He moved off towards the two closest men at his side. “Lambert, Higgins. You two grab those bodies and get rid of them so any passing soldiers won’t see them. Take anything you can of use and set fire to the rest.”
“Yes, Sir!” they shouted in unison. They both saluted the caption with a fist to the heart before quickly starting off on their tasks.
“The rest of you move out. We need to get back to camp before nightfall or it’s going to be some hard trekking through these woods.”
He looked back at Erin as the others started off through the woods. They disappeared so quickly and moved so quietly that it was hard to imagine they were all there only moments before.
“Are you okay enough to walk? You look like you got a pretty good bump on your head there” he tenderly brushed aside her bangs to inspect the bruise on her forehead from when the soldiers had thrown her on the ground.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just a bump. Let’s get going. And Ryan…thanks again for rescuing me” she smiled, still relieved she wasn’t captive any longer.
He nodded and returned the smile in kind and they both started off into the woods after the company of soldiers before vanishing into the thickness of the green undergrowth.
Chapter XVI
David was the first to wake. The cool morning air sent goose bumps down his flesh, but it was a nice reprieve after the heat in the grassy field the day before. The air was crisp and fresh and filled David’s lungs with a coolness that helped shake off the sleep.
He slowly sat up and looked around to check on the others. Rex was still asleep, but he had managed to roll nearly ten feet off his bedroll and was now using a good-sized stone as a pillow. David chuckled quietly to himself, thinking that the barbarian could probably sleep on a thorn bush if he had to.
He looked across their makeshift camp to see Orin slowly twisting and turning apparently lost deep within a dream. He decided to get up and stretch his legs a little while he waited for the others to wake up.
While he slowly walked, he looked back towards the plains and the Mystic Mountain that was surrounded by the Outer Woods they had left only the day before. It seemed so far away, but the events of the previous day made the trek seem to go a lot faster. He supposed that anytime someone is fleeing for their life, time and distance seems to feel a little differently.
He marveled at how everything looked so peaceful in the early morning. The air was quiet and filled with a gentle mist that hovered above the plains and the tops of the forest. He could hear the occasional song of a bird in the distance, but other than that he felt pretty isolated on the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Alone was good after such a frightful flight, but he was eager to have the others wake so he wouldn’t have to deal with the haunting thoughts of Erin and what she may be going through.
He desperately wished he could help her now, but he knew they wouldn’t stand a chance without some reinforcements. He hoped that Rex could convince his people to help with their cause. After all, he couldn’t imagine citizens of the living world not wanting to help prevent an endless horde of flesh-eating demons from escaping the Dark Abyss, not to mention their leader, the Defiant One. Just the thought of what he may do to the world left David chilled to the bone, and it had nothing to do with the cool, mountain breeze.
He strained his eyes to see if he could see any sign of Eldergate or West Post, but the mist was too thick over the tops of the trees to reveal anything other than the upper reaches of the Mystic Mountain. He decided he would go back and see if the others had awoken.
Upon reaching the camp he saw that Rex and Orin were both awake and starting to gather their things for the march up the slopes towards Ravenfell. They turned to see him walking back towards the camp and motioned for him to do the same. When they all finished packing their gear and had a quick bite to eat, they set off up the slope, Rex leading the way.
“So, how long do you think until we reach Ravenfell?” David asked.
“Shouldn’t be too long, maybe half a day’s march from here” replied Rex. “It’s not too far, but it’s a dangerous path so it takes longer to get there than it normally would in less hazardous conditions.”
The longer they walked the steeper and rockier the climb became. What before was a distinguishable trail with plenty of room before dropping off into a steep descent was now only a few feet wide with steep cliffs on both sides. To the left the sheer rock wall rocketed high into the sky and on their right, it shot down fifty feet or more in some places. The path was cut in a switchback fashion up the side of the mountain in an effort to not make the climb too difficult.
There were times they had to climb over fallen debris, while other times they had to jump over gaps where the trail had fallen away. They came across a few wooden bridges that spanned the gaps that were too far to jump, leaving David terrified as he crossed, the rushing wind causing the bridge to sway back and forth in an unsettling way. Fortunately, and much to David’s relief, they were built sturdy and the three companions crossed without too much trouble.
The companions stayed quiet most of the time, conserving their breath for the difficult task of keeping up with Rex. Despite his being away for so long, he still seemed to be part mountain goat. The thinning air and the monstrous climb didn’t seem to affect him much at all, while Orin and David were in the back panting and struggling to keep up. Several times Rex had to stop and let the others catch their breath before they could continue further up the mountain.
After what seemed an eternity the companions reached an area where the trail seemed to level out and open into a wider path. Despite it being mid-day, the temperature had dropped as they climbed up the mountain and the mist seemed to follow them rather than dissipate as the day waxed on.
Rex explained that it was the clouds up here fogging up the air and that some days it was clear, it just depended on the weather. Up ahead they could see a split in the mountain that led through two closely paired rock walls. David assumed the unusual structure was created from an earthquake of some kind. He knew it must have been a monstrous quake to cause the mountain to split like that.
“We’re almost there. Just through that pass lay the valley. Let’s keep going” said Rex.
David and Orin nearly cried with joy that their trek was almost at an end. They mustered up the last of their strength and followed Rex to the opening of the passage through the mountain.
When they reached the opening, David couldn’t believe the magnitude of the structure. It towered hundreds of feet above his head on both sides and was smooth in some places while jagged and patterned in others. The two sides didn’t fit together perfectly, so he assumed that whatever rock had fallen from the structures must have been cleared away to keep the passage clear for travelers. As he passed, David noticed some vegetation had found its way into little crevices and had grown up the sides of the walls in some places, while bunching up into bushes and small trees in others. David couldn’t wait to see what lay on the other side of the passageway.
When they neared the end of the corridor, they could see patches of sunlight breaking through the clearings in the clouds. They were finally dissipating and letting through the ever-blue skies beyond. David could see that beyond the passage the path seemed to open into what looked like a wide area, but he couldn’t tell much from this distance.
When they finally reached the end, David couldn’t believe his eyes. The tunnel opened into an entire crater-like valley filled with forests, rivers, and a large lake that was dotted with little fishing boats.
In the distance lie an enormous city bustling with activity. There was a wide cobblestone road running up the center and more narrow ones running like veins throughout the entire community, each dotted with pedestrians going about their day. Hundreds of large stone buildings clustered along the streets with people walking in and out, some busily and others quite leisurely. There were massive two-story structures that looked like inns and townhomes, and hundreds of smaller, cozy dwell
ings dotting the hillside that David could imagine living in peacefully for the rest of his life.
In the center of the city lay a bustling market that was dotted with people walking busily about.
Further in the distance on a lonely hill towards the back of the valley David could make out a large stone superstructure. It was surrounded by massive stone walls with towers in strategic positions around the stronghold.
Rex said that was once his father’s castle, but now was home to his Uncle Bastion. He said his uncle took his place when his father died, leaving him to govern over the city and ensure its safety during times of trouble, a duty that was once destined to be his before he left.
David and Orin, each sharing similar looks, decided not to press the issue further in fear of upsetting their friend. He had already told them why he left, but they hadn’t known he was set to be the ruler of his people.
“That’s where we need to go if we’re going to get their help” Rex said, pointing towards the castle on the hill. “I’ll need to speak with my uncle and request his help, and if we’re lucky, he’ll give it to us” he finished. He didn’t look very convinced, they noticed, slightly disheartened.
He started off down the road into the valley and the others followed closely behind. It didn’t take them long to reach the outskirts of the city as the descent into the valley was easy and relatively hazard free. Once they got into the city, people in all directions stopped what they were doing and stared.
Some pretended to ignore them as the companions passed by, some stopped mid-stride and stared, whispering amongst themselves as they passed, pointing to Rex, while others began wailing, falling desperately into each other’s arms as if a loved one had just died.
David and Orin exchanged looks privately but thought it best to keep their questions to themselves until Rex decided to reveal more.
Painstakingly they trekked onward through the center of the city, something that seemed to take even longer than the long trek up the side of the mountain.
It was unnerving to see so many people stopping to stare, point, cry… what could possibly make them so upset about Rex’s return?
David and Orin caught up to walk beside Rex, but when they saw the look on his face they decided to back off and just follow a little way behind. He wore a grim look of determination with a hint of shame. Tears welled up in his eyes, but not one fell. It was clear that returning to his home was more difficult for him than he had led them to believe.
They finally reached the outer edge of the city and started up the long, steep path towards the castle on the hill. They were relieved to be away from the bustling city and their inhabitants, but David and Orin feared that if they endured such a miserable reception from the general population that it may be even worse from the occupants in the castle.
Despite their fears, Rex seemed as steadfast as ever and marched straight up to the castle gates. Two sentries posted at the outer gates held up hands and blocked the entrance.
“Oy! Stop right there!” the soldiers shouted, but when they noticed who they spoke to, their demeanor quickly changed, and they bowed their heads low in acknowledgement.
“I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t recognize you at first…” replied one of the guards.
“Come on, Reingard…Holzer…it’s just me. You know you don’t have to grovel!” said Rex, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture.
When the guards saw his reaction, they quickly ran to Rex and embraced him like a brother.
“Ahhh Reximus! You’ve been gone far too long!” replied Reingard. He was tall and skinny compared to Rex, but still muscular and certainly looked capable of defending himself if necessary. He had a shaved head and bushy, red beard, as was apparently customary for the men in the village, and he had tattoos on his arms as well, but not nearly as many as Rex. David wondered if they had something to do with one’s station within the community.
“I know, I know…it has been too long” agreed Rex, a distant look in his eyes.
“How’ve you been, mate?” asked Holzer, “Last we saw you was…well, you know…” he said, quickly remembering the reason their friend left.
“Yeah…I know. Don’t worry about it. I’ve been good…been through some rough times lately though, mates. That’s actually why I’m here…we need your help, as many as you can spare.” replied Rex, avoiding the subject and getting quickly to the point. “There’s been some trouble to the North. I need to speak with my uncle.” he finished.
The two men shared an equal look of worry before nodding in agreement and opening wide the front gates, revealing the inner courtyards.
It was wide and consisted of mostly cobblestone, with a few dotted trees along the walkway leading to the main structure. There were a few stables with horses and other livestock that were being tended to, and a fully functioning smithy with the blacksmith pounding away on what looked like a flaming horseshoe, sending showers of sparks each time the hammer hit its mark.
The two guards bid their friend farewell and returned to their post as the companions walked through the gates and toward the castle’s main entrance.
The front door was staggering and even more imposing up close than David had expected. It towered high above their heads and was composed of reinforced wood with long, crossing metal beams across its surface.
Rex pushed on the massive door and it slowly opened inward, allowing the trio to enter the main receiving hall.
They were quickly greeted by a series of stewards who started instinctively ushering them to a seating area until they realized who it was that had walked through the door.
“My lord?” asked one of the stewards, clearly the senior ranking of the group, “Is that truly you?” he asked in awe.
“Yes, Reginald, but I’m not here for what you may suspect. I need to speak with my uncle, can you bring me to him? It is urgent.” replied Rex, clearly no longer accustomed to all the attention.
“Of course, of course!” replied the elderly man. “Please, come this way. I will bring you to the waiting room where you can wait comfortably and enjoy some much-needed refreshments.” he finished, noticing the weary look on the travelers faces.
He led them down the hall and up a large, carpeted stairway at the far end before leading them through a double door into a long room. It was fitted with a long, elegant table lined with finely carved chairs. The table was neatly polished to the point you could see your own reflection, and it had a long colorful runner flowing down its center and hanging off the ends.
The far wall of the room was dotted with curtained windows that rose to the high ceiling, allowing the bright light from outside to brilliantly illuminate the room. Portraits and paintings covered the walls between the windows and all around the room, giving it a very formal feel.
David had never been in such a splendid room in all of his life.
They each took a seat in one of the chairs at the table and stewards quickly entered the room carrying silver dishes filled with fresh fruit, cheese, and sausage. Another set of dishes stacked high with baked fish and lemon slices on the sides were set before them, and a small bowl of some kind of seasoned and melted butter sauce for dipping.
Finally, two large pitchers of a lightly colored ale were set on the table, while another man used one to fill crystal glasses before setting one each in front of the guests.
Once the plates and utensils were set in front of the companions, they eagerly grabbed a helping from each dish and greedily filled their bellies with delicious food and drink.
When they finally had their share and sat full and satisfied, Reginald finally appeared and waved for them to follow, ushering them into an adjacent room where the King sat patiently waiting their arrival.
He was a large, bear-like man with arms the size of small trees, yet he sat with a sense of elegance that complemented his station remarkably. He wore a thick, flowing cape that was made of some kind of animal skin and had a colorful tunic that went perfectly with his solid brown
trousers. His boots were large to cover what must have been massive feet, and his beard was long and thick in contrast to his freshly shaved and polished head.
But, in spite of his large, swirling tattoos that covered his scalp and every inch of his skin, and his extremely daunting appearance, the man sported a childish grin across his face and held out his arms in a great welcoming gesture.
“Reximus! Welcome, nephew! It is good to have you back home. You have been greatly missed!” he shouted as he slowly walked towards Rex.
“It is good to see you, uncle!” replied Rex, embracing his uncle and king. “I wish it were under better circumstances that I have returned, but I must be blunt – I have not come to return home, but instead, to seek your help and that of our people” he said, getting straight to the point.
The king’s expression faded into a slight scowl as he considered the implications of what his nephew meant. “I see….” he said, absently stroking his beard. “Well, it is true that this news disappoints me, but nonetheless we are your brethren, and if there’s something you need, I am sure that we can assist.” He walked back to his chair and sat down, gesturing the others to sit in nearby chairs as well, before continuing. “What is it that you need, Reximus?” he asked.
“Recently there has been some troubling developments in the Northern Kingdom…” started Rex. “There was a coup, and the King was taken prisoner along with some friends of my companions here with me. This is David Bishop and Orin Nightingale” He gestured to David and Orin, who both smiled awkwardly under the King’s gaze.
“This coup was led by the leader of the King’s own Royal Guard, General Krauss – an evil man with even worse intentions. He intends to unlock the Dark Abyss and unleash the Defiant One, along with his army of demons, into the world of the living in a bold attempt to use their forces to conquer the world for himself.”
David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb Page 14