Alex Crane

Chapter 2

         My lone search on the bank of river Zeth started to turn into useless. Aunt was searching the middle sections of the woods. Still, the strange words of aunt were looping in my mind. Suddenly the bushes at the back rustled. I drew my sword immediately. Flesh-eating animals were as usual as mice in the towns and trust me I would happily choose latter even it seems disgusting. I slowly tip toed towards the Bush and parted the leaves to see a bunch of hares hopping around I know I predicted a vicious beast same as of my size but I was the happiest to see hares. While I was taking in my completely wrong gone prediction, someone from back caught my hand and twisted it, the sword hung lethargically, a kick on the back of my knee and blow on my back laid me straight on the soft grassy floor of the forest. On turning, to face the sky and the person, it took me a moment to realize that the person who made my body lay face down towards the grass within few seconds was a she.

With a fair complexion and sea-green eyes, holding my sword just a few inches above my throat, talked, "Dare move a single muscle will find thou dead, thief."

This was the queerest thing I heard, 'thief'. She was the one who collapsed me to the ground for no reason, the one who kept my sword a few centimeters away from my throat and I was the one labeled as a thief.

"Who...." She interrupted me by pressing her leg against my chest and said, "You are not permitted to talk yet"

Very well, first I was a thief and now I was even her slave, this day couldn't get any better. There was no hope of getting out of her hold or deceiving her by words. Even if I managed to break free, she would easily overwhelm me with my sword and one that I could guarantee, without any doubt was that she was a trained fighter but one thing was for sure, I wasn't going to stand down and wait for her mercy but to my surprise a familiar voice came from the front, "Isabelle?"

"Lady Cathris, I found your thief. This scum was wielding the ancient blade which belongs to you" Isabelle replied.

Isabelle blocked my vision but name Cathris rung the bell in my head and by defying the order of Isabelle, I shouted, "Aunt Cathy, It's me, Alex"

"Alex??!! Belle, release him at once!" she commanded. My dominator released me immediately from her clutches. I heaved a sigh of relief and a sense of freedom rocked my head, I stood on my wobbly legs by taking support from Aunt's arm. I recovered myself and Aunt handed me the sword and said "I'm sorry"

"No, My La..." Isabelle interrupted her but a glare from aunt stopped her in the middle and she hung her head down but it didn't take time for her to smile again when aunt said, "Isabelle is my apprentice. She was supposed to accompany me on my journey but she got held by some matters which needed urgent attention."

"About those matters My Lady there's something I wish to tell you" She looks towards me from the ends of her eyes and continues, "IN PERSON."

My anger had already found its way towards her but now if this continues it'll explode, her presence was fueling my anger and as time was passing it was just getting worse.

"It can have all of my attention once we are able to get hold of Ethilore. Enough of talks now let's get to the work, we don't have much time left for the sundown." Aunt says while she faces the sun and by this the conversation gets disbanded and all three of us move in different direction in search of the plant.

There wasn't much time left for the sundown when I found the plant on the banks of the river. I plucked out the plant by the roots and went towards aunt who was searching in my opposite direction. My anger on that arrogant girl had somehow managed to decrease but I didn't know it'll find it's way back again when I saw her coming towards Aunt.

"Alex, my son, you foun..."

"Aunt, I suggest we turn ourselves towards home as quickly as possible, look the sun has already reached the horizon, it won't be long enough when the sky turns dark. We can talk over this plant once we reach home."

"Yes, I had almost forgot what your mom had mentioned earlier."

"My Lady what are you talking about?" says Isabelle as she reaches.

"Belle quickly gather your things let's head back to the home." Isabelle without asking another question quickly gathers her things and soon we find ourselves on our path to the town.

"They have already found their way to Ethilore, only if I hadn't gotten myself caught with that brat, I could have filled my hands with it before them. Can't believe for a second that such amount of strength is hidden inside a body like hers. Brother send the word to the Master let's see what his next command will be."