Kingdom of Loradel, Owlen Forest, Present day.
The last sunlight outside dimmed, leaving only a torch to fend off the darkness of the Xeto's barrack. The room had only a cot and a small table to fill its void of emptiness.
His heart pounded at his chest as thoughts of doubt flooded his mind. No…I have to do this. He finished packing supplies and provisions into a small hide satchel. If Taloz wouldn't allow him to go…then he'd have to...to leave on his own accord. The idea of insubordination gnawed at him. He wasn't a traitor, he wasn't, but anyone in his position would do the same.
There was a light knock at the door.
Damn it. "Yes? Who's there?"
"It's me, Commander," replied Rebecca behind the old door.
Xeto sighed. "Come in."
The door creaked open and the light of the room illuminated the dark hallway.
Rebecca stepped in and shut the door. Her rifle hung from her shoulder and her revolvers decorated her waist.
Xeto's eyes widened. "Why are you armed?"
She smiled. "Though you may not like to admit it, I know you better than anyone here, Commander."
"What are—"
"You're leaving for Hansel, right?" She eyed the satchel at his bed. "I'm coming with you."
Xeto picked up the satchel and packed the final essentials. "No. I appreciate the concern but you should stay here." He kept his voice stern. He flinched lightly as he felt her hands land on his shoulders. A part of him welcomed the idea while the rest of his consciousness repelled the idea like. She was so kind and trusting…ever since she…
"Hmmm. No," she teased, breaking him from his thoughts.
"You're going to disobey orders from your commander?"
She tapped at her chin. "As I see it, you'll be doing the same."
He shrugged her off.
"Four eyes are better than two. You'll need your scout with you if anything happens."
Xeto took hold of the door handle as he tried to make sense of why she insisted on joining. A quilt of guilt still enveloped his mind as he came to the answer. She pities me, doesn't she… "And what about the people here? They'll need your help. Besides, you said yourself that you'd rather be here helping them." He tried exiting only to have her impede.
"And it's as you said before, the best way to help these people is to find out what it is that's driving them away. And also, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. I can help you get back on the General's good side after we get those people from Hansel to safety. It's not as if were like those rogue lancers, disobeying orders for our own gain. In the end were helping others, as is our duty."
Xeto pulled open the door and arched his head for her to follow. He felt like a fool for even trying to convince her, she was a s stubborn as they come. "Fine," he uttered. "And thank you."
"Think nothing of it." She smiled as she followed beside him down the corridor. "I've wanted to see where you grew up for ages now. Maybe afterwards you can visit Viofell with me. My mum makes the best serpentberry bread in the kingdom."
Xeto's mind felt a bit at ease. "Is that where you grew up?"
"Yes sir, orange haze and all. Did you know that General Shinok is from there too? One time he and…"
Xeto lost himself in her stories from home as he pushed away any negative thoughts. He simply focused on her voice as they She continued made their exit though the unoccupied parts of the outpost.
~~~
The chirps of crickets filled the forest. The moon dominated the sky, its rose-colored light peaked through the canopy. The crunch of the brittle gravel at their feet assured that they were still on the path.
"So," shuttered Rebecca. "Tell me about your friends back home." Armed with her rifle, she treaded a few feet behind him. Though her voice low and clam, her eyes were focused on the darkness that surrounded them. It was customary to be a bit spaced apart, enough so that an ambush would prove to be slightly easier to fend off, but not so much so as to be easily separated in the heat of a battle.
Xeto kept a firm grip on his sword. "They're siblings. Anaria and Roy…the only two people I've ever considered as friends."
"I'm hurt," she replied. "Sorry. I open my mouth too much at times. Continue," she urged.
Xeto smiled, luckily for him it was hidden by the surrounding darkness. "Well…Roy is the elder of the two but acts like the youth."
"How so?"
Xeto snickered lightly. "Well…there was this time when I had just met him. Some Zuland soldiers arrived into the village and he waited for them to dismount from their horses. Then he loaded a small stone into his slingshot an let the poor animals have it. We'd get our amusement watching the soldiers chase their mounts around the fields just outside of the village. Thinking back now, someone could have been hurt. We were idiots."
Rebecca chuckled. "That sounds like fun, Commander. Shame I didn't grow up alongside you. You three must have gotten into loads of trouble as kids."
"Actually—just the two of us. I didn't meet Anaria until later years, even so she would never join in Roy's games…she was much too sweet for that."
"Sweet, huh? I think that's the first time I've ever heard you describe someone as sweet, Commander. Fancy her a bit?" she teased.
Xeto's cheeks grew warm as he forcefully cleared his throat. "Uh—of course not. She was—is just a friend."
"Hmmm I'm not sure about that. Your face is flushed and I don't think it's the moon's lighting."
"I—" he stammered.
"Relax, Commander, I was only jesting." She let out a series of giggles.
Xeto slowed his pace as an old wooden sign emerged from the darkness. It was just as he remembered, the splintered wood was covered in dust and cobwebs. Two plaques decorated the wood post, each pointed in a different direction. It was a miracle it was still standing, though the words Hansel and Fol Lake were barely legible. The relic stood in the center of the path, splitting the road like a stone in a river.
"Oh good, we're headed in the right direction," said Rebecca as she pointed to the right side of the fork. "Let's get going."
Xeto turned and went down the right path, but immediately veered of the road and went into a crowd of trees.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Commander? It's this way."
"Trust me, that path will only make us arrive a day late." He took careful steps down the rocky slope. "Down here there's a river that leads to an old bridge used back during the old war."
"Whoa there, Commander. Going deeper into the forest means a lot more wildlife."
Without stopping he turned back to his lieutenant. "Yes…and?" He tried his hand at a jest. "Not scared of a bit of wolves, are you?"
She pouted. "Of course not."
"Good, then follow me."
Xeto inhaled a breath of fresh air as the sound of flowing water grew louder. They reached a wide river, confirmed by the soothing sound of the tranquil water and the scent of wet soil. His heart pounded at the thought of seeing his friends again, more so when he considered the disciplinary actions that'd fall on him for disobeying orders. Not now, cross that bridge when it's before you. He relaxed his shoulders as he walked against the current. He smiled inwardly; he was on his way home.