What If?

Chapter 51

A day passed and the troop was almost to Breecrest. They had been contemplating what their plan of action would be when they got there. They were conflicted on how to go through. Should they go through the forest like in Shadowmouth? Should they just march right through?

Joyce wasn't sure what the best option would be.

The women in Breecrest were unwell and could easily attack their troop and prevent them from getting to Wedgemore. Hopefully, that wouldn't happen.

Joyce could see Breecrest in the distance, poking through the trees. It was the middle of the day, and they had decided that it would be better to speedily get to Wedgemore, than to wait until night to travel through the village. 

"I think we should try going straight through the village." Merek said.

"I think you're right," Joyce said, "But we need to be careful. We can say that we are travelers just passing through." 

Merek nodded.

***

When they came to the edge of the village, there were barely any women in the street. Joyce led the troop cautiously through. In the few minutes that they were there, more and more of the women started to stare. Suddenly there were double the amount of women watching them. But Joyce continued to move the troop forward.

A disheveled woman with ratted dark hair walked towards them and stood in Joyce's path.

"Why are you here?" She asked in a husky voice.

"We are just passing through this village." Joyce replied simply.

"You do not seem like the type of people to pass through Breecrest." She said.

Joyce didn't know how to respond to that. Obviously they were not the type of people to be in Breecrest. And apparently that was as clear as day to this woman.

"We are in a hurry." Joyce said kindly, "Will you let us pass?"

The woman cocked her head at Joyce and said, "We do not let just anyone pass through here."

Joyce was focused on the disheveled woman, but something caught her eye. There were women slowly surrounding their troop and boxing them in so they could not move forward or backward. Joyce's heart beat fast. She could use magic. But she didn't know if she could single-handedly protect them from all of these threatening women. 

So, she took a chance.

She said loud and clear for all of them to hear, "Ladies, we are on a very special mission and need your help. We want to break the curse and set you free from Jeana."

"Who are you!?" A woman in the crowd yelled.

Joyce untied the top of her magic cloak and let it fall to the ground, exposing her bright red dress.

A collective gasp rang through the crowd. Both from the Breecrest women and Joyce's troop. 

"I am the woman in red. I'm here to break the curse. I need your help to get through the forest and to Wedgemore." Joyce said loud.

Several women nodded, but several looked shocked.

"Please, we need your help." Joyce said simply.

There was a huge silence.

But after a while, the disheveled dark haired woman said, 

"We'll help you."