Elric had not gone too far from the group. He stayed within eyesight, but out of earshot so that he could be alone in peace. He kept thinking back to his missing journal. That journal had revealed so much to him. More than he wanted to know, and he hoped with everything that if Damia had taken it, that she had not yet read it. He didn't want her finding out about the family mess the same way he found out about it.
The sun was starting to set when Sir Castor approached Elric. "Young Master, the Marquis says the power has stopped moving and that we should gather our belongings and head out."
Elric had a somber expression as he looked at Castor and nodded his understanding. He paused a moment longer and then stood from his resting spot to head back to his horse. Adi and Xerxes were already ready to ride out so he gathered his things quickly to follow.
"Sir Castor, I'll take the rear guard now. You can switch with Adi and have Adi lead. His powers are strongest in this area anyway. It makes more sense this way." Elric directed.
Sir Castor nodded and reported the change in formation to Adi and the Marquis. They took their new spots and moved along.
They rode like this for a few hours in the general direction that Xerxes stated he felt the power, when unexpectedly, Xerxes takes off on a full run. Confused, the other three men follow behind as fast as their horse can manage. Adi, having been at the front, is the first to catch up to him.
"What's going on Lord Marquis?"
Sir Castor and Elric catch up and are within earshot to hear Xerxes' reply.
"The power we've been following just spiked. If this is Damia, she might be in the middle of a fight. She must be in some kind of trouble to need to use her powers."
Elric spoke with a calmness he did not feel. "If that's the case, we need to stop. We'll wear out the horses before we reach her in time. She has a significant lead on us. If we maintain this speed, the horses will never take us the distance she has already travelled."
Xerxes hesistated, but quickly realized that Elric was right. He couldn't even tell how far away she was. For all he knew, he could be setting them back further by taking off at full speed. The horses were well rested, but Damia had left a full day before, and they had no way of knowing the speed at which she was travelling during that time. He conceded and slowed his horse back down to a cantor, with the other men following suit.
They continued moving along like this for two hours, switching between a cantor and walk, when Xerxes finally noticed that the power had reduced back to normal. Sighing in relief, he informed the others. "It appears that the Princess is safe. The power surge has returned to normal."
Adi spoke up, relieved as well. "That's excellent news, but does that mean that the source is on the move again?"
"Looks like we lucked out there, Fairy. Seems the power is still emanating from the same location."
Elric, returning to his position in the rear spoke up, "Good, then we'll continue moving. Let's hope we meet up with her before she takes off again."
The path Damia had followed through the forest had not been a straight path, so even though she had left a full day before, the men, they're path was a straight one and they were already approaching the mountain where she was located.
Before the mountain came into view, a figure moved out in front of them.
"What business do you have here, travelers?"
"We're only passing through, in search of our friend." Adi brought his horse forward, ahead of the group, feeling he was the most amicable of the group, and least likely to raise suspicion.
As he approached, he noticed a girl with raven black hair and olive skin blocking their path. Though she was tiny, she exuded strength and fearlessness. Xerxes leaned over on his horse and whispered to Adi, "I think she's a guardian. Though I'm not sure why she revealed herself to us."
Having overheard Xerxes comments to Adi, the girl replied, "You're correct. I'm Alcippe, guardian of the mountain that you're approaching. There are two already at the mountain, and I don't particularly feel like having more people encroach on my solitude. Except you," shyly looking away to avoid eye contact, she gestured towards Adi. "Your magic is full of life, so you may go to the mountain."
Alcippe was drawn to Adi's looks. He had the typical slender frame of a fairy, but with strikingly beautiful features, that gave him an ageless look. He had dark brown hair that he kept slightly long, falling just below his chin, and striking steal grey eyes that seemed to ground her. It was the same feeling she would get when she was on the mountain.
Adi felt slightly uncomfortable with her gaze, but he continued to speak with her. "You said there were two at the mountain? Is one of them by chance a female? Possibly dressed in fancy clothing?"
Elric interjected, "Or possibly in a man's shirt and trousers?"
Xerxes and Sir Castor looked at Elric in shock. Sir Castor knew Elric had been missing those items, but he couldn't believe that the Princess would be the one to take them for this journey. He tried to contain his laughter as he imagined the Princess wearing the Prince's clothing.
"There's a male and a female, but they're wearing guardian clothing."
"Oh, then they must not be the one we seek. Our friend is travelling alone and isn't a guardian." Adi responded.
"I said they were wearing guardian clothing, but they are not both guardians." Alcippe's face contorted in disgust.
Adi didn't have to ask to guess what was causing Alcippe to react in such a manner. He was certain that the female had to be Damia.
"Please allow us to see them then. We're here for the girl so we can be of assistance to you. If you let us through, we can take her away from your mountain."
"Good luck with that one. The other one is a guardian, and there's no way his guard will be down this time. You'll never make it near before he starts his attack to protect her."
Xerxes had grown impatient. He dismounted from his horse and approached Alcippe. "You will let us through little guardian. I'm not asking, I'm demanding. And if you try to stop us, I won't be as merciful those two were with you earlier. I know you're the one she was fighting."
Alcippe's words were caught in her throat as she struggled against Xerxes' aura. He had a presence that suffocated her and filled her with a fear she had never known. As if being controlled by someone else, her body moved of its own will and allowed them all to pass. Adi was the last to pass by. He dismounted his horse as he walked past her and apologized.
"He is a very demanding man, but you don't have to fear him." He gave her a charming smile that set her at ease immediately and she smiled back, following behind him as he followed the other three men.