Cherin couldn’t blame Leika for feeling afraid. He had the same feeling, and couldn’t keep himself from glancing at the clock, wondering when it was going to be that she was taken away from him. He was counting down the hours, his chest on fire any time he realized that in the near future, his best friend would be gone.
Cherin couldn’t stand the thought anymore. He had tossed and turned all night long without getting a wink of sleep, and suddenly he knew what he had to do. Carefully and quietly, so as not to waken his family, he packed a small bag and crept over the hill. He climbed a tree and decided to wait there until morning, when he would have full view of Leika being escorted to the capital city.
Cherin closed his light blue eyes for just a moment, and when he opened them again, it was daylight. The sound of horse’s hooves in the distance brought him to standing in the tree branch, and he used his extraordinary vision to watch as Leika was led from her home, clutching a bag close to her breast, her face paler than he had ever seen it, and ducked inside the carriage.
Two stout men in pretentious hats then shifted into their dragon forms and began to circle the area, making sure that it was safe of all potential predators. Sometimes, evils from other planets could be found lurking among the bushes, some harmless while others were downright evil, and they would take no chances while vulnerable and transporting precious Loni cargo.
Finally, the men determined that the coast was clear, and headed to the front of the wagon, where they ushered the horses forward. Cherin could almost physically hear Leika’s fear. He wouldn’t let anything stand in his way. He would make sure that she was okay, and even when she felt like she was the most alone she could possibly be, he would be there.
***
The journey was moving swiftly, but Leika couldn’t shake the nervous apprehension she felt in the pit of her stomach. Something bad was coming. She knew it but she couldn’t tell what it might be. She wished that she had been able to know more about what was happening to her. If Cherin was there, he would find a way to help her feel better. But he wasn’t. And she had no idea how long it would be before she saw him again.
At around noon, the carriage came to a full stop and the drivers dismounted the carriage. One of them disappeared into the woods to relieve himself while the other rummaged through a basket. When he looked at her through the curtain in the carriage, she noted with some comfort that he was of Loni descent. This meant that he might be more receptive of her feelings.
“Would you like some lunch?” he asked, pushing a wrapped sandwich through to her.
Leika nodded.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the food. It felt almost like a peace offering, but she couldn’t let her guard down. If they were investigating her, she would have to appear to be as innocent and courteous as possible, no matter what happened.
“So you’re Leika Malu?” the man asked, his pale lavender eyes lighting up. “I’ve heard a lot about your accomplishments.”
Accomplishments? Maybe this was going to be a good journey after all. Still, it didn’t feel great to be summoned so secretively. There were a lot of things she hated, and surprises were probably the biggest.
“I suppose you’ve been to my school then,” Leika said, her crisp, musical voice polite.
“Of course, I’m a graduate myself. I was chosen by Lopu personally for this job.”
“Congratulations!” Leika said graciously. The man beamed.
“My name is Tolu,” he said. “But my wife, she’s from Earth, she calls me ‘Tiger’. I’ve never seen a tiger. Do you suppose you could help me to dream one up tonight when we make camp?”
“Of course. We might not even have to dream; we could try the fireside.”
“Really?” Tolu asked, delighted and surprised. “You must be more powerful than I thought.”
“I don’t know,” Leika said with a shrug. “Maybe.”
By then, the other driver returned and rummaged through the basket.
“Dammit Tolu,” he snapped. “I told you to bring the pickled radishes! You know how my stomach is on long trips like these.”
Tolu turned sheepishly away from Leika and began to engage his friend in conversation, leaving her alone to take in the sights and sounds of the forest around them. If seeing Lopu really was going to be an honor, what did all of this mean?