“Water! Bring me water! Wizard, come here at once!” his commanding voice could be heard throughout most of the camp. The Wizard stopped his eye rolling as the witch pouted about the soldier that ran away and went into the tent. Seeing the stranger covered in leaves and bruises he sucked in his breath. “What happened sir, that she ended up in such a state? I will apply some salve to her cuts and those nasty bruises, it will take a day or two for them to subside.” Shaking his head, he reached in to his robe and pulled out a small metal jar. Reaching up with his hand to the wizard, Nikolas didn’t take his eyes off Ally. “Nay, I will apply it, tis again, my fault for not watching the lass more closely. More scouts came upon her wandering in the woods. Pray now she realize the situation and not stray far from camp. War is not to be taken lightly.” He took the salve the wizard handed him as he explained what happened. Applying the honey like concoction on the abrasion

“We..we dare not disturb ye, Sire, gave us instructions to..to not disturb yer Majesty un..unless the Castle was a..aflame.” pleading with the King for understanding, the soldier raised up, looked at the people all kneeling behind him. He did not want to be the one receiving the Kings wrath at that moment. They were all aware as to what King Barkarius had been doing in those 4 days. It happened often he would not leave his room during drug filled entertainment with female guests. The King had explicit rules to not be disturbed during that time. “So, ye thought not to inform me that the dragon managed to walk right out of my castle? Ye thought to not inform me, that half of my army, just abandoned their duties?” Going down each step as he spoke, the King stood before the soldier. “Apparently I am no longer King of this castle if ye think for a moment I need not know that the very purpose of my existence freely walked out the doors?” The King addressed all as he pulled the sw

“That would not suffice, as this was handmade by my mother, I dare say I demand more than some useless trinket box.” Her snobby persona was in full swing as her high-pitched words penetrated Cutterson’s ears. More whispers and giggles could be heard, from behind Lady Regaline, as the maids held the truth, that it truly was just a normal wooden box, with no sentimental value whatsoever. The lady had planned well, and caught him in a bind. She knew that Cutterson was not loyal to the King, so she had plans on making him pay for it, but after the visual of the naked men that graced the throne room floor, her desires were first in need of gratification. Cutterson was handsome enough, and even more, the Lady knew he was married with a child. She had heard talk of how faithful he was, and that all the maids swooned over it. The Lady would break him of that pride and seduce him, let him be her first. Bowing again, Cutterson knew he couldn’t compensate her for such a valuabl

One by one, coaxing the horses with sweet grass they had tucked against their chest behind their armor, Captain Nikolas and Barreth spoke soothing words to the animals as they walked nervously being led out of the camp. They could smell Caspian, but couldn’t see him, causing them to dance a little in place with each step. Finally getting the last horse out with nothing more than a mumbling turn, or coughing fit from the sleeping men, Captain Nikolas waited at the edge of the camp as the men got ready to throw the nests of hornets they had gathered, into the middle of all the sleeping scouts. Caspian had his head peering above some underbrush barely able to see the Captain as he stood at the other end. Waving his hand in the air towards Caspin, the dragon’s mouth started to spew a bit of white smoke before a small blaze of blue fire started licking around his mouth. Keeping his thick mouth pursed, he blew the fire in a thin line as he stepped slowly down the edge of the camp. Wi

“Tis true, we definitely got to push forward though. I be needed to speak with Halik, see’s if he’s got word on Cutterson. We be needin to get him out of the castle.” Barreth was worried about his next brother in arms. All three of them had entered the Kings army when they were young lads. They had faced bloodshed, death, and praise together. “Aye, I agree. When we get there, we shall do that first.” Cutterson’s absence had also been felt by Nikolas as well. “Let's ride, I’ve walked long enough in my troubles.” He mounted his horse and Barreth followed suite. Urging their horses forward into a gallop, the cool breeze hitting their faces, they finally met the worn path that led them just an hour from camp. Running along the path on the woods edge, with a wide stream flowing next to them, the sun glinted off the water. Nikolas noticed the shimmering of it and smiled as he took a deep breath. With the nice pace of his horse and fresh air, some of the furrowing of his b