Arizium

Chapter 28

"I still think this is a bad idea." Madelina grumbled.

Bear sent her a sideways glance, "Of course, it was my idea after all."

"Beaaaaaaaaaar can I pleeeeeeeaaase have some Arizium." Lynx whined and gave her puppy eyes.

"No, it has to last us at least until we find more, ya know." She replied calmly and ducked under a branch.

"Yeeeeeeah, but I need it noooooooooooow."

"No." Bear responded curtly and refused to look at Lynx's feigned look of despair.

Lucius thought of what to do once he returned to the castle. Movrias... no matter how much I think it over, I see no way out of it. He tugged his greatsword from his back and inspected the folded steel. War might be the only way out of this. Besides, if we win we can steal their rations as well. It's a meager win, but it's got to be something.... He gave up politics when his brain started throbbing, and instead roamed his past.

~

Him and his twin were skipping around the gardens, as usual when Amaria fell and snapped her ankle against a rock. She had screamed and cried and ordered the apothecary to try harder to mend it, she absolutely could not stand to be seen as weak around the castle, as image was everything to her.

The apothecary had told her that she would have to be bed ridden for at least a week. She threw a vase at him.

Distraught by his sister's pain, Lucius learned how to swordfight and defend her in case any enemy should choose to come near her.

~

His hand ran across the blade, it was the first sword he had ever received.

How much longer do we have to be apart. A voice spoke in his head sadly.

As soon as we find a place to stay we can meet up again. he reassured her with a faint smile that he knew she couldn't see.

I can feel their hatred Lucius. They do not want me here.

I can feel it too, but why does it matter? We are the ones with a kingdom behind our backs. They would not dare attempt to kill us.

I was nearly assassinated. Amaria reminded him.

And we will lock Arro in chains after we use her to take down Knox. We need to prove to father that we can raise our own army and to eliminate our problems.

This is not much of an Army brother. Besides, they don't seem keen on following our commands.

They are coming to help kill Knox, are they not?

What if they turn against us at the last minute?

It won't come to that, he said sternly We're Vlivians, we can handle anything.

Amaria fell silent after that, so Lucius concentrated on not tripping on logs and rocks as they ventured through the cursed forest.

"Beaaaaaar I'm tiiiiiiiiirreeeeeddd." He heard Lynx complain and saw her sway dramatically.

"We still have daylight to kill and I'm not going to carry you. Hold your head high and keep walking or else we will leave you behind." Bear stated, getting more and more agitated by the little girl.

"Give me Arizium and I will stop whining." Lynx crossed her arms and pouted.

"We haven't got much left Lynx," Bear groaned "Just shut your mouth and think of something else before I make you see your worst nightmare."

Lynx mumbled something incoherently before walking away from the group, presumably to hunt.

"Lucius, ask Phoenix how long she wants this to go on for. I don't think I can handle Lynx for much longer."

Lucius nodded, Bear wants to know how long we have to walk.

After a pause Amaria responded, Phoenix says it could be a day or it could be a moon. It depends on how merciful the forest is.

When he relayed the information, Madelina groaned and used her staff to support her as she walked. "It's been a week, Bear. I can't go for much longer."

The second in command sighed and caved, "Fine. We can stop for the night, if we don't find a town tomorrow then we will change course."

Even Lucius had to admit that he was ecstatic about resting. Bear called a halt for the day.

Lucky, Phoenix is going to make us go until the sun is completely down.

Yeah well you do not have to deal with Lynx.

We have Arro.

Lucius nodded and smiled, That is true I suppose.

"What has you all smiley?" He heard one of the girls ask.

"I'm just telling Amaria that we are stopping." He responded to Madelina.

"Ah," she sat down next to him and hugged her knees "How does that telepathy work anyway?"

"Why do you care?" he snapped.

"Because I like to know how mysterious things work. Just tell me, you dolt." she commanded with a tired sigh.

He hesitated and figured that she would not be able to use the information against him later, he sat down next to her "It's basically like talking. I think of words, but instead of projecting them towards myself, like when you think, I project them towards Amaria. When she responds its like a voice in my head."

Madelina nodded thoughtfully, "What happens when the other is sleeping?"

"There is a sort of... barrier, I suppose. The dreams refuse to let any foreign thoughts in." He tried to explain.

"Can you tell what she is doing? Can you feel her movements?"

He shook his head hesitantly, "No, but we do have a pain mirror. If I get cut, the same cut appears on her." He immediately regretted telling her that. That is definitely something she could use against you, you idiot. He thought and placed his sword back on his back.

"So kill one of you, and it kills the other?"

He stood up, "I should go see if I can find anything to eat."

"Wait, I'm not don-" she went to complain, but was interrupted by the sound of something crashing through the forest towards them. Lucius immediately brandished his weapon while Madelina held her stick up cautiously, while even Bear and Wolf started equipping their weapons. The person finally came into view and tripped over a branch, falling face first in a patch of flowers.

"Lynx?" Wolf said cautiously, "What's wrong?"

The little girl picked herself up and tried to get her breathing under control, "T... there's... village... build... ings." She panted out and pointed behind her. "Mile."

Bear immediately turned to Lucius, "Tell Amaria. We leave immediately."

(A/N: ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy)