The Warhorse of Balrok

Chapter 19: Vithr

Chapter 19
Vithr

Zand

Willohshai was right. Vithr was completely unlike any mythin-inhabited place Zand had ever seen or heard of.

Its buildings were large pavilions that seemed to embrace the forest and buildings that looked so delicate, you were convinced that the next breath of wind would carry them away. Zand marvelled at the sight of these buildings. They looked like trees that had just decided to grow into the shapes of comfortable dwellings that were open to all the light, air and beauty of the forest. Some of them were even nestled high above Zand's head, in the branches of the said trees.

The Natuiraen's lives were peaceful and pleasant in this city. As Zand noticed them go about their daily business, she thought the easy way they interacted made them seem like they were all friends. She also loved the appearance of the race itself. Her former village had been in the Shiinohite kingdom of Dersay. The Shiinohite were all dark-haired and dark-eyed. After all the similarities between individuals there, Zand was immediately drawn to the variety of hair colours she saw. Every colour in nature was present.

Their group received some curious stares as they walked into Vithr. Zand couldn't blame them. She'd probably gape at a massive black warhorse, the tired girl riding him, and the elf, the vampire and the other young girl walking beside him.

Zand bent down to whisper to Willohshai. "What exactly are we going to do now that we're here?"

He scanned the Natuiraen faces that surrounded them. "I'm looking for someone."

The words were barely out of his mouth before a girl about ten years old rushed up to them.

"Willohshai! Astrid! Lunareclipse!" She grinned, revealing gaps in her teeth common for a girl her age. "Wait'll I tell Mother!"

Willohshai looked like he was about to respond, but then the girl raced off. He sighed.

Zand stifled a yawn. "Care to explain?"

Astrid glanced at her. "We stayed with Akana's family a few times before this. She's a sweet girl. And her siblings are nice, too! Well, most of them."

Willohshai bit his lip and walked off in the direction Akana had gone in.

"It looks a little different from when I first saw it." Astrid remarked to Zand as they followed after Willohshai.

"When was the first time you were here?"

Astrid shrugged. "About seven years ago. This is where I met Willohshai. We ran into Lunareclipse soon afterwards." She sighed enviously. "And neither of them have aged a day."

"How old were you?"

"Eight."

"Then..." Zand worked it out mentally. "You're fifteen! Same as me!"

Astrid grinned. "Sure seems that way, doesn't it?"

The dwelling Willohshai stopped at was the same as the rest. It seemed almost as if it was part if the forest. The branches on it were hung with vines and flowers of all different colours and types. Zand looked up and saw that staircases led up a tree by the house, connecting more of the buildings.

Willohshai knocked on one of the pillars, since there wasn't really much of a door (or walls) in this particular building. He could've just walked in, but Zand decided he was being polite. She could see the little girl, Akana pulling on the dress of a woman who had to be her mother. Another girl, who looked like the older version of Akana, was sitting at a low wooden table. The woman looked up from her chattering daughter, then saw Willohshai.

She smiled. "Seems like Akana was correct. You are back!" She walked over to them, then saw the rest of the group. Her jaw slackened a bit at the sight of Fehnir. "If you're planning on sleeping here, which you probably are, we have enough space for the people, but the horse...? We don't possess a stable."

"He can sleep outside." Zand suggested. "Would that be okay? He doesn't like stables, anyway."

The woman shrugged. "That's fine with me. Just make sure he's under control."

Zand slipped off Fehnir's back. "Will you be okay on your own?" She whispered.

Fehnir nodded, wisely not speaking. Zand followed the others into the Natuiraen house. The girl sitting at the table glanced at Zand, then went back to her sewing.

"Where's everyone else?" Lunareclipse was asking the woman. "It's just you, Akana and Kayrn."

"Nurit wanted Emati and Jayss to help him at the forge. Kalei went with them, even though he's not old enough to handle the tools." The woman looked them over. "What did you do yourselves? You look like you've been in a battle!" Her eyes skimmed over the bloodstained fabric on Zand's neck and Willohshai's arm wound. "Kayrn, please go get my things." The older girl stood and went out of the room. "Now, sit down."

"Akele is a healer. Her husband, Nurit, is a blacksmith." Willohshai explained. "They have five children. Emati, Kayrn, Jayss, Akana and Kalei."

Zand sat still as Akele cleaned and dressed the wound on her neck. When asked how she got it, Willohshai hurriedly explained how she and Fehnir had run into bandits in the forest outside of Unkrai. He briefly mentioned that she had a twin brother, but they had gotten separated in the battle.

How easily he lies. Zand thought. But, that story is better than the truth.

"I hope you'll be helping this poor girl find her brother." Akele said to Zand's three companions. Her tone made it sound like an order.

Astrid nodded. "Yes, ma'am. We will!"

Zand grinned. Astrid sounded excited to get started. Her face fell when she thought of Talnerr. She hoped he was okay. He probably wasn't, but that didn't stop Zand from hoping.