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Reselda gaped at the army. A blond hair boy no older than Roy, got up and ran to Senarius.
"I came as fast as I could." He made a bow.
"You have done good, Nachum." Senarius nodded.
Nachum stood a little taller from the compliment.
"Your squire, I presume." Conrad noted.
"Yes, I sent him when I learned of Provdencia's need." Senarius said. "Now we are ready to assist."
"Thank you, Senarius." Reselda said gratefully.
Senarius nodded. "We will set up camp tonight and tomorrow we will march out for Provendencia."
"That's half day travel from here." Bofur noted.
"We need to rest up for the travel and the battle." Senarius said grimly.
Nachum cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "Lord Senarius has decreed we set up camp here."
"Is this a safe place… you know because…" Siren nodded her head towards the woods.
"This is as safe as any." Senarius said. "Most travelers are averse to come anywhere near these woods."
"I wasn't worried about them; I'm worried about…" She pointed into the woods.
"Master will be keeping them in check." Senarius said confidently. "If anyone can figure out the traitor, he will."
"Sure." Siren did not sound convince.
"Hey, what tent can we stay in?" Roy asked as he started to walk towards the army.
"Tent?" Nachum said derisively. "Real men sleep out in the open."
Roy stopped and glared at Nachum. "What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed.
"Sleeping in a tent makes you weak. I sleep out in the open." He said proudly.
"I'd rather be weak." Bofur said. "Mother Nature is a b…"
"I think we should draw up battle plans before we go. And perhaps send a few scouts ahead so we know what to expect when we arrive." Reselda interrupted.
Roy was still glaring at Nachum. "Well, anything you can do I can do."
"Is that so?" Nachum challenged.
"I think plans and scouts are good ideas." Senarius said ignoring the two boys. "Since we have the caravan, let's utilize it."
"That's fine by me." Bofur said opening the caravan door. "I'm getting tired of standing around."
Conrad went in followed by Siren, Senarius and Reselda. Roy and Nachum both tried to go in at once getting stuck. They both scowled at each other. Bofur rolled his eyes before using his foot to shove them both in. They stumbled into the room where the adults had already taken the place around the table. Siren had pulled out a map from one of the chests.
"If we follow the usual path we will arrive at the north side of the castle. From the scouts report we may have to change direction…" Senarius droned on.
Roy spotted the last seat that was open and went for it. Nachum pushed past him to get to it. Roy stuck out his foot and tripped him as he was about to grab the seat he fell as Nachum grabbed his ankle. Just as Roy and Nachum was about to fight, Bofur hopped into the seat.
"You snooze, you loose gentleman." He said smugly as he crossed his legs and placed his hands behind his head.
The boys glowered at Bofur before turning their ire on each other.
"Nachum, Roy! If you are done playing, perhaps you would like to join us." Senarius said sternly.
Chastised the boys found a place around the table to stand to look at the map.
0o0
At the end of the meeting, Roy had a terrible headache. Perhaps it was a good thing he was standing. He almost fell asleep listening to the boring back and forth between the adults. Siren and Bofur even interjected with suggestions but to Roy it was all gibberish. What he got was that everything was contingent on what the scouts reported. So why plan anyway? He groaned as he stretched his back.
"What's the matter? Can't take a little meeting?" Nachum asked.
"And you are fine with standing for hours for nothing?" Roy snapped.
"Anything Lord Senarius does has purpose." He bristled.
"If you enjoy not having done anything productive, have at it. I prefer getting things done." Roy retorted.
"What would you do?" Nachum challenged.
"I would have already gone there and kicked Baratrum's backside." Roy bragged.
"Really? You wouldn't last five minutes." He scoffed.
Roy formed his War Hammers. "Oh, I can definitely take them on."
Nachum's eyes grew wide. "Sorcery." He gasped. Then he regained his composure. "But can you fight?"
"Of course, I can. Senarius trained me." He said proudly.
"When?" He demanded. "I have been his squire for 3 years. I have never met you before."
"He trained me just now." Roy admitted.
Nachum burst out laughing. "You can't learn how to fight in a few hours."
"Well, maybe I can fight better than you." He said angrily.
Nachum pulled out his sword. "Then come at me."
Roy with his War Hammer charged him.
Nachum sidestepped him and with the hilt of his sword smacked the back of his neck bringing him down. He smirked but then suddenly fell over. Roy had hooked his foot under Nachum's and pulled him down. They glared at each other before they started wrestling around on the ground. A second later they were pulled apart by Senarius.
"Stop! Save your energy for the real enemy." He said sternly.
"My apologies, my lord." Nachum bowed low.
"Sorry." Roy muttered under his breath.
Senarius walked away. When he was gone, they glared at each other.
"Hey, hey, let's get something to eat. I'm starving." Bofur wrapped an arm around each boy. He dragged them along toward the bonfire that was built in the center of the camp. "I'm not hungry." Roy said. Just then his stomach growled. Nachum laughed until his own stomach growled too.
"See gents, you're just hungry. After a good meal, everything will be better." Bofur said confidently.
When they got there, they were handed some stew. They found a place to sit. Siren came over and joined them.
"So, what's it like to be Senarius' squire?" Siren asked Nachum.
"Prince Senarius is the most amazing soldier and master." Nachum gushed. He began telling stories of his and Senarius' adventures.
Roy frowned feeling jealous of all the stories Nachum was relaying.
"I need you all to rest." Senarius appeared. "We ride bright and early tomorrow."
"The scouts?" Siren asked.
"They have been sent. We will meet them at the halfway point. We will finalize our plan then."
Everyone got up to go to the tents that was set up for them. Roy saw Nachum walk off outside of the camp. He followed him. Nachum spread out a blanket. He laid down.
"So, you are sleeping outside." Roy said.
Nachum glanced at him. " I said I would."
"Well, I'm sleeping outside too." Roy sat down.
"You'll need a blanket." Nachum snorted.
"I'm fine." Roy said.
"Up to you." Nachum turned to look up the sky.
Roy laid down. "It's just like home." He sighed.
"You sleep outside?" Nachum asked.
"My brother and I are shepherds." Roy said. "We've slept outside before."
"Shepherds? No wonder you don't know how to fight." Nachum said.
"We know how to fight. We've protected our flock from thieves and wild animals." Roy bristled. "We can defend ourselves."
"Trained soldiers from Baratrum are not as easy to defeat as animals." Nachum said.
"I am aware it's not the same but we're not clueless." Roy retorted.
"Just don't expect me to save you." He said drifting off to sleep.
"Don't worry about me. Watch your own back." He growled.
But Roy couldn't sleep. Nachum's words bothered him. In a way, he understood. He would be wary of a stranger coming in too. In fact, he was sure many of the soldiers were thinking the same thing. He stared at the stars for a while. Roy tried to sleep but couldn't.
Finally, he sat up. It was no use. Sleep alluded him. He got up and decided to go for a walk.
The moon provided light as he walked around the edge of the camp. As he walked near the forest he paused. From the corner of his eye, he saw shadows flit from the trees to the camp. The spirit orb seemed to be screaming at him. He allowed the orb inside guide him. He saw shadows surround a tent. Someone exited.
"Princess Reselda!" He yelled recognizing the figure.
She turned around in shock as if she woke from a dream. A dark tendril wrapped around her arms and legs. Another tendril went to the pouch around her waist.
"Roy! Help! They're going for the orbs!" She yelled.
Roy formed his War Hammers and charged. One shadow slithered away and blocked Roy. Roy swung his War Hammer, but it passed through it. However, the shadow was able to knock him down. He looked up to see the shadow on top of him. It held him down as a shadowy claw plunged into his chest. Roy screamed as the shadow creature tried to pull his orb from his body.
I will finish. Don't worry.
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