The journey through thick forests was heavy with tension.
Early morning,Cold Wind and rising Sun.
A group of horses marching towards the west.The horse in front contains Harwin, leaned toward the horse and sleeping .At the back of Harwin, Terryn,the leader holding the rope for controlling the horse.
Harwin, only half awake and murmuring disjointed words about Maze. His eyelids drooped as he mumbled, "You know,that little brat used to pee on my shirts…when we were on Tyles" Harwin gave a weird smile to Terryn(The leader) with his eyes closed.
He continued "Maze…, he was Aric's favorite…..Every Time they were together…"His slurred words grew louder, filling the quiet night.
Terryn, the leader of the small party escorting Harwin was irritated and said. "keep it down, or I'll leave you for the wolves."
Harwin jumped up and ran to the side.
Vomited…..Every drop of Whiskey, he drank yesterday,came out.He coughed…He was tired…sat down on the mud.
Evening, Sun preparing to set.
Deep within Halba Caves, a band of revolutionaries gathered in hushed but fiery discussion. Their leader, Thane, stood at the head, his eyes fierce.
"Tonight, we march north," Thane said, his voice echoing off the warm stone walls. "We're done waiting in the dark. It's time we take our message to the king himself."
The people there nodded with pride.
"No Throne Built on Blood Shall Stand!" Thane roared loudly "No Throne Built on Blood Shall Stand!" The army quoted Thane started taking wooden sticks and winded cloth on its tip.Everyone did the same after Thane .
Thane showed the tip to a fire and lightened it . Others copied Thane.
Thane raised the fire up and said loudly "We are the Flame;
We Are the Fury!".
He started moving to the north where the king resides. Every others followed A Breeze of Blood and Revenge followed them On the other side of the valley, Arthe sat with Duke by the edge of the Isle River, feeling the heavy weight of despair settle over him. He sat beside the river thinking about yesterday.
Life had offered him nothing but hardship; survival meant stealing scraps, avoiding watchful eyes, and now, facing punishment alone. He could no longer bear it.
His past life began flashing before his eyes.
His father is one of the famous thief in the west. Arthe used to see his father beaten up by people,tied and hanged,made to walk naked through the streets.Arthe never liked to be a thief,but life ended with the same fate of his father.
Duke's bark brought Arthe back to present.
Arthe moved his eyes to Duke "I'm sorry, Duke," he whispered, his voice choked. The loyal dog whined, his large brown eyes watching his master's every move.
Duke, the most valuable thing that Arthe ever stole.
Arthe stood up,took a deep breath, standing at the river's edge as the current rushed below.
He turned his face towards Duke and said,"Goodbye..Duke" With one last look at Duke, he closed his eyes and jumped to Isle River.
Back on the northern road, Thane's group continued their march towards north.On their way, they spotted a faint column of smoke rising into the night sky. They moved towards the spot.Soon they realized that the smoke came from a small hut. One by one, they moved closer, the air thick with the scent of burning wood.
Thane, Eldric and Vicktor, three main figures of the army moved closer to the hut. Eldric saw a man laid on the ground, bloodied and burned. Eldric kneeled beside him, checking his pulse.
"He's alive," Eldric said, looking up with a furrowed brow.
Viktor stepped forward, doubtful. "He's just another mouth to feed, another body to protect. He will be no use for us..come on let's go" "But he's hurt," Eldric replied."
After a tense silence, Thane nodded. "We take him. He'll rest as we move."
They made a quick bed with some sticks,clothes and some materials from the hut and safely placed the man over it.
After a while they continued moving north.
Evening, Somewhere in Halba Borders.
Harwin ,Terryn and the others move up on a green hill. Rain falling over them. Harwin was now controlling the horse.
Finally they reached the top of the mountain.
Harwin looked forward . He saw an edge of a crumbling and broken castle.
"The Old Castle" Terryn said after exhaling a cigarette smoke.
He wiped his eyes and looked again. He saw a broken statue of two boys looking face to face.
" I never thought this castle was this big" Harwin said.
They moved forward to the Old Castle.