The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Ten (Revised)

Horseback riding in silence was the best thing I've had since the last three days. It lifted up my spirits, and even the never ending lane of trees didn't seem so bad. I was getting used to it.

Cepheus was riding beside me and Celia and Cyrus were leading us. Seeing them together still bothered me. It must have shown in my face, so Cepheus started saying funny things that I had trouble staying still on my horse. Suddenly, Celia's question entered my mind. What did I think of Cepheus?

He's a friend, sure. He always made me laugh, and cheered me up when I felt gloomy, and last night... He risked his life to save me. What do I think of that? I glanced at him, and he smiled back. What does he think of me?

Hours passed by, and the peaks were in now in full view. They were luscious green, full of vegetation and foliage. I thought there were only three mountains when I saw that there were more, forming a ring around something. I was so engulfed at the sight that I was almost thrown when the horses suddenly stopped, however they did not tumble down like what happened in the Maze. The horses were alert, but it seemed they were facing a kind of invisible barrier. I got down, but nothing seemed out of place. In front of us was a land full of trees, trees, and more trees. Plus other plants.

"We're here," Cyrus said calmly as he got down too. "We'll walk from here."

"What? From here?" I protested before contemplating. "But it will take days to get to the other side!" The foot of the nearest mountain was about a mile away, and I still felt tired. Just imagining myself mountaineering made my knees shake.

He looked at me tolerantly. "We won't exactly climb up the mountains and go down. There is an opening that cuts through. We'll be in Sapiro by tomorrow."

I heaved a sigh. "Okay. Better get this over with." I straightened my body and put on my best enthusiastic voice. "Okay! Let's go!"

We walked in pairs, with them in front. He still ignored her, and finally, she got the message and left his side. I was going to ask Cepheus about the last King of Eleos when Celia squeezed herself between us.

"So what are you talking about?" she said innocently.

"Nothing," Cepheus said as he winked at me. "Because Annaliese has been watching y–"

I glared at him and cut in before he finished. "Don't mind him. Say, Celia, do you know why the horses stopped? You seem to know a lot about Sapiro."

"We have entered the gates of Sapiro, that is why," she said.

"Gates? I didn't see any gates."

"The mountains are the gates, Annaliese." She laughed. "Surely you have seen enough of Eleos now to understand that things here aren't always how they seem." Her words seemed to ring in my ears. "The elders were very wise in magic. The Maze, for example, if you have been there, you would–"

"I have been there," I said. "I mean, Cyrus and I have."

"Is that so?" she said with a glint in her eyes. "To answer your question, the horses stopped because of two reasons. One, they felt the barrier and did not want to enter. Or two, because they weren't allowed passage."

I waited for her to continue.

"They weren't allowed to enter by someone who knows how to manipulate the borders."

I nodded, but I did not understand what she said.

"How come you know a lot about Sapiro, Celia?" Cepheus asked.

"My uncle used to live here," she said. "And my mother also told me stories about Sapiro."

"Where are your parents?" Cepheus pressed on. His expression was still friendly, but he sounded like an inspector.