After drying off by the water's edge, Tori and Obran walked back to their camp in the fae forest. The rest of their party were now sitting by the waters edge eating exotic looking foods: fruits and vegetables, nut and cakes, and drinking nectar from large gourds.
They all greeted Tori excitedly and she assured them all that she was well. She apologized for worrying them and for putting them in additional danger. Tori explained that she'd done things she regretted back in Roma and brought those feelings here with her. No one pried, instead they all sat down to share a meal, happy to all be together again.
"You've got to try everything, Obran," Zico said. "And you have to take some seeds back for your garden; my wife doubts these strains would survive long outside the fae lands but it's worth a try," Zico said.
"Some things aren't meant for everyone dear," Mara said.
Katrina handed Tori a flat leaf full food and the young women sat close together. Mara and Katrina comforted Tori, and Mara even began to braid her hair which was quickly turning black again. Girl stuff, Obran thought again.
"Pixies and Fae brought it all while you were gone," Zico said.
"Pixies? What do they look like?" Obran said.
"Just like what you think, like fae, but smaller and they don't have wings," Zico said.
"The fae carried some over from their island," Erkin said.
"I'm curious about their relationship to the fae," Tomas said. "Are they related? Is there a hierarchy between them."
"I just hope they are not slaves," Erkin said.
"We don't have slaves here," Mara interjected.
"We tried to talk to them in all the languages and dialects we know—Latin, Greek, even Celtic and Etruscan—but the fae and pixies couldn't understand us and only spoke with my wife," Zico said.
"I don't speak our language well but I do understand it well enough," Mara said.
"I think a girl fae likes Tomas," Erkin said. "Look what she made him."
Tomas wore a laurel leaf full of flowers on his head.
"Don't be jealous," Tomas said. "But I wish I could talk to her."
"Ha...like you would even if you could," Erkin said.
Obran tried the raw bread and nuts.
"Do fae ever cook their food, Mara?" Obran said. "All the food is raw."
But the three young women were now whispering and talking among themselves, ignoring the rest of them.
"Uhm...my wife says most fae prefer raw food though she's acquired a taste for cooked food too; but I still can't get her to eat meat though," Zico said.
"Some Greeks say it's the healthiest way to live," Tomas said.
“But I can’t imagine you giving up meat,” Erkin said.
Erkin had gained a strong taste for meat and fish like the Romans.
“I couldn’t give up either? Anyway, I told Apicius if I ever came to the fae lands I'd tell him all about the food here for his next book,” Zico said.
“I can make you some drawings too, you should add notes about texture, taste, and consistency,” Erkin said.
“Good idea,” Zico said.
“So I take it we can’t make a fire and cook anything,” Obran said.
"That wouldn't be a good idea. Besides it's only for two more days," Zico said.
After their meal, they all enjoyed several gourds of fae nectar, which Mara said was called "ambrosia" by many foreign races. It had a similar effect as alcohol but without the bad side effect. They all even sang some songs, something the fae on the island seemed curious about.
Soon the twilight hour turned to darkness and Obran saw some stars above, but he didn't recognize any of them. Will-o'-wisps emerged too and flew over the fae village. A few of them flew over them as well and Mara gently warned Tomas and Erkin not to get too close or to touch them. They're light was strangely hypnotic and soothing, it was like staring at a campfire.
No one talked of the road ahead—it was as if they decided to rest and enjoy their short respite before returning to the world and all it's troubles. Soon, sleepiness began to overtake them all again.
"You all should sleep soon," Mara said. "It's common for outsiders to sleep a lot more while visiting our lands," Mara said.
"What about you dear?" Zico said.
"Zi, I don't even need much sleep back in our realm," Mara said.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take the first watch with you," Obran said.
"You don't need to keep a watch here, Obran," Mara said.
"I believe you but I'm just used to it. Besides, I won't be able to sleep in a new place without some type of watch," Obran said.
Obran did not want to say he did not feel totally safe, especially after being rendered unconscious so easily. And even though he trusted Mara, he wondered what influence the other fairies could have on her.
"Okay, so we'll both stay up," Mara said.
"Okay honey..." Zico said.
Zico struggled to keep his eyes open. Mara flew to him and kissed his lips as he lay his head down on the soft grass. Obran, being a gremlin. knew he had been less affected by the fae nectar.
"Erkin, get some rest too. I'll wake you if I need you to take over," Obran said.
Erkin nodded and laid down near Tomas. As they all shut their eyes Mara flew over them and sprinkled fairy dust on them. It seemed she produced more here in the fae lands.
"I want them all to dream well," Mara said. "Katrina, you should sleep too."
"I'll just check on the animals. If it's alright I'll sleep with them," Katrina said.
Katrina walked over to her dog who slept next to the sheep and horses. She stroked all the animals before lying down by Corvus, using his body as a pillow.
"Lie down here Tori," Mara said; she hovered above a soft looking patch of grass.
"Thank you, Mara," Tori said. "Will I have dreams about flying again?"
"Probably," Mara said.
"I hope so," she said and closed her eye.
Obran and Mara sat together staring at the faerie village but all the fae and pixies were now inside their homes.
"Will she be okay?" Obran asked.
"Yes, thank the Martyr; I didn't tell her but my kin didn't want to help her. They wanted to leave her to her fate," Mara said.
"You can't believe she deserved that?" Obran said.
"Of course not but some fae did. Obran, you have to know that there is more to her than what you see," Mara said.
"What do you mean?" Obran said.
"I'm not sure but that's what our healer told me. She wasn't sure either. Thankfully, our healer is a follower of the Martyr too and did not hesitate to help her," Mara said.
"So that cult has reached your people too?" Obran some.
"It's not a cult Obran and yes it has," Mara said.
"Sorry," Obran said; he didn't want to insult her but all human religion seemed like a cult.
"So you must be happy to be back among your fellow fae," Obran said.
"Uhm...I've always had mixed feelings about being here," Mara said.
"Can I ask you something?" Obran said.
"Sure," Mara said.
"Aren't you tempted to stay here with Zico?"
Obran wondered if he really could stay there with Tori and what would happen then.
"Uhm...not really. It was Zico who wanted me to visit my people but I really just came to try to find my parents. Whoever abducted her sold me off as an infant and I have no memory of my mother or father. Zico searched for them before the war, before I was set free. But he only learned they'd been sold many times. When rumors spread about emancipation, he even offered a large reward for information about them. By then some slave owners—the cruelest—were desperate to sell fae to anyone who would buy them, whether it was to pirates or mages or even slavers overseas. So I don't know if my parents are alive or dead or suffering somewhere in captivity. I just know they never returned to the fae lands. Still, Zico insisted I stay with my people for a time before he would marry. You see Obran, the myth that fae abduct children is not entirely false. Those who are brought as babies can become fae, but were also given a choice to stay because my mother was abducted before I was born. But I didn't want Zico to change and I don't want to live here without him. So now I am a Roman like you. But I don't regret my choice, the fae do have a wonderful land, many even more wondrous than what you've seen, but they are too oblivious of the outside world. You and I know that we can't hide from the horrors of our world."
"Yes, I think I know that now, but I don't know if I would have made your same choice," Obran said.
"You will make the right choice when it is time," Mara said.
"But do you ever wonder about having children, I mean if you two can..." Obran said.
"I pray that the Martyr will bless us. But I think Zico and I will figure it out. We have all the time in the world," Mara said.
***
They stayed in the fairy village for two more days. Fae and pixies brought them food and nectar each morning, which they drank sparingly now knowing its strong effects.
Tomas and Erkin explored the surrounding areas—writing notes and drawing pictures, while collecting samples. Katrina went with them, studied the flora too, but also made sure the sheep and horses drank and ate in the few hours they were awake. Meanwhile Zico and Mara were acting like newlyweds, sneaking off together for hours at a time. Obran and Tori took relaxing swims and Tori even started to teach Obran how to swim.
"Do you know in the east some humans eat their fish raw?" Tori said as they lay on the rock by the waterfall, staring at the fish swim by.
"Really? I thought only orcs and goblins did that?" Obran said.
"It is a big world Obran...I've read accounts from our mariners that would shock you," Tori said. "My youngest brother, Mago, even sailed west past the straits of Gibraltar to rediscover a route long forgotten, but he never returned—so now my sister Anna and I are the last of the Barca."
"I'm sure you two will not be the last," Obran said.
"And you...you've never told me your last name," Tori said.
"...Uhm...I don't have one. Just Obran, and the name of my legion and cohort; that's what I put on the census. Erkin used his old master's surname to enroll in the University so I guess I should pick a last name too," Obran said.
"Make it a real Roman name, like Caesar or Scipio," Tori teased.
"Ha...I should just make it, Rex," Obran said.
"Yes, Rex is perfect: Obran Rex...King of the Gremlins," Tori said.
***
At dawn on the third day they left the fae lands; the fae and pixies had given them plenty of food, water, and nectar. At least enough to reach the north. They didn't know how to thank them but Mara said it was not necessary.
They all left as they came—through the violet mist—holding hands this time and herding the animals ahead of them. There in the portal, Mara chanted again just like before while they all shut their eyes; Obran felt the change in temperature more intensely this time; when he heard the familiar sounds of the forest he knew he was back in the real world.
They returned just after dawn after three days. But they were not at the same place they had left. Mara said she'd be able to take them to the edge of the same forest many leagues north.
"Wait...then can't we travel to a forest up north, one closer to Genoa," Obran asked.
"Sorry, I can't take us to a different forest; that level of magic is beyond me," Mara said.
So back in the forest, they hitched the horses to the wagon and slowly led them east to reach the main road headed north. But it was slow going again; the sheep bleated and the horses neighed like they were annoyed to be back in the real world. Obran studied the map Collatinus had given them. If they were really at the edge of the forest then Arretium—the old Etruscan capital—would not be too far.
When they reached a large field next to the north road; Obran felt something was not right. There wasn't anyone in sight but the condition of the area said a lot of people had recently made camp nearby. All the signs of a roman legion passing through were there. He guessed it was the second legion and its auxiliaries, headed north to fight the goblins and orcs in the Northern Alps.
"Mara, how long were we gone?" Obran said.
"Uhm...I'm not sure, Obran. Time can sometimes flow differently in fae lands but that didn't happen the last time I visited," Mara said.
"Are you serious? Tomas, Erkin, can you figure out how long we've been gone," Obran said.
Obran pointed to the moon that was visible in the daylight and gave them his watch.
"I'm not sure, give me a moment," Tomas said. Erkin and Tomas poured over a notebook they had in the wagon.
"Mara, can you fly up and take a look around," Obran said.
"Okay," Mara said and flew up into the sky.
Thankfully her wing had completely healed and she flew faster than ever.
"You seem worried. What is it," Tori said.
"I think a legion passed through here, maybe in the last day or two," Obran said.
"Is that good or bad?" Tori said.
"I'm not sure," Obran said. "I don't know whose in command, probably Drusus right, and who knows what he thinks or knows of our situation," Obran said.
"But at least the elves will stay clear of the legion too right," Tori said.
"I hope so," Obran said.
"So you want to keep our distance from them then?" Tori said.
"Actually, maybe we should follow their path. I doubt they'd send scouts south after passing through," Obran said.
Mara flew back down, gliding in front of Obran and Tori.
"I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, just regular traffic on the road," Mara said.
"Okay, so they are probably a day or two ahead. Let's get going," Obran said.
It was a chilly morning and Obran knew it would only get colder. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfyauYzKdS
