SOI Chapter 2: The Road to Mistral

A/N: In this chapter a new character is introduced into the mix. Trust me; you'll enjoy this one a lot.

Edited and updated as of 8/8/2015. - It's really amazing how much one chapter improves after editing the first draft!

Xephos cursed as he slipped on the ice. "Anyone there?" he called once he had regained his balance.Strangely there was no response to his query. Xephos peered into the night in search of the source of the youthful voice but he couldn't see anything.

"Lysander?" Xephos called "Honeydew! Simon?" there was no answer as he stumbled and slipped a second time over the black ice. Surely the rest of the group was around somewhere? After all they hadn't been traveling for very long.

"Old Peculier!" Xephos bellowed loudly enough so even Peculier – who was partially deaf - could hear him. "Anyone there?!"

"Peculier who? Sounds like a peculiar name to me." a voice replied. Xephos registered the voice immediately as the youthful one that had greeted him moments before. Xephos froze as a crackle of ice broke the silence and a shape of a man stepped out of the gloom and approached him. Xephos gripped the diamond blade uncertain of what to expect. He raised his sword as the crackling grew louder.

"Who are you?" The stranger chuckled lightly showing a flash of white in what appeared to be a smile.

"I should ask you the same thing. What're you doing out here in the dark? No torches or anything huh? I'm surprised the mobs haven't gotten you yet." the voice asked almost mockingly. Xephos just stared at the outline of the stranger who appeared to be chuckling to himself. "Oh well here I've got extra torches – cause it seems you haven't got any." A loud clanking noise followed and a flash of yellow-red light availed the night.

"Hello." The stranger grinned, he was a younger man with scratchy blond hair dressed in a commoner leather jerkin, a bow was slung over his back, and a very large knapsack lay atop of it. Suddenly the man's eyes grew wide at Xephos' raised diamond blade at his neck

"Oi! Don't point that thing at me! I'm not some bloody creeper… You do know that right?"

Xephos sheathed his sword, the man's image alone spoke friend. "Sorry…got a bit nervous. I'm

Xephos by the way."

The man seemed to register the name and looked at him in surprise.

"Xephos the spaceman?" Xephos nodded,

"Oh wow. Fancy meeting you! I'm your neighbor…or was. My name's Martin."

Xephos frowned,"My neighbor? Where'd you live anyway?"

Martin's smile faded. "In a little cabin by the lake but it's all burnt to ashes I'm afraid… anyway, never mind my cabin, I take it you're bound for Mistral? Or something?"

"Er…" Xephos stammered.

Martin looked at him quizzically. "You don't know why you're out here? Gone a bit off your rocker? Don't blame you honestly, seeing all that stuff you've seen…wow… that'd be enough for me! You could book my spot in some rubber room!"

"Yea-no. No! No! I was going to Mistral. I actually got stuck out here looking for extra torches! You know cause it was dark and stuff and there's no damn lighting around."

Martin laughed "Alright. I was wondering what you were doing - especially with all the mobs about. Anyway were you traveling by yourself or with someone else?"

"I was traveling with a dwarf, a Skylord and an old man; can you help me find them?" Xephos admitted, but the man just took it in stride.

"You got lost huh? I figured that." Martin said. "You were with a fellowship then?" Xephos nodded in confirmation.

"Do you know the way back to the bridge? That's the way they went I think."

"How long have you been out here?"

"Thirty minutes or so." Xephos replied.

"Thirty minutes?! They've probably noticed you're missing. I hope they have or those are some bloody forgetful mates you've got there…" Martin murmured.

"I've been with them for many adventures!" Xephos said defensively.

Martin shrugged "Doesn't look like you'll be with them for this one though. Anyway hero I can take you all the way to Mistral if you want."

Xephos thought on this for a moment. Maybe they would be able to catch up with the rest of the fellowship on the way... but then again…Xephos glanced at Martin… I'll have to endure over a day with someone who makes Lysander seem modest…

"There's loads of mobs out tonight you know." Martin interjected.

"I can handle them!" Xephos muttered.

"Yeah I know but there are a lot of them around… had to kill a few creepers just to find you out here." Martin said.

"Creepers? Oh uh right well – I accept!" Xephos said, forcing a smile. At least traveling with Martin wouldn't kill him Xephos reasoned unless he starts talking too much and then I'm done for…

"Wise choice hero. Come on let's get into the light." Martin started off maneuvering on the ice like a skater gracefully moving along the ice reaching the bridge well before Xephos whose hold on gravity was frequently wavering. Sliding and nearly falling continuously the spaceman stumbled up to the bridge meeting Martin roaring with laughter on an intact portion of the bridge.

"You move gracefully hero." He said grinning.

"I'm not a very good skater." Xephos admitted climbing up on the bridge joining Martin.

"You could definitely say that again. It's a good thing there's no skating rink in Mistral or we'd never be able to get you out." Martin said cheekily. "Anyway this is the road to Mistral." Martin said gesturing across the bridge. Martin grabbed his bow knocking an arrow while signaling to Xephos.

Xephos suppressed a sigh and fell into step beside his new companion.

"You didn't pick a very good time to travel hero. The road to Mistral is full of holes and is largely very dark especially through Mirkwood- that forest up the road." Martin pointed up to the woods past the bridge, walking to the forest beckoning Xephos to follow as the pair melded into the forest. "The road is usually lit but as you can tell the Lamplighters have been really slacking lately… and of course it's not usually filled with random crap and holes as you might have noticed."

"Yeah I know it's a bit messy… who are the Lamplighters?"

"Never heard of them hero?" Xephos shook his head. Martin rolled his eyes.

"Alright, well obviously they light the lamps of the roads in and out of Mistral. But apparently they only do the roads in Mistral and not the others. It's completely stupid if you ask me."

"Oh…yeah that does sound kind of stupid… Anyway, why's the bridge broken? I mean it doesn't look like anyone's been taking care of this for ages!" Xephos exclaimed, leaping over a pile of charred wood that had once been the far end of the bridge.

"Dunno hero, I don't know why it's all screwy." Martin said breezily.

"Why would someone burn the bridge?"

"I don't know. Crazy people maybe?" Martin laughed.

Xephos looked at the scene for a moment. Now it all made sense… "Israphel."

Martin cocked his head at him "Sorry? Isra-who?"

"Israphel, he must have burnt the bridge." Xephos explained "He's a-"

"Nutter." Martin finished "I mean, Israphel, who names their kids Israphel? Anyone with that name sounds a little off to me. Anyway we can't spend all our time looking at bridges, we have to get moving!"

With that Martin turned and bounded across the bridge and onto the trail across it.

"Yes... he is a nutter but he's also evil and trying to take over the world…but you didn't let me finish…" Xephos muttered as he slowly rejoined Martin on the other side.

"Ready to go?" Martin asked.

"So far." Xephos replied.

"Well… stay close… Don't need you getting lost twice in one night!" Martin said giving a brief laugh. Xephos sighed in annoyance and followed his newfound guide down the unlit road.

The road to Mistral City was poorly lit in most places and as Xephos quickly found out, thickly forested. Xephos wondered why there were so few torches on the road if it was so often used as he continuously planted torches along the road to see the frequently disrupted path ahead of them. The Lamplighter's must be really stupid not to light all this… Xephos thought, increasingly irritated by the complete lack of any lighting on the road. Apparently, Xephos had been doing such a great job of lighting the road that Martin remarked that he could take over for the Mistral Lamplighters anytime.

It was several hours more until first light and Martin's stock of torches had finally run out, causing them to pause, while Xephos dig into his sack and found a pack of twenty extra torches. Xephos then gave ten of them to Martin and kept the other half for him, once this was done, the two continued along the trail. Around two hours later - or one a.m. by Martin's reckoning – they stopped nearby a cave in the middle of a clearing.

"What do you think? Good place for a rest?" Martin suggested.

"In the cave? There could be baddies in there." Xephos replied. Xephos had always been wary of dark caves as almost every time he walked into one some monster in it kept trying to kill him.

"Come on, what do you think I've got this bow for? If we encounter any monsters then I'll just shoot them to death!" Martin laughed. "By the way hero, do you need any arrows?"

"I'll use my sword, thanks. But you don't have to call me hero all the time." Xephos replied.

"What do you want to be called then?" Martin asked "Xephos the Great or something? Kind of a wordy title that."

Xephos shrugged "Xephos is fine. Or Xeph, it doesn't matter much to me but sometimes it feels like I don't have a first name anymore."

"Alright, Xephos then. I like it; it's got kind of a spacey ring to it."

"Thanks. Look I'll go in with my sword and everything but can you cover for me in the meantime?"

"Course I can." Martin said breezily. Xephos sighed as he walked torch in one hand and his diamond blade in the other towards the cave, dreading what waited inside.

Xephos entered the cave slowly and carefully one step at a time, everything's okay he thought taking several deep breaths for good measure. He paused at the entrance and moved the torch around the interior of the cave. All he saw were a few coal ores, plenty of stone, dirt and a couple of mushrooms but no monsters No mobs... thank Notch for that! Xephos thought as the spaceman walked a little farther into the cave.

"Alright… how far does this thing go?"Xephos muttered. Xephos as he planted a torch near the entrance and made his way into depth of the cave. The cave was small but fairly roomy, and did not extend anywhere far underground, and therefore he had managed to light up the entirety of it within a few minutes.

"All clear!" Xephos called, giving Martin the thumbs up.

"Brilliant." Martin responded, followed by his footsteps entering the cave's interior. "Nice place for a rest…"

"Do you have any sheets? It looks like you've got enough room for an entire mattress in that thing!" he said gesturing to overstuffed pack, which Martin was now sorting through.

"Heh. It's funny you should mention that hero cause I've got a few pillows…here you go." Martin muttered tossing a great white pillow which narrowly missed Xephos' head.

Xephos frowned at him, "What was that for?"

"Sorry about that I thought you were ready." Martin said ruefully. Xephos threw a glance back to the cave entrance before turning back to his companion,

"It's alright, I wouldn't mind a warning next time though. Actually… have you got anything to keep the baddies out?"

"A few sheets but that's about it aside from my bow, my sword and my fists."

"You don't have any planks in there?" Xephos looked at Martin doubtfully. It looked like he had that and more in his enormous pack anyways. Martin shook his head.

"Oh perfect…" Xephos sighed "Just perfect. Alright, well I don't have any planks or stone or anything either. Are you sure you don't have any planks?"

"Yep. I do have about… seven bed sheets but I don't think draping one over it will keep the mobs out. They'd probably think we're having a slumber party or something." Martin said.

"You have seven bedsheet? Did you pack your entire house in there or something?" Xephos asked incredulously. Martin chuckled and shook his head,

"Almost. I couldn't quite fit the planks in it though."

"Alright… if we don't have something to block up the entrance maybe one of us ought to stand watch?" Xephos suggested.

"Yeah, okay you stand watch while I sleep." Martin agreed. "Well you are the hero in this relationship…" he said weakly. Xephos glared at him.

"Oh alright then. We'll take it in turns." Xephos suggested. "You can relieve me at three. I want to get some sleep sometime!" Martin smiled at this and lay down on a stony outcrop near the cave wall.

"Good night he - OUCH!" he yelled, nearly making Xephos jump. "Forgot my stupid pillow." Martin said clutching the back of his head in pain.

Xephos grabbed an extra pillow and threw it at him. "Go to bed!"

Martin laughed and tucked the pillow under his head and while lay his cloak over his body- and within ten minutes he was asleep.

Xephos stood guard at the entrance of the cave, although as closely to the torchlight as possible as it would blind most monsters who ventured too closely. He gazed out in the night, but he couldn't get comfortable, physically or mentally. Xephos' thoughts were occupied by Honeydew and the rest of the fellowship. How had he lost them so easily? It was Xephos' most recurring thought. He sighed in annoyance. How had it happened? Hadn't anyone noticed he was missing when he got lost in the dark?

For a brief moment Xephos wondered if the rest of the fellowship was okay. No they'll be fine. We've made it through the night dozens of times. Whatever's out there, they can take it. Xephos thought reflecting back to older days when he and Honeydew hunted mobs in the night and in the often dark caverns under the cave where they had mined for years.

Xephos turned and glanced back at his sleeping companion. Was it more than just a coincidence that his house had been burned down just like the cave? Did Israphel do that too? Xephos thought. Did he take your home too? Xephos nearly broke into tears to think about it. He hadn't been upset at first as there had been much more important things to deal with at the time. But now Xephos had time to think about what had transpired. He gazed out into the night, the path was a short distance away and further from that were a section of trees, which were stark against the landscape being barren of leaves. How many homes have you taken with you Israphel? Xephos thought how many lives? He sighed as he listened to the moans of a distant zombie; the world wasn't always like this was it?

Xephos broke out of his thoughts and checked his clock. It read three in the morning, he sighed what a night. Slowly he picked himself up and walked over to the figure of Martin. After waking up a very annoyed Martin to let him know it was his turn Xephos laid down on the stone slab, tried to get comfortable and forced himself to sleep.

Dawn broke quickly, with the rising sun in the east. Xephos' odd new companion seemed to welcome the sunlight on his back; it inspired in him something he must've thought he'd forgotten. Martin stopped abruptly shouldering his cumbersome longbow kneeling to read a sign posted to a nearby birch tree.

"Eleven kilometers to Mistral, we're halfway there hero – I mean Xephos. That's what you want me to call you right? Anyways, you'll see the spires of Mistral by early mid-morning tomorrow, it is always a sight." Martin explained wistfully his eyes clouding for a moment. It must be a sight since there aren't any buildings miles around it! Xephos thought wily.

"Did you live at Mistral?" Xephos asked as Martin got up again, pulling an apple out of his pack.

"Oh yeah. I do actually. I'm a peddler you see." Martin said hefting the pack.

"You're a peddler?"

"Course I am!" Martin replied indignantly "What'd you think I was carrying this pack around for? Because I like back pain? Or did you think I've got a lifetime supply of Jaffa cakes in here?"

"Well – um no not exactly, although you did have half a bedroom in it."

"Actually I'm not joking, I do have a pretty large supply of Jaffa's but they're not all in here… couldn't fit that many of em without squishing some." Martin smiled "As for Mistral- It's a very large city, the pride of the world. You know nothing about Mistral huh? That Skylord friend of yours never told you anything?"

"No he was a bit light on the details."

"Too bad. You should have got out more. But then again you did live under a rock for a couple years." Martin smirked. Xephos suppressed the urge to call him a git and pressed on with his question,

"How does the whole bowman – peddler thing work? Doesn't it get a bit burdensome?"

Martin shrugged, "Not that much. I hunt with my bow and sell from my pack."

That really works then? Xephos wondered as he gazed at the enormous pack. Maybe he takes it in turns? That could work…

"As a trader I get a lot of good business in town, from the meat market, the mayor, the Skylords, all the other people. Too bad you haven't been to Mistal before, it's very diverse." Martin continued haughtily. Xephos nodded and suppressed the urge to tell his companion to shut up. In the meantime Martin continued on about the city and his travels there as they continued through the countryside.

"I didn't know Mistral existed until two weeks ago, when I met a Skylord, Skylord Lysander." Martin did not register the name

"Never heard of him, he's one of your friends?"

"Yeah.

"Oh right," Martin continued taking no notice of Xephos' reservations. "Your friends, they ought to be nearly at Mistral by now…"

"Probably, yeah. This whole thing is really stupid." Xephos sighed "I don't know how I lost them in the first damn place."

"Not your fault you got lost." Martin sympathized "Especially since it's your first trip and the road is never lit. Anyway did your companions tell you where they'd be staying?"

"Oh uh I don't know." Xephos admitted. Martin stared at him,

"You don't know?" he laughed "You were going to Mistral and you didn't plan out where to go? Ha! Well, I wish you luck finding them now!"

"Agh!" Xephos said in annoyance "You're right… d'you reckon they're staying at an inn or something?"

"Yeah they're either there or with that Skylord friend of yours, but for the time being you can stay with me at my place. I've got a room at an inn in Mistral, nice and cozy." Martin said, clearly pleased with his altruism.

"Thanks." Xephos said "But I was planning staying with Skylord Lysander."

Martin shrugged and brushed back his hair from his forehead. "Suit yourself hero. But if you don't find your friends you'll need somewhere to stay and my offer stands. Mistral's a big city and it can be a bit tricky to find your way about even if you've lived there for years."

"Um - thanks. I accept!" Xephos smiled weakly. Martin was right, there might be a very good chance that they wouldn't find Lysander or Honeydew for some time in the city if it really was as big as he said it was. Even so, Xephos thought, I hope it doesn't last too long otherwise I'll either have to move out or keep talking to this arrogant prat for ages!

"Brilliant!" Martin smiled "'Fraid I didn't cook anything and the place is in a bit of a mess, wasn't expecting visitors you know."

"That's fine. Anything's an improvement over nothing I guess." Xephos said glumly.

"That makes two of us," Martin nodded, taking a bite out of a piece of bread he had just pulled from his pack. "although I still have a residence, thank Notch. Speaking of which, what's your story hero?"

Xephos shot him a look "My story?"

Martin handing Xephos an extra piece of bread which he took after giving Martin a brief thanks.

"Yeah smart one. Your story. Come on, you can tell me. I'm interested in your welfare!"

"I used to live in the cave by the sea; with Honeydew for a few years…it's a long story to be honest." Xephos admitted.

"Long story huh? Yeah I figured that. You couldn't have lived under a rock the entire time right?" Martin laughed. Xephos forced a smile at this,

"Besides we're basically strangers and there's plenty of time." Martin continued, glancing up at the sky. "And I don't think you have anything to hide, right?"

"I don't think I've got much to hide that you haven't heard already." Martin nodded,

"True that but I still want to hear it."

"Alright, alright do you want to hear the whole thing or the abridged version?" Xephos asked sarcastically.
"It doesn't matter much to me but I'd probably prefer the abridged version more." Martin said.

And with that, Xephos jumped into his story. All the way from when he met Honeydew, eleven or twelve years before, to their encounter with old Peculier and the massacre at Terrorvale and after skipping over most of their time on the survival island – to the airship crash at the cave.

"And now you're on a mission to save the world?" Martin smirked "That's noble."

"It is!" Xephos agreed "What's your story then? I've told you mine, you tell me yours."

"I'm a trader, I already told you. Weren't you listening?"

"Alright then, keep your secrets." Xephos said.

Martin laughed, took another bite out of his bread and began his tale. He had been born in Icaria, and had grown up there. During that time, Martin had been trained as a peddler by his father who had been a well renowned trader and had been a quartermaster for the Templars of Verigan's Hold before he was born. At sixteen he had left home to start out on his own after his parents separated.

"And since then I've been working between Mistral, Icaria and Verigan's Hold!" Martin finished. "That is my tale. Anyway let's get a move on hero." He said abruptly noticing the remarkable lack of progress they had made in the past hour.

"Why? What time is it?" Xephos asked. They had been talking for so long he had forgotten the time.

He said shifting his bow off his shoulder knocking an arrow. "Nearly two, dusk's at five and nighttime's at six, so we'd better get a move on if we don't want to get caught out."

Xephos drew his sword from its sheath.

"Yep. I know exactly what you mean."

Xephos gazed nervously at the woodlands several hundred feet ahead of him, which appeared to be completely dark. A light winter breeze blew from the interior sending a cold ruffle through Xephos' cloak, sending a chill down his spine. Xephos took a step back and surveyed the woods for a moment; the woodlands appeared to be composed almost entirely of tall pine trees and was interspersed in several places by bare oak and ash trees.

"Is this Mirkwood?" he asked. Martin and tossed an apple to him,

"You hungry?"

"Thanks." Xephos bit into the apple as they rested briefly on the outskirt of the wood.

Martin said gestured grandly to the dark woodland "Yep hero, this is Mirkwood, and it will take us a couple hours to cross it. The wood's about seven kilometers or so long. It's around three and we should be out of the woods by five or six if we move quickly…" Xephos gripped his diamond blade tightly, four hours of traveling in a dark woodland full of mobs did not sound like something he was eager to do.

"Are you sure we can't go around it?" Xephos asked. Martin glanced at him,

"You nervous?"

"Definitely." Xephos admitted.

"What? I never thought heroes were scared at anything!"

"No." Xephos laughed.

"Fair enough," Martin said "The problem is, this wood extends for a few hundred kilometers to the east and even farther to the west. We could walk the distance but it might be a few weeks before we reach Mistral not to mention traveling that far would be a real pain on the feet."

Xephos groaned. Oh no! Several hundred kilometers? That was just perfect!

"Alright, alright… I'll tough it out."

"The woods it is then! Right! Well, good luck, and run if you hear a hissing." Martin said.

Xephos gave a nervous laugh, and as they ventured forwards and melded into the dark of Mirkwood he couldn't help feeling that they had made a very bad mistake.

Xephos carried the torch precariously in his hand as he and Martin set a rigorous pace through the pine woodland. From time to time Martin would call out to Xephos how far they had gone since they entered the woodland and at last count he had estimated about two thirds the ways through it. Even so, Xephos began to wonder if he would ever see the sun again, as the only light to be found in Mirkwood was that of their torches. As the pair made their way through the woodland, it became increasingly clear to Xephos the place was called Mirkwood for a reason. The interior of the forest was almost entirely void of light, it had been dimly lit when they entered it – several hours before - and at this point, it was pitch black save for the occasional moonlit patch where there was a break in the trees.

However, the difficulty of navigating the darkness was only compounded by grass and trees, which obscured the path in many places. Nevertheless, thanks to double torchlight and Martin's long navigation experience the pair was able to make their way through the wood while rarely straying from the path. At this moment Xephos was closely monitoring the path holding his torch as low as he could to the ground without stooping looking for gravel spots to mark the way. Martin was a short distance ahead but to his side as the path was relatively wide and he marked the trail occasionally with a torch to keep their bearings.

Xephos was studying the ground so closely that he didn't notice the tree grown in the center of the path feet in front of him.

"OUCH!" he yelled landing on the ground, cursing loudly. Xephos struggled to get up as the diamond chestplate ground into his chest uncomfortably and blood spurted from his side. Martin whirled around arrow nocked pointing it at Xephos, his eyes wild.

"Don't point it at me!" Xephos exclaimed.

"Sorry!" Martin said as he threw off his pack and quiver rushing over to the spaceman. Xephos was bleeding slowly from his right arm, his own sword impaled slightly on it. Mercifully he sported no other injuries than the cut aside from a small lump on his forehead where he had hit his head against a stone.

"Sorry, sorry. Don't worry I'm alright." Xephos muttered as he jerked the tip of the sword out of his arm. "Have you got any bandages?" he asked an incredulous Martin who just laughed.

"Of course hero, it's just a shallow cut- thank Notch. We should be able to staunch the bleeding fairly easily."

"Brilliant." Xephos said rolling over and pulling his pack over to him. Shortly thereafter, Martin returned with a few large strips of wool in hand. He then bent over Xephos and gently wrapped the wool strips around the wound.

Several seconds later, Martin tied off the wool bandage and examined his handiwork for a moment before stepping away.

"Feeling better?"

"Saintlike." Xephos replied.

"Alright, let's see… there's not really any time to fix that here." Martin assessed "Fumblemore should be able to take care of you at Mistral." Xephos frowned at him.

"Uh – excuse me – did you say Fumblemore?

"Obviously. Alright we better hurry, no matter how many trees we bump into…" Xephos shook his head in irritation; I'm never going to hear the end of that one am I?

Xephos stood and shouldered his pack carefully to not disturb the makeshift bandage Martin had applied. In less than a minute Xephos was back on his feet carrying the diamond blade with his other arm and the torch with his injured one, with Martin leading the way.

"Who's Fumblemore?" Xephos asked. Martin didn't slow his step at the query

"The wizard of Mistral City hero He's supposed to be old and wise." Martin called back.

"Um -supposed to be?" Xephos wondered aloud, Martin paused,

"Well you'd better worry about that when we get to Mistral hero. According to my clock…it's around seven so it's night." Great Xephos thought picturing himself being trapped in Mirkwood for the night.

"But why do I need a wizard to heal a cut?" Xephos exclaimed. "I mean, it's just a shallow cut!"

"Normal healing methods won't be able to cure a cut from a diamond blade. I don't know why but they never seem to heal without some kind of magical treatment." Martin said. "Speaking of which, how's the bandage holding up?"

"Oh – pretty good. It itches a little." Xephos informed him.

"That's good. Mind you, try tucking the edges in; it makes it itch a bit less." Martin suggested.

"I'm okay, at least it works."

"Brilliant."

Shortly thereafter, Martin paused once more to notch another torch onto the side of a nearby birch tree.

"Hey spaceman good news!" he smiled "Three kilometers to Mistral! We're nearly there." He said as a clearing illuminated by the torches, appeared from the gloom.

They're probably already there Xephos thought as the images of Lysander, Honeydew and Peculier came to mind. Again Xephos cursed himself for his unpreparedness back there on the ice. He sighed and fell into step with Martin, sheathed his sword for good measure, and made his way out of Mirkwood onto the final leg of the journey to Mistal.

At short length they reached the end of the woods, it was completely dark outside. The trail ahead of them led to a sparsely wooded moorish landscape. The pair smiled in relief; it was good to be out of the woodland at last and closer to Mistral too! And at least in the clearing he didn't have to worry about bumping into any more trees and doing himself an injury.

Martin gave an odd and abruptly dropped his pack on the ground and began forging for something gleefully. Xephos frowned at him,

"What are you doing?"

In response Martin pulled out two loaves of bread and handed one to Xephos.

"Fancy a slice?" Martin asked devouring the bread hungrily. "Baked it myself actually."

"Thanks." Xephos said, as his wound had since inspired a new appetite in him.

Martin planted several torches around them to ward off any monsters while Xephos sat down and ate. Absentmindedly Xephos checked his wool-strip bandage, it was holding well. The blood had hardly left a stain but merely a dark patch on his royal red- colored shirt. Xephos took a moment to tuck in the edges of the bandage as Martin suggested. After doing so the bandage itched slightly less.

"Is it working for you hero?" Martin asked, sitting on a patch of moss near him. Xephos shot the Bowman a quizzical look. "The itching." Martin said making a scratching motion.

"Yeah- it's a bit better. Thanks for the tip." Xephos said.

"Are we going to Mistral tonight?" Xephos asked as he and Martin finished their meal – which included diced apples, bread and two cooked steaks. Martin nodded wiping his hands on his extremely dirty handkerchief.

"I'd like to…" Martin sighed.

"But what?" Xephos asked.

But- if we left now and ran all the bloody way there we'd still reach Mistral by eight. The trouble is, the gates close at six." Martin finished. Xephos stared at him and shook his head.

"I don't get it. Why do the gates close at six? Isn't that a bit early?"

"I don't know hero." Martin said simply. "Things have changed – they only started closing the gates early in the past month." Xephos thought about Martin's statement for a moment.

"Only the past month? What changed?"

Martin rolled his eyes, "I don't know the world or something like that. The Mayor – he thinks it's dangerous to keep the gates open at night because of all the monsters that have been spawning lately. Although I've heard that the real reason is, he saw one a few months ago and completely lost his nerve."

"Yeah well, he has got a point." Xephos pointed out.

"True- but the coward's also got an army of guards protecting him so what's to worry about?" Martin scoffed "Honestly, its complete rubbish."

"Why are you helping me?" the question was on his lips before he could stop it, Martin shrugged.

"Why wouldn't I help you smart one? I mean, when I'd seen what happened to you…well you looked like a lost deer out there on the ice." Xephos laughed picking up his pack flinging it carefully over his back.

"If Honeydew was here, it'd be a trip. You wouldn't have any food left for starters!"

"Oh the dwarf? Yeah I bet that'd been a tale worth telling, a real winner. Something like the 'Dwarf and the very, very big appetite', I swear I can just see it now!" Xephos laughed.

"Besides, why would I let you die? To steal all the goods you don't have?" Martin added sarcastically.

"Really? How do you know I don't have something you don't?" Xephos retorted.

"I don't." Martin said simply "Just my pack has loads more crap in it than yours does! So I don't need anything else!" they both laughed at this.

"Oh cripes I'm bleeding again…" Xephos paused alarmed and oddly curious at the sight of the sticky blood that had started seeping through the wool bandage. Before he had time to react the peddler was on his feet and reaching into his pack, pulling out another cut strand of wool.

"Put this on, there's no time to do anything about it here." Martin said grimly, handing Xephos the wool strip. Martin gestured to beyond the woodland past the setting sun "We can make it if we hurry. You can manage alright then?" Martin asked slight concern entering his voice. Xephos nodded, shifting himself upright holding the sword out with his good arm and clenching the extra wool strip with the other.

"You might want to replace that old bandage while you're at it." Martin pointed out "That's not really hygienic you know, wearing old bandages."

"Well I figured that. But thanks anyways…" Xephos said absentmindedly as he changed his bandage with minimal bleeding. At the same time, Martin put out all the torches and put everything extra in his pack.

"So where are we staying?" Xephos asked.

"Well." Martin started, holding the lit torch looking around the moor. "I'm assuming you don't want to take our chances out here so… there ought to be a cave we can stay around here somewhere.

Xephos held his torch doing his best to keep pace with him with a grim expression on his face. The idea of exploring yet another cave did not sound particularly appealing to him but neither did the idea of shivering outside with a few hundred mobs.

"Here it is!" Martin said with measured enthusiasm. Xephos glanced at the spot he was standing by. There was a small opening in the ground leading to a pit of darkness down below. Xephos didn't like it, the first cave was far more convenient whereas this one had the look and feel of a death trap.

"Yeah uhh - who's going in first?" Xephos uncertainly. Martin shrugged and pulled out his iron short sword,

"We might as well do it together. It'd probably be safer that way" Xephos held his diamond blade out in front of him and gradually lowered himself into the cave after Martin gave the interior a once over with his torch for any mobs or drop-offs.

Once inside the cave they hurriedly placed two torches to illuminate the place. Xephos glanced around looking for any sign of a monster. Suddenly there was a low moan from behind him. Xephos whirled around his sword raised, but Martin was quicker. An arrow was protruding from the skull of the zombie which had been dragging itself towards him.

"Nice shot." Xephos panted. Martin laughed shakily,

"Good thing we placed those torches huh?"

"Martin look out!" Xephos yelled as an arrow whizzed by his head. Martin dodged to the side as just as another arrow flew by.

"Skeleton." Martin spat, nocking an arrow. He was right, as Xephos saw the bony, white outline of the skeleton quickly moving towards him, its bony fingers drawing its bow for another shot. Quickly Xephos jumped to the right just as the arrow hit the spot where he was a moment before. Leaning against the cave wall Xephos heard the sudden clink of bones and a unearthly shriek which could only mean that Martin had hit his target. Xephos smiled in relief,

"All clear?" he asked. The shape of Martin abruptly appeared before him

"I think it is, for the moment. But we better watch it hero- this place is crawling with mobs!"

"You want to choose a different cave now?" Xephos asked sardonically.

"Well… normally I'd definitely be up for that. But this time it's too late for that." Martin said as they heard several more moans nearby. The two companions rushed off around the right corner of the cave to encounter several more zombies slowly stumbling towards them.

"Whoa!" Xephos yelled, stumbling backwards and narrowly avoiding the swipe of an eyeless zombie which had suddenly appeared from behind a corner. Regaining his footing, Xephos took a swing at the undead's neck and with that it was over – the zombie's head rolled across the floor and its body collapsed. But as soon as he had killed one zombie another took his place- this time holding a shovel, which it was trying to bludgeon him with. Xephos stepped to the side as the zombie slammed the floor with the shovel causing a loud bang. The thing moaned and slowly started backing him into a corner.

"Alright c'mon you bugger…" Xephos cursed and slashed at the zombie cleanly cutting its shovel in two, but to his dismay the thing kept moving forward. Xephos was almost against the wall of the cave as the zombie rapidly stumbled towards him. The undead opened its mouth and groaned loudly, reaching for him with a rotten, reddish hand. Xephos yelled and slashed at the zombie again this time opening a large cut in the its belly but then the zombie reached for him the instant his sword arm was down and grabbed him there. The thing's grip was powerful and Xephos struggled to free his arm as the zombie tugged on him groaning.

"Oi! Get- off of ME!" Xephos cried as the zombie moved its mouth down to bite him. The spaceman quickly used his free arm and stabbed the zombie with the end of his lit torch. Almost instantly the zombie let him go, and howled. Xephos had never heard a zombie scream before; it was a horrible unearthly sound which made him at the knees. The zombie stumbled backwards; the thing was burning to death. Xephos leaned against the wall, panting heavily as the undead howled one last time and collapsed, charred to ash.

Xephos walked forwards and prodded the remains of the zombie with his sword; there was no response- the thing had gotten the horrible end it deserved. He gave a sigh of relief - turned away to keep from puking at the horrible sight - and reached in his pack for an extra torch. All was finally quiet in the cave, no moans, no hisses, and not even the twang of a Skeleton's arrow. Xephos had never been so glad to finally hear the sweet sound of silence.

Xephos struck his torch on the craggy cave wall and slowly progressed through the cave.

"Martin" he called.

There was no response. Xephos started walking down the cave towards where they had entered the cave and tried again. "Martin?"

"Hero?" Martin replied. Xephos smiled,

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm alright. I've been through this… loads of times." Martin said sounding slightly shaky. Xephos rounded the corner of the cave and glanced at his companion. Martin's cloak was covered in gunpowder; upon seeing Xephos he whirled around and fired an arrow in his direction.

"Oi!" Xephos yelped, jumping behind the corner.

"Oh, sorry! Sorry!" Martin called. "It's alright; I thought you were a creeper."

Xephos peeked around the corner. The bow was slung across Martin's back again. He sighed and walked towards him.

"Well for your information- I'm not." Xephos said "Did you get attacked by one?"

Martin nodded and sat down on a nearby rock.

"Yeah, it almost got me. If I had been just a few feet closer I'd be all over the place." Martin said gesturing to the cave wall in front of them. Part of the wall had been blasted to rubble.

"Are you okay hero? How did you fair with the mobs?"

"I'm alright." Xephos said "Almost got bit by a zombie back there but it didn't break the skin. Are you sure that creeper didn't get any of you?" Martin smiled weakly.

"Thank Notch he didn't. I checked and as far as I know I'm not missing any parts or at least nothing essential anyway. What about your cut?"

"Oh it's nice and lovely. It's bleeding and crap like it's been for the past day." Xephos said sarcastically.

Martin looked at him in concern. "It's not bleeding a lot is it?"

"Nah, only enough to make me slightly nervous but not enough to make me panic." Xephos said. Martin laughed,

"Okay. We can change your bandages later then."

Xephos scratched his head "Yeah I'm really – uh – looking forward to that moment… Anyways, how far does this bloody cave go?" Xephos asked. "On your end."

"Not far. Don't worry it's all lit up now." Martin said gesturing to his end of the cave, which was almost glowing with torchlight. "What about your end spaceman? And please tell me you lit all of it."

"It's lit. But I think I just might have fulfilled my need for adventure for tonight." Martin smirked,

"Really? Are you sure you don't want to explore some more nice, big, dark caves? I think I saw a few nearby." Xephos shook his head,

"Good one and no thank you. I respectfully decline your invitation to get me killed."

"Killed? What makes you think that all caves have monsters in them?" Martin asked.

"Only the few hundred times I've walked into one and some zombie's tried to kill me." Xephos deadpanned "I've started to see a bit of a trend there you know."

"I was only joking." Martin said.

"Yeah I thought so…" Xephos murmured. Martin laughed,

"Anyway, at least we can sleep now. As long as this place stays lit no more baddies should be spawning any time soon."

"Great, but you're taking the first watch." Xephos said quickly.

"Didn't sleep well last night huh?"

"Hmm…" Xephos said sarcastically "Let's see... I got three hours of sleep so no- I didn't."

"Alright." Martin smiled "I'll take the first watch; you have four hours to sleep. That's double the time so make good use of it." Xephos didn't need telling twice, after nearly being eaten alive by a zombie the spaceman had more than enough excitement for the night. Xephos carefully folded one of Martin's traveling cloaks on the floor near the cave wall and then after putting Lysander's cloak on top of it he lay down and fought his way to sleep.

Seemingly no time had passed before Xephos woke up to the gleaming sunshine that was streaming through the entryway onto his face.

"Good morning friend!" Martin called cheerily looking down at him. "Have a nice rest?"

"Wh- what time is it?" Xephos asked rubbing his eyes blearily.

"Six in the morning I think. Do you have a clock?"

"Yeah… wait hang on did you say six?!" Xephos exclaimed "I-I'm sorry you weren't awake the whole time were you?" Martin shrugged.

"It's alright hero. I tried getting you up around four but you were out more than my gran during one of her naps." Xephos' stared at him.

"So…" he groaned and slowly got up off the stony floor. "So you're not tired or anything?"

"A little I guess." Martin admitted "It got a bit boring but I'm pretty conscious. It's my hunter's mentality – keeps me awake."

"Um – okay, are we leaving now or something?" Xephos asked bemusedly. "You look all packed up so I just thought…"

"Nah, with you asleep on your feet we wouldn't make it half a kilometer!" Martin laughed.

"Oh, yeah whatever." Xephos said.

"Here, eat this first." Martin chucked a bread loaf to him. Xephos caught it and took a bite, the bread was stale but it was surprisingly good.

"Thanks."

"Hey, don't mention it." Martin replied as he moved past Xephos and picked up his traveling cloak taking a moment to stuff it into his pack. Xephos polished off the small loaf - picked up his own pack and bow - and slung both of them over his back.

"Are there any baddies out there?" Xephos asked. Normally it took several hours before most monsters finally died, which they usually did unless it rained.

"I don't think so." Martin said. "I checked an hour ago and it should be pretty safe especially since we're out of Mirkwood."

"Not too many trees either?" Xephos asked jokingly. Martin smiled,

"Not too many but I'd still watch your step if you're worried."

Xephos shrugged. "No not really. At least we don't have to fight trees. I'm ready if you are."

With that, the two exited the perilous cave and set off towards Mistral City at a brisk pace. Earlier in the trip Martin had said Xephos would see the spires of Mistral by dawn, and for once, he was glad he was right.

A/N: I had a lot of fun writing the dialogue for this chapter.

Martin is pretty arrogant isn't he? His relationship with Xephos is a little funny although he seems to be getting used to him by the end. Anyway, will Xephos be able to regroup with the fellowship? And what role will Martin play in the future?

Read on to find out.