Chapter 30: Dark Forest
They awoke with the first rays of sunlight, which covered the eastern pastures until they reached them. Eastar turned away, muttered something, and kept his eyes closed. He felt a light kiss on his cheek and smiled.
— It's time to go.
He reached out, grabbing the princess and pressing her against his body.
— Just a little more.
He heard a laugh.
— Seeing you like that, I keep thinking. How did you sleep in space?
The boy opened his eyes, surprised by the question. Sindar was facing him, lying on his arm.
— Just like here, but there I just float.
— It must be weird.
— It's hard to say when you're born doing this, but I admit, I've been scared a few times when I woke up with my back to the planet. I was desperate, thinking that I was lost, until to turned and saw it. But I think everyone does that.
— Actually, you're the only one I've ever heard of that, son. — Aros was standing , with hands on hips and one eyebrow raised. — But, coming from you, not surprise me.
— Ha, ha. Very funny. — The young star rose and stretched.
Sindar sat up, laughing at them both.
Allyn already checked the horses. The twins were not in sight, and Sean and Drun struggled with each other, knocking out two half-charred pieces of wood they should have taken from the fire. Jaime sat down, rubbing his eyes , and saw Edwin still under the covers. He ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair and tied it back in a ponytail.
— Well, I don't seem to be the last one. — He said.
Allyn listened, looked at him, and then her eyes fell on Edwin. She rolled her eyes and walked up to the white-haired sirion. As she approached enough gave him a good kick in the ribs. A loud, high-pitched moan came out of the blanket, which was tossed aside to reveal the lieutenant, his hair curled, and drool dripping from one side of his mouth.
— Hey! What was this?
— It's already dawn, it's time.
— Ok, ok. Already woke up, you beautiful. — He smiled at Allyn with his eyes still half closed. She sighed, looking at that drunken face, turned and left.
The twins came out of the woods from the trail near which they had camped.
— The road goes on as it always has. There is no sign of any obstruction or trap, at least not for a couple of kilometers. — Relles began.
— Which means it won't be so easy to hunt down these bad guys. — Remus completed.
— I didn't expect it to be. — Edwin stood and ran a hand through his hair. — But let's take the road. If we cross the forest without being attacked then we will split into two groups and return by the flanks, a kilometer away into the woods. For now we'll camp on the road anyway. We'll do watch shifts, and every two nights we'll camp in the trees and clear the trails for at least a kilometer.
— When did you think of that? — Remus crossed his arms.
— Now. — Edwin scratched his growing beard. — Leading sucks.
The group prepared to leave, Edwin led the way, alongside Aros and Allyn, followed by Eastar, Sindar and Jaime. Behind came the boys and the Wild Twins, who hummed a song.
They passed the arch of trees at the entrance of the forest. Suddenly, everything was very dark and, if not for the eyes of all, shining like small pairs of lamps, they would need torches and lamps to see the way.
— The name of this forest is really appropriate. — Eastar looked up, noticing the dense foliage that would not let sunlight through.
— That's name came after. When the trees were young, the forest was called Lovely Groove. — Remus said.
Eastar turned back, eyes wide opened, and said:
— Amazingly, the name has improved.
The twins laughed at their low, resounding voices.
— Maybe that's why there are no songs with her old name. — Relles replies.
The brothers nodded and began to sing together.
Where light does not reach
Where the children will find strength
Where clearings were on the past
Where merchants will pass
The beauty hidden in the darkness
The desert soil that looks limitless
It has greatness, but not place to rest
Our amazing and big Dark Forest
The rest of the group joined the song, and Eastar also sang as the chorus came, repeating "Our amazing and big Dark Forest" as it swayed in the saddle. So they followed, more excited, singing and talking for a while, still watching around. Looking for suspicious movements or anything that could alert them from approaching the bandits.
***
— Aaaahhh! Where are these bastards! — Relles screamed, startling everyone, including the horse he was riding on, a large red stallion that looked remarkably like his rider.
Two days had passed since the group entered the forest, had adhered to a daily routine of waking up, eating, take the road, stop to eat again, then more, and finally stop to sleep. They had found no sign of bandits or camp marks. From time to time two or three of the group would go out into the trees looking for some trail, and yet nothing.
— Calm down, Relles, it's still five more days until we reach the other side of the forest. We have much more what to look for. — Remus scolded his brother.
— Okay, okay. But my songs are ending and my ass is already in the shape of this saddle. He stood up and massaged his buttocks. — It would be good for some excitement here, to hit someone. My hammer is scratching to hit something .
— Very well, I'll be responsible for your enjoyment of the night, Relles. — Aros shouted from the front of the line.
— Oh, here's something I 'd like to see. — Jaime said as turned to Eastar, who laughed.
— So, my dears, tonight's event is going to be a titan battle! — Edwin stood in the stirrups of the saddle. He raised one arm and turned, pointing at Relles. — One of the terrible Wild Twins.
He paused for a moment as a round of applause rose from the audience, remembered something important and put his hand over his mouth, whispering to Aros.
— We will have weapons in this fight, commander?
The star laughed and nodded.
— Great! So on one side… what I said, the fat giant with his hammer! — Relles scowled at the nickname, but hearing his brother's laughter he couldn't resist and laughed too. — And on the other, the great commander of the Earth-star Legion! The Prediction's Hero! The most powerful star we know. Aros!
Another round of applause and laughter followed the presentation. Edwin bowed from his horse and turned again. They began to argue and bet on who would win that dispute, or most did. Eastar knew his father, knew the battle dance, though he had not mastered it yet, and chose not to bet, felt it would be cheating.
Anyway, that would be fun.
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Zimmerer
Zimmerer A little chapter today...
Hope you enjoy!
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