I look around me, and see Seberkyne and King Shéron conversing as they walk through the courtyard. Sharae is with them too, but she looks a little disturbed about something. Concern is etched in her lovely face. She notices me sitting on the bench for a moment, and flashes me a sad smile.
There are several Kikkierii children here, too, I learned, and I watch as a few of them run around the courtyard playing. Members of the royal family; cousins and siblings. Some of them younger than me, a few about the same age as me. A few others older.
Then the children come up to me; curious about me, wanting to know who I am, where I came from, how I'm dressed.
They want me to play with them, but I politely smile and decline. I'm still not quite strong enough for any strenuous exercise such as running around the yard and chasing others. A couple of the older ones approach me and ask me a question, which I can only shrug and shake my head.
Seberkyne then rescues me as he approaches and makes an explanation to them about me, then they move off to do something else. I see King Shéron and Sharae walking away, with her arguing with the king profusely. I had also come to learn that she is the king's daughter, the princess, so she can get away with talking to the king like that.
“What... wrong?” I ask Seberkyne and nod towards Sharae.
“Oh, she is just upset.” he says as he sits next to me on the bench. He then proceeds to say more, but it just flows right past me as the water of a stream does. He looks at me and sees that I'm not following him. Then he pats my shoulder and says slowly for me, “We.. will.. be leaving.. soon. Understand?”
I nod hesitantly, “Me... too?”
Seberkyne smiles warmly at me and nods, “We.. have.. been.. here... until you.. get better.” then he winks at me.
I look to the ground. If not for me, they would have been gone long ago. I'm holding them up.
Seberkyne sees the sour look on my face, and he rubs the back of my neck and pats me on the back. I look up to him.
“We,” he says firmly to me, “will.. not.. leave... without.. our.. best warrior.” he has a twinkle in his eye and smiles proudly at me.
I smile back, then say, “Why... Sharae... upset?”
He sighs as he considers his answer, then says, “Sharae.. not.. wanting.. you... to go. She..has become.. very fond.. of you. Understand?”
I nod, and look to the door where she and her father had exited the courtyard. This must be breaking her heart, to know that I'm continuing on this journey with these men, and she does not want me to.
So, Kikkierilon isn't our destination. Only a stopping point for us, until I recover enough from my injury, then we will be moving on.
Chapter Eighteen
On the day we leave, all my weapons are given back to me, including my necklace. In my room, Sharae carefully packs my clothes into my bag for me, and she tries not to cry in front of me. I know she's sad.
“Sharae?” I say to her, then catch myself, “Princess? Try.. not.. be.. sad. I.. will keep.. a close.. eye on.. the... others.”
She huffs a heavy sigh, her shoulders drop, and wiping her eyes, she turns to me and kneels down in front of me, put her hands on my waist and looks me in the eye, “I want you to be careful.” she says firmly to me.
I nod at her reassuringly with a smile, but I can see she's getting upset again.
“I would rather you didn't go with them at all. You're just a little boy.” she says, then relents and smiles at me, “But... yes, I believe they have a better chance of success with you in their company. I just don't want you to get hurt any more.”
“I... learned to... survive because.. of my.. friend, Midnight.” I say to her. Not quite right, but close enough for an explanation for her. I already knew how to survive in the wild, but Midnight did help me improve my chances.
Sharae sighs and nods her head, “I know about your wild friend, Sean. I just wish you could stay here with us and not go out with them. It is just too dangerous.”
I shrug.
* * * * * * *
Later, as our company is getting our horses together and all our provisions, I stand by my horse, the light brown one with blonde mane and tail, just as healthy as before. I pat it as I address an old friend. I decided to name him Blondie, for his blonde mane and tail, for however long I have him. I have my food bag back, full of fruit and dried and smoked meats to snack on. The king and queen, and others, are gathered around us to wish us well, and I see that Sharae is there, too, bravely wishing us a good journey.
I walk up to her, all dressed in my green kilt and accessories of weapons (including my necklace under my tan sleeveless tunic) and my cloak, knife and sword on my belt, and I smile at her.
She can't resist smiling back at me, and, wiping a tear from her eyes, kneels down to me and takes me in her arms.
“Promise me you will be safe.” she says.
I nod, “I will.”
Then Sharae stands to her feet, regal princess that she is.
King Shéron and Queen Kylia approaches me, standing with Seberkyne and Dakanii. Queen Kylia says to me, “Sean, you are always welcome to our fair city.”
“Thank.. you, Your Majesty.” I bow to both king and queen.
Then Shéron kneels down to me, takes me into his arms and gives me a warm embrace, and whispers in my ear, “If anything happens, anything at all, you come back to us. Understand?”
I nod that I do, and Kylia takes her turn to give me a big hug.
Then with a cue from Dakanii, we mount our horses and head out of the palace grounds, with everyone gathered cheering for us. Even the children, and I can see the envy in their eyes as I'm going out on an adventure with the men.
We make our way out of the city along a winding paved road that leads from the palace to the southern gate of the city.
As I had said, I have seen many villages before, even went through that one on the way here, but this was the first city I have seen, and it is a splendid sight! Cream colored stone was ornately carved and used to make every dwelling and place of business in the city. And the city walls, high and very thick. The gates too were impressive, and if I were an attacking enemy, I would just turn around and go back home!
I was glad the men I'm traveling with have such good friends as these people. The kingdom of Navarae that Dakanii and the company comes from is probably an ally of this king here.
Outside the city, Dakanii signals for us to pick up our pace, to make up for lost time. I had learned that we had been in this city, as guests of King Shéron, for the past two weeks! Half of that time while I was fighting the poison that had made me sick and nearly killed me.
So now we're not just walking our horses along, we're traveling at a steady trot, and a lot more bumpier than before! I use my boots in my stirrups to lift my bottom from the saddle a little, and that's better.
Oh, the wind in my hair again!
How long has it been since we were out here— oh, yeah. Two weeks....
It feels like two months!
I look behind me to see Seberkyne, Bogamin, Anjax, and Jenna trotting along behind us, with the pack horse, fully provisioned again, bringing up the rear. I don't think these horses are running as fast as they are capable of, I feel they can go much faster if we need them to. But we need to conserve as much of their strength and stamina as we can so they can carry us much farther in a shorter time.
I notice we're now heading southwest from the city, and I suppose these roads just wind around the forest floor for easier travel, because this has been a winding path we're on.
In the evening we stop to make camp.
Now that I can understand everyone better, I follow their directions as I help set up camp and contribute to the company.
With the fire going and everyone eating, I finally get to the question that had been burning in my mind since I met these men.
“Why.. are you.. traveling?” I ask.
Seberkyne sighs; he had been waiting for that very question from me, and puts his
bowl down, “We are on a quest.” he says, “We are looking for the nayfursheth; a talisman of incredible power. It was taken from our kingdom long ages ago, and only just recently has been discovered again in a distant land. We are going to retrieve it.”
“And Seberkyne here is the only one who can get it.” Dakanii says to me. “We are here to protect him.”
I nod as I understand, then a mischievous smile creeps up on my face, “And I.. am here... to protect you...”
Everyone guffaws at that, and Jenna punches Dakanii on the arm.
“Why... are not... more.. warriors... with you... if so.....” I pause as I try to remember the right word I'm looking for.
“My king wanted as few people possible to go, for fear of being discovered and intercepted.” Dakanii replies.
I scoff, “Look.. like... you... discovered.. by Boreth... anyway. Are.. they.. your enemies?”
“Yes, Little One, they are.” Dakanii sighs, “They have been trying to destroy us for generations. They were the ones that took the nayfursheth all those years ago, in an attempt to demoralize us and destroy us. But they underestimated our numbers in arms, and they didn't succeed.”
Seberkyne chimes in, “It can't be destroyed, but they hid it, deep underground under a mountain.”
I frown, “How.. Boreth.. steal?”
“Arrogance on our part.” Seberkyne answers, “Our ancestors thought they were invincible with the nayfursheth, and they were right, but they grew careless... and....”
I fall silent as I think about what has been told to me. So, that's what they're doing out here. Huh. I also imagine what must have happened all those ages ago; a vast battle in a field, their talisman before them to do their work for them, and it got taken from them. It may not have happened exactly that way, but that is the adventure I imagine for their quest. Now these men are on an adventure of their own, to tell others about when they get home with this thing. If they make it that far, that is.
“And... my dear little friend.” Seberkyne says to me, “What about you? Where did you come from?”
I sigh and put down my finished bowl. How much do I tell them? Everything? How can I do that when I don't know where I came from? All they know is that they found me in the wilderness; a wild boy out on his own, who had a panther for a friend.
I wrap my arms around my knees and shrug my shoulders, “I... always... on my own. Well, Midnight...” I amend.
The men nod their heads understandingly, though they may not completely understand what life has been like for me. I see Bogamin and Seberkyne sharing a look at each other, and I wonder what that meant? Their concern about Midnight?
“Your friend, Midnight,” Seberkyne says, “is a very dangerous animal.”
Yes, I know he is. I smile and nod, “Yes.. to anything.. else. Not.. to me.”
Let them contemplate about my life with my panther friend for a while. The panther treating me as one of his own. That may be hard for them to accept, but it was very true.
Chapter Nineteen
A couple of days later, we are heading down the road, further south and west. My mind reeled with the history my new friends had told me about their mission, and the possible location where this nayfursheth had been kept all this time.
Deep beneath a mountain? What monstrosities lurk there? Large lizards? Dragons? Fire breathing dragons?? Do they even exist on this world? I'm beginning to wonder.
As I said before, the largest winged flying creatures I have seen on this world are the sky-wolves, that look like bats of unusual size... I have not seen it yet, but I still wonder if they are large enough for a person to ride on. And if they could be trained for that. And if there were an army outfitted with trained sky-wolves.... they would be a terrible sight indeed for any enemy.
I would love to share my thoughts with Seberkyne, Dakanii, Bogamin... any of the men who would listen to the fantastical whims of a young boy, but the language barrier currently keeps that from happening. My vocabulary is increasing daily now, but I'm still not quite fluent with their tongue just yet.
We cross over a mountain pass and follow the road down into a valley beyond, each one of us looking out for potential enemies, whether by predator or enemy. Since we have been attacked a couple of times since I met these men by the Boreth (and they have not said yet if there had been other times they were attacked before I saved them that night), and they know the dangers of being discovered again by them, an extra careful eye was kept on their surroundings to the sides.
We enter the tree line of the forest in the valley, still following the road leading into this new forest.
I'm still daydreaming my boyhood fantasies of adventures from the past, and what lie ahead of us.
What... is that smell?
I don't smell the stench of the Boreth, no, this is something... else. Something I think I may have smelled... before...?
Riding in my place behind Dakanii, I finally start to notice the trees crowding in around us over the road—
Instantly I am petrified. My skin crawls.
My mount stops on the road as I am no longer giving him any prompts to move.
Seberkyne rides past me and looks at me curiously, then brings his horse to a stop to look at me.
I guess the glassy, wide-eyed look of absolute sheer terror on my face catches his attention.
Seberkyne calls ahead to Dakanii to halt, rides back to me, and Anjax, Bogamin, and Jenna catch up with us. Everyone stops around me to see what is wrong with me.
My hands have begun to shake uncontrollably, and my breathing is coming in ragged breaths.
I can't hear any one person, everyone is asking me what is wrong.
My eyes dart left and right, nearly out of their sockets.
I can feel the oppressive air around us, the ominous foreboding. I don't want to look!
I don't want to see!
Death is all around us....
How can they not feel it?!?
I find a gentle hand touching my face, drawing my attention to Seberkyne.
“What is wrong, Sean?” he asks me, very mystified to the way I'm acting.
My teeth are chattering, and I don't know if I can even get anything out to answer him. I don't know their word for it yet, so I use my own word. With a shaking hand, I manage to point to one of the tree trunks close by the road to my right, “Spiders!” I hiss out.
Spider Valley!
Oh, no! The one place on this world I did not want to go!
Everyone follows to where my hand is pointing, then they follow the webbing that are wrapped around the trees, all the way up to the tops. Then they share knowing looks to each other.
I even see monstrous legs among the trees, moving very slightly, but moving all the same, and grotesque bodies attached to those legs, hiding behind and among the trees.
My imagination is running away from me, although I did not have to imagine much. These things are very much the very demon-spawn I had associated with them before.
Everyone is now very worried about me, although they see the same webs I do. What is wrong with them??!
I find Seberkyne at my left arm, and Dakanii at my right arm, both placing calming hands on my arms and speaking soothingly to me.
They're asking me if I can go on, to which I violently shake my head no.
I can't!
I can't make Blondie go through there!
My imagination runs away from me and makes me feel a pair of stupidly large spider fangs piercing the skin on my back (harpooned by them, more like!), and the venom being injected into my small body, liquefying my insides. Tears are flowing down my face now as my body contorts with the imaginary pain of being taken as their next victim.
Dakanii is trying to tug the reins to my mount out of my hands, but I seem to have a death grip on them. My fingers are white-knuckling, unable to move enough to release them.
Seberkyne leans over to me close enough to whisper into my ear, “Sean, listen to me very closely. You can go th
rough here, the spiders (their word for them) will not attack you. Just listen to my voice. Give Dakanii your reins, and he will guide you out....”
And Seberkyne's voice just drones on and on in my head.
Dakanii has my reins like he did when I first started riding with them, guiding the company along the road through the forest. And like I did before; I am now riding on my horse leaned over with my hands grasping around the horse's neck. My eyes are clamped tightly shut, not daring to look around at what I might find.
But look I do anyway, and it appears that the deeper we go into this forest, the more webbing I see all around us, and the more oppressive the feeling gets. The more sunlight is blocked by the overhanging trees, getting darker, and darker. I feel so exposed. I imagine spiders all around us, getting ready to feast on us, rubbing their gigantic fangs together in preparation of impaling us with them, and then sucking our liquefied organs out through those same fangs.
All of the men I am with have lost their minds! I knew it! What are they thinking? Are they bewitched or something? Lured in? Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly!
Turn around!!!
Find another way around this!!!
If I could find my voice, I would be screaming in their ears, and leading my horse out of this insanity!
It is a good thing I am already leaned over in my saddle, because we come across a large and wide web that is stretching over the road, just high enough for us to barely duck under while mounted on our rides. And as I pass under that web, a monstrous spider crosses the road overhead, blocking out the sun for a moment, and I can hear its weight bending the branches and the trunks of trees.
Uh.... I need to go to the bathroom!
I hide my face in my arms, buried in the neck of my steed, trying not to make any sound at all, although the sounds of the horses hooves clomping on the road and the tack of the saddles makes more than enough noise, in my ears, anyway.
Halfway through the valley, we come across the river stretching west to east, and splash across at a very shallow fording point. And then we navigate around more webs crossing the road, exercising utmost caution that the horses won't trip on one of them or that we can duck under them.
Avarii- the Golden Child Page 10