Ava

9 - Trebuchets

It was a peaceful night with a clear sky at the moment when a trail of smoke nearby caught Black’s attention. It moved from farther away and past the town hall leading higher up. Trailing his eye back to its source, his eye widened realizing that a flaming boulder hurtled towards the lady in front of the small house they stayed in.

“Get down, woman!!!” Black yelled ever so loudly as he moved swiftly towards her, racing against the boulder. Pulling her to him and jumping to the side, the flaming boulder smashed into the house just behind them with a loud bang. Moving his limbs and covering the lady with his body and cloak, he protected her from the flying debris and excesses of the explosion. 

The entire structure collapsed as flaming rocks and metals exploded in all directions. 

“Move!” Casix yelled on the other hand as he pushed the human upwards, both climbing up swiftly to the ground as it began to shook.

Throwing over the wreckages aside, the centaur helped the human up and pulled him to the side. His eyes trailed looking for the lady he was told to keep safe. The explosions continued and flames started to consumed the buildings and houses and fragments on the streets.

“My lady!” Casix called out as worry overpowered him.

“Over here!” A voice yelled and the centaur saw Black taking leverage on a cobblestone not too far from them.

“Follow me.” He instructed Alvis before the two moved their way towards Black. He sighed upon seeing the lady is safe with him. Looking around, something caught his attention. “A siege equipment?”

“Yes. A fire trebuchet.” Black answered. 

Casix couldn’t believe his eyes. He learned a few things about these kinds of equipment but he didn’t expect the massive destructions that it can cause. He looked up to the sky just as another flaming boulder emanated arcing over the distance. 

“We have to leave. Now.” Ava suggested and he nodded in agreement.

All four of them started moving as discreetly as possible towards the nearby woods. A great rumble echoed behind them as one by one, the houses and buildings began to topple into the ground. Cracks zigzagged beneath their feet as they kept heading to the coverts of the woods. The soldiers then appeared from where they’re hiding and screamed as they began running after them. Casix began shooting with his bow towards them, shooting 3 arrows at a time.

“Run!” Black screamed over Ava and Alvis before turning into a cloud of smoke moving towards the army who are after them. He shoved the dead soldiers aside as he killed them, moving at an exigent pace. He pushed and cracked their necks and shoved.

The two continued to run and reached the woods in no time while the other two fought back. The attacking army fought back with ferocity. They fought as if possessed, not caring if they live or die, all ready to be slaughtered. However, they were no match to Black and the centaur’s sword skill. Bodies crumpled and congested the area as the fighting continued. Then cold breeze began to envelop the area and from a distance, a group of Peace Keepers were flying towards them. Black and Casix immediately had an understanding as soon as their eyes made contact. Getting the upper hand and taking the opportunity of their temporary victory, Casix shifted to his real form and began kicking the soldiers to the side before running swiftly away. Black, on the other hand, turned back into a cloud of smoke and fled as well. The two then followed Alvis’ scent and found them covering over a huge boulder in the woods. 

A hand appeared suddenly and wrapped itself around Ava’s mouth as a gasp escaped her. Black immediately showed his face from the dark. Releasing her, he placed a finger to her lips. He then signed for the centaur who just shifted back to his human form to move towards them. In a snap, a transparent shield started covering them just in time before a group of five Peace Keepers came hovering over the area. A shiver ran down Ava’s spine as held her breath. The cold weather became colder by the presence of these creatures, chilling them to the bone. Amazingly, they flew past them as if they were invisible inside the shield.

Though it was cold that night, Ava’s face glistened with sweat as she clutched her dagger with her hand, bit her lips and breathed as quietly as she can. They huddled there for about an hour until Black was sure that all the Peace Keepers have gone.

“Come on.” Black finally said after taking the shield down. “Follow me. Another group of Peace Keepers would come crawling back here in no time and we cannot stay inside the shield forever.”

***

As soon as the darkness surrendered, every color changes from tinges of charcoal sky to a vibrancy of purplish-bluish sky. The sun began to rise as a canopy of gold, bright amid the blue, bidding the stars to take their nightly rest. For a while, they had traveled quietly through the woods. The thick canopy of leaves allowed only a few streaks of light to trickle through the ground. Their journey had been a silent one until Alvis had the courage to speak up.

“W-where are we e-exactly going?” He asked.

“A place where we can hide for a few hours before we move again.” Black answered.

“What was it back there?” Alvis continued. “That was an entire army. How? I mean, I was the only survivor. How did they know that you will come?”

“Because you stayed.” Black replied and halted. “They must have been observing you and your moves for a while. They just waited for the correct time to attack.”

“And here I was thinking I outsmarted them because I survived the m******e they did to our town and my people.” Alvis said sadly.

Ava just looked at him comfortingly as they continued the rest of their journey. A few moments later, the woods started to become brighter as if turning into a more welcoming place. They began seeing birds flitting from branch to branch, chirping and tweeting as they move. Going further, leaves rustled as squirrels darted away from their intrusion into their domain. Then the path they’re taking started to slope downward. The ice by now had started to melt which marked the beginning of a new season. This was the first time that Ava noticed that winter had already passed.

“We’re here.” Black declared as soon as they reached the end of the slope. True enough, there was a cave not far from where they are, its mouth becoming a welcoming blue eye.

They have already settled for a while inside the walls of the cave with Black securing its mouth with an invisible shield. At the very far end, he was seated there, quietly staring into an open space.

Who am I? Black thought deeply.

The moment the woman told him of her mission to find the fountain of life, he began having flashes of memories which pained him from deep within. It wasn’t clear and his head would ache terribly the moment he tries to recall it.

“I’m sorry.” The woman whispered and coughed out blood. Her facer turning paler by the second, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Phoebe.” Black said in despair as he held her tightly in his arms.

Black groaned in pain as he clutched his hand on his chest and pounded it a few times.

Phoebe.

Who the hell are you?

He closed his eyes in frustration as he tries to remember how she looked like but failed. But her voice was clear and warm. He’s sure that she was a part of his forgotten past. For many long years he struggled to recall it. And while trying to find himself, he was lured into a one-sided contract with that man. His jaw clenched and he breathe out deeply, from thinking about his newly discovered past memories, he began thinking as to how he can completely escape the fate he had put himself into.

“You don’t really sleep, do you?” A voice suddenly spoke from behind him which immediately pulled him out of his thoughts.

“And you don’t really want to give me some peace, do you?” He asked back and pouted deeply.

“Just being friendly.” Ava replied but still went ahead and sat beside him.

“You don’t need to be friendly.” Black responded, looking away.

“Why?” Ava blurted out.

“Because I don’t make friends with my food.” Black answered nonchalantly while Ava’s eyes widened. “I don’t think you forgot about our deal.”

“Tsk.” Ava pouted and looked away too. “So rude.”

“I am just reminding you that I am here because I am expecting to get the end of my bargain after your so called mission.” Black side-commented.

“Fine. I know. You can suck me dry after.” Ava said nonchalantly and this time, it was Black who widened his eyes. Ava innocently met his gaze. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

Black looked away immediately before a tinge of blush was seen on his cheeks.

“Gosh, you’re alive!” Ava exclaimed and grinned. “Most of the time I was thinking you’re a walking dead.”

That earned her a glare from Black and she just smirked.

“By the way, when are you gonna start training me?” Ava asked. “Remember, I only told you that I will let you have my flaming blood if you train me how to fight. But until now, we still haven’t started yet.”

Black then turned to her and raised his brow. “We have already started. And you failed every time.”

“What do you mean?” She queried.

“Training doesn’t only involve learning how to fight.” Black started. “First, it starts with discipline. You must learn how to listen, how to be patient, how to behave accordingly and how to survive. Only then will you truly learn how to fight properly.”

Ava’s face flushed immediately as soon as she realized what he’s pertaining too. And she knew right then that he was right. For the many days that she followed him in the forest, he taught her many ways on how to be patient and how to survive. That one huge encounter with the Pseudodragon which almost killed them is him teaching her to listen. She then stared at Black for a moment before she nodded in understanding.

“Thank you.” She said eventually.

Awkward stillness enveloped the two for a while.

“Where do we start looking for the fountain?” Black then asked seriously, breaking the silence.

“North.” Ava replied as her trail of thoughts automatically led her to Eli’s face, instantly making her down.

Black’s brows raised once more as he noticed her sudden change in mood, curiosity about her thoughts urge deep inside him.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

“Someone.” Ava answered and bitterly smiled.

“Your lover?” He dared to question.

“I don’t have a lover, silly.” She replied right away.

“Good.” Black responded and looked away. “But do you like him?”

“Huh? He’s my friend.” Ava answered and blushed.

“That didn’t answer my question. And you’re a terrible liar.” Black commented and pouted before turning to her.

This made Ava blush even more.  

“How about the centaur? Do you like him?” Black suddenly asked once more.

“What? No. He’s just a friend too.” Ava replied.

“Now that’s a real answer.” Black commented.

What? Ava thought, confusion clouded her mind. “Then what about you? You ask a lot about me but you never answer any of mine.”

“I don’t need to answer you.” He said.

“That’s not fair.” Ava remarked.

“You needed me first and I agreed in exchange of your blood. But I don’t need anything from you, so I don’t need to answer you if I don’t want to, right?” Black responded.

“Fine. Whatever.” Ava pouted and stood up.

“Where are you going?” Black immediately asked.

“To where my presence is actually appreciated.” Ava replied and walked away without looking back. 

***