Darkside 35 

“You have got to quit these midnight raids. You keep tearing open some of the cuts on your back.” Dixie said. 

“When the government sits up and starts to care of all of its people then I can quit.” Avery brushed her pure white horse, Casper, born of wild stallion and a unicorn.

“What are you going to do when they shoot you. You aren’t bullet proof you know.” Dixie was really upset. 

“Yes I am. Look.” Avery took her sword and sliced open her arm and with in 15 seconds it had healed completely. 

“Then why aren’t the others healing like that.” 

“I think it has something to do with the poison. The wounds are only superficial and barely hurt anymore.” Avery closed Casper’s stall. 

“Another letter came from Kit.” Dixie changed the subject. 

“What’s that one every day in the 7 months since she sent that useless brigade to hunt me down.” Avery walked with Dixie. 

“She wants you to turn yourself in, and give your family the rest they need. Bette and Shane are riding with them.” Dixie took Avery’s offered hand. 

“I know. They’re getting close. I saw them 2 nights ago. They are only 4 towns over.” Avery looked out over the lake. 

“Shouldn’t we move, then.” Dixie said. 

“I bet Alistair and Addy are getting so big.” Avery missed them so. 

“Well Kit’s last letter said that Addy was walking and starting to talk, and Alistair is shooting his bow just as good as you did when you his age.” Dixie knew that it wouldn’t be long before they went back. She hoped that the world would let them be normal teenagers if only for a little while.

**********

Bette sat high on her horse. Shane next to her looked tired. 

“Another Sunset.” Shane said. 

“We are getting closer. I can feel it.” Bette watched the oranges and reds exploded in the sky. 

“What if isn’t her?” Shane said. 

“It has to be.” Bette said. 

“What are you going to do if it is? I mean she’s 17 now. Legal age in this realm and all others.” Shane said. 

“I’d be happy just to have her back that’s all.” Bette said. 

“Bette. . .”  Shane looked at her. 

“You’re right she is to old for me to do anything and T would kill me, but you know me to well after the I knew she was all right I’d probably try and kill her myself.” Bette smiled. 

“All of this has Avery written all over it that’s for sure.” Shane smiled. A warrior walked up holding a map. 

“We think the White Knight has to be in this area because all the raids happen outside of this circle.” He pointed to an area on the map. 

“Let me see that.” Bette took the map. In the center of the raids was Lake Pelion, the sacred lake of old. Also Avery’s favorite place in any realm. Look Shane. Look what’s at the heart of it all.” She held up the map. 

“I thought Kit said she had the Cabin checked out and it was clean.” Shane said. 

“Wait hasn’t Kit been in correspondence with a “special advisor” Bette’s heart began to race. 

“Yeah but I just assumed it was an Ancient out on the Isle.” Shane said. 

“This is where we need to go, the White Knight will be there.” Bette said. 

“We’re a good days hard ride from there, and with the summer solstice it’ll take us at least a week to get to the lake.” The warrior said. 

“Not if we ride straight through no stopping.” Bette said. 

“Bette. We can’t.” Shane said. 

“We have to, if she realizes we are onto her she’ll leave. Avery’s not stupid.” Bette said. 

“What if she’s leading us to her?” Shane said. 

“We have to try.” Bette said. 

“I know.” Shane knew there was no trying to talk her out of it. They rode off in the direction of the the lake. 

*************

Avery and Dixie stood around a table in the middle of town helping with the preparations  for the solstice celebration. Avery looked up from her basket.

“They’re coming.” She said.