by Daniel Arndt
“It’s a shame. Those wolves most likely claimed our prize. At least, that’ll keep their hunting party busy and fed for tonight. We can safely set up camp and forage while they’re down creek. I saw a few fallen trees and rock formations in among the woods. We could make a shelter with one of them and set a fire away from the wind.”
Cass looked towards a small gathering of stone that formed a jagged half circle at the edge of the woods they had emerged from. She nodded in their direction approvingly.
“I’m going to see if I can find something else to hunt. Hopefully something fluffy and slow.”
Valente recovered from his hungry thirsting as he lifted up from the cracked pond.
“Let me help. Four eyes are better than two.”
Cass hesitantly gripped her bow as he unslung it.
“It’s okay, you can help Gregor set up camp.”
Valente stepped closer to huntress locking his eyes with Cass’s. His earnest desires of redemption shone forward through them and his stern plea.
“Please. I want to do this.”
Cass moved her eyes free and licked the spidersilk in thought. The light string produced a happy twang. The vibration dribbled through the bow and into her palm as her decision bounced like the string. As the string settled, the huntress tapped the bow. Cass nodded and followed it with a cheeky smile.
“Alright fancy pants. Keep up.”
The huntress started into a spirited jog over the frost and snow. Her agile figure was unencumbered as she glided across the surface of the snow towards a nearby thicket of trees. Valente eagerly followed as he crunched along the snow. His movements lacked in grace but made up in a valorous effort as he left an industrial trench in his wake.
Valente was thankful for his trench. Without it, the journey back would have been grueling as well as disappointing. At least now it was only disappointing. Cass and the prince had spent the dwindling hours of day stalking through the mountain woods for something to eat. As eager as they were, the mountain was cold and barren to their attempts. He wanted to focus his mind on other things, but the empty wastes of snow gave him no opportunity. Cass had shot several arrows into an unlucky bush to blow off her frustrations. Valente looked around again hoping to see a miraculous bounty on the way back. Nothing. Cass trudged behind the prince. Valente pooled his thoughts into his hands where a small folded cloth was held. They had found a small patch of frostdrops, a juicy purple berry that was sour enough to implode one’s face. Valente looked back at Cass. Her hood was up and her head was down while she consulted the ground for encouragement. He quickly turned back to the cloth. They had not shared many words while they were out on their expedition. Cass was quiet and alert when she was focused or hunting, but even still Valente was glad he joined her. He needed to prove himself. Valente’s grip squeezed the cloth as the squishy orbs pressed against his fingers. The prince unfolded the cloth revealing the small violet spheres.
A taste won’t hurt.
Valente perused the assortment of berries before grabbing a small and lopsided one on the fabric’s edge. Tossing the smaller one into his mouth, he chomped down letting the juice explode. The sweet tang enveloped his mouth as he could not help but grin in surprised satisfaction. Then the sourness stepped into overdrive. The cascade of tartness washed over the prince’s body as he struggled to maintain a proper posture. The crash of acidically sharp waves bashed against his being as though their life depended on it.
“You okay Val?”
Cass looked up from beneath her hood as her concerned scowl jumped into an amused smirk.
“Oh. You ate one.”
Valente turned around and did his best to smile as though everything was okay. With his face wrinkled in more ways than an elder’s laundry-day, his action was thoroughly unconvincing. Cass happily took on a serving of laughter as she threw out her open palm.
“Now I want to try. Give me one.”
As Valente’s soul recuperated from the unrelenting tang, he plucked a frostdrop from the cloth and dropped it into Cass’s open hand. He watched the huntress in great anticipation. Cass giggled once more as she placed the berry on her tongue and brought it carefully into her mouth. Pushing it into her teeth she crushed it. Cass barred her teeth as she chewed.
“This isn’t so bad-”
Her smile vanished as quick as her confidence as the bitter barrage began. Her face convulsed as her skin receded backwards as to hold back the sour onslaught. Valente pushed his lips together to prevent himself from laughing at the lady. Cass made a guttural and staggered inhale as she tried to fend off the acidic attack. Valente’s will and honor shattered as he burst into laughter. Cass perhaps would have been indignant if it were not for her joining in.
“That hits harder than a Tharian Street Brawler!”
Valente playfully flexed.
“Oh, you noticed? I really wanted to be one of those so I’ve been working out.”
Cass blew air from her shut lips before grinning.
“Pffft! You wish!”
Valente contorted his face into an over-exaggerated frown as he forcefully quivered his lower lip.
“How could you say this! I’ve spent my whole life training for this moment, and you’ve shattered my dreams. I think I might cry.”
Cass proudly put her hands on her hips.
“Good. I’ll have something to quench my thirst.”
Valente dropped the act as he smiled and threw up a worried eyebrow.
“Drink my tears? That’s cold.”
“You think that’s cold? Well, they didn’t call me Ice Queen Cassandra for nothing.”
“Wait. They actually called you that?”
Cass shrugged.
“Only the boys in my village. Most of them were as smart as the tools they worked with. Although…”
Cass let her sentence taper off as she brushed past the listening prince. Valente swung around and began to take strides to follow.
“Although?”
Cass turned to meet him as she playfully walked backwards through the trench.
“There was this cute boy. I thought I might marry him. A farmer’s boy if you can get more cliche than that.”
Cass wistfully spun in the snow
“Too bad he wasn’t interested in women.”
Valente did his best to stifle his chuckle again. He did not perform well.
“By Agri’s beard, no wonder you’re cold.”
Cass looked over her shoulder towards the prince and sent him a cheeky smile. She went to speak but then held her tongue as she skipped towards where Gregor had sent camp.
I’m not so cold when I’m with you.
The two approached the woods they had left Gregor in. Both of them looked out for the camp but nearly missed it as they were caught up in their jovialities. Through the trees and above a hedge of rock and snow, Gregor had to peek out his head. His shout brought their attention out from their conversation.
“Over here, chatter birds.”
Gregor’s red hair burned against the white wash of snow. He served an easy beacon as the two saw him in between a circle of stone and quickly made jutting palisades. Gregor’s head disappeared as it ducked down. It reemerged again as he walked around the natural stone crescent.
“Took you two quite a while!”
Gregor’s experienced eyes looked over the grinning pair before joining in their smiling consortium.
“You both are also in a pleasant mood. You must have gotten something good. Come on over and show me.”
Gregor turned towards the misshapen circle of rock and palisade with his arm above him. He eagerly waved the two forward to follow him to the other side. Cass and Valente walked around the crude stone perimeter and towards the jagged line of broken logs that curved around the other side. Valente excitedly increased his pace as he got a better view of the campsite Gregor had manufactured. The grey teeth of the mountain poked upwards in a lazy half-circle that served as the camp’s foundations. Wedged betw
een the rocks and buried in the snow, large palisades made from crudely chopped logs stuck out forming a drooping wall. Together the rock and claymore-chopped wood formed a spiked wall around a small area. Overall it was nothing more than an over fortified trench. Valente could not hold back his praise.
“Gregor this is astounding!”
The knight squeezed in between a gap among the fracture logs that served as the entrance. He threw his hands in a sweeping motion as to reveal the fort he had just stepped into.
“Behold, my castle.”
Gregor stepped deeper as he gestured above the wooden spikes for his companions to follow him in. Valente eagerly stepped in first. The chill of the mountains melted away as he passed between the wooden barricades. A small yet fervently glowing fire burned in the center of the ground. The snow had faded to keep away from the fire creating a pleasantly perfect circle. Three pieces of bread warmed themselves upon a stone on the fireside. A sheet of cheese gently bubbled and browned on the top of each slice. Cass stepped in behind Valente and bumped him out of his appreciation as she stumbled into her own. Valente and Cass exchanged thankful looks and moved to the edge of the fire and huddled around it. Gregor squeezed in through the gap sending a groaning crack through the wooden palisade. He patted his belly down trying to force the weight of his retirement back under his belt.
“There should be enough room for all of as long as one of us is on watch. I took some bread and thought I’d make a little something. It is nothing fancy, but you’re welcome to have one.”
Cass grabbed the bread knowing the other alternative for a meal was much less welcoming. Valente’s head hung a little lower as he looked over the bread. Its delicious fragrance was deceptively saddening. Gregor stood above the two; his beard itched as he had realized the food’s significance. Cass curled her brow in concern her hand moved out to give the prince her slice. Valente loudly exhaled and shook his head free of the feeling. Pulling his head up, he took a slice with gusto as he held it up in the air towards his companions.
“Thank you, Gregor.”
The knight stooped down and picked up a slice raising it as the prince had done. Cass concealed her attempt at comfort by lifting her own. Valente marched on through his labored words.
“Let us enjoy this meal, together, and in memory of… the kindness of those before us.”
Valente lowered the bread and indulged in a wholesome crunch. Cass and Gregor were not far behind. The hot cheese was a splendid addition to the dry and toasted bread. Together the two ingredients bonded into a hearty and welcome meal in the mountain’s cold snow. It was not long before the cooked slices were nothing but memories of the tongue. Valente thoughtfully munched on his remaining crust. Savoring the lasting remnant, he bowed his head in thought letting the fire warm his frosty hair. Gregor wiped the army of crumbs from his beards before he clapped his hands in excitement.
“So, you two have still to tell me, what did you find out there?”
Cass reached into Valente’s pocket taking him and his pocket’s contents out of their rest. She cupped the cloth in her hand as Valente protested.
“Hey!”
Cass unfolded the cloth revealing the purple fruit to the Liosian knight. She pushed the cloth forward hovering the bundle just out of reach of the giant’s beard. Gregor curiously placed a finger on his bearded chin as he leaned forward over the small fruit
“What is this? They’re like a mini purple orange.“
Cass and Valente exchanged hints of excitement as their eyes met. They both shuffled themselves forward in their seats upon the ground. Cass gleamed with her most innocent smile.
“They are winter grapes!”
Gregor’s brow sensed something was up as it curiously danced along his forehead. The knight’s massive hand gently picked up one of the frostdrops. Carefully, he examined it between his index and thumb above his head letting the fading light illuminate the strange fruit. The small berry appeared nearly a speck between Gregor’s fingers.
“Never tried a winter grape before.”
Satisfied with his examination, the knight tossed the small morsel into his maw and chomped down with his signature smile.
“Is this little sweet thing all you two found?”
The question was quick to go unanswered as the knight howled in bellowing surprise. The sour surged forward causing his face to forfeit the concept of reasonable looks. Gregor scrunched his face like a wet rag doing his best to squeeze out the invasive sour tang. Valente and Cass held their sides doing their best not to explode from the laughter that riddled their bodies. The knight clenched his smile over top of his tingling tongue. He recovered as he loudly smacked his lips free of the unexpected burst from the little berry.
“What in good lord Ohm’s domain is that? It tastes like a thousand little knives parading on my tongue!”
The ruckus subsided and the three settle down into conversation around the fire. Time slipped away and slid under the horizon with the last of the sun. Though this mountain turned cold, and the night grew darker, the small camp remained warm with company.
The sky was not shy of brilliance tonight. The countless constellations and shimmering stars that made them twirled all above Valente. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed watching them. When he was younger, he and Jonathan used to divide the stars among themselves. One by one, constellation by constellation. They used to fall asleep in the royal gardens a lot this way. Valente coughed the cold air from his throat. The bittersweet nostalgia hung heavy on his heart.
If only things could be simple again.
When castles were grand playgrounds and disapproving whispers were just the adults being boring.
Sparks crackled from the embers of the fire and shot themselves reaching towards the stars. Valente watched their gentle drift. Each spark went dark as they rose into the cold night sky. A distant howl carried over the mountaintop. Valente wrapped his fur cloak closer around himself. The first watch seemed the longest, but it was what the prince volunteered for. He needed the time to think. A lot had happened since Leonin died. He had put so many in danger to get himself home.
Did I just use them? Did I value them as less than myself?
He looked off to the side of the fire. Cass had curled herself up into a small sleeping ball.
Perhaps at the start, but now…
An ache of sorrow and regret stabbed the prince. Images of a beautiful man and an industrious smith echoed in his mind.
“I’m sorry…”
Valente’s apology lost itself in the steam of his breath. Valente clenched a fist as he pummeled the snow with a hearty blow. As his spurt of anger subsided, he looked over his companions. Gregor, the knight, he knew for so little a time, but now felt like he could not do without. Someone he could trust and rely on without a second thought: a true knight that was not tied down by his Liosian lineage. Looking at the curled ball of the huntress, Valente smiled. Cass, even though a commoner, was a proper lady, but not one of any royal courts. She was more capable than any noble, and smarter than them too. He knew that even if she wanted that mansion she would have helped him for free. A heart of pure gold.
Valente looked out between the barriers. Dark pillars of trees were all he could make out, but something out there called to him. If he left, Cass and Gregor would no longer be in danger. No one else would have to risk their lives.
Or die.
Valente looked to the sky again. The stars remained stoic and shining. In the vast quilt of darkness and light, the prince lost himself. A streak of light tore across the sky bringing him back. The sky glowed with dazzling illumination as a light flew across it before vanishing from sight as quickly as it had arrived. The prince’s eyes widened at the extraordinary sight.
A falling star
Priests of the Seven often said it could only happen once in any person’s lifetime. A blessing from Celestion. A wish just waiting for a question. Valente excitedly looked to his companions for their reaction. Bei
ng fast asleep, the two others offered nothing but a gentle snore. Cass was tightly curled into a small huntress ball and Gregor sprawled out like a knightly sleeping bear overdue for hibernation. Valente ardently turned back to the night sky as he deeply inhaled and smiled to himself. Had he seen this star before his journey he may not have believed in it or its supposed divine power. After all, he had survived and gone through and the constant faith-inspiring-drive the huntress had often showed, the prince could not remain unconvinced. This had to be his star. Valente shook his head back and forth in disbelief.
I’m more of a believer than I thought.
Valente looked down at his cold and aching knees. He moved them to kneel in the chilling snow as he bowed his head and prayed to the gods for his wish.
Snow reflected the brilliance of the rising morning sun. The dazzling effect burned away the remnants of Cass’s tiredness that lingered from Gregor’s attempt to wake her an hour prior. The worrying howls of the night had ceased and the morning chirps of winter birds filled the mountaintop. Cass deeply drew in the fresh air. She loved mornings like this. The day opened up into the possibility of new adventures, experiences and so much more unending horizons. Cass plucked her bow from the rock face like a plump wild berry and she ran her finger along its frosted spidersilk. The smooth and taut line soothed her into a satisfied lull. Cass smiled and playfully plucked the string letting it twang. It had been awhile since she could properly use it. Trees and bushes were not usually that thrilling to hunt. Cass tapped the string in thought. Looking over her shoulder she gave the small enclosure a second glance. Valente mumbled in his sleep. Cass returned her focus to the bow from the resting prince.
It’s best if you rest a little while longer.
Getting up, Cass picked up an arrow from her quiver and twirled it in her hands as she dodged between the crooked palisades. The snow glowed all around her like millions of small diamonds as the flakes sparkled in the sun. The huntress squinted her eyes as she peered down the mountain. In the near distance, the side of the mountain curved downwards towards its base in a long slope. The forest slowly petered off as the path became steeper and the mountain itself regained its influence. At the edge of her vision, she could make out a small jagged ledge hanging off of the mountain ridge. It would be an ideal place to find bearing for the rest of the journey.