The Forgotten

Chapter nineteen: Rum

We tied our horses up to a post out front of the inn and strutted inside with pride. Enyo always told me to keep my shoulders square. Apparently, it looks more intimidating. Enyo swung open the door and stood there for a moment, eyeing up the tables of people in the room. She pulls down her hood, which was my signal to take off my helmet. Enyo walked over towards a table in the front corner of the room and we sat down across from each other.

"So, how has Leto been?" Enyo asks immediately as she picks at the ragged wooden table. I stare at the candle in the center of the table.

"To be completely honest, Enyo... I-" I pause, looking up to see her staring at me intently. Her fingers fiddled anxiously in front of her chest. "Why do you ask?" Enyo closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Do you even want to be here right now?" Enyo had a concerned look on her face. I feel a knot form in my throat.

"Don't doubt my loyalty," I stare at her intensely, clenching my jaw. A smirk strings across her lips. Enyo leans across the table and pats me on the shoulder.

"Good girl," I smiled back at her. A woman standing next to me carrying a tray clears her throat. How long had she been standing there?

" 'Got some food for ya... From that table over there," The waitress slides a large tray of food onto the chipped table. She wipes her hands onto her apron then points over to a table filled with three young men in armor. I look over at Enyo uneasily but she just stares over at the table across the room and bit her lip.

"T-thank you," I dismiss the waitress, looking down at the plates filled with food. There was seasoned chicken, beef and many vegetables. My mouth watered at the sight of the sizzling chicken. I pull one of the plates towards me and hesitantly pull the chicken up to my mouth before taking a bite. Flavor exploded in my mouth as I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. I open them to see Enyo still eyeing up the men. I quickly finished my plate, while Enyo barely touches hers.

"Enyo, are you gonna eat that?" I ask as she slowly stands up and walks over to them. I look back at her untouched food across the table and bite my lip. Just one more bite... I lean across the table and pull off a piece of chicken and quickly put it in my mouth, hoping she wouldn't notice. I look over frantically to see if she saw me, but she wasn't even looking as her arms were crossed in front of her chest while she talked to the men. One of them was looking over at me. I quickly turn back to the table and stand up. I push in my chair and pick up my helmet from the end of the table. I slowly slide it on my head before look over at Enyo, who was now sitting in the booth talking quietly.

I strut over towards them and stand at the edge of the table. They all immediately stop talking and stare at my intently. "Enyo, we have to go," I state blankly.

"We have plently of time, sister," She smiles and points to her head, gesturing to my helmet. I reluctantly pull off my helmet and sit across the table from Enyo. They continue talking and laughing while I just sit there quietly, fiddling with my fingers under the table.

I felt uncomfortable sitting in the booth with all those men I didn't know... I just want to leave and go to the castle. I stare down at my hands. For a while, they just talked about adventures they had and funny stories from better times.

I learned their names, even though that was probably irrelevant since I will never meet them again. Jacob, the oldest, was tall and muscular. I could tell Enyo really took a liking to him just by the look on her face when she looked at him. He had short, light brown hair and dark brown eyes. Marco was sitting in a chair against the wall. He was really short and had slick black hair and light brown eyes. Anthony was sitting next to me. He was nice and outgoing. His hair was light blond and his eyes were a bright blue.

I look back down at my hands and sigh. I haven't said a word since I sat down. Suddenly, a mug plops down in front of me. I jump and dart my eyes forward to see the waitress giving us rum. It's only morning still. The three boys lift up their mugs.

"To Enyo!" Jacob yells and I smirk.

"To Enyo!" I cheer and everyone clinks cups before taking a drink. I smile, hesitantly chugging the alcohol before wiping my lips with my gauntlet. Enyo stares oddly at the drink, not taking a sip.

"How did you know my name..." She slowly looks up from her cup at Jacob. He turns pale as a ghost.

"Y-you told it to us in one of your stories," he says in a shaky voice. My heart sinks in my stomach. What was in that drink? I stand up quickly and rip out my sword, pointing it Anthony. He raises his arms up in innocence.

"What was in the drink?" she asks a little louder in a deep voice. My hands were shaky with fear. Jacob steps forward while the others all sit there in confusion.

"I will die for my town! You will not take it over!" he yells, pulling out his sword. The waitress yells something to us, but I wasn't paying attention.

"Jacob, what in gods name are you doing?" Anthony yells out as Enyo pulls out her sword.

"WHAT WAS IN THE GODDAMN DRINK?!" Enyo screeches, pulling Jacob into a headlock with her sword pressed against his throat. My head starts to spin.

"Jacob, what did you do to her?" Anthony yells out as I catch my balance by grabbing onto the table. Jacob grins while Anthony quickly wraps his arms around me to help me stay up.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER OR I WILL SLIT HIS THROAT!" Enyo screams and the waitress yells something else. I drop my sword to the ground, leaning back against Anthony for support. I feel really tired.

"Jacob, what have you done?!" The boy holding me asks in a shaky voice. I suddenly hunch forward and throw up on the ground. Whatever he gave me, my body was rejecting it... Which was good... I think. I watch from my squatted position as Enyo slams Jacob into a table next to us and tackles him to the ground, continuously punching him in the face. The waitress runs over and tries pry her off. I throw up again and slowly stand up from my position. I try to push Anthony away, but instead I fall to my hands and knees in pain. My stomach was burning. I feel as though if I even blinked, I would fall asleep.

"What hurts?" Anthony kneels down next to me with his hand on my back. I feel sweat pouring down my face as I retched again. "Marco, give me that water! She's going to get dehydrated!" Anthony looks up the remaining guy in the booth, watching in horror as Enyo beats Jacob senseless. "Marco!" he yelled out again and Marco finally looked at him with a straight face as he stands up.

"I am loyal to Jacob," Marco hesitantly pulls out his sword. "Step away from the girl," he hissed. Anthony stood up straight like a plank and stared at Marco in disbelief. My eyes flutter as I struggle to keep them open.

"We are knights! We are supposed to fight for what is right an-" Anthony starts but Marco pushes him away from me and yanks me off the ground by the back of my chest plate. I groan and grab my stomach, trying to lean forward but he holds me up straight. Anthony pulls out his sword while Marco puts the blade to my throat. "They are rebels, Anthony!" Marco yells as he presses the blade tighter to my neck. I clench my jaw. I was getting angry now.

"Let go of me... Right... Now..." I say in a low voice, trying to contain my anger. Marco ignores me and continues to argue with Anthony. I swiftly grab the blade with my bare hand and twist it out of his grip. All in one motion, I kick Marco's knee with my heel, spin around and pull him into a headlock. I slide his own blade across his throat and he falls to his knees, squeezing his throat in attempt to stop the bleeding. Marco chokes and gags as he falls face down to the floor. Anthony watches with a clenched jaw, not moving a muscle.

"Super eum vivere..." I panted, struggling to keep my eyes open as I stared at Anthony. I drop the sword as the world around me spins faster. Then, it all turned black.