Big City Darkened Nights
#34 - swamp encounter

Doubly concerned Carr queries, “You met some male at the swamp?”

“Yes, but they weren’t male.” Finished with the bed she retraces the day. “I had woken that morning with a terrible headache.” She grasps his hand, “I had this awful dream you were being hanged. And I was stuck in the middle of a big crowd and couldn’t move or scream.”

Recalling being choked a couple times over the past week Carr thankfully replies, “I’m glad that didn’t actually happen.”

“Anyway, I didn’t have any herbs left to cure a headache. After I got dressed, I had a bowl of stew with a nice tea…”

He pretends to listen intently. Come on Ma get on with it.

“…I still had the headache. I knew I was going to have to walk down to the southern edge of the woods. You know it’s the only place to replace the plant.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I put my boots on.” She comments, “I should have got you to pick me up a new pair. But I’m sure we can go to Ahn and replace a better pair.”

Jesting in his mind. This must be why so many men really go off to fight wars.

“…I put on my shawl. Oh, I took your one of your small swords with me. Was that, okay?”

“Of course Ma.” Maybe this is why some wars start. An excuse for some rulers to get away from their women.

“…I finally found my satchel.” She pushes his arm gently snickering, “it was right by the front door where I left it. Isn’t that funny?”

“Oh yes.” There must be battle going on somewhere right now.

“…I stopped to feed the horses. I was going to take your new one, but I decided to make a day of it.” She reminds him. “You know I’m having a hard time getting on and off anymore. So, I figured might as well have a little adventure of my own.”

I could take the horse. Find a battle. Take a few lives. And make it back in time to hear the end of her story.

“…That big old tree came down. Must have been that storm last month that blew through.” She sighs, “I use to climb that tree when I was a younger woman. But I’ve told you that before.”

“Yes you have.” Carr confirms her thought, “It was definitely that storm.”

“That’s too bad. It was my favorite tree.” She giggles, “I actually cried when I saw it. Isn’t that silly?”

“No, not at all Ma.” Carr thinks hard. What was it I wanted to know? ... Oh yes. She met someone.

“…I must have looked for more then an hour for those stupid plants. Finally, I found a small patch of them.” She looks at Carr, “You’ll never guess what happened when I found them.”

“Someone was watching you?” Silently he hopes. Please let her be at that point.

Hesitating she has to think about that, “Maybe? But that’s not what I was going to say. By the time I found them, my headache was gone. Maybe I just needed a walk in the sunlight? Isn’t that funny?”

“Very amusing Ma.” Thinking he’s getting another headache.

“I decided to collect the herbs anyway, you know for the next time,” She rambles on, “After picking all the good leaves I just sat in the sun. Watching the life on the swamp. It’s so nice just to sit around and enjoy the world we’re given. It was so peaceful and the sun was so warm I fell asleep for a while.”

Envisioning her open to attack by all kinds of things Carr interrupts, “You did? At the swamp?”

“Oh yes.” She points out. “It was the best nap ever.”

“What?” He laughs, “Your crazy. It smells funny there. And you could’ve been attacked by something.”

“Mosquitoes anyway.” She laughs, “At least I know you still care. But that is when this pretty young woman woke me. She wanted to know if I was okay. I told her what happened to have me end up sleeping on the beach. She laughed and said she does the same thing.”

Carr questions. “You met a woman out by herself? Did she tell you, her name? Or what she was doing around here?”

“I don’t think she did?” Ma thinks aloud, “I can’t remember, but she had long blonde hair, deep brown eyes. Shorter than you and thinner. Almost innocent looking. She was wearing pale tan leather armor, almost white and loose fitting. It kinda looked Elven with the feathered engravings.”

Trying to picture the person Carr wonders if possibly an assassin and that’s what was following them. “She doesn’t sound like anyone that I have met.”

Ma suggests. “I think she was a ranger.”

“Really?” Carr hopes she’s right. “How do you know?”

“Well, she had no footwear.” Ma recalls the weapons the woman carried, “Her arrows for her long bow were fletched with white feathers. She also had a thin bladed long-sword”

Carr agrees with her, “Barefoot would say ranger to me too. What did you two talk about?”

“Oh, we talked a lot about the woods, the swamp and things. I noticed it was getting late and excused myself. I was going to ask her if she had a place to sleep for the night. But when I turned to her, she was gone. I looked around, but the only thing moving or making noise were birds out on the swamp.”

“To disappear like that she must be a ranger,” Carr points out, “Hiding in white or light colors is difficult. Today I saw a white swan and a group of sea cows.”

“Oh, I missed the sea cows?” She’s genuinely disappointed.

Carr tells her all about it, they end up talking late into the night before turning in.

***

The next morning Carr straps a two-pole sled to his black horse, Ebony, to pull the crates back with.

Ma tends to the other animals watching him, “I slept great last night those quilts are comfortably warm.”

Making sure all straps are tight Carr nods agreeing with her.

Seeing him in his old clothes she comments, “You’re not wearing your new gear? I liked those dark red pantaloons and shirt.”

“Yeah?” Also liking them Carr notes, “I thought I best save them for another day. Besides I’m just going to be getting dirty. Getting the crates and maybe hiding the boats. Hey did you want to come along?”

“Not today.” she points to the western woods, “The last of the berries should be ready. I’d like to get as many as possible before the critters do. I might take the other horse out.”

“I’m sure he’d like that.” Carr climbs into the saddle. “I’ll be back by midafternoon.”

“Okay, take care,” She watches him ride off.

“You to Ma,” Carr returns the wave.

The ride through the woods makes for a pleasant day. Contemplating the last year, he thinks how dull next year will be, if actually spent on the farm.

Passing the downed tree Mother was talking about, remembers the times he climbed it too. Wishing to be old enough to travel beyond what he could see. Knowing now he does, creates a big grin.

Moving along Carr keeps an eye open for the grizzly and anything else that might be following him. The only entertaining sight, are the squirrels that chase each other around the forest trees.

Unhindered he reaches the Great Swamp. Looking out sees many ducks out on the water and the same lone swan. Jumping down from Ebony’s back Carr leads her to the sailboat.

Noticing some of the crates are broken open Carr figures it was just from the beaching. Checking the stern of the boat for damage notices barefoot prints around the vessel. Studying them figures who ever made them is smaller than he. Immediately thinking it must be the female ranger Ma met.

Following them to the bow of the boat he is sure she helped herself to some of the vegetables that were in the crates. Especially seeing, thank you, written in the sand underlined with an arrow. Scanning the direction of the arrow, footprints head to the tall reeds where he normally hides the skiff.

Walking in the footprints over to the reeds Carr spies a yellow tube. Mixed within the reeds a thick shrub, slid between its’ many branches a rolled-up parchment. Surveying the area, he’s sure someone is watching.

Stopping before pulling out the parchment out he checks for any traps.

Not seeing anything to be concerned with he eases the parchment out.

Before opening it, Carr rescans the area.

Rolling it open replaces two parchments. The inner one is smaller with a charcoal drawn map on it. The outer is an exhausted scroll spell with a note written on it instead.

Studying the map, he returns to the boat for comfort and cover. The map indicates a location along the Cirran river. Carr knows where the river comes out at the swamp’s ocean cove. To walk to the location on the map would take five days.

Curious he reads the letter:

I must apologize for not coming to you in person

I am in search of a trustworthy soul to retrieve a lost item

I was told by a being, you are the person I need to seek

I prefer to get it myself but it lies where I dare not tread

I can offer a reward for your services if you can help

I will be at the place marked in two weeks time

If you can’t, return this letter to the shrub within a week

Please help me if you can

Leaning on the boat Carr reads it over. Looking about he begins to really wonder. “Is it a trap? What is it? Where is it? Is it the mystery ranger? Is she a woman? What would Ma say? What is the reward? … Should I go?”

The End?