Hugo awoke from his meditative sleep and slowly rose to his feet. He began to put his day clothes back on. He had been meditating in his black baggy pants with his Karayan Print shirt and his tight black undershirt. He latched his hip dagger to his belt and around his left leg and began to fasten his sword to his back when Aila came to his door.
"Excuse me Hugo but Geddoe wants to see you as soon as possible." She had changed a lot since joining Geddoe's mercenary team. She still sported some of her Karayan fashion but she now wore a long sleeved version of the black tee shirt all Karayan fighters wear, and simple leather Karaya Print skirt covering her front and back. Under her skirt she wore baggy black pants. Her most striking new features were the arm pad that was the length of her arm, stopping a short distance from her wrist, and the chest plate. The chest plate was two individual pieces of armor that looked to be a ceramic material that were connected by dark brown leather straps. It was a sandy tan color and was symmetrically placed on her chest.
Hugo had never noticed how attractive Aila was before but he quickly dashed the thought from his mind. "Do you know what it will be about?" Hugo asked her.
"You know as well as I" she responded as they left the cavernous room. They walked into the newly excavated portion of the cave that was dug by Twaikin. They finally found Geddoe standing in one of the exits.
"Hello Hugo, its been a long time." Geddoe said as he saw them arriving. He hadn't changed a bit since they had last seen each other. "You're probably wondering why I've asked you to come here. You may not know this but in my travels I have come across many ruins of the Cyndar Clan. I know that you also know of the immense powers they hold when there is True Runes involved." Geddoe paused.
"My group will be heading west, to the Outlands. In my travels I came across a ruin there that when used with the True Rune of Water, can give life back to someone felled in combat." Geddoe said. He seemed to be growingly uncomfortable. It must be because he isn't used to speaking with suck verbosity. "Would you like to come with me to the ruins and see if we resurrect your friend?" he said.
Hugo was astounded by what he had heard. He stood in shock of what he heard. He could bring back Lulu from the dead. He couldn't believe what was being said. He would finally be able to release the burden on his shoulders and bring back Lulu. "Well?" Geddoe interrupted.
"When do we leave?"
"Is everyone ready to move out?" Ace asked as the group gathered in the outer courtyard of Lakeside Castle. Geddoe, Queen, Joker, Jacques, and Hugo all stood in an ameba shape. "Where is Lady Chris?" Queen asked.
Hugo folded his arms while saying "we can't leave without her and she said she would meet us here. She must have encountered trouble."
Flesh tore under the wake of Lady Chris' sword. She stood in a fighting posture unlike any other. Intimidating, stoic, noble, and strong. She stood as a shining silver beacon of all that the Knights of Zexen stood for. She turned her attention to a second foe, a wolf, which was already being fought by Borus and Leo. Louis watched studiously from behind Chris. Leo swung his axe high and Borus stabbed the beast through with his Drei before Leo's axe, Horn, hit home on the beasts' neck. The wolf lay dead and slowly faded away.
"That was great everyone!" Louis said. He was anxious to get to Budehuc Castle. He would be getting his squire weapon and according to the knights tradition Lady Chris would be choosing it for him. The anticipation was killing him. He could see Budehuc Castle on the horizon as they began riding again. He could remember the first time he came to this castle. He really remembered that he was really tired of walking. He walked everywhere, since they didn't allow pages to ride. Now though, he was hardly short of breath and that was only due to his excitement.
"Ready to grow up Louis?" asked Percival. He smiled at the teenage boy. "This is a big step. I can remember the weapon I got from Lord Pelize. It was just two daggers, but as with anything in life it had its own meaning I had to discover." Percival looked off into the distance and got lost in his thoughts.
"Milady, pardon my asking, but what are you going to get him?" Borus said. "That's a secret. You know that. Besides, the suspense is the best part." She replied.
"WE'RE HERE!!!" Yelled Louis. He ran into the castle through the front gates. Chris and the rest of the knights were shortly behind him.
"WAAAAOOOOHHHHH!!!" they heard from inside the gates. They ran up fearing the worst. They came around the corner to find Louis and Cecile in a pile on the ground. Apparently Louis had plowed over the young lady knight. He got up and helped her to her feet and began apologizing immediately. Chris laughed as she went by. She stopped just in front of them and dismounted from her white steed. "Take my horse to the stable please Louis. I need to see someone about your new gift." She began to walk off and turned around once more. "As of know you knights are on leave of two days. Take care and remember that you represent the Knights of Zexen." She turned yet again and walked down to where Juan hangs out.
"Cecile! There you are. I've been looking for you." Called a young man crossing the courtyard. He was clad in a soft brown overcoat with a white undershirt with buttons. He also wore green knickers with knee-length socks and plain leather boots. "I have a job for us to do. We will be venturing out soon. I thought I'd give you advance notice. We leave in one week," said Thomas. His left hand clinched a rolled piece of parchment. It looked well weathered and was an off shade of manila. His face had grown but with it had become more relaxed. With less stress between the Zexen and Grasslander's things had cooled down at Budehuc Castle. Business was thriving and left no day without event but struggles like those when the castle was the center of so much controversy were a very welcome absence to daily life.
"Thank you Thomas, sir. I'll be ready in one week. I must do my patrols now." Cecile replied.
Thomas left Cecile to do her patrols and walked back to the castle. He had recently received a letter from his former homeland. The letter was addressed to him and was concerning his mothers' death. Apparently his mother had an heirloom that she had left to Thomas. He and Cecile would be leaving the following week to go pick it up from his hometown in the Northern Outlands.
Upon his entering the castle he came upon Geddoe and his gang standing in a circle in the middle of the lobby area. "Thomas! Could we talk to you?" asked Ace.
"Yes, of course. What is it you need?" Thomas said as he approached the group. "I've heard that you are from the Nameless Lands. Is this true?" Geddoe asked. The entire group watched him adamantly.
"Yes… as a matter of fact, I plan on going there next week. Is there anything of urgent concern that I need to know about?" He asked, growing fearful that something bad was coming again.
"No by no means. We were planning on taking a trip there soon and wondered if you had a map, but now that we know you're already planning on going do you think we could accompany you?" Ace said cordially. The team looked at Thomas and it began to worry him.
"O...k…" he replied in a meek voice. "I guess the more people the stronger we are together. It can get quite rough out there alone by ourselves. I thank you on behalf of Cecile and myself. Might I ask who will be going with us?" Thomas said to Ace.
"Right now; Hugo will be coming; Lady Chris; we six; and you." Joker replied. "I think we got that whole 'strength in numbers' deal".
"I think you're right, Mr. Joker". Thomas bid the group adieu and headed to his room. His door creaked shut as he shut it behind him. He made a note to fix that. On his bedside trunk lay his sword; the Masters Sword. This sword had seen a lot with him and he knew he would take it with him on his trek to his homeland. He reflected on where he came from.
"Mama! Mama look I'm doing it!" Thomas looked into his mothers' face to see her reaction. A soft smile met him as he coasted down the worn dirt road on this contraption. It had two wheels and gears but despite its appearance it was a thrill to ride on. He pulled over next to his mother, his tired legs kept with him long enough to hop onto his mothers lap as she sat sewing in the rocking chair. "What are you doing Mama?" the auburn-haired boy asked.
"I'm knitting a scarf for the winter. It's for you, skeeter" his mom said to him as she continued knitting. He sat there for a few more moments. The light cascaded through the dense leaves above him, each leaf the size of the lads face. With each passing breeze the light and shadow danced from side-to-side with one another. He cherished the moment for some reason he couldn't grasp…
Home. Thomas finally realized he'd be going home. As more memories came flooding back to him he lied down in his bed and slowly fell to the grasp of sleep. That night his dreams were focused ever more on his return to his home.