Chapter 2
1654 Words
2
“I do not like this idea,” Darda muttered
My saddle jabbed into my rear and made me wince. “Neither do I.”
It was several days later, and I now found myself atop a horse. Again. Beside me rode Darda, and in front of us was Xander and Durion on his own Arabian-esque steed. We were inside the Viridi Silva with its lush carpet of ferns and brush below us and the thick canopy of green leaves above us. The air was so thick I could have bottled it and named it Scent du Forest.
Xander turned his head to one side so that his eye fell on Darda. “It is a simple matter of diplomacy. We shall be back at the castle within a fortnight.”
She shook her head. “We should not be without Spiros.”
“His mind is preoccupied with his new bride, and I could not have left Alexandria in better hands,” Xander reminded her.
Darda glanced over her shoulder at a hefty bag on the back of her horse and pursed her lips. “It is not Alexandria for which I am worried.”
“You must believe me when I say my father would not have asked for your help were it not absolutely necessary,” Durion apologized.
Xander smiled at him and shook his head. “There is no need to apologize. We are honored to be called by King Thorontur to aid your people.”
A strong breeze blew over us, but provided no comfort against the muggy air. Rather, the heat from the wind made me gasp for air. I looked down at my heavy dress garb and frowned. “If Thorontur is going to want to see me not covered in sweat than I’m going to have to be a little more comfortable than this for the rest of the trip.”
Darda’s eyebrows crashed down. “That is the garb of a lady, Miriam, especially when riding.”
“I’m going to be swimming in it soon if I don’t slip into something more comfortable,” I quipped as I focused on my clothes. My outfit was made from water so that at my whim the heavy dress changed to loose-fitting pants and an airy blouse-like shirt.
Durion reined in his horse and gaped at my changed appearance. “How were you able to do that?”
I sheepishly grinned. “Just a little water magic my mom showed me. She’s the one I get my powers from.”
“Then you can manipulate water without an exterior source that would bind to your magic?” he asked me.
I shrugged. “Yes?”
His eyes drifted over to Xander. “Your Maiden is an even greater fae than the stories have told.”
Xander glanced at me and the twinkle in his eyes was better than any compliment. “She has certainly shown herself to be an outstanding woman in many ways.”
Darda cleared her throat. “I would very much like to be in Metsan Keskella before nightfall so that I need not share my bed with any more bugs.”
Durion studied me for a moment longer before he pointed his horse in the right direction. “We should reach the city before the noon hour.”
We continued on our way, but I quickened the speed of my steed and sidled up beside Durion. I leaned forward and caught his eye. “So what powers do Arbor fae have?”
A bitter smile slipped onto his lips. “In days past I could have told you about the wonders we could create. There are tales of my people summoning huge swaths of forest to rise from the ground and cover hundreds of acres of bare ground in only a few seconds.”
“So did they make the forest?” I asked him.
He swept his eyes over the canopy above our heads before he shook his head. “No. This forest is even more ancient than my people, though it was through our efforts that it grew to such borders.”
“So why don’t you do that anymore?” I wondered.
He stared ahead and pursed his lips. “After our battle with the humans those many years ago our power was diminished. We never recovered and can now hardly create enough growth to cover our own firewood needs.” His eyes flickered to the far reaches of the forest. “Perhaps if we had been stronger than the citadel would have been cleansed far sooner, and we would not need to ask for your assistance in this matter.”
I winced. “I’m sorry.”
Durion looked to me and smiled as he shook his head. “It is none of your doing, sweet cousin, and I am glad for the opportunity to have met you, though I wish the circumstances of our meetings were different.”
“How great in numbers are these humans?” Xander spoke up.
“It is as though the whole of Almukhafar has been emptied,” he revealed. “All told I would be surprised if there were fewer than five hundred of the humans encamped in the ruins.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Almukhafar? The outpost at the edge of the desert?”
Durion nodded. “The very same. When the humans were cast out of the forest the survivors were pushed south toward the desert. The thought was that no human could survive so close to such hot sands, but they surprised my people by surviving.”
My mouth dropped open. “You guys tried to kill them?”
He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “It is not one of my people’s finest hours.”
“Have the humans attempted to make contact with your people?” Xander wondered.
Durion shook his head. “No. They have hardly left the grounds of the castle but to fetch wood and water. The humans have also brought a great deal of dried meat with them so that they-” He froze and yanked back on the reins of his horse. The steed stopped and he stood on his stirrups. “Something is amiss.”
I swept my eyes over the area, but nothing moved. There was only the soft chirp of a bird from far away. “How can you tell?”
“There is a tension in the air transmitted through the soft breeze,” he explained as he slipped off his horse. “I must see what is the matter.”
“I will go with you,” Xander offered as he, too, dismounted.
“Don’t you dare leave me behind,” I scolded him as I got off my horse.
“Nor I,” Darda insisted.
Her joining us on the ground was interrupted by Xander thrusting his reins into her hands. “Someone must remain with the animals in case they should bolt.” His eyes caught her gaze before they flickered to the pack behind her.
Darda pursed her lips, but bowed her head. “As you wish, My Lord.” Durion wrapped his reins around a tree while I handed mine to Darda. She grasped my hand in hers and looked down into my eyes. “Be safe, dear Miriam.”
I smiled up at her. “I’ll be fine. I’m human, remember?”
“Would these humans say the same?” she countered. My smile fell off my face as I furrowed my brow.
“Miriam,” Xander called from the edge of the path. Durion had already disappeared into the foliage.
“I’m coming!” I hissed.
I glanced back at Darda’s worried face one last time before I slunk after my dragon lord. Together we hurried after our fae friend who slipped through the foliage like a green ghost. My eyes were on the uneven, grassy ground, but my mind was still back with Darda and her half-warning. I couldn’t deny that I’d changed a lot since I landed in this strange world, but I was still me.
Right?
I stumbled over a half-rotten log and stretched out my hands so that I caught myself on the fall. A sharp bramble bush sliced a nice hole in one of my palms before I landed hard on my side. There was a sharp crack beneath me as my hip broke a fallen stick.
Durion, some thirty feet ahead of us, paused and turned to reveal his displeased expression. Xander helped me to my feet before he glanced at our friend and nodded. Durion returned the gesture and continued onward. I tried to follow him, but Xander held me back.
“You should go back,” he whispered to me.
I looked up at him with a frown. “I’m fine. It’s only a scratch.”
His eyes studied me as he shook his head. “Something is bothering you. I can see it in your eyes.”
I glanced past him at our disappearing guide. “Could we talk about this when we’re not about to be left behind?”
Xander pursed his lips, but let us continue. Durion had slowed his pace some fifty yards up ahead and he stopped shortly after we reached him. A line of thick bushes blocked our way. Beyond them we could see two new Arbor fae hunched down beside Durion. The pair were covered head-to-foot in camouflage gear that allowed them to blend into the forest, and on their backs were bows. Their attention lay on something beyond the brush.
We reached them and knelt on the other side of Durion. His face was tense and his voice low as he nodded at the brush. “The humans have ventured farther than before.”
I found a hole in the brambles and peeked through. Beyond the brush was a small glen, and in the bowl-shaped area crept a half dozen humans. Half the company was men, and the others were women. The youngest appeared to be a girl of eighteen with an honest face and a bit lower lip. All the humans had a quiver on their back, but few arrows to accompany the bows they held.
Durion glanced at one of the guards. “Have they found any prey?”
He nodded. “Yes, but the girl there-” he nodded at the young woman, “-frightened the deer and it ran away. They discussed turning back, but mentioned the low provisions and so continued onward.”
The other fae guard leaned toward us. “If they continue much further they may see the city.”
“Remain hidden unless they come within sight of the city. Then you may frighten them by making animal sounds,” Durion instructed them. “I will inform my father of what has happened, and what you told me.” He turned to us. “We must return to the horses immediately.”
- Writer
