you think it’s risky to have a fire?”
“Maybe, but I’m not eating this raw,” he replies. “Besides, I really doubt if anyone will be coming after us so soon after the beating they took back there.”
“I hope you’re right,” he says.
They have a hard time waking Miko when dinner is ready. But once the mouthwatering aroma reaches him, he perks up and readily joins in.
James wishes for more than just meat to eat. He was never much into salads or vegetables when he was back home, but he sure misses them now. Looking around, he’s sure there are edible plants and roots out there somewhere, if he only knew what they looked like. Oh, well, at least he has the meat.
When they’re done eating, they toss the carcasses into the water and Miko is surprised when nothing comes and eats them. “Where are the little fish?” he asks.
“The water’s probably too cold for them,” explains James. “They most likely prefer the warmer water back in the swamp area.”
Miko just looks curiously out at the water and when still nothing happens, nods his head and realizes that James is probably right. Again.
James and Jiron decide to keep watch through the night, they don’t dare trust Miko to do it, not in his tired state. James decides to take the first watch since he’d already taken a short nap.
It was several hours into his watch when he first notices it. At first he thought it was just his imagination, it was so subtle and quiet. Then it became increasingly more pronounced. Singing. A woman’s voice, singing a quiet song.
He quickly realizes it’s coming from the direction of the lake. Pulling himself to a standing position, he looks out over the water. Barely perceptible in the moonlight, he’s able to make out a small boat coming toward their camp. A small figure is sitting in the middle of the boat, facing his way.
The singing continues as the boat approaches closer and James is able to see that it is indeed a woman sitting within the boat. James begins to feel the prickling which always indicates magic being used in the vicinity. Must be what’s powering the boat.
When the boat reaches the shore, he grabs it and pulls it further up onto the beach. The lady inside says, “Thank you,” as she gets up and steps out of the boat.
Standing only about four and a half feet tall, she walks over to James and stops several feet away. Her blond hair glistening in the moonlight, she looks James up and down.
“Hello,” James greets her.
“A good evening to you sir,” she replies.
“My name is James,” he tells her.
“You may call me, Lyria,” she says to him, giving him a small smile.
“Would you care to come and share our fire?” he asks.
Shaking her head negatively, she says, “No. I had come to offer you and your companions shelter and the hospitality of my home this night.”
Beyond all reason, he feels he can trust her. Something about her puts him readily at ease. “Where?” he asks.
She nods over to the island and says, “My home.”
Jiron suddenly sits up and sees him there talking with Lyria. “James?” he asks coming quickly to his feet.
Turning toward him, he says, “This is Lyria and she’s invited us to her home out on the island.”
“Why?” he asks not nearly as trusting as James seems to be.
“Because you are in need,” she tells him. “And I get so few visitors.”
“Aren’t you afraid of being alone with three strangers all by yourself?” he asks her.
Laughing, she says, “No. I fear not that you will harm me.” She glances over to where Miko is sleeping and says, “If you will but wake up your friend there, we can be going.”
Jiron says, “James?” and then indicates with a nod of his head that he wants to talk with him away from her.
When James comes over, he says, “What?”
“Can we trust her?” he says. “It seems odd for a woman to be all alone in these parts, wouldn’t you think?”
“I don’t get any ill feelings from her,” James says. “Besides, she’s magical in nature, possibly a magic user of some kind.”
“How can you tell?” he asks, and then says, “Oh, right.”
“She’s offered us food and shelter,” James tells him. “I say we take her up on it.”
“Why?” he counters.
“I don’t know,” he admits. “I just feel like we can trust her.”
From the camp, they hear Miko cry out when he wakes up and sees her there standing near him.
Coming back over, they reassure him all is okay and make another round of introductions. When they tell him of her offer, he looks dubious at best.
“I’m going,” James says as he looks at the other two. “Who’s with me?”
Reluctantly, they agree to come and they all pile into the boat. Once they’re all situated, she begins her song again and the boat pulls itself off the beach and turns to head back toward the island.
Miko gasps at the boat moving all by itself, but then settles down when no one else seems to be upset by it. Her song is soothing and it seems to melt all their worry and cares away.
Chapter Nine
The boat makes the crossing in quick time and they can soon make out a wooden cabin on the island, sitting a couple hundred feet back from the water’s edge. A soft light shines out of the window by the front door. Down at the edge of the water lies a dock of sorts and the boat is heading straight for it.
Jiron takes the rope lying in the bottom of the boat, and when they near the dock, jumps out and secures the boat.
He holds out his hand to Lyria who takes it as she steps out of the boat, and receives a smile of gratitude. Then he helps James out of the boat, whose leg makes it difficult for him. Miko hops out once James is securely on the dock and then they follow her as she leads them up toward the house. Along the way she says, “This is my home, you are welcome to stay here as long as you like.”
Coming to the front door, she opens it and precedes them inside. A small house, with but two rooms, the main front room and a back bedroom separated by a door. She goes over to the fireplace and coaxes the remaining coals there to life, quickly getting a fair sized blaze.
James and the rest take seats at the table while she’s getting the fire going.
“Why live so far away from everyone?” Miko asks once she’s done with the fire.
“I like solitude,” she tells him as she comes over and takes a seat at the table. “It provides me with quiet for thinking and reflection. I do get some visitors, but none for some time now.”
“How did you know we were there?” he asks.
James gives him an annoying look for asking so many questions.
She sees his look to Miko and says, “I don’t mind, really. After all, how are we to learn if we don’t ask?” Turning back to Miko, she says, “I saw your fire.”
“Do you invite everyone to your home who camps on the shores of your lake?” Jiron asks.
“Good heavens, no,” she says to him with a laugh. She gives them each a searching look before continuing, “Actually, I’ve been waiting for someone.”
A chill runs down James’ back, “Waiting?”
She turns her attention to him and says, “Yes.”
“For whom?” Jiron asks her.
“For he who bears the Star,” she tells him.
