by I. B. George
The aide scratched his head.
“Captain, if I’m not mistaken, there is a route that goes round the gorge.”
“That’s true. But if they choose to go that way, then we shall catch them on the other side of the gorge. Even if they’re in the lead, it doesn’t matter anymore. Tell the men to get ready for a long march without any stops. This could be our only chance. We must catch the prince before he ventures over into the Boundary.”
“Yes, sir, Captain! I’ll give the order at once.”
The aide turned his horse round, making haste to follow Kolar’s orders.
“Wait,” Kolar stopped him in his tracks. “Inform our men that we will march for the whole day until we’re exhausted. If any of them are left behind or their horses collapse, we won’t be able to stop and help them.”
“Yes, sir!”
“You’re dismissed,” said Kolar, gesturing to his aide to leave.
Left on his own, Kolar prompted his horse which started at a stormy gallop. A few moments later, the soldiers and the Water Chosen who were part of his small convoy, followed behind, raising a cloud of dust which could be seen from hundreds of paces away.
***
They had been on the road for almost a day during which time they had made only one stop, for about an hour, to allow the horses some rest as they were worn out from the climb.
Rolan, who knew the roads well, led them confidently across the wild, less trodden paths, trying at the same time to keep them as far away as possible from the ridge, so as not to be seen by the soldiers in the gorge.
The road descended, which meant that they were nearing the end of their journey through the Serpent’s Gorge. There were no soldiers to be seen at the foot of the hill, meaning that King Tyreas’s troops were waiting somewhere inside the gorge.
Khar made his presence known through his piercing cry as he encircled above they heads. At length he landed on Radius’s arm and he stopped his horse, forcing the others to do the same.
“What news do you bring, Khar?” asked Radius who had been waiting anxiously for the falcon’s report.
“The soldiers following you, Professor, are half an hour behind. They only stopped for a few moments in the place where the troops in the gorge are, so they could change horses then they started in a hurry behind you. They took on another twenty soldiers… perhaps more, because they’ve lost three or four of their men on the way.”
“Thank you, my friend, you’ve been a tremendous help. Without your support we would have fallen prisoners to the king by now. Keep watching Tyreas’s men and let us know if we’re in danger.”
“May Lokar keep you safe, friends! Take care of yourselves, especially the prince. He is probably the only hope left for hundreds of thousands of souls.”
“Of course we will. Friends, you’ve heard what Khar said,” Radius addressed his companions. “We ought to make haste or else the king’s men will catch up with us.”
There was a murmur of approval rising from the chests of those around. Rolan resumed his place in the lead and promised to take them to the Border by the quickest route.
They started at a gallop, aware that this time danger was breathing down their necks. Although they had been through many hardships throughout their journey, they hadn’t yet felt like that before.
Gradually that feeling of fear turned into bitterness as they thought about their plans being squashed now, when they were so close to the Border.
Khar left them and flew back to his outpost in the skies, swirling in wide circles so as to better scrutinise the area with his shrewd eyes.
Rolan rode wildly, forcing those behind him to follow in a dizzying rhythm. The horses were tired after having ran for nearly the whole day with only one break. He clutched the reins, furious at not being able to ride even faster.
Captain Vidar, who took the rear of the group, looked over his shoulder and noticed a threatening cloud of dust on the path, closing in on them from a few thousand steps away.
“Professor,” he called, “I can see them, they’re getting closer! They’ll catch up with us eventually… their horses are less tired!”
“Rolan!” called Radius in turn. “Do you think we could hide somewhere and lose them?”
“No, Professor,” he replied. “We must keep going at the same speed, there’s no other way. I’m not sure how long our horses will last though.”
Even though the sun was blazing, everyone felt a cold shiver running down their spines as they heard Rolan’s words and realised he was right.
“Voras,” called the Professor again. “I think it’s time you showed us your skills. Use your ability to bring on a pitch-black darkness! Azar, take over the group! Your sight will guide us through the dark. Robert, you stay behind with Vidar and make sure nobody gets lost in the dusk when Voras brings it on!”
Everyone did as the Professor ordered and Azar, with Rolan by his side, took over command while Robert slowed down his horse so he could join Vidar at the rear of the convoy.
“You can begin, Voras!” called Radius when everyone was in the right place.
Voras closed his eyes for a few moments and as he opened them again, his orbits appeared white and glassy, meaning he was in a trance. His lips moved almost undetectably as he whispered a chant to Yari, the Night Goddess.
Gradually, his eyes started clouding over with a sort of black smoke as the sky became darker and darker. The more Voras’s eyes were darkening, the more heavily the night descended until dusk took hold of everything for as far as thousands of paces around.
Somewhere in the distance, a few dogs started howling, frightened by the impenetrable darkness which had suddenly descended.
Azar, Voras and Robert guided their friends in the blackout, as they were the only ones able to make out the road ahead. Behind them, Kolar’s men kept galloping faster and faster, terrified that their prey might slip through their fingers.
The commotion made by Tyreas’s soldiers could be heard nearer and nearer when Radius’s voice rang out through the blackout, covering the dogs’ howls and the noises of various animals of prey:
“Robert, stay behind and throw the stone over your shoulder… Your father’s stone!”
The prince understood at once what the Professor meant. It was their only chance to block the way between them and their pursuers. He looked over his shoulder and saw the king’s soldiers only a few hundred paces behind. In a short while, they would be upon them. They seemed to be led by one of the soldiers who could see equally well through the darkness since he had looked him straight in the eyes when he glanced back at him.
He must have been one of the Fire or Night Chosen because Robert was convinced that he could find his way in the blackout with amazing ease and the soldiers were probably being guided by his voice.
Robert stopped and opened his father’s bag. He rummaged inside and pulled out the stone the Professor had mentioned. He held it in his hands and, with a grab of the reins, started behind his friends, determined to throw it behind him if the distance between them and their pursuers closed in.
He glanced behind him again and saw their enemies were getting closer. He let go of the reins in his right hand and turned in his saddle so he could hurl the stone behind him. Unused to Robert, the horse didn’t see the bump in the middle of the road and it stumbled, throwing the prince off his saddle.
Robert rolled over a few tens of steps in front of the horse and the stone fell off his hand, rolling somewhere ahead of him. At last, when it came to a halt, a deafening boom rang out and the earth started cracking.
A wall resembling black glass rose in front of Robert as the earth howled as though in fright under the weight of the rock that pierced its insides.
Far ahead, beyond the black mountain, Robert could hear Radius’s desperate voice calling his name then suddenly everything turned black and he fell into a deep slumber.
He didn’t get a chance to see the soldiers gathering around him and Kolar getting off
his horse by his side. He didn’t feel a thing as Kolar grabbed him by his clothes and lifted him off the dust of the road and placed his body on his own horse’s saddle.
“Let’s go!” he boomed. “We will take care of the others later. We’ll take the prince to the Forgotten Outpost, then we’ll send word to Heldor Castle and request new orders.”
As Voras’s darkness started to dissipate, Kolar mounted his horse while the soldiers lined up behind and started following him to the Forgotten Outpost
***
Everybody dismounted and looked at each other in astonishment, unable to speak. Next to them, Akura stood with his head bowed, disappointed with himself for failing to fulfil his role as Royal Adviser. His main duty was to maintain the safety and welfare of the royal family and now Robert had been snatched by Tyreas’s men.
Radius was kneading the reins of his horse in his hands, watching his friends with a mournful look. Rolan tried to say something, but no sound came out.
“Rolan,” spoke the Professor at last, “we have to save the prince from the claws of the king’s soldiers. Do you know of any quiet place nearby where we can hold counsel?”
Rolan answered in a sad voice:
“Yes, Professor, I do. There’s a small forest near the Boundary. We could set up camp there for a while and talk at length about what to do next.”
“There’s no time to waste,” intervened Voras. “What’s certain is that we must come up with a plan.”
Akura stepped closer to his friends.
“Without the prince, our efforts would be in vain. Robert is the reason we got together in the first place and exposed ourselves to so much danger. Without him the prophecy can’t be fulfilled.”
“It’s time to leave, Professor, and head towards the place that Rolan mentioned,” Captain Vidar’s deep voice rang out. “We must hide from any potential pursuers so we can talk in peace.”
“Vidar is right,” Radius endorsed the captain’s words. “Let’s go, my friends. I trust that we’ll pull through once more. Whatever obstacles might come our way, we must place our trust in the prophecy of the oracle.”
A shadow started circling around them, making them turn their eyes to the sky. Khar was flying above their heads, which meant he had news to share.
“I’m glad to see you’re safe, my friends,” said the falcon as he landed on the Professor’s arm. “I have news about the prince which I think you might like to hear before you set off.”
Everybody gathered around Radius, eager to hear Khar’s information.
“Go ahead, my friend, we’re listening,” Radius urged Khar, waiting expectantly to hear his news.
“I saw Robert being taken away. The leader of the group, a certain Captain Kolar, as the others called him, hurled him onto his horse and told the others to head for the Forgotten Outpost.
Rolan turned pale when he heard Khar saying the captain’s name. His pallor didn’t go unnoticed by the shrewd eyes of Azar who remembered the incident at the tavern when he fancied that Mivas, the innkeeper, had recognised Rolan but had kept it a secret.
Rolan, my friend, what are you hiding from us? the master wondered to himself, determined to interrogate him and find out his secret as soon as he had a chance. I’m beginning to question our pursuers’ skills and start wondering if someone is informing them of our every move. And that someone could be you, honourable Rolan.
“Then there’s still a chance, my friends,” uttered Radius with some relief. “We must rescue Robert while he’s being held at the Forgotten Outpost. I fear everything would be lost if Robert is taken to Heldor. Now, let’s find shelter and keep counsel, we have a lot to discuss. I hope Rolan knows the outpost well so we can plan the prince’s escape properly.”
Rolan agreed, confirming to the Professor with a nod that he was familiar with the checkpoint at the Border. They mounted their horses and started on their way alongside Rolan, everybody buried deep in their thoughts but confident about their chances.
Half an hour later, they entered the edge of the forest Rolan had mentioned and they started advancing along the paths which went deeper into the woods.
“We’re nearing a campsite used by the hunters around here,” said Rolan. “We’re going to stop there and talk in peace.”
The path went round a large bramble which hid the rest of the road and immediately behind it, Rolan stopped suddenly.
A few tens of paces ahead, in the middle of the road, stood a man, perched on the saddle of a black horse and smiling ironically. His hand was resting on the handle of a large sword at his waist.
“A wonderful day to you, sirs!” he called out. “What brings you to my woods?”
The seven friends looked at each other in confusion. At last, Rolan replied:
“These woods belong to King Tyreas so we ask you, honourable, to get out of our way and let us pass!”
The rider scratched his beard and looked amused.
“I beg to differ, honest merchants. This is my forest and anyone passing through it must pay a tax.”
“A tax?!” exclaimed Radius. “Whatever for?”
“Well, for the fact that you’re going through my forest, naturally,” replied the man as he carried on smirking.
“My friend,” answered Azar, “we’re on a mission and in a hurry. We haven’t got time for this.”
“Far from me to wish to keep you, sir,” said the man ironically. “You pay the tax and you carry on whichever way you’d like.”
“And how much would this tax be, friend…?
“Cavas, sir, Captain Cavas.”
“… friend Cavas,” continued Radius.
The man scratched his stubble and added quickly:
“Cheap, Your Highness. Two hundred gold coins. I also accept any other valuables which might cover the value of the tax: rings, earrings, bracelets…”
Captain Vidar reached for his sword.
“That’s it, I’ve had enough of this clown! I shall crack your back with my sword, sir Cavas, as one captain to another.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, my friend,” replied Cavas without even flinching. “My friends and I might think that was being rude of you and we might have to retaliate.”
“You and which friends?” intervened Voras.
Captain Cavas gave a long whistle, making a loud noise which made the forest shudder.
From among the bushes and the trees along the path appeared fifty men, one face dodgier than the other and their bows aimed straight at them. Akura started growling and barring his fangs, worried by the sudden turn of events.
“Looks like we’ve reached a deadlock, my dear sirs. Say hello to my friends, the Wanderers. Now I shall ask you to give up your goods and consider yourselves our guests from now on.”
The seven friends watched each other helplessly. They couldn’t have defeated the Wanderers by force alone because their chances would have surely been minimal.
Radius was the first to unclasp the sword from his waist and throw it on the grass, after which he dismounted and took hold of the horse’s reins. A few moments later the others did the same, renouncing their weapons and horses.
As they were being led away, surrounded by the bandits, they pondered on this new obstacle that fate had thrown their way.
That same time, at the Forgotten Outpost, Robert was being hurled into a damp cell inside the checkpoint while a huge, iron door was closing behind him with a creek.
Chapter 10
Bustle Behind the Cell Door
Seated at a table in one of the rooms at the Forgotten Outpost, Captain Kolar was finishing a letter to King Tyreas, telling him that Prince Robert was imprisoned in a cell inside the watch tower at the edge of the Border.
The captain was faced with a dilemma: the king had ordered him to bring all the traitors who had been conspiring against him and because of the incident with the mountain, he had been obliged to make do only with Robert.
At first, the captain had wanted to take Robert
to Heldor Castle, but that meant leaving behind the prince’s friends and thus risking to lose them for good.
Kolar was hoping that Robert’s companions would stay close by and try to rescue him so for that reason he thought they’d fall into his hands sooner or later.
In the first instance, he thought about sending some of the soldiers and his aide to Heldor Castle in order to hand over the heir to the Kingdom of Fire to King Tyreas, while he and the rest of the troop would start searching for Robert’s companions. However, he didn’t trust the soldiers under his command with such a mission as he assumed that somewhere along the journey, the prince might be freed or allowed to escape in a moment of idleness.
Eventually he decided to write to the king and ask for instructions then send the letter by one of his soldiers. It wouldn’t take longer that twelve hours and the messenger would reach Heldor Castle a few hours after midnight.
He folded the letter, then heated some wax using the flame of the candle on the table. He allowed a few drops to drip onto the paper then sealed it by pressing down the wax with his ring which was engraved with the family’s coat of arms, the only thing left from his father.
He watched the wax solidifying with the imprint of his coat of arms, then he moved his finger across it in a nostalgic gesture, reminiscing about the former riches and glory of his family.
“Guards,” he called at last as he remembered he had better things to do than to dwell on times long gone.
One of the soldiers who stood guard in front of the chamber opened the door and headed towards the commander, standing in position before him.
The captain handed him the letter.
“I want this message delivered as quickly as possible to Heldor Castle and handed to King Tyreas himself. After you’ve received the orders from the king, you are to return here at once and communicate them to me. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Be vigilant! Do not stop and do not talk to anyone. It’s imperative that you get before the king as quickly as possible. If you deliver this task successfully, I’ll make sure you get rewarded accordingly.”