I'm almost finished! Can you believe that! About three more chappies to go!

Chapter 19

Caleb closed the barn door quietly and tip toed to the house. The king's soldiers standing by the tavern across the street had not seen him. He hesitated at the door when he realized he could understand what they were talking about. He crept a little closer and listened harder.

"I can't wait to leave this stinking town," huffed one soldier.

The other soldier, who was older than the first, chastised his companion. "We're guarding that house just across the street, because it's the home of Captain Dasian. He might come here again, and we'll catch him."

The young soldier rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Nay, you forget, Peter, King Felipe has already captured him. He's dead by now. Didn't you also hear the Lieutenant saying we would be leaving soon? All of us!"

Caleb did not wait to hear the older man's response, and slipped inside, his heart pounding wildly. It's just gossip, he told himself. Dasian isn't dead. He can't be! He darted through the pantry and into the kitchen where his mother was.

"Mother I just heard..." his voice trailed off as he took in the scene. Lenora was slicing a loaf of bread for his two younger sisters. Both of the little girls were chattering to Anaella who sat at the table. She looked up at Caleb and smiled. What a sad smile, Caleb thought. He thinned his eyes slightly in confusion.

Irene laughed at his startled face and said, "Anaella is telling us about when she had a unicorn."

"Where's Dasian?" he asked, ignoring his sister.

Anaella glanced down for a second, then looked him in the eye. "At his camp," she murmured.

Caleb sighed and grinned in relief. "Good," he breathed. "Them soldiers over there were sayin' he was dead. They're leavin' too, Ma. All of the soldiers are headin' out. We'll be free to do whatever we please."

"Why are they goin'?" wondered Irene.

"'Cause they think Dasian is dead. News travels so slowly, they don't know he escaped. I betchya he escaped the next day or somethin'. Old Felipe probably never even got to see him." He suddenly stopped gloating and turned to Anaella. "Why are you here?"

She hesitated. "I'm just passing through. Tomorrow I'll be going farther up north."

"Why?"

Lenora stepped in. "Caleb, it's rude to ask so many questions of a young woman."

Caleb sighed and apologized. As he sat down beside her, he whispered to Anaella, "You could stay here for a longer time, you know."

Anaella just smiled and shook her head sadly. She hardly said anything during dinner and at evening. Lenora told the children she was tired, and to stop probing. Because Anaella didn't want the children to feel bad, she told them stories of when she was fairy. When Caleb asked for stories about when she was spy, her eyes brightened then fell and she said it was probably time for bed.

After everyone had gone to bed, Anaella sat staring into the fire. The little hut seemed so familiar and welcoming, yet Anaella did not feel she belonged there. It was Dasian's home, and she felt like an intruder. The fire light danced in her eyes and the image of Dasian scooping little Orpah up into his strong arms passed through her mind. She sighed and closed her eyes, wishing she would stop thinking about Dasian. Her hopes had been too high, and now they were shattered.

But when she fell asleep, she was reliving the day she first met him. Strong, handsome, and daring, he had burst from the woods, riding his large grey prancing horse, glaring determinedly at the dragon. The dragon that would have 'eaten' her.

Willy trotted up the marble stairs as fast as his legs could carry him. His black eyes darted around him nervously at the lords and ladies who swished past him. He was not used to being in a castle at all. Instead of tall pine trees, round stone columns lined his pathway. His boots clattered on the stone, while in the woods they would have made no sound on the grass. He eventually arrived at the right room, after asking several people where it was. He looked at the fancy doorknob for a second, then turned it hesitantly. It opened, and he stepped in quickly.

"This castle sure gives me the creeps," he said breathlessly to Dasian, who was sitting on one of the fancy couches, reading something.

The young man glanced up absently and turned a page as he asked, "Did you get lost, again?"

"No, not this time," grinned Willy.

"Congrats. Did you get the horses ready?"

"Aye, I did that a long time ago. We're ready to leave this place."

"Good," Dasian sighed and stood. He picked up a case and followed Willy out the door. As he strode down the hall, he felt something was missing. He glanced down and noticed his trusty sword was not hanging by his side. It felt strange to be finally finished with the war. It had lasted for eight long years, and was a big part of his life. Now that his job as 'Captain' was over, he wasn't sure what to do with his life.

They silently entered the stables, and Dasian slipped into his saddle. The great war horse bobbed his head and walked with dignity out of the barn, Willy's shaggy pony trotting behind. As they rode down the streets of the city of Regina, the people looked at them with respect and awe.

Dasian remembered another time he had rode through a city like this, one in the mountains. He and his men were about to go out to battle against an unexpected army of Felipe's fierce warriors. The people that lined the streets were mournful and dressed in dark. The soon to be widows and young maidens had sorrowfully strewed flours in their way while tears had poured down their ashen cheeks. They had not won that battle, Dasian remembered. He and only a few of his men had made it back to the town, bruised, bleeding, but alive.

That battle had been one of many losses for the determined rebel army. For seven years, the rebels attacked, attacked, and attacked. Nearly every time, they were defeated. The past nine months had been very successful. It had been nine months, Dasian recalled, since he had gotten help from the wizards. Nine months since he had...

"Captain," said Willy, interrupting his drifting thoughts, "Do you think our home is still standing?"

"Aye, we hid it, remember. Not even the craftiest of Felipe's men could have found it."

Willy nodded in agreement. "Aye, we did hide it pretty well, didn't we? We worked hard on that house and farm. I'm so glad the floor is not made of marble. Just wood, sleek, firm wood. Do you think little Nick took care of the animals well?"

Dasian nodded again. "Aye, of course, Willy. But it has been eight years, I doubt Nick is still little."

"Quite so, quite so," murmured the dwarf. He became quiet as they left the city and small town surrounding it. They left the green fields sprawled out between the town and forest; where the farmers stopped to wipe their sweaty foreheads and look at the two riders, before continuing with their simple lives. They left the forest's tall shadowy trees, where the squirrels scolded them, and the pine needles crunched under the horse's hooves. They crossed rivers and trotted through smaller towns, which were tucked into the forest, away from the worries of the world. Finally they urged the patient horses up and around a mountain.

Dasian stopped as they rounded the last curve and gazed across a small valley, surrounded by rolling green hills, and majestic snow-topped mountains. It was still summer here, the cold autumn winds had not breezed through the valley just yet.

A house, not extremely large, but one that seemed too big for just two men, sat against one of the hills. Small fields, corrals, a barn, and a small garden were scattered around in the tiny valley. Horses and cows grazed together in the lush green grass, and sheep walked one of the hillsides. Dasian breathed in deeply and smiled. This, he thought, is home. Another thought crossed his mind; I'd give anything to let Anaella see this. That surprised him. He hadn't, or tried hard not to think about Anaella since her departure. He dismissed the thought quickly and reminded himself she was miles away and he would never see her again.

He and Willy let the horses canter down the mountain into the valley. They hurried eagerly past the fields and corrals. The other horses looked at them in surprise, as if they had never seen another horse before, especially such a large horse with such a small pony. A boy, about seventeen, stepped out of the house and stared as the two riders halted and swung off their mounts in front of him. He took one look at the grin on Dasian's face and that was all he needed.

"Captain Dasian!" he cried, hurrying across the lawn. "You're alive!" Dasian shook the boy's hand vigorously, and then bear-hugged him.

"Of course I'm alive, Nick. Shnikees, you've certainly grown. Last time I laid eyes on you, you were barely past my waist. Now you're nearly as tall as I."

Nick grinned and patted his stomach. "I guess that's what happens when you've got a whole valley of food to yourself. Say, Willy!" he said, shaking the dwarf's hand. "You've grown...skinnier!"

Willy scowled and laughed. "Aye, all that fat you're mother gave me has disappeared. I've returned to grow it again. When's dinner?"

Nick laughed. "Soon Willy, soon. But say, welcome to your home, Captain Dasian son of Riley. Come in and tell me of your eight years of absence from your home."