Morning came all too soon. I knew I had to find Brye before we entered the forest. For all I knew, one of us might not even survive! And then where would I be? If I did die, I would want to do it with a clear conscious. I sat up and brushed the green leaves in my hair that must’ve fallen during the night. Wait… what was I thinking? Die? There was a chance I might die. There was one last time I entered the forest, too. If I survived it before, though, couldn’t I do it again? And Brye, he had entered to save me, and he had made it out alive. There was nothing to fear.
Fear.
My heart started to race as I shook out my sleeping mat. I rolled it up and leaned it against the tree. Where was Unstacia? Where was Conrad? Everybody was bustling about, nearly disorienting me.
“Is there a rush?” I asked.
“King’s orders. Nothing more,” was the reply I heard.
Speaking of the king, I needed to find him. I needed to speak with him. Had to.
If I could find him.
I didn’t even know where to look. Everyone seemed to busy, I didn’t really want to be a bother. But I had to find him!
“Your highness!”
I turned around. It was Sir Cadlhad. He had my horse.
“Thank you.” I took Clupint’s reigns from him.
“The King requested your presence. We are readying to enter the forest in no more than ten minutes.”
Ten minutes? “Why hadn’t someone woke me?” I demanded.
Sir Cadlhad shrugged. “King Brye said to let you sleep.” He turned and left met standing there, head full of questions.
I felt like a lazy fool. I really didn’t understand reasoning behind letting me sleep a few minutes before entering the Forest of Despondency. “Unstacia!” I yelled. I didn’t have a clue where she was. “I need my sword,” I added pitifully.
I have it read for you. Please don’t stress yourself ay such a critical moment!
Elves must have incredible hearing. I couldn’t even see her, but she heard me. I looked around for Brye. I spotted a clump of knights in the distance, about one hundred feet from the edge of the forest. Oh, how sickening the sight of the wall of darkness was. Why, oh why was I doing this again? What harm did the forest do, besides make a big, black dent in the map of Tentaleigh?
What was I thinking? I was no coward. I never thought like that. Of course I was frightened, but not cowardly. I would do anything to help my kingdom and the people in and around it. What could be making me think otherwise? Something inside me felt strange. Everything was so twisted.
I climbed onto Clupint and clicked my heels. He took me to where Everyone else was. I saw Conrad, he was next to Soea. I felt nauseas when I saw Soea. As if I were sick with fear.
And I saw Adda.
Adda!
She couldn’t go into the forest! She surely wouldn’t make it out. I couldn’t do that to her parents, or to me. I should have left her on Mount Geot. She would just have to stay behind. But not by herself. Someone would have to stay with her, and travel with her to the other side of the forest, where we would come out of if we didn’t succeed. But who could we spare? “Unstacia!” I turned to my companion. I wouldn’t want to lose her either, especially not the same way I had first lost Sweenlah. What a desolate hole this place left on my heart.
“Yes, Tenyjo? What is it?” Unstacia looked at me. She looked so faithful, and as if she already knew what I was about to say. She handed me my trustworthy sword, waiting for my words.
“I need you to do me a vastly important favor. I need you to not enter the forest. I need you to take Adda to the other side of the forest to wait for us. I can’t have her in the forest, I just can’t. I’ll worry the whole time, and that just won’t help me any!” I tried to smile. “Will you do it for me?”
Unstacia bowed her head respectfully. “Of course!” She was ever-cheerful. “Dear Adda! You are to come with me. We’ll have an adventure of our own.”
Adda directed Dido to where we were. She looked relieved. “I really didn’t think Layla was going to go in there. But I couldn’t tell.” She gave a sheepish smile.
If I wasn’t mistaken, Unstacia looked relieved, too. “May the rain fall for luscious life, Layla! May you be safe and accomplish what you’ve set out for. I believe in you. And I’ll see you, tomorrow, maybe?” Unstacia addressed me in a kind manor. Maybe that’s why she was such a pleasure to have around. Never angry or moody, nothing like me. Just a pleasure.
“Yes, maybe tomorrow.” Maybe? The word alarmed me! Did it mean, maybe, if I lived? “Maybe, if it doesn’t take you longer to travel the distance.” That sounded more confident.
“Bye!” Adda said, already taking off. I smiled.
Take care of yourself, Tenyjo.
I smiled again. They were gone, safe, out of harms way. Unlike me. I was marching straight into the arms of all malice. On purpose, too!
And I hadn’t talked to Brye. “Brye!” I said, spotting him in front of everyone. He motioned for me to come.
That really made me feel relief. I made my way through the thick crowd of knights. But I was glad there was a lot; we would need as many people as possible to kill all of the Colies. Those horrid, devil winged creatures were vicious, and there was so many of them. I didn’t like to think of them, especially not the fact that I would again soon be faced with them.
“Brye I need to tell you something. I didn’t mean that–”
Brye put his hand up hush me as Sir Iopie started talking to him. Was I not as important as him? As this mission? I flushed with embarrassing anger at the thought. I felt small and useless.
Sir Iopie took his place beside Brye, and in front of me. That irritated me. But what was I to do?
“I’m sorry about that Layla. But we’ll have to talk later.”
I wanted to sob. I let out a dreadfully whiney sigh. “But what if there isn’t a later?” then I clapped my hand over my mouth. Of course there would be a later. I didn’t know what the matter was with me.
Brye just glanced at me and sighed. He sounded just as wistful as me.
“Are you ready, princess?” I felt a whisper in my ear that set a shiver down the length of my spine. A shiver so violent that I was afraid it would knock me from Clupint’s back. And I knew who it was; but I didn’t want to even attempt to utter his name. So I tried to ignore it.
But it was hard.
“Don’t worry your majesty, you mustn’t be afraid. We all know you are the bravest here!” Soea spoke out loud, humiliating words that weren’t even true.
I wasn’t afraid. Not in the least bit.
“No, don’t worry!” I felt hands of reassurance on my back.
This was just too much. Rage was building up. I shook everyone off, yelping, “Do you not realize that I am the only one here that has slayed a Colie? This is nothing new! How dare you accuse me of cowardice.” I glared at Soea, cold hard and mean, at the same time, full of fire.
But of course he made it worse. That was the only thing he ever did. “My apologies, your highness. I had no idea.” he smiled a smile that seemed worshiping on the outside, but I could see beneath it. He was driving me to extreme madness, and I didn’t know what to do to stop it. And I knew that raving and clawing his eyes out wouldn’t help, although I really wanted to do it.
“Brave Knights,” Brye was addressing us before we entered the forest, “my lovely lady,” he looked at me, more wistful than not, and without his usual warmness. “Today we enter darkness. If you have never enter the Forest of Despondency, I warn you, it is not for the faint of heart. Although Colies can look like something you would eat for the evening meal, they’d much rather eat you. I know, because… well, please take caution, and remember, we are bettering life for the future. I know for a fact that some of you will not survive, and that even I might not survive, but this is something that has to be done. And we are the generation to do it. All thanks to our valiant Queen.” A round of applause for me. “I thank God for all of you, your gracious, courageous hearts. Good luck to al
l.” Brye turned Rebel around, facing the forest.
I gulped and closed my eyes. But then a thought shot across my mind. “Shouldn’t we dismount the horses before entering?” I had a page of experience on my reputation. I definitely knew what not to do.
“Everyone,” Brye called out, “dismount. And follow me.”
As I followed I wished I could be next to Brye, his hand for my comfort. But he was stingy with me, and it was all Conrad’s fault. Conrad and Soea’s. Maybe the two wouldn’t make it out alive. Oh, that was a harsh thought. Conrad wasn’t so bad, some of the time. He just needed to figure out what his purpose was. Because I didn’t know.
I just knew that I was about to reenter the most horrifying place in the history of time.
“Ready,” Brye called out, as an order. I put my hand on my sword, making my way closer to Brye.
“Remember,” he whispered to me, “this was all your idea.” Then he gave me his old familiar smirk, and my confidence soared. I felt above Soea, above the horrid Colies and Belraingst and poisonous mushrooms, and whatever else there might be in my future. And I felt ready. I couldn’t fight a smile, as I held my breath.
Then right before me, Brye took a step. And he was gone. I wanted to cry out, and pull him back into the daylight and into safety, but I followed him. Into the blackness of a nightmare. I felt numb, deaf, breathless, and helpless all at once. The old familiar feeling of the forest threw shots of horror through my body. It all happened too quickly, but it would have been worse had Inot been able to see Brye there in front of me.
Knights flooded in, giving reactions like they were holding on to life with grasping hands, ready to topple over into death. I knew exactly what they felt. A first taste of the forest’s dark silence was near poisonous, and I was glad in a strange way that I was experienced.
I pulled my sword out, knowing that any second I could be attacked from behind, or mauled from the side without a bit of notice. The suspense was menacing. I belted out a scream, with all my might, and it didn’t matter; for it would never be heard. It would linger in the quiet, forever. And if I wasn’t careful, so could my body.
I jumped with a shriek as Brye lunged out at something. He was wearing the spotters! Where had he found them? I had not even thought of them. And it was odd of him… to take them without asking me. I gripped my sword tightly, my palms starting to sweat. Suddenly Brye threw his hand above my head, pointing. Without a second guess I slung my sword with full force up over my head, hitting a Colie. Maybe it was best that he had them. I wasn’t sure if I had enough wits to help everyone while trying to keep myself alive.
I swung back and forth, butchering the satanic birdlike monsters left and right. Who knew silence could be so loud? The deafening of it roared in my ears. My head pounded like thunder, and my tongue bled from being bit out of fear. But I held on. My tense muscles ached and my eyes hurt from widening them more than I normally would. But I fought.
Then I saw something horrific beyond words. Sir Cadlhad, whom I had so recently spoke to before entering the forest, was brutally bitten. The Colie took a chunk from his neck, and if I hadn’t looked away I would have surely collapsed. I felt even more nauseas, my stomach a bag of soured milk. But I couldn’t let it affect my fighting! I had my life, too, to worry about! And… I had to worry about Brye. What if the same ghastly fate laid ahead for him? I couldn’t bear the thought. It weighed down on my shoulders as if I was being defeated by a perilous dragon. I could only swing with all my might; it was the only thing that would save me now.
“Brye!” I screamed out, so loud it hurt my throat. But he couldn’t hear me. His hand was in the mouth of a Colie, and… I couldn’t look. As long as it wasn’t a vital part! I could lose him this way. I couldn’t. I couldn’t.
Without thinking I lunged forward and plunged my sword into the air in front of him. I hit it; I hit the Colie. If I could’ve seen it I knew it would have its mouth open in a last screech, a threat of revenge, before it dropped dead. Brye looked at me, his sweet face, but his hand… it wasn’t… all there.
But as long as he was alive! That’s all I cared for, lived for! At this point limbs didn’t matter. And it was only a finger. He himself was still there. And I was glad.
All in an instant my happy moment was over. I was hit with forceful speed, and flew threw the air. When I landed on the ground, I didn’t want to move. It wasn’t fair. The Colies could see us, but we couldn’t see them. What and advantage! And now, now I was on the ground in the Forest of Despondency, and I didn’t know what came next. I rolled over in the dirt, trying to get up. Where was the Colie? Oh, how I wish I had a pair of spotters! I took a handful of dirt and slung it in front of me. I did nothing, and I knew it. But it was something. I crawled on my knees, trying helplessly to at least move to a different location then where I had fallen. And then– the feeling of the edge of hell– flitting wings, behind my back. The kind of feeling that made your breath short with fear, and then stop all together. The kind of feeling that you knew would hurt. I slowly put my sword in front of my face. I couldn’t even see it. But if I could, I would see my dense breath in my weak, vulnerable reflection. This was a place that could make the biggest, bravest person so small.
I thrusted my straight up into the air. I almost shrieked when I hit something, and almost fainted when it fell on me. It was so heavy, crushing the life from me. I tried to shove it off, but I had no strength.
No strength.
I struggled with my sword, wanting it out of the creature. Each second I shivered in repulse. It was as if there were millions of insects crawling over my torso, face and neck; but it’s hair was wiry and scratchy, and itchy. And by each second it felt heavier. I couldn’t get up.
Then, abruptly, but none too soon, I was released from my agony. I saw Brye standing over me. His muscle tense and bulging, he had the creature supposedly by it’s wings, seeing how far apart his hands were. When he rolled it off of me he took me by the hand and pulled me up, but he didn’t let go. He pulled me in the direction where no one was, and a I felt myself stricken pale. Was everyone else dead? Were we the only ones who had made it? And the forest was still there! We had failed! Failed.
And even in the midst of this perilous mission I found some humor. Brye looked funny in the spotters.
But what did it matter? He was nearly jerking my arm from the socket. Then we seemed to hit a wall, and I thought we were dead, until we fell through.
I remember to keep my eyes squeezed shut.
But event through my eyelids I felt blinded, and sweaty, in pain, and tired. Brye had landed on top of me knocking the breath from my lungs, although he was much less heavy than the Colie. He rolled off of me, and I opened my eyes. He was squinting, but he had his eyes open too. And he was looking at me.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I blurted out in a whisper.
“About what?” he said, brushing hair from my face.
“About Soea, the man whojoined our militia only last night, because he’s a sorcerer, and only Conrad and I know, but now you do too.” I breathed slowly, savoring the moment. I had done it, I had apologized. And he didn’t even seem upset anymore.
“I figured it would be something silly. I didn’t think you’d keep anything from me,” he sighed, his blue eyes intense. Then he kissed me. His kiss was so wonderful; gentle, unlike his usual self. And it made me weak.
Then I heard something. Something loud, something vicious. Brye jumped up, and I shot to my feet. In front of us stood a monster of enormous size, and on his face was enormous displeasure. It made its horridly loud noise again, and I jump. Fear raced through my body. What was it? Had a Colie escaped the forest? It did have wings. But it was black, furry, tall, eyes red as blood.
Suddenly I couldn’t breath. I tired to swallow, but the fact of the moment kept me from moving. I knew what the creature was.
“It’s a Gkantrolt!” I screeched, searching for my sword. It was in front of the monster’s feet. I
lunged for it, but when I grasped the cold metal the Gkantrolt hit me hard with it’s tail, sending me back a few feet. I slid in the dirt, excruciating pain all over my body from the force of the blow. But I had succeeded in reclaiming my sword.
Then the Gkantrolt followed after me, obviously not done yet. It opened it’s foaming mouth, it’s eyes flashing even brighter, but I had no fear. Brye was behind the monster.
I had no fear.
Brye plunged his sword in the Gkantrolt’s back, coming out the other side, awfully close to me. I relaxed and closed my eyes, so relieved I thought I might pass out. But something awoke me.
“Layla!”
I opened my eyes, and saw the creature ready to fall on me. I rolled over just in time, before the bloody mess hit the dirt. Then I was even more shaky. Brye helped me up. I stood, holding my dizzy head, looking around.
We weren’t alone. We weren’t alone!
Conrad was there, and I wanted to cry with relief. He ran to me.
“Layla!” he sounded out of breath. “Layla. Are you all right?” he asked, for once out of serious sincerity.
I nodded, breathlessly, then starting shaking my head. “Brye’s hand!”
Brye had his hand under his shirt. I didn’t even want to see it. But didn’t it hurt? There was mysterious smirk on his face.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll just have it sewn back on.” He pulled out his pinky finger, detached from the rest of his hand. I looked away abruptly, and he started laughing.
“You’re horrid!” I exclaimed. He just laughed. But then I began to wonder… and I realized that the Gkantrolt was dead at my feet. It was a Gkantrolt, the sort of monster that only arose every so often! A thousand years was a long time! Had this really been that significant of an event? And, why was there only one? Maybe this was only the beginning. Then again, maybe not. Had anyone ever killed it before?
But I hadn’t any more time to wonder. For I saw a sight I should have expected, but hadn’t; something that was more horrific than anything else I had seen today.
Soea was alive.
“I’m glad to my favorite royals made it out alive,” he said, so boastfully it made me want to spit. But he didn’t seem to be hiding his identity this time.
So without a thought I blurted out, “That’s him, Brye. He’s the sorcerer.”
Brye’s eyes darted at me, then back at Soea.
But Soea just laughed. “You say the word he with such disdain in your voice, my dear. Must you despise me so? I’ve done nothing, really.”
I breathed hard, deep. I shook my head slowly, not believing what I was hearing.
“But I have someone I want you to meet.” He bowed deeply, dirtily. What a wretched soul.
A large horse came out of the trees. It was a reddish horse with a creamy mane, tied mercilessly in knots down it’s neck. It raised it’s head, as if looking down upon us. It’s rider had black, shiny hair, pulled back. His eyes were slanted, his lips plump, and his arms– he was missing an arm. That sounded so familiar.
“Aduhlajh!” Brye yelled, accusingly.
I gasped, my hand over my mouth.
Aduhlajh looked at Brye with no sign of recognition. He turned to me with grim, revengeful eyes, and it made my quiver inside. I wasn’t surrounded by an army this time around. I had a Sorcerer that wasn’t on my side. And I was weak and weary from the forest.
What a fool-proof plan! Soea was smarter than he seemed, and that was pretty hard. He handy even hardly used magic on me, expect for his own amusement I suspected. And he was in with Aduhlajh!
“You won’t hurt her.” Brye stepped in front of me. What courage! He made me feel stupid and un-heroic, although I wasn’t sure if my fear was my fault, or still Soea’s.
Fear.
My fear was not only for me, but for Brye, and even for Conrad. And what if Unstacia turned the corner, with Adda in tow? What would happen to them? I didn’t know which was scarier: what would happen to them, or… what would happen to me.
Soea took a step towards me. “Oh, we’d never hurt her, don’t worry about that, princey-poo,” there he went using the wrong title again. “But what we will do is take her,” he smiled gloweringly, a weird mixture of emotions, but it was frightening.
What did he mean, take me?
Brye pulled out his sword, but Soea gestured his hands forward like only a sorcerer could, and before our very eyes his handsome sword melted. Brye dropped it in a hurry, putting the part of his good hand that had been dripped on to his mouth. Then he reached his mangled hand back and held my arm, with a tight grip that said he’d never let go. But with a sorcerer as his enemy, did he have a choice?
Soea just laughed, a menacing laughed. He brought his hands over his head, and with a malicious smile brought them in front of him. Spiny plants shot out of the ground, on either side of Brye. But we stayed put! We didn’t move. If we had tried, though, could we?
The plants took hold of Brye’s wrists, yanking him to the ground, cutting and chafing his already sore skin. He yelled out, not in pain, but it sounded in anguish. Defeat. He still had a hold of my arm, that is until an arm of the stalk reached up and slapped him, pricking his hand and bringing blood. He let go abruptly, although not unwillingly.
Oh, how my head spun! The earth beneath my feet could have crumbled, and I could have fell through, but I would have felt no worse. Or more frightened. Certainly they would take me now, for who was there to stop them? Only a person of higher magic than Soea, and I didn’t even know of one. I clenched my fists and closed my eyes. I had to manage my feelings.
They were my feelings.
Not Soea’s.
I had no fear.
But I wheeled and ran, despite anything I told myself. I ran into the Forest, and the darkness hit me in the head like a hammer. I fell, hugged my knees and cried as loudly as I possible could. I couldn’t hear myself. And I was glad.
But it was only a matter of seconds before a strong hand pulled me out, through the sheet of blackness, and I felt as though every single bone in my body had been broken. I didn’t open my eyes. I wasn’t sure I could.
The last thing I remembered was being slung over a horse, smelling the dank sweat, and hearing Brye and Conrad scream, “Layla!”
Chapter 9