"Come," Fallon said as he pulled on the lead. 'Over here - be quick about it. I've been up all night and still have a day's work because you scared off the Pegasus. I don't wish to be doing the work of a nursemaid."
As they walked along, Alaisdair blurted, "See here, Fallon... I did not fall off the mountain deliberately. Nor did I expect to dodge trees and boulders on the way down."
Alaisdair continued, "I'm on my way to Ben Nevis. I went into a bear's den by mistake and ended up on the other side of the cave, and I fell into the … into the mist... and this mess. You soldiers chased me. What was I to think? I thought I was running for my life. How is it we understand each other? By the way, my name is Alaisdair of the Clan Peyton."
"Chatty bloke, Alaisdair of the Clan Peyton, now you found your tongue. Let's go. I need to wash my hands, and the creek is downhill.
Mind your step. I'm going to let go of your lead. Don't touch the trees. Keep your balance. Mind you, don't touch the rocks either. And, there's no sense in the running. We'll catch you again if you run, and we'll be doubly vexed." Fallon continued to mumble warnings as he led a sparse downward trail to the small creek.
Fallon slipped, careening towards the creek, narrowly missing an outcropping rock.
Alasdair's long stride had him snatching Fallon seconds before a wetting would have happened.
"Why did you do that?"
"Why did I do what?" Alaisdair asked.
"Why did you save me? Why didn't you let me land in the creek?" Fallon asked, perplexed.
"What would be the point, Fallon? You'd be wet and angry at me. You did say you didn't like being a nursemaid. So I figured I'd didn't need you angrier with me than you were."
"I thank you then for thinking ahead and keeping me dry, Alaisdair of the Clan Peyton," Fallon chuckled as he held out his hand to grasp in friendship.
They were talking like old friends when they reached the camping spot. The rest of the squad looked on in amazement, as Fallon was known to be the old curmudgeon, keeping to himself and snapping when spoken to. The young prisoner's leads were dragging on the ground, and Fallon seemed unaware of the captive's freedom.
"Here, over here in the shade. Come sit and talk while we eat. Don't lean on a tree or a rock. They are grumbly in this part of the woods," Fallon murmurs to Alaisdair.
Alaisdair's honey-colored eyes opened wide, then squinted at Fallon, thinking he didn't sound daft when we were at the water, but he said he was wary of the trees and rocks.
Fallon had torn off a hunk of dried meat, chewing, looking at the astonished face of the young Alaisdair. He held up his hand, pointing to his mouth full of meat, and held up one finger.
Alaisdair understood, 'Wait a minute.'
Fallon swallowed and said hushedly, "This is the grumpiest portion of the Enchanted Forest. They do not like to be touched."
"Are you telling me we are in a magic forest? I don't believe in magic, Fallon," snorted Alaisdair.
"The legend says the rocks and trees were torched in a battle while the inhabitants, the monsters that live hereabouts, escaped from their realms and claimed bits and pieces after their horrific fighting ended in a tie. So each set of monsters got a share."
Fallon looked closely at Alaisdair, saying, "Soon, Laddie, you will. You'll not have any choice. Trees are reaching out to grab you - rocks appearing out of nowhere to make you fall or crush if not nimble."
Hmm... thought Alaisdair, the rocks and trees on my way down, magic? Nah.
The Crier to Assemble bellowed, three hundred ticks 'til muster!"
"Come on, Alaisdair, we need to cover forty-eight furlongs before half-day, and even at a brisk walk, it will take us two hours or more to the Fortress at the portal."
Fallon reaches into his pouch, pulls out a water sac, and throws it to Alaisdair along with another, saying, "Go briskly to the creek and fill the sacs - the red one is yours, and mine is green. Hurry because we need to fill in the rear of the tenth squad."
"You're not afraid I'll run away?"Alaisdair asks.
"No, Laddie, we are kin. Well, kin in spirit anyway.
Hurry! You have less than two hundred ticks 'til we're off and running."
Only the trees noticed the tiny flying object and one younger tree reached out to grab it. Still, the flying object swiftly lifted into the air above the reach of limbs. It stayed back several yards, then quickly and silently dropped down and remained in the lineup as the troops fell into formation and went from a tramp to a trot to a canter.
Alaisdair felt free when running. His legs didn't get tangled up like they did when he merely walked. He prayed he'd soon be out of this awkward stage in his life. His Dad said it happened, but soon he would be fine. He hoped so.