by Wolf Golan
He bushwhacked into the forest and picked up pieces of dead wood along the way, Alex followed. When she got an armful, she started back. Godrin had already started a small fire and began taking off his armor to dry them.
Alex smiled at him as she dropped the firewood and sunk down to sit by the fire. Max soon returned with the rest of the wood and joined Alex. No one spoke out of fatigue, so the night passed quietly. Knight Godrin bid them Goodnight and used his cape for a blanket. Alex took out a small blanket and stretched it out over she and Max, as they lied down and fell asleep too.
In the morning, they awoke and began shivering. They saw Godrin stoking the fire to life. They sat close and warmed themselves up. Godrin took out a piece of meat and slice of bread from his pouch and started eating.
Max took out a hot plate. “This is my last one.” He said to Alex as she gave a shaking smile. He set it out on the log. “Cook,” he told it. He waited for thirty seconds, peeled off the cover, and shared it with Alex. Godrin stared at the strange event.
After breakfast, they poured water on the fire and climbed into the boat.
They started out down the forest river again. The forest was now more dead and colder, bare ground with patches of green and the trees more skeletal. It appeared to be a forest fire.
They rowed and rowed all day.
Max would rest, Alex would pick up the paddle, and Godrin stayed in the front not needing much rest. They were amazed by his strength. The dead forest soon passed, and they re-entered lush green growth and heavy vegetation again. The trees started becoming a-wall of towering trees that looked more like Redwood covering the sky.
They saw huge boulders jetting out of the riverbanks and the water getting rougher.
By midday, they came back into calm waters again, but the towering trees still covered the sky. Max spotted the figure of a skinny man standing atop of a boulder ahead. The man had a dark purple cloak with his face hidden in a hood.
“Godrin we have company ahead?” Max said.
“I know I see him. Raidin guard. We've crossed the Borders of Werzuck Forest. We're in their Kingdom.”
Alex tapped Max on the shoulder. “Ah Max, look to your left.” Max turned and saw two more purple hooded men with bows strapped to their shoulders.
“Godrin,” Max said staring at the figures, glancing at his sword lying in the boat.
“Yeah just no sudden movements and let me do the talking.” Godrin replied. He jabbed his oar down to stop the boat several feet from the Raidin on the rock. “UkrikDensmere. Oobaduk.” Godrin yelled up.
Godrin awaited a reply. Max and Alex sat frozen. “What did he say?” Alex whispered.
“I don't know, let’s not talk!” Max whispered back.
“I said, 'I am from Dens'mere and I seek passage.”' Godrin surprising answered, remaining eye locked with the figure.
Only faint whistling of birds was heard.
The figure turned and lightly hopped to the forest floor and made his way closer to the boat, then stood to get a closer examination of them.
Raidin archers rose out of the waters around the boat with bows trained on them. Their glowing green eyes and stoic faces. Max and Alex put their hands up and Godrin glanced at them but sat calmly awaited a reply from the Raidin. More figures rose from the bushes all over.
“Densmerian! Ukgehglorok! Ukgehglorok!” Godrin said to them, almost yelling. “Max!” Alex said in fright.
“Just stay calm!” Max said quietly.
The Raidin finally reached them and stood before them. He removed his hood. He had golden brown hair with ears sticking out and glowing green eyes.
“Elves,” Alex whispered.
“No, they're called Raidins here.” Max answered, gently turning a little to her.
“Vee auk Densmerian,” Godrin added.
The Raidin looked at him and then to Max and Alex, before turning back to Godrin.
“Bik ton Lae'din v auk ikzan,” The Raidin Guard said.
“Oofikgont'osauk,” Godrin replied.
Max and Alex stared in stone silence.
The Raidin flipped his hood back over his head and walked back into the forest.
“Chi ik!” He yelled out. The Raidins in the river slowly lowered their bows and the Raidins on the banks lowered theirs too. They slowly and quietly made their way out of the water and joined their brethren disappearing into the branches. The ones across the river were already gone.
Godrin sat back down breathing a sigh of relief. Alex moved up and lied on Max's back frightened. Max held her hand close. Godrin turned to them and warmly nodded. “My pardon, it is well. We may pass through.”
“What was wrong?” asked Max.
“The Old Alliance with Baeylins and Raidins is unstable. The Baelyin War with Kraakon has brought its destruction to their Kingdom. They do not welcome us in their Kingdom no more.” Godrin looked at the straggling Raidins, as they dwindled into the thickets.
Godrin started rowing again.
Alex still held Max from behind and Max patted her hand. She let go and leaned back. Max started rowing and it seemed the day went by quicker as Max rowed more passionately.
Chapter 11
They paddled and paddled into the evening again, until it got dark.
Godrin lit the small lantern and they rowed for another hour, before stopping to camp again.
They came ashore and pulled the boat up to a muddy bank. Godrin got out with his lantern and turned to them.
“The Raidins won't bother us will they?” Alex asked.
“No, we're okay. I think we’re probably even out of their Kingdom now.” Godrin answered, looking around.
“Okay,” Alex replied.
They climbed out.
Godrin took his lantern into the woods to gather firewood. Max told Alex to wait by the fire, as he started into the woods with his lamp. The redwood forest was a lot danker and colder, muddier grounds, and dried wood was harder to find. Max looked for some time until he found some, then, he started back.
Max returned with an armful of wood when he saw a small glow ahead, Godrin had started a fire. As he neared the fire he could see Alex's black figure standing in front of it. He came up a little closer and could see she her backing up. He furrowed his eyes at the strange scene. “Hey,” He touched her shoulder.
She jumped and snapped her eyes at him frightened.
“What?” Max asked.
Her wide eyes turned back toward the fire.
Max looked over and jumped. “Whoa!” He almost dropped the pile. A large creature with long bent arms stood by the fire speaking with Godrin. He had three birds sitting on his back.
He wore a green raggedy linen shirt with a large belt and red pants with his bare feet and four big toes. He looked humanoid except large with a huge head. He had a protruding jaw and protruding forehead over his eyes.
Godrin stood in front of him speaking his language. He spoke in a deep, hallow, reverberating voice, “Gruksl'ee pooh deh.”
“Densmere, King Lae'din.” Godrin said, pointing to Max and Alex.
Alex hid behind Max frightened.
“Quk, yu'hl,” the creature said almost slurping. His voiced created an echo in his throat, which sounded weird. He dropped a small dead animal by Godrin and walked into the forest. The birds flapped on his back, as he soon disappeared.
Godrin turned to them, picked up a dead rabbit and walked to the fire. He casually sat on the ground by the fire, slipped out his dagger, and began skinning it. Alex was still hiding behind Max squeezing his jacket, as he stood frozen with a pile of wood still in his arms.
“What the hell was that?” Max asked.
“Buk, a Noos'ell.” Godrin replied, continuing to skin the rabbit.
“He says little bird tells him there's a lot of commotion in Densmere over your people's arrival.” Godrin said. “Word has spread in Chandeera of the Strangers from the Stars.”
Max let out a small ‘Heh’, dropping his firewood.
“That’s cool,” Max said sitting down by Alex. Max looked over at the direction the creature walked, and back to Godrin. “So that's a Noos'ell. I can see why the Rourds are scared of them.”
“Buk is the keeper of this bend.” Godrin replied confidently, holding the butt of the animal as he skinned the other half. Alex rested her head on Max again. Godrin soon finished skinning and sharpen two willows and stuck them through the animal before setting it over the fire.
Max looked to Alex. “The news is exciting.”
“Yeah,” Alex replied turning to the fire. “It is.”
Godrin cut pieces off the animal and gave them to Max and Alex. They ate it and it tasted salty with a strong juice, which seemed a little on the sweet side. Alex reluctantly ate it, but Max was now getting use to the strange foods of the planet.
“Sleep well companions,” Godrin said.
“Sleep well,” They both replied.
Godrin walked over to the other side of the fire, leaned against a tree, folded his arms, and shut his eyes.
Alex threw her packsack on the ground of her other clothes. It made for a good pillow. She laid her head on it and watched the fire. Max lied by her on the same pillow and spooned her. They fell asleep to the crickets.
In the morning, Godin’s footsteps awoke Max. He opened his eyes and saw Alex had gone.
“It's time to leave my young companion.” Godrin said. “We're almost there.”
Max nodded sleepily, as he blinked his eyes open. Alex came walking back from the bushes with her dark purple jacket open and straps hanging off, her brown hair shuffled. She walked by Max to the river and kneeled down to wash her hands. She stared at the river shaking off.
Godrin started kicking dirt on the fire and then stomped it out. Max stood up and stretched. Alex grabbed her bag.
“Just a second,” Max said, walking into the forest. He came back to see Alex already waiting in the boat with Godrin standing by ready to push off. Max smiled, walked over, and climbed in.
They set off again, and hours passed uneventful as they rowed and rowed pass the tall Redwood trees. Max thought he saw an owl in the distance, but it disappeared.
The trees started getting taller, the winds stronger, and colder. Max saw what looked like oak trees ahead as the Redwoods receded, and a giant mountain range towered over them to the right.
“Border Patrol don't get frightened.” Godrin said turning to them.
“What?” Max asked. A bridge came into view ahead and a Raidin Warrior stood on top staring down with his dark green cloak and hood. Max and Alex got a little nervous in light of yesterday's incident.
“A Raidin?” Max asked Godrin.
“Yeah Border Patrol, we're leaving Werzuck.” Godrin looked at him. “Everyone stay calm,” Godrin said, turning back to them.
They neared the bridge and the Raidin could be seen leaning on his standing bow. He looked solemn and expressionless, as they passed underneath.
Max and Alex tried to ignore the creepiness of him, as they passed under the bridge, but it was hard not to look once or twice. Godrin seemed oblivious as he continued to row. They cleared the stone bridge and Max didn't look back, neither did Alex.
The river got a little rough, as they turned a corner. It was only oak with groves of spruce popping up, but willows were now bare, the ground and skies wet, and tree branches naked. The sky turned pitch white and foggy, Max could sense they were nearing the ocean.
It started getting dark.
Alex awoke and took over and Max laid back to rest. An hour passed, and it got dark. Max took over rowing from Alex, as she shifted to the back again and Godrin continued to grow slowly. They stopped again at a nearby bend and Godrin immediately began piling wood to build a fire.
This time Godrin got a rabbit and was roasting it over the flames. Alex ate it with less hesitation this time. After dinner, Godrin lied down and used his cape for a blanket again. Max put Alex's bag against a stump and leaned against it. Alex lied by him and he spooned her again.
They fell asleep quickly.
The next morning, they didn't waste any time. Godrin used his helmet to scoop up water and poured it over the fire. The gushing steam woke Max and Alex up, startled. Godrin laughed as he put his helmet back on. They smiled at him and shook their heads. They stretched, went into the bushes, and washed their hands in the river yet again, before climbing back into the boat.
“I need a shower badly.” Alex said stretching her arms.
“Why didn't you just bath in the river this morning?” Max asked.
She looked over and saw bugs swimming around, then, gave him a sarcastic look, “Ahhh... no!” She turned and stretched her waist. “Besides, it's freezing.”
“I think we’re near the ocean.” Max commented.
“We are,” Godrin answered pushing the boat out. “We should reach Densmere by nightfall.”
Alex grabbed Max's shoulders and shook a little in excitement, Max smiled back at her.
They set off down the river and started paddling again.
Max would paddle for two hours then Alex for one, then Max for another three. Godrin would paddle between all shifts and only rested once. It got colder and began drizzling. Max could see Alex starting to shiver and he himself got a bit cold too.
“Godrin?” Max said.
“Yeah?” He said turning.
“When do we reach Densmere? I’m getting a little concerned about Alex.”
“No, I'm fine Maaaxx... ” Alex said, shivering.
“We should reach it within the hour, my sorrows Alexandra. I will attempt to get you there faster.”
“No, it's fine Godrin.” Alex replied.
Godrin gave her a warm smile and resumed paddling.
Max looked back at Alex sitting in the rear with her jaw jittering, curled up, squeezing her blanket around her. Max started paddling faster. They soon entered a wall of giant spruce and the mountains stopped.
Nightfall arrived, and it got colder.
Max got worried about Alex with the biting cold. He looked back and saw her still shivering, cheeks red.
“Hang in there honey we’re almost there.” Max said.
She nodded slowly.
They came under a ceiling of oak lurching over the river. Max made out a weak orange glow ahead. Godrin turned.
“The Watch Gate, we're now at Densmere's Border.”
As they neared it, Max could see it lit with torches burning along a stone arched-gate. Guards paced the parapets above it. It was an abutment that extended across the creek.
As they drew nearer, Max could make out the Guards.
“Who goes there?” A yell came from the parapet.
“Godrin, 3rd Command! Under Commander Gorro! I bring expected visitors!” Godrin yelled.
They were silent.
“You may pass!” The Guard yelled back. Chain grinding could be heard on a sprocket hidden behind the wall, as the gate cranked up. It stopped at a height high enough for them to sail through. They paddled into it. Again, Max and Alex peeked up to see the dead stares of the guards. Alex turned forward and smiled huge at Max through her jittering teeth. “We're here! Can't wait to see the others!”
Max nodded and resumed paddling, as the river got a little rough. They could make out what sounded like faint horn sounds ahead. A dim moon light spread through the trees and lit the river.
Alex held onto the sides as the river got rougher. They made it around another bend and Max could see the estuary in the distance and a great ocean beyond. He began rowing harder fighting exhaustion.
As they drew nearer to the drainage, the dots of light on the ocean were soon made out to be ships. The horns got louder.
“I think we're here.” Max said to Alex.
“I know,” she replied with a smile, as she threw off the blan
ket and sat up.
They rowed closer and Max could make out huge ships slowly floating into the sea, torchlights on its sides. Max heard horns to the north beyond a large crag towering over them.
They saw a small statue of a Baelyin King at the base of the crag. The stone king rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, firmly starring ahead.
They had now entered the estuary and floated into the ocean. Max, Alex, and Godrin clearly saw the huge sea ships making their way out to sea. The horns were Signal-Horns from an unseen port. Max could make out several other lights from smaller boats and skiffs out fishing.
Max saw flicking of light between the trees on the crag, as they continued to sail under it. His heart started beating. Godrin turned to them and they could see his eyes glistening with excitement and anticipation. “We're here.” Godrin calmly said.
Like a curtain, the crag revealed a mountain sized castle with towers tapering off into the stars before them. The great castle sat nestled high up on a giant cliff overlooking the ocean with all its splendor and glory. Hundreds of torches glowed along its terraces, parapets, wall towers, and hundreds of turrets lit. It really was a manmade mountain.
“Cosmic Smoke!” Max said with his head tilted back.
“Oh my God, how beautiful, so beautiful!” Alex added.
It was the most beautiful castle Max had ever seen in all the worlds he visited. He turned to Alex whose jaw dropped in amazement, as she tilted her head up to take it in whole. Max tilted his head up too.
They cornered the crag and along the sea cliff below the castle, was the city of Densmere. Thousands of houses and rooftops lit up like a modern city, along with countless street lamps. The city poured down into a small rocky cove that was Densmere Port. Piers lined the shore and countless small boats, skiffs, canoes, and small ships were docked at the port. The giant ships were anchored off the bay but were only two tonight.
“Welcome to Densmere Kingdom,” Godrin said turned to them, smiling.
“It's beautiful beyond words Godrin,” Alex replied in wonder.
“Yeah it truly is,” Max added still glancing while struggling to row. “It truly is.”
Chapter 12