Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 20

"Squishy, Grape, take off your armor and put it in the wagon." Teddy instructed. "You must not look aggressive."

"The sun is rising." Arlington pointed out.

"Jr., Arlington, go and scout ahead." Teddy ordered the two Kaiine. "Aiden, Rina, Ellie, hop in the back of the wagon."

The group quickly loaded their gear in the back of the wagon and then they followed Teddy's instructions. Aiden, Rina, and Ellie jumped in the back of the wagon where all the gear was piled up. Grape and Squishy hopped on the front of the carriage, wearing only leather tunics and pants, grabbing the reins, and ushered the horses to be on their way. Aiden looked out the back of the wagon, watching Arlington and Jr. disappear into the woods.

"Will they be ok?" Rina asked, pointing at Jr. and Arlington as they vanished from their sight.

"They will be fine." Teddy replied. "So will Squishy and Grape."

"How come you don't use a spell to make the whole wagon invisible to everyone?" Aiden asked.

"Rina, do you know the answer?" Teddy asked, curious to see if she could answer her brother's question.

"I think..." Rina said, thinking back on everything Teddy had taught her. "It takes less energy to mask the opening back here than it would to completely vanish the whole wagon while it moves."

"Very good!" Teddy replied cheerfully.

"Oh." Aiden added, feeling annoyed that he didn't understand magic the way his sister did. "So, what are we to do while we ride back here?"

"Well." Teddy said. "As long as we're quiet, we can discuss anything that you two would like to know."

"Why are you hiding back here with us?" Aiden asked bluntly, wanting to know why the old Bermion was hiding from the King of Kaskia.

"As you know, I am a Wizard." Teddy replied. "That alone makes me wanted by Cladon."

"That can't be the whole truth." Rina added, also curious.

"You both are very observant for your age." Teddy sighed. "Very well. I knew Cladon years ago. I fought for Premus in the first war, he fought for Kaskia."

"Wasn't the first war a really long time ago?" Rina interrupted.

"Yes, I am very old Rina." Teddy admitted. "Bermion's live longer than humans, but I am indeed far older than most Bermion's."

"Then you know how Cladon stayed alive so long?" Aiden asked.

"No, my long life is not due to my own magic." Teddy replied, shaking his head and waving his paw to end the questions on the subject.

"So, he just knows you from the war and wants your magic?" Aiden questioned suspiciously.

"More or less." Teddy shrugged. "Next to him, I am the second strongest magic wielder in the land. He doesn't want anyone to have magic that rivals his own."

The trio fell into silence, having many things on their minds as they rode in the back of the wagon, feeling every bump in the dirt road they traveled. Many times, the group had been stopped along their journey. Every time the Kaskian soldiers had looked in the back of the wagon, Aiden and Rina held their breath, their hearts racing with anticipation, yet each time, the soldiers signaled for them to keep going, satisfied the wagon was empty. Teddy assured them each time that they would be safe from prying eyes.

The group pressed on as the sun rose high in the sky and began its descent. They kept traveling well into the night, only stopping once Arlington and Jr. reported finding a sizable clearing not too far off the road. As soon as they stopped for the night, Squishy and Grape found spots around the wagon to rest for the night. Aiden and Rina stayed inside the carriage with Ellie as Teddy walked into the woods to meditate, reassuring them that their camp is protected from the soldiers. Arlington and Jr. found large branches in the trees to sleep on, keeping an eye out for any threats from above the group.