Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 61

"There is no Pox," declared Liofia with a coolness.

Box and Goola looked at her doubtingly. "It's just a device, a stratagem," she continued, "There'll be more rebellion. That's the virus they don't want spreading. I overheard my father say as much more than once."

By this point both Box and Goola were well aware that Liofia was indeed the Princess Liofia, and that fact, along with the constant stream of disclosures she shared with them, were a constant source of fascination. As a consequence their journey by sea to the Northern Kingdom, and then their subsequent disembarkation at the small port on its eastern coast, simply raced by. All in a blizzard of mild excitement. Eldskeep and Julen weren't quite as impressed, but even they gained a certain degree of enchantment from the fact that they were now travelling, incognito, with a wanted member of the Eastern Kingdom's royal family.

As they pattered through the woodlands that covered much of the Northern Kingdom, the time flew equally quickly. The muddy floor was damp and wet, and the occasional gust of wind caused a sharp nip of cold, but otherwise the travel was largely pleasant. As Liofia walked through the endless trees, Box and Goola were like two shadows either side of her. Whilst Julen and Eldskeep lagged behind, picking up the rear.

"But my grandfather," proffered Box, in a playful manner, "He said the pox is very real. It's why we were sent to the Maiden Lands in the first place."

"Or rather, to keep Julen out of trouble," added Goola, with equal mirth, the sense of irony not lost on her.

"Well he's wrong ..on both counts," laughed Liofia.

With that Julen arrived, galloping, his neckerchief round his face like a bandit. "The Pox is very real. Keep your distance!" he cried. The sword swinging down by his side now accompanied by a bow he gripped in his hand; making him look every part the country outlaw. In the Northern Kingdom the bow and arrow wasn't prohibited the same way it was in the Eastern Kingdom, though as they were already on the run it seemed little worth the worry either way. Julen had purchased it from a man in the port town where they'd docked, and ever since he'd been desperate to use it. His romantic notion being that he could hunt should they become hungry on the long journey. So far they'd barely seen an animal though. Certainly not one worthy of being hunted.

Fittingly the woods they were now passing through were called Archer's Wood. Once Woods, the place they were aiming for, being further westwards; though in reality the two blended into one. The vast woodlands in the Northern Kingdom stretching right from the eastern coast all the way to the western edge. So one could journey the entire length of the kingdom without ever stepping foot into open field. This was the plan the five travellers set upon, hoping to avoid people as much as possible. The problem with this though was that they would have to spend the nights out alone, in the sylvan darkness. Something they would have to start getting used if they planned to live amongst the half-tails. With darkness now beginning to fall they sized up a nice spot and began to set up camp. Julen, still eager to test his bow, heading out still further from the site, to see if he could spot something while there were still drops of daylight. Eldskeep, following behind, as ever, offering his worldly wisdom.

"Stay quiet, don't move so much."

Julen was an excellent shot with an arrow, and had plenty of experience from his time in the woodlands back home, around the farm. So he found these constant banal instructions a little irritating, but he said nothing. Much more focused was he on trying to espy something. As they stepped deeper into the undergrowth they felt the calm of the forest. The evening drift bringing a gentle lull. Their steps growing shorter and softer as they staked out the brown-green landscape in front. They peered out into a small clearing, from behind a large oak tree. Silence. Eldskeep moved to speak, but Julen raised his hand as if to signal quiet. Then Eldskeep spotted what Julen had spotted just a fraction earlier. A large deer, ambling innocently through the brush. Julen lifted his bow to take aim, pulling the arrow back with his right hand until he could feel the tautness of the string. More silence.

Then ..thud. 

From behind. Suddenly. A sword came down hard across Eldskeep's shoulder blade, sending him violently to the ground. The arrow from Julen's bow flying waywardly across the clearing. The deer, panicked, but reprieved, disappearing into the greenery. As Eldskeep fell hard upon the forest floor he turned to see two forest bandits. Their aggressive, scavenging eyes preying down upon him. He reached for his trusty sword, and swung it in hope, catching the first assailant across the kneecap.

Julen, rattled and too slow to reach his sword, instinctively punched out towards the second bandit. Fortunately catching him square on the mouth. He then swiftly followed this with a punch to the stranger's stomach, which doubled the man over in winded agony. He then dragged this unexpected foe by the scruff of his shirt and threw him across the grove. The man's head and back cracking firmly against the trunk of the large oak tree. Julen then unsheathed his sword and rushed over to finish the job. He raised it up to make the final blow ..but then paused. His thoughts flashed back to the moment in Patina, and the feeling of dark despair he'd felt after he'd plunged the sword point in then. The man looked up, his head bloodied and smashed, wondering why Julen wasn't putting him out of his misery.

As Julen stood frozen he heard a cry from Eldskeep. The bandit, incensed with more animal rage due to the slashed knee, bore down with ferocity. Violently cutting away at Eldskeep with his iron blade. The first heavy blow severing right the way through Eldskeep's left arm. He tried to squirm to avoid the following hard thrusts, holding up his sword to take the brunt, but it was little use. Finally, the outlaw's weapon was brought down with firmness into his soft flesh, piercing his stomach. Eldskeep lay dead upon the muddied ground.

Julen went hollow as his ears registered the death, but still he stood frozen. He didn't even turn his head to witness the scene. He just looked down at his assailant, who by now had fallen unconscious from his own wounds. The blood from his head dripping thickly upon the roots of the tree he'd crashed down against. The other attacker turned and looked towards Julen, barbarously eyeing his second victim; completely unconcerned for the fate of his collaborator lying immobilised on the ground. As he rushed to make his prey - unexpectedly - a jewelled dagger came through the dim light of the forest. It pierced his midriff and blood gushed from his belly. Reacting to the painful blow he turned back and slashed his sword firmly in the direction of the unseen attacker. The sword ripped through the cloak of his foe, but fortunately didn't quite catch the skin. As he doubled over in agony, blood spilling between his fingers as he clutched his stomach, he dropped his sword and fell to the ground. His body and bloodied clothes falling down upon the jewels that had spilled from the cloak of his killer.

Liofia, ignoring her fallen possessions, looked around with cat-like sharpness for any other predators lurking in the forest. As she did so, Box and Goola came running to join her, their swords held tentatively, just in case they were needed. The pair immediately flew over to Eldskeep as they entered the clearing. His body lying lifeless on the damp black floor. Julen, his sword now hanging limply by his side in his weak grip, turned round to finally view the scene. He headed over in despair, looking down at the maimed body of his friend. As the three mourned, Liofia remained alert, keeping watch. All was silent.

Later that night, in the pitch black darkness, they buried the portly body of their fallen companion. His sword dug erect in the ground as a makeshift grave marker. Grief-stricken and exhausted they settled to take a brief rest before making haste again at first daybreak. Liofia cradled the head of the despairing Julen, as both Box and Goola headed back to the scene of the conflict, to collect the jewels that had spilled from the lining of her cloak. Liofia brushed the hair from Julen's face and kissed him on the forehead. "It's okay. I saw what happened in Patina. It wasn't your fault." Julen looked up, making eye contact, but then put his head back down. When Box and Goola returned they handed Liofia the collection, some still encrusted with blood and mud from the sodden ground. Taking the weighty purse in her hand she opened it up and took out two rings, giving one to each. A ring with a bright amber stone for Box, and a ring with three red rubies for Goola.

As the morning daylight fully broke, beneath the arching trees, the four mourners wearily got to their feet. Liofia went and picked up Julen's bow from the forest clearing, as the other three took one last moment by the grave of Eldskeep. After saying a few words they then trundled on, heading west towards Once Woods, the land of the half-tails.