Tankard

With my nerves still jangled from a restless night, I went up to the inn's management the following morning. In the brief hours, I had come to the realization that I would be completely lost without a guide and could never survive in the woods on my own.

Grinning broadly, the innkeeper wrote a list of four names on a piece of paper and gave it to me. "These people are avid travelers," she added with a smile. "Any one of them would be delighted to assist." I thanked her, but I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I was not yet brave enough to mention the Shadow Woods by name. I had no doubt that it would make even the most daring person on her list scoff.

I started my search as soon as I stepped onto the busy streets. I asked around and discovered Jonas Zeller slinging a sack over his shoulder as he walked through the market. I called, moving into his path, "Hello." I asked, "You're Jonas Zeller?"

Jonas turned and grinned broadly and effortlessly. "Yes, I am," he confirmed. "And who might you be?"

I tried to equal his warmth as I said, "My name is Camryn." I continued, "I wanted to know if you could help me with my journey."

"Yes, I do lead a lot of people," Jonas said in a lighthearted manner. "Where are you going?"

After a moment of hesitation, I lowered my voice and replied, "The Shadow Woods, really."

His brows shot forward, and he retreated reflexively. "Why there, Miss?" Jonas asked, his smile wavering.

I stumbled over the word friends and explained, "One of my… friends is being held in The Spire of Shadows." I was unable to fully disclose to him that the prince I loved had been imprisoned by his own mother. I added desperately, "I have to find him badly."

With remorse in his voice, Jonas muttered, "I'm sorry, Miss," as he moved further away. "I don't go through those forests."

I forced a kind grin and whispered, "Thank you for your time." I added, "I apologize for disturbing your day." He nodded quickly and uneasily and then vanished into the mob. His rejection weighed heavily on me, so I let out a sigh and moved on to the next name on the list.

Standing at the edge of the city, Ashlyn Ford's modest home had an open door that smelled faintly of yeast. I went inside after knocking and called out, "Hello?"

"Hello! How may I help you?" a happy blonde, her hands covered in flour, looked up from a table where she was rolling dough.

"I take it you're Ashlyn Ford?" I asked.

Ashlyn smiled and confirmed, "Yep, that's me."

"You lead tourists?" I inquired.

Using her apron to wipe her hands, Ashlyn answered, "Mostly, yes." "Fantastic!" I exclaimed. "My name is Camryn, and I require a guide." After pointing to a chair, she picked up a tray and poured me a glass of tea while I sat down. "I've been practically everywhere," Ashlyn added, rushing about. "I can show you almost everything wherever you're going because I know the area well."

With a glimmer of optimism in my chest, I said, "That's perfect."

"Where are you heading, then?" Ashlyn asked, sitting across from me.

"The Woods of Shadow," I replied.

Tea sloshed weakly in her cup as her hand froze in the middle of stirring. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and her eyebrows arched. "What's there?" Ashlyn questioned.

With a hint of desperation in my voice, I stated, "A friend is imprisoned in The Spire of Shadows." I emphasized, "I need to locate him."

Ashlyn's smile faded as she replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry. However, I am unable to lead you there. Because she is half insane, just one person would."

"Who is she?" I asked quickly.

"Nyla Taylor," Ashlyn informed me. "On the opposite side of town. She frequently wanders through those forests, particularly The Shadow forests."

I said, "Thank you, Ashlyn," and got up. "You don't realize how much you've helped."

Ashlyn waved a hand dusted with flour. "I didn't do anything," she demurred. I raced away, walking with a purpose as I made my way to Nyla's house. I asked about and followed her to a tavern, which is a strange place for a woman to frequent, after discovering it was vacant. I saw her inside: a few years older than I was, with gray eyes that glittered with a keen edge, and dirty blonde hair pulled back from her face. She made the strange but sensible decision to wear slacks underneath a dress.

I went to her table and said, "Hello." I asked, "You're Nyla Taylor?"

"It depends on what you need," Nyla replied in a calm, low voice.

"I need a guide to help me navigate The Shadow Woods," I stated. The name caused some heads to turn, but Nyla remained unfazed.

Then, Nyla pointed to the seat across from her and said, "Well, I'm your girl." She instructed, "Take a seat and speak. Let me start by asking what your name is."

"Camryn," I answered.

"All right, Camryn," Nyla prompted, "tell me why you require a guide in the woods."

My voice grew softer as I explained, "The man I love has been imprisoned in The Spire of Shadows."

"I understand." Leaning back, Nyla examined me. "Are you wealthy?" she asked bluntly. "Are you able to pay me?"

I replied, "Very little, but yes, I can."

"All right," Nyla agreed. "I'll take that payment into consideration if you bring enough food for the two of us."

"What am I supposed to bring?" I asked.

"A change of clothes, a week's worth of food (enough for two of us; I'll bring my part), a sword or bow, and a spyglass, if you have one," Nyla listed. "Tell me right now if you don't have a weapon. In the wood, you'll need one."

I admitted, "I don't have one."

"Excellent," Nyla responded sharply. "Tomorrow morning, meet me at the outskirts of town. Then we'll depart."

"Oh, Miss, thank you very much!" I exclaimed, feeling a wave of relief.

"You're welcome." Nyla waved me away and went back to eating. "Now go," she added dismissively. With my heart lightened, I nodded and slipped out. I was accompanied. I could get to Jase now.

Before Nyla showed there, I waited for over an hour at the edge of town, the sky pale with the first signs of dawn. She had an old sack draped over her shoulder, a bow, and two swords. Her hair was pulled back tightly, and her dress was now shorter and threadbare over her leggings. "Hello," Nyla said in a serious tone.

"Hello," I replied.

"Are you prepared to leave?" Nyla asked. I gave a nod, but she gave me a critical look. "No, you're not!" she declared. "Are you dressed in that dress?"

"Yes," I replied, looking down at myself.

"Your hair will only get in the way, so at least pull it up," Nyla instructed. "Turn around here." She skillfully arranged my hair into a tidy coil when I complied. She then handed me one of the blades after taking her portion of the food from my pack and packing it into her sack. She began walking down the path with the bag and bow draped over her shoulder. I rushed to stay up.

"So, could you please reiterate why we are entering The Shadow Woods?" Nyla asked after a while, the town long disappeared behind us.

Despite the pain in my chest, I spoke steadily, "The man I love was punished and sent to The Spire of Shadows three days ago." I added firmly, "I'll track him down and find a way to free him."

"I understand." Despite Nyla's bland tone, a small smirk pulled at her lips. "Well," she continued, "I've only encountered trouble twelve times in my nearly twenty trips through these woods." Stunned, I gazed at her. She sounded almost proud of the fact that she had been in danger twelve times. She saw my expression and let forth a shrill, untamed laugh. "It's uncommon to avoid tripping and falling!" Nyla listed. "Bears, wolves, woodsmen, Drakons, Spekters—all the horrible creatures. I'll bet we'll meet a few. You are pursuing the Spire of Shadows, which is located at an angle and fifty miles deep. The best route is thirty miles straight to the center, then another thirty miles west. Although it's longer, it's safer. That way, you won't get lost."

"How can you tell if you've arrived at the center?" I inquired, despite my trepidation.

"Caves," was all Nyla said. "You'll come to a clearing with a boulder on one side, a stream on the other, and three tunnel openings up ahead. You can't be somewhere else if you just have one of the three markers present."

"I understand," I confirmed.

"We'll arrive at the edge of the forest today, set up camp, and enter at sunrise tomorrow," Nyla continued. "We don't go anywhere at night." I nodded, comforted by her assurance. Even though Nyla was partly insane, she was familiar with these woods. I pondered whether she would teach me how to wield the blade as we strolled; she had been correct; I would require it. My mind also wandered to Jase. How was he doing? According to Nyla's account, he had little chance of surviving, and this fact made me feel even more terrified.