I know this one is fairly short but it was either that or make it really long. I prefer short.
**
I run my tongue over my teeth for the hundredth time today, as though I could scrub out the feel of Mordred's tongue. Since I don't have any soap it was the best solution I could come up with. It would provide me with temporary relief, but I know that gritty scratchy feeling would return soon.
But despite my discomfort Mordred's rage was worth it. The girl is okay. She's a little stiff but is fully conscious and still looks pissed. And she's awake. I take those all as good signs.
After her little stunt they stopped drugging us. I guess, where she's concerned, its better to know she's awake and ready to tear your throat out with her teeth instead of having a false sense of security and getting your throat cut while you sleep. She's pretty much wrapped from knees to neck in rope and one of the guys is holding her collar at all times, but that's not actually a huge problem.
My accommodations have also been altered. Apparently my passive reactions have rendered me as "pathetic" on everyone's danger gage. Excellent. I'm still awake and my hands have been tied at my front instead of my back. The stupid chain has been replaced with a rope, through the steel collar still hugs my neck like a drunken lover. That and I'm on a horse. The girl has been stuck in the back of a horse drawn cage but they let me ride on the animal no problem. Not by myself of course, Leroi is behind me the entire time, holding my rope. I think he feels responsible for me in some twisted "well, he's my catch" kind of way. He's not Mordred and that's all that really matters at this point… though it would be great if he were Jeeves. But good things come to those who wait.
And since there isn't really much else I can do at this point I decide to just enjoy the ride and rest as much as I can while riding a horse. I'm a pretty good horseman, so it isn't too hard. Gunther and Ameil taught me when on one of my numerous visits to their manor. They taught me quite a bit about horses.
And the countryside is pretty, especially in the mid morning sun. Everything is the green of early summer; emerald and sparkling under a light blue sky. A few clouds slowly slid themselves south, lazily shifting in the breeze. And from this hill I can just make out in the distance, maybe a few hours ride, is the Deku Forest, the border between Labrynna and Hyrule.
As we march onward that's where I focus my eyes. Have you ever noticed how life is easier when you give yourself a marker? You just have to serve three more customers and then you can take your break. You just have to break past Teddi's guard and you're done for the day. You just have to take one more punch and then you can hit him back. These little things help use measure our reality. They are what allow us to move forward without going mad. Finding the things that stay still, or at least still enough, in this ever-flowing mess.
But it still seems as though it's taking forever. The trees are tiny specks, nor more than olive dust on the horizon.
Then suddenly they're huge. I blink. I think I missed something.
Leroi dismounts and starts pulling me off the horse. "Come on now, sleeping beauty." Ah. I guess I had a bit of a nap. Huh. I guess that works out for the best. Though my legs aren't aware that I'm awake and I hit the ground with a bit of a thump. I wince but don't bother forcing myself to stand. Leroi will haul me to my feet when the time comes.
So in the meanwhile I watch the hustle and bustle as things change. The girl is dragged from the cart and dumped on the ground. The cart is taken off the horse and a couple of the guys drag it to the edge of the bush, doing a piss poor job of hiding it, probably on purpose. If anyone in Labrynna really thinks that Hyrule was behind this I'll either laugh or cry at the insanity of it. At this point all that's really needed is for someone to scrawl out a sloppy note saying, "It was us. –Hiruel." It's actually pretty pathetic on both sides.
The horses are all dismounted and the saddle packs are reorganized until all the supplies fit into four, which are loaded onto the two biggest animals. Then the girl is loaded onto the third, draped across the animal's back much like the saddlebags. Then the men grab the reins and leading the horses to the woods. Leroi halls me to my feet, using my arm to hold onto me as we march into the woods.
In Labrynna we've heard about the Deku Forest, and it's more ominous section, the Lost Woods. It's actually a fairy tale we tell children when they miss behave. "If you keep his up we'll leave you in the Lost Woods." The forest is said to be filled with beasts of all kinds, wolfos and stalchildren and even fairy enchantresses, all of which are eager to lead to one to a painful death. Some of those rumors are even true.
Maybe that's what the plan for the horses is. Mordred gives a wave and all the ones not carrying anything are released. I guess the idea is to walk to Holodrum from here. That means we will be in the woods for at least a day, but probably two or three. They can't exactly move fast with the horses we do have, and the size of the party also makes rapid traveling into this environment more than a little challenging.
The horses whinny and run off as Jeeves shouts and waves at them. They race off into the bushes and soon join the mess of animal sounds, a cacophony of birds and small creatures, twittering and squeaking they way through life.
But all I can see is the flora. The trees are just huge. Some of them have trunks so big it would take at least four of me to wrap around the base, and that's a conservative guestimate. The forest floor is covered in viridian moss, old leaves, and a myriad of shrubs and other, smaller forms of plant life, only some of which I recognize.
I stumble over a leaf filled pothole and go flying, my landing softened by a nearby bush. Leroi curses and halls me to my feet, too irritated with my clumsiness to notice anything in my hands. I give a quick cough and cover mouth, depositing my newest treasure under my tongue.
Phase two complete. Maybe someone up there does love me after all.
