Long Ways to Go Part XI

I’d slept for most of the day.  The pain was gone.  I’d not felt so good since I don’t remember when.  Uncle and Petra were gabbling along in that language.  I listened to them for awhile.  Then, it started making sense.  I kid you not.  Just listening to them in that cave with nothing else to do but listen.  It was a bit like listening to the squirrels, crows and animals around the house at home.  Listen long enough and quiet enough, you can hear them talking.
“We’re surrounded here.  Raven made it through flying by night.  We’ll have to stay here til they give up the search.  She might be able to bring in enough food.”
“My nephew has attracted a lot of attention from the Enemy.  Too bad he’s not fully trained.  When I left, he was first level warrior.  Couldn’t have got much further than that.”
Their voices faded.  I listened harder.  Nope.  I couldn’t hear them anymore.  Had they left me, thinking I was still sleeping?  I opened my eyes.  Or thought I did.  It was so dark in that cave, I couldn’t see nothing.  I relaxed and drifted off to sleep.
“Do you think he’s slept off the effects yet?”
“Hard to say.  Mother’s Blood affects everyone differently.  Expecially an unguarded touch like that.  As you said, good thing it was a small piece.”
“And what about the time difference?  It’s been six months over there according to my nephew.  I’ve been here three months.  I’ve kept track of that time.  Is that something that’ll have to be taken into account?”
“What is time?  Guess that’s something we’ll have to ask when we get to the Mountain.  I am learning that Sight needs to be checked out, carefully.  What we See is not always what is there.”
“Like an illusion? A mirage?”
“Before the war started, the People were more numerous, spread out over much of the land between the River and the Mountain.  Many of the ones who’d know were in these areas and they were killed when the war began.  A few were captured.”
“Is there any writings?  Did they teach anyone else?”
A long sigh.  The dragon cleared his throat.  “Most of the apprentices were killed.  Very few of them survived that first wave of attacks.  The ones who know the most are very careful who they share the knowledge with.  Sorry to say this:  it was a couple of the Elders who worked with the Enemy and brought the attackers in.  Once the first village fell, the rest were easily brought down.  Now the Magic is in the hand of the Enemy.  They’ve corrupted our Way.”  Another long sigh.  “Their misuse may be the reason you and your nephew are here.”
Uncle was silent so long I thought I’d fallen asleep.  I wondered about the dragons, the People.  I thought it was strange they called themselves “People.”  They were so different.  I thought about their eyes.  The chills that ran up and down my spine whenever they watched me.  The glowing wasn’t as odd, now that I’d thought about it.  It was something inside the eyes.  Like two people were looking at me.
“Guess we’d better get some sleep.  Is that muscle cramp letting us yet?”
“It comes and goes.  Been much better since Raven got her herbs mixed.  We’ll begin the exercises in the morning.  Both of you will have to practice.  That much we can do.”
I wondered what kind of practice could be done in the darkness of the cave.  I wasn’t much good with the memory games, cause that’s what it sounded like to me.  And how long was the darkness going to last?  I was quite sure my eyes were open.  I could feel them blink.  I pondered these and several other questions  while I was in the dark.
Come to find out it wasn’t dark.  My eyes were still feeling the effects of the Mother’s Blood.  That Blood was changing me in ways I still don’t fully understand.  Near as Uncle could figure it, I was still growing and the Blood worked with the changes I was already going through.  And when I finally got my sight back, it was a total and complete shock.  Well, again, I’m getting ahead of myself.