Secret of the Blue Forest (COMPLETED)

Part 7

Lord Artis was sitting in his study; General Riendo, General Salvador and Jonald were sitting across his study table. Lord Artis placed a letter in front of them and sat back rubbing his forehead. They read the letter one by one and looked at Lord Artis. Lord Artis looked back at them. Silence was In the study room and then Jonald spoke.

Jonald: My lord, now?

Lord Artis: Now what? I cannot stop lord Philip to come to grassy plains.

Lord Salvador: My lord, I don't see the problem.

Lord Artis looks at him and laughed.

Lord Artis: Lord Philip is coming here to disrespect me; he is no lord but a mindless fighter. He is coming here so he can bring his fighters and as he say Help us with our problem, you know what he will do when he returns to his land? He will tell all people that Lord Artis could not handle his problems so he asked out Lord Philip's help. I don't want that disrespect Salvador.

Lord Salvador opened his mouth to say something but then he closes his mouth.

Lord Artis looks at Riendo and said.

"Any word from your lookouts?'

"No my lord, they have gone silent. They were suppose to come down for supplies last night"

"Well consider them dead, no one must know"

"Yes my lord, I already instructed my soldiers but to be sure I am going up myself tomorrow".

Lord Artis looked at Jonald, he asked him

"What is your report?"

"Valley is good my lord, everything is in order"

"You know Jonald, I admire you very much"

"My lord"

Then Lord Artis stood up, Three Army officials stood up too.

Lord Artis signed a paper and put the pen back in ink pot.

Lord Artis: Well gentlemen, you all are doing a good job, keep this up and we will wrap this up, now if you will excuse me I have to make arrangements for a mindless warrior's visit.

All three men stood up then bowed to Lord Artis and walked out. Lord Artis walked out in the hall way. A servant was dusting the Knight's armor decorated in the hallway. Lord Artis said to him.

"Go find Renald , tell him that I wish to see him in the garden and fetch me some wine".

Servant bowed and left. Lord Artis started walking towards outside. He wanted to get some fresh air. He was thinking about Red. Red left two days ago and has not returned. Lord Artis pulled back Riendo because Red was going in for investigation. He was getting a little worried about him, He was a skilled warrior without any doubt but he sent Red to the Blue Forest. He walked into the Garden which was in the courtyard of the castle. He saw Renald coming with a servant holding Wine jug and glasses.

Lord Artis sat on a bench, Renald reached him bowed. Lord Artis said.

"Sit"

Renald sat. Lord Artis Poured two glasses of wine and sent the servant away, he gave one to Renald and said.

"you know who is coming?"

"Lord Philip"

"Make arrangements, that idiot talks".

"Was busy making arrangements my lord, he will be comfortable".

"Any news of home?"

"Everything is good there".

Lord Artis took a sip and sat back, looking at the sky.

Her elf eyes opened slowly, She saw trees, she could see daylight. She tried to move but she was tied with her hands behind her back. She looked around, she was lying in a small cove, she saw her sword and dagger lying on the side, she looked once again but no one was there. She quickly started crawling towards her weapons, she turned and grabbed the dagger with her tied hands and started cutting her ropes which were made from thick woody vines. She got free and quickly drew her sword. She came out very cautiously. She came out of the cove and look around, step by step walking slowly. Forest was echoing with birds chirping. She guessed that sun came up about two or three hours ago. She noticed someone lying between trees. She walked up to the body and saw someone lying face down, blood was all around the body but it was dry. She could tell that whoever killed this person killed him during last night. She noticed that this person was wearing black leather armor so that meant it was not Max. She looked around again for Max body but did not saw any sign or blood or the body. She could not stay here to search more so she wore her sword again and started walking towards her home. She felt a little sore on her left side of the face. She got punched pretty hard last night. She travelled on the same path she travelled last day with Max. Remembering Max made her a little sad, it was not that she had a soft heart but after all she saw a person after many years and talked with a human, this was first time in her life. She did not stop to rest. When she saw any clear area, she started running and when heard any beast or wild animal she laid low. At afternoon she reached the stream, thanks to her running and also the fact that she was alone, she made it home in less time. A smile spread on her face when she saw her tree. She stepped into the stream, and started walking; she stopped in the middle and started splashing water on her face. She cleaned her face properly and washed her hands then she drank some water. Her canteen was left back because she did not thought of finding it. She crossed the stream and slowly walked to her tree, climbed her way to the wooden platform. She was so tired that she did not even take off her weapons. She just went to her bed which she made from skins of different animals. She fell on it and went into deep sleep.

At mid night she felt very thirsty, her throat was dried up and she felt like needles in her throat. She wanted to ignore but thirst was too strong. She sat up and saw nothing but dark. She walked to her canteens piled up in the corner, opened one and drank the water. She turned towards the forest and closed her eyes. She felt soft wind touching her face, she felt so relaxed, she focused on the coldness of the environment. She felt chilled, she smiled a little with her eyes closed. She felt a much fainted whip of wind near her ear but before she could understand anything, a hand grabbed her face. She got shocked and resisted but something Was struck on her head and she felt falling into the darkness.

All sounds of forest started to faint and she completely blacked out.

At the same time, in the grassy plains a caravan entered. This was Lord Phillip and his companions. Lord Philip was a 52 year old man with one eye. His one eye was wasted during a conflict in his local tavern. This was when he was 30 year old and not a lord at that time. He killed seven people single highhandedly but lost an eye. Lord Philip was a great warrior and preferred to live like a soldier. In his company there were all very skilled soldiers and he live with them like any other soldier. He was coming to grassy plains because he hated Lord Artis, he always thought he was too mellow and never was worthy of being a powerful lord, this was his perfect chance to prove that. Lord Philip saw that sun has set so he ordered his comrades to make camp. One of his companions said.

"If we keep on moving then we can make it to the castle by mid night".

Lord Philip looked at him and smiled.

Lord Philip: What to do you want Dake to think? that we wanted to see his ugly face so badly that we marched to him as soon as we entered grassy plains. Make camp, enjoy this night and let Ludik deal with the cooking.

Ludik was one of his true friends. His loyal soldier and was one of the most skilled warrior in whole lands. Lord Philip made camp there, till midnight their laughing echoed in the silent valley of grassy plains. At the next morning, they found out that their three horses and two guards were disappeared leaving no sign but some blood stains.