Gretchen's Ridge, Western Deirdre, the year 1014, 12th day of Rose, Summer.
It had been 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) since Kora's vision, and she was slowly coming around, her mood getting better and better every day. Working in the villages made a difference in her mood too. There was always a sense of peace around her when she settled down in a field to work her magic on the land. The amateur mages Blake and Cherie learned so much and could even heal whole vegetable gardens and patches of orchards on their own. Kora was so proud of them. Though they had to work their magic differently, since theirs came from within, they were strong and their affinity for the earth and how it moves impressed her. They made steady progress through each village, staying on Kora's tight schedule. This was the last village before they turned south, towards the new construction for the southern port.
Ben was always close by, as was Shadow. He had grown yet again, and Ludis had joked that his constant proximity to Kora and her magic was making him grow so big. Shadow is a year-old now and should be full-grown. But he continued to get bigger. Now shoulders were now level with Kora's shoulders. It became difficult for them to get him into inns. and the Nobles who offered to house them gave pause upon seeing Kora's large companion. Not wanting Shadow to be left out, she chose to eat and bathe at their stops, but camp on the edges of villages, so she could stay with the bear like canine. Ben and Kora found the camping peaceful. As the whispers of Kora's work had spread, and the constant staring had become … Bothersome, to say the least. Ben had just banked the fire and settled down next to Kora on their combined bed rolls. Shadow lay on his side, curled around them like a large protective bear. Ben was grateful again, for the thousandth time, that he had gotten the dog for Kora. A guard dog was precisely what she needed. He watched her back constantly and was fierce in his devotion to her. Kora was dosing, the day's work tiring her out early. He had barely gotten her through a bath, and her wet hair spread over her arm like a curtain. Ben sat, looking at the sky, thinking about his and Kora's future-when she started to murmur. She was frowning and started to toss and turn. Sweat formed on her brow. The bedroll coming undone, Ben had stood, trying to wake her when she gasped and sat up, clutching her chest. Shadow stuck his head under her arm, and Ben kneeled in front of her, cupping her face. Her eyes were stricken, as if she had seen a ghost.
"A dream, it was only a dream…" She murmured. Leaning forward into Ben's arms, she was shaking.
"Do you want to tell me about it? It might help." He spoke softly, scanning their surroundings, in case it was not a dream. Kora did not even notice, she still seemed trapped in what she saw.
"It was … the day I learned my friend Ikalla had died. I was told she had died in a skirmish with The Men of the Grey's Naval forces. We had been hunting them down. She should not have even been there, but we had received a tip off, and she would not allow me to go. She was afraid it was a trap. Not only that, but she was right… I found out on my 20th birthday that the last loyal friend I had before now had died. The dream was different from the memory, though… In the dream, it was Drew who had orchestrated the trap. Now, of course, I am sure it is true, but still…" Ben held her close, kissing the top of her head.
" I am so sorry, Kora, I understand the pain of losing a friend." Kora looked up at Ben and was shaken for a moment. She remembered her time with Drew, on the balcony of the swoop, how he had tried to comfort her, and she had just felt… empty. Looking into Ben's eyes, now she could see the difference in the feelings she had back then, versus now. She did not feel lonely at all. She felt safe and comforted. It was a revelation, and she was struck by it. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear and asked a question she was not expecting.
" Kora, when IS your birthday?" Surprised, she smiled.
"Tomorrow. The 13th day of Rose. I'll be 1526 years old."