When Twins War: Book I

Chapter Nine

It had been just over two weeks since the Outlanders and Fore soldiers left the village of Buit. The journey was hard and monotonous, the sweeping valleys and open farmlands losing their arresting and enjoyable quality because of unceasing rain. Although there were some days of sunshine, the weather was slowing them down.

Tarkanyon discovered that Altana's men were indeed divided over their political views. Most of them knew Altana's political leaning. Some, he suspected, would leave him at the first chance they could get. Altana, for his part, seemed unfazed and had certain men whom he would constantly rely on. But what Altana was going to do at the villages was something he still couldn't guess.

It had been drizzling all morning, thunder and lightning threatening heavier rains to come. By mid-morning it began to come down in torrents. But they needed to move on. They were travelling north-east now, on their way to a village named Raud, that was said to be rebelling against the king.

To the north of them some of the towering peaks of the Great Mountains could be seen more clearly, an ominous blue and gray silhouette faintly visible in the distance. The air was cold and clammy, and the smells of spring had been drowned in the smell of damp. As the rainstorm became more aggressive the contingent realised they couldn't continue. They would have to wait for it to calm down. Fortunately, they were approaching a small wood which would do wonderfully well for shelter. It was situated closely to the road, so they diverted from their path, descended down a small hill, passed one lonely and desolate tree on the hill and took shelter at the edge of the forest in a small well-covered clearing.

They cooked lunch over their fires and waited. As usual they had separate camps. Tarkanyon warmed himself at their fire, having just enjoyed lunch, and looked around the wood.

"It's a setback that we must travel in such a large group," he said to his men. "I grow weary each day of the situation at the Twin Cities."

"So do we all," answered Chrisolian. "And you have said the same thing every day for the past week."

Poiternium took out his guitar in an effort to cheer everyone up. Turrik was studying the dagger again, something he did every day. He kept mumbling to himself that the dagger was 'not the same' but wouldn't answer anyone when they asked him what he was talking about.

Suddenly Tarkanyon became aware of a vigorous, warm wind sweeping through the wood. It disappeared just as immediately as it had appeared. Then it returned, this time blowing through the tops of the trees, sweeping down and touching over their fire. Once again it disappeared. The horses seemed unsettled, stamping and neighing. Tarkanyon got up, looking around.

"Poiternium, stop your playing!" he said.

"I feel it too," said Merexia suddenly, looking around. Poiternium stopped and they sat in silence.

Another gust appeared, this time more determined than the last. Chrisolian frowned at Tarkanyon, who turned around and shouted to Altana.

"What is this forest?" he asked, but thunder and lightning boomed over his voice.

"What?"

"What forest is this?"

"It's the... Turri Wood!" cried Altana. "It stretches north; not very large!"

"Turri?" grumbled Tarkanyon. Another gust swept through. The Outlanders were waiting on Tarkanyon's command.

"Douse the fire," he said to Drius. "Quickly."

Drius obeyed immediately. Tarkanyon looked over at Altana's camp. "Douse your fire!" he cried. "Do it now!"

Altana brushed him off. "What? It is our only warmth!"