Hero

CHAPTER 20: LUKE VI

Luke Golderan stood beside his friends Jason Clearwater and Kathryn Valarae. They had reached the bottom of the tallest mountain. He reached into his rucksack and pulled out his water bottle. It took him a few seconds to open it due to his frozen fingers and when he did he realised he didn't have any left. Kathryn pulled out her bottle from her rucksack and handed it over to Luke. "Here. Have this. I have another one in my rucksack," said Kathryn smiling.

Luke nodded taking the bottle and drinking out of it. The water, although normal temperature felt like a warm melody soothing his throat and warming up all of his insides.

"So... Is this it then?" Asked Jason walking in between Kathryn and Luke, "I mean I, guessing it is. It's the tallest bloody one yet."

"Yes master Clearwater. You have reached Hero Mountain." Said a familiar voice from behind.

The trio turned around and standing in front of them was the wizard Kagorn but his face was covered in blood and he was limping.

"Oi Mr Kagorn sir, is that your blood?" Asked Jason.

"Of course it's his blood you idiot," shouted Kathryn running over to see if Kagorn was okay and reaching into her bag and pulling out a cloth.

"It's not that stupid a question you know. He could have slayed a dragon or something, or fought a monster. Who knows what wizards do." Said Jason who was now standing alone as Luke had walked over to Kagorn as well.

"Who did this?" Questioned Luke pouring out some water onto the cloth Kathryn had pulled out and she slowly cleaned his face with it as he sat down upon a rock nearby.

"My brother did this. You must leave me here and go if you are to get to the sword in time." Roared Kagorn.

Luke looked over at Kathryn and Jason unsure of what to do but had thought back to when Kagorn had helped the escape the Dagors back in Dox. He leant down and held out a hand to Kagorn.

"No. I will not go with you Luke. This is much bigger then me. It is much bigger then all of us. He's coming and he's not alone, he has persuaded the Dagors of Dox to join him in promise he will provide them with unfathomable riches. They are already in the mountains. I barely escaped with my life. He is a wizard like me but just as strong. He uses dark magic though and not the light like myself so he is stronger due to their being little light in the world anymore. Please Luke. Do not be stupid. Leave now before it's too late." Explained Kagorn.

Luke nodded and turned around waking in the opposite direction with Jason.

"We can't just leave him Luke!" Shouted Kathryn

"It's either him or all of us Kathryn do you not understand that." Replied Luke with tears in his eyes.

"The Luke I know would never leave a man behind. The Luke I love would never leave a man behind." Said Kathryn who was now also crying but still standing next to Kagorn.

Luke ignored her and carried on walking with Jason following behind him until the word love sunk into his mind. The girl of his dreams had just said that she loved him. Amongst the cold weather he felt a warmth from inside himself. He dropped his bag and ran back to Kathryn hugging her.

"I won't leave without him. I won't leave without you either. We're all going to make it to the top of the mountain together," sobbed Luke still embracing Kathryn.

Jason slowly trudged his way back through the snow and stood next to them all. "Come on then. Stop crying you sorry sods and let's move," barked Jason,"you put your arm over one side Luke and I'll get the other."

The two boys reached down lifting Kagorn over their shoulders.

"You have made a grave mistake." Shouted Kagorn as they pulled him through the snow, "You've all killed yourselves."