Part 9
Flight East
The girl sighed. “Let’s go back.”
Sworder and the girl began their return through the forest. For much of their travels Sworder remained unseen appearing only when there was any sign of danger. It was past nightfall when they found their way to the ruins they had discovered earlier. There they camped the night and early the next morning Sworder woke the girl and the two continued to travel back.
They reached the edge of the forest by mid-afternoon. The horse they had tied up was still waiting for them, blissfully chomping on grass. Sworder helped the girl onto the horse and they set off towards the farmstead.
“Where have you been off to?” Uncle Ben said looking at them.
“We were looking for the lost boy,” Sworder said.
“Well, I expected as much from her, but not from you, young man,” Uncle Ben said.
“I can not stop her. It was best if I was there to protect her.”
“We need to talk with the yeomen.” The girl interjected.
“What’s with the hurry?” Uncle Ben asked.
“We found the boy,” Sworder replied. “He is under the control of a Kazan.”
“Let’s go. Now!”
“He doesn’t mince words,” Ranin said.
The group headed to the yeoman, who greeted them apprehensively.
“Something wrong?” the yeoman said.
“It’s about Alasia’s brother,” Sworder began. “As you know he has gone missing some days past.”
The yeoman nodded as Sworder spoke.
“My Master traveled into forest in search of the boy. There we found that he had taken a Shadow Warrior of his own, Bargoth, King of the Ember Mountains. I fought single combat with the drake but his might proved too great and he escaped with the boy towards the mountains northward.”
“And where did he acquire the Kazan?” the yeoman asked.
“We found a sunken temple, which housed a sealing stone. We suspect he had entered there before us and claimed the Kazan held therein.”
“And this Kazan has captured him?” the Yeoman said.
“No. In many ways he protects the boy.”
“Is that so?”
“The drake needs the boy, he is a Kazan and needs a master,” Sworder said.
“It won’t be easy telling the boy’s mother this,” the yeoman commented. “And I will have to contact the authorities. You may not want to be around when they come to investigate.”
“Why is that?” Uncle Ben asked.
“I just received this today,” the yeoman produced a single sheet of parchment. “It’s a wanted poster.”
“What!?” the girl exclaimed.
“Apparently there’s a bounty on your head,” the yeoman said to Sworder.
Sworder grabbed the paper, “And what do you plan to do?”
“That wanted poster claims that a powerful Kazan has kidnapped a girl and an elderly man. It states the Kazan is highly dangerous and that the girl is in need of rescue.” The yeoman explained, “I have seen no such traits in you.”
“He would never do a thing like that!” the girl exclaimed.
“And a kidnapped girl would never defend her captor thus.”
“So you plan to let us go?” Sworder asked.
“I plan on forgetting I ever made the connection.” The yeoman said.
“It is too late into the day for us to set off now,” Uncle Ben said, “Would you mind having us for one more day.”
“You are welcome to stay; I won’t be sending a messenger until tomorrow. As for this,” the yeoman said, grabbing the wanted poster. He held it over one of the candles, “I don’t think this needs mention.”
“That may have to be dealt with one day,” Ranin noted.
“True, but as for now,” Namic stated, “moving on may be the better option.”
“More waiting,” Ranin asked.
“There will still be stories to be had,” Namic noted, “I wonder where they will go next.”
The evening meal was more subdued than usual and many seats which would normally be occupied were empty. The next morning they were off.
“Where are we going?” the girl asked.
“East, to Port Saghaven.” Uncle Ben said. “There we charter a ship to take us across the sea.”
“What?” the girl said.
“We have to get away from Selia, otherwise we’ll simply be hunted.”
“Where are we to head for?” Sworder asked.
“Calta,” Uncle Ben said.
“Calta is a pretty harsh place,” Ranin said.
“It is also one of the Kingdoms, which does not have an accord with Selia. The man’s plan seems to be to go somewhere he thinks the authorities will not follow,” Namic said.
“How long will it take to reach Saghaven?” Sworder asked.
“Two weeks at best,” Uncle Ben said.
“Would not going to Irglad be faster?” Ranin asked.
“True, but the route is one of the most well traveled paths you could take,” Namic said, “Doubtless the man wants to avoid any chance of being found.”
The two watched as the wagon continued east. Days came and went. Some days the girl would watch clouds with Sworder, other days she would play games with him, and at other times she would spend the day looking at the mountains to the north for signs of the dragon.
They had been traveling for over a week and Ranin watched them lazily, when quite suddenly two men stepped out of the surrounding brush to block the road.
“Hold it there,” one man said. “I think you’ve come far enough.”
“Namic,” Ranin said as Sworder emerged from inside the wagon. “I think something is going to happen.”
“What has happened?” Namic asked, turning.
“I thought you would know,” Ranin said. “Look!”
The two men held crossbows, loaded but not aimed. Their clothes were that of common men of the area.
“Brigands,” Namic said quietly.
“There is a toll to use this road,” one of them said.
“This is not a toll road,” Uncle Ben challenged.
“Shut up, old man,” the other crossbowman said. “It is now.”
“You should go,” Sworder said. “You will not be harmed that way.”
“Ha, short stuff here seems to think he’s some kind of tough guy,” the first man said.
“The boy needs to learn to keep quite when adults are talking,” the other said.
“I think you do not know who you are dealing with,” Sworder said before leaping lightly up to the top of the wagon. In midair his form began to shine and a flash of bright light obscured him.
“He’s staging again,” Ranin said.
“Which form will he take?” Namic asked.
“I will offer it again, leave now,” the figure said calmly on top of the cart.
“A Kazan?” the first crossbowman said. “Well let’s show him.”
As the crossbowman raised his weapon the green cloak of the figure on the wagon flung back, revealing a short bow. The figure pulled back the bowstring and released. Though no arrow was notched a force hurled itself at the crossbowman, knocking the crossbow out of his hand.
“By the…” the man said in astonishment.
“A new form,” Namic noted, “And with the power of wind.”
“I wonder what his name is,” Ranin said.
The other crossbowman began to raise his weapon but the figure turned on him and fired another shot. The gust hit him in the chest, knocking him onto his back.
“Fools!” a voice said as a new figure emerged from the bushes. “You can’t handle even a simple Kazan?”
“But Boss!” He was silenced with a hand gesture.
“Well,” the Boss said, “What these two inadequately attempted to say was that you are not going to pass without making it worth our while.”
“I finished that conversation with them. Should I take it up with you?” the green clocked figure asked.
“Unlike these two I may prove to be a bit more rooted,” as he spoke a tree on the side of the road began to shake and rise. Slowly, it walked in front of their path.
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