The Crimson Claymore

The Crimson Claymore: Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Andron made sure the three of them were packed as soon as the sunlight touched the sky in the morning. The dirt roads were clear and open through flat terrain with only a few slopes of elevation. No animals or people crowded the abandoned roads, and that thought brought chills to Andron's spine. The sea beyond was always visible as they traveled, and a constant reminder of more pleasant thoughts. Starlyn's eyes didn't seem to waver from the sea on the west of the road. It seemed that her eyes were glued, and several times she bumped into Andron with an apology, but soon after her eyes glanced back to the sea.

"Is this your first time seeing the sea?" Andron asked.

Her head seemed to shake from her thoughts as she glanced back toward Andron. "I have never been this far from my land. This much water...it's incredible."

"Yes it is...truly a sight to behold," Andron whispered.

She blushed and turned her face back toward the sea, leaning in close. The sparkling from the water seemed to shimmer on her face, escalating her astonishing beauty. He only looked at her for a moment before continuing through the land. Wheat and grain grew on the land for leagues along each side of the road with large wooden farm houses and barns. Everything seemed well overgrown without maintenance, and the houses were abandoned. The only sound was that of crows and ravens that flew through the skies to land on the farms and feast on the vegetables that were left unguarded. Some birds were kept at bay by large menacing scarecrows, but a few scarecrows were destroyed and tossed into the overgrowing gardens.

The roads stretched for leagues until they reached the city of Wesiet by twilight. There was little else to the journey but farms with fruits, vegetables, wheat, and grain. Everything was abandoned, even those the closest to the city walls of heavy slate. The gate by the city was guarded by a force of thirty men heavy in armor and weapons.

Andron frowned as the neared the city gate. Normally, the city was only covered with two men on the outside and a small force within. It was not a city that was full of people to defend. Wesiet was only a transport village of supplies and held as little as the last village. Most of the things made and grown were transported to other cities and villages in trade for other supplies or coin. The army that Wesiet had was little more than militia.

He noticed the guards at the gate were of varying appearance. There were many different crests on their breastplates from the various villages to the south as well as that of Wesiet itself. The four different crests consisted of a crow, an eagle, a vulture, and a wagon. Hope restored in Andron's mind as he saw the four crests of the various villages before the city. He hoped everybody had made it inside of the large city. Yet he wondered if there was room for all there.

"Halt, who comes to Wesiet, and what business do you hold here?" A guard stepped forward with a large crest of a wagon of Wesiet in gold on his chest.

"I am Andron, my family is from Guerettos. I have come here to see if they have made it safely."

"And these with you?"

"This is Starlyn, a kheshlar from the kheshlarn city in the woods. And this is Sh'on, a mage from across Calthoria."

The captain's eyes grew wide, and he unsheathed his sword, pointing it inches away from Sh'on's face, whose green eyes glowed with shimmering fire as his hand began to glow with a color to match. The rest of the guards unsheathed their weapons as well and took a step forward.

"Magic is not welcome in our lands; leave this place."

"I have not come here to harm but to help."

"There is little trust in those who can use magic."

"Please, stop. Violence is not necessary," Starlyn said, stepping forward.