"Thank you for saving me, Levi. I have no idea what would've happened if you hadn't stepped in," Lucy said softly, "You too Spencer."
"No need to thank me Miss Lavelle I was just doing my job as Richard should have been. I'm glad everyone has finally seen him for what he is. Now he can't say I was lying anymore."
"I heard that a lot of the recruits who work for him request transfers almost immediately after getting there. Everyone in the palace knew it was because of him but we could never prove it. The commander has been looking for a reason to demote him for a while," Ava told Spencer.
"Really?! And he hasn't been able to do it until now?"
"Yeah. If this doesn't get him kicked out of the King's Guard I'll personally throw him out when I become king.," Leviticus said rigidly.
"Well, I for one think you will make a great king just like your father, Your Highness," Spencer said bowing his head slightly.
"Call me Levi. I don't want to draw any unwanted attention while we travel," Leviticus told him. Spencer nodded and the group rode on in a comfortable silence for a while. The rolling hills seemingly stretched on for miles in front of them. The breeze carried the soft scent of the Lakona flowers that grew on the bank of the river running parallel along the left side of the group. To the right there was a small forest, Spencer looked around at the countryside, "Um I'm kinda embarrassed to admit but I have no idea where we are going."
"We are going to Nimway. But first, we are stopping by the border to visit my mother," Vincent said.
"Okay, sounds good," Spencer replied. A rustling in the bushes barely audible above the boys' conversation became louder and louder. Suddenly a huge black shadow lunged out of the bushes at Lucy. Dragging her off of her horse by the leg.
"What the?!" Lucy shouted as the creature bit down on her leg.
"Lucy!" Leviticus yelled. The creature had dragged Lucy into the woods in a matter of seconds.
"Ava! What is that thing?!" Roma called out as she and Leviticus veered off the path to follow the creature into the woods.
"It's a shifter I think. I saw a collar around its neck; I think they are being controlled by somebody else. Levi! Move out of my way!" Ava shouted. As he veered off the path and out of her way, she aimed a glass orb full of dark blue and purple waves at the creature. As soon as the sphere hit, the beast transformed into a man, and the collar fell off. Ava stopped her horse to study him. His face was remarkably similar to Spencer's, sharp cheekbones contrasted by his soft jawline. His olive skin was pale in the shadows of the canopy, and the blue tunic he wore was torn and barely stayed on him; the same as his black pants and boots. His ebony hair fell just short of his chin and when he turned to look at Ava she immediately recognized his amber eyes. "Mordo?!" She whispered shocked to see the frightened young man from her vision. She quickly tried to gather her thoughts as she heard the rest of the group coming up behind them.
"Oh, My Gods! I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed fear and sorrow dripping from his words. He had dropped to his knees and began sobbing uncontrollably. Ava got down off her horse to investigate the damage. She wiped the blood from Lucy's leg and looked at the wound. The bone was exposed and a considerable chunk of flesh had been torn but there didn't seem to be any irreparable damage caused. Ava started a battery of healing spells just as blood started to refill the wound.
"It's okay. You were being controlled and couldn't help it. I have already healed her. What's your name, sir?" Ava asked softly as she got closer to Mordo. As she got closer he turned to face her. His eyes were wide and full of tears that had yet to fall.
"My name is Mordo. You saved me, thank you. What can I do to repay this kindness you have shown me?" The man asked quietly. The rest of the group had finally caught up with them.
"Mordo?!" Spencer shouted.
"You know this man?" Vincent asked him.
"Yeah, that's my brother. He's been missing for almost two years. Mordo, where have you been? Why did you attack Miss Lucy," Spencer asked Mordo confusion and pain lacing his words.
"I-I don't know," Mordo responded quietly, the tears in his eyes threatening to fall, "What's, happening to me?!"
"You have been under the control of someone else. They are responsible for the actions you have taken today. Not you," Ava replied. "Would you like me to fix your clothes? I don't want to brag but I'm pretty good with spells."
"Yeah that would be nice Miss," Mordo ended his statement waiting for Ava to tell him her name.
"My name is Ava. And about your question earlier you don't owe me anything I'm just happy to help."
"Uh, let us discuss that quickly," Levi called to the group. "We can't just let him go on his way, Ava. What if he tries to attack Lucy again later?"
"What if we let him join us? Then we could watch him if it makes you feel better," Ava countered.
"But he just attacked Lucy?!" Vincent exclaimed.
"I'm fine, though. Mordo didn't hurt me badly and looks sorry about what he did. Besides, he is Spencer's brother, who's been missing for years, Vincent," Lucy opposed Dragon's statement.
"I think it should be Lucy's decision," Roma stated calmly
"Well, I think we should let him join us. He looks like he needs somebody to be there for him right now," Lucy decided.
"We need to find him a horse, then," Levi said
"If I may interrupt. I have a horse already," Mordo said, looking at the ground.
"Alright, Mordo, welcome aboard, but one wrong move will land you a one-way ticket to meeting the gods," Vincent told him.
"Yes, thank you for your generosity, sir. But don't you think you are too trusting?"Mordo asked hesitantly.
"I have to agree with my brother, " Spencer announced. "I mean, he ran away, and now he comes up and attacks Lucy."
"Well, Spencer, was he always this violent?" Lucy asked.
"Um, no, I don't think so," Spencer responded.
"Then it doesn't matter that he attacked me because, as Ava said, he was being controlled. Besides, I have forgiven him already," Lucy scolded Spencer.
"When we make camp, we will introduce everybody, but for now, I am Vincent and that is Roma and we will be making sure you don't slip up, " Dragon said.
"Thank you, sir. I swear I'll make it up to you, " Mordo replied hastily. Everybody got back on their horses quickly as Mordo walked to where his horse was tied up. He took one last look at his brother before the rees completely covered him.
"I can't believe it. Spencer... remembered me?! Wait, no, that's not Spencer in control," Mordo whispered. The look on his face was murderous. "Oh, this is going to hurt later." Mordo untied his horse and rode out to where the group was waiting.
They made their way through the fields of wildflowers and tall grasses. The hills never seemed to stop and the forest stretched on as far as the eyes could see. The purples, pinks, blues, and reds of wildflowers dotted the hillsides making the whole scene look like a rainbow springing out of the grass. They rode on for hours and the closer they got to the next checkpoint and Nimway the more nervous Mordo felt.
"Oh, what is master going to think?! Hopefully, he won't be too upset, and he won't make Spencer hurt anyone," Mordo whispered to himself.
"Hey guys it's getting pretty dark we should probably set up camp soon," Lucy called to the group.
"Yeah, we'll stop in another couple of hours. We need to make up for some lost time. In the meantime, Ava, Roma, Vincent, and Kara can pass out some light orbs to attach to the horse's saddles," Marco said.
"Ok," Lucy responded. Ava and Roma passed out their orbs to the people in the back of the line while Kara and Vincent took the front of the line. Soon every horse was visible to those behind it and the group continued. The animals in the forest seemed to follow the group causing the hairs on the back of Mordo's neck to stand up. Ava seemed to notice his nervousness. "Hey don't worry. They aren't following us and the animals here sound scarier than they are. Besides, we'll be stopping soon anyway because the horses need to rest," Ava tried her best to reassure him. The group continued for a while before Marco's horse just stopped.
"Well I guess this is where we will be setting up for the night," Marco said exacerbated.