There is something awkward about telling my travel companions about my past, especially something so unfiltered. Either way, the cozy feelings of the mountains are likely to shift soon.

The next morning, as the companions began their travels once more, a song echoed through the forest. Emerys paused, giving her companions a concerned glance.

“I suppose you have some folklore about random women singing in the forest?” Emerys suggested. “I hope they’re not after trouble.”

But it wasn’t one woman in the woods. Rather, there were three women. Emerys nodded politely.

“Hello travelers,” one of the women said. “Care to toss a coin for your fortune?”

“No,” Emerys said.

“But don’t you care for a reading?”

“Goodbye.”

Emerys tried to leave the group, but then a small party of travelers appeared in the woods. Zoe stood among the travelers, wearing a specific badge. Emerys froze, her heart racing. She had spent a long time trying not to think about Zoe–at least, not in that way. But upon seeing Zoe’s beautiful eyes, brown hair, and smile, her heart jolted.

“Who are these folks?” Zoe asked. “I am hunting a dangerous criminal.”

“You will have to tell me about it when we’re around the fire,” Emerys said. “If you can stay.”

“I don’t think I can,” Zoe then turned to the women. “Did you happen to see a tall man with a scar across his face, and a tattoo?”

One of the fortune teller women nodded. “We knew he was a potential criminal, and so we utilized our position to make sure he wasn’t, you know. And he was. There are a lot of odd folk who come through here recently.”

“So you’re telling me,” Emerys said. “You give out free consultations to people that you deem potentially suspicious?”

“And then we report to a nearby city,” the first woman said. “These might be scams, but they are great if we need to know something about someone. Know that, if anyone ever wanted to tell your fortune in all actuality, it would be far too deep for a single session.”

“I used to work for a scammer astrologer,” Emerys said. “She knew a lot about the stars, like no one else’s business, but she became a scammer because there was more money in that than the actual astrology charts. Everyone just wanted to know about love, and a possible career.”

“Who did you work with?” the woman asked.

“Her name was Verina,” Emerys said. “As for how I ended up working with her, I am certain that’s another story. But while we’re here, have you seen any other realm crossers?”

“I saw one,” the woman said. “Or rather, one of ours came back from another world, and she had some interesting things to say.”

“Where did she go?”

“Let’s focus on helping Zoe first,” the fortune teller said. She turned back to Zoe. “I have a paper with all of his information on here. Take it. Oh, and good luck.”

Before she left, Zoe turned back to Emerys. “It has been a pleasure seeing you again. I hope we cross paths in the future.”

“You too,” Emerys said. She wanted to hold her hand out to Zoe, but her face blushed at the thought, leaving her to turn away.

When Zoe left, the second fortune teller stood. “I know what you are talking about. I went into one of the other worlds just briefly, but I returned. However, I did see another realm crosser from our world.”

“Which way did you go?” Emerys said.

“What do you mean?” the second fortune teller said. “I know the pattern of this world, and so I went back home. But which world are you from?”

“I am from the second world, and I have a light stone I can control,” Emerys said.

“Show me,” the woman said.

Emerys took out her stone, then she pointed to the old firewood. She then flourished her fingers, sending a beam of light onto the firewood. As the fire spread across the logs, the second fortune teller nodded.

“When I have a stone, I can control roots,” she said.

“Can you tell me about the other realm crosser?” Emerys said.

“Well, what do you want to know?” the woman said.

“I’m looking for my son,” Jarl said. He then gestured. “He was about this tall when he left, with blond hair like his grandmother, at fourteen, and named Petar.”

“That was him,” the woman said. “But there’s something else you should know. He was caught stealing by some guards before we left, and he was taken away. I tried to follow, and I tried to find him so that we could escape together, but by that time, the king got to him.”

“And he…” Jarl said.

“Lost his life for stealing that loaf of bread,” the woman said. “I’m so sorry. I watched the trial, and his execution.”

Emerys turned to Jarl, her heartbeat going. The sadness and recognition in his face left him looking stone. Emerys, at this point, wanted to know whether she could say anything to him or not. She then glanced at Gudrun, her entire body tensed. Gudrun, too, kept her eyes on Jarl.

“Thank you for your information,” Jarl said. “And thank you for trying to help my boy.”

“I’m so sorry.”

When they walked away from the situation, finding themselves back on the king’s trail, Emerys, turned to Jarl.

“I’m so sorry,” Emerys said. “Listen. If there’s anything you need from me, whether it is to go back home to your wife, or whatever, please let me know.”

“I need time to think,” Jarl said. “I wonder how we could know she found my boy.”

“If only there was a way to tell which world he would be in,” Emerys said. “Stealing a loaf of bread does sound like the neighboring kingdom of Rathos. But I promise to try and find any and all information where I can.”

“Let me think,” Jarl said.

Emerys turned to Gudrun. “Let us make camp for tonight, and then let Gudrun and I take care of you, okay?”

“Thank you,” Jarl said.

For the rest of the night, Emerys and her travel companions said little. Meanwhile, Emerys took up most of the work around camp, seeing how Gudrun was also incapacitated. Additionally, when she cooked their meal, she provided some extra herbs to their salmon.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if my travel group fell apart. I made a promise, and as of today, chances are I likely won’t be able to fulfill it. The best thing I can do at this point, then, would be to set both Gudrun and Jarl free. I don’t know where I will go, but I will likely find something.