Odessa in the Ra'Leah

This night was unusually windy and the harsh chill from outside forced its way into the room. Even the fire gave no heat. She pulled the collar of her robe higher, trying to cover her ears but still the wind wailed and sighed. Her fingers were almost numb, and the pencil slipped out her hand not once but twice. This sketch had to be finished or else she would not be able to sleep at all. It was already half past midnight and she stifled a few yawns trying to keep her eyes open. There. The last leaf was completed. She put the page away into the little black leather-bound notebook laying on her desk and took the lamp to her night table. She jumped into bed, wriggling beneath the covers trying to warm it up before putting out the lamp. The room went dark and she sank deeper under the heavy blanket, the dreams came then.

Odessa...he whispered. Wake up child. She woke and twisted, hearing the crunching of something beneath her. Looking up she saw huge branches reaching out above her. It was cold but she was cradled against her papa's arm. He looked at her and smiled. But his eyes betrayed him; there was worry and sadness casting a shadow inside like a dark rain cloud covering a clear blue sky. She had her father's eyes, well some of it; one blue, one brown...an unusual combination that made her always the subject of conversation among the common folk. He held her up, so she was sitting upright now. “Odessa, we've got to move its almost daylight.” But she did not want to, the shade of this tree felt safe. Her father pulled her up and he let out a sigh. “Your mother loved this tree; she would sit here in the Summertime to read and draw pretty things. We've had a lot of good memories here.” Papa stared up at the old tree for a long time and she almost saw something fall from his eye, but he took hold of her hand and pulled her away. “Move quickly, child.” They weaved through the forest, almost at a running pace. “We’re almost there, keep close.”

Out in the open something glowed from afar. It trembled every so often until it got brighter and brighter. The two shadowy figures rushed along the grass with bent heads. Beyond the light was darkness, cold and stone-like. It looked like a wall rising into the sky. Papa stopped at the light. A woman waited there, holding a lamp. Are you sure you want to do this? She asked papa. He was quiet. He pulled me closer to his side and squeezed my hand. Yes, it is the only way. His knees bent and he was on the grass looking at me, his eyes pooling with water.

“My child, this is your grandmother” Odessa looked at the lady standing with the lamp. She had hard lines across her forehead, round cheeks and eyes like her father’s. There was a softness about her, but at the same time she seemed as strong as the wall behind her.

“Odessa…I must leave now but always remember that you have my love.” She held his hand tighter.

“No. Papa, where are you going? I want to go with you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook his head. He stood and bent to kiss her on the forehead. “This journey is not yet for you.”

He walked over to the lady and handed her an envelope. “Be careful.” She said to him as he sprinted back into the woods.

“Papa!” Odessa called out. She felt the wind stinging her eyes and the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. The old lady came to her side then and placed a warm hand on her back. “Come child, let us go inside or you will catch a frost out here.” The lamp was the only light she remembered from that night.

“Dessa, wake up!” A loud female voice rung throughout the room. She opened her eyes slowly, light pouring through the wider she opened them. A figure stood by the window ripping apart the curtains. “Child, you have slept too long.” She blinked a few times and saw the old lady standing at her bedside. “Grandmother, good morning.” She looked about her room and let out a sigh. It has been 10 years since she last saw her father, 10 years since she lived with her grandmother and 10 years where she questioned why he left her that night.

“Get dressed and come for breakfast, my dear. I have an important task for you today.” Her grandmother said as she walked out of the room. A task…what could her grandmother be talking about. She had many chores within the stone walls of her home, what was so important about this one she wondered.

She found her grandmother sitting by the hearth, with her eyes closed. “Grandmother, are you not well?” Odessa looked at the old lady as she opened her eyes and realized how fragile she had become. Her hair piled on top of her head like a silver crown and her once round cheeks were now pulled downwards as proof of the many times Odessa found her frowning when she sat alone by the hearth.

“Come child, eat and then we will talk.” Her stomach let out a low growl at the sight and she rushed forward and ate hurriedly. She felt her grandmother’s eyes on her and she met her gaze. “What is it grandmother? You seem troubled.”

She hadn’t seen her grandmother this way before. “Dessa, I need you to go into the forest today.” Odessa’s eyes widened. She was forbidden from entering the forest after the night her father left her to stay there.

“I need you to find the herb for all reasons. It is found within the Ra’leah.” Her grandmother picked up a heavy pouch from the floor and handed it to her. “These are white pebbles; they will help you find your way back. And this...” Her wrinkled hands brought out a small shiny object from the folds of her skirt. “This mirror, it will help you find your way if you are lost.” Odessa did not understand any of it.

“I don’t understand, why do you need the herb for all reasons? And why would I need a silly mirror?” The mirror was one thing, but the herb meant that her grandmother was unwell. And she was now very worried. “Grandmother, what are you not telling me?”

“Too many questions, Odessa. Take the mirror, you must not lose it. I can only wish that you will not need it, but do not take it out unless necessary.” The old lady said quietly, “I promised your father that I would take care of you to the end of my days and I plan to do that. The herb will help. I need you to bring it to me. These old feet are not what they were.”

“I will do what I must for you, grandmother.” The thought of not having her grandmother there pierced her heart as much as it did when her father went away. She could not let anything happen to the woman who took care of her for all those years.

“One last thing, child. Take this pouch also. It has five pieces of crystals worth $20,000 each. There will be a man waiting outside. Give this to him and he will let you through and will let you back in. Do not talk to him, just hand him the pouch.” This was not making any sense to Odessa. The old lady was talking in riddles and this simple task, though important was becoming complex.

“I must let you go now. Your questions will be answered when you are back.” Her grandmother stood, holding the wall for support. She kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear “Stay in the shadows, if you hear anything. Quickly now, go!”

Odessa gathered the things her grandmother handed to her. The mirror was tucked safely away into her skirt. She threw on a heavy coat and hauled on her boots for walking. She took one last look at the old lady and walked through the door.

There was a warmth and chill in the air. Sunlight fighting through the cold as it touched her face. She looked back at the stone walls behind her and took a deep breath. When she turned around a tall figure was standing a few feet away from her. She reached into her bag and found the pouch with the crystals and began to walk towards the man. He looked at her with dark eyes, they were not kind, but they weren’t cold either. He held out his left hand as she got closer. She wanted to ask questions but remembered her grandmother’s words and kept silent.

She placed the pouch on his outstretched palm, and he moved aside. She walked forward and then past him. She turned and he was gone. She looked around and saw no trace of him walking away or running even. He had vanished and that left her even more puzzled.

As she walked the air became heavier with the scent of the pine trees. The ground beneath her feet began to change as she neared the forest entrance, and a gust of air blew through the pines as Odessa entered the forest. The decaying pine needles and leaves crunched while she walked, the only sound she heard as the quietness of the forest enveloped her.

She had so many questions for the old lady and was determined to get back and have them answered.

The ground became greener as she walked on and before she knew it there was an open space before her. She finally found the Ra’leah. She stared in awe at all the colors spread onto the ground, it was magnificent. So many wildflowers were growing there. The herb was there somewhere, and she had to find it before sunlight faded.

Leaves of smaller plants caught onto the hems of her skirt as she swept through looking for the herb. Without realizing, Odessa was at the edge of the Ra’leah and looking at the trees on the other side. One tree caught her attention. Its strange trunk was a mess of braids weaving its way into the ground beneath. Her gaze lowered to the base of the tree and there she saw it. The herb she was looking for. She rushed forward and started to pull at the leaves when she heard heavy breathing. Her eyes darted around, looking behind her and into the dense trees in front. Nothing. In the corner of her right eye, something moved. The branches were moving. She started walking backwards, looking at the tree which itself did not move. What was it, she thought to herself.

The sound of heavy footsteps came then, and a shadow emerged from behind the tree. It moved towards her without hesitation. She was frozen where she stood. And then she remembered her grandmother’s words…stay in the shadows if you hear anything.

The shadow came to her. It moved closer and she started to see its form clearer. It was a large animal. It seemed as tall as her or perhaps taller. And then she saw the antlers, it was a stag. The creature stood inches away from her, its eyes unmoving. The stag stood still as the palm of her hand touched the side of it’s head. A loud sound came then, from the creature’s throat and it collapsed at her feet.

A strong gust of air moved through the trees and the scents of the wildflowers became overwhelming. Her head spun and she heard tiny bells ringing in the distance. The Ra’leah became darker and before she realized what was going on, she fell to the ground next to the stag.