The Barbarians' Lover

Chapter 21

The busy streets of Embervale greeted Sawyer's ears. It took them an extra week to get to land because of the storms created by his anger. Now it was once again a drizzle, but once he went more inland the rain would stop. Walking off his boat he made his way to the path that would lead him to Willow.  He knew it would take some time to get to the kingdom of Inimore. But to get to Willow it was going to be worth the trip.

As he walked down the street he caught sight of a man that looked to be a royal guard. He was walking alone looking out of place. Quickly hiding in some shadows Sawyer waited for the man to move on. He was not about to risk being seen just yet. Then he caught sight of two little girls running up to the man. They looked no older than ten.

"Daddy, look what we found," the girls said in unison.

The man turned to look at the two girls. He seemed to be forcing a smile on his face as he spoke to them, and then led them away.

"Okay, so he must not be a guard then," Sawyer mumbled to himself.

Quickly he moved out of the shadows and continued on. The farther he got away from his boat and ocean the more tense and alert he got. He hated being so far from the ocean. His abilities to control water would be useless to him if he couldn't find any as he continued.

"I just better not need to defend myself with anything other than my daggers," Sawyer spoke to himself as he walked into the forest.

The trees loomed over him. It made him feel small and very vulnerable. As he walked he heard the birds and crickets chirping. Other than that it was quiet.

Soon the sun was setting. Darkness fell on the forest and Sawyer grew more alert. The hair along his neck rose and he couldn't do a thing to make himself feel any less paranoid.

Hoot, hoot!

Sawyer jerked his head upwards as an owl hooted. He couldn't see the feathered animal, but he could certainly hear it.

"You are fine Sawyer," he told himself," after all your the king of the sea, the barbarian, the most feared being that has sailed the seven seas to this day."

He walked a little further before deciding it would be best to make a fire and rest for the night.

                            ***

Chirping woke Sawyer the next morning. It took him a minute to realize where he was. Once he fully woke up he did his best to make sure that there was no evidence that he had made camp for the night. With a sigh, he continued walking.

Hours had gone by before the trees cleared. What stood before him were hills of open fields that looked down at the kingdom of Inimore. Taking a deep breath he makes his way down to the town heading for the castle. He didn't know how he was going to get in, or even find Willow without being seen. Regardless of how he was going to accomplish any of this, he just had to get into the castle.

As Sawyer walked along the streets he stayed close to the shadows. The people that walked the streets looked happy and overjoyed. He assumed it was because Willow was back. The closer he got to the castle a thought started to swim in his head. What is Willow didn't want to return with him? That thought made him stop in his tracks. He never thought that she wouldn't return with him. He just assumed that she would jump at the chance to get back on the ocean and never return. What was he going to do if she did the opposite and stayed? As he stood there in thought he didn't notice some guards walking towards him.

"You, come out of the shadows," one of them commanded.

Sawyer snapped out of his thoughts and looked at them. There were four of them. Two had manes like lions. One had collie ears and was short and blond. The last had thick black hair with matching cat ears. Thinking of the outcomes Sawyer realized it was best to go with the guards quietly. He knew he was taking a risk going with them, but he would be taking a bigger risk if he ran for it and word got to the castle he was in town. If that happened it would be ten times more difficult to get into the palace to get Willow. Slowly he walked out of the shadows with his hands held up in surrender. All four guards stiffened at the sight of him. Sawyer guessed it was because he was far from the ocean.

One of the lion guards spoke," barbarian you are under arrest."

Sawyer didn't speak. He just allowed them to put chains on him and lead him to the castle. He was now one step closer to Willow. Whether that be to take her away or be the death of him he did not know. Nor did he care. Just as long as he saw her.