The Second Realm

Chapter 4: The Sehers

   *Sorry for the late update I hate authors notes when I'm reading so I'll always keep them short :)*

     The sun was already rising as Edan was making his way. He had already been on his journey for a few hours now. Arebus had joined him on his trip refusing to stay behind. He couldn't believe they would let the fate of the Siebourn lay in the hands of two rookies. Printus had given him a map that would lead to the Sehers.  After that he and Arebus were on their own. He knew that whatever weapons he took would degrade, but there wasn't much more that a sword could degrade to. He would have to receive new armor on his return, it had laser deflecting metal and was heat resistant due to the high speeds the Galip traveled. But since everything degraded those properties would soon be gone. He hoped it was soon. Arebus had chosen his weapons for the lightness and sturdiness they possessed. A set of throwing knives and a sword thats metal would never break.

   "Where the hell are we?"  Arebus asked kicking a rock with the toe of his shoe.

     They had landed the Galip a few miles back in order to allow it to auto pilot the two hundred miles back to Humbridge. They had traveled that in less than two hours. Stopping here and there to gather supplies and what they thought they might need for the journey. Which was just about everything handy they had come across considering they had no idea what was in store for them.

  "We are.... um.. about uh.. we are around thirty miles from the beginning of the path that leads to the Sehers." Edan said this in hopes he was right. Printus had written the map and had terrible hand writing.  "Look at this Abe. Its chicken scratch. I can't read a thing." Edan had given Arebus the nickname Abe when they were only little boys.

   "Hand me the stupid map." Abe said snatching it from Edans hands. He looked at it a few moments before turning it upside down and then on its side. Handing it back to Edan he laughed "Well you're in charge tell me where to go."

  " Exactly see I told you.  You know since I'm your commanding officer I could command you to do anything I wanted to.. "

   "Oh really? Well what exactly would you make me do oh great master? Oh Majesty.. "

  " I could command you to eat grass and act like you're crazy to distract the Sehers while I bribe the gatekeeper." Edan said and laughed.

 Abe sneered, " Oh yeah? Well do you know where you can put that grass im supposed to eat? Right up your.. "

   "Well hello boys."

 Drawing their swords they spun around to face whatever monster had that musical voice. There she was. The most beautiful woman Arebus had ever seen. Her eyelashes fluttered and the flowers in her honey brown braid moved with the wind.

  "Oh I'm sorry, I didnt mean to catch you off guard.. You boys must be a long way from home.. None of the Majesties guards ever make it this far. Except for patrols.. You aren't on a patrol are you?" The woman asked, a smile playing on her lips.

  " No mam. We're on a journey." Arebus gleamed proudly. Puffing out his chest and smiling his  most charming smile. "OOMPH." he also proudly doubled over when Edan elbowed him in the gut for giving away information to someone they didnt even know. 

  "We're just traveling mam.. Got some time off from the guard." Edan said before Abe could give out any more information. "We'll be on our way now." He said politely and grabbed the still leaning Arebus.

" Which way are you going mam?" Abe asked winking at the girl. 

  "Well i was headed that way," she pointed in the opposite direction Arebus and Edan were going.

 "Oh well i hope you have a safe trip. Arebus come on we must get going. You know how mother is about your foot fungus.. always putting medicine on it after long walks. Lets go."

 "But I could return home now.. its getting time for lunch." The girl said looking Arebus straight in the eyes and smiling a coy smile Edan could see right through. Arebus was putty in her hands.

  "Arebus can I have a moment with you?"

   "How about you stop being a cock block you asshole. She's the first decent girl I've talked to in a long time." Abe said while smiling charmingly at the girl from the twenty yards they had walked to have their private conversation. 

  "There's something up with her Abe I know it.. Something isn't right. Why is she out here all alone?"

 Abe thought about that for a moment.. "She could be picking berries or flowers or playing in the dirt."

 "Where is her basket? And she isn't going to play in the dirt my god Abe she's a grown woman."

"Well I play in the dirt sometimes. I make little faces out of the rocks, its quite fun actually.

Edan slapped him on the back of the head and walked back to the woman.  " I'm sorry mam but we really should be going. You have a nice day.. "

 "Oh what a shame. I would have loved to have you over for lunch."

 "Well Edan and I are hungry.."

 "No. Edan and you aren't."

      It was a losing battle though. The woman with the honey brown hair had completely wiped away Abe's senses. She walked with Abe while she wrapped her arm around his and told him how he must train so much because of all his big muscles. All the while Abe just kept a goofy grin on his face and sounded like a love struck puppy. Edan almost gagged.

 They walked for what seemed like hours, Edan had noticed the more they walked the tighter the dress became on the girl, she was becoming thicker and thicker. Her hair turning a greenish brown rather than the Honey it had first began as.

  "Um Abe I think we should go, I'm not so hungry anymore" Edan tried to get Arebus to come but he hadn't noticed the difference.

 " OH not yet we're almost there.." She turned to look at Edan with now yellow glowing eyes.

 "Uh oh..., Okay Abe time to go." Edan literally picked him up over his shoulder and began to walk the way they had come. Back up the girls street that had led to her home.

 "Abe.. ABE!!" He was in some kind trance he wouldn't stop looking at the girl. Even when she started cackling and her hands became bigger and thicker, her nails turning to talons,  her hair fell from its braid, and her dress turned to armor, he still stared at her like a little boy would stare at candy.

 "UM... ABE. Time to go buddy." Edan drew his sword and began backing away from the monster. It seemed like the fighting would begin much sooner than Edan expected. Lets hope it would end soon too.