Silvestre Pendragon

Heading East

Silent snow drifted from above, ribbons of fog twisted through the tiny cracks in the doors, determined to leak into peoples homes, and the suffocating darkness wavered slightly as the first triumphant rays of sun forced their way through the mud-coloured clouds. Sleeping, the city was bleak with tormenting nightmares, children's subconsciouses bullied by the image of fire and a monstrous raven with its feathers as black as the deep voids of an animal's pupils. The purposeful footsteps of Silvestre and Milo echoed throughout the dreary city, soon enough they had mounted two horses and their footsteps were replaced with the sound of hooves heading East.

Silvestre was soundless but her mind was sprinting from thought to thought, her brain brimming with visions of Noirsk, they filled every  space. Squeezing her reins tighter and slowing her thumping heart, Silvestre realised that she had never seen Noirsk before. Of course, she had heard stories, descriptions and theories, but nothing could prepare her for finally meeting her. Suddenly, an overwhelming anger seized Silvestre, if it wasn't for Noirsk magic would be free, and innocent sorcerers wouldn't have to die, burnt at the stake and hung for entertainment. What would stop her from tearing Noirsk's throat out?  How dare she take Crystal? Thinking about the poor, tortured girl with smooth pale skin and flowing blonde hair made Silvestre shudder. 

"Sil!" 

Silvestre's palms were spitting angry sparks and her reins had blackened from the burning heat. "Oh.." she gasped, cooling her hands and recoiling her fingers. After what Silvestre said in the castle, they had proceeded without much speech, but now Milo broke the barrier,

"Sil. Thank you. Doing this for me, and Crystal, I , I really appreciate it.. But, why are we heading East? You told the King Noirsk would target the crop fields but they're North of here" Silvestre smiled a knowing smile, in fact it was the very same smile Milo had seen when they had first met and she had escaped from the cells.

"Milo, if you wanted to attack a Kingdom, what would you do?" 

"Target vulnerable areas?"

"Correct, but that's not what Noirsk is doing." Silvestre stated, 

"Isn't it?" Milo asked, confused. 

"Fires began in three main areas around the Kingdom, in forests and outer villages. She just wants the ruby. She wants to put pressure on Camelot. And if you want to put pressure on someone: you surround them." 

"You can tell you've been brought up by Knights and war strategists" Milo laughed, smiling at Silvestre as they entered the forest of Jaden. Silvestre couldn't help it. She adored Milo's smile, and in that moment she knew she would risk everything for that wonderful laugh and his mesmerising eyes, and it wasn't the first time her gaze lingered for a second on his lips. Still, they carried on, urging their mounts into a trot; preparing for a long journey.

***  

After hours of venturing deeper and deeper into the forest of Jaden the pair had decided to stop and rest by the stream, allowing the horses to drink and graze for a while. The forest was so familiar to Silvestre, all her expeditions and many hunts, but now, sitting on the bank of the stream, she really noticed it all, really opened her eyes as if to absorb the view, the spectrum of emeralds and jades, the sound of the steam trickling across rocks, the soft birdsong and the smell of damp earth. The morning snow had melted to reveal a beautiful forest of life,

I won't let this burn to ash. Silvestre promised to herself.

Silvestre had been following the fresh prints left behind by Crystal's kidnappers, but the  muddy earth and remains of snow had camouflaged their route and with less than a day in to their journey Silvestre was already unable to track them any further. The forest was a maze of routes, hundreds, thousands. Crystal could be anywhere. Raking her hands through her hair she pulled out a map from her bag and gazed at it in despair. Seeing this distressed Silvestre, Milo came and swiftly sat down on the bank, his hand instantly resting on Silvestre's, 

"Talk to me Sil." He whispered to her soothingly, the way he called her Sil like he'd known her his entire life made the hiccups in Silvestre's heart return, yet her brain willed them to disappear.

"I don't want to let you down." She whispered, so soft, it was as if she had breathed the words. A single tear fell from her eye and Milo wiped it away with his thumb, 

"You couldn't ever let me down. Sil, look at me," Her gazed returned to his, and he cupped her head in his hands " You couldn't do anything, anything, that would let me down." His hands slid down to meet hers.

"I don't know where she is Milo, she could be anywhere. If we keep heading east, we'll cross into Mercia which is crowded with Saxons, and if we're captured then Camelot will fall and Crystal will die, there's so much at stake!" 

"Sil, let me try something Ma taught me, together, we could do a simple locator spell, it doesn't last for long but it means we'll see a short vision of where Crystal is."

"Okay... Are you sure I can do this ?" 

Laying the map down on the dewy grass and picking up Silvestre's hands Milo said, "Silvestre Pendragon, you are so much stronger than you know. Now, all you need to do is picture Crystal." 

Silvestre did. She envisioned every single aspect of the natural fiddler and the sisterly way she hugged Milo. Her eyes. Her hair. Skin. Smile. Laugh. Music. Voice. Her haunted mind, Silvestre remembered it all, closing her eyes and concentrating on the little girl, grasping Milo's hands as he murmured  words incomprehensible to Silvestre. 

Then, Silvestre saw it. 

It was only a glimpse but Silvestre saw a stone ruin isolated with nothing but a barren landscape as far as the horizon, she saw the grey, looming clouds and felt a sickening darkness painted in this vision, then the worst came: a scream, so high pitched and crippled with agony. 

"Crystal!" Silvestre exclaimed, and in an instant the vision collapsed, across from her sat Milo, stunned and his eyebrows creased with worry, " It was the old fort tower, in Camelot's suburbs." 

"How far?" 

"At least another three days ride, heading South-east. " 

"We only have a few hours until darkness falls"

" We'll reach the bridge of Arbitrium tonight and we can camp there tonight and cross in the morning." Silvestre suggested.

"Isn't there a quicker route?"

"Milo, we'll get to her, we will, I promise. But we can't ride in the dark, it would be impossible." 

"Of course" He sighed, twisting his ring. Silvestre folded the map into her bag and they stood up, Silvestre gave Milo's hand one last squeeze before mounting her horse. 

"You were right Milo. We will find her and we can do this. Together."

"Together."