Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Thirty Five

OMG I'm on time! Actually, a little bit early! WOOP WOOP! I'm proud of me ;)

Troyce was an odd town.

The first thing I noticed were the wooden planks in the branches of the huge, old trees. The planks formed large boxes, I realised. It wasn't until I noticed a man climb a tree, open the door to one of the boxes, and step inside, that I figured out what they were.

Houses! I yelped in my mind. They live in tree houses?

Willow noticed my gaping mouth and giggled quietly. "It's to avoid disaster when the river floods. The trees are really strong so they can withstand the currents."

I nodded, still in awe. The craftsmanship was inspiring. I mean, these weren't little tree houses for kids, they were people's actual homes. They had built full on family homes in these trees. I mean, imagine the amount of work it would take to carry all those materials up there, and then stay balanced on the branches while you stuck it all together. Though, those branches were huge.

Troyce was quiet, but not disturbingly so. Flickers within the boxes, and in the trees and surrounding forest hinted that it was actually inhabited. A small bubble of laughter and voices burst out somewhere far away, the birds called happily within the trees. It was really quite welcoming.

Isn't this in Odriscia? I wondered. I thought these people were supposed to be either extremely poor and unhappy or rich bastards.

My curiosity and confusion was literally eating away at me.

"I thought... I mean, are these people being affected by Colm?" I cringed at my awkwardly worded question.

"Who are you asking?" Saga queried. We were all walking together now.

I shrugged. "Anyone who knows the answer."

"I think they make the most of the peace they get. They are near the borders, and kind of hidden out of sight, so they aren't affected too much by Colm." Archer told me quietly. "The only time they are bothered by him is when his men want to make quick progress from Vandalind to the castle. Travelling by boat is quicker than foot, and Troyce is the closest Odriscian town to the border."

"This river flows from the middle of Vandalind to an Odriscian shore." Willow filled in for me. "So we get to travel downstream."

"Oi!" The sudden shout made all of us jump. A tall, strong looking man dressed in armour strode over to us, sword drawn already. "What do you think you're doing?"

"High Commander Mekhi-ran commanded to let Saga, the seer, and his company through. King's orders, Garret." Our guard told him calmly.

"Bull shit." Garret growled. His brown eyes glared at us stormily. "Did they tell you that?"

"No. I..." She faltered, and I heard Saga sigh beside me. "I just remembered."

Garret gave her a sceptical look, and she shrugged, looking confused. He directed his gaze back at us, and stared us down threateningly. "I didn't hear anything about this."

She frowned at him. "Well, ordered are orders."

Saga shrugged at him. "Wouldn't want to make the King Colm angry, would you?"

Garret looked at us a while longer. "I was with Mekhi-ran and his men. I heard he ran into trouble on the way here. Two powerful immortals, a traitorous okirima, and a useless onama." He looked at each of us pointedly, while the girl glared at him, though still puzzled. "Seems a little suss to me."

My whole body was buzzing with fear. I didn't know what to do with myself. How do I make myself not look suspicious or guilty? I knew I looked guilty. His gaze lingered on me and I felt hopelessly defeated.

Then he saw my sword.

His mouth dropped. "What – how – that sword..." He stared at it longer, and without hesitation stepped forward, pushing past Saga and Archer, and took it from me.

"Hey!" I snapped, a protective instinct taking over me, I moved forward to snatch it back but Archer stopped me with a heavy thud of his arm on my chest.

Garret studied the blade. "This is Zelda's." he said simply. "How did you get it?"

"This is her son, Isaak." Saga stated. Archer looked at him like he was mental.

Garret's mouth gaped open again. He gazed into my eyes, looking quite shook. He clenched his jaw and glared back at Saga, lifting his chin defiantly. "How do you know."

"Because I swore to Zelda, and this boy's father, that I would protect him."

Garret's expression did not falter. He and Saga seemed almost as if they were having a staring contest. Garret broke first. His whole body seemed to almost drop. He spun the sword around, handing the handle out to me and lightly holding the blade. I took it off him, bewildered by this conversation.

He glanced at the girl, then spoke lowly. "I was only a child then, but I loved her dearly – your mother – she was the most powerful and respectful woman that has ever lived. She dreamed of a greater world, where we can all live without so much fear as we do now, where we can live under a power we see fit, where Vandalind and Odriscia are allies and work together to build a brighter future." He nodded deeply to me. "I am honoured to meet her son, and though I know you never knew her, I hope that one day, you will rise to power as she did, and though you are different to her, I know you would be a fair ruler if you ever did become one." A strand of brown hair fell over his eyes, which he closed briefly as if in prayer. "I wish you all the luck in my heart, Isaak Storm."

"S-storm?" I muttered.

"Your mother's last name." Saga told me.

Zelda Storm.

Garret nodded. "I am so sorry you never knew her."

I nodded back. "Thank you for you kind words. I... I..."

"You don't have to thank me." He drew his thumb across the left side of his chest and gestured his hand towards me. It was a gesture I didn't understand, but I nodded at him anyway.

"Thank you, nonetheless." I whispered.

"Now. You must get going. Continue on, Serine." Garret told the girl. She nodded, looking heart-wrenchingly confused. He glanced at Saga. "Will she..."

"She won't remember anything that has happened, as soon as I break my hold completely."

"Good. I never saw you." He nodded one last time, spun on his heel, and walked into the forest.

"This way." Sarine told us.

TBH this chapter is a little odd but anyway. I was feeling it. 

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Babyy xx