ARTHODON AND THE FOUR DRAGONS

CHAPTER 5: THE ESCAPE

In hunger, tiredness and fear, Dani and Clanis walked all night in the forest and still walk the woods with nothing but themselves and their daughter. From the time they left the temple, it seem that they do not lose strength. The night is dark and the forest is dangerous, full of wild, ferocious beast but they fear more temple and the four kingdoms than the danger or peril in their wander. All they think of is to get away as far as they could from the place which once became their home.

They exchange from time to time in carrying the baby, and then Clanis said, holding the trunk of the tree and her knee “Dani, I can’t walk anymore. Can we rest even just for a bit?” Dani look back to her from a small distance ahead of her, carrying their baby.

“O.. of course my love, we can rest.” He said while walking back to her beloved wife, he feels pity for his wife and his child but can’t do anything. Under a wide tree, it is almost noon, when they decided to rest.

“I’ll get some fruits” Dani said while giving their child to Clanis. Few moments later, while her father is gone for food, she cries aloud.

******

Right after Queen Lian enters the room carrying her son, a guard immediately breaks into the hall, catching his breath.

“What’s the matter?” King Jeron asks

“Your Highnesses, the family is gone; they’re not in their room” the guard reports.

“How did that happen?” Queen Lian asks, with a little bit irritated then looks to King Jeron.

“How did they get through the sentries of the temple?” King Jeron complains.

“Find them!!” King Euri orders

“Don’t stop until you find them” King Ramiro said

“Dead or alive” King Jeron declares.

“King Jeron!” said King Alfiro

“What? It only proves they are guilty and worthy of punishment” said the King of the east

“And besides, we are here to set forth their verdict” King Ramiro favors

The kind King of the west kingdom can’t say anything and looks to King Euri. The King of northern Kingdom nods in response to him. Alfiro clench his fist, he doesn’t know but he feels something’s wrong.

******

“Head General, Dani and Clanis with their child are gone to their room and they are nowhere to find in the temple” one guard report it as soon as they already explore thoroughly the temple, inside and out.

“Tell General Gados, to lead the search for the accused. Form four groups to search the nearby forests and hills and mountains in every direction. Do not stop until you find them” the Head General instructs.

“It will be done, Head General” said the soldier then bows his head.

******

“I will heal you and help you become one of the highest and respected being in Arthodon but you will be my eyes….” Gorin remembers each word from the stranger that approaches him few days ago in his small and filthy house. He still recalls her malicious smile and threatening gaze while moving her glowing fingers of smoke-like flare.

“Head Seer!...” Valmino calls, sitting besides Gorin while writing the event occurs in the hall.

“Head Seer!..” he calls again to the seer standing in his right.

“Head Master” he calls again to Gorin who seems space out so he hold his arm to catch his attention. “Are you alright Head Master? You seem to be thinking deeply? What’s the matter” said Valmino with concerns

But the Head Seer just shakes his head and smile. “You can say anything to me. I’m glad to help.” Valmino assures.

“Uhhh, *exhales* I just felt pity for the half-breed child. In such a young age she needs to be executed.” Gorin said at last.

“Well, it is truly unfortunate, but it must be. It is better to sacrifice one life than the whole Kingdoms perish” Valmino said, sits again. “That’s one thing I’ve learned to the late Head Seer”, he said again before he continues his writings. 

******

The four troops immediately prepare for the search. General Gados give them instructions before leaving that to whoever group find them first, if they resist, force will be use; for their main objective is to capture them dead or alive; and then will let the other scouts know their location.

Each troop, with swords and arrows, bring a wolf to help them follow their scents or tracks, others in feet and others riding in horses. One guard in each four groups is assigned to be the eyes from the sky, riding in a Prieus (pree’yoos), a horse like creature with huge wings commonly white or black with light blue stripes.

“Commence!!” the captain shouts before leaving Encanta outside the gate.

******

In Desteon, a maid sitting in her chamber, looking in the air, smiles wickedly with full pitch, dark eyes.

******

Gorin, standing at the façade from the temple’s fourth floor, looking outside to the soldiers while marching in leaving the vicinity through the huge glass of the window, when he heard a voice saying, “Good, they are now departing to hunt. Everything follows according to plan” and then she laughs, barely.

It is the same witch from Desteon who cursed the Queen and killed Jabino that uses her sorcery to spy through Gorin. It is all because of the demon witch.

******

Afternoon came Dani looks again for food and some fire woods.

While Dani is at the tree picking fruits for his young family, he saw a temple’s Prieus, flying in the sky above him, and a soldier riding on its back. He ducks and hides his body to the leaves. When the guard is no more on sight, he immediately gets down to the tree and run to where Clanis is.

Chasing his breath, Clanis asks him, “Why? What’s the matter?”

“I saw a temple’s prieus. They are looking for us” he said giving his carried fruits to Clanis and takes his daughter.

They run as fast as they could, wandering with no place to go. All they know is to escape and hide from the soldiers hunting them.

Far away from them they still hear the wolf’s cry, signifying that every moment the troop comes nearer and nearer. While the couple is running, their baby cries. Suddenly, they did not notice the soldier riding on prieus is above them. “I found them” he announces. Then immediately, the guard fly back to the group to tell the troop which direction.

“Captain, I saw them. Follow me” he said while riding above them on a flying creature. Then the troop, right away follow his lead, they turn right.

Dani and Clanis reach the river but can’t cross it because the current is strong. They thought fast and decided to track the river till they reach a hill slope. With trees above them and tall grass everywhere, Dani said “hide here” telling Clanis to conceal herself in a huge wide stone surrounded with tall green grass. “Never come out until its safe” he said to wife while holding her scared face.

“Why? What are you going to do?” asked her wife rubbing his hand.

“Hand me her quilt” he said, then he swiftly remove the child’s small clothes that covers her delicate body.

“Dani” she finally said, looking at her beloved man.

“Look at me, you and our child is the best thing that happened in my life. I love you so much” Dani said in a lovely tone, covering her face with his warm hands.

“No no no!” she cries, touching her husband’s hand

“Be brave, my love, we will overcome this” encouraging his wife though he himself is trembling. Then, he walks away ducking, a few steps he stops, “Maiari, Maiari, her name will be Maiari” his coice cracks, looking at Clanis deeply with tears in his eyes, and then he finally turn back and gone to the woods.

 Clanis weeps in silence, clasping her mouth while her other hand hugging Maiari tighter.

Few moments later, she heard a voice saying, “Captain, the human”, the guard points Dani while running away from where his family hides. “He’s got the child!!” he shouts.

The guard on prieus take out his bow and arrow and shoot the man running down the forest. It missed.

“But where is his wife?” the captain said softly but enough to hear by the guard beside him. “Find the elf, she’s just here, hiding somewhere” the captain orders with firm and loud voice. The wolf growls and the guards start to look around.

Clanis heard it and get a sharp stone to cut a piece of her skirt to cover her poor baby. She tries to peek to see which direction she will run if ever she needed to.

Dani is still chasing by the guards above and the others before him. They rained down arrows to him and one arrow scratch his left arm but it did not shake him off. He runs as fast as he could, jumping through logs and avoiding trees.

Getting closer and closer, Clanis shut her eyes in nervousness, praying that they would not find her. Her child makes a soft sound that made the wolf stand alert.

Without enough rest, sleep and food, Dani feels weaker and weaker while the run lasts. Suddenly, felt a sharp pain hit his back that made him fall hard to the earth and roll. He tried to stand up and exert his whole strength. ‘He mustn’t be captured’ he said to himself. Standing up, he started to walk again staggeringly. When he realizes that he did not carrying anymore the fake baby he made with twigs and dry grass, he looks back in an act to get it. But the soldier is now near to him so he just runs away hobbling. Not later, he was surrounded by two guards, the third just landed in front of him with prieus.

“He’s got a stick child” one guard mocks him and then picks the cloth.

“Nice trick, human” the other soldier said smirking.

******

When the wolf starts to run towards the stone where they are hiding, she bravely come out and dash. “After her” the captain shouts from the distance. Clanis poured all her strength just to stay away from their capturer. She goes uphill and was cornered there. She stops horrified and step back to the cliff. “You are nowhere to go” the captain said, “give us your child and come to us peacefully” he continued.

She hugs her child tighter, looks down the gorge and step back again a little. “Don’t ever think about it” the captain speaks again. Promptly, he signals the wolf to attack the mother and the child but as the beast is on the act of offense, it suddenly fell and die. The wolf was hit by a long spear, with a double size and length compare to its typical look.

The two, the captain and the guard who was left with him, both astound and don’t know who did this. They turn around and survey the area. When suddenly appear to their view three Ogres armed with bow and arrows and cimeters and spears.

“It seems this is our lucky day” said one of the ogres who have the biggest stature among them, grinning.