I let out a shaky breath as our horses come to a halt at the edge of the bridge. A long river up ahead flows straight to the ocean, separating the two rival lands. However, this bridge is a well-built and everlasting bridge made by Thapabians in hopes that the two lands can soon make peace.
Peace? How baffling. There will never be peace as long as that woman is alive. Considering that creatures from Beorene keep on coming with their attacks, peace is far from our grasps.
However, there's a glimmer of hope. The Kingdom of Dazia always had the strongest and bravest knights among all three kingdoms. We march by the command of our strongest leader. Now we march towards the Whispering Forest in hopes of retrieving a weapon.
The weapon that would be the cause of our salvation.
My finger taps on my sword while my eyes scan the very edge of the forest. From here, no one can see what's inside the forest. The thick white fog covering traces and signs of any life that lurks on the inside. All we know, creatures of the dark can be hiding, seeing our every move, yet we can't spot them.
I look back at my men, those I especially picked out for this mission, knowing their capabilities as knights. Well, my men and my sister.
"Is my brother afraid of the forest? It's just a little fog," Ena snickers, and I shoot her a deadly glare. She doesn't know the dangers in that forest, and at that time, I went in for a mission.
"Get off your horse; we have to keep moving before the sun goes down." I scoff, amused with her sudden command. Is she forgetting that she's talking to her superior? Although she's my sister, I'm still in command here.
I hop off of my trusted stallion, "Rolo, I can't bring you in there. We'll have to go on foot," I say, feeding him with bright red apples I stole from the castle kitchen.
"It's not like I want to get into that forest with you," he mumbles while munching on the apples. I bring my hand to my chest, hurt spread across my face. Rolo rolls his eyes, which surprises me, for I didn't know horses can roll their eyes.
"Don't you Rolo eyes on me."
He neighs out loud with his left heel digging on the soil, "That was just terrible. Don't say that ever again, and I still hate the name you gave me," complains Rolo.
I chuckle, patting him before turning my attention to my knights. Seven of my men formed a circle while listening to Ena's instructions with my sister's instructions. This is incredible. Now she is barking orders to my men.
Clearing my throat loudly and feeling as if my throat ripped apart, I get closer to them. Their heads snapped towards me, "listen up, this is the plan," I try to say confidently but only come with an empty mind.
"That won't be necessary; I just briefed them while you were talking to your horse," Ena smirks, playing with the dagger on her hand, earning a couple of suppressed laughter from my men.
She was once a chef in the castle, lasted for only a month after trying to stab a troll with a kitchen knife. That's how she became a knight. She specializes in throwing and using daggers. She's a dangerous woman, but she's still my sister.
I was about to argue back and to put my sister to her rightful place when my second in command steps in and speaks, "Commander, we have only a few hours before the sun goes down. I suggest we go in now."
I straightened myself and nodded my head, ignoring Ena, who stuck her tongue out at me, "Yes, you're right. Thank you, Kade."
Kade hands me the map I examine, an uncomfortable feeling on my stomach remembering how deep this weapon is in the forest. However, we must do all we can to retrieve it and safely get out, all of us.
"I'll take the lead as soon as we step in; the rest of you watch out for any creature and relay the message. We have to be as quiet as possible. We wouldn't want to wake the real creature of the forest."
---
This chilling forest is the same as how I remembered it. I have only been here once, but the forest never left my mind since that first time. As soon as you step in the thick fog and into the hovering dark trees, it's like you're begging for your life to be taken away.
No one comes in here and comes back out alive. Except for only a few who's luck kept them alive, me. The story of Blossom's courageous friend is one that was told everywhere.
That brave woman who went past the Whispering Forest and towards the Castle of Beorene slaying the evil Queen. But after her, no one had the will to step in here. If one wants to get to Beorene, there's another way, and that's by sailing through Thapabia's Sea. That's the safest way to Beorene, except you'd be shot down by wizards who guard the borders.
Even though this forest has scarred me in many ways, I must bury that fear deep down and lead my men. We have to get to that weapon; it's our only hope. Blossom entrusted me to this mission, and I shall fulfill it.
"Stop," I say under my breath, holding my fist up, and the footsteps behind me halted in my command. My hand goes to the grip of my sword, ready to pull it out at any moment.
My forehead creases as I scan the surrounding, my ears perked up, hearing a group of crows flying above us maneuvering past the trees. My grip loosens, and I pull out the map. Only a few steps more, and we'll reach the grave.
I fold the map and signaled my men to carry on. This forest is dull; no sunlight can shine past through this mist. The soil is soft and damp, tall grasses and thorns are lying everywhere—nothing like the Kingsto woods' beauty.
That unsettling feeling appears to worsen as we get deeper into the forest. It's doubtful that we can get to the location without facing any creatures. Why is the area so quiet? Something doesn't seem right.
Despite the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, we keep walking until we finally see it, a wide clear land with multiple gravestones. Most of the gravestones were partly destroyed, the sign of nature trying to take the stones back except for one that looks new. That must be it; we'll have to dig through.
The eerie silence gives me goosebumps, and then I hear it. The rustling of leaves coming from around us. The fog only thickens, alarming my men who wielded their weapons ready for an attack.
"I sense movements," panicked evident on Ena's voice as she frantically looks around beside me, "they are everywhere," she whispers the last part. I feel it too, about five of them and another one continuously moving from one place to another. But this mist is putting us to a disadvantage; we're completely blinded.
It can't be helped. We'll need to see for us to win this. So I take in a deep breath, "Venti enim uolant et conteram tandem in caligine," I chant, holding my sword out pointing it forward.
That should work, but I can feel half of my energy wasted.
"Commander!" my eyes rounded, and I tensed seeing the rock flying towards me but was shoved away by Kade.
I drop to the ground with a hiss but quickly recover, my attention directed towards Kade, who dropped on the ground after me unconsciously with a bleeding forehead.
"Kobolds! Surround the commander!" Ena shouts as soon as the mist cleared, revealing five hooded creatures with blade-like teeth and drool dropping from their mouths. Their eyes glowed mercilessly, seeing one of their friends successfully shooting Kade with a rock.
I push myself up from the ground, my vision darkening seeing Kade's lifeless body. My trusted second in command and childhood friend are now lying, dead, on the ground, but his eyes were still open. Fear and hope are written in his eyes.
"Five Nuckelavee incoming! Commander, what do we do?"
I take a last look at Kade before I finally go back to my senses. I'd want to mourn for the loss of a friend but at this sadly isn't the right moment. This time I have to protect the rest of my men and my sister. This is for Kade, and this is for Dazia.
"We fight."
---
"Lugg!" I shout, reaching my hand out but was too late, another of my knights gets stabbed by a Nuckelavee. I charge towards it with great speed, with gritted teeth and rage building inside of me, slicing both its head with my sword in one slice.
Thick warm blood sprayed on my face before I dropped to the ground. That's the last of the creatures. I count how many knights I have left—just the four of us, including Ena and me.
I feel worn out, but it's not the time to dally around. We have to find the weapon. Our surroundings are getting darker, which means the sun is almost setting. If we don't get out before the sun sets completely, we'll be stuck here, and it'll be even dangerous.
"There," pointing at the grave, which I believe is where the weapon is buried, "hurry dig before it awakens," I say while still trying to catch my breath. Casting the spell and fighting took most of my energy. If it appears, I don't know how I'll be able to fight it.
Ena's head snaps towards me, her boots stomping on the grass as she holds her hand out for me to take. I take it, standing up, and she looks at me with a fearful look.
"What awakens," she mutters, her eyes set on something upon us, "do you mean that?" she points with a shaky finger.
My eyes catch the creature she pointed at, the big slithering half-snake half-woman that parted the tall grass as it makes its way towards us. The face of a skinny woman with sharp cheekbones, glowing yellow eyes, and long black hair covers her exposed chest. From the waist down is the body of a snake.
"Don't move a muscle or make a sound," my tone as low as possible, I say, moving closer to Ena and taking her hand in mine, "their vision doesn't work while there is still light."
This creature killed half my men during our rescue mission; they are brutal when it comes to slaughter. However, they can only see in the dark, which is why it's unsafe for us to stay here when the sunsets.
"Who dares disturb the enchantress of this forest," the woman speaks with a voice that sends chills up our spines, its body shifting left and right. She points her long scrawny finger with sharp fingernails, "are you knights of Dazia?"
We stay quiet, and the woman lets out a peal of terrifying laughter, "no, it can't be, I shred them to pieces one by one, but this particular one got away. Oh, it was fun." her voice is venomous.
I clench my fist, preventing myself from rushing to cut her in half, knowing that I won't be able to withstand her. We'll have to wait until she goes away; she won't attack something she can't see unless someone starts the noise.
"Commander Rhys, we found it!"
Dimwit, now we're done for.
"Commander?" she hisses, "Knights of Dazia, I will end your lives!" she rages, holding her claws out and slithers towards us. I push Ena away, the snake going past us bumping into a tree. She screams in agony and anger.
Kufa and Fion rush to me, their eyes widening after seeing the horrendous looking creature, "wh- what is that!"
"Head to the exit of the forest," I tell them, taking the scythe from Kufa, "now!"
We run past the creature; I grab Ena, who was still on the ground, utterly frightened with it, "get yourself together. We have to get out," I shake her off before dashing past the number of trees and long grass. I keep an eye out on the path we're taking; there are thorns and rocks everywhere that can catch our boots.
My breathing is unsteady, the surrounding getting darker and darker. Two of my knights follow behind us as I lead all of us out of this nightmare—my hands' freeze, realizing what was happening. By now, the woman could start seeing her background, but I don't hear her chasing us.
I thought that when in the corner of my eye, a humongous slithering snake makes its way towards us, "I can now see you bunch of imbeciles! You made a mistake coming to the whispering forest, thieves!"
I tighten my grip on the scythe while we continue running, ignoring her threats. Though deep down, I know we can't outrun her. Three of us can hold her off while one could take the scythe and bring it to Dazia.
"Ena," I call out, grabbing her attention while I keep my eyes fixed ahead, "take the scythe and bring it safely to Dazia."
"No! Whatever you're thinking, don't," she cries with a trembling voice, "we'll get out of here together."
"We can't outrun her, so please just take it," I let go of her hand and passes the scythe to her, "you have to bring this to Blossom without fail."
"No-"
Sternly I say, "that's an order from your commander!"
I stop on my tracks, "go!" I tell Ena, watching her hesitate for a moment before running off. Kufa and Fion stop beside me, "we're with you till death commander," they bow their heads before preparing their weapons.
"Then let us slay this snake who killed your comrades."