Chapter 4
Mack looked back as they were coming out of the mountains and he could see Citadel Ahern, precariously perched on the steep rocky cliffs. It caught the last ray of the sun and sparkled in the fading light. He found himself starting to enjoy the trip, as they followed the winding road out of the mountains. Making himself comfortable on the top of his Master's trailer, Mack watched the trees go by. He was quite content with a protective cover that kept him dry, and a blanket to keep him warm. It surprised him when he started to imagine jumping off the roof and running- but he knew it would be futile. His Master would just find him and beat him for it. Mack shook his head getting the images out and tried not to think about it again.
The contingent slow as they came to the old wooden bridge to accommodate for the crossing of the Tasmorean river. The sound was deafening from the fast rapids echoing through the ravine. As Mack watched from his vantage point, he saw thirty men cross first. Two were on horses, carrying his Master's banner. He could faintly hear the stomping feet of the soldiers. His Masters trailer rocked as it rolled over the bridge and Mack had grab on to something or lose his balance. Eight swordsmen on either side, two abreast, four long, crossed with it, hugging tight to the side.
Mack studied his master's creature again. It was extremely ugly and Mack did not like it very much. It never left his Master's side. Even now, with his Master inside the trailer, the thing never left the door. Looking back as the trailer entered into the forest, Mack watched the night close in behind him. Othion's four-in-hand, was swallowed up right away by the darkness. Followed by forty men at arms that marched across the river without a sound. At the very end was the kitchen. The drivers of each trailer never moved and never spoke, just sat as if they were inanimate objects.
As they left the river behind, it all became quiet and the dense forest dark. And it seemed to Mack that there was something deep within the forest. Something evil following them, hidden by the trees. Mack did not like that feeling at all. He pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders and with the swaying of the coach moving down the road, Mack quickly fell asleep.
Late during the night, while travelling through a particularly bumpy part of the road, Mack woke from a dream. A nightmare he would frequently have, where he would be cleaning up the blood from his Master's latest victim- the endless blood, he could never clean it all up. His Master would then come into the room and start beating him for not doing a good enough job. The two moons- Chádash, the bigger and dominant one and he younger sister, Káshaph- the moon that brought magic to the Creation, streamed light upon his face. His senses were heightened when he became aroused and he heard voices behind him.
Hanging his head over the side of the railings Mack looked back without making no sound. All the guards were gone. Mack assumed they were probably scouting in the forest. Only the stone creature was there walking silently beside the door to his Master's trailer. In the darkness, he saw Othion hanging out the door of his carriage talking to someone just on the tree line. The dim light from within cast a long shadow that followed on the ground. Mack thought he over heard them talking in Goblinkind. Mack squinted his eyes to see. As the stranger walked in and out of the light, Mack saw that he had shiny metal plate armour on his shoulders and legs. On his left side he wore a broad sword, the curved and serrated blade catching the dim light. Mack focused harder on the person's face. He wore no helmet on his head but his course hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail reaching to his waist. The nose was flat, with a small chin and he seemed to have more fur than skin. Mack had never seen a hobgoblin before but he was pretty sure this was one. Mack continued watching as the hobgoblin spoke and nodded its head at Othion before it disappeared into the trees. Mack looked back at Othion, and saw Othion staring right back at him. He jumped and quickly pulled his head back inside the railing. It took him a long time to settle down, but it still was not until the sky started to get light did he drift back to sleep.
It was a normal day for Mack. As soon as his Master woke, he got him breakfast, then helped him dress in preparation for the day. As they travelled- occasionally they would pass through a small village or hamlet- sawmills and small patches of farmland mostly, cut out the forest. Those people who could not make it to Daloseos, would come out to cheer as the future king passed.
“Look at them Mack,” Coel said. “The little people. Doing what they should be doing- working for my needs.” He looked back at Mack and snickered. “Well- say something.” he gave Mack a hard cuff across the head and Mack gave a muffled response. “Your right Mack,” the prince said interpreting Mack's words, “They do love me!”
As Mack looked out the window he saw the forest begin to thin and feeling the steep gradient of the road, realized they were heading to an old castle he could see in the distance. “Highhurst,” Mack heard his Master say. “ It's the largest community around. An old castle built on top a high hill- and I'm supposed to have lunch here.” After spending a few hours in the town, his Master came back in a surly mood and told Mack to get on top. Mack new those moods. It was going be one of those nights where he would hear muffled screams coming from his Master's room. He crawled into the back corner of the roof and hoped there was not going to be blood.
It began just after dark, while passing through a crossroads, Mack heard his Master leave with his Shield Guardian. It was not long until they returned. The Shield Guardian packed an unconscious girl about his age. They were always about his age and Mack felt hopeless when he saw her. She groaned as she was roughly passed into the trailer. His Master quickly closed the door behind him and the Stone Sentinel took up its unending vigilance. Mack berried his head in his blanket and covered his ears.
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To Rule by Right: A Dark Tale of Fantasy- 2nd edition Page 4