in the night.
To their left, Riley saw woods densely packed with the ground littered with leaves.
"We should find water and camp soon. If I am not mistaken, there is a river flowing through here," Riley said pointing to the woods.
They moved through the woods. The hooves broke leaves and crushed leaves, and the horses moved slowly. Up above, Osmond saw birds perching on branches carrying worms for their children.
Osmond heard the sound of ripples and flowing water beyond the woods. They walked moving the vines and the leaves.
The river foamed and frothed as it kissed the banks and touched the rocks. Leaves fell on it and they were carried away. Osmond saw a fish jumping out and diving back in with a splash.
"All right then, we got fish, we got water and now we need a fire," Riley said looking around.
"Wait here and don't move kid. I will go and get some wood for the fire," Riley said taking out a hatchet from his bags held to Dante.
Darkness came slowly and Osmond stood there waiting. He looked ahead to the river and saw a tree lying over it. He turned his gaze to the front and saw something.
It looked like a person, pale and hollow. It was not touching the ground and Osmond couldn't believe his eyes. He rubbed them and the silhouette was gone.
Osmond remembered above the stories that he had read with his mother and a shiver ran down his spine. He heard rustling leaves and turned back afraid, only to see Riley coming with a heap of wood.
"There was.." Osmond muttered pointing.
Riley looked across to the other side and saw nothing. "Have you gone crazy, kid?" Riley frowned and dumped the wood to the floor.
He gathered some dry leaves walking around and put them near the heap. He took two flint stones from his bags.
Riley arranged the wood into a neat pile and placed the leaves in the centre. He struck the stones near the leaves again and again. Sparks flew with each thought from the rocks to the leaves. Finally, an ember flew out to light the leaves and Riley blew to it and the fire grew.
"Come here kid and check on the fire. I am going to catch some fish," Riley called out to Osmond. Osmond was still looming beyond the river. Startled, he turned back and went to Riley.
Osmond sat there gazing at the flames. The heat licked his skin and it felt like the tongue from a salamander. He saw the salamander in the flames looking at him, with its tongue hissing.
Riley went to the river with a long stick in hand. He had sharpened one of its end and turned it into a spear. He stood in the water like a crane and stalked the fishes that swam past. He saw ripples from something that swam by and struck his spear. A carp bled on the end, wriggled and died. He threw his spear, again and again, catching a total of three fish.
Riley placed the fish on sticks and placed them on the fire.
The water evaporated and the skin roasted, surrounding them with the smell of meat. Riley took a stick and gave it to Osmond.
"It won't be like the food that you get from the mansion, so don't complain."
Osmond blew on the fish, and the smell of fish and steam flew away. He chewed on to the flesh and searched for bones. He took out the bones with his fingers and threw them into the fire. The flesh was sweet, raw and juicy.
"Pretty good, ain't it?" Riley said chewing.
The sun has sunk to the earth and the moon crept up. It shone milky down to Graeae and the ones in it. Osmond looked across the bank again, scared. He felt himself being choked and struggled to swallow. Across the banks, he saw the figure again.
He waved his hands frantically to call Riley. "What, kid?" He looked and frowned. Osmond pointed across the banks and Riley looked there.
"Is that a...?" Riley said standing up. He gobbled up his fish and went to the river and looked around.
"Come kid, I think we are going to see something cool," Riley called Osmond.
They walked to the bridge that was just a tree. Riley balanced over and crossed the river. Osmond stood there frozen. He didn't want to cross the bridge or follow the apparition.
"Come on kid, don't be a wuss. Don't you want to be an adventurer?" Riley motivated him.
Osmond mustered his courage and put his foot on the tree. He looked at the river and felt that he was losing balance.
"Just look ahead and walk," Riley said.
Osmond nodded and placed his feet without looking down. He ran ahead and jumped to the other side. "There you go," Riley tapped his shoulder.
Riley looked around, "there," he said and ran. Osmond followed him reluctantly.
They came across a pond with trees surrounding it. Moonlight showered down from above and it reflected from the milky water. Riley saw the apparition coming from behind a tree, hugging its vines. It came towards Osmond, floating above the water.
White. It was white like the moon. Whiter than milk. On the places where eyes and mouth should be, Osmond saw grey outlines. Its white robe hung and floated in the air.
"Thank you for coming," the voice was like an icicle.
"W... Why?" Osmond muttered in fear.
"Don't be afraid, little one. You are going to see things that are far more frightful than I am," Osmond felt the ghost was smiling.
Osmond felt his courage to be returning. He clenched his fists and asked. "Who are you?"
"My name is Norma and I have been waiting for you," she said floating high above his head.