Shay's mind wandered over what could possibly be left of the vineyard. For a while, they could still see the smoke from the raging flames as it consumed the homes of those she once knew. She had never been close with the others, but that wasn't the issue. Shay couldn't get her mind to stop replaying the same thought over in her head.

    I'm the reason they're dead.

    If she had just stayed out of view, had just stayed in her room like she was told to, Evander never would have sent those soldiers. Never would have killed those people. Those children.

    Emory hadn't even said a word since they left Waektown. They had been riding all morning, and it was already passing noon. They had left Waektown in a rush, at a breakneck pace that left the horses in pain and hesitant to go on. But the Daughter of Rosalind insisted, and the Daughter of Rosalind comfort them.

"Ingrid, are you sure we're heading in the right direction?" Emory sighed, shifting awkwardly so that her hips weren't locked in the same position. She had ridden horses before, but never for this long. She could feel her eyes falling shut, and had thought about handing the reins over to Shay for just a little bit while she slept, but didn't want to risk her taking them all the way back to the vineyard. Or whatever was left of it.

Ingrid didn't say anything, but stopped her horse. She also hadn't said much last night, and the girls could see that she was deep in thought. Emory stopped at her side and Shay finally said something. "Where are we even going?"

"We're going to Lake Eden. I just... I'm worried Evander will have people there." Ingrid tucked her own curls behind her ear and wiped the dirt that was gathering on her face. The dirt of the trail was being kicked up onto them all morning, and it left them covered in grime.

The sound of Lake Eden made both of the girls perk up. They hadn't been there since they were kids. At least, Emory hadn't. Shay hadn't been there since she was born. Emory was able to visit a few times with Caretaker Magda as a way of ensuring Rosalind would allow her to work with the Prophet. The waters were said to be the birthplace of Rosalind, and the lifesource of Eden. The lifesource of everything. "Do you really think he would do that?"

"After what he did to the vineyard? Yes. I think he would." Ingrid looked away, her voice wavering. "We should really keep going, though. We can stop a little ways away and scout from there." Ingrid huffed, gathering the strength in her voice once more.

Emory nodded, but Shay didn't seem satisfied. She turned back towards the path, and crossed her arms, letting her eyes fall to the horse in front of her. "If anyone is going to get in Lake Eden first, it will be these horses. Barley and this poor thing have already pushed themselves far for us."

"I can agree with that," Emory chuckled as she leaned down and pat the horse. "What should we name her by the way?"

"You're confident it's a girl?" Ingrid couldn't help the small smile that came to her lips. Trouble or not, as least the two of them had remained kind.

"Well, not exactly. Don't you think it would be cute though if Barley got a partner out of this? Then, we could have baby Barleys. I would love it." Emory barely touched her foot to the horse's side and it moved forward, Barley following close behind.

"GIrl or boy, I think the name Freckles would be cute. Or Quinn." Shay pointed to the speckled horse, its reddish coat covered in brown spots.

"You don't think it's rude to name a horse after a girl?" Emory grimaced but Shay only laughed.

"Fine, I guess Freckles will do."

"Freckles it is, then," Ingrid finished. "The mighty duo of Freckles and Barley."

"Going on adventures and facing battles they never asked to be in." Emory couldn't help but smile.

The idea made Shay quiet though. The truth was, no one here had asked to be in this situation. No one sane enough would.

It wasn't long before Ingrid insisted the girls stop and tie their horses to the nearby trees. She had taken them off the path, further into the brush of the forest where most people wouldn't try to go. The horses put up a good fight, but eventually weren't able to go any further. "I'm going to go scout ahead, Emory," Ingrid said in a hushed tone as she slid off her horse. "I'd let you go, but I have a feeling that if Evander's men are there, they're more likely to suspect a young girl like you rather than someone like me."

    "You're not that old, Ingrid," Emory pointed out. Sometimes, she acted like she really was Ingrid the old woman rather than the woman she really was. Young and beautiful.

    "The point is, I at least look older than the prime age for the Prophet of Rosalind. You stay here and make sure you guys hide your things well. I don't want any raiders passing by and eyeing you two." Ingrid placed her hands on both of their shoulders, looking them in the eyes with a frightening look. "I will be back before sundown. If I'm not, just leave. Are we clear?"

    Both of the girls nodded their heads, and Ingrid nodded to herself, as if she needed to convince herself more than the others. Then, she headed back to the path that she had led them off of.

    It wasn't a long walk to the lake, but it was one she was terrified to take. There were no guards around, and by the time she got to the Arch of Eden, her nerves calmed. There was a man who stood in front of the arch, bowing his head in prayer. The arch was decorated with murals of Rosalind, and the script of her seven creeds, the stone itself shaped into intricate carnations.

    As Ingrid neared the entrance, he looked up from where he stood in front of the arch and smiled kindly. "You look in need of a wade in Lake Eden." He looked over his shoulder, revealing a large scar that went from his right eye to his jawline. "I'm afraid I can't let you in, though. The King's declaration says only women in labor are allowed to enter until the Prophet comes forward." The old man looked back to Ingrid, and noticed her confusion. "This must be news to you."

"It... I just forgot about it, actually. Most of the women in my village didn't have the privilege of visiting." She moved closer to the old man. "I'm traveling with two younger girls. A few of the guards were harassing their position in our old village, and on our way out, one of them was injured. She was injured..." Ingrid hesitated, trying to think of what would convince the man to allow them in. At this point, he seemed unphased, and Ingrid didn't want to resort to the dagger she had clutched in her hand beneath the robe. "One of the guards may have rendered her barren, but I'm hoping that if we get her into the waters soon enough, one day she may be able to carry children." There. A crack in his armor. Of all the sacred things among Eden, a woman's choice to have children was among the most important. A choice to share life, and a choice to not. He looked around, as if worried someone would see them. "Are there guards here now?"

"No... I... I just worry. Where is she now?"

"A little ways down the path. I didn't want to bring her here if guards were around. I don't think she could manage it at the moment. May we bring her into the Waters?" Ingrid put her dagger back into a hidden pocket and reached out for the man's hand as he nodded quickly.

"It's what Rosalind would want. Hurry, though, before someone else comes along." Ingrid thanked the man, bowing her head before returning to the woods. It wasn't ideal, but it spared her the blood and questions.

"Girls?" Ingrid hurried through the forest to where she knew she had left the Prophet and her friend. When she came was coming up to the spot they should have been, she saw no peek of them through the foliage of the trees. "Emory? Shay?" Moving faster, she pushed all of the brush aside and found no one. "Gir-!" Just as Ingrid was about to yell, someone clasped their hand over her mouth.

    "Ingrid, be quiet."

    It was Emory. Ingrid's eyes fell shut, and her body began to finally relax from the fear. Waves of warmth spread through her once more, replacing the cold that still lingered in her shaking hands. Emory smiled and nodded her head in another direction. "We found a small place nearby that covered the horses a little better. We thought we heard some raiders earlier, and wanted to be safe."

    "Good." Ingrid nodded but wanted to yell at her at the same time. "There were no guards at the lake but I'm going to have to use a little more magic to get us through."

    "This way. What are you planning on doing?"

    "I said one of you was in danger of being barren and that it was because of some violent guards. I'm just going to have to cloak us long enough to get in the lake, get out, and be on our way again." Ingrid sighed, pushing her long hair back behind her ears. "It will have to be pretty fast."

    "Is your... magic okay?" Emory lingered on the word, as if she didn't know what to call it. Ingrid just smiled.

    "It takes a lot of energy for me to cloak me, two other people, and two horses. Doing myself was easier, but that was only altering my appearance, not making me disappear entirely." She sighed and looked over her shoulder. "Disappearing has never been my strong suit."

    "Why can't you just make it seem like one of us was hurt? Wouldn't that be fine?"

    "It's just a precaution in case anyone else happens to pass through. I'm not sure just how far they've spread the word for our search. Guard or raider alike."

    "Shay, I nominate you. Get on the horse, we have to go."

    Ingrid couldn't shake the feeling that by the time they actually reached the lake once more, someone would already be there waiting for them. Please, she thought as she closed her eyes in prayer, Rosalind, offer us protection.

    Rosalind answered. They reached the lake, and the old man was waiting right where he had been the first time. He looked up at the three young women as they approached, and saw Ingrid leading a horse while Emory held Shay in her arms upon the second horse. Shay's abdomen was stained with old blood, and she winced as they rode along. He didn't try to stop them, but let them go through the arch behind him. "May Rosalind be with you."

    Ingrid didn't say anything but gave a nod, looking to Emory, whose eyebrows were drawn together in curiosity. Around her the vision seemed blurred, as if the light around them was bending in new ways. Bending like ripples in the water.

    Lake Eden sat at the base of mountains, their sides acting as walls that closed in around the majority of the lake. All around, trees lined the edge with stone pillars rising every mile or so to mark the sacred place. Where the water met the shore, the mirror-like water became as clear as glass, showing all of the life that hid beneath the surface. The air itself seemed calming, the wind brushing against their skin and offering peace of mind. When Ingrid's eyes fell on the lake, she found tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Her emotions were difficult to discern, because she didn't know how to feel about the place. This was where she had given birth to her own child, and also where she lost that child.

    "Ingrid," Emory rose her voice, and Ingrid snapped out of her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

    "Yes. Come on, it's been a while since any of us have stepped in." Ingrid's eyes lingered on Emory for a second longer, looking at her honey brown eyes that were trying to figure out was wrong with her. "Do you see the ripples?"

    Both of the girls nodded. Then, the horses sped up, no longer able to resist the cool water in front of them. It was still like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky with perfection. It wasn't like any lake, and that was evident. As the horses' hooves touched the edge of the water, they let out what seemed like a laugh.

    Ingrid turned away so they wouldn't see her smile. "Now would be a good time to get off of the horses." Ingrid grabbed the reins of Freckles and held the horse at the shore while she grabbed their supplies off of its back. Emory slid off and followed suit, but Shay just jumped into the water. She moved to go further into the water, already feeling the life of the water call to her.

    "Don't go too far. Stay within the ripples. Any further and my magic might fail," Ingrid warned as she grabbed Shay's arm.

    "Oh."

    "Don't worry, we'll go in. Just take off some of your clothes or you'll be stuck riding in those tonight." Emory nodded to Shay's top as she threw Barley's supplies down on the dry shore. As soon as it was off, both of the horses took off into the water and Ingrid sighed.

    "Two less things to cloak."

    The girls tore their clothes off, but had only intended to strip down to their shift. But as soon as their shoes came off, and the water touched the skin of their feet, they couldn't help themselves. Wading into the water, they stayed close enough to make it easy for Ingrid, but far enough to maintain their own space to soak in the water around them.

    It was euphoria. At first, it came in a big wave that left them breathless, and then it faded into a warmth. It ran from their skin to deep down inside. It didn't take long for them to replenish, or to wash the grime off of their skin. To wash out the grease and dirt that built up in their hand and made it rough to the touch.

    Emory splashed Shay a few feet away from herself, and she returned the favor, laughing as the light caught the water droplets and created a rainbow. It was beautiful.

Ingrid exhaled, and then let herself fall down into the water. Once completely covered, she opened her eyes and looked out to the lake. It was the same as she remembered it. Coming up, she wiped the water from her face and began swimming away. "That's enough."

The three had found refuge in the home of the old man, who graciously gave them dinner. He was pleased that the Waters of Eden still had their touch, and that "Eliza" was doing well.

    They slept on the floor of his home, their supplies compiled into a corner nearby. Barley and Freckles were tied outside, and seemed in much better spirits than they had previously. They all were. The old man excused himself after dinner, saying he had to go out for another watch, leaving the three of them to rest.

    Ingrid and Shay had lay down, but Emory found herself looking through the book the villagers of the vineyard had gifted her. On the map she traced their route from home to the lake, but after reaching the lake she didn't know where to place her finger next. Sighing, she turned the book to the most recent chapter. It was about Shay's family. Alaric had been the oldest, but he had a younger brother, Orion, who left Eden shortly after Shay's birth. She had remembered being told about him when she was younger. Don't mention Orion, don't mention the Unholy. Don't mention Lena. It was her death that had driven him away, and it was his disappearance that made people hate the Unholy more.

    Noise sounded from outside the cabin, and Emory shot up from where she was sitting against the wall. Snuffing out the candle to her right, she kicked Shay and woke her from her sleep. Shay understood immediately and kicked Ingrid beside her. There was more shuffling outside the cabin, and it sounded like the footsteps of more than the old man. Suddenly, the door swung open to reveal the broad outline of a few people, swords unsheathed.

"Grab them and bring them outside. I want to make sure it's them."