Forever Unfaithful

~1~

POV: Sterling

The dark lifeless eyes stared deep into my soul, causing a shiver to creep up my back. The body was cold to the touch, and there was the dark red veining starting at the mouth and branched down the neck. I slowly traced them with my leather covered fingertip out of curiosity.

I could see the black remanence crusted on his lips. He had suffered a horrible death by harp berries. It is said that once it is ingested that it will turn the blood coursing through the veins to a searing toxic liquid, it is the most unbearable pain. one of the most slow and brutal deaths one could encounter. The only signs of it is the red veining on the body and the black foam that forms at the mouth.

The crunch of leaves caused my head to snap up, I became aware of the presence of another, wich is uncommon for this part of the middle land.

The middle land is a stretch of woods where the war once took place. The trees grow high and stay bloomed full year no matter the weather. The trees block sunlight from eliminating the darkness of the shadows. Many fear this land because it is said to be haunted by the fallen soldiers that fought beside late king Rostam.

He was said to be one of the most Nobel and kind hearted kings our Kingdom has ever seen. Although those attributes made him a great person, they also made him a weak king. At least that's what my mother says. According to her that's what got him killed. I on the other hand think some Nobility is desperately needed in the higher up ranks.

They all seem full of themselves and have no sense of strategy. I could plan a better attack strategy than any of those big headed dimwits that think they are high and mighty. If I was ever given a chance I would love to knock them down a few pegs.

I felt the brush of the large tree swallow me whole and provide me shelter. It's big arms wrapped securely around me, no one could possible see me but I could spot them from miles away.

I peek between the green leaves to spot any sign of an intruder. Continuously scanning my surrounding to only see a few leaves tumble in the wind, and a jarv fly above us squawking like a mad man. It's large wingspan fully stretched before gracefully flapping the wings down. It wasn't hard to miss the long claws that they use to catch their prey, and the blood dripping from them confirmed that they just feasted on someone or something.
They are known as peaceful and rare species. But if they are harmed they become vicious and absolutely hate it when their land is infiltrated. They travel from the land of  High rock. A land of few people, but the few that live there are said to be descendants of the most powerful blood line know. The Fallins.

I only knew this because I have had a run in with them a number of times. The only way they will allow someone to pass through is if they are offered a sacrifice that is up to their standards.

Unfortunately, I had nothing to offer as a sacrifice with me, I was just coming for a simple hunting trip. It was supposed to be fast, easy, and carried out with no problems.

I was then torn from my thoughts by the sound of stumbling through leaves, I peaked out of the tree to see one of the kings hunters with a terrified look on his face. He was dressed in traditional hunter clothing and the leather chest plate he wore had the kings crest stamped on it. By the way he stumbled back and was struggling to keep his balance, I could tell he was new. He could be on his wanderer journey, the one that each of the king guards new recruits have to pass to become part of the guard.

They are tied up and thrown deep into the woods, with little supplies. The objective is to get back to the palace within a weeks time. If they make it back in time then they are taken under the guards wing and continue extensive training.

The boy was probably around his early teens and looked like he came straight from the school yard. This means they are becoming desperate for new recruits. Over the past years they would only take someone if they showed great promise of strength and nobility. 

Just by watching this young boy for ten minutes, I can tell they have lowered their standards. He is not the usual pick, he seems innocent, kind, almost like a young kid.

Most of the guard is made up of the most detestable pigs there are. They have no respect for the other sex and see us as below them. I on the other hand find them to be the most vile and detestable scum of the earth.

The boy stumbled back and landed hard and the ground, and stared up at the Jarv with fear swirling in his eyes. I almost felt bad, but if I was going to help either of us I had to get my own ass out of this mess.

I looked up at each branch of the tree, they were staggered all around the circular stump. If I have any chance of getting out of this I'm going to have to risk it. It's not the most dangerous thing I have done but it's still risky. I will be damned it this is going to be the way I die.

I lifted the end of my worn out grey dress, and placed my foot carefully on the first branch. My the slight heel of my leather boots help me keep my balance while tangled between these winding branches.

Once I reached about half way I heated a scream that sounded almost strangled. When I leaned downward to get a good view all I could see was the boy being pulled back by the vines that grow on one of the many enchanted creations in this forest.

Let's hope I'm lucky enough to make it out of this alive.