Chapter 1
Rowena woke before sunrise and rolled out of bed. She was always an early riser but today was different— she had been sent a note asking her to meet Nimi at dawn by the river. Her friend had something to tell her.
As she padded down the path, she wondered what Nimi wanted to say. Did she have a new crush? A new song? Maybe she had some item or place to show her. Winding through shortcuts and alleys, Rowena soon reached the banks of the river.
The river Farana was a sluggish, muddy ribbon of water that cut through the east side of town and spilled into the big lake to the north. Nimi was there, kneeling on the bank and trailing her fingers in the water. She jumped up as soon as she saw Rowena. “Ro, there you are.” She nodded towards a grove of trees away from any houses. “Let’s talk over there.” She said, walking towards them and gesturing for Rowena to come. Rowena followed, curious as to what the secret was.
When they arrived at the grove Nimi looked at Rowena with a mysterious twinkle in her eye. “Okay, okay, you’re not going to believe this, but I followed someone to the Glen two nights ago,” Nimi said excitedly in a low tone.
The ‘Glen’ was the pair’s personal spot in Bernadet wood, and it was a ring of tightly packed trees that could only be entered by a slight gap which the girls had concealed with branches and leaves.
Rowena gaped. What? Someone had found their hideout?! Nimi nodded at the look on Rowena’s face. “I know, right? And that’s not all!” She searched through her pockets and pulled out an ornate golden key. “He buried this there!”
Rowena gasped and took the key from her and studied it carefully, turning the key over and over in her hands. The key was small but heavy, carved with intricate patterns and inlaid with tiny red and orange stones.
“Was it anyone from town?” Rowena asked in awe. Nimi shook her head. “I don’t think so.” she mused. “He had the look of a traveller.”
A twig cracked nearby. Both girls jumped. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah, I heard that,” Said Nimi. They both jumped up.
Nimi ran over to where they had heard the noise, parting the bushes to reveal a dark-haired boy sitting against a tree with a book in his left hand. He looked up with an amused expression. He had to be about 15 or 16, same as they were.
Nimi put her hands on her hips, “were you spying on us?” she said in an accusing tone. The boy stood up and closed his book. “Not purposely,” he said with a smirk. “I just happened to have chosen this spot to read, and you came along to interrupt my peace and quiet.”
Nimi crossed her arms. “You better not breathe a word of this to anyone!” She glared at the boy, who also crossed his arms. “What’re you going to do about it if I do?” Asked the boy smugly.
Nimi stuttered “or else.... or else!” Rowena came over and put her hand on Nimi’s shoulder. “Calm down, Nimi.” Looking at the boy, she said in a pleading tone “please don’t tell anyone. They’ll only try to interfere.”
The boy grinned and pointed to the key Rowena was still holding. “I won’t tell on one condition: you’ll let me help you find what that opens and give me a share if it’s treasure.”
Rowena sighed and slid a hand down her face in exasperation. “Azyus....” She groaned.
Nimi looked between the two, confused; “Rowena, do you know him?” Rowena nodded. “He’s my cousin Azyus. Azyus, this is Nimi.”
Azyus gave an exaggerated bow. “Pleased to meet your acquaintance.” His grin only widened at Nimi’s scowl.
“Now, spill the beans. What did the traveller look like? Is he still in town?” Azyus asked, leaning against a tree and crossing his arms smoothly.
Nimi scowled harder. “Think again, book-brain. We’re not telling you anything, because this is our mystery.”
Azyus’ smug smile never wavered. He leaned in closer and said in a sly tone, “You’re forgetting something. I heard every word you said, and unless you want the whole town vying after that key and rooting around in your glen... I’m tagging along. Whether you like it or not.”
Nimi fumed, arms crossed and eyes flashing. “You little-”
Rowena pulled her friend aside and spoke in a low voice. “We don’t have a choice. He’ll tell if we don’t let him. And,” she added with a stern look, “If we’re rude.”
Nimi grumbled but stayed silent as they turned back towards Azyus. “All right.” Rowena said simply.
Azyus whooped and pumped his fist in the air. “To The Glen!” he cried dramatically, then paused. “Which is.... where.... exactly?”
Rowena led the way and Azyus followed. Nimi stomped along at the back and sent withering glances towards the seemingly oblivious Azyus (he probably wasn’t, as he was still smirking slightly).
When they reached the glen, the three squeezed inside and began searching for more clues about the mysterious key.
Nimi seemed to have forgotten all about her annoyance and was all excited again. “This is where I found the key!” she said excitedly, pointing at a patch of disturbed earth.
Rowena got on her hands and knees to look and spotted a corner of brown parchment peeking out from under a small branch. “What’s this?” she said, pulling out a small rectangle of paper.
On the note it read:
-.. .- -. .. . .-.. --..-- / --. --- / - --- / - .... . / .-. . -.. / .-. --- --- ..-. / .- -. -.. / ... - .- -. -.. / -... -.-- / - .... . / ... -- --- -.- . .-.-.- / ..-. .- -.-. . / - .... . / ... . - - .. -. --. / ... ..- -. / .- -. -.. / -- .- -.- . / .- / --.- ..- .- .-. - . .-. / - ..- .-. -. / - --- / .--. --- .-. - .-.-.- / .-- .- .-.. -.- / - . -. / ... - . .--. ... / ..-. --- .-. .-- .- .-. -.. / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . / .-- .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- / --.. . .-. .- -.-- .- / .- .-- .- .. - ... .-.-.- / -....- -.- .-.-.- --
Thankfully, Rowena recognised it as a code that a sailor friend of her father’s had taught her a few years back. Quickly she translated the dots and dashes in her mind.
Daniel,
go to the red roof and stand by the smoke.
face the setting sun and make a quarter turn to port.
walk ten steps forward from the wall.
Zeraya awaits. -K.M
“It’s a note,” said Rowena, after reading it aloud. “But what does it mean?”
Azyus took the note from her hand and studied it unnecessarily. “The red roof...” he mused. “There’s many a red roof in Tayile.”
Nimi huffed. “How’re we going to find it, then?” She said, frustrated.
“But,” Azyus continued smugly, “I think the ‘red roof’ it is referring to is a tavern on the southern border called ‘Crimson sky’ which is often fondly referred to as The Red Roof.”
“Alright, genius. But how’re we going to get there if it’s on the southern border?” Nimi questioned grumpily.
“Follow me, ladies.” said Azyus.
Azyus led them a few streets away to a yard of stables. The stables cojoined with a couple buildings, one labelled Lochlan Equestrian.
“I never knew Uncle Amir’s place was this big...” Rowena commented, looking around the place in surprise. Azyus kept walking, leading them to the first stable.
“It’s a family business that’s been passed down from father to son for generations. One day it’ll be passed down to me.” He frowned slightly for no apparent reason.
He grabbed some harnesses and proceeded to the stable labeled ‘Marigold’. Peering over the door eagerly was a chestnut horse. There was a streak of white down her nose, and her eyes were a warm brown colour.
She snorted disappointedly when she realised they had no food for her, but accepted Azyus’ apologetic pat. “Sorry, girl. No apples today.”
Then to the Rowena and Nimi he said, “Who wants to ride her?” Rowena glanced towards Nimi to make sure she didn’t mind before saying, “I’ll take her!” Azyus opened the door to the stable and fitted the leather bridle snugly onto Marigold’s head.
“Hold her until we get the saddles.” Rowena took the horse by the reign cautiously while Azyus took Nimi to the next stable. This one held a midnight black horse, and the name on the stable was ‘Chaos’
“Do you think you can take him?” asked Azyus. Nimi looked extremely offended. “Excuse me, I can ride.” Azyus raised his eyebrows. Nimi huffed “I was raised in Areloir. We rode everywhere.”
Azyus winked at Rowena. “Chaos though... can be... troublesome.” The side of his mouth twitched.
“Uuuum... guys?” Marigold had turned her head around and was snuffling around in Rowena’s pocket. Rowena was not entirely comfortable with this.
“What is she doing!?” Rowena yelped. Azyus chuckled. “Have you got something edible in your pocket?” He asked, pushing Marigold’s head away. Rowena fumbled in her pocket and pulled out half a bun.
“Oh-” Rowena got out before Marigold wrenched her head out of Azyus’ grip and took the bread out of her hand. It was gone in a flash and Marigold nosed Rowena’s still outstretched palm, looking for more.
Meanwhile, Nimi had opened the door of Chaos’ stable and was just tightening the bridle onto his head. She swung up onto Chaos’ bare back. “Wait-” Azyus shouted, but it was too late.
“I told you, I can ri-” Nimi was cut off as the horse reared up, whinnying in fright. She screeched as Chaos started bucking yet miraculously stayed put.
The crazed horse ran round in circles, leaped, reared and bucked, trying everything in an attempt to shake Nimi off. Eventually the horse slowed to a stop, defeated. His sides were heaving, and he was frothing at the mouth.
Nimi dismounted, shaken but triumphant. “I told you; I can ride.” She stroked the conquered horse’s nose, getting her breath back.
Azyus tried not to look impressed. He’d meant to give Nimi Chaos as a joke, not believing the girl could manage such an untamable creature.
Even he could hardly stay on Chaos with a saddle, and he had been riding since he could walk. How had this girl, a girl, ridden bareback, and tamed him?
He looked at the horse now. Chaos looked defeated. Passive. The wild horse had finally met his match in spirit.
Azyus looked at Nimi, standing there with her hand on Chaos’s sweaty neck and staring into his eyes, perhaps communicating in some mysterious way.
That should have been him. Him, taming the untamable. Him, finally proving his worth to his father. Doing something worthwhile- getting his nose out of a book and finally living a little.
Azyus cleared his throat and his mind and put his confident façade back on. “So, you can ride. I was just... testing you. I’ll take Chaos, and you can take Elise.” He gestured to the stable further down and reached for Chaos’ bridle.
Suddenly some of the fire in Chaos’ eyes that had dimmed seem to spark to life again. Chaos snorted, jerking his head away from Azyus’ hand. He took a few steps back as Azyus approached, and reared, whinnying. Nimi blocked Azyus from trying to approach again. “Nope, he’s mine and he knows it.”
~Rowena's POV~
Azyus’ facade slips a little, and I catch a glimpse of something in his face- something I can’t quite catch before his face slips back into the all too familiar cocky grin. “Right you are.” he says to Nimi, putting on a northern accent and shrugging his shoulders. “But don’t blame me if he throws you.”
He then strides over to the stable where Elise is and unlocks the door. Marigold snorts, drawing my attention back to her. I reach out my hand hesitantly, stroking her soft nose. I glance over to the stables. Elise is a large, brown mare with gentle eyes who trots out of the stable obediently when Azyus swings open the door.
After we saddle the horses (when I say we, I mean Azyus), we go over to Azyus’ house to get some snacks and water for the ride. The house is the tallest building of the lot and is painted a light beige. A maid opens the door and invites us in.
Azyus’ mother is there. “Good morning, Rowena.” she says to me. She sees Nimi and greets her a little more stiffly. The Harts have always been snooty, especially with people who live in the poorer parts of town. Nimi’s bare, dirty feet probably aren’t helping her case.
I greet her back politely, but Nimi is too busy gaping around at Azyus’ grand house. “Jeez! And I thought Rowena was rich!” Azyus heads to the kitchen, and I tug Nimi after me before she knocks down one of the very expensive looking vases.
After raiding the pantry (to the annoyance of the cook), we headed over to the horses and filled the saddlebags. Azyus helped me on to Marigold, but Nimi scornfully refused any help, swinging onto Chaos’ back easily. He then gave me a few instructions on how to control Marigold, before getting on Elise. We rode off at a gentle pace, speeding up as I got used to it.
After a while, I relaxed and began to enjoy the scenery. The cobbled riverside path was lined with houses and had many streets leading off it. It was a quiet day, and this path was never busy anyway. It was almost empty as we rode, apart from the odd giggling child or jug-bearing woman.
Graceful willows swayed here and there along the bank, and I saw a kingfisher dive into the shallows. Then, Nimi turned to Azyus. “Race you!” She smirked, speeding off far ahead of us. Azyus couldn’t resist the challenge and looked at me apologetically before catching up to Nimi and Chaos. I looked helplessly as they grew smaller and smaller, then had a spark of determination.
Nudging my heels into Marigold’s sides and urging her along to a canter, I started to catch up a little. I galloped closer, trying to match their speed. Finally, I rounded a corner and raced up beside them. We continued until we spotted a shady spot to stop.
After eating a little, we packed up the bags again. Nimi jumped onto Chaos before we had even finished. “See ya!” She yelled, kicking the poor horse into a trot. I sighed and shoved the rest of the food into my saddlebag before struggling onto Marigold. Azyus and Elise darted off to catch Nimi, and I trotted off behind them, hoping they would tire soon.
After I caught up, we went along at a reasonable pace for about half an hour. Then, upon spotting our destination, I gave a sigh of relief. I was getting stiff. We tied the horses to a tree and looked at each other. We hadn’t really planned further than this.
“I suppose we look for the smoke?” Azyus said. Nimi looked at him like he was an idiot. ”Hello?” She pointed to the billowing smoke from the tavern’s chimney.
