The Sleeping City

Chapter Eleven: Refugees

The Wildman who had covered the boys wound in moss and mud, now was waving a sort of metal wand over it. He spoke no prayers but moved the strange length of metal deliberately. Around him the others moved to their work, some attempting to calm the horse who reared and kicked violently.

One of them had managed to grab hold of his bridle and was being swung violently. Some were digging up the two she had loosely buried earlier. The green-eyed leader and his favorites stood around the boy watching the healer. Ketua was alone with the wildman who held her back away from the group.

He lifted her from the ground and restrained her in his arms. He did not want her to communicate with the earth in such a way that might interrupt them from saving the boys life.The rest of them had climbed back up into the trees disappearing from her sight and feel altogether.

Ketua did not struggle against the man who held her, but she spit out her words hotly in protest. "Leave him to die! He is the enemy. His life is forfeit to me by way of the Kings."

The man who held her whispered to her. "That boy is not our enemy. His horse was better armored than he was." His words made sense, but Ketua did not want to give up her hate.

She watched as the green-eyed man pushed aside the boys long pale curls exposing a strange brand on his forehead. "He is a conscript. He was taken from his people forcibly, probably for having a desirable ability. I can not tell which, but I hope whatever it is it helps him to hold onto life now."

The leader turned to look at her while he spoke. "Do not be so quick to kill, so hungry to hate him as you hate us. Remember Ketua, out here you are not in the arms of your kings. You are the outsider. "

She heard one of the two she had covered in dirt ask. "Does it have to be her?"

The man who held her looked at something in the sky and then let his gruff voice rollout. "Let her be taken to Aumbria now. There is precious little time left. We can not afford to wait for the boy."

The green-eyed man walked over to where she was constrained and taking a flask from under his disguise began to pour the water out over his face scrubbing away the moss and mud until she could see his face through the rivulettes of brown water. "Wait she should know first. If she is going to risk her life for us all. I bear a strong resemblance to my father, but I have my mother's eyes. This thing you are sent to do, know how much I wish it could be me instead."

Another strange bird cry pierced the air before he could continue his speech. He called for his people to take formation. "Take her to the secret way, take her quickly." He motioned to the one who held her, his weapon already drawn. Another group of Wildmen was rushing loudly at them. Whooping and crying as they brandished their weapons.

He shook his head."I do not know the way. I was too young when we left. It must be you who takes her." She was exchanged between the two. The green-eyed man slinging her easily over his shoulders. He headed for the demon horse, throwing her first onto the creatures back, before digging his heels into its side to climb aboard himself. He rushed the creature on and it responded as immediately as if he had been a dark rider himself.

"For Aumbria!" She heard the men call out as they met the wave of bandits. She turned her head to look away from the battle. The horse carried them quickly through the woods. The ride terrified her. She did not like to have her feet so far from the earth and yet she was glad to be headed to the city all the faster.

She called out to the green-eyed man. "You are not Wildmen"

The green-eyed man laughed. "I am Garyn Goldbird of Aumbria.I apprenticed at my father's side as a merchant. I was excited to leave home for the first time, but more excited to come home. We soon realized that the whole city was under the effects of some kind of sleeping spell. We tried getting in, but it was useless without the eye, we would just fall under the magicks effects. Some of us gave up, and left to make homes in other cities, the rest of us stayed and hid ourselves as wildmen not wanting to be targets for whoever it was that attacked our city. My ancestors told me of you in a dream long ago. The men you met today, they all believed in that dream. They all believe in you Ketua." Garyn's words stirred a million questions in her.