Gareth and his two young companions gathered with their baggage for a final time at the waiting area of Dr. Bernard’s clinic.
“Th-This is absurd!” the old doctor exclaimed. “Stefan may be healed, but Gareth, you’re not! It’s only been three days!”
The warrior pulled up the right sleeve of his long shirt, revealing a patch of new, healthy pink skin surrounded by his normal fawn skin.
“You’ve been using the evil magic to speed up your healing….” Felix pointed out.
“I appreciate your efforts, doctor. However, I didn’t have the time to wait around. I have to find the Black Shield as soon as possible.”
The doctor sighed, putting a hand to his forehead.
“Whatever you do, keep the children safe. You can do that, right?”
“I’ve been doing that for the past 10 years. They’re my responsibility.” He confirmed.
“Very well. And just so you know, Esperance will not be joining you on your journey. He’s my horse, and he’ll stay safe here.”
“Wait… Esperance is yours?” Stefan asked.
“Yes. Gareth has just been borrowing him for a decade. He’s old, but very reliable. I have a few horses, but he’s the only I’d ever lend to someone in Gareth’s circumstances.”
“Stefan, you can’t just trade for a good horse with his level of intuition,” Anwen explained. “Horses like him are very valuable. No one would ever think of giving one up.”
“So, on which conditions was he borrowed?” Stefan asked.
“None. It’s just a show of gratitude, for saving Marius on that day so many years ago.” Felix answered.
‘It has to be that same time Gareth brought Anwen to this town.’ Stefan noted.
Heavy footsteps stomped against the stairs between the Bernard home and the doctor office. Leon emerged from the doorway, panting as he hauled a sack full of his belongings over his shoulder.
“Don’t forget me!” Leon exclaimed, joining the guests.
“Sorry?” Felix asked, a dejected tone in his voice.
“You heard me, Grandpa. I’m joining them on their journey.”
“You fool!” Felix exclaimed angrily. Despite his age, he was able to lunge at his grandson and hold him tightly by the shoulders. Leon remained defiant, not even flinching or yelling. “You have never been allowed to go anywhere near those mountains! What makes you think you can do that now?”
Leon shoved his grandfather’s hands away from him.
“I’m not a kid anymore! I’m not someone you have to watch out for. Get that in your head, Grandpa!”
“Look at your parents, Leon! Where are they now? Have they come back to their son and daughter, bringing back the treasures of the south like they said they would?”
“My mother and father made that decision because they were adults! They knew that something might happen to them, yet the hope of possibly reconnecting with our neighbors spurred them on!”
“They were stupid, Leon. They did everything alone. They left you and Janine for us to raise. They abandoned their responsibility as parents. You’re… you’re just like your father…”
Leon clenched his jaw as his face became sweaty.
“I’m not alone, Grandpa,” he said, gesturing at the three non-Mariusians behind him. “I thought about this really hard over the last couple of days. There is nothing for me to do here in Marius. I have no friends, we get no patients… let me make something of myself, please!”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Felix stared at his passionate grandson with a blank expression. Gareth put a hand on the older man’s shoulder.
“You have my word that I’ll protect Leon. I promise.” He assured the doctor.
-
“It’s not going to be any different from any other trading trip, Dad.” A man in his early thirties with a full set of black hair and a clean-shaven face said, patting the back of another man who still had some remaining tufts of head hair.
“They’re barbarians, Enok. They may as well be as crude as the Angels.”
“Only if we show them hostility,” the man’s son replied. “Which we won’t. We’re merchants, not warriors.
“We only offer them the products of Marius’ hard labor.” A woman slightly younger than the son said gleefully.
“There’s a reason no one crosses those mountains,” the older man warned. “You can still turn back around. There are hundreds of villages that could use Marius’ craftmanship.”
“We’ve been planning this trip for over a year. If we were to turn back, it would’ve been all the way back then. But not now.” Enok Bernard countered.
A woman in her late middle ages stepped out of the open doorway as she held the hands of two young children, a boy of six and girl of 10.
“I can’t believe you two didn’t say goodbye to Leon and Janine.” She frowned.
“Isabel!” the doctor exclaimed as their two grandchildren ran to bid their parents’ farewell. “Why aren’t you saying something to them? You know how dangerous this is!”
“They made their decision, honey. There’s no point in telling adults what and what not to do. They may even change the course of history.” She said, opposing Felix’s pleas, but not quite agreeing with what her son and daughter in-law chose.
“Mama and Papa will only be gone for a month, alright? We love you. Granny and Grandpa will take such great care of you, so be good to them.”
“Yes, Mama.” Janine said in a neutral tone. Her brother, however, was a mess. Distraught at his parent’s having to leave, Isabel had to wrench him away from his father’s legs. Enok looked at his children with subtle desolation. After getting one last look at them, he reached for his wife’s hand.
“Let’s go to the boat, Freja.” Enok said. Felix could only look on as the vessel shrunk and shrunk getting closer to the mountains, until it disappeared from the horizon.
-
A tear fell from Felix’s eye. All he saw when he looked at Leon’s face was his own son’s. It was like having to say goodbye to him twice.
“Are you… sure?” Felix asked his grandson a final time.
“I’m positive. The Black Shield will have many injured combatants. I can use that opportunity to improve my healing.” Leon said.
Felix wiped the tear from his eye and smiled. He took his grandson’s hand in his and made him make a promise to him.
“You have to come back when you’re done. You have no choice.”
“Of course, Grandpa. I’ll always return to Marius.”
He smiled even deeper, before turning to Gareth.
“Leon will not practice the evil magic you use to fight the Angels. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Doctor.” Gareth replied humbly.
“Can I say goodbye to Granny before we leave?” Leon asked.
“No need for that. She’d be heartbroken. I’ll let her know you left later.”
Felix kissed Leon on the forehead, before exchanging hugs with Stefan and Anwen.
“You kids were great to have over. I look forward to bringing you into my home again.”
“I’ll miss you, Gramps.” Anwen said.
“Thanks for everything.” Stefan spoke.
And with those parting words, Gareth’s party left for the shores of Lake Marius. Only, there was a slight problem.
“My boat’s not big enough for the four of us, let alone our belongings.” Leon said.
“No problem,” Gareth said, properly loading their baggage onto the wooden vessel. “You kids can use it. I’ll swim to the other side.”
“G-Gareth, you can’t be serious!” Leon exclaimed. “The lake’s seven leagues long at the shortest!”
“Never doubt what a person can do,” Gareth said. “Besides, I need an opportunity to get my muscles warm again and regain my strength. I’ll join up with you lot later.”
Ignoring Leon’s protests, Gareth pushed the boat into the water with the three teenagers and their provisions within.
“Can’t help it,” Stefan said. “That’s Gareth.”
‘A part of him.’ He wanted to add. But he didn’t want Anwen or Leon to know of the brutality he was capable of causing.
“Anwen, you’re helping with oar duty.” Leon said, passing one to him.
“Why don’t you let Stefan try for once? Every time we get on this thing, I’m always the one helping.” Anwen frowned, but still accepting the task she was given.
“Stefan grew up inland, he doesn’t know how to row. He should learn from you since you know him a lot better than me.” Leon answered.
“If I must,” Anwen sighed. “This is how a pro does it. Watch and learn, Stef.”
‘Stef… she called me that when she was drunk. There was a slur the last time, but she definitely called me that before.’
“So… where exactly do we need to go?” Stefan asked as he watched Anwen propel the back half of the vessel, while Leon took care of the front half.
“The mountains. I don’t know exactly where because all the lads who joined the Black Shield left at the same time.” Leon replied.
Stefan sighed. He knew that finding the Black Shield was going to be easier said than done. Their best option was to wait for Gareth to join up with them again and decide their next steps.