Lento was the first to approach me out of the two boys and gave me a slight nod.
"Thank you for helping Allegro." Lento said.
"It's no trouble at all. Helping people is something I've grown accustomed to." I replied.
"Then allow us to return the kindness. I noticed you are carrying quite the large bag. I can arrange an extra horse for you to travel with since it seems you have the idea of walking to your destination."
"A horse would help, but I would not know where to return the horse to after."
"Where are you headed to if I may ask?"
"A small village near Ruben."
"Then you may return the horse in the Bethma stables. Just inform the stable hand that the horse belongs to Lento of Feita and you should have no problem leaving the horse there."
And before I could reply with a denial or thanks he was already off running pass the Velder gates. While I waited for Lento to return I continued to help Allegro pack the rest of the crates into the caravan. As I loaded the last crate into the caravan I could notice the small caravan was packed to the brim. I could not see one person let alone two young men being able to travel in such tight spacing. Before I could finish thinking about how their trip would fair I could hear the trotting of hoofs on dirt as Lento made his way back to Allegro and I. The horse he rode had a deep brown coat that gave a slight shine in the sunlight and a pitch black mane that seemed to engulf all the light it touched. The horse was already equipped with a saddle, stirrups and a large bag attached to its rear which seemed to be where I could hold my belongings. Lento rode up next to me and dismounted the horse handing me the reigns.
"The horse may not be fast but he is strong and should have no problems getting you to Bethma." Lento said.
"Thank you. I don't deserve such kindness from strangers."
"Neither did we, but you still choose to help. Think nothing of it."
I mounted the horse a situated myself on in the saddle and stored my belongings. My training as a ruby knight had me learning the basic of horseback riding, but I'm still nowhere near a master as it took me awhile to steady myself. I readied myself to set off before waving goodbye to the two gentlemen as I took off into the mid-day sun; I could see both Lento and Allegro wave me off.
A few hours later I had already made good time towards Bethma. It was well into my trip on horseback that I reached the top of an average size hill that looked down into a deep forest. Lucky the forest did not seem that large and I could make out a river running through the forest to the other side that could serve as a way point through.
I made my way down into the forest and followed the river as I made my way though. The tall trees obstructed the rays of the sun giving the forest a somber tone as the shadows danced along the forest ground when the wind would blow through the tree tops. As a reveled in the scenery I felt a sudden shard pain near the back left side of my neck. I reached for it pulling out what looked like a small needle; however, I couldn't clearly make it out because my vision was growing hazy and turbulent. As I held the small object in my hand I saw the world grow black and felt my body hit the ground hard only to hear the cries of my horse and many footsteps around me before I lost touch with reality and fell into a black void out of consciousness.