The Home Stone

Early the next morning Roma went to the riverside and found the water calm and meandering slowly south. Not knowing the depth of the river, she decided this was the place to cross. Checking her gear, making sure everything was as secure as could be, she entered the water. The water was cold and soon had her shivering, but she kept on swimming. She would have made the crossing much faster had she not had all her gear to pull along. This slowed her down significantly. Half way across she felt a band of even colder water, which gave her a cramp in her left leg. Roma knew that if she did not double her efforts, she would get body cramps all over and drown. She swam as hard as she could but her gear, which she was not going to give up and let loose, kept her progress slow.

Finally, as the cramps were getting worse and the other side still seemed to be so far off. Now panic set in and she began to lose strength as her head sunk below the surface. She struggled to regain open air and tried to keep breathing as normal as possible. Weakened from the cold water Roma began to lose all feelings in her legs, leaving her with just her arms to keep swimming. She tried kicking her feet, but did not know if it did any good. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain on her now numbed knees. She had struck them on the sharp pebbles of the far side beach. She had made it. Pulling herself out of the water and onto the shore, Roma just lay there and let the feelings return to her near frozen limbs. She was exhausted and knew she could not continue. At least, not that night. When she had rested enough and all the feelings had come back to her lower limbs, she pulled herself up to gather some firewood. Tonight, she would risk a small campfire. Most of her clothes were still wet from the swim across the river and a good warm fire would dry them, even if she had to remove them and hang them over the flames.

Finding a more secluded spot on the eastern shore, Roma lit a fire and boiled some tea at the same time dried her clothes. The hot tea warmed from the inside and she welcomed the now warm dry clothing. All the rest of the gear, which was in her knapsack remained dry as it was waterproof. Her weapons also were in good shape, so she left camp in search of some food. She had not gone far when she spied a large jackrabbit just sitting there trying not to be seen. It was over in a flash and the rabbit was on its way to becoming supper. After she satisfied her stomach with roasted meat and hot tea, Roma settled in for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning Roma decided to skirt the eastern side of the plains and stay well concealed by taking the forest route. It would be about a half days walk longer to reach Summerhill, but it was the safer road to take.

The next three days remained uneventful and in the late afternoon of the third day Roma cleared the forest and before her stood the tiny hamlet of Summerhill. Tonight she would sleep in a real bed, but before she would do that, she would have to report the death of Terrance, the man who had died helping her. She walked into the jailhouse that housed a small garrison of soldiers and reported that a man called Terrance Holt had drowned in the river where the rapids raged.

“Who did you say had drowned?” asked the guard.

“Terrance … Terrance Holt.” Roma answered again.

The guard thought for a moment and then looked up at her and said, “we don’t have anyone living here by that name. Are you sure you heard the name correctly?”

“Yes … yes I heard it correctly,” said the annoyed girl. “He told me that he had a small farm just outside the village and that he goes hunting a lot.”

The guard smiled and repeated that he did not know anyone by that name, or recognized him by the description that Roma gave to him.

Roma left the guardhouse and with a puzzled look on her face and walked over to the only inn in the village. There she would ask around to see if anyone else had ever heard of Terrance Holt. Inside she ordered a plate of food and some strong ale. When she finished she walked over to the bar and asked the innkeeper if he knew Terrance. Again she was told no. She asked several other patrons and the answer was always the same. No one had ever heard of him. Now Roma began to worry. Was he one of the warriors that had been chasing her all over Enderby, or was he just a stranger who happened along? It was not until she left the inn and walked towards the docks where the fishing sloops were tied up, when someone approached her and touched her shoulder, turning her to face an old man.

“I heard you asking about someone back there at the inn,” he spoke in a low voice.

“How can you help me?” asked Roma.

“The man you asked about,” he answered back, “died some years back saving a young man from certain death. He gave his life to safe a total stranger. He never lived in Summerhill and only passed though whenever he hunted in this region. Every once in a while some stranger shows up here and tells a story of meeting him deep in the forest.”

It was then Roma realized the warrior women must have been near and Terrance showed her the way to get away from them and find a safer way to cross the river.

Thanking the old man she tossed him a silver coin and continued down to where the ships were docked. Roma felt guilty because she had brushed the old man off so quickly, but time was not on her side. Those warriors could have guessed her route and would be on their way here as she approached one of the ships. Stepping onto the gangplank she called out to anyone onboard.

A gruff voice answered back asking what she wanted.

“I’m looking to book passage to the southern island,” Roma answered.

There was silence for a moment and then she heard the shuffling of feet and the squeaking of the cabin door, as it swung outward. A second later a tall burly man stood at the deck end of the gangway, staring and studying the young woman. Roma explained that she wanted to go there, but left out any part that would give away the real reason as to why she was here. She also left out the part of meeting Terrance. This seemed to satisfy the man on deck. After settling on a price for the trip Roma was allowed to store her gear below in a tiny cabin that was not much bigger than a closet in her home back in Storr. She did manage to lie down on the bed, which was way too short for her. Blowing out the only candle that lit the cabin, Roma lay down and went to sleep.