Eleanor Stargazer

Chapter Eight

"It's time for a champion
Soothe the soul of the land
Mend the heart from the sea and the sand
Until the sun comes up again"

- Sunshine, Matisyahu

Eleanor

They waited until nightfall to leave.

Damek asked Lucinda to work his vegetable and fruits cart at the market, said he'd be gone for a while as he needed to tend to his crops for the new season.

She didn't seem to believe the story when she heard that Damian and Ellie were accompanying him. She didn't say anything about it, though. Just looked at them through narrowed eyes and said a private goodbye to Damian. She knew there was more to this than just vegetable patches and fruit orchards.

*****

"So where exactly are we going?" Ellie asked as they walked through the back alleys of the city.

"The forest." Damek answered.

"Okay, but where in the forest? Why the forest?" She didn't know much about this world, but one thing she knew was that one doesn't just merely enter the forest.

"The king fears the forest. His men rarely go there."

"Why do they fear the forest?" If the knights and guards feared this place, surely they should fear it too?

"Because of all the stories?"

"What stories?" This was getting annoying.

"Just like children getting eaten by trees and water nymphs luring men into the river, drowning them." Damian answered with flashing eyes.

"And we don't fear that?" She stopped in her tracks.

"If it was true, we would." Damian turned to face her with his kind eyes.

"So, it's not true?"

He cocked his head, thinking for a moment. "It could be true. Water nymphs are known for their enchanting personalities. The trees would never eat children, though. I doubt that tiny screaming humans are anybody's idea of a nice meal."

"What?" She swallowed.

Damek chuckled. "Don't worry. We will be fine. Those are all just stories." He started walking again. "For the most part, at least."

"Can't you just say it will all be fine, and leave it at that?"

He laughed again. "You will be fine. You are safer in the forest, than the city. That  I can promise you."

Suddenly Ellie was acutely aware of the fact that she was placing her life in the hands of two strangers who did not seem bothered by the idea of man-eating trees.

*****

They reached the stables where Damek exchanged greetings with an older man. He glanced at Damek and Ellie, then headed back into the stables. A few seconds later and the man came out with three horses. Two chestnut coloured ones, one with a black tale and mane, the other also with a black mane and tale, but with a high white sock on all four legs, and a splash of white on the nose. The third horse was grey and white, her backside darker with light white spots.

Ellie gulped. She loved horses, but that didn't mean she knew how to ride them.

"Uhm, Damian." She said as Damek exchanged coins with the stable keeper.

"Yeah?"

"I can't ride a horse."

He cocked his head as he looked at her. "What do you mean you cannot ride a horse?"