They rested there for a while, yet the storm persisted. The wind swelled around Edward and whispered in his ear. "We will continue onward." He walked sharply over to his dark horse, mounting quickly, and growling at Michael to move faster. "Hurry up, or I fear that the witch will catch us unaware."
And with that, Michael was sent scurrying to the saddle of his own horse, mounting with less tact than he had hoped for. Edward wasted no time; he wheeled his horse around and at the same time pulled his cloak slightly over his head. His younger companion tried to imitate him, but found that his cloak offered no protection. He followed the dark form of the horse in front of him, but due to the heavy rain, almost lost sight of it many times.
Edward pushed North against the wind. It challenged him, beckoned him forward with excitement and soon, Edward was urging the horse to go faster in a fit of childish delight. Soon, an hour had passed. The duo had travelled out of the dense forest and were making their way from the grass onto the sand. Michael was numb from cold by now and was too timid to ask Edward to go back and seek shelter.
The dark man was grinning from ear to ear. He could almost feel the pendant in his hand, as well as the kingdom for him to control. He laughed out loud with eagerness, scaring Michael in the process. "Sir?" Unsure of what to call him, because the older man had still not revealed his name, "Could we possibly get out of this storm?"
Hearing the quiet plea through the squall of rain, Edward whipped around. "You may return if you please. But I am after my prize and I won't stop until I claim it. Begone if your weakness overwhelms you." The entire statement was said with such anger that Michael dared not turn back. Michael was precariously attached to the angry un-named man, and he worried for his life if he should dabble to close to danger. They pushed on for another hour and found themselves approaching scorched terrain. Edward, who's smile had faltered a while back, grinned with renewed hope.
"If the star is a pendant, then you had better not touch it, or else wish your hand goodbye." He shouted with venom and pushed his midnight steed forward, faster than the creatures of heaven and hell.
Michael decided that, in his best interest, he would remain behind. He hoped that the star wasn't a pendant, because he doubted that the strange man would accompany Michael home to prove to Jessica that he had found the star. "Darn, there went my adventurer persona." He watched as the black horse ahead of him disappeared into a wave of rain, leaving Michael to ponder his future by himself.
The star had given up hope many hours ago. She was worn out from crying and being terrified of the stretch of land around her. Her eyelids closed on their own, to sheild her eyes from the pelting of rainwater. Her hair was wet and ratty, her clothes were muddy, and her ankle hurt more than she could have ever imagined it would. Silently, she began to cry again. Life was hopeless. She no longer had the sky as her world. She couldn't see the stars or the moon through the clouds or rain when she managed to open one eye. Sobs racked her and the rain reached a crescendo. It seemed as if the heavens mourned her loss.
She felt herself falling unconscious. As she slipped into darkness, the sound of shoes meeting gravel reached her ear. The steps echoed in her skull, and she imagined it to be a dream; a dream that would only haunt her when she awoke. Suddenly, she was pulled upwards. The wrenching of her injured ankle pulled her back into the world of the living.
A yelp was strangled from her lips and she was shifted in the rescuers arms. I'm warm, she thought, this person is warm, this person is safe. She contentedly sighed before slipping into sleep. Her hair glimmered slighting in the dissipating rain.
Michael had taken to grumbling to himself about how he hated rain. As he did this, the storm let up considerably. "Finally, maybe now I can go get some rest." He was about to turn around when he saw an approaching horse. Michael called out, "What was the star? Do I still have to go get it?" And suddenly, the blur of black passed without a word.
Michael sighed and pushed onward. He had hopes that the star would still be there, and that the dark man had been disappointed and fled. Withing minutes, he had reached the crater, and without rain clouding his eyes, he was able to make out a human shaped indent which was deserted. "I thought he only wanted the pendant. What is he up to?"
He turned the horse back, and quickly tried to catch up with the faster moving blur of midnight.
Edward was silently seething. His plan to rule the kingdom was flawed. His pendant was around the neck of some wench that was clinging to him like a second skin. He shook himself slightly, hoping she would loose her hold on him. He felt like roughly shaking her awak; he didn't even have to hold her on the horse. He reached the forest that he had rested in earlier.
"Where are you Michael?" He whispered under his breath. Edward knew he was no match for the magic of the witch and Michael posessed a charm that seemed to deflect her magic. He felt exposed, even more so because of the horrid girl that was attached to him. He managed to pull himself and the girl from his horse and under a cover of bush. He set his horse to hide in the shadows and joined the girl under the cover for a short bit of sleep.
He checked his surroundings and saw the boy approaching. Michael looked confused when he saw only the black horse, but after hearing his name being hissed from a bush. "Who is it?" He tried to keep his voice from trembling.
A very calm Edward arose from his hiding spot, startling the boy. "You will watch guard. Your charm should protect us if that witch should come along again. But do make sure to hide yourself and the horses somewhat. If you should need to call me, my name is Edward." The boy smiled, as if he had earned a present.
"Okay Edward, I can do that." He turned on his heel and pulled the two horses behind him.
Edward rolled his eyes and bent down into the small shelter that shielded the girl and himself from sight. He pulled the black velvet ribbon from his hair and decided to tie her hands together in case she awoke before he did. Edward doubted that with her bad ankle, she could get very far. He was simply cautious when it came to strangers. Michael at least had proven himself worthy by saving his life.
He pulled his cloak tighter, because there was a chill to the air. The rain had ceased and the wind hummed quietly through the trees, saying "Peace at last."