The Realmsic Conquest: The Hero of Legend - Book 1 [2015 Watty Award Winner]

Chapter Fifteen

Maebus awoke with a splitting headache. The rays of daylight that found their way into the cave starkly contrasted with the darkened interior. The brightness penetrated his eyes, making them throb with pain.

Kelm hadn't awakened him for the second watch, and from what he could tell, the Wizard had already scrounged up more food. A blanket with leftover nuts, berries, and a few new edible shrubs lay just near the remnants of last night's fire. Maebus felt mentally and physically awful. He slowly pulled himself toward the food and grabbed a handful of bitter berries. He still didn't have an appetite and had to force himself to eat.

Maebus' ears perked to the sound of Kelm dragging his feet as he entered the cave. He'd been up the entire night and it showed in the bags beneath his eyes. With a lengthy groan, Kelm squatted next to him by the blanket. "You look as bad as I feel," he said, squeezing his stiff thighs.

"I was about to say the same to you," Maebus replied with a slightly full mouth.

Kelm grabbed a few berries. "I'm glad you're eating at least. While you were sleep, I scouted the area. The rocky terrain is steep, but we should be able to manage it on foot."

"Sounds good." Maebus tore off a corner of a green leaf. "But if we're still going to meet with Fable in the Ancient Lands, then I imagine we should get going."

"Indeed. It's already midday and we'll need to take full advantage of daylight travel."

Maebus rose unsteadily to his feet, followed by Kelm.

"My head is pounding. How long did you say it would take us to get there?"

"Several days, perhaps longer since we can't travel at night. I don't want to risk it. It would be too hard to see through the darkness, and any light we produce in the open will only draw attention to ourselves."

"That's understandable," Maebus said. He reached down to grab his robe and battle sword from the ground. After sheathing his sword, he slid the robe over his armor once again.

Kelm walked over to the fire pit and doused it by kicking dirt over its last burning embers. "I found a small mountain lake a couple of miles away. We'll be able to wash and refill our canteens."

"Okay," Maebus said as he staggered toward the cave opening to begin their walk to the lake.

Hiking through the clean mountain air made Maebus' head feel slightly better. They'd been walking for about twenty minutes, but the day was cool and crisp and provided relief from Maebus' warm layers of armor and clothing. The sun beamed bright, though not harshly, and a soothing breeze carried the faint scent of pine from the trees growing on the mountain ledges above them.

Maebus had forgotten how beautiful the Realm could be. He'd never spent much time in the Northern Lands and found its terrain fascinating. It amazed him how the trees and plants could thrive in a nearly solid rock environment. He chuckled as he compared the similarities to the Realm itself.

"What are you laughing at?"

Maebus smiled. "I was marveling at the irony of the Northern Lands. It amazes me that even in the midst of constant war, tranquility such as this can still exist."

Kelm nodded in agreement. "It's definitely interesting," he said. "We tend to forget that not everything in the kingdom is defined by war. Survival is brutal, but nature itself is very peaceful."

Maebus nodded. "If only man's nature was peaceful."

"Oh, but it is!" Kelm exclaimed. "However, I often find that man continually fights against his own nature. He wants to be above it, instead of being one with it."