Chapter 4: A Path Renewed
It was still in the early hours of the morning the sun had not risen above the horizon when the trio made it to a forest a mile from Dreasfjord. They stopped and turned to catch a glimpse of the city as it burned, the orange flame glowing in the night. The screams of the dying were gone by the time they made it to the forest edge.
Everything Xev and Zanir knew had been stripped from them in one night, their father murdered, their home city burned. All Xev wanted to do was sleep and wake up in a perfect dream world and forget all that had happened. He feared he would go mad if he dwelled on the events of past.
"We need to make camp in the cover of the trees. No fire tonight else we risk being seen." said Valon as he turned and began making his way into the forest, clearing branches away with his sword.
"It's going to be a cold night." protested Zanir as he followed.
They had no supplies not even food or drink and no blankets to defend against the cold. It wasn't long before they came upon a small clearing the forest floor was covered in a thick mat of moss.
"This will do. We need rest if we are to make any ground tomorrow." Valon said lying down on the mossy ground.
"Won't someone keep watch during the night Valon?" questioned Xev still standing near the entrance to the clearing.
"Do not worry Xev." assured Zanir, "We have one of magic here to alert us if someone is nearby." He sat on the ground with an exaggerated sigh and laid back.
"Do you think this is a joke Zanir? There are demons out there and yet you think nothing of it." said Xev angrily.
"Well if you're so worried, you can take first watch." Zanir said as he dosed off.
Xev stomped off in a foul mood and sat at the base of a tree on the edge of the clearing muttering curses under his breath. He was cold hungry and exhausted beyond belief and here he was first on watch. Xev looked over at Valon he was already out cold because he had spent all of his energy using magic. Fighting off sleep was extremely difficult for Xev as the hours passed.
"Wake up!" Xev kicked his brother's thigh "Wake up Zanir! It's your watch now."
Zanir grunted disapprovingly and slowly sat up holding his wounded side. It was just after sunrise and Xev only had time for a few hours of sleep. He decided to give his brother some extra rest because his side was still healing.
"Maybe Valon can help you with that wound when he wakes." said Xev. He then sat on the ground and fell asleep almost instantly.
When Xev woke he found Valon and Zanir sitting behind a fire they had built. It was light out and they did not need to worry about being seen.
"We have to leave immediately." stated Valon warming his hands. "Getting word of this invasion must be sent to the surrounding cities. We'll head south east to Arinstall three days ride from here." He got up and brushed his robes off. "First, I must properly introduce myself. I am Valon son of none, protector of kings and member of the high mages. It is a wonder to meet you." Valon bowed slightly with a smile his eyes began to glow a metallic blue.
"I am Xev, son of none and this is my brother Zanir. We are or were part of the king's guard. I am honored to be in your presence and grateful for saving us." He bowed elegantly.
"Your brother seems off Xev. Is he hurt?" He looked strangely at Zanir. He was sitting awkwardly holding his wounded side.
"I was caught…by a demons blade. It stopped at the ribs but it refuses to heal over." Zanir grunted struggling to stand.
"Can you heal him with your magic Valon?" pleaded Xev as he helped Zanir to his feet.
"You should have warned me last night. I could have stopped the bleeding. Let me see." He walked over to Zanir and lifted up his cloth shirt. The bandages had soaked through and Valon peeled them away revealing a deep gash across his ribs. It was beginning to fester.
"I can heal your wound over and clean it but it will take time to mend completely. I do not have the means to remove the scar." explained Valon. He closed his eyes then held his hand a few inches from Zanir's chest and focused on the spell. His hand began to glow and blue energy flowed from his hand rapidly forming new skin which closed the gash. There was a large pale scar remaining but the bleeding had stopped.
"It itches." Zanir said running his fingers over the scar. "Thank you Valon." Zanir bowed his head.
Valon stamped out the fire and headed off through the forest without a word the two boys following.
"Who was the dragon rider that attacked Dreasfjord? Is he a king from the south? questioned Xev while he tried to keep pace with the agile mage.
"Vraeza is a corrupt king who got his position illegitimately. He used his power to gain the minds of others and over threw their previous king. Now Vraeza holds authority over the southern lands and he continues to spread his influence across the empire." He stepped over a log. Valon seemed to be deep in thought not paying much attention to Xev.
Zanir struggled to keep up behind the two. His bulk hindered his movements in the dense forest brush. Xev struggled to keep from laughing at the awkward sight of his brother tripping up over logs and getting tangled in branches and vines.
"You should warn your reckless brother that if he wishes to keep his life, it would be wise to cease making so much noise. There are more dangerous creatures in these woods than I." Valon said looking forward with a straight face obviously irritated with Zanir's grunts and mumbled curses.
"I thought this forest was rid of any evil creatures long ago and that the Forest of Old was the most dangerous and unknown." Stated Xev.
"You are partly correct but long ago both forests were connected before we settled on these lands and separated them. Whatever lived and called these forests home still exist on either side. More so in this forest because of the Frystur Mountain range provided safe havens for ancient beasts." explained Valon.
"Don't listen to his words Xev. He is only trying to scare you. I am not afraid of any monstrous beasts. Let them come and meet my blade. You hear that you wretched beasts! Reveal yourself so I can make me a steak out of you!" bellowed Zanir into the surrounding woods.
Valon stopped immediately in his tracks and paused. Then he turned around and said almost silently, "Speaking will prove difficult for you until you learn to shut your arrogant mouth."
With that he cast a spell which rendered Zanir unable to speak. Zanir went to argue but there was no sound and his mouth moved silently. Zanir was wide-eyed and made what would have been a yell and slashed his sword midway through a tree next to him.
Valon then froze him in place and walked up to him stopping within a few inches of Zanirs face and said, "If you wish to follow me and stay alive, you will listen and do as I say. Otherwise I will keep you frozen here as bait for demons that stalk around in the night. Do you understand Zanir?"
Agreement reading clearly in his eyes Zanir was released and he fell to the ground breathing heavily still unable to speak. Valon spun on his heels and continued onward.
"How long will you keep him from speaking Valon? questioned Xev.
"Until I'm bored of silence."
They had traveled most of the day and only had a few hours of light left which they needed to hunt for food. Zanir was kept under Valon's spell for the entire travers. Little was spoken as the forest sapped their energy. Once they found a suitable area to set up camp Valon went off into the wilderness to find some food. He removed the spell so Zanir could speak again.
"Curse him Xev." whispered Zanir as Valon was out of sight. "I don't trust him. Why are we following this crazed magician in a forest? We should leave and find our own ways."
"Be quiet Zanir or I'll get Valon to shut you up again. We're here because we have nowhere else to go and it is our duty to protect the empire now that our king is dead. We have to help Valon get the word to Arinstall. Although I don't see how we can help that much since we cannot use magic. We should get a fire going for when Valon returns with dinner."
They both went off to collect some deadwood. After, they built a fire and sat around lazily waiting for dinner. It tormented them because they couldn't remember the last time they had eaten. Not long after Valon emerged from the trees with a sack. He sat and laid out the sack which was full of berries and edible plants.
"What's this? You brought back a garden for us? How lovely a man with magic and he can't even catch a rabbit." Zanir protested.
"I didn't catch a rabbit because I do not eat meat Zanir. If you want meat you can go find it yourself."
Valon offered some food to Xev who accepted it. He didn't mind what he ate as long as it was food. Zanir got up and stormed off into the woods to find something more suitable for a warrior of his size.
"I believe your brother and I have gotten off on the wrong foot. I did not intend for this to be. I'm just trying to set him right so we can function as a group. He is awfully stubborn. " Said Valon as he ate.
"Yes. It's just how he is. I can keep him in line if you'd like. He sometimes listens to me. I think he is just trying to shutoff reality because of the things that happened." explained Xev as he finished off the last of the berries.
"You're right. You both have been through an extremely traumatic event."
After a few minutes of silence Xev asked, "I'm curious Valon, where are you from?"
"I am from the same lands as Vraeza in the south. A city called Razikai. I came north after the city fell under his control seven years ago."
"Is that where you learned how to use magic? How does it work exactly? I know that our sword master could ward weapons so that they would not cut." Xev asked.
"Yes. I was trained there in the art of arcane magic. In fact, Vraeza and I were trained by the same teacher. As for how it is used is a very closely guarded secret." warned Valon as he stared off into the woods.
"I understand but is there not a way you can teach me something simple while we are traveling? It could help us when the time comes."
"I cannot give the knowledge without permission. Only if you are interested in becoming a member of the High Mages can you have access. I can however, teach you a few mental exercises that will help you begin the basics. What do you say Xev? Are you willing to forgo the path of the arcane?" Valon looked quizzically at Xev.
"I am."
"Excellent. I think you will do well. From what I gain you have a strong-"Valon stopped, alerted. "Your brother has stumbled upon something far too large for dinner it would seem. Quickly, he needs our assistance." He stood in one fluent motion and drew his sword and rushed into the forest.
Xev got to his feet and trailed behind Valon as quickly as his body would allow. As they moved through the forest leaping over logs and ducking beneath branches they heard deep growling noises in the distance. With the last few minutes of sun it was difficult to see in the dark forest below the canopies. Once they got closer they heard Zanir's taunts and yelling at whatever was challenging him.
Valon exploded from behind bushes while casting a glowing ward around him. Xev jumped in afterward. What Xev saw before Zanir was a hulking beast with glowing purple eyes. It had black fur and massive paws with claws that shone bright white in the near darkness. The creature resembled a cat with a long body and it was circling Zanir low to the ground growling deeply. The sound made Xev's skin crawl and a shiver run down his spine.
Zanir had four nasty gashes across his chest from the monsters claws. He held his sword low in front of him and he was slowly moving back towards Valon and Xev.
"Move slowly Zanir. I'll cast a ward on you do not flinch." Valon cast a ward which made the air simmer around Zanir.
The beast revealed its foot long fangs then his hind legs began to twitch as it prepared to launch itself at Zanir. Xev silently moved near Zanir keeping in the shadows of the trees that surrounded them. He hoped to leap in at the right moment if the beast were to attack.
"Stay where you are Xev. Do not move any closer I have this under control. Zanir on the count of three jump to the ground quickly. I will take care of the beast." Valon whispered. "Three, two, one, now!"
Zanir jumped to his right closer to Valon and lay flat on the ground as he did the beast leapt off, it's claws out in front and its maw wide open ready to tear Zanir to pieces. Just as it was mid-flight Valon cast a spell that created a wall of wind which sent the beast sprawling back several feet where it slammed into a truck of a tree. It fell on all fours and limped off into the woods.
"Great! You just scared off my dinner Valon. I could have had slayed the beast! Why did you not use magic to hold it in place so I could kill it?" Zanir raged.
"Aiding in killing these beasts is not what I do. They are few in these woods and it would be a shame to see them disappear. They are incredible creatures that should be studied." Valon stated. He walked over to Zanir to inspect his wounds.
Xev walked over, "Zanir don't be a fool that beast would have ripped you to shreds. I'll help you hunt something else after Valon heals you."
As Valon healed Zanir he said, "I would advise not to go wondering now that we have attracted everything within a few miles. Go back to camp and I will bring a few rabbits. Will that satisfy you Zanir?"
Zanir grunted in agreement and walked off with Xev back to their camp. Valon closed his eyes and searched with his mind to feel the natural energies flowing around him. He quickly found a few rabbits not thirty feet from where he stood and cast a spell which killed them instantly. He disliked killing any animals but it was necessary. He then used a spell which gathered them and brought them before him. He despised the thought of touching an animal he just killed so he continued to walk while they hung suspended in the air.
Xev and Zanir entered their camp Valon arrived a minute later and dropped the rabbits before the fire. Zanir quickly got to skinning and gutting the rabbits while Xev helped.
"I'll cast some wards around our camp to warn us of any approaching threat. " Valon said he closed his eyes and thought of a few complex spells that would wake him if something tripped his wards.
After Xev and Zanir ate, Zanir reluctantly sharing a bit of a rabbit, they all went to sleep. They were only a day and a half from Arinstall in which they had to warn the city of the fall of Dreasfjord.