The Maiden and The Four Waters
Chapter Thirty- Four

Walla, Crowe, Melana and Exel sat in the tavern as they silently ate their food and drank their drinks. Walla tried to ignore the pain with each swallow she took with each bite full.

She took caution when she looked around those in the tavern, she let her eyes linger at the bar at Rala and Maxim, the father and the daughter who were sick of having to rebuild their lives time and time again.

Each person in the tavern had their stories, each person in the tavern had their frustrations, each person in the tavern had their aches, each person in the tavern spoke of hate very rarely of love, each person in the tavern spoke of the heartache of losing loved ones while having to give up what they loved.

Walla had promised herself when her father died that she’d never be like him, she promised herself that she would put herself out on the front lines to protect her village, she actively encouraged her village to stay back, and many took pride in not having to fight anymore while plenty took pride in ignoring Walla and losing their lives. Walla struggled to be seen as the leader, the hero instead she was seen as the daughter of gambling indebted liar who loved to cause trouble wherever he stepped.

Everyone jolted with alert as the tavern door was pushed with force open, Walla watched as two men carried Clarinne into the tavern.

Walla rushed from her seat to Clarinne as the men laid her down.

Before Walla had a chance to speak one of the men opened his mouth “We thought we could go fishing, instead we found her.”

“Others?” Walla breathed.

Both men shook their heads.

“Where?” Walla kept her sentence short.

“The end of the fangs, not far from where we found you.”

Walla shifted her gaze to Crowe, who was now standing by Walla’s side.

“Carry her to the hospital, we’ll get her right.” Crowe hoped her words were true.

No one could see any physical damage to Clarinne, just a cold wet woman.

The men careful positioned Clarinne in their arms before leading Crowe out of the tavern and to the hospital.

Walla could feel the piercing stares, she ignored them as she forced her way out of the tavern. She ran as fast as her body would allow with her injuries to the fangs of the river.