So hey. Yeah, I know, I haven't updated in a couple months. Sorry, guys, I've felt really bad about it lately and decided to stop procrastinating.
I was so shocked that, with a squeal and small flail of my arms, I dropped the shimmery stone. The image wavered and popped, then slowly faded away until nothing but the reflection of my feet was seen in the shiny stone.
"Does he know where we are? Is he coming after us? Did he see us?" My mouth exploded into questions before I could really take hold of the situation. It wasn't until Will was slowly explaining that I realized he knew as much as I.
"Emilie, I have no idea. My guess is that he doesn't want to risk his life by seeking us out, so he may send some of his allies to find us instead. That is, if he did see us." His tone was calming, as if he was speaking to frightened child.
Oh, wait, he actually was speaking to a frightened child.
"What do we do?" I gulped as I waited for the possible answers. Find them before they find us, disable them, rob them, kill them?
"As of now, we continue following the map. We don't know if he's actually seen us or not, or if he's going to send thugs after us. I'm not sure what threat he would see in a little girl, but I am not him. Besides, I don't see logic in wasting the day hiding or preparing for something that may not happen." Halt was already saddling his horse as he spoke. "Come on, we're wasting sunlight as it is."
"Okay," I murmured, and awkwardly began to mount Willow. I've ridden larger horses before, but not consistently enough to remember how to remember how to do it properly. My foot fumbled as it tried to hold onto the stirrup, and I could hardly swing my leg over the light brown leather saddle.
"Do you need help?" Horace asked, watching my movements with skepticism.
"Nope. I'm perfectly fine." I said quickly, and with a humph! I brought my leg over the saddle and settled on the hard-tanned leather. Grabbing hold of the reins with one hand and the pommel with the other, I nudged my toes into Willow's ribs. He snorted and began to trot forward onto the beaten path.
As we began to settle into a row of four, I found myself on the far right of the path, Horace to my left. Combined with his formidable height and the strong, long-legged battle horse, he towered over me as we rode on. I eyed the brown horse's bulging muscles, and his tough black hooves. It was the type of horse I would never, ever voluntarily go near, much less ride on.
Horace saw me eyeing Kicker, and smirked. "A big one, isn't he?" I snapped out of my thoughts, and looked up to the warrior. "What was that?"
"My horse. Compared to you and Willow, Kicker must seem huge."
I nodded. "Yeah. He's really intimidating. But I'm glad I have a pony to ride instead of that." At my word pony, the three small horses began to whinny and shake their manes. Surprised, I started to stroke Willow's coarse mane. "Hey! Hey there, It's okay. Shush." At my words, the horse seemed to reluctantly stop his noises of protest. I addressed the rest of our group: "Why did they react like that? Did I say some command or something?"
Halt raised an eyebrow. "Usually, if you were to call these horses ponies, they would buck you off then and there. They're bred to be as agile and sturdy as possible, so they are small in size and stature. Even though they look inferior to horses like Kicker, they can run for hours upon hours without even halting."
I looked upon my small gray horse with surprise. "Wow, really? I thought that the larger horses were saved for more important occasions or something, and that we've been riding pack mules."
Will chuckled as Tug whinnied again, and the look in that horse's eye said, Silly child.
As the day began to wane and the sky turned from blue to orange to pink, Will decided that we best camp for the night. We settled down in a field surrounded by a couple withered trees and large rocks. The camp was assembled in mere minutes; nothing much to be done but roll out our bedrolls and strike a fire. The night was hot, the air sticky and still. I sat on one of the rocks, listening to the conversation of the older men with mild amusement. Though I had very little input in the conversation, It seems like my companions were growing more accustomed to having a child on one of their journeys.
From what I knew about the books, these were the three finest adventurers of the land. They fought mythical beasts, traveled seas, escaped slavery, and had even participated in a war or two. In the first book of the series, it seemed that Will had been a slight, scrawny underdog who happened to have some arrows and fire with him at just the right moment. He was witty, but not too responsible. Apparently, allot had changed through the books I didn't read. Halt, apparently, was married, and Horace seemed to be romantically involved with the princess. (When did a princess even come in to the story?)
As I thought of the three heroic figures and kicked about a pebble, Halt cleared his throat. I looked up lazily to meet his wolfish gaze. Why was he starting at my midriff so intensely?
As I looked down, I realized he was not looking at my torso, but the sheathed sword that lie across my legs near it.
"What?" I asked hesitantly, my hand unintentionally moving to rest on the covered blade.
"Are you sure you even know how to use that?" Critically, he looked up to my brown eyes.
"Uh...Yes? I think." Suddenly, I felt like I couldn't really meet his stare any longer.
"You think?" One bushy gray eyebrow shot upward. Wasn't that supposed to be his way of smiling? It felt too intimidating to be a smile in disguise. In return, I said nothing.
He sunk lower in his seat on a large rock as if it were a cushy loveseat. With one hand, he directed Horace to get on his feet and for me to do the same. "Up, you two. If you are to travel with us, Emilie, you need to know how to defend yourself. Horace, pick up your oversized butter knife, will you? That's a boy. Now you two meet in that little circle opposite the fire pit."
I did s I was told, hesitantly stepping over to where Horace waited.
"Horace, show Emilie a few simple swipes and see if she can follow along." This time it was Will instructing us, moving closer to our sparring spot and folding his arms.
Horace nodded. I looked at the tall warrior, taking in his large muscles and the way he held his sword light as a twig. I was sure he could quash me in an instant, and I gulped loudly. No school anywhere could've prepared anyone for a moment like this, much less a lanky girl who had lived a relatively sheltered life.
Will smiled breezily. "Easy, Emilie. Horace won't eat you, though he sure has the appetite for it. We just want to assess how much you know and what you need to learn."
"If you know the basics, it's really quite easier than it seems. Just patience, timing, and strength are all it actually takes." Horace rolled his wrists around, swinging his sword artistically.
I blew a breath out through my pursed lips. "O-okay." Readying my sword, I unsheathed it and balanced the long, elegant blade in my right hand. Thank the lord it was lightweight; otherwise I don't think I could handle anything heavier.
Horace raised his sword. "I'm going to give a light blow. React how you think you should." lightly, he brought his sword down in a slash. I brought my sword up to block it, and there was a slight tink! of metal as our weapons touched.
Will seemed pleased. "Good. Let's try a few other moves." At his words, Horace began to slowly move his sword certain directions at certain speeds; an uppercut, a slow swipe by my feet, another slash, a thrust: all of which I instinctively responded correctly to.
Will nodded, examining every light cut and swipe. "Excellent. You seem to know enough to get by." He cleared his throat and looked directly to Horace. "Pick up the pace, shall we?"
Suddenly, Horace came with a cut to my left, swift and heavy. I lifted my sword in time to meet his, but my blade was knocked clean out of my hand.
"Owwwowowwwwouchhh!" I howled, exaggerating my pain by shaking the wrist that had been hurt. I flexed my fingers and rolled my right wrist, trying to escape the blunt pain.
Halt, from across the fire pit, seemed to be trying to hide a smile. "Pick up your weapon and start again," His eyes glinted with amusement.
My brow furrowed. "No! It hurts!"
Halt's eyebrow shot up again. "Pick up your weapon, practice, and soon you'll forget all about your pain. Maybe you'll learn how to efficiently block a move by morning."
I remembered the distrust I had in Halt only a day or two previously. Suddenly, he seemed more like an annoying father than a real threat.
Already tired and more than slightly peeved, I retrieved my sword and took my stance once again.
Will didn't try to hide his smile. "Ready?" he asked when I resumed my pose. I nodded curtly, staring intently at the monster of a sword Horace held deftly. "Begin."
This time, I was prepared for a heavy hit, but I still didn't expect the full impact of the blow. It was a stab, directly poised to slice clean through my heart. I sliced with the right amount of effort and force, and successfully countered his move. For a hundredth of a second, a small light of triumph fluttered In my chest.
Nothing good ever lasts long. Before I knew it, he was after me again, this time with an uppercut. I parried the cut and moved quickly to the right to maybe get a swing of my own in. He seemed to be expecting it. I came in with a quick slice on his side, but he had already had his sword up to counter it before it could come close. The impact of his sword to mine jarred my wrist and buckled my knees, but I held steady, hardly.
Another thrust. This time, I simply evaded it and took one of my own, aiming for his midsection. He didn't seem to be expecting that one, but managed to sidestep and swing back. I grew more peeved. Taking a little hop to try and get some height, I went in with a fast downward cut, a slice straight down his being. Horace held steady and countered my blow with a mighty swing of his arm that would make most heavyweight lodgers jealous. My sword, so light, was easily torn from my grip and sent spiraling off somewhere else. I gulped, stumbled, and fell to the hard-packed soil. Horace, broadswords shimmering in the nearby light of the campfire, poised his sword at my throat and grinned.
"Did you really think you were going to best a warrior?" He seemed without the slyness and smarminess that the other men possessed, but still amused nonetheless.
Gingerly, I pushed his sword put of my proximity. "No," I finished helplessly.
WELP GUESS WHAT. I learned that I could write this from my iPod. Guess whose life just got ten times easier? ME!
Okay so I met a kid whose name was Silas last week and saw him again yesterday, and I was just like, "Hey, kid...You've got the coolest name ever." And he was all, "Yeah. I know." Doesn't seem very interesting to you, but the teeniest things excite me so it was pretty nice.
So, I need you guys to review. I mean, I literally rely on those reviews. Every one of them makes me feel so very good about myself, that you guys take the time to tell me nice things! Aaaaaand I've yet to receive ONE hater message yet, so let's try to keep it that way.
Stay fabulous.