Royal

I Pray You Will Not Leave Me Behind

I continue through the forest following the sound of running water I bring the two horses with me. We soon emerge at a stream and I lead the horses to it and let them drink. I squat down and refill the canteens in the running water, the steady flow is cold to the touch and I sigh wondering what will happen if snow begins to fall. I look around at all the yellow and orange leaves on the trees and worry that soon the warm summer evenings will turn to bitter winter nights, I fill the last canteen and cap it off quickly. I wait for the horses to get their fill of water hoping that they will be okay to wait to come back until later in the day. If only we could get Pete over near the stream, so we could have the fresh supply of water close by. I frown down at the water thinking about Peter if Peter lives through this what is the next step? 

Brendon has been seen by everyone defending me so if they catch us surely he will also face execution, I don't know if I can keep myself safe at this point. Brendon is now a part of this pitiful party, and everything me and Peter thought of will now have to include him in it. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but the two men have never quite got along, and the knowledge that Brendon once fancied me, and possibly still does lingers in my mind.

What if Pete never wakes up? What if this is it, this is all my life will surmount to a fallen king of a ruined kingdom. Left to rot to death in a forest no one can name in a land no man owns. I close my eyes and try to push away all of my doubts, I need Peter to wake up I can't think anything else will happen. 

 I grab the filled canteens and make my way back to our camp with the horses in tow. I sit down next to Pete and hold the canister to his mouth again. Perhaps if I can somehow force the water down, by massaging his throat that could help. I bring the cold water to his lips and hold my breath as I pour the water slowly into his mouth and then rub his throat willing the muscles there to contract and take the water in. To my surprise it works, he drinks the water slowly and I repeat the process until half the canister is empty. I smile and brush Peter's hair back off his forehead with a smile. This may actually work. 

I play with the ends of his bandages wondering if I should change any of them. My thoughts get interrupted when Brendon sits up so suddenly he causes me to yelp. 

"What in the world, do you always awake like the dead? You bafoon you scared the daylights out of me." I toss a stick at him and he just grumbles.

"Thought I heard something is all. How is Peter?" He rubs his eyes sleepily and I sigh looking down at the man below me.

"He has not awoken but I got some water in him at least." 

"Have you pondered that he may never wake from this sleep? 

"I have been trying to avoid entertaining that thought. I do not know how we will get out of here, and if we do where we should go. Everyone is out for my head and certainly, they are hunting us down at this very moment. They believe Peter is dead, and if they find him again he will not be breathing when they leave him this time. If they find us, Brendon, our heads will be taken clean off our shoulders." I sigh and sit down on the ground rubbing my forehead and scrunching my eyes tightly closed the whole situation is giving me a headache, a conundrum I cannot think my way out of.

"Well Patrick, if we can get Peter out of here perhaps I have someone who would be able to help us. It is not for certain, in fact, I believe he may kill me if I try to get his help but it could be worth a shot." He pauses and I open my eyes to look at him, he licks his lips nervously. "He could possibly forge some tickets for us to travel to the Americas, but it is a bitter cold deadly place there, many men have left and were never heard from again. But I hear in the south it is so warm that no snow ever falls." 

"preposterous, no snow? That is impossible, that could work, but to board a ship and spend months at sea Peter would have to be in good spirits. At least standing and talking, I am not sure if he will be able to do that Brendon. He cannot even drink water on his own."

Brendon pauses for a moment pondering over his thoughts and scratching his head, causing his dark brown hair to stick up in wild directions, he already has leaves stuck in the strands.

"What if I leave, I will go find help. I will get a doctor, and I will find my friend and get us open tickets for a voyage to America. I will bring the doctor back here and they will help Peter, then when Peter is back to himself we leave and start our new life." I stare at Brendon and bite my lip looking down at Peter pale and broken below me. 

"What if they find us while you are gone? I cannot carry Peter very far they would kill us." 

"Patrick if they find you, you have to protect yourself. There is no guarantee Peter will live or die but you still have a chance. I know that you don't want to hear that but it is the truth. I do not see any other solution besides sitting here and hoping for something that may never happen!"

"Brendon who will help you! You are a wanted man the first town you set foot into they will capture you and kill you. How do I know you will return? If you stay at least there is someone to watch my back, help me carry Peter if there is an emergency, and if you leave I am stranded here alone!" I feel I cannot breathe and I grip my chest as I wheeze the world feels like it is closing in around me as I think about being stuck out here alone with only an unconscious Peter as my company. 

Brendon rushes over and takes me in his arms stroking my hair gently and putting his chin on top of my head. "Patrick, I know this is scary, and I wish I could say everything would be okay, but I do not know what will happen. I know that me finding a doctor is our best chance for all of us, you, me and Peter getting out of this forest alive. I would never leave you here alone if I knew what else would work. I have done all I can for Peter, he is dying Patrick and we cannot help him. Please let me try to find someone who can if I do not return then it is up to you to decide what to do. There is a chance Peter will wake up and this will all go away. I will find the man with the boat passes first I will tell him to hold onto them until we return for them. If I can't make it back to tell you to look for Ryan Ross in WinterGreive."

With that Brendon stands and begins packing up things. "I will leave you with almost all of the food and water, but I will have to take a decent amount of the money, as this will require lots of bribing and I will purchase more supplies for myself when I find a safe town. I am not sure how long I will be. Perhaps few days if I can get word to Ryan quickly, perhaps a week if I cannot find a safe town to ask a doctor for help. I will leave you a horse, that way if you need too you can escape hastily, remember to stock up on firewood. You will need it the weather is changing..." Brendon rambles on as I stare in shock as he flits around the camp putting things in bags and strapping it to one of the horses. He leaves most of it only taking the bare minimum with him. 

"Will you know how to return?" I ask looking up at him with tears in my eyes.

"I will always be able to find you, Patrick. Look for me by the stream come a few days time. I will mark a spot there. Just stay alive Patrick, no matter what happens."

"I will try."