Chapter Two

Rael jabbed at the soft ground with a short branch, turning it over and over and poking into the earth. He struck a stone, and his grip slipped, and he scratched his palm. He grunted angrily and threw the stick away over his shoulder. "Bloody fool," he muttered, but wasn't sure whom he meant. He looked around the camp and frowned, this was no way to have to live.

After a hard night and long hot day in the saddle, with little time to stop for rest, Ralis had finally allowed them to stop and set up camp for the night. It was not as though they had been followed from Taran Kaey, and they had travelled far further than was necessary in Rael's opinion, but he had to respect his brother's decision. Their makeshift camp was set up on the edge of the north side of a small copse of trees. The camp consisted of a small fire, with two fallen logs pulled around to sit on, and a patch of land where they had flattened down the long grass to lay down their blankets. How they were ever going to sleep out here during the freezing night Rael had no idea. But he would be glad to rest at last, he had not since before the attack.

Ralis even had them rationing food. Never mind the fact that they would reach Baradale after just one full day's ride, he was having them conserve what they had brought. Other than the loaf and apples they had grabbed from Daran's house, they had another loaf, a block of cheese, several pears and a few eggs. Ralis and Mara had little time available to take any more with them apparently, in their haste to get out of the town.

Rael punched the floor with a tightly clenched fist, and stood up angrily. His life had been turned upside down. He had no shelter, no warmth, hardly any food, and his father was out there somewhere, maybe in danger, and he had no way to find him. "Daran?"

"Yeah?" Muttered his friend, sitting down on the other log.

"What are we going to do?" He buried his head in his hands. "We can't return to Taran Kaey now, it's most likely an ashen ruin." His friend nodded.

"We're just casualties of war I guess, only we're still alive."

Rael poked at the ground again with another stick. "So where are we going to live now?"

Daran shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe somewhere in Baradale."

Rael shook his head, and looked at Daran seriously. "Baradale is a military town. Unless we joined the army they wouldn't admit any new citizens, certainly not during wartime when anybody could be a spy."

"I don't think so Rael, I think you are reading too much into the situation."

Rael whistled slowly, and drummed his fingers on the log, "Maybe, maybe." He stood up and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Daran asked after him.

Rael thought for a moment, he was not sure himself. "For a walk." He muttered back.

Rael moved swiftly through the long grass, making for a slope up ahead. He needed time to himself to think, he hadn't had a moment to himself since leaving the town, and he had to gather his thoughts. He quickened his step and jogged up to the top of the low hill, collapsing wearily on its flat grassy summit. The sky above was clear and blue, cloudless. The air was still, with barely more than a gentle breeze stirring the leaves of the small white laiflowers.

The rolling land of the southern plains lay stretched out before him in all directions, a hilly canvas of green grass and grey rock. Far in the distance he could see the glittering silver shoreline, making a long shining arc on the horizon beyond the leagues and leagues of grassland. He could see Taran Kaey in the distance too, but could make out little more than the shape of tiny buildings. He could see other towns too, scattered along the vast coast, but his view of them was mainly restricted by the rise of hills.

He shut his eyes and lay back on the green outcrop, and let his mind drift.

After a while, he sat up, stiffly at first. He ran his fingers through his rusty hair, rusty by both colour and hard dry texture, and sighed. It was hard to believe that such an atrocity had occurred last night. The terrible storm had passed as the night gave way to the day, and the fog that had lain heavy in the morning had also passed. Now, dusk was falling once again, and the pale blue sky had deepened to shades of grey; long wispy clouds stretched long across the horizon to the west, reflecting the golden sun's light in shades of pink and orange.

The gathering dusk unsettled him. The last time night fell his world had changed. He was frightened that he would awake to the sounds of screaming once more, or that he might not awaken at all. He realised that he better walk back to the camp, he had fallen asleep for longer than had meant to.

He stood up, and stretched his arms and legs. He was just turning to go, when he caught sight of something moving across the plains. He squinted to see in the darker evening, and made out the shape of two figures on horseback moving quickly towards him. Surely not soldiers, not all the way out here…In a second he had reached the bottom of the hill and was running back to where the campfire burned. "Ralis! Someone is coming!"

His brother, who was sitting on a fallen log, looked up at him questioningly. "What?" His eyes widened, "Soldiers you mean? Here?" He leaped to his feet and ran across the grassy field some way to a place where he could see around the forest. Then he hurried back, nodding his head.

Rael was still a little in shock, but moved quickly to where Daran had lain down on his blanket. "Wake up, lad. Soldiers are coming, we'll have to fight." He didn't wait for Daran's response, because something else had suddenly caught his eye. Ralis was holding something he had never seen before, something he did not know his brother owned.

He held a long thin silver blade, curved slightly and sharp on just one edge. A shining, beautiful and elegant weapon. The hilt was black and worked ornately with gold leaf, and along its edges it was marked with symbols in ancient Hylian. Rael gazed at it for a second, taken aback and dazzled, then he looked up to Ralis and asked, "Where under the sun did you get that?"

Ralis was startled, and looked as though he had been accused of a crime, "I bought it from a western trader, through the shipping line. I told you…we get all sort of produce these days. Weapons even sometimes."

Rael nodded, "I see."

Mara came to Ralis' side and looked at the blade and frowned. Rael got the impression that she did not like him owning the blade. "Be careful," she said, "you don't know how to use that thing."

Ralis glared at her, "It'll be fine."

The two horses and their riders came blazing around the side of the woods, and to Rael's surprise, carried on riding right past them. Rael breathed a sigh of relief, but then Ralis shouted after them, "Hey ho!"

The two riders slowed, and began turning back. "What are you doing Ralis!" Mara exclaimed.

"Those are no soldiers. They are Taraners." He said casually, sheathing his blade.

Surely enough, he was correct. As they drew closer, Rael saw that they were a young man and woman no older than himself, and dressed in the Taraner fashion. They had clearly been in the saddle since the attack as well, two more that had managed to escape from the town. "You have fled from Taran Kaey?" Asked the young man, cautiously, not bringing his mount any closer. The young man was tall and slim, with dark black hair and thick stubble that was near being a beard. His hair was long and had a deep sheen, and fell across his eyes casually.

"Yes, we fled during the night. We come from the eastern quarter." Mara had taken it upon herself to speak, when she realised Ralis was not speaking, he still had his hand on his blade. "I am Mara el'Sara, and this is my husband Ralis al'Resh." She said, gripping Ralis' sword hand as though telling him to let go. Then she gestured to Rael, who had backed away a little, but lingered nearby. "This is his brother Rael al'Resh, and over there near the trees is Daran al'Larban our companion."

The young man nodded, "I am Tabett al'Tabar, and this is Elane el'Elaina. We are of the western quarter. Forgive us, we saw your camp but did not want to disturb you."

"Are you travelling northwards?" Asked the girl who had been introduced as Elane. Rael was suddenly taken by how pretty she was, beautiful rather. Her long dark flowing hair fell about her shoulders and down over her left cheek. She was shorter than Mara in height, with a perfect figure, and smooth sun-darkened skin. Her pretty blue eyes glanced across to Rael, and he shook nervously when she looked at him. She smiled at him, and he smiled back weakly. He told himself to get a grip, he was acting like he'd never even seen a girl before. What was the matter with him?

"Yes," said Ralis, letting go of the sword reluctantly, "to Baradale."

"Then we shall join you," he said forcefully, "presuming that is alright with you sir, and lady." Sir? Ralis was not much older than Tabett, maybe by a few years no more. Just being polite he supposed.

"I have no objections," said Mara. "Come, Ralis. They are tired, let us help them down from their mounts and unload their things."

"Thank you, Ms el'Sara." Said Elane graciously.

Ralis sighed and nodded to Rael, and Daran who had come to his side. They moved forward, and started to shift saddles and blankets and began to unharness the horses.

Later, when the sun had set, and the chill of night had fallen over the plains, the six Taraners were seated around the campfire. Another log had been put down along side the others, to make more room for the two newcomers. Mara had fallen asleep on Ralis' shoulder, and he spoke quietly to Tabett and Elane. Rael and Daran were sitting together, looking into the fire and watching the dancing embers. They had little to say, but they tried to find words to fill the silence of the night.

Daran nudged Rael in the knee to get his attention, then nodded in the direction of Elane and Tabett. "Do you suppose those two are together? Involved I mean."

Rael shrugged, "I don't know. I suppose they must be, though."

Daran laughed, laughing like he had not for what seemed weeks, "I hope not. She's a pretty thing isn't she? Can't see what she'd see in the likes of him."

Rael nodded slowly, "I hadn't really noticed," Rael lied, "I've been too worried about Da to think about things like that." Rael was ashamed of himself, because it was quite the opposite that was true. How could he have been thinking about girls at a time like this? His Da was out there, maybe fighting for his survival, and he…

"Rael?" Said Daran, his tone softening.

Rael looked across at his friend, he had a peculiar look on his face. He looked worried. "This is hard on us all, what's going on. But you're not alone, yeah? I'm looking out for you, and I know you've got my back too. We have to stick together now…" It was unlike Daran to speak so seriously, "You know what I'm saying."

Rael nodded, "Thanks, Daran. And yeah, I'm looking out for you too now." He clapped his friend on the shoulder, and was returned the shoulder cross from his friend. "I reckon we best get some rest now."

"Ay," said Daran, "Ralis said we're heading North at first light."

"Night, lad."

……

Rael curled up under his blanket, trying to find a comfortable position to lay his head on the flat earth. They weren't even under canvas, there was nothing but the clear night sky above him, and the half moon shone down menacingly. He tossed his blankets aside, and tried sleeping under no cover. It made no sense, he was so tired, yet he could not sleep.

He thought about the things that had happened in the day, trying to clear his mind, and he suddenly remembered seeing that sword that his brother possessed. He remembered thinking there was more to that blade than Ralis had let on. Thinking about its radiant curved silver edge and black-and-gold gilded hilt, his thoughts drifted over the shimmer of the western horizon, the last thing he saw before he fell to sleep. He would have to talk to Ralis about that sword…