Warring Kingdoms - Strife for Victory

Chapter 3 - Allied Mercenaries

My horse trotted on, following the brook that would eventually lead on to the River Grell. Using my map, I feel like that I will arrive by tomorrow. The brook is also getting wider and wider, which also helps me locate where I am. I pulled out my map to check again.

I'm currently at the.... Hawthorn Pass?  No.. Im at the Cinder flows.. Wait? What?

I feel like Im totally lost. Also, there was snow yesterday and a lot of wind earlier today, so I have a feeling that the northern winds are bringing in a snowstorm. So I think I should get going before I die.

-=+=-

The winds are blowing even harder. I am definitely sure a storm is brewing. I hope not. I have my horse at full gallop, hoping I can get out of this marshlands before the storm hits and I get lost or something. It might not be that good of an idea.. Right at that moment, my horse tripped on a root of a willow tree. I was sent flying and into a river. Fortunately, I had found the River Grell. Unfortunately, I was sent stomach first into the water and all the air was knocked out of my lungs. Water streamed into my mouth and I couldn't do anything. I tried my best to swim out and I threw myself onto the shore. I spit out all the disgusting river water and gasped for air.

My horse trotted towards me. It's shadow loomed over me. Wait... that's not a horse. That's a... human? I thought, then as my vision cleared, I saw a robed man standing at my side. I immediately jumped to my feet and unsheathed my sword.

"Who.. Are.. You?" I managed to gasp out. My blade was pointed straight onto the figure, but my hands were just trembling, barely managing to keep the blade still.

"May I ask for you to introduce yourself first?" The figure asked.

"I'm... I'm Halt Archard." I replied.

"I know you." The figure said mysteriously. Then the figure took off his hood. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Gibard! Oh my... How.. I thought you died when we were escaping!" I shouted and ran ahead to hug him.

"Woah, big buddy, calm down." He replied, chuckling.

We sat down on the shore, as I dried myself. We talked and talked and talked and talked over and over again. I learnt much more things about his adventures during the.. what, 5 months? that he was supposed to be dead. He told me about how he was rescued by a girl after he was stabbed in the forest, who was also a slave, and that she stitched his injury and fed him before she was killed by the Kerolds, and how Gibard entered a mercenary clan that fought against the Kerolds ever since. It was an interesting story if you asked me, and then he asked me a strange question.

"Emm... You know, I was telling my clan leader about you since I got in contact with them and they really wanna try to find you and recruit you. Do you wanna join our clan after you are.. you know.. done with your business?" Gibard asked politely.

What? I thought to myself. Then I started considering the cons and pros of joining his 'mercenary clan'. Some pros... I would learn how to fight like a wolf and become much better at hand to hand combat and they would provide me with extra fighting supplies and horses. Some cons... I'm not sure about me leaving the kingdom and... my wife.

"Erm... Maybe... I think I got to consider a little on that. I'm not so sure about-" I was interrupted by the chuckles of Gibard.

"Oh of course of course! Just giving you a heads up." Then he stopped, and soon continued, "You know, we mercenaries  might be able to help you in defeating the Kerolds. Just think about it, 70 fully trained mercenaries running in to fight the Kerolds. It would be fatal to them."

"Hmm... Where are your.. Headquarters? I wanna talk to your leader." I asked with curiosity.

"Not far, just gimme a ride." Gibard said as he raised his finger, pointing at my stallion, Boreas.

-=+=-

Sorry for not updating in a long time! I got this out in a hurry so... yeah. I'm working on another big project/story with another Wattpad user, so I've been kinda busy. We'll be publishing our first chapter of the 'project' in about January, so look forward to it!  Anyways, thank you for staying with me! 

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JaewonMin0905