Chapter 10

Sorry for the delays in continuing this fanfiction. I was a little occupied in writing my other one but now I'm continuing this one as well I hope you like it!

The sound of hooves rang across the cobbled pathway as the two determined riders set out for the unknown. The muscular apprentice who was in full metal armour sat astride Kicker, his battle horse who seemed to tower over the next rider who was dressed in muted green and brown items of clothing and a cloak that managed to blur his outline considerably. This rider was no where near as muscular as the former, and his short legged horse did not assist in making him more intimidating however, the look in his eyes prevented anyone from doubting his ability. Both were talented. When combined together they made a deadly pair.

"Wait let's stop here." Will said while scanning the area. Horace looked at him as if he might have been crazy.

"Will, we're barely out of Halloshalm what are you talking about?" Horace asked confused. He knew his friend had good ideas but all Horace wanted to do was ride out as fast as he could to find Evanlyn. Will turned in his saddle to look sidelong at his friend. He could see Horace fidgeting uncontrollably, in a rush to find their friend. Tug also seemed to look at Horace and he made a face almost as if he was raising an eyebrow.

"Horace what do you plan to do? We are in a foreign land full of deadly warriors and our friend is missing. We don't even know where she is, what did you want to do search the entire kingdom in search of her?" Will asked a little annoyed. Horace's demeanour was beginning to annoy him since he already had a plan in mind. Horace immediately recognised his friend's logic and shrugged in a gesture of apology.

"Sorry Will, I just want to find her and keep her safe; I don't want her to get hurt. The thought of losing such a pretty girl is too much to bear. Her lips her face her hair are so beautiful…" Horace trailed off. He blushed in embarrassment as Will raised his eyebrow in mock astonishment. This wasn't the first time Will had the feeling that Horace was a little on the weird side. Tug nickered in agreement.

"Right anyway." Will was still looking at him and Horace cleared his throat noisily. "I suggest we get information from a reliable source so that we can be certain about the whereabouts of Evanlyn."

"Right and where are we going to find someone like that?" Horace asked sarcastically.

"We've already found her." Will said a smile lighting up his face. Stumbling out of a dingy tavern a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes was carrying a basket full of loaves while yelling at the owner inside.

"WELL IF YOU WANTED ME TO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS ASK YOU FAT TART!" She blew hair out of her face noisily and looked up to see Will on the verge of cracking up. "Oh hey Will what are you doing here?" She asked curiously.

"Hello Tyra I was wondering whether you could help us with something, but if you're busy…" His grin widened.

"Shut up. Of course I can help you guys. Shoot away." She walked along the narrow side path and Will, getting off Tug joined her while Horace on Kicker trotted along side them.

"Well you know Evanlyn right?" Will asked a little nervously. He knew their friendship to be a tenuous one but he needed her help. Tyra sighed inwardly.

"Of course I do what kind of question is that?" She joked.

"Well as it happens she is missing." He said.

"Missing? How are you going to get to her then?" Tyra may have had disagreements with Evanlyn but even she wasn't cold hearted.

"Well, both Horace and I think that someone might have taken her since she's not stupid enough to get lost here."

"That's what you say." Tyra mumbled.

"Sorry what?" He asked confused.

"Oh nothing, nothing." She hastily replied.

"Right well the only person I know that is smarter than most men and can get around this kingdom is you." She flushed at his deliberate praise. Horace seeing her flush smiled sensing what Will was doing. By complimenting her he was making her more willing to help them.

"O.K so you want me to help you to try and see if I know any places where people might take her?" She asked.

"Pretty much." Will concluded. He watched her anxiously as her fingers tapped her chin and her hair blew out in the breeze. After a while of silence she finally stopped walking and both boys stopped with her.

"I know. There's a place where most Skandians regard as haunted." She whispered with a manic look in her eye. Will and Horace looked at each other then looked back at her as she continued. "It's the old ruins of a castle that was once a grand fortress, many Skandians are superstitious as you know so they try to avoid that place since there's an old legend about it." She said mystically.

"Well?" Horace asked anxiously.

"Well what?" She asked back confused.

"Well what is the legend?" He questioned her.

"Oh I don't know. Probably something to do with sorcery as such but it doesn't matter as it isn't true anyways." She replied.

"O.K so where exactly is this place?" Will asked.

"Right, it's to your south, keep going in that direction until you see a tumble of rocks then head east there you should see two paths take the right one and continue for two hundred yards then you will see broken bits of jagged rocks and that's your place." After she directed them Will hugged her in his excitement and thanked her many times. She flushed at his open show of affection and bade them luck on their journey. Will hopped on to Tug and nudged his knee gently against the horse's body to direct him in the right direction. Horace followed.

"Will?" He asked.

"Yes Horace."

"Are you sure this is where they'll be keeping Evanlyn?" There was a worried frown on his face.

"Well I'm pretty sure. The ruins of a castle seem to be the perfect place for this kind of thing so if I were the abductor I would probably go there as well." He assured.

They both rode for twenty minutes then let the horses conserve energy and walk for twenty minutes and this alternating pattern soon came to a stop as the icy hills and frosty paths soon passed them and the outline of massive rocks came to view.

"This is it." Will told Horace. He nodded in turn. He stopped fidgeting and relaxed all his muscles easing them out and unsheathed his massive sword from his scabbard. Will didn't need to do anything with his arrows as one was knocked on his bow, but he placed the bow in a more comfortable position in case it was needed and quietly, in a well rehearsed manner jumped off Tug and made the hand signal for him to stay still. Tug was worried for his master but obeyed his orders. Horace tied Kicker to a dying tree near by and together they both walked slowly, bracing themselves for what they may find. As they rounded the corner and entered the realm of danger both of them stopped in their tracks shocked at the horrid sight before them. It took nearly all of Will's will power not to scream.

If you liked this mini cliff hanger or you have any opinions on this chapter I want to see them! Thank you for being patient and I will try and update more frequently now on.