Darsidian Myths, A Promise Heard

Chapter 6

The man glared at the brothers with fierce blue eyes. He was an older man with short grey hair that fell to his shoulders. His face had many well defined wrinkles, revealing his vast age. Despite being old in his years, his features had sort of a youthful, sharp look to them. He was wearing simple, brown robes with a sword sheathed in a scabbard around his waist.

The elderly man turned his attention to the ogres behind the brothers.

Jayden couldn't see the monsters but he could hear them running and snarling as they drew closer.

The old man didn't show a hint of fear as he pointed his free hand towards the threat. A blinding, blue sphere of light appeared in his hand, humming in the air with hidden power. The orb immediately flew in the direction of the ogres at alarming speed. A second later there was a deafening explosion, causing the entire area to be filled with blue light. When the blast finally subsided an uneasy silence crept over the land.

When the man seemed certain there was no more danger he returned his attention to the brothers. "Why are you two attacking my shield?" he asked.

Jayden assumed the man before him was Eldred. The elderly man used magic to destroy Elincia's minions. The stranger even claimed ownership of the wall. It had to be Eldred.

"We were told to," said Gareth.

"By whom?" Eldred asked.

"Bardir, he wanted you to help us."

"Bardir? How do you know him?"

"He rescued us," said Jayden.

"Rescued?" asked Eldred, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who are you?"

"Jayden and Gareth Artalla" revealed Jayden.

Eldred looked at his captives warily for a moment before softening his gaze. With little warning the brothers slowly descended back to the ground.

"If what you say is true," said Eldred. "Where is Bardir? I expected him to bring a lot more than just the two of you."

Jayden grimaced. "We were forced to leave him."

Eldred raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"We were attacked by ogres," clarified Jayden. "Bardir told us to run and...we did. We don't know what happened to him afterwards."

"Where was the last place you saw him?" asked the wizard.

"Downstream from here."

Eldred glanced in the direction where the brothers had come from. "Very well, you will lead me to the place where you last saw him."

"You can't be serious," said Gareth in disbelief.

"I am," said Eldred.

"There's a swarm of ogres in that direction!" exclaimed Gareth. "We'll be killed if we go back!"

"Bardir is a friend of mine," stated the wizard. "I won't abandon him so easily. Because he's a lunvarin I'm willing to believe he's still alive. How am I supposed to believe your story anyway? Your words could be nothing more than lies. If Bardir is alive he'll confirm your story and if he's not...well we'll find out soon, won't we?"

"There are countless ogres back the way we came from," warned Jayden. "If we go back we'll be killed."

"Possibly," said Eldred, "but I'm willing to gamble for Bardir's sake."