Darsidian Myths, A Promise Heard

Chapter 8

Jayden awoke to the sight of a ceiling above him. It took him a few moments to realize he was on a wooden floor with a blanket on top of him. He let out a groan as he groggily sat up. His body ached with every movement. He wasn't surprised how he felt. In the past few days he had overexerted himself more than any other day in his life.

He looked around and saw he was in a small house. On the walls were shelves with rows of clay jars placed upon them. Below those shelves was a group of neatly woven baskets. He turned around when he heard a fire crackle behind him.

"Ah the sleeping prince awakens," greeted Gareth.

Gareth was sitting at a table near a lit fireplace, his axe leaning against his chair. Above the fire was a pot releasing steam with a delicious aroma wafting from it. Near the fireplace Jayden was relieved to catch sight of his father's sword as it leaned against a wall.

"Please don't say prince," said Jayden. "I don't think that's something we should joke about." He cradled his head in his hands. "Where are we? How did we get here?"

"We're at Eldred's house," answered Gareth. "He brought us here after he finished the ogres off."

Images of Eldred attacking the ogres flashed though Jayden's mind. The last thing he remembered was the wizard throwing orb after orb at the monsters.

"I collapsed after we got past the wall, didn't I?" asked Jayden.

"Yep," answered Gareth. "Sort of bad timing on your part."

Jayden continued to study his surroundings. "If I did collapse, how did I get here?"

"Eldred carried you."

Jayden frowned. Something about the idea of an elderly man carrying him didn't seem right. "Carried me?" he asked skeptically.

"He didn't actually carry you; he used his magic to make you float. It was a strange sight to see."

"I guess that makes sense...where is he now?"

"He left before you woke up, said he was going to Haven to get help."

"He left without us!" exclaimed Jayden as he stood up.

"He did, but he'll be back soon. You see he used his magic to," Gareth rotated his hand in the air as he tried to think of the right word to use, "teleport to Haven? He told me he would bring us with him but he could only warp himself. I tell you, that magic of his is unbelievable."

Jayden relaxed, if only a little. "His power is astounding. I can't believe how easily he handled those ogres. We couldn't even defend ourselves against two." A realization crept into Jayden's mind. "Wait, if Eldred got rid of the ogres last night, why did he go for help?"

"He went for help because he's worried about what he heard last night. One of ogres said Elincia herself was coming after us. Apparently this is something to be worried about."

"Are you telling me we aren't safe yet?"

"Afraid not."

Jayden shook his head as he cursed his bad luck. "Then I hope Eldred gets back soon. I don't want to wait too long if we're going to be running for our lives again."

He didn't know what to think of Elincia pursuing them herself. What could be worse than ogres? Then again she was a lunvarin. She was also the one responsible for sending the ogres to destroy his village. She would probably bring more of the undead with her; or something worse. The thought of something more terrible than the decaying giants filled him with dread. He didn't want to find out what was worse than ogres.