Chapter 10: Return
Sudden movement to the left woke Xev from his trance while riding through the forest path. He had no recollection of the last hours of traveling and that scared him. He looked around. Zanir was behind him and Valon not far ahead. The sky above the canopies began to darken a strange violet colour.
"Don't lose focus, Xev." said Valon as if he knew he had been drifting off.
"How long have we been riding?" asked Xev rubbing his eyes.
"Nearly five hours. We are not far from our destination. Stay alert we may not be welcomed." warned Valon.
That unsettled him a little. He was not looking forward to Valon's plans. They seemed far too devious. He looked back at his brother.
"How you keeping up Zanir?" he asked.
"Mmph. I'm over these horses." He protested.
Xev kept his right hand on the hilt of his sword just in case something happened. He felt strange and couldn't explain why.
The trees around them began to get larger and they had no leaves on their branches. They must have been fifty feet high and seven feet across at its trunk. It was eerily quiet and a fog began to settle between the trees. Xev noticed plants he had never seen before. They glowed in the darkness a brilliant blue and purple some green.
"This part of the forest feels ancient." stated Xev.
Looking to his right he swore he caught a shadowy hooded figure duck between trees. His heart quickened and removed his bow from his back and readied an arrow.
"Valon, I saw someone moving not far from us." Cautioned Xev.
"Do not worry they will not come close." Valon said with a hint of a smile.
They continued on until the forest opened up into a circular clearing some thirty feet across void of any trees. Along the edges it was lined with the colourful blue and purple plants. They stopped just as they entered.
"Is this it?" asked Zanir who looked around confused.
"Quiet. We have been here for some time now. Stay still we have not yet been accepted." Valon said.
Almost immediately, something fell from the sky and slammed into the earth sending a shockwave reverberating passed them. It stayed there kneeling with both hands on a massive sword that was embedded halfway into the ground. The knight as it seemed looked like a giant in the clearing, at least ten feet while kneeling. Its head was covered by a black hood and its body encased in ebony steel armor that shone in the moonlight. It slowly raised its head to look at them, its eyes glowing silver deep within its hood. A deep ethereal voice filled the clearing from all directions.
"Valon, you seek entry to these lands. What is your purpose?" it asked staying completely still like a statue.
"Guardian, we ask permission to pass as we have a friend we must see."
An uncomfortable minute passed.
"There is trouble brewing where you are headed…guard your companions closely…they are…important…" its voice echoed and gradually went silent while lowering its head.
"Are we allowed passage?" questioned Xev unsure of what had progressed.
"Yes. Follow me slowly." said Valon and started forward.
Just as Xev passed the guardian, its voice became audible again and it slowly turned to face him.
"Xev, Zanir, welcome home." It rose off its knee and pulled its giant great sword out of the earth and took a few steps forward dragging the weapon along the ground then the guardian vanished into thin air.