The Glory Chapter 13

I stumbled down the forest path; my limbs ached of stiffness from the uncomfortable night before. I shifted the weight of my sword around my waist and tried to stretch out my back. I groaned in satisfaction when I heard a low *pop* radiate from my back. I shook my arms in circles trying to loosen my stiffened muscles. I had decided to stay on the road and travel to Myric, then take the safer route to the fortress. I had never been out of Gheyer and I was excited knowing I would soon see a new village.

The sun was high in the sky; I could tell I had been traveling for half the day. I dreaded having to sleep on the ground again, for last night it took hours to find sleep. My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, when I had a small piece of bread and some berries I found nearby. I was glad Marv had thought to pack his apothecary journal so I could tell if the berries were poisonous or not. Swallowing I realized how thirsty I was. My throat and tongue were parched and I had no canteen. Really Marv, you couldn’t think to pack water? I thought. I suddenly felt guilty for the thought, as the image of Marv smiling at me before the beam fell on top of him flashed through my mind. I shuddered and continued down the forest road.

Moments later I stopped and shielded my eyes from the sun, trying to look ahead. To my left slightly off the path was a small pond. A smirk fell upon my face as I began to run eagerly to the pond. I surveyed the small pond before taking a drink. The pond was clear and crystalline. I sighed with relief as I dropped to my knees and began to drink the cool water. I stuck my head fully into the water and sucked the cool liquid into my lips. I tried to drink as much as I could because I knew I had nothing to store the water in later. I drank until I thought I was going to explode. After what felt like ages I finally emerged coughing and sputtering. The air around me was eerie and not peaceful as it was before. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and observed my surroundings.

Standing not ten feet away from me was two men in robes, the robes of the Wizards of Sacrydon. They had not yet noticed me, so I grabbed my bow and silently tried to creep away from them. The men were not looking in my direction, but they quickly turned around when my foot fell upon a twig. I cringed as the snapping sound echoed through the air. The men’s faces lit up when their eyes settled upon me, crouching bow ready. I quickly drew an arrow from the quiver on my back and slid it into the notch. “Get her!” the taller man yelled to the other. The man lunged forward, and before he could take another step my arrow found its way into his neck. His eyes grew wide as his right hand flew up to his neck. He clutched the arrow stunned at my quick release. His eye’s glazed over and he fell to the ground in a pool of crimson blood. I cringed as the thought sunk in, that was my first kill. The taller man acted quickly, stepping over his companion’s corpse and advancing towards me. As quickly as the last, I drew another arrow back into the bow’s string.  I was about to let it fly towards his chest when he shouted the word “Deara!” My bow flew from my hands and landed 5 feet away. I gasped and quickly grabbed for the hilt of my sword. I drew it from its sheath and raised it into ready position. The man laughed and began to draw his own sword, which glowed with enchanted magic. I don’t want to be struck by that blade I thought as I watched the glowing sword slid from its sheath. “You’re dead Juniper” he said in a sinister voice. I backed away, how did he know my name? He advanced lunging, trying to lodge his sword into my stomach. I reacted quickly parrying the shot. Steal met steal as he pushed his sword against mine sending me staggering backwards. I caught my balance before he struck again this time slashing for my shoulder, I saw an opportunity and I stole it. I ducked under his blade dodging it. Before he had time to recover I moved into his guard and rammed my sword into his stomach. I jumped quickly to the left to avoid any slashing as he fell to his knees, gasping for air. Bright red blood spurted from his mouth as he clutched his stomach. Blood flowed out of the stomach wound and across his fingers. A look of astonishment staled on his features. Before taking his last breath he raised his hand and muttered “Ferma”, through the gurgling blood. A fire bolt shot out of his hand, not towards me but past the tree tops into the sky. I frowned puzzled, and then realized with wide eyes, he just sent a signal. There were others and they now knew where I was.  “I don’t have much time” I said under my breath gathering my bow and slinging it onto my back. I then had an idea; I walked over to the corpses. Sure enough they both carried canteens strapped to their belts. They also each had a very small gold pouch strung through their belts. I removed them both and quickly threw them into my knapsack without taking it off. I also grabbed both of their canteens and filled them in the pond. I draped the straps over my chest and turned to run. I had no time to think of where to go, so I ran back on the road, heading for Myric.