Chase

Chase wonder what keeps the brat from talking. It had been awhile since he saw Sofia moved her head. Her shoulders had turned slump and almost fall down, fortunately he noticed it and took a grip of her. He never bothered to wake her up. They still have a long way to go and she might be sleepy. Considering her condition, he made her leaned on him as they continued on their way. Iris on the other hand, felt uncomfortable to a certain extent, seeing the way Chase had treated Sofia. She bit her lips. The thought of having a new rival provoked her in some way. She was happy that Flaire was not with them but the happiness she felt just faded away. She sighed deeply and glanced at Sofia who was sleeping in silence. The hood partially covered its flaccid face.

  They soon came to a halt by a narrow river, flowing down the Valley where they came from. The water seemed refreshing and their horses needs to rest after their long ride. Sofia opened her eyes and gazed over her surroundings. The scene was unfamiliar to her. She might have fallen into deep sleep that she did not notice that they were now far away from the Hidden Valley. Someone cleared its throat near her ears, putting Sofia back into her knowledge. They were close enough that she could hear his breathing. She could even smell his scent, an aromatic rosette essence that fills her nostrils. Rosette? That smell. It was familiar. Sofia frowned and looked over her shoulders. His turquoise-blue eyes were glaring down on hers. Panic can be drawn from her face. It was Chase of course. He was just a few inch away from her. Sofia had never been this close to a man before, especially to someone as fetching as him. She straightened up, pulling herself away from him. Far enough that she had almost fell. Chase took hold of her wrist before she tumbled down. Sofia turned red in shame. She promised herself that she would not act stupid in front of him. Not anymore, but what was she doing now? Her sleepy eyes were now as wide as an owl.

  Chase shook his head and smirked. Was he that compelling enough that this girl had almost tripped down upon seeing him? Or had he been that awful to her that made her alarmed of his presence? Either that way or the other, he does not care. Iris throw an irksome look over Sofia as she guide the horses down into the stream. She watched as Chase dismounted from the horse, leaving Sofia behind. An insolent smile peered on her face. Maybe she was just suspecting. Chase would never took interest on girls with such character.

  Sofia saw Iris staring at her. She let out a smile and the young woman faintly smiled back, turning its look away. Getting down was her snag now. She was afraid that the horse would run wild as she unmounts from it. Tristan came and offered her a hand, seeing her difficulty. Sofia smiled but refused his help as she dismounted herself. She tripped and fell down to the ground. Chase glanced back, unwinding the strips of cloth around his palm.

  “Are you alright?” Tristan asked as he helped Sofia stand.

  Sofia nod and thanked him. The dress does not seem so comfortable. She gathered her skirt, finds a boulder and sat upon it. The wind blew her hood away, revealing her pretty, innocent face. The sound of the gently sloping water, rustling of dried leaves and the twittering of the wild birds create a wonderful symphony on her ears. Sofia stared aimlessly in silence. She remembered her dreams as it was, to some extent troubles her. Tristan went to her side, glancing at her troubled eyes. He was wondering what kind of thought she was pondering about.

  Iris draw the horses back, tying the ropes around the strong limb of a tree. The young woman draw out a flagon from one of the horse’s back and went to the stream to fetch some water for a drink. She went near Chase and offered him a drink.

  “Want some?” Iris asked, handling down the flagon.

  Chase lifted his head but turned away. He was not thirsty after all. Iris smirked and sat beside him. “I guess that’s a no,” she whispered. He lowered his gaze and went back to his course. He rolled back the strips of fabric into his hand.

  “Where’s Raven?” Sofia suddenly asked.

  “He might be chasing wild pigeons now,” Tristan replied with a smile.

  “Pigeons?” she further inquired, turning to the man beside her.

  “For our meal, perhaps,” the young man explained. “That is what his master instruct him anyway.”

  An old woman appeared unnoticed, few paces behind them. Chase felt something as the gem on his ear spark. Iris turned to him, alarmed. “Something was here,” he whispered, standing back to his feet.

  “Something?” Iris frowned, turning her back. She saw a figure of an elderly woman with a wooden crane. She was limping and her clothes were tattered. Helpless as she may seemed. Her hair was silvery white of old age with pale face full of lines and wrinkled. Sofia noticed her and bowed her head slightly as a sign of respect. Tristan was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the old lady.

  “Can I have a drink, my child?” The old woman uttered with a trembling voice. Sofia hurriedly went to fetch water from the stream with the flagon from the nearest cob. She was about to handed down the flagon to the old woman when Chase appeared before her and shove the stranger down to the ground in a harsh manner. Everyone was surprised by what he did.

  Sofia was suddenly infuriated. “What are you doing?! She was just an old woman!”

  For an old woman as her to wander alone in this forest? Tricky. Chased unsheathed his sword, aiming the blade down to the old woman’s throat. “Get back,” he whispered over his shoulders. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.” His voice was low and threatening. Sofia flinched back. Tristan finally sensed the trouble and draw his sword out.

  The old woman smirked and laughed with a shrill voice. “So, you might be a powerful warlock to sense me after all…” Lifting its head, Sofia could see the glaring, red eyes of the creature. It was furious and wicked. It begins to transmogrify itself. Out of its body came piercing legs, one after another, forming a shape of a spider with a head of a human. Its body was hairy and totally gross with its rotten flesh. Hourglass-shaped, red marking can be seen on its huge abdomen. On its fangs, dripped out a greenish, sticky substance. A huge black widow spider with a twist?

  “It was poisonous,” Tristan warned Sofia. “It could kill you in no time.”

  Sofia gulped in terror. She know nothing of swordsmanship. What have gone of her now? Maybe she would have just run, duck, and roll? But that was a fire precaution and it was a spider! Looks can be deceiving somehow. She never thought that old woman was a horrible monster.

  It suddenly spit web out of its mouth. “Try avoiding it,” Chase warned, blocking each silky, white thread with his deterring spell. Iris followed him, chanting. Tristan jumped to slit one of its legs and rolled down in victory. The creature screeched in pain by the loss of her limb.

  “Give me the Hunter and I will leave in peace,” the creature bargained, sipping her venom back. Trying to trick them of her dark scheme.

  Tristan scoffed. “Leave? After you killed us, maybe.”

  The monster let out a hysterical laughter. “How bright you are, my dear.” It released more thread and spit it towards them. “You think I will forgive you after you have cut off my limb?!” Sofia who was behind them was caught on her feet. The thread draw back, tugging Sofia behind. Tristan tried to slash off the mesh but it was malleable and resilient. Chase rolled over and cut the thread with his sword before the creature had a chance to pull Sofia into its wide-open mouth.

  The creature growled in dismay. No blade sharp enough could cut her thread easily. She glanced over the sword and was agitated upon seeing the crest that was engraved over its blade. The Archmage’s Sword, it is! “I’ve never seen such blade before,” the seven-legged monster said, since one had been cut off.

  Iris utters a spell. Enormous vines emerges from the ground, binding each limb of the creature. It twisted tightly enough to make the freak uttered a shrilled noise. The vines pulled, twisted, and crushed harder on the creature’s flesh, making it sank to the ground. Chase draw near the monster, putting his sword away.

  “Who sent you?” He asked.

  The monster chuckled wickedly. “No on
e sent me. But they’re coming for her,” came the reply, pointing at Sofia who was terrified by the sudden occurrence. Laughing wickedly, the creature added, “Tempting reward was on her head.”

  Chase narrowed his eyes. It was now the start of their abysmal quest. He raised his hand towards the creature. It suddenly shivered, gasping for air. Vital sparks of glowing red coming from the creature began to flow through his hand. He could feel his strength had been revived. The creature began to shatter into pieces of rose petals before turning into tiny specks of ash.

  Raven suddenly, dashed out of nowhere. He seemed to have a good catch by the way he sprint towards them. Huge pigeons were on his both shoulders. He halted seeing their horrid faces. “What have I missed?” No one seemed to hear him. Sofia turned to the boy and forcibly smile.

  “Nothing particular,” she said. It was hard to explain and Raven might not believe her until he heard it from his own master which is impossible.

  The child made a face, shrugging his shoulders. He gathered twigs and prepared their meal. They continued on their way after taking minutes of rest. Sofia laid in great silence as the others. Only the sound of hoof-beats can be heard. They avoided the forest and took the ominous cliff instead. Above, the wind was cold and moist. Sofia looked down the thick forest that extends from east to west. The scenery brought sudden chill to her spine. She wonder, what else would be awaiting them? What kind of monstrous creatures would turned up and prey on them? Would they still survive? The thought made her uneasy. The Dark was on her trail now. If she run away they would still be on her trail. Only two options were left for her now: to die now or die later. She would rather choose the latter of course. Sofia suddenly sneezed. She straightened up and pulled her cloak tighter.