The Fate of a Kingdom; Chapter 4

Rayne and I had left Astu, the capital of the Vigeo Kingdom, a few hours ago. It was late afternoon by the time we had set off and our journey had been fairly silent so far. Rayne was riding her horse, Veho, a fair few feet in front of me as I followed on. Rayne had told me that the trip to the blacklands would take a while and be prepared for the worst. I had to stay determined that my sister, Luna, would be ok.

We rode in silence for a little longer before I hurried Polia quicker to ride along side her. Rayne didn’t even give me a sideways glance as I came up beside her.

“So how long will it take to get to my sister?” I asked, trying for small talk.

“Around three, maybe four days,” She simply replied.

We trotted along a little further. “If we are going to be traveling together for that long we could at least get to know each other?!” I offered.

“I’m not the sentimental type!”

“Well… I think you are?”

“What?” She growled turning to look at me.

“You say you aren’t the sentimental type and you have a couldn’t care less exterior but here you are helping me find my sister. There was a clear reaction when I talked about your sister as well!”

I could see her grit her teeth as she didn’t say anything. I waited for a response but with none, I returned my focus to the road ahead.

“We never had a father growing up.” She finally broke the silence. “My mother did her best but she always had to help others, she had skills with herbs that could heal. This of course raised suspicions with many villagers who called her a witch. A few years ago she had just healed a man who was close to death when an angry mob came to our home and took her away. Cari was out in the forest gathering herbs which she did a lot and I was in the village gathering supplies. I watched my mother being burned alive. I was nineteen at the time, Cari had just turned eighteen. I knew they would come for my sister and I, so we ran. We moved around for about a year or so. It wasn’t easy. Eventually Cari couldn’t do it anymore. She felt she had a greater purpose in life to heal. We found an abandoned house in the valley of Opimae and we lived there for a few months together. Cari began helping and healing people, all be it small wounds. I feared that we would be hunted again so I decided that we should run. She disagreed and stood firm that she was staying. So I left alone.” Rayne fell silent. I was actually astonished that she would open up as much as she had just done. There was a small sense of regret and vulnerability in her voice as she talked about her sister and mother.

“I am sorry!” I said.

“It’s not your fault” she replied, the harshness in her voice when we first met had faded away.

“Look just tell me where to go and you can return to the capital?”

“Don’t be silly, you’ll get lost and probably end up dead” there was even a hint of a smile.

“And how do you know your way so well?”

“The reason Cari sent you to me was because we traveled a lot with mother and we know the lands quite well. I can also stand up for myself!” She grinned.

“Oh I know that!” I chuckled.

The awkward silence was gone and a more peaceful sense took over our trip. There was one thing that didn’t add up though.

“How did Cari know where I could find you?”

“I have visited my sister several times since I left, I always told her that if she wanted to find me then I would be in the tavern in the capital. Or if I wasn’t then I would be soon enough!”

“Huh” I shrugged. Fair enough I thought to myself.

We rode together a little bit further but it stared to get dark quick. Rayne led us a little north to a small village by the name of Amnis. She spoke with the village elder who offered us two small huts on the outskirts of the village. They weren’t anything more than shelter but they would do. They were covered with hay at least. Permitted to have a small camp fire to keep us warm we sat in the separated huts and took in the warmth and glow of the fire.

“You know you can’t keep that shield and armour” Rayne said as she roasted some rabbit over the fire.

“Why? It was a gift from the king!” I don’t know why but she angered me and I got defensive.

“Think you can walk into the blacklands wearing that?”

“Oh” dumb realisation took over. She did make a good point.

“If we are spotted you’ll be attacked on site and with that lion sigil then most likely tortured to death. Not saying we wouldn’t anyway but we would at least have a better chance!”

“I’m not loosing the sword!!”

“Nor should you or how will you defend yourself?” A small chuckle escaped her lips.

I turned to look at the chest plate sitting to the side next to my shield. She did make a good point. The leather armour I had, was still an ok protection. It’s not like I could take on the whole white wolf army just cause I had the breast plate.

“You’re right!” I said looking at the armour.

“I know!” She smirked. “Here eat this and then get some rest!”

“Thanks!” I smiled as I took the offered rabbits leg.

———

The next morning I was awoken by Rayne stamping out the last of the glowing fire.