Chapter 4: Half-Light Approaches

As Caylen reached the top of the hill, his gaze landed upon Abbie, who was settled on a soft patch of grass near the library. The previous night, Abbie's words had stirred something deep within him, but he lacked the courage to join the grand hunt. Despite his efforts to convince himself otherwise, he could not bring himself to do it. Ultimately, he made a firm decision to stay in Valia, even if it meant being separated from Abbie.

As Caylen approached, Abbie could see the disappointment etched on his face. It was clear that he felt terrible for letting her down. They walked in silence for a few steps, both aware that further discussion would be pointless. As they made their way towards the library, Abbie wrapped her arm around Caylen and leaned her head on his shoulder. They didn't break apart until they reached the steps leading to the library. Upon entering, they were greeted by the same librarian who immediately recognized them and offered a small smile. Abbie returned the smile while Caylen remained expressionless. "You're expected, same door as yesterday," the librarian informed them but made no move to guide them. Instead, he returned to his book.

Abbie rapped on the door, her heart pounding as she waited for a response. The voice of Elder Vaslin drifted through the door, beckoning them to enter. He sat behind a large desk, perusing what appeared to be a ledger before setting it aside. "Please, take a seat," he gestured to the chairs they had occupied the day before. His gaze swept over them, his eyes holding a mixture of gratitude and anticipation. "Before I inquire about your decision, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your contemplation. What has been asked of you is no small feat, and I have no doubt that whatever choice you have made will be the right one for you. So, what is your decision?" Abbie beamed, her excitement evident. "I accept," she declared proudly. Elder Vaslin remained stoic as he turned to Caylen. "And you, Caylen? What is your choice?" Caylen's eyes fell to the table, and he shook his head slowly. He took a deep breath before finally uttering the words, "I'm in." Elder Vaslin leaned back in his chair, a sense of relief visible on his face. After a brief moment of silence, Abbie suddenly pushed Caylen with such force that he nearly toppled out of his chair. "Are you kidding me?!" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of disbelief and happiness. "You little liar! All this time, you had me convinced you weren't going. I could strangle you right now!" She leaned over and enveloped him in a tight hug. Elder Vaslin couldn't help but smile. "On behalf of Valia and all of Shylea, I extend my deepest gratitude to both of you. This will undoubtedly be the most challenging, yet rewarding, journey of your lives."

Elder Vaslin swiftly shifted the focus to the practical aspects of their assignment. "As you both know, we are now 59 days away from the half-light and the beginning of our mission. Each city and province in Shylea has been given the responsibility of supporting designated compounds along the Barrens border. Valia has been specifically tasked with providing additional Crafters, horses, and certain leather goods to the northernmost compounds, including Stormbolt. You will be joining the support group leaving in just 4 days. Prior to that, you will gather with the other scribes at the Royal Fairgrounds. There, you will be welcomed by His Royal Highness the King and Valia's Maeji, who will bless and thank you formally." Caylen interjected, "What about the other scribes? How many will be joining us?" Elder Vaslin opened the ledger, causing a blinding flash of light to emit from its pages. "Currently, there are 55 volunteers. Correction, make that 57," he added as another flash illuminated the book.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, your journey to Stormbolt will span approximately five days. The commander of Stormbolt will handle your preparations for the Barrens." It was at that moment that they first learned of their destination. Both Abbie and Caylen fell silent as they absorbed the information. Caylen could sense the weight of the task settling in on Abbie's face, her expression betraying her fear. He turned to the elder and inquired about sharing the news with loved ones. "It won't be necessary. The entire kingdom of Valia is already being informed. However, the official story is that you will be attending as scribes. Your unique ability of 'sight' will remain a secret, even from your military team. You will be provided with writing materials to document your experience, but your presence will not be required. Your extraordinary gifts must be kept confidential. Revealing them to your comrades may prove to be a distraction. Is that clear?" The two nodded in understanding.

"Now, let's focus on your timeline. At midday, three days from now, you will convene with the other scribes at the Royal Fairgrounds. Your parents and siblings are welcome to attend, but no one else. The old man paused and made sure to make eye contact with each of them to emphasize the importance of this detail. Five days from now, at dawn, you will gather in front of the library to prepare for your journey to Stormbolt. Pack enough clothes for five days and remember to bring a rain poncho. You will be given a backpack and writing supplies to document your entire experience in the Barrens. It is crucial that you make it seem like you are recording every single detail of your trip." Vaslin stood up, followed by Abbie and Caylen. The old man opened the door and spoke again, "The price you are paying is immeasurable. The entire kingdom of Shylea eagerly awaits your safe return."

Caylen and Abbie passed wordlessly through the library, lost in their own thoughts. As they descended the steps, Abbie inquired, "What did he mean by distraction?" Caylen replied, "Perhaps some soldiers would view our abilities in the same light as the people here." He added, "It's probably best if we follow Vaslin's instructions." Abbie nodded in agreement, and they continued their walk in silence. Suddenly, Abbie broke the quietness, playfully poking Caylen in the ribs. "You really got me," she chuckled. "I was convinced you were going to say no." Caylen responded, "I must admit, I had no idea I was going to say yes. It just slipped out." Abbie raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh, I'll definitely be seeking revenge," she playfully warned. They both shared a laugh.

As Caylen entered his home, the small bell rang once again. He was met by his mother, standing just inside the door. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she was trying her best to hide her emotions. With a smile on her face, she pulled her only child into a tight embrace. After a few moments, she led Caylen into her sewing room and gestured for him to take a seat. "I need to know why you didn't come to your father and me," she said gently, her voice filled with concern. Caylen shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Elder Vaslin interviewed three of us from school," he explained. "He told us not to say anything until after our second meeting when we would have to decide whether to participate or not." "Only three of you? And no one else?" his mother asked, clearly surprised. "So, you had a choice whether to go or not." "Yes," Caylen replied. "There is no shame in saying no," his mother reassured him. "I know, Mom. I thought about it carefully," Caylen admitted. "I'm sure you did. Is Abbie going?" his mother inquired. "Yes, she is." "Cay, I know you care for Abbie," his mother said, reading the emotions on his face. "But please tell me you're not going for her." "Mom, there is only one reason I'm going," Caylen paused for effect. "I'm going for Shylea." The weight of his words hung heavily in the air as they both let them sink in. Tears welled up in his mother's eyes again and her bottom lip began to tremble. She was a strong woman. It broke Caylen's heart to see her like this. "Okay," she finally managed to say. She reached out and pulled her son into another hug, holding onto him tightly.

During the next few days, Caylen secluded himself in his chamber, while spending his evenings at High on Rose with Abbie. The tavern was abuzz with talk about the upcoming half-light and the newly added scribes to this year's hunt. The identities of these scribes remained a secret, and Caylen and Abbie made sure to keep it that way. In the midst of uncertainty, there was no shortage of conjecture. One night, while seated at the bar, Abbie and Caylen overheard a fellow patron sharing one of the many existing theories. A self-proclaimed master mason confidently declared, "It's simple, you see. Adding scribes in the hunt is simply a way for the Gentry to gain power over the military. It was only a matter of time before they began to weaken the military by recruiting soldiers who are more easily controlled. I been saying it for years. And once they have control, they can easily rid themselves of anyone they dislike by just sending them off to the Barrens. Who will stand up against em? Tell me?" Abbie laughed heartily. "No more ale for him," she declared. The mason turned to Abbie with a glimmer of malice in his gaze. "Let me guess, we are all supposed to listen to the wise words of a lowly Soot now?" Before Abbie could respond, Bear strode over to the man sitting at the bar. The man, oblivious to Bear's approach, was facing Abbie. In one swift motion, Bear grabbed the man and slammed his head against the bar. A large welt formed on his forehead as Bear leaned in to make eye contact. The man was clearly disoriented. "Call her that again and you'll be spitting out your teeth. Do you understand? Now, get out of here and come back when you've learned some manners." The man stumbled towards the door and disappeared. Abbie jumped up and planted a kiss on Bear's lips. "If Mrs. Bear saw that, I couldn't protect you," he grunted. "Now, go back to Cay and enjoy your ale."