Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 45

As the four travellers tramped ever onwards, the streets gave way to scattered little settlements and farmsteads. Increasingly they could feel the wind and the rain and the openness. Along with the mud. The plan was to just keep walking until they reached Aunt Ellever's house. The expectation being that they'd reach their destination later that day, or, if not then, certainly by early the next morning. Had the weather stayed clement, that one final night beneath the stars would have made a whimsical final campout. But, alas, now, with the depressing change of season, it wasn't quite so appealing. So after pushing on a further half an hour through the muddy bluster they spotted a disused barn at the bottom of an equally empty field, and decided to take shelter.

It was sparse, but surprising dry and comfortable. Meaning yet again, the four had found an opportunity to put their feet up and waste some time. Julen, who'd eaten barely anything all day, suddenly noticed the pang of hunger as they stopped. The others had collected apples, anticipating they might stand as a handy snack, but he hadn't thought to bother. Occupied as he was with his thoughts and daydreaming. Eldskeep, pleased to show off his own foresight, opened his bag and rolled six or seven apples across the straw-covered floor. He then took the bag, padded it into a pillow shape, and lay back on the straw himself. As he closed his eyes the crunch of Julen biting the first apple cracked and echoed slightly in the airy barn. The sound of the rain pittering down creating a distinct divide between the calm inside and the downpour without.

As Box and Goola set themselves down on the straw, Julen, having finished the first apple, walked over to the open door of the barn, then threw the apple core as far as he possibly could across the wet field. He enjoyed throwing it. The isolation of the place allowing him to get some aggression out. As he started on the second apple he crunched it extra quick, so he could throw that one too. Hoping he could throw it even further than the last. As he turned back round to face the others he noticed that Eldskeep had fallen fast asleep. He then went back to the barn door and sent the second apple core speeding through the air. As he threw it he heard a rustle and a clank at the back end of the barn. Turning again he could see he a goat, with treacle-coloured fur, that had wandered in from round the back.

Box and Goola instantly leapt to their feet, and headed towards it. Gleefully stroking and petting the damp, but adorable creature. Julen wondered where it had came from and inspected the other end of the barn to see if more were on their way. The entrance at the back just led onto the same field the barn was situated in. Further beyond which were were just more fields, presumably where the stray goat had arrived from. Except for the few goats and cows dotted about very far off in the distance he could see no others though, so he wandered back inside, where he found Box slicing an apple in half against the blade of her sword. She gave half to the goat, then took a bite out of the other half herself. Julen, finally feeling a touch of tiredness, sat down next to them, stroking the back of the goat as he did. The damp fur feeling slightly more disgusting to him than it did to the other two. The goat bleated, happy with the food and attention. Then, at that moment, Julen thought he heard another rustling sound in the barn.

"I heard it too," noted Box, as she saw him turn his head in reaction.

Julen stepped back up to take a second look around, thinking perhaps another goat had wandered in to find its friend.

"I think it's coming from up there," gestured Box, nodding towards the small ledge at the top of the barn. "It's probably just a bird."

"I'll check."

Julen then started climbing the short wooden ladder that led to the top. Even from where Box and Goola were sat it was clear that there was nothing but a few bales of hay up there. As Julen reached the ledge he could see much the same. Hay bales, stacked two and three high, leading back into the wooden beams of the roof. As he walked the ledge to check behind the bales he heard another slight rustle. He put his hand to his sword in readiness, though he felt mildly stupid for doing so. Then, he popped his head tentatively round to inspect the final little corner. Only to be greeted by the sight of a masked and hooded woman, crouched hidden in the hay. He took a shocked step back and instinctively drew his sword.

"Don't kill me as well," quipped Liofia, calmly.

Julen, startled, paused for a moment, not sure what to say.

"I'll come down," she said gently, picking up on how dumbfounded Julen was, and realising that she'd have to lead the conversation. Julen then headed back down the ladder, still dumbfounded, sword still in hand. Box and Goola stared puzzled at the person following him. As Julen reached the bottom Liofia put one foot on the ladder, took another step down a rung, then dropped, squirrel-like to the ground.

"Who are you?" quizzed Julen. As he said this he discreetly gave a nudging kick to Eldskeep, to try to wake him. He remained soundly asleep.

"I'm .."

Just as Liofia opened her mouth three men from the Queen's Guard burst into the barn. Swords raised. Followed by the two more coming through from the back. This noisy commotion finally woke Eldskeep. He surveyed the scene around him as he tried to lift the haze from his eyes.

"Just put down your sword, Julen."

Julen dropped his sword to the ground.