Part Seven

Friendship's Forging, also entitled, Of Taking Leave, Again

Tag sounds surprised when I tell him my story. Either he figured I would remain closemouthed about my past or he couldn't believe that I was a slave, had no talent and poured soup over the head of Lord Arcturo and was currently living my life in exile.

It just so happens that it was the latter facts he found most far-fetched.

"They actually DID that to you!?" he exclaims, amazed and shocked, I hope, at the same time, when I tell him of the differing punishments the Lord and his loving court would bestow upon my person.

"Yeah, a couple of times, they mostly locked me in the cellar or the pantry, which was stupid because there was always enough food for me to eat and take back home."

"They weren't the brightest bunch of people were they?"

I frown and try not to start into a tirade about the evil people who had abused me for so many long years. More than likely, one of my infamous tantrums would scare him away and I would be without companionship for the remainder of my journey.

Speaking of which…

"Tag, is there anywhere in particular that you're heading?"

"Not really." He replies, taking another bite of his pie, "I'm just following the enchanted path and hoping I don't get eaten."

"Well, would you like to come along with Blackhurricane and I? It's bound to be an interesting journey, especially if I keep on getting trapped in holes along the way…"

He smiles, "So long as I'm the one who gets to pull you out of them."

I grin back somewhat sheepishly.

Wait a minute. Was he flirting with me?!

*~*

The morning dawned bright, clear and no sign of people-eating creatures for miles to come. We decided against staying another night here, we didn't want to press our luck with those blasted holes. (Of which we found three more on the way out of the area, I discovered them only by almost falling in them repeatedly.)

I eventually got fed up with 'discovering' the holes and rode on Blackhurricane, trying not to aggravate my bruises.

"What is this flaming place anyway, and why are there so many blasted pits everywhere?" I scream, startling a few insects that were following us.

"Gyrullselum," Tag replies, wincing at my yell. "The people near here call it the Holey Land."

It was my turn to wince. Bad pun. And in Xanth, they were guaranteed to only get worse.

"How much longer 'till we get out of here?"

"I don't know, Sye and I have only been around here once and that was just on the outskirts, it shouldn't be much longer though." Tag says, patting Sye on the neck. While I was riding Blackhurricane, Tag had opted to stay on Sye, every hour he would take a short flight around the area to see if there was anything ahead. He had offered me the chance to ride him, after seeing how well we got along, (SYE and me… think people think!) But I graciously refused.

It was Tag's sixth flight of the day, after the first few I had grown accustomed to travelling alone for a couple of minutes then having then swoop back down to rejoin me. It didn't take long and he always told me everything they saw from the air.

But, as I was saying.

It was their sixth flight and Blackhurricane and I were making steady progress along the enchanted path. The ways were clear and there was the reassuring sound of nutbirds squawking in the tree's canopy. The noise wasn't all that pleasant, as they were nutbirds, but it gave me something to focus on.

I was thinking about my departure from Heneric.

I hope he's okay, I mean, it'll be my fault if he gets punished. If those guards could find him that is. Heneric's talent was pretty powerful, for the twenty-four hours after he invoked it, I highly doubt that anyone will be able to spot him.

It hasn't even BEEN a full day since I left yet. That was remarkable. So much has already happened. Maybe it's the nature of Quests to quash as much adventures into as little time as possible.

If that was true…

I wonder what the rest of my life if going to be like.

Tag and Sye still weren't back yet; it had been far longer than the usual time it took to scout the area. I hope nothing's happened to them. Wouldn't that just be great? The first friends, friend… I've made on this journey don't even last me a day.

I look around me, it doesn't seem all that dangerous too me, but I've lived in this world long enough to know that the most dangerous things are never in the open. Tangle trees for one, stupid things, in a matter of speaking anyway, they lure you into their reach by making the area around them as welcoming as possible. Then they eat you.

Barbaric, isn't it?

Something scurries from the path, I turn to look as fast as I can and see some type of furry creature dart into the shadows. Rustling the foliage as it scampers away.

It couldn't have been all that dangerous if it ran from me, right?

Reassuring myself usually works, this time, however, it didn't.

"Come on Blackhurricane, let's get a move on." I flick the reins to hurry him forward. He seems antsy too, as he follows my commands immediately.

Something's coming, something's following me… I can feel it.

I need to get help.

I hit my head on Blackhurricane's neck, burying my face in his dark mane. Geez, listen to me, I'm going insane. Now I'm hearing music…

Music?

Well that's strange. Where would music come from in a place like this? I hope it's not another pun because if it is I swear…

There was something that I was supposed to remember…

"…This looking glass will help to warn you if there are people who are looking for you. It will alert you if there are people following you or thinking bad thoughts about you or those in your company."

"That sounds useful Heneric, how does it work?"

"It will start to sing."

"Sing?"

"Yes, Articana sing, music will start to play if it detects people thinking badly of you…"

Oh yeah, that was it.

I take the mirror out of the saddlebag where it has been resting since the journey's start. The beautiful music gets louder as soon as I touch it.

Well, there goes the idea that I was imagining it.

I glance around; Heneric said that it would sing if someone is following me or thinking bad thoughts about me or people in my companionship. It couldn't be that Tag and Sye are coming back, it would have sounded earlier if that as the case.

The woods seem darker somehow, the shadows longer and more ominous, they look like they are reaching out to grab me off Blackhurricane and pull me off the path.

Could it be that Lord Arcturo has sent someone after me?

No matter, I will not return to that hellhole before I am good and ready, and have an army of dragons to take my revenge upon the evil people who made my life miserable. Lord Arcturo will never have the satisfaction of harassing Me again!