Of Gods & Champions: Book I: Fate

XII. Into The City

MY CLOAK STREAMS BEHIND ME AS I URGE Argas to go faster. The sun has risen high into the sky, and we've covered a good distance from Biawood. I can see the high walls of Larnach in the distance, and it doesn't feel so faraway anymore.

I know Argas must be tired of traveling at this pace, and my stomach has begun to make noises rivalling my tiger at his most fierce moments, so I finally pull him back to a walk, and then to a complete stop. I slide off of him, and he lies down in the snow, exhausted. I sit in the snow and lean against him, rifle across my lap, rooting around through my pack for some food.

I find some raw sausage, some of which I throw to Argas, and then I unwrap some paper to reveal a large thick pancake, which I'm glad to sink my teeth in.

We're silent, taking the edge off our hunger, Beast and I, before I begin to speak.

"This is really quite the adventure, you know," I tell him, swallowing more of the pancake. "Larnach is a good three days' travel from the village on foot. Most of us haven't had an animal to ride there, so that's why it seems that we're getting there faster."

Argas snorts, and switches his tail around.

"What?" I ask, glaring. "It's true. You know, my mother once told me about the one time she was ever at Larnach, thirty years ago. There'd been some sort of horrific storm, and no one could remain at Biawood any longer... at least not without help. So half the village formed a caravan and traveled to Larnach to get help. Whenever they travel, they form a caravan in case of an attack from the Wild.

"I do wonder what the city is like. Never been there. Heard about it, but talk is cheap. Seeing the real thing... that'll be the real experience."

I glance up at the sun, which has reached the midway point in the sky and has begun to descend past it. Quickly, I wrap up the rest of the pancake, and stand, stretching out the kinks and aches from sitting for so long.

"C'mon, Argas," I call, "We have to get moving again, if we want to make any significant progress before nightfall."

With a loud growl, Argas heaves his body up, walking in a circle briefly to wake up before crossing over to in front of me and waiting for me to climb on. I swing my leg over and grab his reins, turning back east towards Larnach and squeezing my thighs to urge him on into a gallop, rifle bouncing against my back, as I hope to make up for the time we spent eating.

There are many things I haven't thought out yet. Where am I going to sleep? How am I going to eat? Mother packed very little food for me, just enough to keep me until I arrived in the city.

I curse as snow begins to fall, the white crystal flakes sprinkling down steadily as if some God is throwing bunches into the air to cascade down to us humans. I pull the hood of my cloak over my head, casting a wary look at the sky above darkening with clouds.

I glance ahead towards the wall as snowflakes begin to catch in my lashes. I doubt we can make it to the wall before the snow gets real heavy, but we can't camp outside it either.

"Alright, come on, boy," I say, and leaning way forward I push Argas on faster, and we barrel towards the wall.

The snow is already getting heavier, practically blurring my vision, but I pull my hood forward more and squint through the snow flurries.

Suddenly, a loud rattling noise comes faintly from behind me, and I turn my head back, squinting to find the source of it. Soon, an old ragged ox-drawn sleigh appears, slicing through the snow speedily as the high oxen snort steam clouds into the frosty air.

I pull Argas over to the side, so the sleigh has plenty of room to pass by, if it catches us. I've got Argas running full-out across the snow, but the snow drifts are hard for him to lift his paws out of so fast.