The Zero Hour | #Wattys2016

Chapter 12 - Da Bez Town (Part 1)

Amadeus awoke with a jolt; his body felt well rested but his mind was still weary and anxious for the arduous task ahead. The fireplace in the healing chambers was still burning strongly. He couldn't tell the time of day. Had he overslept?

Don't you worry about him; father has the battle-wizards out looking for him too. Waldo's voice echoed in his mind; a sober reminder. If Uthaes had indeed gotten captured, he was the commoner camp's last hope. He was determined not to get side tracked. He counted off the days remaining – two more sleeps before the battle-wizards attack the camp. Time was quickly running out.

Amadeus sat up in his bed and began to unravel the bandages on his hand. He wiggled his fingers and examined his hand. His skin had almost completely healed from the burns. That Aloe ointment is really effective. He sat on the edge of the bed, eager to see if his right leg was feeling better as well. He didn't bother to remove the bandages from his leg, and instead tried to bend and straighten it. Managing small movements, he cautiously lowered himself onto the floor, using the bed for support. Tentatively putting some weight on it, he decided his right leg could take some light walking.

"Hold on," cautioned one of the healers on duty. The healer rushed to his side to help steady him. "You don't want to aggravate the burns before they are fully healed. Let me check if you're okay to be released from our care." He gently unraveled Amadeus' leg bandages. "Be still while I inspect your wounds."

Amadeus held his breath as he was being inspected - it seemed like an eternity.

"Good news, you're going to be fine," the healer said with a grin. "Take it slow though; you're not going to win any marathons just yet, but you'll be able to walk just fine." The healer handed him a light gray Izenth wolf skin. "Here, you'll need to change before leaving the Healing Chambers."

He quickly changed and made his way to the Healing Chamber's reception area, where a bored-looking woman from yesterday was sitting on the desk scribbling away. It felt good to be free from the bandages. Amadeus bounced on the balls of his feet, like a boxer about to enter the ring. He decided to take the healers advice and take it easy. First things first, I need to get my things.

"Ahem," Amadeus cleared his throat for attention. The bored-looking woman looked up at him questioningly. "I'd like to claim my personal belongings."

The woman stood up and rifled through some open boxes which held personal items of patients. The boxes were sitting next to open windows and Amadeus wondered if they were truly secure. He would hate to find out that his things had gone missing. Thankfully, nothing seemed to be amiss and the woman produced a small box and set it on the table.

Amadeus pulled out the Avianath feather from the box. Good, it's still here. I can't completed my quest without it. Amadeus tucked it safely into the belt that came together with the wolf skin. He tightened the belt, ensuring that the feather would not slip out. He then tucked the gems in a small leather pouch on his belt and pulled out his Lighvel gloves.

Wait, this doesn't look right. Could it be? Are they... glowing?

Indigo colored waves danced playfully along the shining Lighvel which emitted a strong glow. What in the world? I remembered draining the Lighvel to get us to safety yesterday. His mind flashed back to yesterday night – it was raining heavily last night before he went to bed. Could the lightning have struck the Lighvel through the open window?

Well, I won't question a good thing, Amadeus thought as he slipped on the Lighvel gloves and strode out the heavy double doors. He was greeted by warm sunlight peeking through the tree tops. He shielded his eyes with one hand and tried to locate the position of the sun in the sky to determine the time. Good, it's still early. We can still try to make it to the Jagged Peaks by sunset.

"Well, look who's up early." Rei was laying back casually against one of the branches above his head.

Amadeus looked up and smiled widely. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I had to change and get my things. Are you ready to go?"

"I'm ready," replied Rei as the slid down from the branch, landing gracefully on the floor.

"We're both ready." Izumi said as she somersaulted down from another branch like a veteran circus acrobat.

Amadeus' eyes widened in surprise. "You're both coming?"

"No," Izumi rolled her eyes. "I waited all morning just to wave goodbye."

"She wanted to come along to keep me out of trouble," Rei explained. "After much debate," he paused and looked at Izumi. "We agreed that she would accompany us to the Jagged Peaks, so that I would not have to make the journey back here alone."

"I understand, that's fine with me," replied Amadeus. He glanced nervously at Izumi.

"Here," Rei held out a two icicles in the palm of his hand. "From the Izenth armory, in case you need to duel Waldo again," he added with a grin.

"Thanks." Amadeus gratefully accepted the icicles, sheathing them in the slots on his Izenth standard issue belt. "Now, let's get to the Jagged Peaks."

"Don't you want to eat something first?"

"Nah, I'm still stuffed from last night's feast." Amadeus patted his tummy lightly. Commoners often ate sparingly and lived in poor conditions. He was not used to eating to his heart's content. That meal could last him an entire day.

"Alright," Rei shrugged and motioned for them to follow him.

The three of them left Ichi unceremoniously and Rei led the way out of the Lost Valley. He had been through the route many times before, and weaved in and out of underbrush and thickets seamlessly. He stopped at intervals only to wait for Amadeus to catch up. Izumi on the other hand had no problems keeping up with him. They stopped by a hidden spring on the way out of the Lost Valley. Amadeus cupped his hands and drank eagerly from the running spring while Rei took out two waterskins and started filling them up with spring water. He capped the waterskins with wooden corks and handed one to Amadeus.

"You'll need this later," he said. Amadeus slung it across his shoulder, a little confused with Rei's statement. Izumi finished filling up her own waterskin before the three of them continued on their way.

Author's Note: I dedicate this part to Schuyler Thorpe. For his hours of reading through my garbage and taking the time to help me improve it. Check out his book Gun Frontier if you're looking for exciting Science Fiction.