Another chapter. Read on and enjoy.
The darkness set in on this quick day of travel so quickly that it seemed they'd only been moving for minutes when a whole day had actually passed. It seemed strange that the day went by so quickly as the two hadn't talked much along the way. Although, Gilan couldn't help laughing every time Aaron started to head the wrong direction or have to ask him to point out the way for him.
" I'm surprised you even made it all the way here to Araluen with your sense of direction." Gilan said, laughing when Aaron turned to ask for help again. Aaron puffed up slightly, mad at Gilan for this comment.
" Yeah, well I actually knew where I was going in Gallica. I've been there more then once. I haven't been here at all before." he muttered, irritably back. Gilan grew curious.
" You've been to Gallica a few times before?" he asked his young companion. " Was your master a trader of some kind?" It was Aaron's turn to laugh at Gilan now.
" Hardly. My Master would be the worst handy man you'd ever see in your life." he replied, laughing still at this thought.
" Often times, for money, my Master and I would take odd jobs in cities and towns we ran out of money in," Aaron admitted to Gilan, " lots of times we ended up with long term jobs protecting important people, or people whom thought they were important enough to need body guards. That, and we help out a lot of farmers during harvest time." Aaron seemed almost thoughtful as he said this. Gilan tilted his head, frowning slightly at the sound of this master of his.
" So basically your master and you bum around." he said, bluntly back. Aaron instantly jumped on the defensive at this comment.
" No way! We're better then that. My Master just doesn't like to stay in one place too long." he answered Gilan sternly. Gilan was unconvinced.
" Like bums." he said.
" We're not bums!" Aaron insisted, stubbornly. Gilan argued the point no further. Clearly, there was no way to convince Aaron that he'd been taken in by a penniless vagabond no matter how very obvious it seemed to Gilan himself.
" What messages could be possibly have for people here in Araluen?" Gilan wondered, vaguely. Aaron shrugged to him in reply and was silent again.
That was the one thing that really bothered Gilan about this whole situation. Aaron claimed that he couldn't remember the messages given to him, but the boy was clearly very intelligent. The boy had been able to prove that to Gilan even over this short amount of time. How was it possible to be smart, but have a bad memory?
To Gilan this sounded almost ludicrus. It seemed completely obserd to him.
Then again, why would Aaron feel any reason to hide this sort of thing from Gilan? There was no real reason to hide it unless it was to help with some attack against Araluen. That was the reason for Gilan coming with Aaron in the first place was to make sure the messages weren't something of greater importance then just contacting a few old friends.
The whole situation was a bit strange for Gilan, and he had to figure out what to do next.
That evening, Gilan and Aaron set up a sight to camp for the night. Yet again, Aaron seemed abnormally on edge for someone just delivering a message. Gilan noted the behavior.
" You always so jumpy, Aaron?" he asked, getting straight to the point. Aaron, after looking a bit confused and getting an irritated look from Gilan for said look, smiled as best he was able in reply.
" My Master always warned me to be alert. Even in times of peace, there are people that will take advantage of a pair of unsuspecting travelers. That's about what he said most of the time. I'm just sort of used to being ready for anything." he explained to Gilan, working on starting a fire so they could cook their meal and Gilan could drink his coffee. Gilan set to making his coffee after eating dinner. He had been, once again, surprised to see just how much Aaron could eat in one sitting.
Actually, it had kind of made him lose his appitite. Aaron had been more then willing to finish it for him, so no food was wasted. Gilan guessed that would be the case with Aaron around with him now.
Anyways, Gilan set to making his coffee, rather excitedly, in all honesty.
" You drink coffee?" he asked, knowing it would be rather rude to make coffee for only himself and not for his companion. Aaron looked over at him, looking out and around at the land around their camp sight. He shook his head to Gilan.
" Not coffee. Boil some water for me too though." he answered. Gilan gave the boy a long look, then did so. Gilan might've asked why, but he had no doubt that he would find out why Aaron wanted the water in good time.
Once he'd finished boiling the water, he called Aaron over. He poured out the hot water into each of their separate cups and scooped in the grains that would make the water coffee. Aaron had gone to get something from one of his bags. Dropping it in, Aaron rejoined Gilan at the fire sight, smiling at Gilan.
" What is that?" Gilan asked, seeing that the water inside Aaron's cup had changed to a golden honey sort of color. Aaron handed the cup over to Gilan.
" You want to try it, I assume?" he said in reply. Gilan looked at Aaron, then down at the cup and back again. Cocking a suspicious eyebrow, he took a sip from the cup. Instantly, he spat it out on the ground next to him. Cringing from disgust, he handed the cup back to Aaron who laughed at Gilan openly amused with the events.
" What is that stuff?!" Gilan asked again, spitting, then drinking the coffee to remove the taste from his mouth. After a moment to swallow, Gilan drank from his coffee cup again to be sure he'd gotten all of the taste from every part of his mouth.
" Tea." Aaron said, laughing still. " I can't help doing that to everyone. It's so funny seeing them all make faces like that when they try it!" Aaron giggled onward. Gilan frowned, kicking himself for this. He'd trusted this boy too much, and had been made a fool of.
Now it was on.
" I'm sorry, I can't resist doing that to everybody. If it makes you feel better, most people just drink without a second look at me." Aaron mentioned, and sipped at his tea contently. He gave a soft sigh, and smiled pleasantly. Gilan returned to his coffee cup.
" How can you like that stuff?" he muttered slightly, drinking his coffee with an new appretiation for the taste of it now. Aaron shrugged, and kept on smiling while he drank his tea.
" GILAN!!!" A holler jolted Gilan out of his sleep.
As quickly as he could, he got to his feet, grabbing his bow and quiver of arrows that lay not far from him. He looked around, quickly,unsure of what was happening.
" Gilan!!" The shout came again, and Gilan swung round, catching sight of a skirmish about a hundred or so meters from him. There were three people, two bulkier figures grabbing and dragging at the smaller.
" GILAN!! LOOK OUT!!!" Gilan heard the cry from Aaron just as soon as he caught sight of the boy being dragged off by the two burly figures right in front of his eyes.
" AARON-!" his cry was cut short, as pressure on his neck increased.
A tight woven rope pulled at his neck as he was lifted off his feet from someone who he hadn't seen.
" Shut up would ya? It's too late to be shouting." a deep voice said beside Gilan's ear as the rope pulled harder against Gilan's neck.
Gilan gasped, struggling, squirming in the man's grip. However, the man was steady, and clearly much stronger physically then Gilan. Still Gilan struggled. Grabbing his throwing knife, he used it like a dagger, stabbing the man in the side.
This seemed to have done the trick.
The rope loosened, and Gilan was able to gasp air into his constricting lungs.
Pulling his knife free, Gilan changed the angle, and aimed for the man's theigh, stabbing the man's leg as well and then shook free of him.
Running some yards away from the injuried man, Gilan scanned the earth again. Aaron had been dragged even farther from him now.
" Blaze!!" Gilan exclaimed, doubling back, avoiding the man from before agilely to get to the horses. Blaze was ready to go, and Gilan leaped into the saddle as if he had been levitated there. To his surprise, the black stallion seemed to know what was going on, and headed out a bit in front of Gilan and Blaze in pursuit of his master.
Gilan and the horses caught up easily.
Notching and arrow some twenty yards away where Gilan had Blaze slow down, Gilan took aim and fired in that practiced movement, easily changing aim and sending another arrow flying toward the second man right after. The arrow hit with a thump into the chest of one man, sending him crumbling to the ground dead. The second man was hit almost a squarely in the side, but he scrambled away from Aaron, running for his life.
Gilan aimed a third arrow, but the black stallion blocked his sight for a moment too long.
The man was lucky. He got away with his life, this time.
Cursing a few times under his breath, Gilan put the arrow away muttering to himself, and turned his attention back to Aaron. The stallion had gotten in Gilan's way to get to it's master right away. It bent it's head down to nuzzle the boy, a mass of person sprawled out on the ground next to the body shot down by Gilan's arrow.
Aaron panted for breath, stroking the stallion's nose soothingly, pressing the horse nose to his cheek once. Gilan came over, retrieving his arrow from the body before returning it to his quiver as he took hold of Aaron's arm to help the boy to his feet again.
" Come on. We can't stay here, that man will be back with help next time." Gilan said, and Aaron nodded understanding, quickly getting onto Rurin's back in only a moment.
" Let's get our stuff and go. What are we waiting for?" Aaron insisted, and they urged their horses back to the camp sight, grabbed the few things set out, and got riding away from there as quickly as they could.
Their troubles weren't over though. A few of the faster people from the scout's reinforcements came in hot pursuit of them both.
Blaze had made snorted and jostled Gilan in his saddle to get his attention. Rurin had made a rather strange sound as well. It was almost a half snort half bray, but not quite.
" We're being followed!" Aaron shouted over his shoulder, catching sight of a few mounted horsemen. Gilan glanced over his shoulder.
Twisting somewhat uncomfortably in the saddle, Gilan slide out a set of arrows, and notched it in the bow string. Carefully, he drew the arrow back and aimed, then sent it flying with a gentle thump. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of movement.
He nearly had a heart attack right then and there.
Aaron was not only facing backwards on the back of the horse, he was holding himself off the horse's back with his knees! An arrow strung and pulled back, he squinted as he aimed his arrow.
" HAH!!" the boy hollered, and the arrow went shooting away into the darkness. One rider had already slumped in his saddle and fallen. Now another was thrown backwards with the force of the arrow, but never reappeared from where he'd fallen to the ground. There were only a few left.
" Hurry! Go!!" Gilan shouted, urging Blaze forwards, pulling ahead of Aaron and Rurin for a few long strides. Then Aaron had Rurin keeping up with Blaze for the majority of the distance away to safety from there. Now Gilan was sure. Something was definitely going on with this boy,and he needed to find out now.
There was no question about it anymore.
Told you it was going to get more interesting soon. Bet you didn't believe me at first, did you? Didn't think so. Read and Review kids. Thanks for reading.