A/N: Just a quick note: wanted to thank everyone who reviewed! I really do
appreciate it!...Just wanted to let you all know that...Ya...Back to the
story!
***
Phi woke up suddenly, her face dripping with cold sweat. She felt someone's arms around her shoulders and struggled against them, "Devic! My baby!" He was going to die! She needed to save him!
Alex pulled her closer, holding tightly onto her arms as she thrashed about trying to free herself, "Phi! Phi, honey, calm down! It's all right...You're having a nightmare!"
"No! Let me go! Devic!"
The flap of their tent was thrown back and Will and Devic peered inside, dressed in their undershirts and breeches, their faces anxious. Luke had woken up and was peering, frightened, at his mother. Devic stepped inside, kneeling down next to their bed mat, "What is going on?"
Alex grimaced and slapped Phi lightly across her cheek. Instantly, she stopped screaming, although tears kept flowing from her eyes. She gasped, as if trying to catch her breath, then fell onto Alex, sobbing, "Alex! I saw him! He was-he...Oh god Alex, we need to find him!"
All three men gazed concernedly at each other before Will ducked out of their tent, muttering, "I am going to get something to calm her down..."
Devic nodded, and turned back to Phi and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Do not worry...I swear I will not let anything happen to your son."
Alex rubbed Phi's back and adjusted his position so that he could sit up, "We'll find him in time..."
Luke, now wide awake from all the commotion, climbed over and sat next to Alex, resting his chin on his dad's knee, "What wrong with Mommy?"
Alex glanced down at the boy, "Nothing Luke...She just had a bad dream..."
Will returned with a cup of a yellow-green liquid that smelled something like tea and handed it to Alex, who lifted Phi's head up and gave her the cup cautiously, "Here, drink this...It'll help calm you down..."
She took it slowly, as if still half asleep, her body trembling. She took a sip and almost immediately seemed to gain more control, her breathing growing steady and her crying coming to an end. She sniffed and pulled her knees up to her chest. Will motioned for her to drink so more, "It would be good for you."
She smiled weakly, and took another drink before setting the mug down next to the mat on the ground. Devic relaxed and sat cross-legged next to her, "What happened?"
Phi shook her head, leaning back onto Alex's shoulder, "I'm-I'm not quite sure. I was alone, deeper in the forest, and I was running somewhere...But I remember feeling...No, I knew that something was happening to Devic, my son, but that I wouldn't be able to get there in time. But- I had to keep going...just in case...and I could hear him screaming..." She began to shake again. Will handed her the cup again and she took another long sip, her eyes closed.
Devic frowned, "We should pick up our pace...We should had overtaken him by now; your son is moving surprisingly quickly, especially for being on unknown terrain such as this..."
Alex nodded, finally assured that Phi was all right, "Do you think that Phi's dream could have been...well, something more than just a nightmare?"
Devic shrugged, "It could have been a number of things. Here in Tortall, dreams that are as realistic and graphic like hers was are usually sent as a sort of warning by a god...However, you two have no connection with any deities that I know of, so I can only suppose than it was her own mind giving her a sort of mental advice...Or maybe...but probably not...he would not dare..."
Phi opened her eyes slowly, "Or maybe what?"
Will sighed and stood up again, "If you both are going to get him started, I am going to go prepare a fire...Would you let Luke know that if he is still tired that he should feel free to sleep in our tent? It is almost sunrise though, and I doubt very much that I myself shall fall back asleep..."
Alex reported the news to Luke, who shook his head but clamored to his feet. Alex looked back up at Will, "He says he's not tired, but he wants to help you out...If he won't get in the way that is..."
Will grinned wearily, "No...I would be glad for the company, even if we cannot communicate directly..." He smiled at the six year old and waved for Luke to join him. The boy nodded and hurried after Will outside of the tent and Alex turned back to Devic, "Now...back to our question..."
"Oh, of course. Well...there is another man who I can imagine having the ability to send you this dream...And I suspect you know who I am speaking of?"
Phi stared back at Devic, her eyes wide, "You mean you haven't killed him yet?"
"Do not think that I have not tried...For I have, many a time to be certain..."
Alex blinked, "Wait a minute...Are you saying that-that Trycos is still alive?"
Devic shrugged, "Well I have not heard a report come in about him being found dead yet, and he was last seen up North about forty miles from here...But that was several months ago, usually he passes from place to place within a matter of weeks."
Phi looked at the ground, "But he never left, did he?"
"No... I do not think he ever did...And now I think I now his initial reason although I cannot begin to imagine the motive behind it all. Why in Mithros' name would he go to all this trouble just to abduct your child? It does not make any sense..."
Alex seemed to bristle, "Ya well when we catch up with him we'll ask him...After I kick his ass into next week...That God damned ba-"
Phi rolled her eyes and put a finger on Alex's lips to quiet him down, "Devic, how soon will we be able to leave this morning?"
Devic grinned at them both before replying, "Perhaps in another hour if we have a quick breakfast...especially because he have packed light it will probably only take no more than fifteen minutes to get everything cleaned up."
Phi nodded, "Good..."
After she removed her finger, Alex ran his hand through his hair and sighed, suddenly realizing how tired he was. They had all only managed to get about seven hours of sleep, which didn't feel like much after spending all day riding a horse through unused trails through a thick forest. He let out a wide yawn that quickly spread, and Phi had to cover her mouth to hide her own. Devic smiled softly, "You two take a few minutes to get up...I will go help Will with that fire..."
Phi and Alex nodded gratefully and watched Devic leave. Then Alex lay back down, pulling Phi down with him. She nestled up against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. He glanced down and kissed her, "You had me scared for a few minutes there, Phi..."
"Sorry...I really didn't know that I was still awake...or that I ever was dreaming in the first place...it seemed so real..."
Alex squeezed her hand comfortingly, "You know, I bet you that right now, Devic is perfectly fine...He's a smart boy Phi, he'll be able to take care of himself..."
"Ya, but for how long?"
***
Devic (y) woke up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Trycos had dragging through the thick undergrowth of the forest until well past midnight, and it had been hard to fall asleep...No wonder...
Trycos stood over him, his eyes narrowed and his arms crossed, "It is about time you woke up...We have a few more miles to go still, since you stopped so early last night."
"Excuse me for collapsing from exhaustion!"
"Since you are obviously awake enough to use sarcasm, stand up. We have to go."
Devic rose to his feet slowly, and brushed dead leaves and dirt off his pajamas, grumbling, "Where we going anyway...?"
"You will find out soon enough, but we need to get there at a certain time or I will completely miss them. That message I sent is sure to speed them up, and we need to get there before them..."
Devic glared up at Trycos suspiciously, "Who's 'them'?"
"It is not important that you know. Follow me."
"...Like I have a choice?"
"Good point."
Devic scowled as the familiar sensation of forced marching came over him and his legs began to walk forward without his saying to. His feet were sore and callused and he really wished that he had his tennis shoes instead of the big cumbrous boot he was wearing.
***
The day had grown overcast and dreary as Alex, Phi, Luke, Will, and Devic rode through the forest. The threatening clouds blocked out the sun and under the shadows of the trees, the horses were having a rough time getting through because it was hard to see all the holes and rocks in the path.
Finally, they came to a small clearing centered around a tall tree with a large, flat, gray rock at its base. Devic gazed around and dismounted, "All right. This is where his trail leads. Look around and see if you can find any sign of where he headed next...There is not an apparent trail so I have a feeling that we will very well find ourselves searching on foot."
The group dispersed, everyone, even Luke, taking their own piece of the clearing to inspect. Will covered the most ground and was the first one to find anything; there was a small deer trail leading north that looked as if it had been very recently used. As the adults finished inspecting the grounds, Luke got board and went over to sit down on the large rock.
He sat down and smiled happily, because soon he was going to see his brother. His dad had said so. Luke glanced around and then noticed something in the dirt. There were letters written into the mud. Crouching over the message curiously, the boy worked on deciphering the note, having just learned how to read. H-E-L-P...he-hel-help. Help. Luke wiped his nose on his sleeve and looked around for someone to tell. No one paid any attention to him. Finally, inpatient, he called out to Phi, "Mommy! Look what I found!"
She glanced over and walked briskly across the clearing to where he was sitting, "What is-..." The letters caught her eye and she crouched down next to her son, touching the drying mud with her fingers as if to make sure it was really there. Catching Luke up in her arms, she raised her head, "Alex! Devic, Will, come see what Luke found!"
The men came over with quick strides and peered over her shoulder. Alex grinned, "That's our boy's handwriting all right..."
Devic frowned, "What does it say?"
Phi looked up at him, "You can't read it?"
Will shook his head, "I do not recognize those symbols..."
Alex blinked, "It must be in English...it says 'Help'. I'm surprised Trycos didn't catch this..."
Devic's eyebrows knitted together, "Perhaps he did...Come. I feel that we are getting very close..."
Will nodded, "As you said before though, we will have to proceed on foot. There is no way that our horses would be able to make it through all that undergrowth..."
Alex agreed, "You're probably right. Should we carry all our supplies?"
Devic sighed, "That would probably be the best course of action, just in case they are farther ahead than I suspect..."
Phi frowned, "How far do you think they are?"
"I cannot be sure, but from what Will says and the footprints in the mud, I would guess that we are only a few hours behind them. If we travel at a brisk pace we should catch up with them in a few hours, especially if Devic is protesting against Trycos."
Alex interjected, "Which, knowing him, he probably is..."
"Can we go now?" They all turned to look at Luke, who, still held in Phi's arms looked anxious to leave.
Will turned to Alex, "What did he say?"
Alex shook his head, smiling, "He asked if we can go."
Devic smiled and straightened up, "Tell him we are getting ready to leave right now...We will all have to carry something, even Luke, if we want to take most of our supplies with us."
Phi nodded and the group migrated over to where the horses where tied to organize packs for them to lug along with them as they traveled further north.
***
Devic (y) stared at Trycos' back as he gradually began to slow down their pace as the day wore on. Since the sun was covered with clouds, Devic couldn't tell what time it was about, but he guessed that is in the afternoon. All he knew was relief when Trycos stopped walking and motioned for the boy to sit. With his legs freed up, all Devic could manage to do was collapse onto the ground onto his knees and glare venomously up at Trycos, "What's the matter? Are your feet starting to hurt as much as mine are, or did you just stop so that you could climb another tree?"
Trycos rolled his eyes at the dripping sarcasm, "This is where we must wait. I doubt they will be too much longer, and it seems that, despite your slowness, that we have miraculously managed to arrive before they did. Who would have guessed?"
Devic grimaced, pulling his knees up to his chest again and squeezing his eyes shut, his tangled hair falling into his face. Maybe this was just another dream. Maybe he would wake up. Maybe his mother would come into his room and shake his shoulder, and then call his name and tell his it was time to go to school...
He heard a sinister chuckle and then, to his surprise, the distant sound of approaching footsteps. Frightened that it would be someone even worse than Trycos, and much to Trycos' amusement, the boy hurried to crawl behind a tree. Trycos smirked, "I would suggest that you stay where you are..."
"In that case, I'm definitely hiding!"
Trycos smiled and shrugged, "Suit yourself..."
Not liking the man's contradictory manner, despite the wave of fear he was experiencing for what seemed like the hundredth time that week, he poked his head out from behind the tree trunk and awaited the arrival of the thing that was quickly approaching from deep inside the forest.
***
Phi woke up suddenly, her face dripping with cold sweat. She felt someone's arms around her shoulders and struggled against them, "Devic! My baby!" He was going to die! She needed to save him!
Alex pulled her closer, holding tightly onto her arms as she thrashed about trying to free herself, "Phi! Phi, honey, calm down! It's all right...You're having a nightmare!"
"No! Let me go! Devic!"
The flap of their tent was thrown back and Will and Devic peered inside, dressed in their undershirts and breeches, their faces anxious. Luke had woken up and was peering, frightened, at his mother. Devic stepped inside, kneeling down next to their bed mat, "What is going on?"
Alex grimaced and slapped Phi lightly across her cheek. Instantly, she stopped screaming, although tears kept flowing from her eyes. She gasped, as if trying to catch her breath, then fell onto Alex, sobbing, "Alex! I saw him! He was-he...Oh god Alex, we need to find him!"
All three men gazed concernedly at each other before Will ducked out of their tent, muttering, "I am going to get something to calm her down..."
Devic nodded, and turned back to Phi and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Do not worry...I swear I will not let anything happen to your son."
Alex rubbed Phi's back and adjusted his position so that he could sit up, "We'll find him in time..."
Luke, now wide awake from all the commotion, climbed over and sat next to Alex, resting his chin on his dad's knee, "What wrong with Mommy?"
Alex glanced down at the boy, "Nothing Luke...She just had a bad dream..."
Will returned with a cup of a yellow-green liquid that smelled something like tea and handed it to Alex, who lifted Phi's head up and gave her the cup cautiously, "Here, drink this...It'll help calm you down..."
She took it slowly, as if still half asleep, her body trembling. She took a sip and almost immediately seemed to gain more control, her breathing growing steady and her crying coming to an end. She sniffed and pulled her knees up to her chest. Will motioned for her to drink so more, "It would be good for you."
She smiled weakly, and took another drink before setting the mug down next to the mat on the ground. Devic relaxed and sat cross-legged next to her, "What happened?"
Phi shook her head, leaning back onto Alex's shoulder, "I'm-I'm not quite sure. I was alone, deeper in the forest, and I was running somewhere...But I remember feeling...No, I knew that something was happening to Devic, my son, but that I wouldn't be able to get there in time. But- I had to keep going...just in case...and I could hear him screaming..." She began to shake again. Will handed her the cup again and she took another long sip, her eyes closed.
Devic frowned, "We should pick up our pace...We should had overtaken him by now; your son is moving surprisingly quickly, especially for being on unknown terrain such as this..."
Alex nodded, finally assured that Phi was all right, "Do you think that Phi's dream could have been...well, something more than just a nightmare?"
Devic shrugged, "It could have been a number of things. Here in Tortall, dreams that are as realistic and graphic like hers was are usually sent as a sort of warning by a god...However, you two have no connection with any deities that I know of, so I can only suppose than it was her own mind giving her a sort of mental advice...Or maybe...but probably not...he would not dare..."
Phi opened her eyes slowly, "Or maybe what?"
Will sighed and stood up again, "If you both are going to get him started, I am going to go prepare a fire...Would you let Luke know that if he is still tired that he should feel free to sleep in our tent? It is almost sunrise though, and I doubt very much that I myself shall fall back asleep..."
Alex reported the news to Luke, who shook his head but clamored to his feet. Alex looked back up at Will, "He says he's not tired, but he wants to help you out...If he won't get in the way that is..."
Will grinned wearily, "No...I would be glad for the company, even if we cannot communicate directly..." He smiled at the six year old and waved for Luke to join him. The boy nodded and hurried after Will outside of the tent and Alex turned back to Devic, "Now...back to our question..."
"Oh, of course. Well...there is another man who I can imagine having the ability to send you this dream...And I suspect you know who I am speaking of?"
Phi stared back at Devic, her eyes wide, "You mean you haven't killed him yet?"
"Do not think that I have not tried...For I have, many a time to be certain..."
Alex blinked, "Wait a minute...Are you saying that-that Trycos is still alive?"
Devic shrugged, "Well I have not heard a report come in about him being found dead yet, and he was last seen up North about forty miles from here...But that was several months ago, usually he passes from place to place within a matter of weeks."
Phi looked at the ground, "But he never left, did he?"
"No... I do not think he ever did...And now I think I now his initial reason although I cannot begin to imagine the motive behind it all. Why in Mithros' name would he go to all this trouble just to abduct your child? It does not make any sense..."
Alex seemed to bristle, "Ya well when we catch up with him we'll ask him...After I kick his ass into next week...That God damned ba-"
Phi rolled her eyes and put a finger on Alex's lips to quiet him down, "Devic, how soon will we be able to leave this morning?"
Devic grinned at them both before replying, "Perhaps in another hour if we have a quick breakfast...especially because he have packed light it will probably only take no more than fifteen minutes to get everything cleaned up."
Phi nodded, "Good..."
After she removed her finger, Alex ran his hand through his hair and sighed, suddenly realizing how tired he was. They had all only managed to get about seven hours of sleep, which didn't feel like much after spending all day riding a horse through unused trails through a thick forest. He let out a wide yawn that quickly spread, and Phi had to cover her mouth to hide her own. Devic smiled softly, "You two take a few minutes to get up...I will go help Will with that fire..."
Phi and Alex nodded gratefully and watched Devic leave. Then Alex lay back down, pulling Phi down with him. She nestled up against him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. He glanced down and kissed her, "You had me scared for a few minutes there, Phi..."
"Sorry...I really didn't know that I was still awake...or that I ever was dreaming in the first place...it seemed so real..."
Alex squeezed her hand comfortingly, "You know, I bet you that right now, Devic is perfectly fine...He's a smart boy Phi, he'll be able to take care of himself..."
"Ya, but for how long?"
***
Devic (y) woke up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Trycos had dragging through the thick undergrowth of the forest until well past midnight, and it had been hard to fall asleep...No wonder...
Trycos stood over him, his eyes narrowed and his arms crossed, "It is about time you woke up...We have a few more miles to go still, since you stopped so early last night."
"Excuse me for collapsing from exhaustion!"
"Since you are obviously awake enough to use sarcasm, stand up. We have to go."
Devic rose to his feet slowly, and brushed dead leaves and dirt off his pajamas, grumbling, "Where we going anyway...?"
"You will find out soon enough, but we need to get there at a certain time or I will completely miss them. That message I sent is sure to speed them up, and we need to get there before them..."
Devic glared up at Trycos suspiciously, "Who's 'them'?"
"It is not important that you know. Follow me."
"...Like I have a choice?"
"Good point."
Devic scowled as the familiar sensation of forced marching came over him and his legs began to walk forward without his saying to. His feet were sore and callused and he really wished that he had his tennis shoes instead of the big cumbrous boot he was wearing.
***
The day had grown overcast and dreary as Alex, Phi, Luke, Will, and Devic rode through the forest. The threatening clouds blocked out the sun and under the shadows of the trees, the horses were having a rough time getting through because it was hard to see all the holes and rocks in the path.
Finally, they came to a small clearing centered around a tall tree with a large, flat, gray rock at its base. Devic gazed around and dismounted, "All right. This is where his trail leads. Look around and see if you can find any sign of where he headed next...There is not an apparent trail so I have a feeling that we will very well find ourselves searching on foot."
The group dispersed, everyone, even Luke, taking their own piece of the clearing to inspect. Will covered the most ground and was the first one to find anything; there was a small deer trail leading north that looked as if it had been very recently used. As the adults finished inspecting the grounds, Luke got board and went over to sit down on the large rock.
He sat down and smiled happily, because soon he was going to see his brother. His dad had said so. Luke glanced around and then noticed something in the dirt. There were letters written into the mud. Crouching over the message curiously, the boy worked on deciphering the note, having just learned how to read. H-E-L-P...he-hel-help. Help. Luke wiped his nose on his sleeve and looked around for someone to tell. No one paid any attention to him. Finally, inpatient, he called out to Phi, "Mommy! Look what I found!"
She glanced over and walked briskly across the clearing to where he was sitting, "What is-..." The letters caught her eye and she crouched down next to her son, touching the drying mud with her fingers as if to make sure it was really there. Catching Luke up in her arms, she raised her head, "Alex! Devic, Will, come see what Luke found!"
The men came over with quick strides and peered over her shoulder. Alex grinned, "That's our boy's handwriting all right..."
Devic frowned, "What does it say?"
Phi looked up at him, "You can't read it?"
Will shook his head, "I do not recognize those symbols..."
Alex blinked, "It must be in English...it says 'Help'. I'm surprised Trycos didn't catch this..."
Devic's eyebrows knitted together, "Perhaps he did...Come. I feel that we are getting very close..."
Will nodded, "As you said before though, we will have to proceed on foot. There is no way that our horses would be able to make it through all that undergrowth..."
Alex agreed, "You're probably right. Should we carry all our supplies?"
Devic sighed, "That would probably be the best course of action, just in case they are farther ahead than I suspect..."
Phi frowned, "How far do you think they are?"
"I cannot be sure, but from what Will says and the footprints in the mud, I would guess that we are only a few hours behind them. If we travel at a brisk pace we should catch up with them in a few hours, especially if Devic is protesting against Trycos."
Alex interjected, "Which, knowing him, he probably is..."
"Can we go now?" They all turned to look at Luke, who, still held in Phi's arms looked anxious to leave.
Will turned to Alex, "What did he say?"
Alex shook his head, smiling, "He asked if we can go."
Devic smiled and straightened up, "Tell him we are getting ready to leave right now...We will all have to carry something, even Luke, if we want to take most of our supplies with us."
Phi nodded and the group migrated over to where the horses where tied to organize packs for them to lug along with them as they traveled further north.
***
Devic (y) stared at Trycos' back as he gradually began to slow down their pace as the day wore on. Since the sun was covered with clouds, Devic couldn't tell what time it was about, but he guessed that is in the afternoon. All he knew was relief when Trycos stopped walking and motioned for the boy to sit. With his legs freed up, all Devic could manage to do was collapse onto the ground onto his knees and glare venomously up at Trycos, "What's the matter? Are your feet starting to hurt as much as mine are, or did you just stop so that you could climb another tree?"
Trycos rolled his eyes at the dripping sarcasm, "This is where we must wait. I doubt they will be too much longer, and it seems that, despite your slowness, that we have miraculously managed to arrive before they did. Who would have guessed?"
Devic grimaced, pulling his knees up to his chest again and squeezing his eyes shut, his tangled hair falling into his face. Maybe this was just another dream. Maybe he would wake up. Maybe his mother would come into his room and shake his shoulder, and then call his name and tell his it was time to go to school...
He heard a sinister chuckle and then, to his surprise, the distant sound of approaching footsteps. Frightened that it would be someone even worse than Trycos, and much to Trycos' amusement, the boy hurried to crawl behind a tree. Trycos smirked, "I would suggest that you stay where you are..."
"In that case, I'm definitely hiding!"
Trycos smiled and shrugged, "Suit yourself..."
Not liking the man's contradictory manner, despite the wave of fear he was experiencing for what seemed like the hundredth time that week, he poked his head out from behind the tree trunk and awaited the arrival of the thing that was quickly approaching from deep inside the forest.