A Journey Begins
After a few minutes of contemplating, I decided it was the right thing to do. I stood up and returned to my room. I packed a few items in a small bag, threw on my cloak and walked out onto the beach, not saying a word to Callia. I knew that if I did, she would try and follow me. I couldn't have that. I couldn't put her in danger, and I knew the Vizier would do anything to bring me lower than he already has. I wanted to stay, but he needed to be taken down once and for all. I ventured into town, bought a new horse as mine had run off following the explosion and began to make my way towards India, and a whole new adventure.
-
I sat there for another hour before I realized he was gone. I had become so trapped my thoughts that I failed to notice my surroundings. I stood up and circled around a bit, looking for him. I checked his room and found that his cloak was no longer on the hook, the rags he had thrown on were now laid on the bed, and his armor was missing too. I ran into the town, searching for him. Then it occurred to me that maybe he had gone off to India, to stop that Vizier he talked about. I quickly found a cheap horse and galloped off towards India, hoping I would reach him soon, that our paths would cross and I could help him.
-
Night began to settle. I stopped and made camp at the foot of the mountains. Tomorrow me and my black horse would brave our way through the mountains and continue our trek to India. I hunted for some small animals, a couple rabbits and dinner was served. Such a change; I had grown accustomed to warm meals and a sturdy oak table. Tonight, my table was a rock, and my warm meal was tough to chew. I leaned back against the tree and wrapped my cloak around me more to keep the cold out. I began to think of Callia. I thought of how upset she must be that I left without even a goodbye, but it was for her own safety, for her protection from the evils that the world offered. Echoing in the night, wolves cried to the moon as they began their own hunt. I dozed off, my hand wrapped firmly around the daggers handle and ready for anything.
-
As nightfall grew nearer, I began to think that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come out here on my own. I walked my horse slowly through the woods. Off in the distance I heard the wolves as they howled into the darkness. The horse reared a bit, but some soothing words and a pat on the side with my hand kept it from going out of control. To my right were the foothills and to the left, the deep valley and the high mountains. It was beautiful out here, but much too dangerous for an unarmed me. I found a clearing and decided to get some sleep. I tied off the horse and laid down, my stomach growling. I should have thought this through and acquired some sort of a weapon. Now I had to find him, for my sake as well as his. I was almost asleep when I heard it; a deep and fearsome sound. My horse pulled back strong, breaking its reigns and running free, trying to make its way up the foothills. I quickly stood up and saw something gleam in the bush as the moon caught them…eyes. I quickly turned to face the tree, and from the bushes emerged the wolves. I quickly grabbed a limb and tried to climb, but I could only go so high, and the branch was only so strong. Soon it would break and I would be the main course for the pack. I began to scream, trying to scare the wolves off, in vain of course. But then, something I didn't expect, happened.
-
I had just dozed off and was sleeping lightly when I heard the wolves howling again. I thought nothing of it and a few moments later, a horses neigh and gallop and only seconds after that, a woman screaming. I leapt up, grabbing my sword and bringing the dagger along. I followed the screams and as I ran, I watched for anything that seemed strange. Then, just ahead of me, I saw Callia in a tree and heard the wolves growling. That seemed a bit strange, so I moved quicker. I hurdled over a bush and with a swing of my sword, took out one of the many wolves. Callia stopped screaming and watched as I fought off the wolves. One scratched at my arm, another bit my pants. The one that scratched my arm got an eyeful of dagger, and lucky for me the wolf missed my leg, and took a sword to the spinal column. All the wolves defeated, I sheathed my weapons and turned to face the tree. This was exactly what I didn't want or need.
"It's okay now Callia, come on down." She seemed hesitant to come down but I was being pushy and eventually she came down from the tree. She stood a couple feet away from me, just staring at me. Not a word was said and her expression remained blank. Having been disturbed from my sleep to find that a tail had come along, I wasn't too pleased. I looked off to the mountains and walked past her to head back towards camp, hoping she would turn around and head back to the beach to rebuild her house. Instead, she charged me, hugging me tightly from behind. She began to thank me profusely. I gave up resisting and turned around, looking into her eyes and holding her in my arms.
"Anytime Callia." I just hoped this was the only time.
-
Finally we were together again. As he held me close, all of a sudden the night chill disappeared. I was just so happy to be with him again. We walked back to his camp sight, arm in arm. I told him my horse had been spooked by the wolves and run off into the hills. He asked me if I had any protection of my own, as he handed me his secondary sword. I swung it around a couple of times, attacking a nearby tree a bit. I sheathed it on the side of his horse. He begged me to return home.
"I have no home anymore. My house is in ruins, and I want to get a piece of the son-of-a-bitch who blew up my house. Besides, all I have now is you. I want to be by your side in this, I don't want to be alone, and I don't want you to have to be alone." He explained to me how dangerous it was and I told him that I didn't care and I was going with him, whether he liked it or not. He gave up, re-kindling the fire that had gone out. He leaned against the tree and I laid back on him. He wrapped his cloak the both of us and we sat there for a little while before falling asleep. The next day, we would continue this journey, together.