They asked around about Nathora’s temple and Mount Aylios in Glendale, and then again in Jaida Grove, but they were just told to ask the gnomes in the jungle. After dropping off Cadin’s horse and wagon, they stayed in the shack for the night. The following morning they bought two sturdy, light brown horses. Julia named Falcon’s horse Cinnamon, and her mare was Honey.
They traveled south on a wide road that ran between Carrow Lake, reflecting the bright sun so much they almost couldn’t look at it, and Jaida Forest. It wasn’t until they stopped for a quick lunch on the side of the road that Julia realized Jade had gone missing. Falcon reminded her that he was a stray anyway and that it was for the best. She knew he was glad, he hadn’t wanted the cat with them anyway. But she said nothing, sulking for the rest of the day.
Mid-afternoon the forest thinned and then gave way to farms and orchards. When they got to Applewood, the sun was beginning to set; the soft light gave the white buildings a creamy glow. Wooden planters were set against the front wall of each building, each overflowing with colorful flowers, which added to the very cheerful appearance of the town. Even Julia’s mood was lifted, in spite of herself.
They stabled their horses and walked down the main street, passing vendor stands and friendly people that nodded and smiled in greeting. Bells on the doors of shops chimed as people went in and out. Someone exited a tavern called Seedy Sam’s as they walked by, and the sound of a band playing guitars and drums could be heard until the door swung closed again.
They came to stop in the middle of town at a large circular bench made of stone. In the center was an apple tree that stood twenty feet tall. A sign in front read, Welcome to Applewood, The Friendly Crossroads. Under that, in smaller letters, it said, Apple Inn; come stay at the core of comfort. Below that was an arrow pointing west.
They followed the arrow, looking down the side street. More shops lined the road, but further down, on the right-hand side, was a white picket fence surrounding a red barn with white trim. A large sign was hanging out the front. They couldn’t read it from where they stood, but the painted red apple in the center said enough.
“Shall we stay at the core of comfort?” Falcon asked with a smirk.
“What an ap-pealing idea,” Julia snickered and followed him down the road. Next to the inn, behind the white picket fence, were hundreds of apple trees, all set into perfectly aligned rows that went on for as far as they could see.
The inside of the inn was like an apple theme park. Everything was apples―shirts with embroidered apples, plates with painted apples, apple cider, apple wine, apple bread, even apple jewelry.
Julia giggled. “We’ve died and gone to apple heaven.”
Falcon couldn’t help laughing too. “This is great.”
The smell of warm apple pie was mouthwatering, so they hurried to grab a seat at one of the round, whitewashed tables. A motherly-looking lady with her wispy white hair pulled back in a loose bun, came promptly to their table. “Hello, welcome to Apple Inn, I’m Shirley and I’ll be serving you tonight. Our special today is lamb and apple stew.” Her voice was warm, and her soft, wrinkled face lit in an easy smile.
“We’ll have that, please,” Falcon told her. “Also apple pie and some cider.”
“I’ll be back,” Shirley said cheerfully and left.
Falcon turned to Julia. "I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”
“Doing what?” Julia asked.
“Everything.”
“Like ordering for me?” she said with a half smile, then shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t mind as long as you don’t go getting all resentful on me.”
“Why would I?”
She sighed and stared at a spot on the table. “One of my mother’s favorite guilt trip games―she’d do stuff before you could, and then make you feel horrible about how useless you were for not doing it.”
“I see why you moved away,” Falcon said.
She gave a short laugh. “Right?”
He put his hand over hers, getting her to look up at him. “I’m not like that,” he promised. “If I don’t want to do something, believe me, you’ll know.”
She bit her bottom lip for a moment. “Like going on this quest with me?”
“Exactly.”
She looked down again. “It wasn’t because…” She sighed. “It wasn’t guilt, right?”
“It’s impossible to guilt me. I’m here because I want to be here,” he promised, and she nodded.
__________
After being woken by the sound of a rooster outside, they went downstairs and had a breakfast of eggs, apple sausages, and warm apple bread, before dragging themselves away from the apple-crazed town. They continued southeast through farmland, and then through miles of vineyards, arriving in Rosewall that night. It wasn’t hard to understand where the name came from; green leaves and little white flowers clung to most of the stone walls, like a cross between ivy and baby roses. They grew wildly up the sides of the gray stone buildings and overtook some yards and alleyways.
Rosewall was bustling with activity―a fair was going on. Merchants from all over Kelstone came at this time of year to sell their wares. The main street was lined on either side with small tents, wagons, and stands, each selling different items. Some things were common, but others sold strange-looking clothes, exotic fruits, intricately woven rugs, and much more.
One deeply tanned woman―who reminded Julia of a gypsy―was selling at least a hundred different kinds of herbs from her caravan. Another woman with a small girl who had golden curls and butterfly wings, selling many different potions from a stand with a blue-and-yellow striped awning overhead.
The fairy stopped them as they were passing by. “I can tell you your fortune. Only 8 copper.”
Julia smiled at Falcon, and he gave the girl 1silver piece, since he didn’t have enough copper. It wasn’t that much more, since 10 copper pieces equaled 1 silver piece.. “What’s in our future, then?” he asked.
She looked at them both intently for a long moment; then her face became very serious, and she gasped softly. “I am sorry.” She handed the coin back to him. “I did not realize it was you. You are the ones,” she said with awe in her voice. “Ask and I will try to help.”
Falcon and Julia looked at each other in surprise and then back to the fairy. “Please, tell me how I can get home,” Julia said.
“You will have the chance to go back to the world you came from when the one behind Xavien is defeated. Her name is Kieran; she is the high priestess of Malluk. That is all I see, I am sorry.”
Julia nodded. “Thank you.”
“Why did you say we’re the ones?” Falcon asked her. “The ones for what?”
“The ones who will save us,” she said in a deeply grateful tone.
“From what?”
“I do not know, but I can feel that it is a great evil. It has already begun, but soon…” She shook her head, making her curls bounce. “I see a terrible darkness coming,” she told them gravely.
“Why us?” Falcon asked.
She glanced at a guard who was walking down the street toward them, patrolling. “I must leave now.”
Falcon and Julia looked at the guard and then back, curiously. “Why―”
But the fairy was gone.
“I wonder what that was about,” Julia said.
Falcon shrugged. “I don’t know.” He sighed. “I wonder if it’s just us because we were the ones who clicked Play and came into this world, so we’re the ones who have to beat the game.”
“See what curiosity gets you?” she half-joked.
He laughed. “No kidding. And I was worried I might get a computer virus… I didn’t imagine this.”
