Chapter 10: Discussions and Telling Off's

The next morning everyone woke up and got straight to work gathering what was left of the food and hunting down some more in the woods that lined the river where the village ended. At about midday, already a late start, they had finished getting people into the pub and were saying goodbye to the women left to care for the injured.
"Thankyou for all you have done," the oldest said to them.
"You are welcome. I'm sorry our journey is so urgent," Salte said to her, "We may be back this way one day. I hope you are doing much better by then."
"We'll recover the best we can," she said. As they spoke Delos stepped out from the group and addressed Salte and Simon.
"I'm feeling much better now," Delos said, "And I've been thinking." Salte nodded.
"You want to stay," Simon said to him.
"They don't have any one to look out for them," Delos said, "and believe it or not, I can be of help to them and protect them." Simon and Salte thought for a moment.
"He's not a bad fighter," Trotes added, "He can be of use to them here, and we can speed our pace since all of you wish to see Love again as soon as possible."
"Don't you have a family?" Price asked. Delos nodded.
"They live in Calton capital," Delos said, "I'll return to them and you as soon as this town recovers. If it does."
"Can't we just send them?" Price asked.
"Too dangerous on these roads," Delos replied.
Salte looked at the women to see what they would think.
"We would appreciate someone to help," the oldest said.
Salte smiled and looked back to Delos and nodded. "Let's go," he said to everyone else. They all turned on their horses and started on their journey. Faith turned as they left and smiled at Delos in approval. Delos knelt down with his head bowed as she rode away.
"A little over a month journey," Trotes said to the Outcastes, "Let's hope nothing goes wrong between now and then."
"Are you sure the men with her can take care of her?" Simon asked.
"I'm never sure of anything," Trotes replied. He sped up to the lead and the rest followed him.
Claude, Samantha, and Seliah had reached the town the night that Salte and the rest were tending to the villagers.
The morning came, and they avoided the villagers while Samantha gathered goods and needed things for the trip to the next town, which was about a three days journey on horse back through a long valley, a short cave and another ravine. Claude and Seliah sat underneath a tree just outside the north part of the village talking when two men walked up. Claude looked up at them, and saw they were dressed raggadly in brown cloaks and they had thick beards. The two men looked at the girl, and then at Claude.
"And where might you two be travel'in" the one man said. Claude nor Seliah answered the man.
"You might want to tell us," the man said, "Because we are unders orders to keep an eye out on this road for anyone suspicious." Claude simply looked at the men without saying a word waiting to see what they would actually do, or might do. One of the men scoffed and walked a little closer.
"Silent ones eh?" the first man said, "Well that's okay. That's suspicious enough for us."
"Yea," the other said, "You might want to find another way besides the way you're look'in to go."
"And why's that?" Samantha asked behind them. The two men turned around.
"Weeeell," the first said, "We've got a right pretty here."
"She is isn't she," the second said, "A sight for eyes sore."
"A lot more than your eyes are going to be sore if you cause problems for us," Samantha replied.
"Oh," the first said, "Fearless pretty."
"Unlike the man behind us," the other said turning around to look at Claude, who was still watching them.
"You two are lucky you aren't dead," Samantha replied.
They two men laughed hard and long. Samantha grew angry at their insolence, but Claude was just ready to get on and leave the men alone.
"Don't come the way you're coming," the first man said.
"And what way would you suggest?" Samantha asked.
"Go that way," the second said pointing to the road that went west.
"That leads into Sholom," Samantha said, "That's way to far out of our way. We'll go straight." She threw a bag to Claude, who took it in one hand and took Seliah's hand in the other and got up. The men back off and watched the three walk off. Claude turned around and stared at them and then smiled a very menacing smile.
"Come and get us," he said to them. He turned around and they continued on.
The two men watched furious.
"Oh, we'll come and get you," the first said, "And we won't kill you right away, we'll make sure you wish you'd never been born first."
Samantha turned to Claude.
"I wasn't looking to pick a fight," Samantha said to Claude.
"They were going to do something no matter what," he replied, "I just wanted to get under their skin."
"Well," Samantha replied, "I think it worked." Seliah tugged on Claude's hand.
"Yes," he said to her.
"Are more people going to get hurt?" she said.
"Unfortunatly, it seems so," Claude replied, "Samantha how many roads to Calton are there besides this one."
"This is the quickest besides the Six Day road," she replied, "The one to the west leads to that and into Solom. There is one to the east that leads to Uriza, one of our cities, but that would increase our journey by a month. It's long no matter which way, and if we keep running into trouble, then this journey is going to be a very long one indeed."
"Well, time to get going," Claude said.
"We can get horses at the next town," Samantha said, "But we have to get there first." Claude nodded.
All the travelers, Salte's group and Claude, Samantha and Seliah were now making their own way toward Calton Capital. Claude, with no idea that his friends were actually behind him, continued on vigorously, while the group behind made their way quickly on horse back. Valley's were abundant in Calton and were going to make the trip longer that it truly had to be, and because of the dangers along the Six Day road, the quickest route was not an option.
Naturally, this world is much bigger than just what's happining with Salte and Claude's groups. Calton at this time is having to face different challenges posed by Coast than when the war began. Solom and Shiit have denied Coast the privilage of taking an army through their lands to invade Calton, which would take every possible resorce in Coast's possession anyway. King Valiant, who was being kept alive by the nobles influence in case Surel could not deliver on the promise of riches from Coast, had established relations with a very large reclusive group of warriors that lived in an area up in and enclosed by mountains. These warriors were called Razel, and they did not like relations with people. King Valiant only, with the help of General Syrathis, had managed to establish a very loose and casual friendship with the Razel. Surel kept that relationship going only by decieving the Razel into thinking that the King was still too sickly to rule, and that he had to recover. The Razel, of course, are not so foolish, but they keep relations for other reasons and the fact that they know the king is still alive.
Such were some of the conditions of the two countries. Syrathis and the two generals under him have their hands full with a new general that has come to command the Military of Coastshire. Though Syrathis had yet to face off with him the general had out manuvered the other two generals of Calton easily heaping two massive defeats that nearly crippled Calton. Surel's once secure rule is not tetering again. Although, by now Calton had caused considerablt damage to the Coast army, Coastshire was still plenty strong, though their strenght to invade Calton was now waning, Calton would not be strong enough to take Coastshire if they continued as they were.
King Surel still had support from the nobles, though somewhat lessened, but Syrathis supported Surel only because King Valiant requested him to. To violate the law and order through anarchy would cause much unrest in Calton and greatly weaken, if not shatter, the fagile unity of the country. The former gerneral Trotes was hard for Surel to controll, and so Surel took measures to take Trotes out of command. But Syrathis threatened to remove his support if Surel ever did away with Trotes. Trotes was not entirely thankful, but he and Syrathis were life long friends, and Trotes understood.
All that being said, Claude, Samantha and Seliah were well into their journey now to the next town; they were two days in a large ravine that led north, a river ran just east of them, and by now Claude was well aware that they were now being tracked by more than two men. He had realized this at the beginning of the second day and said nothing right away because he was not interested in scaring Seliah. He simply listened and caught glances of them with his keen eyes. He could even smell them from time to time when cool breezes from the mountain tops trickled to the bottom bringing the stinch of sweat and blood mingled with sweet polen and fresh leaves to his nostrils. He figured they were waiting for night time when he and his two companions would fall into an unsespecting sleep. He thought constantly about how to get them in suprise, hopefully without any disturbance to Seliah.
They continued on the road all day, when midday came Claude would not let them stop to eat.
"Why aren't we stopping?" Samantha asked.
"Because I don't think it's safe to stop," Claude replied. The he sighed, "I don't want anyone to catch up with us."
"Are you worried about those men?" Samantha asked.
"Yes," Claude replied.
"I don't think they followed us," Samantha relied, "They would have done something by now."
"Still, I don't want to take any chances," Claude said.
"Well, Seliah needs to rest," Samantha added.
"We really shouldn't," Claude replied quickly picking Seliah up, "I'll just carry her." Samantha sighed and shook her head as she followed Claude. She gave Seliah some food, and Seliah ate it thankfully. Claude refused and carried Seliah with no signs of slowing. The day slowly faded and they came to the end of the valley where the road led up into the mountains.
"Great, Okay," Claude said, "We're not going to try to make it up that road today."
"Thank goodness," Samantha said, "We've covered a lot of ground because of your bad feelings. I'm suprised we haven't caught up with your friends by now."
"We probably won't," he said, "They're really far ahead."
"What were they after?" Samantha asked.
"The royal family," Claude replied.
"What!?" Samantha screamed.
"The royal family was hidden with us in the Southlands and your king sent a load of soldiers to flush us out because of the great light, so we had to send them out," Claude told her, "But they were caught anyway."
"You let them get caught!?" Samantha exclaimed stopping.
"No," Claude replied, "They got caught. The Mayor of Oak tried to get them into Solom, but a group of soldiers caught up with them, so my friends went after them."
"They're not in any real danger," Samantha said, "He just wants them in his sights."
"But what if something happens on the way," Claude said just off the road and setting Seliah down. Seliah sat down where she was and patiently listened to the conversation.
"You couldn't stop it before," Samantha replied.
Claude shook his head rather than reply with a full testimonial defense, save to say, "You don't know the situation."
"Do I need to?" Samantha said.
"Yes," Claude replied, "Before you start blaming others." Silence ensued as Claude went to gather some wood for fire. He was attentive to their new camp site and did not go too far yet. He had not heard or identified any trace of anyone for sometime. But he was still cautious. When he had gathered enough wood to start a fire, he walked back to where Samantha and Seliah were sitting. Claude listened intently the whole time and watched to see anyone. He put the sticks down and started the fire with some flint that Samantha had. As he watched it grow, he heard something in the dark. He got up in alarm and looked around.
"What?" Samantha asked.
Seliah replied, "Something's coming."
"You can hear something?" Samantha said, "What is it?"
Claude said, "It sounds like . . . horses."
Samantha put the fire out and scattered the ashes quickly while Claude got Seliah and their things furthur off of the the road. When everyone was settled, they waited in silence for the horses to pass bye them, hopefully. The night was fairly bright. After a few moments, Samantha heard the sounds too.
"They're not merchants," she said, "They're in full gallop."
"There are four or five," Claude said.
"Five," Seliah replied. Claude nodded and smiled looking at Seliah.
"Keen," he said.
"How long have you been speaking our language?" Samantha asked looking at Claude.
Claude ducked down all the way to the ground and brought Seliah down. Samantha followed and the five horses got closer and closer until they passed swiftly.
"Hurry!"
"Who was that!?"
"Hiyahh"
The horses passed by swiftly and those were the only words heard. The the three waited untill they were sure the horses were gone, but just as they got back up, they got right back down.
"I hear more," Claude said.
"What!?" Samantha.
"How many, Seliah," Claude asked.
"They're too far away," she said, "hold on."
"How can you hear them?" Samantha wispered.
"Seven," Seliah replied.
"Those two must have been just part of a group," Samantha said.
"It's going to get smaller if they keep persuing us," Claude replied. Soon Samantha could hear the clops of the horses too, and she got down to the ground.
"Are you going to attack?" Samantha asked.
"No way," Claude replied, "Only if they provoke it."
The gallops got closer and closer until Claude could see them. He jumped up as soon as they passed. He got out and yelled, "HEY!"
Just then, Price turned around to see his brother running to meet them. Price sped forward as fast as he could, very suprised to see his brother there. Soon the others came behind him led by Salte and Simon.
"What in the land are you doing?" Claude exclaimed, "You're supposed to be days ahead of me?"
"We are," Simon replied smiling.
"Well, well," Salte said grinning as well, "You have no fear, Claude. Coming all by yourself with no horse or anything?"
"No horse," he replied. "But I'm not by myself," he added turning to where Samantha and Seliah were hiding. They walked out suprised by the turn of events.
"Who is this?" Salte asked. Just then Samantha walked past them.
"Trotes!?" she said as he rode up to see what the news was.
"So that's Trotes," Claude said.
"Has she said something about me?" Trotes asked Claude.
"Just in passing," Claude replied.
Samantha looked up at Trotes, "What are you doing? You left Calton with 200 men."
"They're dead, gone, or traveling with Princess Lores(Love) to Calton," Trotes replied.
"Samantha!" Fareh(Faith) exclaimed coming upon the scene. Fareh(Faith) slipped off the horse, and Samantha ran to her.
"Queen Faith!" she exclaimed. They embraced as Hope and Charis(Charity) rode up and got off their horse as well.
"Samantha!" they exclaimed running to her. Fareh took a good look at her.
"My you've grown into a beautiful young woman," Fareh said, "How old are you?"
"20," Samantha replied. The two young girls ran to hug Samantha. "Wow, look at you." Samantha said to them, "You're both so beautiful."
Faith looked over at Claude who was watching the scene with his brother and friends.
"I see you've met Claude," Fareh said.
"Yes, he helped me save her," Samantha said pointing to Seliah, who listened carefully to each voice. Fareh walked over to Seliah and knelt down in front of her and saw she was blind. Seliah was aware that she was there.
"Hello," Seliah said to Fareh.
"Hello, there," Fareh said to her, "What's your name?"
"Seliah," she replied and then spoke again, "Are you a queen?" Fareh laughed.
"I used to be," she said, "I'm not much of one right now." Trotes was riding back by on his horse when Faith said this to Seliah.
"Well, Surel certainly isn't the king, " Trotes clipped on his way to the front of the group. Fareh watched Trotes for a moment with sympathetic eyes.
"Who was that?" Seliah asked.
"A sad man," Fareh replied. Seliah looked toward Trotes as if she could see him and pondered. Meanwhile, Claude walked up to Fareh, and she stood up to hug him and said, "I can't believe we ran into you."
"I can't believe you were behind me," Claude said, "How did that happen?"
"Long story," Simon said walking to his horse, "We'll tell you on the way."
Claude looked at all of them. Everyone looked ready to continue on.
"We were going to set up for the night here," he said. Salte walked up with his horse, which nudged him gently in affection.
"Trotes said he knows a safe place to rest not far from here," he said, "Though he says we may have to weed out some bandits."
"Those bandits have been tracking us for a day and a half now," Claude said.
"They were!?" Samantha exclaimed walking up.
"I didn't want to scare Seliah," Claude replied, "But she's safe with all of us now."
Simon walked up to Seliah who was now standing next to Samantha.
"Hello," he said kneeling, "You must be Seliah."
"Hello," she replied, "who are you?"
"I'm Simon," he said, "Did you know that you are a pretty girl?" Seliah smiled and turned red. There was plenty of light from Salte's spear heads to see everyone's face.
"Thankyou, I don't know what pretty looks like," Seliah, "But I know it's good."
"She's a strong girl," Claude said, "She does better than I would if I were blind." Simon looked at Claude and then compassionatly at Seliah.
"It's a shame you can't teach her what you can do, Simon," Price said. Simon bobbed his head up and down slightly in consideration.
"I might can," Simon replied. Seliah gasped.
"Can you teach me to see?" Seliah said.
"Well, no," he said, "Even better. But I don't know if it can really be taught."
"Well . . . I can try," Seliah replied.
"Hmmm, then give me sometime to think about how I can try to teach you, and I will," Simon replied. Simon picked her up and put her on his horse.
Salte looked at Samantha.
"So who is this?" he asked. Fareh introduced her.
"This is the daughter of General Syrathis," she said, "One of my husband's closest friends, along with Trotes."
"Trotes is friends with your husband?" Salte replied, "You never mentioned that."
"That's why he saved Charis," Fareh said, "Their relationship has not been as close ever since Trote's family was killed, but the core love is still there, though it is buried deep inside Trotes."
Faith sighed. "Our kingdom is the stuff of fairytales," Fareh said, "It is rich with the history and drama of a struggling country. And you may get to meet Syrathis himself if he's not at war. He is not bound by predjudice as we once were. You two would get along well." Salte nodded. Samantha looked at Claude who looked at her.
"Come'on Claude," Price said to him, "I've gotten better at riding." Claude followed his brother and got on a horse.
"Can I ride with you, Queen Fareh?" Samanth asked.
"Of course," Fareh replied. Simon got up with Seliah and everyone mounted. Trotes, whom nobody had really missed, rode back to address the group.
"The Place we'll stay is just up ahead," he said, "And there are thieves staying there." They all nodded.
Trotes surveyed the riding arrangements, which he approved of and started off. The group followed, and they all rode slowly to be as quiet as possible.