Legends: The Knight of Helm (#1)

Chapter 22

The smell of the fresh forest air was refreshing to the young knight. Cladius took in another deep breath; he couldn't get enough of it. The only air fresher was that of Helm. He was bias of course, missing his home land, the simple thought mad him even more determined to continue his quest. He missed Agular and above all else, he missed Almorah. He had a longing to be with the young lady. He had never actually completed her training, but had daughter her more than was enough, given their situation.

The sun began to set, as Cladius walked through the woods. He had collected the blood of the Hag, a minor deity. He glanced about the forest as he spotted three women who quickly turned their heads at him, each had long dark hair. He instantly knew what they truly were, Hulder.

"Excuse me; do you know a way through this forest?" Cladius asked, as the sun drew ever near to the horizon.

Each woman leaped quickly away, from the man, with cat like reflexes avoiding him all together. Cladius tried to ask them to wait, but it was too late, when he had raised his arm.

"Very well," He said to himself, continuing in the direction he was previously headed.

He kept his blade sheathed, to prevent using it on vines, and dulling the edge. Cladius wanted it in as good as a condition as he could get. His plan was to keep walking throughout the night. He wanted to keep his paste up, to prevent him from chilling with the cool breeze.

He could feel his facial hair growing, giving him a small beard. It was still rough, and needed grooming, but he had no way to shave his face. He let his hand brush against trees as the last light of the morning was heard. He could see light emanating from fairies and lighting bugs. The difference in color gave the fairies away and their slight advantage in size. He could listen to the crickets and bugs now. The birds soon stopped with their songs, and the forest began to come alive in a different light.

"Well hello there, my good sir." A small, rough, yet squeaky voice spoke.

Cladius looked about him as he spotted the dwarf like figure. It was a man with a long pointing nose and big eyes of a leafy green color. Cladius gave the small figure a nod, as the small man acted shocked that Cladius noticed him.

"Oh, well, I didn't expect you to see me!" The small man replied.

He was clean shaved, as if he couldn't grow a beard at all, and wore a long hood like hat, that reached between his shoulder blades, covering his ears and mid-point. He was no more than 4'3 perhaps, almost half the size of Cladius.

"Perhaps, you now the way out of this forest?" Cladius questioned as he looked about.

"Indeed I do, follow me!" The man said in excitement, "It is not often I get company."

Cladius was about to reply as he slipped on a vine falling over face first. He quickly recovered as he smiled, slightly embarrassed. The small man gave a small chuckle in good spirits.

"My apologies, my sir, but I cannot help myself." The man replied, whipping a tear from his eye.

Cladius helped himself, up, as the man laughed as if it was the best joke he had heard.

"Let us continue, please, while we laugh." Cladius replied with a smile, slightly annoyed with the man's reaction.

"Oh! Yes very well."

Cladius continued through the forest only meeting more, trouble, branches hitting his face, bats flying into him, and bugs crawling down his shirt. He had very little of an idea why this night was being so miserable. He wondered if this was from the forest.