The Monarch: Days of Dusk

Chapter 12. A Helping Hand.

Anton

It has been a day since the……episode with the gem and the stateau. I looked around for more in the ruins, it was morning and I could see far clearly. After finding nothing of note, I decided, rather stupidly, to touch everything that seemed the least bit remarkable. Obviously, yet to my utter disappointment, it didn’t work. Then I sat down, exasperated, hungry and deprived of sleep. The latter affecting me the greatest.

I thought long and hard and then decided to get out of the forest. I started to walk out the same way I came in but despite it being the morning with high visibility, I got lost and when I finally got out, I found myself on a road, on top a hill. Further down the road, I could see a carriage coming. I knew this place though, as I looked around. I figured out that I was in the opposite side of the forest from where I had entered it. Now, I was near a village called Shallows. I had an aunt there and maybe I could rest there for a while, eat up and then think what I would do after.

The carriage was moving up now. But I don’t have any money.

As the carriage drew nearer, I spied an old man atop it. When he reached me, I saw that he was really old, with sagging leathery skin, slit eyes and a bent body. He carried some baskets of apples in the back of the carriage. The carriage had two horses pulling it. Both black as night. The hair on their necks were long, flowing in the breeze. They truly were majestic creatures.

“Whad dya want boy?” he asked in a thick accent.

“I need a ride to Shallows. You are passing by it are you not?” I asked.

“Suppose I am. What then?” he said.

“I need a ride. I’ll pay you.” I replied.

“Show me the coin boy!” he said aloud. His voice was rather brusque.

“I don’t have it now, but I have family there and I’ll pay when I reach there.” I said, keeping my voice polite.

He thought for a bit.

“All right.” He laughed a little. “Climb on!” he said.

I climbed on. He stroked the horses a little and they started to move, pulling the carriage along. I had a feeling these horses were with the old man for a long time.

“What is your name boy?” he asked.

“Anton.” I replied. “What is yours?” I asked.

“Ohh I’m called may things….hmm…you may know me as Sylvester.” He said.

“Where are you from Anton?” he asked.

“Im from Dresden.”

He eyed me curiously.

“A beautiful village it is.” He said.

Maybe I read it wrong, but the way he said it did not match up with the tone of his voice. It felt like it quite juxtaposed it, sarcastic even, the way he said it. But I didn’t give it any more thought.

“So you have family in Shallows?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Did you walk all the way from your village hmmmm?” he lowered his tone at the end, making it sound like a question. He sure had a strange way to talk. But what is he getting at? Does he know about the forest and the ruins? No, how could he?

“Yes.” I replied.

“Hmmm, well, I suppose you did. Hmm and your family have you that sword as well. Best keep it close and bey on your guard, never know who you might run into or who might run into you.” He said the last bit very seriously. His dry rusty voice turning hard and commanding there for a moment.

I looked ahead, made a bit uneasy. I had heard the tales of bandits robbing and killing travellers but these days, under the current Lord of these parts, Lord Osrick, such incidents were less common. Still, it could happen.

My stomach groaned out of hunger. I looked up, feeling ashamed a bit.

He looked at me. “Want an apple?” the old man asked. A bit warmly.

“Yes, If u don’t mind.” I replied.

“Then take one boy! Or two.” He laughed.

I took one, smudging it up a bit and then bit hungrily into it. It was very sweet, exquisite. The apples were also remarkably red. He must have had them from some fine orchids and a plentiful harvest at that. These will surely make a fortune.

We kept going and talking every once in a while until the evening came. The sun was close to setting.

The road forked up ahead of us into two. One to the left and one running straight and then turning right along a hill. The carriage halted as he touched the beasts.

“This is where I’ll leave you.” he said. “Take care boy, run along this road and you will reach Shallows. Keep your sword handy ummmm it’s not meant just for show.” He laughed.

“But you said you are going through Shallows! And I haven’t even paid you yet.” I protested.

“Ahh don’t worry lad, a bit of charity won’t hurt me. I’m getting old, gods know I need it! Haha! Now get out fool! The sun will set soon.” He said. I flinched by the sudden change in tone and got down the carriage.

“Thank you.” I said.

He didn’t reply, just rode along like he didn’t hear me. Well, he was OLD. Maybe he really didn’t.

I looked ahead on the road I was about to follow. The pine trees in the mountains to the west looked eerie and sinister in the dimming light. The sky had clouded a bit. Mist moved between the pines, adding to the effect.

Better to move quickly.

I started to walk, quite fast, towards the village. It was still very far off but I believed I could make it.

Suddenly, I thought I heard something from the pines on the left.

It’s nothing.

I walked faster.

Some more sounds, distant shouting. Someone clearly said something. The light was dimming fast.

I started running.

Then I heard a scream, a howl that made my stomach turn. I stopped and unsheathed my sword. Something was coming. I can feel it. A few shivers ran up and down my spine. My body was tense.

Suddenly a man emerged from the trees, so sudden that I flinched. He was a small distance away. He was lighlty clad and was unarmed as far as I could tell. His clothes were tattered and his bare arms were a sickly pale, contrasting sharply with the dark pines behind him.

He started running towards me, snarling.

“Stay back!” I shouted.

“Stay back! I’m armed!” no effect on him though.

He slammed into me, my sword pierced him but he was too fast and bulky, the force took me off my feet. Both of us were flunged back. His claw like nails scraped and dug into my arms and elbow. I cried out in pain but he fell to the side, my sword impaling him through the chest. He snarled as dark blood flowed through the corners of his mouth, streaks of dark. He was on my left, mere at an arm’s reach.

I reached out and pulled out my sword.

More could be on their way.

But just as I pulled it out, my vision went bright, I felt my body fall down, as light as a feather. My head thudded on the ground.

Images flickered in front of me. Too fast for my eyes to register. It felt as if my brain would explode. I felt my hands clutching my head.