Nessa’s estimate was right. The rain hit them about an hour after sundown, and she and Kira made themselves at home under the last wagon. They weren’t offered the space, Nessa simply told the driver they were moving in. This obviously didn’t sit well with him, but the fight with the trolls was still fresh in everyone’s memory, so the begrudging hospitality they had shown previously was quite a bit more polite now.
The wagons were large, anyway, and there was plenty of room. In fact, the driver, the crossbowman and one of the other riders huddled at one end, and Nessa and Kira at the other. There was still enough room between them that, with the noise of the rain, each group could talk amongst themselves without the other hearing.
At first, Kira was fascinated by everyone else’s clamor to get out of the rain. She had always enjoyed the rain on her face, and quite happily welcomed the showers that fell through the trees as refreshing. Soon, though, as the rain went on, and got harder and harder, she began to understand. The storms which swept the plain were little akin to those that came to the forest. And if there had been something like this, the canopy would have mitigated it somewhat.
As the storm went on, however, she began to find the sound of the wind and the falling water soothing. Even the sudden lightning flashes and accompanying thunder didn’t trouble her.
“Kira,” a voice she didn’t recognize spoke gently. “Kira.”
She was standing in the rain, at the top of a little hill. The plain spread out around her, and the camp with the wagons and horses and the other people was a few hundred feet away. Standing next to her was a woman of medium height, clad in a simple dress of indeterminate color. She was plump, friendly-looking, and beaming at Kira. Her eyes were golden, and glowing in the darkness.
Seeing the girl’s confusion, the woman said, “Don’t be alarmed. I’m not going to hurt you.”
She smiled so sweetly, Kira couldn’t imagine this woman hurting anyone. Besides, Kira was the one with the sword strapped to her side, not her.
“Who are you?” Kira asked.
“Well,” the woman seemed to be considering how to answer. “I am sometimes called the Gray Lady, in these lands. On the other side of the mountains over there,” she vaguely gestured to the east, “they just call me rain. But, they are simpler folk, there.” She said this last with an air of confidentiality, as if saying something she shouldn’t, but indicating that it was probably true, nonetheless.
For the first time, Kira noticed little voices raised in giggles all around her. She looked down and saw a myriad little creatures, all like tiny little women, spread out around her. They were everywhere, and they danced and giggled and played. Some were tiny, like ants, and she could barely tell they were there, others were closer to the size of mice, but none were bigger than that.
“Oh, don’t mind them,” the Gray Lady said. “Those are just my Little Ladies. They are my helpers. They don’t last long, but they have fun while they do.” She smiled.
“Ok, now,” she went on. “I need you to listen, because I won’t be here much longer. OK?”
“OK,” Kira said, still bewildered.
“First, I want to tell you, my Little Ladies say that your friend, the big green one, ah… Hero, is alright, and he will heal up just fine.”
The Gray Lady smiled at the pleased look on Kira’s face. Then her demeanor changed. She became very serious and stepped closer to Kira.
“Now,” she began. “This second thing I must tell you is very important. You must listen carefully, because your life and the life of the one you travel with could depend on it. It is already well-known to all of us that you must travel to see the Sword Goddess. It is the purpose of the Maidens to protect you, and that cannot be done properly until you see the Sword Goddess, and, more importantly, she sees you.
“However, it does not end there,” the rain around them seemed to lessen suddenly, and there were fewer of the Little Ladies about. “I’ll have to hurry,” the Gray Lady said looking about her. “I can’t stay much longer.
“You must also travel to the Floating Ruins. You can ask the Maiden about them. But, you must go there and see the Keeper of the Record. If you do not,” she said, quickly, overriding Kira’s attempt to interrupt, “there may very well be a war. I cannot expect you to understand what that means. There hasn’t been a war in… oh, such a very long time. But, this war would almost certainly destroy the life on this world. That is, in fact, the goal of some who wish this war to come.”
At that, the Gray Lady began to fade with the passing storm. “None can force you to do this. You remain a free person. The decision must be yours. Just know what comes if you choose not to act.”
With that, she faded away completely, along with the last of the Little Ladies. Kira found herself alone on the plain.
She awoke underneath the wagon, soaked to the bone, as the sun rose over the plain. The sky was clear, and the air was chilly. Nessa, who was completely dry along with everyone else under the wagon, regarded her curiously.
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