Chapter 245: FROSTY RIVER

Chapter 245 FROSTY RIVER

Breakfast was over now and Katie and Haven left the Great hall. Katie said something about going to buy Haven a dress for the meeting with the elders later today and insisted on Haven coming along even after she said she didn’t need a dress.

Haven didn’t understand why she was doing all this. Katie told her that meeting the elders was very important because only after then will she be able to settle down fully in this village, which Haven wasn’t interested in. But Katie didn’t seem to acknowledge her either.

They walked into some shops and got a few clothes for Haven and boots and scarfs and some other things she might need. Haven tried her best to reject all of these but Katie would have none of it.

“ No, you must accept it no ‘buts’ Haven” She shushed her. “ It’s been long I came for shopping so don’t be a spoiler and just enjoy yourself okay?”

Haven smiled. “ Thank you Katie.. really you’re doing a lot for me even when you barely know me. You’re already doing so much by letting me stay at your house.. and now this..” Haven gestured to the shopping bags in her hands “ Thanks, really”

“ Oh it’s okay. It’s not much of a big deal” She giggled “ Besides, you’ll soon get your own house so it’s nothing to worry about”

“ Uhm, my own house?” Haven slightly frowned not getting what she meant by that.

“ Oh yeah, you’ll see, don’t worry. Let’s get going now, shall we? We still have one more place to go.” Haven nodded and followed her out. They stopped by another shop where Katie got her a beautiful velvet yellow gown before they headed home.

On the way, Katie talked to her about the village and it’s traditions which existed ever since it was established. She talked on and on about how lovely staying here was and pointed out a few places with their names to Haven but Haven barely paid attention. She just looked on with an uninterested face. She only spoke when something crossed her mind.

“ Katie?”

“ Huh?”

“ This morning at breakfast, you said you’ll explain about the Shadow Guards? You promised to explain it later remember?” She reminded Katie. The truth was that Haven had been eager to hear about it since Katie was acting all secretive and refusing to tell her earlier. It just really be something huge for Katie not to open up to her about it

Katie went mute for a while as her pace slowed down. “ Oh right, don’t worry, it’s nothing actually. You won’t understand if I say it now”

“ I will, really” Haven pushed on but Katie refused.

“ It’s somehow complicated, trust me, you’re better off not knowing for now. But you’ll come to know about it soon enough”

“ Come on, just tell me okay? I promised I’ll try to understand– No, I will understand, trust me” Haven insisted. She was curious to what it was Katie didn’t want to tell her. “ Please?” She pressed on when she saw Katie contemplating.

“ Fine” Katie finally yielded and pulled Haven to somewhere they could sit and have a conversation. They were passing by the river so Katie just took her to sit in one of the chairs available by the river side. They set down the shopping bags and sat to talk.

“ Listen, Haven” She started “ I don’t even know how to start explaining this but I doubt you’ll be able to understand.”

“ I will try my best to understand, I promise” Haven urged her to go on. Katie bit her lips thinking of how to put it

“ Okay, listen to me” She took Haven’s hands in hers. “ Well you see Haven, what I’m about to tell you doesn’t need only your understanding… Argh” She groaned shaking her head.

“ No, maybe I shouldn’t say this now. It’ll be hard to understand, especially for someone like you who’s new to all of this and has never lived in this kind of environment before”

What was so difficult to understand? Haven was ready to hear whatever it was no matter how crazy and absurd it would sound. At this stage, even if Katie told Haven she could grow wings, Haven would believe her without question because everything seemed possible now.

Katie sighed and continued with the explanation “ The Shadow Guards are our protectors. I’ve told you before about how our kind were being killed and hunted down by many creatures who wanted to gain power over the other. The Shadow Guards live with us and protect us from such creatures.”

Haven nodded her head. That was easy. She understood. Why was Katie making it look like some big deal when that was all to the Shadow Guards.

“ Okay, that was easy to understand” She said, her eyes drifting towards the river. What Haven saw amused her “ The river … it’s not frozen” She stated the obvious.

“ Yes, that’s the Frosty River. It never freezes or become cold no matter how cold it gets here.”

“ But how? How’s that even possible? I’ve never heard of such a river before”

Katie chuckled. “ You probably don’t know this too then, it’s always cold her because winter in this place lasts forever”

At Katie’s words, Haven head spun to look at her so fast, Katie feared she snapped her neck in two in the process.

“ What?” Haven’s eyes were wide with surprise. “ You mean, it’s winter here all year?”

Katie nodded. “ Yes, that’s how it’s always been.”

Haven couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t bring herself to believe a lot of things since she got here but she knew it was the truth. This place.. it was just something else.

She rubbed her aching neck, eyes still on the Frosty River whose water glistened beautifully under the dim sunlight. “ It’s name is quite the opposite though”

Katie couldn’t agree more. The two sat there, staring at the calm water till Katie spoke up.

“ Haven, you have to listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you. Trust me, it’s not that bad but I hope you’ll try your best to understand…” She said gaining Haven’s attention. “ About the shadow guards..”

“ What about them?” Haven asked when she paused for too long. She could see Katie was trying to look for words to put in her next words.

“ Well, they are our protectors you know, they protect and save us from all other wicked creatures and we’ve managed to come this far only because of them… but…” She paused again.

“ But what?” Haven urged her on. She was already anxious and something told her this conversation will take another turn.. a bad one. “ But what?”

“ We have to give them something in return.” Katie completed and Haven frowned.

Something? Okay now, Haven was really sure this conversation won’t end well.

“ What is it Katie? What– what do we have to give them in return?”

“ Ourselves.” Katie’s face was devoid of any emotion as she spoke quietly, squeezing Haven’s hand a little.

At first, Haven didn’t understand what Katie meant. Her brain tried to register it but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t just accept it.

“ What do you mean by ‘ourselves?’” Her voice was barely a whisper yet Katie heard her clearly.

“ Ourselves literally mean ourselves, Haven. We have to give ourselves to them.. our purity and innocence and everything.. we have to.. become one with– with them..”