by Aaron Riley
Darkan didn't know how Uzmar would react to being woken up. He got down on one knee and cleared his throat loudly.
The King didn't even stir.
Darkan cleared his throat louder.
Uzmar's head bobbed up once and then settled back into sleep.
Darkan cursed to himself. “King Uzmar, I have come to report,” he said with a full voice.
King Uzmar shot awake and his eyes darted around. He wiped the drool from his mouth and his vision settled on Darkan.
“Darkan, a Ranger of the Old Forest. What are you doing here at this late hour?”
“I have news to report, your majesty.”
Uzmar shifted in his seat and scratched his beard. “Go ahead.”
Darkan didn't want waste any more time. “The barbarian tribes attacked Icebor today.”
King Uzmar jumped out of his seat. “What!”
Darkan had never heard the King with so much emotion before. He gulped before continuing, “The Rangers and I arrived after they had raided most of the village already. We took out any leftovers and I came straight here.”
That wasn't entirely true. Darkan had taken a long break around the campfire to make sure that Aiden was all right. But getting to the King sooner wouldn't have changed anything. The barbarians had gone back across the river and over the hills. They wouldn't attack again so soon. Not when the Kingdom would be on its guard.
“And how many dead?” Uzmar asked.
Darkan lost his train of thought as the image of Aiden with his dark hair entered his mind. He had truly taken his breath away.
“How many dead, Darkan?”
He snapped back to reality. “I'm sorry, my lord.” Darkan bowed his head. “Most of the village was killed. We saved a man who claims that some were taken prisoner by the barbarians.”
King Uzmar sat back down in his throne and rubbed his beard. “All of Icebor?”
Darkan nodded and let the news sink in. “I'd like permission to go across the river and rescue any prisoners.”
“And what makes you think that they're still alive?”
Darkan didn't quite know how to answer that. Before meeting Aiden he would've assumed they were already dead. The barbarians weren't known for keeping prisoners. Aiden believed that they were still alive.
That was good enough for Darkan.
“Your Majesty, the prisoners might be dead or they might be slaves. I think it's worth the risk. A small group of my rangers could get in and out before the barbarians even know it.
The King stared into Darkan's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. “If some villagers from Icebor are truly still alive, then what king would I be if I left them to suffer? Take a group of rangers over the hills and get back my people.”
Darkan nodded and slammed his fist to his chest. He twisted around on his toes and left the throne room.
Convincing the King to go after the barbarians was the easy part.
Actually rescuing any prisoners was going to be a lot harder than Darkan made it out to seem.
Chapter Eleven
Aiden woke up to the sun peeking through the forest trees. The campfire had died during the night and only a wisp of smoke remained.
He sat up and was surprised to see Darkan sleeping so close to him. He watched him sleep, his chest lifting up and down. He wasn't like anyone he'd ever met before.
“Did you sleep all right?” Darkan asked, rubbing his eyes.
Aiden didn't even realize he had woken. He flushed with embarrassment, not knowing if Darkan had noticed him staring. “Not as comfortable as my bed back home but it was okay.”
Darkan sat up and stretched his arms over his head. Aiden watched his large biceps strain against his green tunic.
The other rangers woke up at the same time, stirring in their beds of leaves on the ground. Sleeping in their tents wasn't the safest when barbarians were out there.
“What did King Uzmar say?” Aiden asked.
The rest of the group perked up at the question. They wanted to know the answer too.
Darkan looked at his Rangers and stepped around the dead fire. “The King gave us permission to go over the hills and rescue the prisoners. We should set out in an hour or so.”
“After breakfast of course,” Belim added.
“After breakfast,” he replied.
Farondil ignited the fire with a spark from a piece of flint. Belim cracked two eggs over a pan and they began sizzling.
Darkan leaned over Aiden. “May I speak to you alone?”
Aiden nodded and followed Darkan into the forest. They came to a spot next to a tree with a scarred trunk. They were just far enough away from the camp to be out of earshot.
Darkan turned to Aiden. “You should return to your village and wait for us there.”
“You've got to be insane if you think that I'm going to let you go after my parents without me.”
Darkan put his hand on Aiden's shoulder. “This is a dangerous mission. We might not all come back alive. You'll be safer at Icebor.”
Aiden shrugged off his hand. “There's nothing left for me back at Icebor. I don't care how dangerous it's going to be. My parents are out there...”
Darkan interrupted Aiden with a kiss. He believed it was the only way to keep him from talking anymore.
Aiden's eyes shot open at the shock of what just happened but he quickly settled into Darkan's lips. He smelled like a man and that only excited him more. His arms wrapped around Aiden and his hands pressed against his back. Their tongues danced lightly together and Aiden moaned.
Darkan broke away and began walking back to the camp. “I'll let you come with us.”
Aiden stood there, dazed and confused. He'd never felt anything like that before. His whole body tingled from his ears all the way down to his toes.
He returned back to the camp to the smell of cooked eggs. The Rangers sat around the fire and ate their breakfast in silence. The impending mission was a lot to think about even for a group as experienced as the Rangers of the Old Forest.
They knew they might not all come back from this.
Belim handed Aiden a plate with a big smile. “Made special just for you.”
“Thank you so much,” he replied. Aiden sat down next to Darkan and took a bite of eggs. The flavors lit a fire in his mouth. His eyes grew big and he realized how hungry he actually was. His plate was clean in seconds.
Darkan stood up and poured water on the fire. “Gear up,” he ordered the group.
Each Ranger gathered their weapons while Belim packed the provisions.
Farondil looked at Aiden who was just standing there. “He's not coming with us.”
Aiden stood his ground. “Oh yes I am.”
“Darkan, this is not a mission to bring civilians with.”
Darkan nodded. “I agree with you, Farondil. But he has made it clear that he will follow us no matter what.”
Aiden nodded to Farondil.
“Then we tie him to a tree and leave him until we get back,” Farondil replied.
His blood boiled in his veins. “You wouldn't dare,” Aiden said.
Darkan shook his head. “Aiden will come with us and I'll be responsible for him. My decision is final.”
Farondil knew better than to argue any further.
Garel approached Aiden. “You're going to need a weapon.” He handed him a silver dagger.
Aiden gripped the cold steel in his hand and remembered his mother handing him a knife in the kitchen. He couldn't be hide anymore. He'd have to protect himself.
Garel showed him some quick moves with the dagger. Aiden mirrored his movements, pretending to slash his enemy's throat. The thought of killing another human being was foreign to Aiden but he'd have to come to terms with that soon enough.
“All right, Rangers. Let's show those barbarians who the Rangers of the Old Forest are,” Darkan announced.
The Rangers cheered together.
Aiden stowed the dagger in his belt and joined Darkan's sid
e as the Rangers set off.
Chapter Twelve
The Rangers of the Old Forest made their way through the trees until they came to the village of Icebor.
The place was completely deserted. Dead bodies were frozen in the streets waiting for a proper burial. Aiden wanted so much to dig a grave for each and every one of them.
But that would have to wait. His parents were in danger and needed his help.
“Demorac, see if you can salvage anything from the village before we go across the river,” Darkan said.
Demorac nodded before slipping into the shadows.
“Belim, use your nose to find us some more food.”
“Already on it, Darkan,” he replied, smacking his belly.
Aiden stepped in front of Darkan with his fists clenched. “You're stealing from my village.”
“I know how you feel but there's no one left here. They're dead now and they won't be coming back. We need everything we can get our hands on if we're going to rescue your parents.”
Aiden didn't have anything to say. He knew Darkan was right.
But it still didn't make it right.
The Rangers collected any spare weapons and provisions until they couldn't carry anymore. Belim found some packed dry meats that would save them time from hunting during the mission.
Aiden and Darkan stood at the river and looked across at the rolling green hills. The sun was almost at the height of the sky.
“What lies beyond the hills?” Aiden asked.
“The barbarians,” Darkan replied.
Aiden put his hands on his hips. “You don't think I already know that? I meant what exactly is beyond?”
Darkan turned to Aiden and held his hand. He felt a surge of adrenaline flow through him. He couldn't help but blush. “Honestly, I don't know.”
Aiden was swimming in the thought of kissing Darkan again. His closely shaved face against Aiden's. He shivered with excitement and then remembered that he was in a conversation.
“But I thought you were a Ranger? Don't you guys go out scouting?”
“Only within the kingdom boundaries. We're expressly forbidden to pass beyond the hills. King Uzmar didn't want to start a war with the barbarians.”
“Well it looks like he's going to have one now.”
Darkan laughed. “I think you're right about that.”
The rest of the Rangers joined them at the river. “We're ready, Darkan,” Farondil said.
Darkan stepped first into the cold water of the river. Aiden thought back to when Hugo saved him from going all the way across. He had no idea what pulled him into the river that day but now he was finally going to cross it.
Aiden followed Darkan while the Rangers joined the ranks behind him. The Junti River wasn't particularly big or powerful. It only took a few minutes to make their way to the other side.
Aiden laughed. “I can't believe the whole village was so scared of this tiny river.”
“They weren't scared of the river but of what lies beyond it,” Garel reminded him, pointing into the direction of the hills.
Aiden sobered up and looked at the green hills. The bright blue cloudless sky made the place look peaceful. How could anything bad come from here?
The Rangers moved to the grasses of the hills and began their ascent. Aiden marveled at the view behind him of Icebor. He wasn't very high up but he could see everything: his home, the market square, and even the castle further away.
“A beautiful sight, isn't it?” Darkan asked.
Aiden nodded. “I never appreciated it before. But from up here, it looks like a magical land.”
They continued up to the top of the hill and the anticipation of what was beyond grew to a peak. The wind blew faster up there as the grasses flowed beneath their feet. They had no idea what to expect. The barbarians tribes could be right over the ridge.
Darkan was the first to reach the top. Aiden watched from below as Darkan dropped his bow and sat right down on the grass. That wasn't the response he expected.
Aiden crested the top of the hill and saw for himself. Miles and miles of green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. Not a barbarian was in sight. All those years of living in fear were for nothing.
Aiden sat down next to Darkan and their shoulders touched. “It's beautiful on this side too.”
Darkan nodded. “The barbarians tribes are not as close as we thought. This trek might take a lot longer than I thought.”
Aiden stood up, smiled, and offered his hand. “Then what are we waiting for?”
Darkan gladly accepted his help and Aiden heaved him up. He looked at his Rangers. “It looks like the barbarian tribes are not as close as we thought. But keep your eyes peeled. They could be close by...watching us.”
Belim nodded and tightened his grip on his warhammer.
Garel slapped his hand on Darkan's back. “Looks like were going to have a real adventure.”
Chapter Thirteen
Aiden was the first down the hill, running and letting gravity do its work. Even though he'd never stepped foot here before, the place seemed familiar. Like he was destined to come here.
It just felt right.
Farondil joined him and examined the ground.
“What is it?” Aiden asked.
Farondil ran his fingers through the dirt and smelled it. “The barbarians definitely came through this way.”
“Will you be able to track them?”
Farondil laughed. “Tracking loud and sloppy barbarians will be easy work. Defeating them will be hard.”
Aiden nodded and they continued on.
The group of adventurers conquered hill after hill with no end in sight. Farondil followed the tracks with no difficulty. The green seemed to go on for eternity. The sun set over the land and night fast approached.
Darkan sat his pack down at the base of a hill. “This should be a good place to make camp for the night.”
Aiden was exhausted from the day's travel. His feet ached, his back ached, his entire body ached. He brushed his sweaty hair and sat down on the soft grass. He looked at each of the Rangers and they looked no more tired than when they first started the journey.
“We're not stopping because of me, are we? Because I can go on,” Aiden asked Darkan.
“Of course not. It's not safe to travel in the dark. It wouldn't be good to be ambushed by a tribe of barbarians or whatever else lies in these lands.”
Aiden saw his logic but thought he was still lying. There was no use arguing when he was so exhausted.
Demorac approached Darkan. “Sir, I'd like permission to scout on ahead. I can follow their tracks and maybe find their camp.”
Darkan looked out at the expanse of hills. “It's too dangerous, Demorac. We're not familiar with these lands. I'm going to need everyone of you when we go up against the barbarians. But you can take first watch tonight.”
“It would be my honor, Darkan.” Demorac slammed his chest with his fist.
“Anyone hungry?” Belim bellowed.
Aiden felt the empty pang in his stomach. “I could use a little food.”
Belim smiled. “Wonderful!” He unwrapped some of the dry meats from Icebor.
“Remember Belim, we don't know how long this journey will be so ration the food,” Garel said.
“Of course. Of course. But we need our sustenance to get through the next day of endless hill climbing.”
Farondil began gathering sticks and brush from the surrounding area to make a fire. Aiden sat down on a flat rock as the fire was started with the strike of a stone.
Belim handed out the pieces of beef jerky to each member. Aiden chewed the tough meat, the strands of fat getting stuck between his teeth.
“Not bad,” Belim said.
Demorac stretched a piece of meat with his teeth as hard as he could until it finally snapped. “Could be a little better.”
“Tomorrow we can hunt for some game if we don't come across the barbarians,” Darkan said.
Th
e thought of eating rabbit or even deer made Belim's mouth water. Aiden yawned and warmed his hands near the fire.
“We should all get some rest because we set out again at dawn. Demorac will take the first watch and I will the second,” Darkan said.
Aiden took out a bedroll from his pack. He placed it close to the fire and lay down, staring up at the stars in the sky.
Darkan set up next to Aiden, laying so close they could almost be mistaken for partners. Aiden felt the heat emanating off Darkan's muscular body. His fingertips tingled as he remembered the kiss from before.
“Legends say that each glowing orb in the sky is a god watching over us,” Darkan said.
“Seems a little chaotic with so many different gods watching over us all at once.”
Darkan chuckled. “You're probably right.”
Aiden turned his head to face Darkan. “Do you think we're going to find my parents tomorrow.”
“I don't know. I thought the barbarians bordered our kingdom but now it seems that intelligence was wrong. I promise, I won't rest until we find them.”
Aiden smiled and fell blissfully asleep.
Darkan looked back at the stars. He never expected to meet anyone such as Aiden. He watched Aiden's mouth slightly open as he exhaled. He was fascinating. The sky of light was beautiful but nowhere near as bright as this man before him.
Chapter Fourteen
Aiden woke up with a fright. His hand reached out and touched the empty bedroll next to him. He jumped up to find Darkan sitting at the top of the hill before him.
Aiden looked around at the other sleeping rangers. It was still night and only red embers remained in the fire.
He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around himself. He trudged up the hill until he joined Darkan. “Couldn't sleep?”
Darkan watched as Aiden sat down next to him. “Actually it was my turn to watch.”
Aiden tried to blow warm air into his freezing cold hands. “See anything out here?”
He looked out at all the green hills. The giant glowing sun began to crest over the horizon. “It was a very quiet night.”