Chapter 6
A Boat for a Boat
MistyTrail rode into the Omungan city of Alamar on the last wagon of the Sakovan food caravan. As the caravan passed the center of the city, she bade farewell to the Sakovans and jumped from the wagon. She stood in the street for a few moments, watching the caravan continue onward to the headquarters of the Imperial Guard. She was surprised to see the soldiers running out of the building and hailing the Sakovans, as one would greet an overdue friend. She shook her head in amazement and turned the corner onto a narrower street.
MistyTrail was not sure where she should begin her search for Mistake, but she did know where she would find a hot meal and a place to sleep. She had heard that Lyra’s uncle had rebuilt his school. She had even talked to a few mages who had been there for magic training. She followed the directions that had been given to her.
She felt awkward carrying all of her belongings in her pack. She was used to traveling lightly on her patrols of the fringes of the Sakova. She adjusted her pack several times during the short walk to the magic school. As she walked into the school, several students looked at her in confusion before returning to their studies. MistyTrail ignored them. She walked through the large common classroom and along a corridor that led to smaller classrooms. The rear end of the corridor opened into the dining room. Temiker was sitting at the table with an empty plate in front of him. He looked as if he had just finished the midday meal and was sipping a cup of tea. MistyTrail noticed a second plate at the spot next to the master magician, but no one else was in the room. Temiker silently waved invitingly to MistyTrail and indicated that she should sit.
MistyTrail removed her pack and sat down at the table. Her mouth opened to speak, but Temiker smiled and shook his head. She said nothing as she frowned in confusion. A moment later, Mistake entered the room with a cup of tea. She walked mechanically towards the chair next to Temiker. When she looked up and saw MistyTrail, she dropped the cup of tea. The cup shattered on the floor.
“What are you doing here?” gasped Mistake as she looked at MistyTrail and then accusingly at Temiker.
“I have nothing to do with this,” Temiker declared defensively as he stood up. “I will clean up the mess and get you both some tea.”
As Temiker swiftly left the room, Mistake rose hesitantly.
“I thought you would be glad to see me,” frowned MistyTrail.
“I am not returning to StarCity,” Mistake declared. “Who told you where I was?”
“No one told me,” MistyTrail said sadly. “I came here for some food and a place to sleep. I did not know that you would be here.”
“That makes more sense,” scowled Mistake. “I bet you are traveling with the watula caravans.”
“I did ride into the city on one,” nodded MistyTrail, “but I am not going back with it.”
“Well, don’t even think of trying to talk me into going back with you,” Mistake said adamantly. “I know where I am not wanted.”
“You are a fool if you think the Sakovans would not accept you,” frowned MistyTrail. “What did they do to you that was so terrible that you have to speak of them this way?”
Mistake stood speechless as Temiker returned with two fresh cups of tea. He placed one on the table in front of Mistake and the other in front of the empty chair next to her.
“I would prefer that you drink your tea on this side of the table,” he said to MistyTrail. “That side has already been cleaned.”
MistyTrail nodded distractedly and picked up her pack.
“Aren’t you glad to see her?” Temiker asked Mistake. “I thought you would be ready by this time.”
“She is just sent to make me go back,” snipped Mistake. “She doesn’t care about me. They probably thought she had the best chance of finding me. I guess they were right. I should have left for Fakara a week ago.”
Tears rolled down MistyTrail’s face as she lugged her pack around the table. She dropped it on the floor near the chair
“What are you carrying in that pack?” asked Temiker. “It looks like it weighs more than you do.”
“Just my belongings,” sniffed MistyTrail as she pulled the chair out to sit down.
“Have you run away, too?” asked Temiker.
Mistake’s brow creased as she looked at the pack on the floor and then at Temiker’s concerned face. She looked at MistyTrail questioningly.
“I have left the Sakova,” stated MistyTrail.
“Why?” asked Temiker.
“To find Mistake,” MistyTrail said softly.
“I knew it,” scowled Mistake. “At least you admit it.”
“You hardly need all of your belongings to come to Alamar,” frowned Temiker. “Where did you expect to go to find Mistake?”
“Fakara,” sniffed MistyTrail, “but that is not why I carry all of my belongings. I am not returning to the Sakova.”
“So you have left your people to join your sister?” Temiker nodded as his eyes moistened. He knew rather well what MistyTrail was giving up.
MistyTrail merely nodded and stared at the floor. Mistake’s mouth fell open in surprise, and defiance fled from her eyes. The room was silent for a long moment; only the distant sounds of students talking in the classrooms could be heard. A singled tear rolled down Mistake’s cheek as she moved close to MistyTrail and hugged her. MistyTrail hugged her in return.
“I am sorry,” sniffed Mistake. “I never meant to make you choose between the Sakovans and me. I just wanted you to love me as I love you. I will go back to StarCity with you.”
“I could not understand how you felt in the Garden of Hope,” sniffed MistyTrail, “but I think you taught that to me today. To come chasing after you, only to have you reject me, hurt a great deal. I understand you now. We are very much alike.”
“I will get my things,” offered Mistake as she tried to break the embrace.
“No,” sniffed MistyTrail as she clung to Mistake. “We are not going back to the Sakova.”
“We aren’t?” Mistake asked in surprise. “Where are we going?”
“I spent days in prayer to Kaltara after our meeting in the Garden of Hope,” stated MistyTrail. “He made me see things differently. If both you and I survived that great storm, maybe other members of our family did as well. We shall go in search of them.”
“Other members?” questioned Mistake. “What other members? Where will we look?”
“I do not know what other family we might have,” MistyTrail said as she finally broke the embrace, “but we must search for them. What else could we do together? You will not feel at home in the Sakova, and I do not belong in Fakara. We are finally together. What difference does it matter where we look?”
“Well we must start somewhere,” shrugged Mistake as she wiped her eyes.
“I doubt there are any more family members around here,” offered Temiker. “I remember that great storm. There were many fishermen lost at sea. The Omungans had runners up and down the coast looking for survivors that might have washed ashore some place other than where they left from. I think I would have heard about it.”
“Did you hear about MistyTrail?” questioned Mistake.
“I did,” nodded Temiker. “The Sakovans brought the fisherman’s body to Alamar. They asked about the child.”
“Then we will search in Fakara,” decided Mistake.
“Your search will be fruitless,” sighed Temiker. “Praise Kaltara that you have found each other after all these years. Let that be enough.”
“No,” MistyTrail replied. “I know that Kaltara wants us to search together. If we must start in Fakara, then that is what we will do. We shall never be separated again.”
“How will you get to Fakara?” asked Temiker. “The coastline north of Alamar is impassable. The Wall of Mermidion seals off the city of Duran, and the Wound of Kaltara is not crossable. You would have to return to the Sakova just to get to Khadora.”