Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 273

Chapter 273: You got some ‘splainin to do
Grandpa handled most of the explaining after the boys, Mia’s cousins, were sent to bed. Anaisa turned several shades of unnatural colors ranging from bright red when she heard Denholm’s name to eerily pale at the part of the story where Trace was carried off by wights.

“If it were anyone else telling me this, I would doubt their word,” She closed her eyes at the end of the tale. “Where is that boy? The one that started all this?”

“Ford didn’t start anything,” Mia put in on a defensive impulse, but her aunt’s warning look closed her mouth.

“He came here, with a map to that cursed cave, and brought with him names that were best forgotten and memories long buried.” She said softly. “If it weren’t for him, none of this would have happened. So I’ll ask again, where is he?”

“We don’t know,” Seth gritted his teeth. “The blasted boy’s talent for disappearing means he could be dozens of miles away by now, or right outside the window looking in.”

Mia shot a glance at the window, but there was nothing there. Why did she find that so disappointing?

“It’s dark now, but we’ll pack up supplies and head out to fetch Trace at first light,” Grandpa promised.

“We? All of us?” Daniel asked from where he was peeking around the corner.

“No,” Anaisa said firmly to her oldest son. “It’s rude to eavesdrop and you should be in bed. Your grandfather, Seth, and I are going… and Mia, since she knows the way.”

“Trace would kill me if I let you come,” Seth shook his head. “You stay with the children, and we’ll go and get him. Unfortunately, I can’t avoid taking Mia with us, because she’s the only one who for sure can guide us there.”

“He’s my husband. I’m going,” Anaisa’s tone dared anyone to disagree. Grandpa cleared his throat and she shot a sharp look at him.

“I’m all right with that,” He said, “Provided that the children are cared for and protected in our absence. I don’t think any danger’s coming here, but you never know with things like this, do you?” He asked.

“We’ll call Mia’s brothers home. There will be room,” Grandma decided.

The others nodded.

“I want to go get Papa,” Daniel pouted.

“No,” Several of the adults chorused in unison.

“You have a very particular job, Daniel,” Grandpa told him. “It’s going to be your job to help take care of the farm. It will all fall apart without you on the task, won’t it? When we rescue your dad, which will take a couple of months or so, we need to come back to a fine, large crop to harvest so we can throw a big feast celebrating being home again. Do you think you can handle that?”

Daniel’s frown deepened, but slowly, he nodded.

“I can do that.”

“Good man,” Grandpa said, and the boy’s chest puffed with pride. “We’ve got a lot to do to prepare, and as much as I want to catch up with everyone, we should work while we do it.”

The preparations were divided amongst the members of the family, and Mia breathed deeply before entering the kitchen to help prepare provisions for the long journey.

“I didn’t see any towns along the way to restock on food,” She frowned. “Do we have enough to prepare for the trip?”

“We’ll give you everything we’ve got. We can head to town to buy more tomorrow to restock here,” Grandma decided. “It’ll be an all-night baking session.”

“I should inform the king of what’s happened,” Anaisa decided absently. “I’ll write a letter about it for you to mail tomorrow from town when you go.”

Mia yawned, already feeling tired, but she worked alongside her mother and aunt steadily. Anaisa had gone to the table to discuss specifics of the path with Seth and Grandpa, making a quick list of everything they might need. Tents were already packed. Rope, a spare horse or two, perhaps a mule to carry the extra supplies, and all manner of other things were listed.

It seemed like a caravan of supplies by the time the Countess completed making lists of her preparations. Mia, listening in to keep herself from falling asleep on her feet, wondered if there were enough animals even in the Capital to carry everything she wanted.

The woman was used to being in charge of others, as Mia discovered in the capital. Their fine house there was full of servants who would respond instantly to their mistress’s instructions. Perhaps there was some of that left over since the family had only recently returned to the countryside.

Even so, the list was pared down significantly after the initial writing, and only the essentials and what they were very likely to need along the way were ultimately packed and set ready to go the next day.

There was much debate over whether a wagon was appropriate, but at that point Mia stuck her head out the kitchen.

“There are several places along the way not passable by wagon. In fact, I’m not a hundred percent sure horses will make it the whole way either, but certainly nothing with wheels.”

Anaisa’s face was a fiery storm cloud as she scribbled frantically on her paper. “Planning makes perfect,” She muttered to herself as she did.

Though he was supposed to be in bed a long time before, Daniel lurked and watched the goings-on with a somber expression. After a while, Mia sighed and went over to hug her younger cousin tightly, heavy with guilt over her part in his father’s disappearance.

“If Mama’s like this, things must be real bad,” He whispered, wounding Mia’s sensitive heart. The child looked far older than his years for a moment as he surveyed the scene. She refrained from simply sending him to bed, knowing that it could make him feel even worse. The boy had a remarkable memory, and she knew everything she said would be recalled, word for word.

“They’ll be all right,” Mia smiled. “We’re going to get your dad, and we’ll bring him back.”

She wasn’t sure whether that counted as a lie when it was a hope, but the boy’s answering smile was enough to both soothe and sear her conscience to it.