Enslaved

Chapter 19: Farewell

Packing to leave Tosa was both a relief and an emotional feat. On one hand, they felt duty bound to stay longer and help more but on the other hand, they couldn’t wait to leave the depressing town.

No matter what feelings leaving invoked, it was still their home for a week. The longest Thane had spent in any place. 

Michael with the remaining townspeople stood in front of the chapel to see them off. “You two be safe, it’s a long journey to the next town.” 

The town of Nym. 

It’s said Nym is as beautiful as Evordon... some say more. The legends speak of Nym being specially made by the gods themselves. Nera was excited to see it for herself.

Michael hugged the two in a tight embrace. It was the kind of hug a loving father would give. Thane felt his chest constrict. More than anything he wanted Michael to come with them and retire in Nym.

“I couldn’t possibly. I’m needed here in Tosa.” He told them when they offered.

Nera blinked, eyes scanning their surroundings and its obvious gloom. “Because god has forsaken this place?” 

Thane coughed at her words, having to do a double take at her loose mouth. 

Thankfully, Michael laughed it off and patted her head- albeit a little too hard. “Come back after that monster Brutus is gone from this world.”

“We will.” Thane swore. 

Right as Nera was talking to a child, Michael tugged at Thane’s arm, pulling him to the side out of earshot from everyone. 

“Remember what I told you.” Michael advised quietly. 

Thane wrinkled his nose. “Which one?” 

Michael’s eyes drift to Nera. “About Nera. She cares for you as you do with her. A woman like that... I wouldn’t let her go if I were you.” 

He had to resist a blush and patted the priest on the back. “All right, old man.” 

Sadness washed over Michael’s features. “Don’t waste it. I lost my chance in love. Don’t lose yours.”

Thane nodded somberly, understanding him and how Michael lost his wife. 

“Thane?” Nera called from her horse.

He raised his hand in acknowledgement. “I’m coming.”

They waved goodbye as the townspeople crowded over them saying their own farewells. Mounting their horses with one last glance back at Michael and the people of Tosa, the two embark on their journey.

Nera’s spirits were high as she smiled widely. “Have you ever been to Nym?” 

“Only once.” He replied, eyes faraway. 

She leaned closer to him, almost sliding off her horse in excitement. “Is it as beautiful as they say it is?”

Thane helped her back on her seat and chuckled. “Even more beautiful.” 

Nera’s eyes widened, a silly dreamy expression on her face. “Really?” 

“They call it the Heroes Rest for a reason. It’s like an entrance to heaven.” He tells her, remembering his time there. 

She dramatically grasped her chest. “Oh! I can’t wait!”

“Weapons aren’t allowed to be drawn within the town though.” Thane cautioned, having learned that the hard way.

She frowned in confusion. If Caelum allowed weapons why didn’t Nym allow it? “How come?”

“It’s a peaceful town.” He explained. “The only town under Caelum in the western region and they protect it well.”

Already, she couldn’t wait. Back at her home, she would be told by traveling merchants how breathtaking Nym is. It was all anyone could ever talk about. “Will we know when we’re close?”

“You’ll know it all right.” He mused. “Knights and garrisons will be in every corner before we reach Nym.”

Nera drew back a little. She understood why it needed protecting as it is the only settlement nearest Slaugh but to have actual garrisons? Nym was really important to the Royals. “Very well protected then.” 

“One of the most protected places.” He paused doing a mental calculation of their route. “We’ll only stop at Nym for a day or two. We need to gather supplies and rest for the road to Slaugh. It’s a perilous and rough terrain much more so than Tosa was. The travel will be difficult and uncomfortable with no other stops along the way.”

 “I doubt that’s possible.” Nera couldn’t imagine a more difficult terrain than Tosa.

“Tosa is difficult because of the gloom of the place. It drives any man mad, depressed or out of his mind.” Thane could still smell the horrors. “Slaugh is a mountainous region. The castle itself is impenetrable. Half of the journey will be made on foot. Horses aren’t an option there.”  

“No horses?” She questioned, incredulous. “But how does Brutus move with his caravan?”

“I imagine they walk too.” 

As Tosa becomes but a shadow in the distance, the air became fresher and lighter. Nera sucked in the deepest of breaths and for the first time, the air didn’t stink and reek. Their surroundings change drastically from dead infertile lands to lush greenery. The sun actually came out now, giving the much needed heat in Nera’s shivering body.

It takes them exactly a week- almost two of hunting for food, making camp and bathing in rivers before they see the first garrison. Armed to the teeth with knights, cannons and catapults, the intimidating fortress had banners and flags of the royal family crest: the proud lion. 

Other travelers and merchants of various degrees of dress began to join them in the crossroads, all heading to the direction of Nym. As they neared, more and more garrisons cluster together with even more knights and battle machinery. Wooden spikes are stuck on the ground and numerous bastions. 

Thane wasn’t lying when he said Nym is well protected. Nera doubted someone like Brutus or any other of his kind could ever go through here. 

As they neared the end of a round, twin garrisons stood facing each other. A line of heavily armored knights stood, watching everyone that passed closely. It was then did Nera notice that anyone poor looking, ruggedly dressed or was carrying a multitude of belongings were stopped by the stationed knights. Having horses and wearing fairly good armor, the knights didn’t bat an eye towards Thane or Nera.

“Why are they stopping those people?” Nera asked, attention on an old woman dressed in rags who carried a few heavy looking satchels. The knights stopped her and shook their head, pointing her away.

Thane followed her gaze and looked away. “With its reputation, everyone wants to live in Nym. They’re controlling the population and making sure only...” He paused, attempting to find the right words to say but there were none. “Only the worthy can settle there.”

In their entire time in Tosa, Nera was wondering why the people still stayed despite the land which refused to hold and grow crops, the almost daily attacks of rabid animals and bandits. Now, seeing the woman being turned away after traveling for most likely longer than Thane or Nera, she understood. “That’s why people in Tosa chose to stay and never leave.”

“Because they have nowhere else to go.” He says sadly. Traveling all over has made him realize that even if the people are suffering, they’d rather stay in a place as wretched as their current homes. The Royal family with the governing towns, control the population so closely, it’s almost impossible to go somewhere else. Some simply die along the road and if they’re unlucky... the possibility of being taken by the slavers. 

A few minutes after passing the twin garrisons, Nera started to grow impatient. There was nothing but thick foliage and no signs of the god made town. “Where’s Nym?”

Thane couldn’t help but grin at her anxiousness and excitement to see Nym. “You’ll see.”

She humphs, following behind Thane. He pushed a seemingly thick wall of vines towards the side revealing a narrow rocky cave that could only hold one person at a time. 

Nera narrows her eyes hearing the district sounds of a waterfall not too far away. “Where are we?”

“Patience.” Thane chided, leading the way through the tunnel. 

They trudge through until they make it to the very end of the dimly lit cave. The only light came from small torches mounted on the wall. Sure enough, it was a dead end... at least in Nera’s perspective. 

She peered at the gushing blue water, seeing no other way. “It’s a waterfall. Did we take a wrong turn?” 

Thane turned to her, eyes alight with mischief, it was the kind that promised either the most indescribable temptations or unspeakable thrills. “Follow my lead.”

Nera watched, lips parted in a gasp as Thane went through the waterfalls on horseback and disappeared on the other side. She hesitated but the excitement was something else entirely. Prompting her horse to move forward, the heavy fall of water soaked them to the bone but what greeted her on the other side was truly heaven on earth.

“Oh, my.”