got sick a little while ago. I need help to get better."
"I'm sorry to hear that, young man. I hope you do get better. If there anything we can do to help you, let us know.”
“Well, you could give me the tree back.” Emret said boldly.
“The tree's going to help you get better?”
“Well, that's why we're here.” Emret answered.
“That's remarkable. How will it do that?” The commander asked. Then he reached into his front pocket and removed a small bundle. He unwrapped it and held it down where Emret could see it.
Emret’s eyes lit up. It was his tree carving. He reached up for it, and as he did, it started to glow. The tall grass around his feet started to react, to bend into the shape of a path extending out in front of him.
The Commander’s face went wide as he noticed the grass moving in front of him. “How?” He stepped back in a jerk reaction.
Emret pulled his hand back. Great, he thought. How was he going to explain that? How was he going to explain any of the rest of it? Where the little tree was taking him, why he thought he would be healed when he got there. "Its sorta taking us to a place that can make me better." He tried to explain.
The Commander recomposed himself, masking his previous wonderment. "So someone told you that this little tree was up here on the mountain. And you came up here to find it because it's going to take you someplace to make you better?"
Emret nodded.
"How did you know it would do that? Did this friend that sent you tell you that?"
He supposed that would be right. He saw himself being healed during his episode in the Red's plaza. Red Leaves, he could say, told him where to find the token. The rest he just kind of figured out. He nodded again.
“This friend sounds like a really great person.” The commander said. Then he leaned in closer as if he was going to tell him a secret. "You know, I don't tell many people this, but I have a little sister who's taken ill herself. I've been trying to help her, but I didn't know what to do. Do you think, maybe your friend might help her too? Could she meet him?
Well that made things tricky. He didn't know if the man was lying. He was making the face that adults make when they’re talking to kids and think the kids are idiots. But then maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he did know someone who needed help like he did.
"Maybe I could help her when I find what I'm supposed to find." He offered.
The man smiled. "OK. Well lets get you to bed. And maybe you could tell me more about your friend tomorrow."
He was glad the conversation was over. He did know how much longer he could keep it up.
-
Handers ran along the edge of the plaza keeping out of the light. He hoped Lord Valance and his entourage had moved on despite missing two of their soldiers. That was probably just wishful thinking though. So he planned on finding another way out of the village.
He stopped abruptly. Someone was crossing the lighted center of the plaza. Someone else, it seemed, had business at this ungodly hour and didn't mind being noticed.
They had covered themselves in a heavy cloak, apparently trying to make themselves look bigger. A child? It was a child, he was sure of it. Why would a child be out alone in the middle of the night?
He watched them hurry back to the door of the inn that he'd just left. Sinesh? It had to be. She must have followed after him when he left to warn Bedic. He decided to risk exposure and called out, "Sinesh!"
The cloak stopped and turned towards the darkness that was he was hiding in. Two little green hands pulled the hood of the cloak down. He was right! It was her!
He stepped out of the darkness and rushed towards her. "I told you to stay in the room!"
She frowned at him. "Where's my Grandpa?"
"I don't know." He scolded in an angry whisper.
"But I saw you with him." She pointed past the night gate. "Before those people came."
"Good grief, you know how to get in the middle of trouble. Did anybody see you?"
"No." She answered.
"Good." He said. "Did you see them leave? Did any of them stay behind?"
"I don't think so." She said.
He knelt down and