The Raging Storm

Chapter Five: A Wind From The West

A gust of wind surged through Dorman Pass. In mere moments, the gale reached the walls of the city held within the branches of a colossal tree. Equilium - the City of Life and Balance. The gust rushed over fountains and magnificent walls made of thick, crawling green and yellow ivy. The air flowed around gigantic palaces made of thousands of overlapping vines, then continued up massive pathways all leading to the top of Sylvirian Cun Moor - the Tree of Birth.

Blowing through the branches of Sylvirian Cun Moor, the gale knocked loose thousands of multicolored leaves, all drifting to the ground below. When all the other leaves returned to the soil, one particular red leaf continued the journey southeast. Sailing along over the vast landscape below, the leaf remained ever-rotating in the firm grasp of the wind.

The red leaf sailed along the wind over an area where all the trees acted like mirrors. They reflected anything that passed by, creating a maze to get lost in. Many giant white elk roamed around searching for food, carefree. Continuing the journey, the leaf drifted over a thick bog where a giant birdlike creature lay in the murky water, slumbering in the hot midday sun. Before long, the leaf was passing over the large bustling town of New Dawn. Smoke arose from the busy town, almost blowing it off course but the gust of wind carried the red leaf southeast, ever forward.

Drifting downward, the current of wind that carried it for many leagues died moment by moment. As the wind died, the leaf floated into a walled camp full of rotten wooden shacks, all numbered. Descending until it rested against the muddy ground, the leaf's long journey came to a close. Back into the mud, right under the tattered shoe of a young man with spiraling black tattoos.

* * *

Celibrik led Ansel out of the prince's massive tent by the arm. Ansel scanned around for Sven and the scarred man but they were nowhere in sight. I need to watch out for those two.

He looked up, seeing movement. A red object floated on the breeze toward him. He squinted his eyes to get a better look. It's a leaf. Where did that come from? It floated under his shoe while he followed along. It had a distinct pattern, light red lines ran through the center. The lines were pulsating softly.

"Are you listening to a damn thing I've been saying?" Celibrik asked, pulling Ansel around to face him.

He'd spaced out the whole time Celibrik spoke; exhaustion caught up with him. He needed food and rest but neither was coming anytime soon.

"To be honest, no I wasn't. Can we skip the part where you beat my ass and move to where I get some food and rest?"

The grim-looking man studied him, his lip twitched a little. Celibrik took a deep breath and peered around the area. He bellowed in Ansel's face, "You will pay for saying that!" He reached forward before Ansel could react, and grabbed him by the neck. Celibrik dragged him around the corner of one of the vacant wooden buildings. What is wrong with this guy? He struggled against Celibrik but the man had an iron grip.

Celibrik held him by the throat against the wooden wall, out of sight. He leaned forward and whispered in Ansel's ear. "I needed to get you alone. The prince will be visiting you in the coming days with specific questions in mind. I want you to report to me those questions and how you answer them. You do this, I will make sure you don't get killed. The other prisoners will be looking to get a reward from you dying when they catch you 'escaping'."

Ansel's eyes widened in confusion and then narrowed with the realization of what this meant. A small hope to hold on to. How can I use this information to escape? His mind raced with possibilities.