“I’m not. Go to bed.” I hissed, worried that my parents would wake, “You’re just dreaming.”
Helena looked slightly confused, but nevertheless she turned and went back into her bedroom. I sighed, slid through my door, heaved my rucksack over my shoulder, and prised my window open soundlessly. The Hawthorne tree outside my window swayed a little in the breeze, causing a rustling that made me pause for a second before I realised what had made the noise. I had always liked that tree, growing right next to my window. It got bigger every year. I had watched it grow. With one last glance at my room, I launched myself from my window. The gravel below was only a few feet away, but it made an obvious crunching noise as I landed. Cursing at myself I crept away into the night.
It took only ten minutes for me to walk into the heart of Mortlock. It was very late now and the candle light from the surrounding cottages could no longer be seen in the windows. I was determined to follow the road that would lead me out of Mortlock, and to the nearest city. I would stop in towns and villages on the way to eat and rest, I decided.
As I passed the town square and came to a street full of larger homes than my own, a rather wonderful sight met my eyes. A man was tethering horses to a large, black, and closed over carriage. It looked old and worn from over-use.
The man seemed to hear my footsteps, for he looked over his shoulder as I approached. I recognised him at once as an acquaintance of my father’s. Jefferson I believed his name was.
“Well, well, if it isn’t little Avalon Redding.” The old man said in amusement.
I smiled and stopped a meter short of the man, “Jefferson.” I gave a nod and a polite smile.
“What are you doing out so late? It’s not often I see you out of your hiding hole.” Jefferson nodded in my direction. The smile on his old face was far too obvious. Everyone knew why I stayed away from town, and they should be damn well grateful for it.
“Where are you going?” I ignored his question. I knew Jefferson was in the delivery business and constantly on the move, but he came back to Mortlock every week or so for a few nights before heading off again.
Jefferson tightened the reins attached to his horses before replying, “First stop is Frost Arch. Very important delivery to make there. Then off to other little towns.”
I had heard the key word.
“Room in there for one more?” I pointed towards the carriage.
“Eh?” Jefferson stopped his fiddling and looked at me curiously. I don’t know wether he could see the fear etched across my face. I had never done anything this daring before.
“I was wondering if I could ask a favour of you Jefferson.” I chose my words carefully and attempted to plaster a hopeful smile upon my face.
Jefferson took a step closer; his horses snorted impatiently and began chewing on the grass.
“I need a ride, and by the looks of it you were just about to be on your way. Would it be too much trouble to tag along?”
Jefferson’s face fell and he eyed me up and down. I could tell what he was thinking.
“Where do you want to go?” He asked sceptically.
“Frost Arch is fine.”
“Is that so? I, er, well I don’t see why not.” He stumbled over his words, “Are you, uh … safe?” He asked. I felt like kicking the old codger in the shins. It made me angry that he would even ask a question like that.
I tapped my foot impatiently “You need not worry about your carriage suddenly igniting and losing your cargo.” I confirmed though I didn’t know how true that statement was.
Jefferson nodded though he didn’t look too thrilled about the idea of an eighteen year old Fire Mage being confined in a wooden carriage for many hours.
“So you’ll help me then?” I prompted.
“What about your parents?” He said looking around as though expecting the darkness to reveal them.
“They know where I’m going.” This was true of course, though they didn’t know that I was leaving at this precise moment.
Jefferson looked me up and down one more time.
“I don’t know Red. If I find out you’ve done a runner I don’t want to get the blame-”
“Irrelevant.” I cut Jefferson off, “I am of age, which means I can do as I please.”
The old man chewed his bottom lip for several seconds, thinking the matter over.
After a few more seconds it seemed he had deemed me worthy to ride with him and gave a shrug and a nod, “Yes, yes. All right. I’ll let you know now though kiddo, I ain’t feeding you. You’ll have to make do for yourself.”
I nodded abruptly, “No problem, I’ve packed some food.” I patted my rucksack.
“I’ll be staying in Frost Arch for only a few hours. Business trip you see and I don’t like to linger there. Not really my favourite place … then I’ll be on my way to the next town over before coming back home. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to give you a ride back-”
“Not necessary.” I chimed in, and Jefferson looked at me confused, “I won’t be coming back.”