Druids Rise

Chapter 13~ The man with the cart

 "Matilida! wait up" I yelled as we tried to catch up to her though she didn't slow until her legs would no longer carry her all of us thankful she had stopped.

 "Matilida...what was the point...of chasing down a man in a cart?" I huffed trying to catch my breath as we stood in some kind a circle bent over taking long gasping breaths.

 "something isn't right with him" she said regaining her breath the rest of us still panting a bit as we began to walk.

"I can tell my father and get the attention of a guard" I said as I found my horse was still being held by the guard who handed me the reigns and I mounted.

 "do as much at you can Trystan we can spread the word here in the towns" Joseline said as I rode off to the castle the horse happy to move on from the place it had been held all day.

A while later I arrived at the castle the stable boy running up to take the steed to the stables and care for him and I went to my father though when I walked in I saw the man from the cart was in the throne room before my father there was no choice about the matter he was bound to stay.

"Ah look who decided to stop playing villager and be a prince" my father said as he got up and walked over to me and whispered.

 "there is something off about this man I have put the guards on high alert and his cart has been taken to the compound he is an egg bearer Trystan" then father let go of me and pushed me out of the room saying "we don't need a prince here go deal with other matters" or go check out the carts contents.

After a clothing change and a quick wash up I made my way to the court where all of the carts were kept if they were taken, I found his cart and went up to it moving things gently knowing that the stones were not stones but eggs of some kind though the four dragons my friends and I had called friends were long gone having returned to their home.

"I wonder what kind of eggs these are" I spoke to no one in particular looking at the collection and finding a piece of parchment with a sort of list that told of all the different types of eggs in the cart there were dragon eggs, sea horse eggs, gryphon eggs, and unicorn horns a sure sign that this man knew not of what was to come for him.

I went to my chambers and found Katiline putting away some of my clothing "Katiline I thought I would find you here" I chuckled as she looked at me and bowed.

 "My lord Trystan what can I do for you?" she asked looking at me with a kind smile.

"I need you to send word to my father that I need to speak with him..alone if possible" she nodded and stepped out going to find my father and deliver my message.

Later that night a soft knock came at my chamber door where after my father stepped into the room "Trystan what is it you needed to speak with me about?" he asked as he closed the door 

"The cart that man has is full of eggs father all kinds of dangerous things we can't keep it here we must take it to the enchanted forest or destroy the eggs before they hatch" I said with great urgency.

 "very well take our best and strongest horse and lay the eggs to rest in the wood but take no longer than you need there" he said before walking out.

I only nodded and got ready the stable boy bringing the large black Clydesdale we had and hitching her to the cart making sure everything was ready then letting me get up onto the cart in which I flicked the reigns and we started off out of the city to the forest this ride would take me until the sun rose the next morning it would be a long trip but it would be worth it.

"Easy now boy" I said to the horse as if her understood me his even hoof beats tapping the dirt road as we moved onward entering the forest of the beasts many of them hiding in the shadows of the trees. 

"hello...Hello is anyone there?" I called out into the dark nothingness of the woods then I heard the brush move to my left followed by a centaur he was tall and his coat was a light brown almost matching the trees bark.

"what do you need young prince?" he said his voice low and his moments swift as if he was to kill me at any second.

 "A strange man came into Lishengure bearing a cart of mythical eggs we fear they will hatch in our city perhaps you can bring them to where they belong perhaps find the nests they were taken from" I said staying calm as could be.

"theses eggs were taken from the nests of many beasts in the wood we have been looking far and wide for them come you can help me return them to their mothers" he said as he started off and I urged the horse to follow with a gentle flick and he started off after the centaur keeping pace perfectly and nest by nest each egg was returned to grateful creatures of the woods each giving a cry of delight.

"what is your name young prince?" the centaur said as he was leading us out of the wood.

 "I am Prince Trystan of Lishengure and your name is?" I responded waiting for an answer .

"I am Trevorius of Estera" he said as we stopped at the edge of the wood.

"Estera? where is that it's not on any map I have ever seen" I said pulling the horse to a halt and looking at him.

 "Estera is not a place that can be found on a map stupid boy" He said before racing off into the woods in which I flicked the reigns once more heading home to Lishengure.