Chapter 9: The Beginning of a Journey
“Do we have to walk?” Ryan complained.
“Yes, we have to walk,” Reno replied.
“If you don’t like it,” Michael said, “then you’re welcome to go home.” The prince’s feet ached, and his blisters were rubbing on the inside of his boots. The group had been walking for a day, and everyone was tired.
“Why couldn’t we have bought horses in the city?”
“If we went into the city, they would have killed us all!” Michael said, annoyance clear in his voice. “You don’t seem to understand that if they find me I’ll be burned at the stake; we all will!”
“But my legs hurt!”
“Who cares? Besides you, nobody,” Reno growled, “and don’t you dare say me. If anybody has a right to complain, it’s Kyle. The poor kid’s hand is the size of a melon!”
Michael’s hand was indeed swollen, though slightly exaggerated by Reno. The fist that Michael used to punch the wall was puffed out and bruised. The prince squeezed it with his good hand and winced as a bone moved .He didn’t know if he would ever be able to fight, write, or even ride a new horse. That is, if he could risk the loss of another.
“I’m hungry!” Ryan whined.
“Shut up!” Michael yelled. “Why are you so annoying? I never should have let you come! You can’t tell the difference between a horse and a goat, let alone walk without your mouth moving at the same time!”
“Ok, I’ll be quiet,” Ryan said.
“Good,” Michael and Reno said at the same time.
“But I can’t see why I can’t—”
Michael shoved Ryan, halting further complaint.
About two hours later, Sphergol sensed another presence. “There are people near. I must hide in your mind,” A stream of light poured from the center of Sphergol and connected to Michael’s forehead. Inch by inch the sphere disappeared into Michael’s skull.
“Wow,” Michael said staggering.
Can you hear me Michael? A voice asked in his head.
Y-yes. How did you do that? Michael asked.
By altering my magical structure, I have transferred my energy to your mind, therefore we can communicate through a mental link. That means that we have a mental connection that we can communicate through thought rather than through voice. She explained.
“Hey Kyle! What just happened?” Reno asked.
“Oh, I’m fine. Sphergol is just hiding in my head,” When Reno called him by his fake name, it reminded Michael that he needed to be honest with the man. “Listen, I have something to tell you. My name is not Kyle, it is Michael. I am the Prince of Jenoth.”
“I had my suspicions when I saw your sword and tunic when you arrived, but I simply assumed that your father was a nobleman.”
“No, I wanted you to believe anything but the truth. I was afraid that you would turn me in if I told you who I actually was.”
“Um, guys…” Ryan started.
“Not now Ryan!” Michael yelled. “I figure that since we are starting our long journey, it wouldn’t be fair to keep this a secret from you any longer. I have these powers, this magic, because I am destined to save Magentara,” Michael said. His stomach clenched when he thought of showing them the belt, and he decided against it.
“Guys!” Ryan screamed at the top of his lungs. “You were so stuck in your conversation that you didn’t even notice this kid walk right up to us!” He stepped out of the way to reveal a small boy with black hair.
“Hi,” the boy said, looking up at Michael. His eyes were bright blue. He had a leather strap around a shoulder holding up his bow and quiver. His clothes were dark brown, and he had rats, birds, squirrels and other small game tied to his belt, showing his skill at hunting for food and skins. His face still held the round cheeks of youth and his medium length hair hid his ears and swept across his forehead. He was tanned, like almost everybody in Jenoth, and by the looks of his face and body structure, he was in his early teens. “How much did you hear?” Michael asked.
“Enough,” he said with a grin. “Enough to know that I want to join you in your ‘long journey.’ The name’s Tristan,” He held out his hand, and Michael grabbed it. “Ouch!” Tristan pulled his hand away and looked at his palm. The skin bubbling with blisters.
“If I were you,” Michael said threateningly “I would go home and forget that we ever met. Got that?”
“How did you do that?” he said backing away.
“That is none of your business.”
“Fine, I’ll leave, but I’ll never forget what I’ve heard and seen. I might even tell the guards where you are heading. Unless, that is, you let me join you,” He smirked.
Sphergol, should I trust this kid?
I don’t see why not; he is just a child after all. I’m going to come out now. There was a flash, and Sphergol reappeared in front of the four people.
“Sphergol believes that you pose no threat. But the question is, are you strong enough to join our quest to save all of Magentara?” Michael said.
“It all depends on what you consider strength. I am the most skilled archer in this kingdom, but in arms, well not so much.”
“Well,” said Michael grinning, “We’ll just have to test those wonderful archery skills of yours now, won’t we?”
The next few hours were spent in the forest having sword duels and archery contests. Since Michael’s hand was broken, Ryan took his place in dueling the boy. Tristan was quickly defeated each round.
Michael felt confident that he had bested the boy, but was soon to be disappointed. In the archery challenges that Michael devised, Tristan hit the centre of each makeshift target with ease at ranges as far as sixty yards. As if that hadn’t shown his ability, Tristan reached back for his quiver and grabbed two arrows at once, knocked them and turned his bow to the horizon. Releasing the arrows both at the same time, they angled out perfectly, splitting his previous arrows in half.
Knowing that this boy was a better marksman hurt Michael’s pride, especially given the age difference between Tristan and himself. Tristan was not even a teenager yet. How can this brat best me in archery so easily?
It was nearly dark by the time they emerged from the forest.
“So, how did it go?” Reno asked.
“It was a disaster!” Michael grumbled.
“Maybe for you—I beat his archery challenge!” Tristan boasted. “So does this mean that I’m in?”
“It means,” said Reno “that you take us to your home and let us speak with your parents and tell them what we plan on doing.”
“But they won’t let me come with you! Why can’t we just leave and send a letter after we get far enough away so they can’t catch us?”
“Because,” said Reno, placing a hand on the boys shoulder, “you have a family that cares about you. The rest of us are either an outcast, runaway, or adult.”
“Why can’t I run away, too?”
Now Michael stepped in, “Because you are twelve years old; I’m almost seventeen. There’s a slight difference. And besides, I have magical gifts that aren’t given to just anyone.”
Finally, they convinced Tristan to take them to his family. When they arrived, the door burst open and a short, chubby black haired man glared up at them.
“Who are you supposed to be?” asked the man, who Michael assumed was Tristan’s father.
“We are traveling performers, journeying across Magentara in search of fortune,” Michael said with a bow.
“Yeah, and what of my boy?”
“He wishes to join us. I have tried to dissuade him, but he has proven to be rather persistent.” Michael said, looking sideways at the boy.
“Persistent. That’s about the only thing he is,” The man spat at his sons feet. “Did you get anything worth hauling home?”
Tristan lowered his eyes before speaking. “No, father. I couldn’t even find a game trail.”
Enough of your excuses!” the man shouted.
Michael had never seen a father treat his own son this way before. He shuffled his feet and held his tongue.
“This preforming you’re talking ‘bout; how long will you be gone?”
“Sir, I think you misunderstood,” Reno said, “We had no intentions on bringing the boy.”
“Humor me, giant,” The short man said.
“Well, years at the least. Depending on how things go, we may never return home at all.”
“Take him,” Tristan’s father said casually, pushing the door closed.
Michael stopped the weather worn plank before it reached the frame. “Mister,” he paused, waiting for a name. When the man gave none, he continued, “Surely you would miss your son. You should at least consult your wife.”
“My wife’s dead!” the man grunted. “The boy is useless, I don’t want him!” the man snapped. His clenched jaw and angered expression revealed a row of chipped and rotting teeth.
“He is not equip for the journey!” Reno said. He leaned in close to the man and whispered, “Do you realize the dangers of this business? Please, understand that your son could die.”
The short man rose to his toes, until his mouth was nearly touching Reno’s ear, “All the better,” He took a step back. “My son is a very skilled archer. A circus is incomplete without one, you know.”
“We can’t take him.” Michael said.
“Can I persuade you with this?” Tristan’s father asked, pulling a leather coin pouch from his trousers and held it toward Michael.
“You just pulled that out of…” Ryan said, looking down at the short man’s age-worn pants.
“What? I have to hide it somewhere close. That boy would run off with everything I own if he could.”
Michael looked at the dingy pouch, then at the dirty man. “I’m sorry, I can’t take your money, and the boy stays.”
Tristan’s father grabbed Michael’s tunic with both fists and pulled him in, “How about this instead, performer! You take the boy, with or without the money, or I report you to the guards for trying to abduct him!”
Michael looked at Reno who gave a nod. There was no alternative; if they left, they would be overtaken by guards by nightfall. Also, the boy was despised by his father, and it would be harmful to him if he stayed. With a sigh he said, “Fine, we’ll take him and be on our way. Keep your filthy coins.”
The man released Michael and he backed away. He turned around and grabbed Tristan by the arm, hauling him away from his broken home.
After the group was out of ear shot, Tristan said, “A circus! And to think that he fell for it; man he’s crazy. And you, Michael, are a skilled liar; you kept a straight face the whole time!”
“I wasn’t lying, I really didn’t want you to come. This is a war, and we need many combat skills to win the war. We are traveling across Magentara because we are looking for the Defre-Lanc; we wish to join forces with them.”
These words seemed to disturb Tristan, his skin paled and he shivered. “How old are you again?” he asked glancing between the three people.
“I’ll be seventeen tomorrow,” Michael said. “Ryan is almost eighteen, and Reno is forty.”
“You mean to tell me that you plan to start a war when three out of four would be kicked out of a tavern?” Tristan asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Well, we plan on joining forces with the Defre-Lanc, but basically yes,” said Michael grinning. “You said you wanted to come, so if you change your mind now, we must exterminate you.”
Tristan lost all color from his face and stepped back quivering. “I never said I wanted to leave! Don’t just automatically assume what I’m thinking!”
“Calm down, boy. Don’t start a temper tantrum on us.”
After he finally settled down, Tristan said “I’m ready now. I want to help you in any way that I can.”
“Then let’s not waste time,” Michael said, “the day is young and we can travel until dusk.
Sea of the Dead Page 9