Free Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff Page A

enormous trees. They walked for a while, the stands of trees giving way to farmlands and soon to roads and houses scattered through the valley until a small town appeared in the distance.
    “We’re going to my home...” He paused in a way that indicated there was more to his words than he was prepared to say. “This is my real home, the kingdom of Eirentheos,” he added, as she started to respond. “My Uncle Nathaniel is here already, and the rest of my family as well. I’ve sent a message on ahead to let them know you’re with me.”
    “A message? You have a cell phone that only works here?”
    The expression on his face as he regarded that question told her she would get no more answers from him now. Thoughts and questions bounced around in her mind like ping-pong balls. Though she hid it from him, as they walked, she tried his advice – taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself and regain control of her thoughts. The pain radiating through her leg made this more difficult, but she was determined not to mention it to William. She would walk on her own, to wherever they were headed.
    After about fifteen minutes of walking, the exercise and fresh air had worked to calm her down. Wherever they were, it was beautiful here. She could see that. The night was warm, and although the sun had now completely disappeared, a bright full moon hung in the sky, allowing them to see their way easily. Something was strange about the moon, but she couldn’t place it. She had never seen so many stars. She scanned the sky for a long time, looking for constellations she recognized, but she could find no familiar patterns in the sparkling night.
    As they grew closer to what was obviously a more populated area she could see brick walls surrounding the town proper. Cottages and shops nestled together along the narrow, stone streets. The glittering lights came from windows and   low streetlamps that lined the streets. A tall, long building dominated the western landscape, forming a shape she’d only seen before in books and movies.
     “Is that a castle?”
    “Yes, it is,” he replied simply. He seemed lost in thoughts of his own.
    The pain in her leg was growing steadily, and gradually she became aware of a warm, wet sensation in the lower part of her jeans and her sock. A wave of nausea washed over her as she realized what was causing it. Suddenly dizzy, she felt an overpowering need to sit down.
    “Uh, William?”
    “Yes?” he turned to her quickly, looking alarmed by the sound of her voice. His eyes immediately darted to her leg. Somehow, in the next instant, she found herself lying on the ground in a patch of soft grass.
    Propping her head on her rolled-up jacket, he pulled out his pouch of medical supplies. He produced a pair of scissors and began cutting away the bloodied bottom half of the leg of her jeans, before she could protest. She’d liked those jeans, too.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, looking up at her after he’d appraised the cut, “I should have stitched it to begin with.  I just wasn’t sure how I was going to get you all the way home from the bridge if you couldn’t walk.”
    After digging around in his leather pouch again, he pulled out a small glass vial and an odd-looking syringe; it was made of glass and metal, and was very old-fashioned looking. It was also the scariest thing she’d ever seen as she suddenly registered the word “stitched” with what he was about to do.
    A larger wave of nausea hit, and beads of sweat broke out along her forehead.
    He must have seen the color draining from her face, and he quickly hid the needle again inside the pouch, but it was too late; she’d seen it. “Are you okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah, it’s just...” the nausea won, and she rolled to her side and vomited in the grass. Mortified, she didn’t know how to respond when he gently reached over and pulled her hair out of the way. When she was finished, he helped her sit back up, handing her a small cloth