The forest on this side of the wagon is more than shaded - it's gone dark. I woke up in the morning mist and am now walking out into what appears to be late afternoon. Either every kingdom is on its own timetable or time passes faster than I'm accustomed to. I have no idea what LF is doing. One of the reasons I love her books is because they're unpredictable. It never seemed like a problem before now.
"Or maybe she forgot to edit this part. If you can hear me, you better get me out of here soon!" I tell the elusive author who somehow trapped me in her book.
No one answers and no writing scrolls across my hand.
"Guess I'm on my own for now." I hop out of the wagon. The shouting and strange sounds of metal shrieking against metal is louder. I can't see anything on the other side of the wagon and decide I'm better off in the forest.
After spending my life in the shadows, I greet the idea of having my own adventure with a combination of dread and exhilaration. No one here knows me; I don't have to live under anyone's thumb. Looking at the foreboding forest, I can't help thinking maybe it's safer to be a mushroom than to take a chance in the sun.
"Is this a spell? To whom do you speak, witch?" The teen is confused.
"No one," I mumble.
"I have never seen trees before." His fearful gaze is on the canopy overhead. "'Tis true that they are possessed by spirits?"
"Um . . . I don't think so." Anything is possible in fiction. Not that he'd understand that. "We have to get out of here either way, right?"
He offers an uncertain nod. I can't get over how pretty his eyes are, a shade between khaki and tan, one that matches his skin.
His first few steps are disastrous and he lands on his knees with a grunt of pain. I help him up quickly.
There's an animal path nearby. I wade through the thigh high bushes hugging the base of tall trees until I reach the trail then begin walking down it. The forest smells fresh and alive, of long-needled pines and earth. It's a peaceful place, or would be, if not for whatever is going on behind us. We go far enough that I have a chance to run if this gets too real for me.
Turning, I peer around a tree to see exactly what's happening.
Men are fighting. That much I expected. I've never seen anything like it in real life, except maybe at the Renaissance festival where two knights pretend to be fighting one another.