The Ephean

Chapter 4

Walking seems like forever, but it's the only form of transport we have. At least the guys make good company. They entertain me with funny stories.

"And so the Guards had stripped him of his clothes and he was thrown in a cell with an old man who kept telling him his creepy fantasies. We was lucky we had found him." Hemeth laughed.

"Now sometimes we call him Bare Bum Alorek." Eroch added.

"Bare Bum Alorek?" I snorted. "I am going to call you that from now on."

"It wasn't funny. I was cold and uncomfortable....and no you aren't" Alorek grumbled.

"You can't make me." I grinned.

"You wanna make a bet?"

"Yeah...Bare Bum Alorek." He glared at me knowing that he actually can't hurt me. It is against the Ephean law to physically hurt the other sex unless it's self defence. "Ooooh Whatcha gonna do Bare Bum Alorek?" By this time the others were almost dead with laughter.

"Stop." He growled. And this is where the fun ends.

My smiled disappeared. "Sorry." I decided to change the subject "That's a pretty cool warhammer you have there Hemeth."

"Thanks it's called Heartcrusher...cause it crushes hearts." He replied.

Eroch pulled out his daggers. "This is Timeslicer and this is Edge of Regret." They were actually quite pretty. They were a shiny silver with a gold rim around the handle...clearly elven work.

"This is Misery's end." Syred said holding a very exquisite bow. It was wooden with a dark green handle...also elven work.

'What about you Alorek, What's your sword called?" I asked.

He hesitated for a moment before pulling it out of it's sheath. "Kinslayer." Everyone fell silent. Kinslayer is the sword that slit many Ephean throats. Eysus, the God that Ephean's and Strymmith's worship, put a curse upon that sword. Whoever touches that sword is stuck with the lament of killing his own kin.

"Wow...I didn't know." I practically whispered.

"Can we rest for a while?" Syred asked completely changing the subject. It was for the best anyway. "My legs are killing me." We decided to set up camp under an Osmirin tree nearby.

"Are you sure this will work?" Hemeth asked.

"Of course, I read it in a book." Alorek replied.

"You do realise it's a myth, Osmirin trees don't protect whoever rests underneath." I said.

"Wait do you hear that?" Alorek asked." We all went silent and listened to the rustling in the bush infront of us.

Hemeth pulled out his war hammer. "Whatever it is, I will kill it." Suddenly a Sargo Cat jumped out prepared to attack, however it just stood there growling.

"It's working." Alorek smiled. "The aura around the tree is protecting us from the Sargo Cat." I guess I have been proved wrong. The cat bolted the other way knowing that I couldn't get to us.

One point Tree, zero points Cat.

Everyone started unpacking their things...except for me, I don't have anything.

"Here, we packed a spare for you." Alorek handed me a bedroll.

"Thank you." I smiled. The others had already picked their spots around the fire. Hemeth was to the right of me, Syred is to the left of Alorek and Eroch is inbetween them both. I am stuck sleeping next to Alorek....fun.

Hemeth laid down in his bedroll. "Welp, I'm tired." The other two copied and eventually it was just Alorek and I that were still awake.

"I don't know how I am going to sleep knowing my mum could be in serious danger." I said.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't have a family at all." Alorek replied.

"Actually no, it makes me feel worse."

"Why? I'm a big boy, I can deal."

I took a deep breath. "Because someone having to live without a family is absolutely gut wrenching. When someone dies or abandons you, it's like they take a piece of your heart with them and you have to live with the abyss that dwells deep down."

"You say it like it's happened to you. Has it?" He asked. I nodded. I tried to wipe away the tears that were forming in my eyes when Alorek pulled me into a hug. He didn't say anything, just hugged me, Which is probably what I need right now.

"Well we should probably get some sleep." I said pulling away. I laid down on the bedroll that had been given to me.

"Yeah, Goodnight." He smiled.

"Goodnight." I whispered. Mum, don't die on me okay?