Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 352

Chapter 352: There are more
Ford stood still. He held the reins of Daniel’s horse and watched Mia’s face across the water in the dimming light of the day. She looked terrified.

He hadn’t seen exactly what had happened to provoke the sudden roar of the earth, but it seemed she had. It wasn’t quite the same sound as a mine collapse, but it had been close enough to jar his soul.

The sound was not accompanied by the shaking of the ground he was used to in such situations, so he calmed himself and concentrated on the view across the water.

Mia was looking over the edge, apparently at something below that had made the noise. He was simply grateful that whatever it was seemed to be down there.

Eventually she and Seth exchanged a few words, and the man waved his arm in apparent consent for Ford to attempt crossing the water with the horse.

Both Mia and Seth picked up rocks, and stared at the same point. This, hopefully, would go more easily now that Ford had twice crossed the water leading an animal; once successfully, once less so.

At least he had one hand free and no other person to worry about except himself. That weighed in favor of his survival and success, didn’t it?

He grimaced, and nodded to Grandpa.

“She’s a good horse,” He told Ford. “She should listen well.”

Ford turned himself invisible and climbed into the water. His shoulders were tense, his body ready. As soon as he got into proper position, he turned the horse invisible as well, and the work began.

He heard the splashes of Mia and Seth throwing things at the monster just before he saw the disturbance of the horse jumping into the water.

Ford was anxious to get across, and moved more quickly than he had the last time. He thought perhaps the slower pace might have allowed the last horse too much time to think on its own, and perhaps, to panic.

As long as he kept things moving, with as minimal change to the water as he could manage, the horse was more likely to stay focused on following him.

At least, that was the mental justification he gave himself.

He wished he had some signal to offer when he crossed the halfway point. Mia and Seth were still attempting to distract the monster near them. Daniel was projecting a new sort of mythical creature that Ford didn’t take time to analyze.

He focused on the ramp out of the water.

Almost as soon as his feet left the water, he breathed a sigh of relief and let his magic fall away.

He wanted to beam with triumph, but there was too much more still to do.

“Take her, I’ll go back for another,” He told Mia, handing her the reins.

“There are others.”

The words so quickly spilled out of her mouth that he had trouble absorbing him.

“Other what?”

“Monsters. That’s what the roar was. Other monsters.”

“The same kind?” Ford’s eyes flickered to Seth’s serious ones. “More in there?”

He pointed to the pool he’d now crossed several times, but Seth shook his head.

“Only one in there.”

“Well, that’s something,” Ford paused. “How many more will we have to face?”

“I don’t think any… of these,” Mia told him, gesturing towards the monster who lurked in the pool. “I searched and they all seem to be below us. We passed them all, except this one, without noticing. When I looked for the highest one, he seems to be it.”

“How is that possible?” His eyes widened. How many pools had they walked through the day before? And to have the luck not to get eaten?

“How do you think?” Seth puffed out his chest. “My girl looked for the safest route and found it. She’s brought us this far, and she’ll take us the rest of the way.”

Ford turned to the woman, who glanced away with sudden shyness.

“Amazing,” He commented softly.

Though he thought he’d valued Mia’s gift immensely, he’d begun to think of his own as particularly valuable, given the day’s events. However, without Mia’s guidance, there’s no possible way they would have survived long enough for him to use his magic at all.

Though Ford could hide the group from some danger, it was Mia who protected them from the vast majority of it by avoiding it altogether.

It was also a substantial comfort that if he could get everyone past this one, they wouldn’t have to face another. This particular task would be a one-time event… at least, during this leg of the journey.

The way home might be an entirely different affair with its own challenges, but he daren’t think that far ahead just yet.

“Is there any reason for me not to get another horse over before nightfall?” He asked the father and daughter. “Any increased danger?”

“No,” Mia said slowly, “as long as you’re sure you have enough magic.”

Ford looked down at himself, then closed his eyes. He wasn’t exactly sure how to check how much magic he had left to use. Grandpa had explained it much like Martin had so long before: it was like getting tired while running.

You might not know exactly how much longer you could run before absolutely collapsing, but if you pay attention, you can know when to stop.

Ford took a deep breath. He felt like he could keep running, so to speak.

“Yes, I can do it. At least one more,” He nodded.

He was dripping. The water was hot, but the air was cold. He shivered, somehow eager to be back in the warmth despite the monster that lurked in it. He wished they had wood for a fire for when he got back, but there was nothing for it.

He looked over Mia, whose skirts were still sopping wet from her journey across the water.

“You should change before you catch cold,” He said, just before he activated his magic and disappeared. Her indignant expression brought a slight smile to his invisible face.