Soldier

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

No one gave so much thought about what the water sprite had said, about the prophecy. We kept walking down the river in silence. Phee slowed down so she was walking by my side.

“Alice, maybe the prophecy is about you” She whispered so the others wouldn't hear. “It would make sense since you came through the tree. And have that crescent-shaped birthmark on your neck, like the moon”

I snorted at her answer and had no intentions believing of what she just said. “That's ridiculous, Phee. I'm no saviour, even less a soldier. The boy didn't know what he was talking about”

“Then how come he knew, you especially, had travelled far longer than anyone of us expected?” “Wild guess?”

She sighed and I knew this match was soon won by me. “You need to tell them sometime” She said and walked over to the others. I slowed my pace a bit, enough so I would fall behind a few feet. It was ridiculous that I would be the Messiah. How on earth am I to free them? I can barely take care of myself as it is. They only solution I could think of was that the boy must have been talking about someone else. Another girl who may look exactly like me or anything similar. I kept looking at the water, hoping the water sprite would reappear so I could choke him. Stupid boy who put stupid thoughts into Phee's mind. But what's wrong with you being their saviour? My mind spoke. You'll be doing something honourable for a people that's been living in fear the last one hundred years.

No, that's ridiculous. I've never been able to stand up for myself before. How am I going to pull off the role of a leader? I don't even know what kind of power I'm up against. No, the prophecy was talking about someone else and it wasn't me. But the prophecy forth told about someone who had already arrived, it spoke again. This conversation wasn't going where I wanted it to.

“You seem deep in thought” Michael said by my left ear. I started to jump and tried to shake him off, but he didn't budge. “You know, you have to learn to deal with me being on your shoulder” He said again. I sighed and tried to shake the uneasy feeling away.

“I'll just pretend I have a feather, then” I stuttered. “And yes, I was deep in thought”

“About the prophecy?” “Why do I even answer? You seem to know the answers anyway”

The frog chuckled and a bit slime landed on my chest. I made a face.

“You know, Alice. Ever since I met you I knew there were something curious about you. And I'm quite sure there's something on your mind” He said. He was good. “And since the water sprite gave me a clue about you...” The image of the boy pointing at me flashed through my mind.

“I'm not from Tahol” I said quietly. “Or from any other country”

Despite my fear of telling it felt good to have said it. “I'm trapped here with no clue how to get home” I added.

“Maybe you was sent here with a purpose as the oracle said” Michael spoke. “He didn't speak of any purpose!” I stated. “I'm thinking one step ahead”

I snorted at his answer. “So you're like my own Jiminy Cricket who'll tell me what to do? I already have a mind of my own, thank you”

“That I'm very aware of and that's why I'm asking you what you think should be done. You have two options as it is” And with that Michael left my shoulder. Bloody frogs who put my mind to work.

* * *

“Be quiet!” Yoesphin held out a hand and sharpened her ears. “I hear something”

It was about an hour walk to go before we reached Berdea. I took off my bow and stood with me feet prepared to what was about to come. Suddenly I saw something black appear between the trees only to quickly disappear. I motioned the others to follow as I slipped between the trees. I heard twigs on the ground break and Yoesphin started to follow the sound. The black appeared once more. Suddenly we got surrounded by four men in black. Each of them held a dagger, pointing right at us. I didn't know where to aim so instead I shot at the first one I noticed. A cry of pain echoed the forest and Nicholas was quick capture one of the men. Yoesphin let out a war cry and attacked the rest. Soon they were running away, even the one with my arrow still in his legs. Nicholas kept a strong grip on the one he managed to capture. The man wore a black hood that covered his face. I ripped it off of him, leaving his face wide opened. I didn't recognise him, his facial expression seemed hardened from many years in the field. A small scare was shown on his cheek. I aimed an arrow at him, his eyes filled with fear. “Who are you?” My voice was harsh. He didn't answer and Yoesphin was quick to threaten him with her dagger. “Why were you following us?” She said with the harshness. “I'll never reveal my mission to a filthy creature” He spit on us and I wiped away the wetness from my cheek. Nicholas grip around his throat hardened. “Answer the ladies”