Mahnu, An Immortal's Journey

Chapter 2

Mahnu had reached her destination and went to find a safe high place to watch, as she rarely showed herself to others. She looked out at the horizon, from the high vantage point of one of the trees in the lush forest and listened silently to the cries of the suffering humans as she waited for the King and the planned attack. She could hear him coming, as he sees more of his loyal guards who met up with him close by.

Strangely, the leader of the Loyal Royal Knights, Marcus, wasn't there. She had yet to see him in person but as it was, she spent very little time with the humans, especially the royals.

Through other's thoughts, Mahnu could know what the King looked like. He seemed mature looking, with a small clean-cut beard and athletic build. His clothes were obviously that of a grander scale than that of a commoner, but he didn't look as majestic as she thought he would, as she had seen other Kings look. Looking at his short pony tail, and his shoes being more ordinary, Mahnu finally understood that he wasn't in a King's attire, but more of a noble's. Through other's thoughts, she realized that he was undercover...Yet...He even looked somewhat familiar.

Surprising her, he sees her as she is looking out over the horizon. She had only been looking at him through other's eyes till now but seeing herself through his eyes, made her feel strange. That strange that she felt like she should get away...But, her position really hadn't been that revealing and for a moment, she wondered how he had found her so easily!

Getting up, to go down from the tree, so she could get away, she finally remembers that they had met once before...

Their first meeting was in the year of 1613, when King Richard was 20, and he was leading a small amount of men to the west. She was there discreetly but had come out of hiding to help him unload food, cook and feed the hungry people of Anddin. Back then, it had been the first time that the King had despatched trade goods to Anddin and he participated in giving what he had brought out to the people.

It hadn't been just food that could be stored, but that of materials to make clothes, blankets and medicinal equipment. There were a variety of books and even a few men that would stay, like that of a teacher and blacksmith. Of course, this being the first goods sent, the next lot would not have these people included.

Mahnu had liked his way of helping, it had been better than her carting grain, wheat or rice all by herself, not to mention hunting. This, also, was mostly done in the dark, as not to be seen. The travel time that she could spend by helping the people of one town, could potentially outweigh staying in the actual town. Which sometimes made time go by quickly, leaving that town even years later.

She could potentially spend months in just travelling from one town to another, bringing back goods all by herself. Normally she would walk to the other town, but then have a carriage bring the goods back to the town, making the trip back a lot quicker...

Money was not really an issue for Mahnu, she had gained it throughout the ages easily and didn't spend it on anything for herself. Since she travelled from one town to another, she had hidden a stash in each of them, retrieving what she would need and then again hiding the rest.

Having gotten money, from when saving the humans, had really lasted a long while, but since she had helped a number of people that would give her money with their thanks, even though she had told them that she hadn't needed it, her stashes had only slowly dwindled over time instead of disappearing completely.

Of course, currency had slightly changed since she had received a lump sum from the King back at the time of The Siege, but a couple hundred years ago, Mahnu was able to double what she had, by selling the old currency for the new.