Morwen was the first to wake, her eyelids fluttering open to the soft light filtering through the cracks of the old stones. The air was still heavy with the remnants of sleep as she sat up, stretching her arms above her head. The warmth of the blanket clung to her skin, a comforting embrace in the cool morning air. As she blinked away the last remnants of slumber, her gaze fell upon Zack and Ophelia, their forms entwined, a tangle of limbs and blankets."Morning," Morwen's voice was a soft murmur, a gentle melody in the quiet room. Her eyes drifted to Captain Malachi, who sat nearby with his broad back against the wall, his rugged features softened in the dawn light."Good morning," Malachi's deep voice rumbled, a hint of grogginess still lingering in his words.
Morwen rubbed her eyes, her thoughts turning to the task ahead.
"We should get moving," she said, her tone decisive.
Zack stirred beside her, the lines of sleep slowly fading from his features as his eyes fluttered open.
"Yeah," he mumbled, his voice thick with the remnants of dreams.Ophelia sat up, her long ebony curls a wild tangle around her face, her expression one of sleepy contentment.
"Morning," she mumbled, her expression drowsy.
The group began to gather their belongings, their movements sluggish.
"It looks like the storm has passed," Captain Malachi remarked, his gaze fixed on the sky.
The clouds were beginning to dissipate, the sun shining through the gaps. The four of them set off, their footsteps echoing off the damp ground. As they made their way deeper into the forest, Morwen could sense a change in the atmosphere. There was a heaviness in the air, a palpable tension.
"Do you feel that?" Morwen's voice was barely audible, a soft whisper that cut through the silence like a blade. Ophelia turned to her, furrowing her brows in confusion. "Feel what?" she queried, her gaze scanning the surroundings with growing unease."I don't know, I just..." Morwen's voice trailed off as she scanned the horizon with a sense of foreboding. "Something's wrong," she murmured, her eyes reflecting an underlying fear that sent a chill down Ophelia's spine.
Captain Malachi halted, his expression serious. "I feel it too," he agreed, his eyes narrowing.
The group stood in silence, the air crackling with anticipation. Suddenly, a loud roar pierced the air, startling them, shattering the stillness and sending a wave of panic through the group. Zack's eyes widened in terror as he gasped, "What was that?"Ophelia's voice quivered as she struggled to maintain composure. "I don't know," she stammered, her hands trembling slightly.
"We need to keep moving," Captain Malachi urged, his tone urgent.
They continued on, their pace quickening. The forest was eerily quiet, the birdsong absent. The only sound was the crunch of their footsteps on the fallen leaves.
As they walked, the trees became denser, their branches blocking out the sunlight. The air was thick with moisture, the earthy scent of decay mingling with the dampness of the forest floor filled their nostrils.
Morwen felt a shiver run down her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Her senses tingled with an awareness, a palpable feeling of being watched from unseen eyes. She spoke in a hushed tone, barely audible above the rustling leaves, "We're being watched."
Captain Malachi's grim nod confirmed her intuition as the group proceeded with cautious steps, their nerves taut like bowstrings. Suddenly, as they rounded a bend in the winding path, they encountered a creature that defied all comprehension.Tall and lanky, its sickly green skin seemed to meld with the shadows, its eyes sunken into abyssal depths, and its maw bristling with jagged teeth. A low growl emanated from the beast as it crouched, poised to strike.
"Stay back," Captain Malachi warned, his voice firm, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. The creature's eerie presence seemed to taint the very air around them, suffusing the surroundings with a sense of impending danger.Without warning, the creature lunged at them, its elongated claws extended like deadly talons. "Look out!" Zack's voice pierced the tense atmosphere, panic edging his tone as the group scrambled to evade the creature's vicious attack. They dodged and weaved, narrowly avoiding the deadly reach of the creature's claws.
"What is that thing?" Ophelia cried out.
"I don't know," Captain Malachi replied, his voice strained.
As the creature advanced on them, its movements quick and agile, Morwen's heart raced with a primal fear. "We need to get out of here," she urged.
"We can't let it escape," he growled, his hand firmly gripping the hilt of his sword.
Once more, the creature lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. "I'll distract it," Ophelia's voice rang out, filled with unwavering resolve. "You three, get out of here."
"No, we won't leave you," Morwen protested, her voice filled with emotion.
"Go!" Ophelia's command cut through the tension, each word filled with a sense of finality as she readied herself to confront the creature alone
Captain Malachi grabbed Morwen and Zack, pulling them away from the creature.
"Come on," he urged.
The group scrambled through the tangled foliage, their frantic footsteps mingling with the creature's enraged howls.
The group ran, their footsteps echoing off the trees. As they fled putting as much distance between them and the creature as possible. The group continued on, their hearts racing. The forest was silent, the air thick with tension.
After what seemed like an eternity, the group finally reached the edge of the forest. They collapsed onto the ground, their bodies exhausted.
"What was that thing?" Zack panted, his voice filled with fear.
"I don't know," Captain Malachi replied, glancing back at the impenetrable darkness of the forest. "But I pray we've seen the last of it.".
"What about Ophelia? We can't just leave her, should we wait for her?" Morwen questioned, her voice laced with concern.
"No, we can't risk going back in there," Captain Malachi replied, his tone resolute. "We have to keep moving."
The group reluctantly stood up, their gazes fixed on the forest.
Morwen's thoughts were on the siren; she hoped that Ophelia would survive. As they walked, Morwen couldn't help but think of the creature they had encountered. What was it? And where did it come from? She shivered, the memory of its terrifying appearance still fresh in her mind. She never could have imagined the dangers they would face outside of their village.
"We're almost there," Captain Malachi said, his voice filled with relief.
The group quickened their pace, their footsteps echoing off the ground. As they neared the edge of the forest, the trees began to thin out, the sunlight streaming through the branches.
"There it is," Zack exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
Morwen's gaze followed his, her eyes landing on a large stone wall that stretched into the sea, as far as the eye could see. Their noses filled with the smell of salt in the air.
"The Tribe of the river," Captain Malachi breathed.
The group approached the wall, their footsteps echoing off the ground. As they neared the massive structure, they could see a large gate, its doors open..
The group stepped through the gates, their eyes wide with wonder.
"It's beautiful," Morwen whispered, her voice filled with awe.
The city was bustling with activity, the streets filled with people. The buildings were made of stone, their roofs made of thatch. Just as she had imagined, it was even more vibrant and alive then her father had described. The group made their way through the city, their eyes taking in the sights. As they walked, they could hear the sounds of laughter and music. Such a stark contrast to the horror of the battlefield they had left behind. A woman with red curls walked past Morwen, bumping into her as she went.
"Sorry," the woman said, her voice laced with an accent.
"It's alright," Morwen replied, her voice soft.
The woman smiled, her eyes twinkling. Morwen swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. For a moment she had thought it was Galena, remembering her friend. "Galena would have loved it here" Mowen thought, her friend was always dreaming of adventures and travelling to new places.
The group continued on, their footsteps echoing off the ground. As they walked, they could see people working on the docks, loading and unloading ships.
"Look at all those ships," Zack exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
"They must be from all over the world," Morwen replied, her voice filled with wonder.
The group made their way to the docks, their eyes taking in the sight. The ships were massive, their sails billowing in the wind.
"I wonder where they're going," Zack mused, his voice filled with curiosity.
"I don't know," Captain Malachi replied, his voice filled with awe.
The group stood in silence, the sounds of the city filling the air.
"We should find a place to stay," Captain Malachi said, his voice breaking the silence.
"I think I saw an inn back there," he remarked, his voice cutting through the quiet murmurs of his companions.
The group made their way to the inn, their footsteps echoing off the ground. As they approached the building, they could see people milling about, their voices filling the air.
"This is it," Zack announced as they finally reached the inn's threshold. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, they were greeted by a wave of warmth and the mingling scents of ale and roasted meats. The interior was a bustling hive of activity, with patrons huddled around tables, their faces aglow in the flickering candlelight.
Malachi surveyed the crowded room and gestured towards a vacant table in a dimly lit corner. "Let's get a table over there," he suggested, his voice barely audible over the noise.
The group made their way to an empty table, their bodies weary from the journey. Zack offered to fetch food for the group. Morwen, sensing an opportunity to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the crowded inn, volunteered to accompany him to the bar.
The wooden floor creaked beneath their footsteps as they made their way to the bustling bar. Zack's voice rang out confidently as he placed their order, the bartender's gruff response blending with the ambient noise of the inn.
While waiting for their meal, snippets of conversations floated around them, painting a grim picture of a kingdom teetering on the brink of chaos. Talk of war, a mad queen thirsting for blood, and political unrest.
Morwen's heart sank, the words sending a chill down her spine.
"What are they talking about?" Zack whispered, his voice filled with concern.
"I don't know," Morwen replied, her voice filled with apprehension.
Their conversation was interrupted as the bartender arrived with their food, breaking the tension lingering between them. "Here you go," he grunted, setting down steaming plates of hearty fare."Thank you," Zack chimed, his voice tinged with gratitude.
As they returned to the table with the steaming plates of food, the others dig into the meal hungrily. Morwen's hunger reawakened as the aroma of succulent meat wafted into her nostrils.As she dug into her meal, her mind churned, puzzling over the words spoken by the patrons of the inn."A queen," Morwen blurted, the words bursting from her lips.
Captain Malachi and Zack's heads snapped in her direction, their brows furrowed in confusion.
"I think I heard one of them mention a queen," Morwen explained, "They're saying that the war is getting worse And that the queen has gone mad,"Captain Malachi's expression darkened, his brow furrowed. In his mind he pictured Queen Asteria as he last saw her. Her sweet smile and gentle demeaner. He could never imagine her to have an evil bone in her body. If anything she was the one that kept the king in check most of the time.
She never joined in any of the killing and was the opposite of the cold, hard royal court. He couldn't fathom why the kingdom would be in such a state and she of all people lead the charge into a battle of mayhem."We need to talk to someone who knows what's going on," Malachi excused himself and made his way to the bar, he took a moment to center himself. Gripping the wood in a tight fist, he put his full weight on the oaken bar top.
"Two ales and some information," Malachi growled to the stony bartender.A moment later the drinks were slid to him over the smooth, oiled surface. Malachi kept a keen eye out for anyone that would seem to have knowledge.
An older man sat slumped over his own drink in the corner, his body radiating an air of sorrow. Malachi slid his second drink to the man as he took a seat across from him. "Hey friend, it looks like you've had a rough day?" Captain Malachi asked the man in a warm and inviting tone.The man lifted his gaze from his drink, his eyes reflecting a great sadness.
"It's been a rough decade for me" the man grumbled.Captain Malachi patted the man on the shoulder, a gesture meant to offer comfort. "So tell me what's happened that's got such a strong man so down?" Malachi pried. The man's eyes seemed to soften and become glossy as he looked across the bar to someone or something in the distance. "It's Astrid..." he began, his voice cracking "She was always a special lady.
Had her head on her shoulders. Could solve any problem you threw at her, and with a smile too." He shook his head in sadness. "It was tragic how she turned out.""How?" Malachi questioned, "What happened?"
The sorrowful old man looked back to his glass and fiddled with it in thought. The beads of water ran down the glass and pooled under the side as the man swirled the liquid around. "The damned fucking queen of Var'aack, that's what happened." the man growled.
Malachi couldn't believe what he was hearing. The man motioned for Malachi to lean in closer, conspiratorially.
The man whispered hoarsely to him, "Witchcraft, the Queens been using witchcraft a dark terrible magic." The man's hands began shaking and Malachi could see a nervous sweat beginning to break on the man's face. "She's draining the energy from the land...I think." The poor man had become too emotional to explain any further, but Malachi had all he needed. He told the old man to keep his drink.
***
"Do you think we should ditch him now and cut our losses" Zack said to Morwen while keeping his eyes on the back of Malachi's neck.
"No," Morwen replied, her voice filled with apprehension. "I believe he isn't a bad person, we can trust him."
Zack sighed, his expression resigned.
"Alright," he said, his voice filled with reluctance.
Captain Malachi made his way back to his companions and shared with them what he had learned."A witch?" Zack stated as if it was difficult to believe."Maybe not, its possible she could have fallen in with cultists?" Morwen mentioned, her mind calculating everything they had heard.
A heaviness descended upon them as the weight of the situation bore down on their shoulders. The food in front of them no longer looked appetizing as they exchanged fearful glances."What are your plans now Malachi? will you rejoin the Queens army?" Morwen asked. A strange look crossed the captain's face and Zack's ears stood up."No. I have a better idea." The Captain cracked a devious looking grin as he explained his plan to the others. "I don't think anywhere on this continent will be safe from the war if the rumors are true. I suggest we take one of those ocean faring vessels and leave to another country," he started.