The Iron Grip

Chapter 8

"Lay down young lady, you are not fit to go out yet", Abe said.

"Who are you? Where am I?", Lillie asked curiously.

"You are in my house, in the middle of no where", Abe explained. "I am Abe and this is my daughter Mallow." He gestured to the green-haired girl who sat over by the fireplace.

"You landed on top of our house two days ago. You've been out cold since", Abe said.

"Where in the mountains are we?", Lille asked.

"Nowhere near the edge if that is what you are worried about", Abe chuckled.

"Thank you for your hospitality sir, but I should really get going now", Lillie excused. She stood up, and let out a slight yelp as her she leant on her wrist.

"As far as I can see you have sprained your wrist", Mallow spoke up. She ran a stick through the ashes of the fire. "You should stay here until we can be sure it has healed."

"I must leave. I must get over the border", Lillie said defiantly.

"You can leave when the blizzard passes. I will not let you leave until then", Abe said.

Lillie lay back down on the straw bed and tried to fall asleep. Once more she had lost friends, and once more she would have to continue without them.

The next day, the blizzard still raged outside. The wooden hut, which usually stood out from the land around, was now engulfed in a whirlwind of snow. Going outside was unthinkable.

"Breakfast anyone?", Abe called from the fiery stove.

"What type of meat is this?", Lillie said curiously.

"Well Princess, I don't know if you monarchs have tasted it, but it is Dubwool. Best type of sustenance in these parts, second only really to Gogoat. The Gogoat that are left are too important to eat. They help us get around the mountains", Abe said. "How is your hand feeling?"

"I can barely feel my wrist", Lillie said.

"At least you wont be leaving today", Mallow said cheerfully.

A loud knock resounded on the door of the cabin. Lillie ducked for cover beneath the table.

"Sorry to bother you sir, but did you see a blonde haired girl cross these parts?", said the royal guard.

"No young lad. The only people who cross these lands are the outlaws and the dead men", Abe said innocently. "You'd be lucky to find her frozen carcass in this blizzard."

"Thank you sir", the guard. "I'll be off now." The guard closed the wooden door gently. Abe motioned that they stay silent until they were sure the guard had left. A close call. At least this time Lillie hadn't lost anyone.

"I have a request to make Lillie", Abe asked.

"What is it?", Lillie replied.

"When you leave to cross the border, take Mallow with you."

"Are you sure sir? You may never see her again."

"Any place is better for Mallow. A child of her age can't live isolated in the mountains."

Mallow looked at the ground. She had already agreed to this, but the daunting reality that she might not see her father agian was too much.