A day and a half have passed since the wagon broke down, leaving me riding horse back with Haldis. I was swaying, I felt myself growing tired even though it was the early hours of the morning and we had just began traveling again for the day.
Sleep didn't visit me last night; it had tried but I pried it away. Refusing to risk the possible nightmare. The last thing I wanted to do was explain it to Clementine and Jade.
The sun was just now rising, and it illuminated the forest beautifully. Lighting up the water dripping from the leaves that the dew had left behind.
Patches of the forest floor were shining from the sunlight that was creeping its way through the tall trees above us. I thought about how most of the small plants in the shadows of the shade would eventually die from the lack of sunshine.
It was the forest's way of weaving out some of the live forms inhabiting it. We were growing closer and closer to The Outer Wall and Haldis had mentioned that we would stop there and rest up for a few days before continuing to the war front.
I was looking forward to those few days. My thighs were rubbed sore, and I ached all over from the long hours of riding horse back.
My eyes grew heavy, and I couldn't stop them from closing. I jerked awake but didn't have the energy to hold myself up anymore. I let my back press against Haldis, using him to keep myself sitting up right.
He stiffened, "You, okay?" He shifted and positioned himself to support me better.
"I'm just tired. Do you mind?" I hated this, I didn't want to have to bother him, but I figured this was better than me falling off of the horse and Clementine or Jade having to tend to my wounds.
"Didn't sleep?" He says knowingly and I was reminded that he knew I had nightmares, specifically nightmares that he has lived through. He had to force me to be still on my bed that one night a month and a half ago. He understood why I couldn't let sleep take over me with so many prying ears around.
"I didn't bring any lily tea with me." I had taken up his advice and searched for the flower to brew in with my tea. It helped thankfully but I had been foolish and didn't bring any with me on the journey.
"I'll see if I can find you some at The Outer Wall. For now. Sleep." We were far enough away from the others that they couldn't hear us, thankfully.
"I'll fall." I say staring at the ground that was too far away for me to even think about for too long without growing skittish. I was sure to break something if I fell off of the creature, she would probably step on me from the fright of it all as well.
"I've got you." He whispered, putting his arm around my waist to keep me in place.
My head hung lazily against his chest and my eyes began drifting closed despite my unwillingness.
So very slowly the sun rise began to disappear behind my closed eyelids, and I was drifting off into sleep, the swaying of the horse only guiding me deeper and deeper in.
~.~.~.~.~
I stared at Bolt as he tackled a man out of the striking line of an eagle beast. The creatures massive, feathers each the length of at least five feet, his beak made to gobble up men and women one by one. It's silver eyes showed no mercy as it killed the man. I spot the talons sinking into Bolt's chest so deep that his heart instantly stopped beating. The blade like nails piecing the organ through and through.
His face was edged in pain before he fell slack around the bird's feet. The eagle beast shakes Bolt free of his talons and flew in the air to continue its attack on the under prepared fae men.
Milady's voice began speaking to me. Obviously, this was a death she was trying to avoid. Somehow Bolt was important in the world she was trying to build.
"Four days' time."
"Don't let him die."
"Save him."
"Save him."
"Save him."
~.~.~.~.~
I woke with a shriek instantly drawing the attention of Haldis and everyone around me. "What is it?" He asked with concern taking hold of his deep graveling voice.
"What happened?" Clementine asked.
Jade stared at me with puzzlement.
Everyone stopped their horses in their tracks, and I couldn't help but to notice that it was midday now. What had felt like mere seconds in my vision had been hours in the real world.
The sun was now beating down on everyone and I could feel my sweat causing my gown to stick to my glistening body.
All of the men gathered around us staring at me as if I had grown an extra head. I was sure to be as pale as a ghost, it was still hard for me to get oxygen through my lungs properly. Milady was changing up the game, she was finally using me. For a long time, I thought she simply tortured me with deaths I couldn't prevent, because I was just a mortal, but she had finally made me a piece in her game.
She wanted me to save Bolt's life.
Her vision for a better future depended on it.
Once I had gained enough air to properly speak again, I warned them of the danger.
"An eagle beast is going to attack your camp in four days."
All of their faces went grave, they knew the beast that I had seen in my vision. Knew how massive it was and how quickly it would shred through their forces.
"Are you sure?"
"We haven't heard of any of them being anywhere near the forest since the Iluna Pair."
"That's impossible."
Haldis men began growing antsy at the idea of that creature being anywhere near them or their friends. I understood their worries. I was still shaking from the look in those silver eyes.
It was a killing machine and too big to be stopped, it would tear them to shreds without so much as a blink of its cold eye.
"We have to warn them." Haldis motions to Henry who was already jumping off of his horse to retrieve a messenger hawk.
Ike started to scribble on a piece of paper, writing down a warning for the men still standing against the swarms of beasts leaking out of the forest like blood from a wound.
"Was there anything else in your vision?" Haldis asked as he tried to ease the horse that felt its riders worry. The creature knew something was amidst and she didn't want to sit still a minute longer. I place my hand gently on her neck, rubbing her wiry fur trying to soothe her.
Once she had settled down again the only sign of discomfort was the noises she made. I spoke the words that made all of the color drains from Haldis's face.
"Bolt will die. If we don't do something."