Spellbound

Chapter Nineteen

           

Sakura chose to stop for the night once it became dark. She fed Amalthea and ensured she had enough to drink before making herself something to eat.
While she lay beneath the stars that night, she ran her fingers over the pin as she wondered how it would lead her back home.
"Where am I supposed to go...?" she wondered aloud.
With a small sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

She dreamt of a familiar forest and creek, the place where she had been taken to heal quickly. The leaves remained lush green all year round due to the magical properties of the land, only snow covered a lot of the greenery.

Her eyes flew open. It was early morning with pink and purple hues spread across the sky.
Amalthea's face appeared above hers and the horse nudged her.
"Hungry, huh?" Sakura smiled and moved to stand up and feed the hungry horse. While she did so, she thought about her dream and lifted her hand to the pin. Was that where she needed to go?
"What do you think, Amalthea? Is that forest where I'm supposed to go?" she murmured softly.
Amalthea snorted and continued eating. Sakura giggled.

After eating and packing up camp, Sakura continued on her way. Amalthea maintained a gentle pace that was easy on the both of them and Sakura hummed an old song her mother used to sing.
A number of days passed until they came to a village where Sakura found a room in a small inn to stay for the night. She ensured Amalthea's comfort first before heading inside and out of the cold. It was warm inside with a fire burning in the fireplace. She ordered herself a bowl of hot vegetable soup before seating herself at a table and pulling out her medical notes.

"Excuse me, miss?"

She looked up to see a man probably two or three years older than her; he had pale brown hair and hazel eyes with a square jaw and muscular build. There was interest and something more in his eyes, which unsettled Sakura.
"How can I help you?" she asked kindly.
"I couldn't help but notice you were alone. Surely you're not travelling on your own?"
She glanced over and spotted three of his friends watching curiously.
"I am. Why do you ask?" Sakura replied.
He moved to sit down and leant back, his hazel eyes looking at the bound notes in front of her. "Are you a medic?" he asked.
"Yes."
He smiled, "The name's Ethan, by the way."
Sakura didn't say anything.
"Since you're alone, why don't we get to know each other?" Ethan smiled.
"I'm flattered, Ethan, but I can't." Sakura said with an apologetic smile.
"Come on-it'll be fun. If you're worried about those guys, they won't get in the way." Ethan pressed.
Sakura shook her head, "I'm afraid my husband is waiting back home, so I really can't."
"He doesn't have to know about it." He winked.
"I said no." Sakura spoke firmly, "Please leave me alone."
A waitress walked over carrying Sakura's meal, "Is there a problem?" she asked kindly.
Ethan maintained cold eye contact with Sakura as he stood, "No," he murmured, "Not at all."
The waitress watched as Ethan walked back over to his friends and she turned to Sakura, "Be careful around them. They're pretty dangerous if they get mad."

Sakura smiled, "Thank you for your concern, but I'm not totally unprotected."
She watched as the young woman's eyes darted to her ring for a moment. "Don't let them see that crest." She whispered to Sakura before hurrying away.
Sakura frowned in confusion but tried not to think about it too much and ate her meal while reading her notes. She could feel the eyes of the men watching her and so when she finished her meal, she headed to her room for the night, passing them and heading down the hall.
She closed the door behind herself and walked over to the bed, listening for following footsteps. She didn't see herself getting much sleep that night.

She dozed in and out of sleep for most of the night, keeping herself alert to threats, but by the time the sun rose she was exhausted from doing so. Thankfully she was used to running on little sleep and didn't have much trouble getting ready to leave.
She ate and then moved to leave the inn, greeting Amalthea with a soft hello.
"Have you been fed?" she asked softly.
Amalthea turned her head to an empty bucket and Sakura smiled. "That was nice of them."
Amalthea made a disgruntled noise and Sakura heard footsteps behind her. She frowned.
"You seem to be in a hurry." Ethan smiled. Standing with him were the other men he'd been with the night prior.
"There are people waiting for me." Sakura replied. She tried to stop the shaking in her hands and the fear she felt. She might be able to control her magic now, but that didn't mean she could control her fear.
"Now, now, don't be rude." Ethan grinned, "We just want to get to know you."