Hero

CHAPTER 12: LUKE IV

Luke Golderan had arrived at the coldest place in all of Fardawn. Winterwell was much larger then Vox with almost double its population. Icicles hung from the edges of the buildings and snow covered the large path way that went straight through the centre of the city. Luke reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of gloves he had and handed them to Kathryn. She shook her head so he offered the gloves to Jason who put them on straight away which made Kathryn give him an evil stare.

"What?" Asked Jason looking at Kathryn. She groaned and walked through the gates into the city. Jason went up to Luke and whispered, "Why Dosen't she like me? Bloody mental she is." The two boys started laughing before being interrupted by Kagorn.

"Keep your wits about you, the people of Winterwell do not take kindly to visitors. If anyone causes you trouble, do not try and put up a fight, you must flee at once from the city and go North."

"Can't you just do some of them spells and POOF us away again?" Questioned Jason who seemed to be rather confused and flustered by the whole situation.

"No Master Clearwater, this is where I leave you for now, I have some urgent business to attend to," replied Kagorn who now turned to Luke, "The road ahead is difficult, loyalty and intelligence will help you survive the icy night. You must leave latest just after sunrise, it is the only way you will be able to get to the sword in time."

Luke nodded and with that, Kagorn turned around, leaving the trio in the thick snow. They began to walk through the city along the pathway. The longer they walked for, the colder it seemed to be getting. Luke pulled out his old pocket watch to check the time as he had began to feel quite weary. "We've had a long day and it's almost night fall, we should find a place to stay for the night."

Kathryn pointed at a large inn slightly further down the path. "The Ice Dragon Inn. Doesn't sound amazing but it'll do."

Luke nodded and entered into the inn shortly followed by Jason and Kathryn. It was completely empty apart from two bar tenders, one was an old man sitting behind the bar looking miserable, the other a young girl whistling, cleaning up the tables.

"Mia, we have customers!" Shouted the old man from behind the bar.

The young girl who had been whistling turned around and walked over to Luke. "Rather peculiar."

Luke stared at the girl in front of him as she looked at him strangely. "Excuse me?"

"Oh sorry did you wish to go through." Said Mia swiftly moving out of Luke's way. She gestured for them to sit down. Jason quickly sat down and rested his head on the table. Kathryn shrugged her shoulders and sat on the chair next to him. Mia had stopped whistling and was now speaking with the old man behind the bar. Luke watched them from afar still standing up.

"What's wrong Luke?" Asked Kathryn.

"Come on man, just rest we've been going all day, what you playing at?." Laughed Jason who just wanted to sleep.

"Something's not right," whispered Luke, reaching for his sword slowly, "Remember what Kagorn said, keep your wits about you."

"Stop being so paranoid man, just sit down!" Exclaimed Jason.

"No, he's right, come on Jason lets go." Said Kathryn tugging at Jason's arm.

The three began to slowly walk out of the inn when Mia stood in the doorway with the old man who was holding a knife. "Leaving so soon, but you didn't even try our ale" said the man lunging at Luke who grabbed the knife hitting it out of the old mans hand. Kathryn got out her bow and aimed it at Mia's head.

"Who are you?" Shouted Kathryn to Mia. A smirk started to form across the young girls face which slowly started to change. Her eyes started to turn a dark yellow colour and she increased in height. Her fingernails started to turn into looking more like claws and her face became covered in hair with wolf like features. Everyone stood still until Mia let out an almighty roar lashing out at Kathryn.

"What the hell is that?" Screamed Jason who was now hiding underneath one of the tables.

Mia picked up Kathryn by her waist and was about to squish her until Luke held the knife to the old mans neck. "If you hurt her, I'll kill him."

Jason who was still under the table was struggling on what to do. This was the perfect opportunity for him to save the day. He had suddenly remembered that Kagorn spoke of intelligence but then he remembered that he severely lacked in it. From the corner of his eye Jason spotted what looked like Kathyns bow. He crawled along he floor and picked it up and attaching an arrow onto it. He had never used a bow in his life and thought himself to be in a very difficult position considering he was doing it from the floor. Jason focused slowly pulling back the arrow and aiming it directly at Mia. Then suddenly he released it with the arrow striking Mia in the back. A loud howl of pain was let out and she dropped Kathryn who said to run at once.

Luke pushed the old man to the ground and ran out the inn with Jason and Kathryn.
"Quick thinking there Jason nice one." Laughed Luke.

Kathryn took her bow off him and carried on walking. "So I only save her bloody life and she still don't like me!" Shouted Jason. "Talk about ungrateful what was that thing anyways?."

"Something that clearly didn't want us there." Replied Luke.

The trio of travellers carried on walking along a pathway until they reached a cave. "Get a few hours sleep in there I'll keep watch" said Luke to his companions. Jason nodded walking into the cave and sleeping almost instantly. Kathryn wrapped her arms around Luke hugging him closely. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before she entered into the cave to sleep.

Luke looked into the icy wilderness that seemed to be just miles and miles of endless snow. Luke knew that Kagorn was right, the road ahead was going to be difficult. He also knew he was prepared to face it.