Chapter 14
Fountain Grove, State: Percival, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat Year: 2040, Planet: Grimoire
Before dawn, Daryl awoke gasping for air. He placed a hand to his throat and sighed as he realized it was a nightmare. However, what a doozy it had been. From the fragments that lingered in his mind, Daryl recognized he'd been in a very dangerous area that was unexplored within Barat's innermost center part of the continent.
Daryl shivered with atavistic fear. "No one in their right mind goes there, even on a lark." He muttered with discomfort.
Ringed with nearly inaccessible mountain peaks, it was notorious for having feral creatures of all kinds of species that hunted any idiots stupid enough to dare venture there. He swallowed hard as deep-seated fear zinged through his body. "Either this is precognition or I'm just expressing fear of the unknown right now just after losing my mother." It was probably due to losing his mother more than anything else.
"No matter, I need to deal with the aftermath right now." A sigh escaped Daryl as he pondered on the meaning of going through uncharted territory such as that type. What could've happened for him to go through such a trial in that zone? He shook his head because it made no difference right now. He had other problems to address.
Cold sweat covered his entire body and drenched the sheets. What a mess. Daryl grimaced in aggravation because now he was all slimy and gross-feeling. Now what he should do about this? He hopped out of the bed and sighed in frustration.
If he'd been in the township, it wouldn't matter if he hung the sheets outside the window to let them air dry. Daryl doubted that was part of the tradition around here. Even when they'd walked the streets yesterday, he'd seen no sign of sheets hanging out to dry. "No matter what, these can't be used until they're washed again." He carefully piled the sheets into a basket that he knew was designated for dirty linen. Then he washed up with water he'd poured into the basin the previous night and covered it to keep it fresh. Once cleaned up and somewhat drier than before, Daryl dressed in clean clothing. Just in time, there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?"
"It is me, Shiloh. I came to find out if you needed to exchange linen." The headmistress surprised Daryl.
Daryl peered through the small hole in the door and saw that it was indeed her. He opened the door. "As a matter of fact, yes." He motioned to the stripped bed and the pile of sheets lying neatly in the basket. "I was wondering where I should take this."
Shiloh blinked. "I can show you where to put those items and dirty clothes as well." She surveyed the room. "Nice and tidy, this is good."
Daryl bowed his head. "I do try to keep where I sleep as clean as possible." He hesitated. "How are the others?"
Shiloh shrugged. "Still awakening." She told him. "You aren't the last, but not the first either. The three older ones are bustling around in the kitchen helping the cooks prepare the morning meal."
Daryl nodded. "Is there anything I can help with setting up the morning dishware and such?" This was a familiar routine and it helped settle his nerves. "Either that or I can feed any livestock you might have that produce eggs or milk?" He wasn't sure how different his place might run from the Inn in Glaston.
Shiloh smiled faintly. "Nah, you don't need to worry about that. There is a bathing room that you can use to fully cleanse yourself." She advised. "I fear there is still a slight lingering scent of sweat upon you." A frown twitched her brows. "I think we've all had something similar to a bad nightmare."
Daryl frowned. "Monsters, inner barrier mountain range?" He eyed Shiloh worriedly.
Shiloh's eyes widened. "Uh, not that specific, but close enough." She shivered. "That is not a good thing if many of us are there."
Hmm, Daryl sighed. "I'll talk to my sisters, Anara and Sapphire to see what else they might've seen." After all, they had definite gifts of precognition.
Shiloh frowned. "Don't do it out in the open, lad." She warned. "That might cause all of you more problems than you'll want in the future."
Uh oh, that type of thing wasn't looked upon as good, eh? Daryl's shoulders hunched. "All right, I'll wait until a better time." He reassured her. The last thing he wanted to do was cause further trouble for the headmistress. After all, she'd been swamped with more work than originally agreed upon.
After conversing a bit more, Daryl and Shiloh parted ways.
*
As he peeled potatoes in the kitchen, Harper glanced up when he heard familiar footsteps. "Morning, Daryl," He studied his younger brother. "Rough night with a nasty dream?" That was the only thing he could come up with to describe the dark shadows lingering in his brother's light eyes, making them murky with weariness.
"Yes," Daryl grunted. "I had to bath thoroughly to get rid of the nasty residue left behind." He shook his head. "Not one of my better nights." He admitted wearily.
Mmmhmm, yes, Harper wanted to know more, however, he'd been strictly instructed by the headmistress not to ask questions while they were in the earshot of the youngers who lived in the boardinghouse as permanent residents. He gained the distinct impression that while he and his siblings had the dream, as did the adults, those young innocents didn't the same horrifying scenes running through their dream state. She wanted to keep it so that they remained innocent for a while longer.
Harper understood where she came from. Therefore, he didn't dwell on the subject. Instead, he glanced at the head cook who watched them covertly. Harper cleared his throat and tilted his head toward the cook. "See if there's something you can help with." He suggested.
Daryl inclined his head. "Sure thing," He wandered off to where the cook stirred a gently simmering pot.
Harper heard a stream of questions from the cook, which Daryl answered patiently. The cook nodded. "Go chop some wood with that large fellow, Sherpa. I'm going to need more." She heaved a sigh. "I could use some rabbits or bigger fare for more meat."
Daryl paused. "If you're willing to release me and Sherpa, we can go net a few dozen or so in an area that is overflowing with them. It won't be in an area that is reserved." He offered.
Harper knew which location Daryl was referring to and nodded when the cook glanced at him in concern. "It is a well-known campsite outside of the boundaries. It is near the west wall and third gate." Harper recalled. It was the closest to where the boardinghouse was located now that he thought about it.
The cook grunted. "Let me get the headmistress's approval first." She stated. "If she gives permission, then fine, the entire lot of you can go, except for the two young misses, Sapphire and Anara. I would prefer they remain here."
While it would be odd not to have their sisters with them, Harper agreed to the conditions. "That sounds reasonable enough." He exchanged glances of relief with Daryl.
From past scenes, Harper knew that Anara and Sapphire weren't happy about hunting small cute animals as food sources. They'd made quite the fuss a few times. As the end result the entire eight siblings were kicked out of numerous parties. That was until the girls realized that was the only source of meat they'd have come to the inn in the future once they'd reached the hunting age.
They grudgingly reconciled to the reality of their circumstances. Only after learning that not all of the townsfolk enjoyed donating foodstuff to the Inn. Not only because they had to feed the family much less strangers that didn't contribute to the township's value. If the family members didn't start contributing to the whole of the township, they would soon become pariahs and eventually be banned from living there.
The end result was that all eight of them were now proficient hunters and ranked in the top eight, sometimes tying for the first three slots in their total experience gained over the years.
Harper shrugged. "I have no problem with it being just six of us." After all, he and Ambrose were good Healers in a pinch. They weren't exactly empaths so it was easier not to feel discomfort when hunting animals that could turn into vicious carnivores in a second's notice. There was also some unease at leaving behind their newborn siblings without someone watching over them.
For some reason, Harper felt as if there was another being that had ill intent toward the newborns. However, he wasn't quite as able to divine who and what might come after them. Unlike Sapphire and Anara were trained to recognize specific signs.
*
It was a relief not to have to go into the wilderness to hunt small animals. Sapphire and Anara exchanged worried glances. Yet they were uneasy because this was the first time that they'd remained separated from their brothers and sisters in a long while. "I suppose this is just what we reaped from past fusses we caused." Sapphire acknowledged ruefully.
"Yes, but who knows, maybe there's a reason why we have to remain," Anara stated after a few seconds. "I don't think we're the only ones who had that dream." She shifted her weight uncomfortably. "I remember getting some wary scowls from those kids who live here." That wasn't something she liked enduring even for a short while.
Oh yeah, that was also something odd that happened to all of them. It did not bother her as much as it appeared to bug Anara. Sapphire nodded in commiseration. "I noticed that as well. It would probably behoove us to leave sooner rather than later." She appreciated what the headmistress was doing for them.
Anara and Sapphire exchanged uncomfortable glances. Anara shook her head wearily. "I don't think we should stay here longer than necessary." She murmured quietly.
"I agree, but what else can we do?" Sapphire muttered. "It isn't as if we have the money to purchase what was already consumed already." She pointed out in quiet frustration.
Anara nodded. "I know." She sighed.
However, she knew that it was placing an enormous strain on their resources. That just wasn't right in her mind to do that to this place. "I do wonder if we're going to find out more about our father and mother in the future." That topic shift made Sapphire stare at her in bewilderment.
"So you think that everything going on has to do with our mother and father(s)?" Her bafflement warned Anara that it was too abrupt of a shift.
"Yes, but I don't think we're going to get our answers here, but elsewhere." Anara sighed. "Didn't you notice? Hermina Marten left before dawn. It was as if she'd learned something odd and that it'll affect whatever arrangements were already created." She shrugged. "That's why I think we're going to be leaving sooner than expected."
Plus if that dream was any indication, their presence wasn't going to bring good tidings to this place if they remained much longer. Neither sister wanted that future to unfold. Therefore they had to leave as soon as possible to prevent this valley from being turned into a desolate wasteland.