The Enchantments: Book 2 - The Key of Gandar

Chapter 11: Marlanda

She felt the presence of someone before she even knew there was anyone there. Simeneon opened her eyes slowly hoping to catch a glimpse of the person before they reacted towards her. With just a slit showing she peered out, little by little turning her head to look out across the encampment. She followed the movement through the trees and waited for her intruder to make themselves visible. She saw the shadow appear behind a lush plant and waited for the inevitable.

The figure stalked across the sand all the while avoiding any of the twigs that were strewn along their path. They saw the girl lying on the other side of the huge boulder and they knew coming from the rear was the best way to go undetected. Moving closer to the rock they placed their hands upon the cool surface. Quietly the figure produced a knife watching transfixed as the shiny blade glistened in the firelight. They rounded the rock as silently as a panther after prey then suddenly jumped forward into the light of the fire.

"UH!" The figure said in shock. 'Where had the young girl gone?' They contemplated mutely. She had never left their sight, or so they had thought. They peered around frantically trying to catch sight of where she had gone. Fear replaced triumph, as they knew how crafty she could be. The figure now realized that the act of surprise was gone, they were no longer the hunter, and they were now the hunted.

"Don't turn around too quick or you might not like what you see." A voice said softly from behind. Then the pressure on their back intensified, they knew the knife had changed the outcome. "I would suggest you get to your knees with your hands behind your neck. Please do it quickly before I have to do something I really don't want to do."

The pressure of the knife made them immediately drop the weapon they were carrying. They got to their knees and without a word placed their hands behind their head.

"What will you do with me now." Came to a soft female voice on the ground.

Simeneon tied a rope from her knapsack to the hands of the young girl. Convinced she could not escape anytime soon she walked around and sat on the other side of the fire staring harshly at the small young face before her. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you." She said harshly. "What I want to know is why me?"

The round-faced girl stared blankly at her with big brown eyes deciding to focus on something farther on. Simeneon stared intently at the girl trying in vain to figure out what could have made this person go psycho on her like that. The girl's long dark bushy hair fell in all directions and her deeply tanned skin was mud-stained and unkempt.

"Listen, I'll ask you again, why are you here to attack me?" She looked sternly into the young girl's eyes. But as before it was no use, she wasn't talking. "If you don't answer my questions I'll have to give you to them." She pointed at a group of natives who had come from patrolling the camp. "They'll not be as forgiving as I am."

She peered past Simeneon to the solidly built guards standing behind her and sighed. "My name is Marlanda, I've been searching for you out for a year to find you."

"But why me? What did I ever do to you?" Simeneon asked as she stood up looking down at the girl.

"BECAUSE YOU DESTROYED MY FAMILY!!" She screamed.

Simeneon stood stunned, staring at the furious face of this small little girl. She racked her brains trying to figure out where and when she could have done something so horrible. "You have to excuse my ignorance but could you give me a hint on who the heck you're family is?"

Marlanda looked like she had been slapped, her face turned pale and her shoulders began to shake in fury. "You... you... you ruin my family and you can't even remember who he was!"