Davydd sprang into action, gripping unto the hardened branches of creepers and winders that had used their host tree’s strong trunks as a way of reaching the sun. They made for excellent natural ladders and Davydd used them to good effect, as he made his way down to the forest ground. They hadn’t been that high up so even if she fell she would have survived, though she might have sustained some injuries. However, there was no bleeding unconscious body awaiting him when he got to the ground. What if she had moved while hurt? There were no signs of blood around the area. Davydd concluded that she must have run away. He was relieved that she wasn’t hurt but at the same time he was annoyed. A part of him wanted to forget what had happened and leave her be. However his conscience wouldn’t let him do that, especially if what she had told him was true.
Very bright Vannera.
Davydd stooped down on one knee and examined the soil. As expected, he could see foot tracks on the soil and grass. Judging by how depressed the ground was, he could tell she hadn’t left too long ago. This meant she couldn’t have gone far and he could catch up with her before she was in any real danger. Davydd broke into a run hurrying along the path Vannera had taken. He weaved in between tall tree trunks, ducking under low hanging branches and jumping over exposed root trunks effortlessly. The tracks were getting fresher, which meant he was getting closer to Vannera. She was running. He could tell from the spacing between each foot track she left. He caught a glimpse of her as she ran past a tree.
“Vannera!” Davydd picked up his pace as he tried to close the distance between them. She was surprisingly quick. He hadn’t expected that, but he was gaining on her.
“Vannera, stop! Plea...” Davydd stopped just as a metal blade flashed by his face. The blade stopped right in front of his eyes, vibrating in a low hum from being re-directed quickly towards him. Davydd ducked just as the blade threatened to cleave off his head. He fell into a roll and came back up just in time to side step another swipe. He caught a glimpse of his attacker. It was an Angwelethean soldier.
“Why do you attack me?”
The soldier did not respond. Instead he launched a thrusting attack aimed at Davydd’s heart. Davydd tried to step back but soon discovered he had backed into a tree trunk. He closed his eyes and prepared for the worst. It was then he heard the clang of metal on metal. When he opened his eyes he saw another sword positioned horizontally across his chest, blocking the sharp menacing tip of the soldier’s sword. Davydd looked to see its wielder and was filled with shock and happiness at the same time. The man in the black robe tipped his hat at Davydd.
“Son?”
“Father?”
“It seems like I found you in time my boy.” Said Ovar, smiling. The soldier spoke for the first time.
“You two have violated the recent curfew imposed by King Sidion and as such, shall be apprehend.”
“Apprehended?” Ovar asked, chuckling sarcastically. “You weren’t going to apprehend him; you were going to kill him. Davydd. Go after her.”
“But father! You...”
“Go now! I’ll be fine.”
“Once I find her, I’ll come back for you father.”
Davydd hesitated for a moment and then bolted after Vannera. Ovar waited till Davydd was out of site.
That woman looked like Jaynea. Yet Davydd called her Vannera. If this means what I think it means, then it might be time Matilom.
Ovar turned back to the Angwelethean soldier and spoke.
“Actually, you were trying to kill the both of them weren’t you?”
Ovar blocked as the soldier moved in with a downward thrust. He sidestepped, allowing the soldier’s forward momentum to throw him off balance. As the soldier stumbled, Ovar moved in behind him and thrust forward, but the soldier caught himself and placed the blade of his sword behind his back, blocking Ovar’s thrust.
“Judging by your skill, you are not one of the glorified guards that patrol Gor’s streets either are you? Let me guess. Death Class?”
The soldier flicked his sword back around to his front, parrying Ovar’s sword and breaking his stance in the process. He whirled around and attempted a low swooping attack at Ovar’s feet. Ovar jumped over the attack and launched into his. The soldier blocked and they both went into a series of attacks and counters, both evenly matched for the duration of their duel. Ovar glided very quickly to the right of his opponent, and swung his sword at the soldier’s neck. The death class soldier bent low under the attack and launched into a side slash aimed at Ovar’s mid-section. Ovar blocked in turn with the steel gauntlet on his left arm and then connected with a left punch to the fore head of the soldier. The soldier staggered back and Ovar moved in, attacking the soldier repeatedly. The soldier parried most of Ovar’s attacks until a low swipe, which delivered an immobilizing blow to his left thigh area, struck him. The soldier dropped to his knees. Ovar placed the tip of his sword under the soldier’s jaw line and slowly raised it, forcing the soldier to lift up his face.
“Tell me why you came here.”
“Haven’t you heard? The princess is dead.”
“Then you should be investigating that, not attempting to kill innocent people.”
“Innocent? That man? You both were out after curfew hours and he was chasing after the princess’s friend, whom I have been commanded to bring in. Now you however, you interest me greatly.”
“Really? And why is that?”
“Your skill with the blade is enough to best me and you are knowledgeable in the class of Angweleth soldiers. It leads me to wonder who you are. However, time must have eroded your memory. You forget one thing.”
“And what is that?”
The soldier smiled menacingly. “Death class soldiers always work in pairs... but... this time, we are three.”
Terror seized Ovar as the realization set in.
Davydd!
Ovar made to run but felt a searing pain burn through his lower back. He reached behind him and felt the wooden stem of the arrow that had embedded itself in his lower right back. He fell to his knees. His opponent forced himself back up to his feet.
“We aren’t done with you yet.” He struck Ovar viciously across the face with the handle of his sword. Ovar fell to the floor unconscious. A figure emerged behind the trees and walked over to the unconscious body of Ovar. He wore a similar uniform to that of his compatriot. They were dressed in black steel plated armor with underlying chainmail protecting vital and exposed areas. They also had a black cape that fell down over their shoulders and covered their backs. On it was the insignia of Angweleth, a shield designed with a tiger holding a sword by the blade in its mouth. Their left shoulder armor plate was adorned with five skull shaped medals lined side by side. It showed their military class, which was ranked by skill as well as authority. The wounded soldier who had fought Ovar spoke first.
“Jaynea and the boy ran off that way.” He pointed in the direction were Davydd had gone.
“I cannot give chase with this wound. So you aid Brutus in pursuing them. I will take this one back to the Gor outpost for questioning. Also Farok, try and bring her in alive if you can, but kill her if you have to. I don’t care much for the boy, so kill him. Besides, there’s no telling what Jaynea might have told him. We don’t want any loose ends. Now go.”
“At once.” Farok moved swiftly in the direction the apparent leader of the team had pointed.
Davydd was gaining on Vannera once more. Even though it felt like they had both been running a long time, she showed no signs of slowing down.
Where does she get the energy?
He finally caught up to her and as he reached out for her, they both tripped and fell. Davydd held her tightly as she tried to wriggle free.
“Let me go!” She yelped.
“Calm down! Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?”
“There wouldn’t be any trouble if you had just let me be!”
“Let you be? So you can die here? Have you not noticed that there are high ranki
ng Angwelethean soldiers after you?”
“Yes! I know!”
“Why then?”
“I can’t tell you...” Vannera looked away her eyes watering.
Davydd heaved a sigh of exasperation.
“Vannera. My worried father is locked in a fight to the death with a soldier who just tried to kill me. This is your last chance to let me help you and if you refuse... I am going to leave and go help my father. It was on his orders that I went after you... that I am here right now instead of by his side.”
Vannera sighed.
“Alright. Let’s go help your father and then... Davydd behind you!”
Davydd heard the whooshing sound of metal as it sliced through the air. He dived to the ground, grabbing Vannera with him as the sword swung past where his neck had been. On the ground, Davydd frantically searched for something he could use as a weapon. He found it in a hard branch lying just within his grasp. Davydd grabbed it and rolled on his back just in time to block a fatal blow from the sword.
“Stay back Vannera!” Davydd screamed as he warded off another blow. He thrust forward with the tree branch but the soldier easily evaded his attack. The soldier was moving so quickly; Davydd was having a hard time keeping up. He instinctively blocked a few more hits but was unable to avoid an unexpected kick to his mid-section. Davydd felt the wind knocked out of him as he fell to the ground. He coughed and gasped for air as he crawled away from the soldier, who was now stalking him slowly. In that moment, he realized where in the forest he was and all of a sudden he had a sliver of hope to hold on to. With renewed energy, he struggled to his feet and ran in Vannera’s direction. Before she could react, he grabbed her hand and they both took off. The soldier gave pursuit.
“What are you doing?”
“Just do as I say, when I say, for both our sakes. Understand?”
“Y...Yes.”
Davydd led Vannera through the thick vegetation, weaving in and out of branches and trees. The soldier remained hot on their trails. They were approaching a clearing were a small pond had formed.
“Right before we get to the clearing in front of us, we are going to jump alright?”
“Okay.”
They drew nearer and nearer towards the clearing with the soldier gaining on them. Vannera glanced back.
“He’s close.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Jump now. Jump as high and far as you can.”
Davydd and Vannera jumped right as they were about to enter the clearing, falling into the pond as they did. The soldier approached the clearing and kept running. By the time he realized what had happened, it was too late. The ground beneath him caved in under his weight and he plummeted downwards into a hole filled with sharp wooden stakes. Davydd and Vannera heard a mortal scream of pain, followed by guttural sounds and then silence.
“What happened?” A perplexed Vannera asked. Davydd stood up and reached out to help Vannera out of the pond.
“I’m a hunter. I lay traps for animals. I guess they are also good for something else. We need to go back for my father now.”
Davydd turned around and received a blow to his nose from the hilt of a sword. He fell back into the pond, with blood rushing from his nose.
“Davydd!” Screamed Vannera.
Davydd emerged from under the water and stumbled as he tried to regain his composure.
“I see you managed to kill Brutus.” The soldier said.
“You are very intelligent. It’s too bad that a promising life ends here and now.” The soldier unsheathed his sword and made his way towards Davydd.
Vannera ran over to Davydd’s side as he staggered backwards.
“Leave him alone!” She yelped.
“Don’t do this Jaynea. I don’t have to kill you, but I will if it be necessary.”
As the soldier made his way towards Davydd and Vannera, there seemed to be a distortion in the space between them. The soldier stepped back in surprise. Something seemed to be pushing him away from them and pulling them into itself. The force sent both Davydd and Vannera’s heads spinning. Soon they felt a floating sensation and then a falling sensation. Davydd rolled around trying to focus his vision. His nose throbbed and he felt like he had just been struck multiple times in the head.
“You should be glad I found you in time Jaynea.” Davydd and Vannera looked up to see a man dressed in a green tunic, black pants and a pair of dark green boots to match. He wore green gloves and had a green hat on. Underneath his hat fell natural black twists of hair. He had a thin beard layer above his dark skin and kind brown eyes. He took of his hat and nodded politely.
“You definitely gave us a scare.” He said smiling.
Davydd looked lost and confused. “Why is everyone calling you Jaynea?” He asked as he turned to look at Vannera? “And where are we?” He turned to look back at the stranger who had saved their lives.
“Who are you?”
The man in the green uniform laughed.
“He’s full of questions isn’t he?” He said amidst chuckles as he looked at Vannera. Vannera did not return the humor. The man stopped laughing and took of his hat again. He nodded.
“The name’s Maxweil, but you can just call me Max.”
Vannera spoke up for the first time.
“Max... you knew Jaynea... didn’t you?”
Max looked at her quizzically.
“Are you okay? It seems like you asked me if I knew you. I know you’ve been through a lot but...”
“I’m not Jaynea, Max.” Vannera interjected.
“What do you mean?”
“Jaynea died two days ago... she was protecting me.”
The expression on Max’s face was one of pain. He punched the soil in frustration as the news sank in. Then as if to regain control over his emotions, he took a deep breath.
“So I take it then you are Princess Vannera?” Max finally asked.
“Princess Vannera?” Davydd asked looking stunned. “But she looks nothing like the princess. What’s happening?”
“Who is he?” Max asked.
“He saved my life. Max if you knew Jaynea then would it be safe to assume you would know of a Matilom? Jaynea said I should find him and it is of the utmost importance that I speak to him.”
Davydd put his head in his hands. He rose to his feet.
“I’m going back for my father.”
“Was he fighting one of those soldiers?” Max asked.
“Yes. Why?”
Max sighed.
“He’s probably dead by now.”
“I don’t believe you.” Davydd turned to Vannera. “I hope you are happy you have found what you are looking for. But just remember that the life of Ovar Tardust might be forfeit because of you.” Davydd began to walk away just as a hand grabbed him by the shoulder. Davydd turned around to see that it was Max.
“Did you say Ovar?”
“Yes... and he needs my help.”
Max shook his head.
“Not yet. You both need to come with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Davydd replied.
“Look... I want to help your father as much as you do... but we can’t just go after him blindly, especially if he was taken by a death class soldier.”
“Death Class?”
Max shook his head.
“You have a lot that you need to know Davydd.”
“How do you know my name?”
“Save your questions for Matilom.”
The space around them warped once again.
CHAPTER THREE: Ovar’s Rescue
Another blow landed on Ovar’s left cheek, jerking his face violently to the right. Ovar wheezed and coughed out more blood from his mouth. His face was swollen and bruised. He was also bleeding from a cut above his right temple.
“May I ask why you choose to suffer?” The soldier he had fought leaned towards Ovar.
“You could save yourself all this pain by just telling me what I need to kn
ow.”
Ovar laughed and rolled his head tiredly.
“Say... I forgot. What was it you needed to know?”
“Who is the boy?” The soldier inserted a sharp spike into the tip of Ovar’s left index finger. Ovar shook in pain as the metal punctured his skin and drove in.
“There is one spike for every finger and toe you have. You can save yourself the trouble. Who is the boy?”
“I...already told you, he is my son. He is a hunter and that’s all there is to it.”
“Why is a hunter out in the forest with the princess’s closest friend and only survivor of a massacre? Why is he out there after curfew?”
“He is out there because he went to hunt for game before the massacre. He never knew anything about it. He’s been out there for three days. He probably ran into the wreckage and saved her. I went to find him... to bring him home.”
The soldier raised his chin boss and pursed his lips.
“So all of this is coincidence then?”
Ovar nodded. “Or it could be a misunderstanding.”
“You attacked me.”
“You... tried to kill my son.”
“You bested me... your son managed to kill one of my men and the other claims he and Jaynea vanished in midair. Could you perhaps explain that?”
“Well...”Ovar chuckled. “I guess we were just better than you two th...”
He was cut short with a brutal blow to his mid-section.
“Any more jokes?”
Ovar did not respond. His head hung low and still. The soldier examined him for a few seconds then spoke to a younger man and woman who had been standing by the entrance of the room.
“He’s unconscious... yet again. Take him, treat his wounds and feed him. I will send for him again when he has recovered a bit.
Davydd woke up with a terrible headache. He squeezed his eyes shut as the throbbing pain seared from one temple of his head to the other. Davydd put up his left hand to touch his nose and quickly withdrew it. The pain was still sharp, though it had been treated. He sat up and took in his surroundings. He was in a room with no windows, but for some reason had several holes in the ceiling. The wooden bed he sat on had a soft plush mattress and pillow, which felt very comfortable indeed. To his right was a small bedside cupboard and on the far right wall was a big bookshelf filled to capacity with various books. The walls were wooden and concave in shape and the bookshelf was shaped into a concave as well to fit perfectly on the side of the wall. Daylight filtered in through the strange holes in the ceiling in small thin rays. But the rest of the room was dim. Davydd swung his feet off the bed and got up. It was then he noticed the door opposite his bed and made his way to it. He opened it and stepped into a hallway with a door on either side of his. There was only one door on the opposite wall of the hallway, which he noticed wrapped around on each end. The small holes in the ceiling were present and as usual they let in a small ray of sunlight. Davydd opened the lone door opposite him and walked into what he deemed to be the living room. There were two long seats and three couches in the room. To the left was a section that had been made out to be the dining area. It had a decent sized oval shaped table with 8 chairs around it. On the table sat a bowl of ripe, succulent fruit and a jug of water to its side. His stomach groaned and he remembered he hadn’t eaten much the past three days. He went over to the fruit bowl, grabbed some apples and devoured them in no time. He sucked off the fruit juice that had spilled on his fingers and then made for the jug of water, which he downed to about half way empty.
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