She reached out towards him, her fingers coated in a paste of mud and blood with nails cracked from crawling up from the ground to reach him. Her eyes had been plucked free by carrion birds, but he could still feel her gaze drilling into him and filling him with shame.
'You left us to die when you rode away with the others. Where were you when they came for us? Where you you when we needed you?
Ayden tried to step backwards as the rotting corpse of Chasity opened her mouth wide, revealing a mouth full of razor sharp teeth and lept for him, his death a promise in her final anguished scream.
"WHERE WERE YOU!!!!
Ayden's eyes snapped open as his body jolted upright from the dream and for a moment, he could feel the sharp bite on his shoulder where the dream creature had bitten into his flesh. Although his room was still dark, Ayden could feel the approaching dawn and with it the desire to commune with his Uncle.
Throwing the sweat-soaked sheets off of him, Ayden reached out, grabbed the water pitcher that sat atop the small table by the bed and drank deeply from it before standing up. With unsteady legs, Ayden crossed over to the windows and pulled the shutters open and enjoyed the slight chill in the predawn air.
~It will be fall soon...a season of change it has been for all of us...~
Ayden suddenly felt the oppressive weight of the day on him again, and wondered what it was about this town that made his soul feel so heavy. While he had seen his fair share of death since arriving at Orchard Meadows, never had he felt so tired before.
Perhaps I simply need a time of rest? Perhaps after we find the creature who did this and tracked the brigands down, I can return to the Lost Vale for the winter. Perhaps some of the others would like to go with me...
Turning away from the window, Ayden crossed the room and reached inside the enchanted bag and pulled out a suit of sturdy traveling clothes and donned them quietly.
~If my family saw me dressed as simply as a commoner, they would never forgive me. However, if they knew how little that would bother me, I would be disowned. How does Uncle Giogi do it?~
As the first glow of the dawning sun began to creep into his room, Ayden felt his confidence returning and as he reached into the bag for his violin, Ayden knew he was ready to commune with Finder.
Easing his door open, Ayden walked down the stairs and through the inn's dining area to reach the door, the smell of ham over the fire made his stomach rumble slightly, but Ayden knew that once he was one with Finder, basic needs were easily placed to the side.
Entering the barn where Felmir was kept, Ayden sat on a hay bale that rested against one wall and closed his eyes as he brought the violin up to his shoulder. Clearing his mind as be pulled the bow across the strings, Ayden let the chords come on their own accord, and as a strange melody filled the barn, Ayden's fears and doubts began to loosen their hold on him until there was only peace in his soul and as the last note rang pure in the dawn air, Ayden placed the violin by his side and called out to Finder, his prayer forming quickly in his mind.
~Today we ride into the maelstrom Uncle and while my flesh may be weak, through your songs can I be made strong...~
An hour later, Ayden emerged from the barn and while the darkness of Twilight Hollow threatened to wash over him in its dark tide, for the moment it was held at bay by the music that filled Ayden's soul with its beauty and light.
Entering the inn, Ayden was not surprised to see the others gathering at a table with plates of food set out for them to choose from. Sitting down among his friends, Ayden smiled briefly before digging in with a gusto, his stomach for once beating out his desire to speak.
