Yggdrasilian Chronicles: Book 1

Towards Castle Town

"Milk and eggs secure." Aurael checked, looking behind her from the rider's seat on the caravan.

"Quivers loaded!" Satin called from atop the ride.

"Horses properly harnessed." Elijah reported from up front.

"Then we're all set?" Cress said from beside Satin.

"Yep!" Aurael said happily. "Let's get going! Hiyah!"

She snapped the reins, spurring the horses to trot to their destination. Elijah and Mai took either side of the caravan, while Terrence stayed behind it.

When the farm was out of sight, Aurael began to talk.

"So let's go over this again." She began. "We're on our way to Arum Castle Town, to the southwest."

"Right!" They all said in unison.

"We need to get there as soon as possible. With no interruptions, we can arrive before sundown tomorrow." She frowned. "But with monsters on the rise, that will be difficult. You need to keep them away from the caravan at all costs."

"Right!"

"We have time for a stop at Soren Village. We have a quick lunch, then we get back on the road. Do not goof off, is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good." The farm girl smiled. "Then let's speed it up!"

Then she snapped the reins again, and the horses began to gallop. The caravan shook, and nearly threw Satin and Cress off.

"Hey!" The Hunter protested. "Are ya trying to kill us?"

Aurael just laughed, and he couldn't help but smile.

Terrence remembered something he wanted to ask.

"How did you all meet?"

"Hmm..." Cress closed his eyes in thought. "Let's see...Oh yeah." He grinned. "Elijah was getting his butt kicked by a couple of other kids from the town. I just so happened to be there. Jumped right in without a thought for my own safety."

Elijah chuckled. "I admit, it wasn't my finest hour. If it weren't for him, I'd have been a mess."

"Why were you fighting?" Mai asked with a tilt of her head.

"Those boys stole stuff from Aurael and Satin. Some milk and eggs, and jewelry, to be exact."

Aurael sighed. "We weren't strong enough to fight back...I'm kind of ashamed..."

Satin growled. "Those boys were so cruel! They pushed us to the ground and laughed!"

"Lucky Cress and Elijah came along, or our valuables would have been gone."

"Eh, it was nothing." Cress said modestly.

"And since then," Elijah concluded. "We've been best friends."

"Fascinating..." Terrence and Mai said in awe.

...

A few hours later, they were still safely traveling, which was a relief.

Terrence smiled as Cress and Elijah traded some witty banter, laughing at each other's jokes. He spotted Mai and Satin stifling their laughter, and he swore he heard Aurael giggling from up front.

He was glad that they were having a good time, but...he started getting suspicious. Shouldn't a monster have attacked them by now?

"Guys." He called. "Uh... don't you find it odd that we haven't run into any trouble yet?"

Cress frowned. "Ya know... you're right..." He summoned his bow. "Something's up..."

Satin readied her own oak wood bow, while Elijah made his own weapon appear from thin air.

It was a one-handed axe, with a circular silver blade that had a gold edge. The handle was of white steel, and had a bronze pommel.

Another special weapon like Terrence's and Cress's...the village boy wondered just how many existed in the land.

"Be on guard." Elijah advised. "We'll be safe once we reach Soren Village."

Then the caravan slowed to a stop. And everyone was puzzled.

"Aurael, what's wrong?" Satin asked in concern.

"Soren Village..." The farm girl sounded horrified. "I-it's..."

Cress looked up ahead, and he dropped his bow.

"No way..."

Terrence went up front to see and froze.

He saw the outline of a village in the distance. And smoke was rising from it.

"What happened?" He wondered, a little worried.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Elijah step up, his expression grim.

Soren Village was attacked." He said darkly. "Come on, we need to search for survivors."