Chapter Forty Four
Justin had wondered why the quest needed to start so early, but since he had no prior quests to go on, he decided not to ask. As they progressed on their journey, his question was soon answered.
Even with the sun barely up, Justin could feel the pull and ache in his muscles. If he had to add the relentless heat of the sun to the mix, he would have been miserable from the beginning. Seeing how the day would probably unfold, he wished he had been able to bring his sunglasses and a better pair of shoes from his world. His sneakers were adequate for walking around on concrete in New York, but not great for the roots, loose rocks, and tall grass of Aldervaile.
Sigmund and Fred seemed oblivious to the uneven terrain and the warming temperatures as they made companionable conversation. Sometimes, they spoke solely in English, and at other times, they became so animated that Sigmund slipped into gnomish, and Justin was at a loss as to what was being said.
It was during those times that Justin did his best not to let his mind settle on the task they were drawing ever closer to. But with no conversation to distract him, he was finding it harder and harder to keep his mind on the positive.
By the time they stopped for their first break, he was ready to sit down and looking for a diversion. The kitchen staff had done a wonderful job in providing him with one. They had cold cuts wedged between large chunks of brown bread. Although the bread appeared dry at first glance, it was anything but at first bite. There was a maple-and-cinnamon flavor that complemented the savory cold cuts. The cooks had packed 3 different varieties of cheeses and a mild wine for their drink.
There was even a selection of live bugs, carefully packaged for Fred in a separate container. Justin was thankful to be eating outside, where he could angle his body away from Fred. Unfortunately, it didn't help with the sounds coming from him.
Justin pulled his attention off of Fred and focused on Sigmund. "Do you think the weather will hold until after we get back?" He didn't relish the idea of trudging through the mud and the rain while running away from a fire-breathing dragon.
Sigmund looked up thoughtfully at the cloud-speckled sky and nodded. "I can't say for sure, but it doesn't appear to be any storms on the horizon. Although this strong wind could suggest otherwise. We will just have to wait and see."
Justin had hoped his words would be encouraging, but he found he had one more thing to worry about. He was debating whether to say anything else when Sigmund spoke. "So, how long have you and the princess been an item?"
Justin coughed hard, sending a small piece of cheese flying out of his mouth and landing on Fred's foot. The gnome smiled and shook his head, kindly turning down what he thought was an offer of food.
By the time he had gathered his composure, the remainder of his meal lay forgotten beside him on the ground. "Why would you think that Mag... Princess Magdalin and I are an item? I have only been here for a short while, and well, she is a princess."
Sigmund chuckled at Justin's obvious discomfort. "First off, haven't you heard of love at first sight? You have certainly been here long enough for that. Second, she is the second-born daughter of the king, and as long as her sister is restored to health, she will have more freedom to choose whom she will marry. So, that is just another incentive for making this quest a success." There was a long pause as Sigmund took the last bite of his sandwich. "Besides, I heard you say why you couldn't have feelings for her, not that you didn't."
Sigmund gave Justin a knowing look, and he could feel his cheeks burn so hot his face ached. "Well, it doesn't matter. Even when we bring back the gemstones and solve the problem with the unicorns, it doesn't change the fact that I am not from around here. We run in completely different circles and would not get along well together in the long run."
Even as he spoke, he knew that he wasn't being honest with himself or Sigmund. He did like Maggie a lot, but he knew in his heart that they were only destined to be friends.
Sigmund smiled at Justin, but it was a sad smile that was reflected in his glance. Before either of them spoke again, Fred stood up and dusted off his belted shirt. The shirt was the only thing that the gnome wore. It was long, reaching just above his knee, but Justin had more than one worry that the gnome would fall and expose himself to the world. For as odd a creature as he was, he was very nimble on his feet. He was handling the terrain the best of all.
Without another word between them, the group cleaned up their belongings and refilled their canteens from a nearby spring. The water was surprisingly cold. The sun had almost reached its highest point in the sky, and Justin had expected hot, tepid water to match the heat, sweat gathering at the nape of his neck. He was pleasantly surprised.
The rest of the daylight was spent trying to cover as much ground as possible before the dark set in. Sigmund had told them more than once, while they were planning the quest, that they would have to be strategic about camping out in the mountains. The dragons and baskilisks were not the only deadly things to be found.
They had decided to sleep enclosed in a group of trees, if possible, where they could easily climb to safety if the need arose. Finding the ideal spot had been left to Fred, and for the last hour of their trek, he ran ahead to find their camp.
Just as the sun was about to kiss the horizon good night, Fred came gracefully through the trees ahead and motioned for them to follow him. When he led them to a perfectly situated encampment, Justin had a new appreciation for the gnome.
After only half an hour of setting up camp, they had another meal of cold cuts, cheese, and wine, and decided to go to bed early. Not tired from the day's excursion, Fred agreed to take first watch.
As Justin lay down to sleep, his thoughts focused sharply on one thought, 'I am about to see a dragon.' His mind then ricocheted to another thought. 'I am not only going to see one, but I am going to steal from it.' That realization made him feel uneasy for the first time since agreeing to go on this journey. Still, seeing Maggie's face as she talked about her sick mother and sister assured him that he was doing the right thing.
As confident as he was about his decision, it was several hours before sleep claimed him.