Chapter 5
The way to Negathor required a five day hike along the cliffs of the Samalah river, a river leading from the mountains of Lendeloin all the way to the sea of Grenados. The cliffs that flanked the river were full of vibrant green trees stretching for miles in both directions along its jagged edge.
Night had fallen, Yokig and his traveling companions had stopped in a small clearing near the cliffs edge just off the main road far enough not to be seen.
Redbeard had knowledge of bushcraft and it took the giant a little over an hour to set up a rough, but adequate, shelter to protect them from the chill of night.
The nights fire had long died out and Yokig sat awake while the others soundly slept. This was the first night Yokig had ever slept outside of a home, away from the creature comforts of a house and the warmth of a bed. He shivered as a stray breeze blew in through the shelters leafy opening. Inside he felt fear of what lurked just beyond the trees or up and down the lone road on the edge of the cliff. He had never felt so unsafe before in his life. And although he was among friends, he still couldn't get even a tiny wink of sleep in.
Yokig had tried to close his eyes. He tried to count sheep, but no matter what he tried, the thing he was in search of did not come.
So he used the obscene amount of time he found himself now having to daydream about what adventures lie ahead. His visions were interrupted when a small bright yellow orb flew into the shelter through the small opening, landing close to Dresmaels resting ear. As the orb's light faded away, Yokig managed to see a small naked female form with the most beautiful butterfly wings he could possibly imagine, take shape. The small fae that had appeared took little notice of the wide awake boy watching from the shadows.
Yokig watched as the tiny creature tugged on Dresmaels ear, stirring her from her previously uninterrupted slumber.
Dresmael sat up, still trying to fight off going back to sleep and letting out a tired yawn, the small figure tugged as hard as it could at her tunics collar. It pulled and pointed outside, and pulled and pointed outside, until Dresmael conceded to its wishes and exited the shelter dragging her feet the entire way.
Yokig was bored and had nothing else to do, so he decided to follow the tiny figure and Dresmael, trailing quietly but closely behind.
The moment he stepped outside into the windy night a cool blast of air rushed to greet the boy. Under the trillions of dimly lit stars he could see the fae leading Dresmael deep into the woods.
He trailed them through the dense greenery for about a mile until he saw what the small being was leading Dresmael to; the glowing orange flame of a campfire in the distance came into view. He panicked a little and his foot stepped on a twig, breaking it and giving away his location with a loud snap. Dresmael swiftly turned around to discover him. The fae, now noticing Yokig for the first time, zoomed into the dense brush and out of sight.
"You shouldn't have followed me here!" Dresmael kept her voice low.
Before Yokig could speak, she held her finger up to her lips, signalling to him to remain quiet.
Quickly they crept through the forest, making as little noise as they possibly could. A few feet from the campfire Dremael motioned for Yokig to crouch down as low as he could.
"Eat quickly men, we must continue the pursuit before the first light if we want to have any hope to catch up" A voice near the flames commanded.
"Commander, do you really think it's him? This boy with dreams, do you think he's the boy king?"
Yokig could make out four men sitting around the fire, their horses tied to the trees, the men clad in metal from head to toe bearing the golden circle on their breastplates. Their swords by their sides and their helmets resting by their hips.
"Truthfully, if the boy is the boy king, and the legend is true, I would be more than willing to pledge my sword to him. We need something better in this country, and I think A boy king would create a better Abahlon. But, it's been years since there was last a boy with dreams, and he turned out to be just a boy. Dead like all the others from the One Gods hands. So, in my personal opinion, until there is a boy king, if there will even be such a thing, it matters not what I think, Polygal. Our orders are clear. We must catch the boy and bring him back to Grenlov before he sees the gates of Negathor. I do not need to remind you what the bishop, let alone the Pope King, does to people who fail the orders of the One God!" The commander tore a chunk of bread off of a loaf and based the rest of the loaf around to the soldier on his right.
"What happens?" A younger soldier queried.
The commander looked at the soldier and made a gesture with his fingers across his neck.
The boy grimaced at the gesture, as if his own neck was being sliced open. The rest of the men all laughing at the boy's reaction to this dreadful news.
Yokig let out a gasp at the revelation he had just witnessed. The penalty for failure was death for them? The men around the campfire grew silent.
"Did you hear that?" One of the men barked. The kingsmen stood up and rushed in the direction of the noise.
"Run!" Dremael yelled, turning and running as fast as she possibly could away from the men. Yokig followed suit, barely able to keep up with the girls quickening speed.
"After them!" The commander's distant voice ordered.
"Maecte Zorobu Nefte!" Dresmaels chanted under her breath. "Maecte Zorobu Nefte!
The men were catching up fast, the sound of their heavy footsteps growing louder and louder behind the fleeing duo.
"Maecte Zorobu Nefte!" A glowing green mist of particles flashed into existence as dozens of green orbed fae appeared by the duos side, keeping up with their hurried pace. Yokig couldn't stop to take it all in because to stop would certainly mean his capture and his eventual death soon after.
The green cloud of orbs mimicked the runners footsteps and split off from the pair continuing to create their newfound noise.
Dresmael tackled Yokig to the ground, holding him down and motioning to him to remain still.
The footsteps of their pursuers reached the spot where the duo was hiding. Yokig thought for sure they would get caught , all the men had to do was look down to spot them.
"They went this way!" It was the young soldier that stood above them, on the path they were originally on. The soldier pointed in the direction of the green orbs, before continuing his pursuit. The kingsmen ran past the duo and further into the woods. When the footsteps could no longer be heard, Dresmael and Yokig finally stood back up.
"What was that?" Yokig couldn't keep himself from asking. It was the first time he's seen magick, real actual magick, before in his life.
"A fae redirection spell Grenalda the peaceful taught me." She grabbed Yokigs hand and pulled him towards the direction of their camp. "Faster, hurry up! We have to warn the others and get out of this place before the magick wears off and they start combing the forest inch by inch!"
When they arrived at camp, they woke Redbeard and Balckpaw. As quickly as they could, they filled them in on what had happened.
"There must have been a spy in the brotherhood!" Blackpaw hissed at the news. "There's no other way they could have known!"
"Calm down there Blackpaw!" Redbeard coed. "There's no need to fret yet, we just have to be more careful now, that's all!"
"Careful? Careful Redbeard?" Blackpaw was furious. "If the kingsmen know, that means the bishop knows; and if the bishop knows, he has most certainly sent doves to every city in Abahlon - including Negathor- warning them of our existence!"
"Hope is still not lost! Once we get to the gates of Negathor I'm sure we'll find a way in! We just gotta use our wits, that's all! The mission is still on!" Redbeard tried to fill their hearts with hope. "Does everyone agree?"
They all reluctantly agreed. They needed to find the old one, no matter what. The mission was of the utmost importance. They couldn't quit now!
Everyone quickly packed their belongings into their packs and quietly made their way toward Negathor, taking careful precaution to stay well hidden in the forest just off the main road and out of sight.