My Black Heart

Chapter Eight

Zack's Point of View

It was the morning before I was supposed to leave for my Quest when my father called me to another meeting. At least this time he allowed be to wear normal clothes - those dress clothes were so itchy. I wondered what the drone would be about this time, and then I thought, there was no point, because it was obvious the Black Witch had attacked again, to me especially. I had felt the magical disturbances one again, and they were just as strong. A lot of power had been used up, perhaps now was the best time to leave. Once again, I met my brother Paul at the entrance to the door. He was standing proudly again, tutting at my lateness once again. I just sighed and barged passed into the meeting room. It was the same as last time with all the advisors waiting impatiently. I apologised for being late again, and then took my seat by Paul this time.

            "We are gathered here today for one reason and one reason only," my father boomed. "The Black Witch has struck again." The simple sentence made everybody in the room gasp. "The small residence near her castle, Redin, was hit badly by her outrageous aggression and power. All the houses have burnt down and the trees have fallen." Everybody gasped again, as if it had been rehearsed previously.

            "I heard some other news, your majesty," one of the young advisers said.

            "And what might that be?" my father wondered, as did everybody else in the room.

            "That the Black Witch's brother, stood up against his own sister." There was an eruption of cheers, confused questions, yells and bellows, until the King silenced them all.

            "If this information is true, then now is a brilliant time for my son to begin his Quest, is it not?" he suggested. I was going to begin it today anyway; however it didn't harm them to think they were controlling me.

            "I will leave today, father," I confirmed. The advisors cheered in encouragement, and I suggested that I left as soon as possible, as I had remembered about meeting Edmund. My father excused me from the meeting early so that I could leave, which was, one perk of the Quest to death.

Packing only one bag of supplies to leave with, I went to the weapon house. As always, my favourite sword, nicknamed slasher (yes, I know, original) was in its usual spot. I took hold of the handle, feeling its weight. Once I was happy, I went to the stables to say goodbye to Thunder. It was very sad for me to leave him behind, but it was useless taking a horse when I could use my elements to travel in tiredness. I didn't tell anybody when I walked out of the castle grounds. I did not want any commotion whatsoever.

Sword in sheath, I walked rather quickly towards the edge of the village. I was in disguise, so nobody from the village recognised me, as they rarely saw me out of my castle clothes. As promised, Edmund was standing against one of the trees on the edge of town. He looked more youthful than he had in our previous encounter, and looked rather threatening with a sword in his hand. The sword was what caught my eye the most about his different appearance. It was solid silver, with a blue gem on the handle. It looked expensive. I did wonder where he had received it, but then I thought it was better not to ask such a personal question to the man who was going to help me.

            "You are late, Zack," Edmund sighed. He looked like he had something on his mind.

            "I am sorry, sir, I got caught up in another of father's meetings," I explained, and he nodded.

            "We should get moving," he suggested, and I agreed.

We walked for hours through a huge forest full of things I had never seen before. There were a hundred types of different flowers such as roses and bluebells and foxgloves. It really did fascinate me, as I had never known that such beauty existed. Finally, we stopped, taking a rest. I was in a worse shape than Edmund was, and he was an old man!