Oct. 2, 2008 - Chapter 6
(NOTICE: All names, places, and events are likley to change, however and whenever I want because it's my story and it's still one big rough draft:P My stuff is also Copyrighted©, but if you wanna use it for something, just ask me, I'll probably say ok!)
What Huntram had said about traveling faster with a single rider per horse was true. So upon finding the next, and probably last village they would find in the Golden Hills, they took advantage of the opportunity to stock up on food supplies and look for two more steeds. But they could not go in undisguised, for they could not afford to have anyone identify them to their enemies. "I doubt Bangor’s scouts know any particulars concerning us," Dorthain had said. "But we don't want to give them any… correct clues." With a little of his skill, trouble, and exasperated language, Trojan and Huntram became the dark-skinned slaves of some fine, rich master, looking for horses that were only the fastest and best. After they had gone, a hunched over, infirm old man and his hooded little grandson tottered into the marketplace. Rumors of the Unhuman had spread far and wide, and Adrian was aware of many suspicious eyes that targeted the strangers.
Bread, fruit, and dried meat were purchased without complications, except for when Adrian had unconsciously almost used a little magic to pick up a gold piece he had dropped before a sudden cough from the old man stopped him short. Adrian was certain some one would try to stop them from leaving the little village, and it was all he could do to restrain his feet from keeping time with his beating heart. As soon as they approached the gate, a voice called, "Hullo thar!" Adrian whirled about and beheld a plump woman standing outside her cottage, wiping her floury hands on her apron. "Ye two be visitors, no?"
"We're just passing through madam." Dorthain replied in such a croaky voice that Adrian was surprised.
"Ye received a lil’ hostility up thar in th' market I s'pose." She took off her apron and hung it on a nail. "Folks 'round here are mighty wary of strangers nowadays. They say monsters are thicker than weeds in Johnny Bottomers's corn patch, an' dey's lookin fer two men an' two lads travlin' cross country. 'Nonsense' I says. But I'm fergettin manners! Would ye two like to come on inside an' have a little hot tea?"
Adrian was stunned. Impossible that Bangor could've gathered that much information concerning them! He sensed that Dorthain was equally shocked. "Your kindness is extraordinary, madam." The old man said. "But we'd best be moving on and set your peoples' minds at rest." Adrian was glad he did not comply to her request just to appear inconspicuous. The boy did his best not to look about as they too slowly left the town. Dorthain only stopped hobbling and threw off his disguise when they reached the hiding place where the horses were waiting. "Adrian! This is impossible! Somehow we are discovered! Wha- foolish boy, take off that ridiculous hood and listen to me! I do not know if we can keep traveling with Trojan and Huntram. The enemy is looking for four men, not two. They have little to do with the quest as is. We must leave and no longer travel on the road."
Adrian did not think well of the idea. Leaving Trojan and Huntram? "Dorthain, how can we do this alone? Trojan protects me well, and my brother is a much better fighter than I." Dorthain turned to him and opened his mouth, but Adrian continued before he could speak. "When you say that we must separate, you speak the truth. Maybe the two of us should ride separately anyway. That way if Trojan and I got ambushed and I was killed, there would still be a chance to destroy Bangor through the White Magic in you. And besides," Adrian spoke quickly. “If we leave them, we won’t know where they are, and then… then we may never see them again when we have completed our mission.”
Dorthain did not speak for a moment, just looked at Adrian with something in his eyes that could have been pride mixed with a hint of sorrow. "You have become… wiser, Adrian Shaster. What you say is good. We shall keep them with us. However, I cannot separate myself from you - as the keeper of White Magic. I protect you with my life and death and you do not leave my sight until the White Magic takes some other form."
"And when will that be?" Adrian questioned. "Why can't we change it back into the Dagger now?"
"Now you are easier to protect than a dagger. A dagger could just slip out of a sheath and fall somewhere unknown. But when we reach Angtanthul it will be changed back. At that accursed place daggers are much easier to preserve than... anything alive." The hint of a mournful look still stayed in Dorthain’s face.
That was when Adrian realized that they were going to their deaths. He had never considered the end much, but now that he had gotten his first look, he wasn’t sure he wanted to go on. He did not know why he had not realized this before. "Will we stay alive Dorthain? Will we get in?" Adrian turned to stroke Amon to hide a hopeless tear. "Why don't we have an army? Is it because there is no hope?"
Adrian felt an arm over his shoulder. "No," said Dorthain. "It is not because there is no hope. Even if we conjured up thousands of men, it would be of no avail. There is no way we would be able to avoid the eye of Bangor. Sneakiness is our only option. And I am sure we will get in. White Magic is by no means inferior to Black. What I don't know is what will take place after we get in."
To his own surprise, Adrian leaned against the old man. "Why did you choose me, Dorthain?"
The old man looked down. "The White Magic chose you, not I. But I knew I could trust you when I knew it’s choice."
"How could you trust me? I was only a baby!" But before Dorthain could answer, Trojan and Huntram returned with two fine ponies, one white and one copper. The two looked pleased with themselves. "The best to be had!" Trojan declared. "They are not war horses, but they are not plow horses either."
"No time for rejoicing Trojan. The enemy knows more than we thought. We will travel one more day together, then split up and travel off the road. We must leave immediately," Dorthain said. Huntram hurriedly pressed the reins of the skittish white horse into his brother's hand and rushed about in preparation for another ride along with everybody else. Adrian stroked his protesting pony and whispered some elvish words he had learned. “Ha laer eosa oahnamd" "I am a friend" She immediately calmed down and seemed to realize that she would be treated well. "The name Saira will suit you nicely." He was called out of his elvish moment by Trojan's voice calling, "Adrian! Up and away! We are ready!" The boy leaped into the saddle and again had to again reassure to horse of his good intentions to keep the unbroken creature from bucking him off. She did not do so, but felt uncomfortable. Adrian continued speaking to her. It would help his elvish, as well as calm his steed. Huntram had told his brother of the conversation he had had with Trojan about the coming of an elf friend, and Adrian was excited to learn that his study of the elvish language would prove useful. He had picked up on it faster than even he had expected! His horse easily kept up with Trojan and Dorthain’s war horses. She moved like the wind! So far it seemed as if Adrian had had good fortune in all his endeavors, despite their uncertain ending. But he had not faced one of the Unhuman before.
Huntram fell back behind the two men and Adrian trotted up alongside him. "We haven't gotten a chance to talk in awhile." He said.
Huntram grinned the old farmboy grin. "I was just thinking the same thing." He nodded toward Trojan and Dorthain, who were conversing together over serious matters no doubt. "Neither have they."
The younger boy said casually, "I like my horse. Where did you get them?"
"A merchant from the City of the King was in the town. It took a lot of talking, but we finally did get them for a reasonable price. Mine is named “Oleern”. It means flame! He is wonderfully strong. Don’t you think it fitting?"
"It is." Adrian replied, glancing at the horse’s sleek, red side. "My horse’s name is “Saira”. It is very pretty.”
"Yes, it is," Huntram said. "But if she were mine, I would call her “Gihvn Erlethan”. You know what that means."
White Magic. Adrian winced. The White Magic was causing a lot of trouble to him so far. But all he said was, “If I gave her that name I would not be able to say it quickly if we were in a hurry. And White Magic is something I say too often for it to be the name of my horse."
"Yes, I suppose that's so." Huntram said. "It is amazing that you can use the Magic so well already. I can't do much with it. How did you learn it so quickly?"
Adrian shrugged. "It's not very hard. It seems like I was made to know it. Magic is like a... living tool with a will that can be bent to yours. If you study its use, what it is capable of, and the very nature of it, you are able to do more than start a fire or levitate a rock. The elves know it more than any race ever did! It is said that they set the rules of magic and told it what it could and could not do. I don't know if I believe that though."
Huntram smiled. "Well, at least you know it well enough to knock an Unhuman off its feet if you should run into one."
Adrian sobered. "I don't know if I could."
Huntram was surprised. "You've knocked out everything from a bird to a wild boar for Dorthain this past week! Why should the Unhuman be any different?"
Adrian looked uncomfortable. "It’s not - well… it shouldn't be. I could knock out almost anything I tried I think. But... I'm not brave."
"Still? The whole “not brave” thing? Adrian, you are a talented magician and an accomplished swordsman. If anything they should fear you!"
"But I am not strong."
"In body, perhaps not. And They are. But you are strong in mind, and They are not."
Adrian looked at his brother in slight surprise. Dorthain had often told him that he had a strong mind. But was that the power to stand before a monster of a man? He didn't think so. And Huntram never would have said anything like that back at the farm. He was getting a sense of honor and growing into this business. Adrian could tell.
Comment and tell me what you think!
Also, I would like suggestions for a title to this book. I want something mostly unused, origanal, short, catchy, and not like your average fantasy books (AKA - The Dragon and the Raven). Come on all you smart people!!! I'm very title picky, and if you think of something I like, you probably deserve to be honored if I ever get this book farther than my computer (doubtful).
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