The Laila Mythology

Chapter Six: Yan Overton

“And what do we have here, is it a rock or a root?” a snickered voice remarked from out of the bleak grim stillness of the trees, and one that sounded familiar to Laila. She looked around again curiously from her concealment just as the lustrous moonlight began to illuminate the face of the strange figure in the darkness.

“Jack, it’s you!” she ,cried leaping eagerly to her feet and launching herself straight at the huge timber giant in a loving embrace before shedding a few happy tears.

“It’s ok Laila; I’m here now you’re safe. I have searched for over a hundred days and nights to locate you” he said, softly stroking Laila’s hair comfortingly while she remained latched onto his leg in a vice like grip. She wasn’t going to lose him again after all she had been through.

“What happened to you Jack? Where have you been? I was captured by Goblins and was nearly killed falling from a rope bridge and, and...”

“Slow down Laila!” said Jack interrupting her hysteria in mid sentence.

“I am aware of your exploits with the three Goblins my dear Laila; I have been kept abreast of your movements by the trees beyond the marsh. They informed of your whereabouts, so I tracked you for the first day or so but lost you when you ascended into the mountains”.

“You see, the alders that grow beside the river where the Goblins fished that afternoon told me that you were heading towards the Gamolham Mountains. But there are no other trees to speak of growing up on the mountain side other than some young blackthorn growing in the foothills so I was unable to track you from that point onwards”

“It wasn’t until you had reached Grasmont castle that I had any hope of finding you, but then the most astonishing thing happened. You seemed to disappear from sight for what seemed an eternity” he said lifting her up in the air and placing her gently onto a bough at eye level.

“So what happened to you Jack?” asked Laila wiping the tears from her eyes.

“The last thing I recall was the broomstick” said Jack whilst fingering his leafy beard.

“Well I held onto that broomstick for all I was worth and I can tell you it wasn’t a pleasant flight. I was spun around and around like a sycamore samara for miles but I could do nothing to control it. Eventually my luck changed for the better. The dragon path I was on ran close by a large lake, so I seized the opportunity to free myself and let go of the besom”.

Laila’s eyes widened.

“Was it a long drop?” she asked.

“Well yes I was quite high up at the time, just above the trees, but unfortunately I fell into the shallow end of the lake”.

”Have you broken anything?” she asked looking concerned.

“Only some reed mace growing in the margins who weren’t too pleased I can tell you!” he smiled. There was a short silent pause before they both burst into laughter.

“You are funny Jack and I’m so pleased your here with me again” said Laila happily.

“Right, well let’s get you warm!  A fire is called for me thinks and then when you have rested we will head off as soon as your fit” said Jack snapping some deadwood from a nearby tree.

“Where are we going?” Laila asked.

“To see Yan of course” he replied.

“The wizard?” piped Laila enthusiastically.

Jack stopped at once from collecting wood before slowly turning around.

“And what makes you presume that he is a wizard?” he asked suspiciously.