There were no roads to travel on. Ezra just let the mare guide him past fragrant cedars and muddy ravines to the general direction of the Port Town Foyun. That’s where anyone could supposedly enter and leave the Freelands. The coast is all covered by rocky peaks and waves that were too wild for most ships. To the mare, she felt disappointed. The same trees, flowers and river beds from her forest were all she saw. Her pace was slow, yet her companion kept her alive with his vibrant stories. The only abnormality, were a series of naturally formed spires protruding from the earth. Each had been covered with moss due to their long exposure to the outside world. In her mind, they all seemed to be apart of something long lost. Ezra himself smiled at the long undone structures. The mare took them off course, guiding the young man's mind ever closer to the figures. He didn't unmount. Just stuck his hand out to feel the moss and stone. She couldn't believe such a wonder exsisted right outside the forest she lived for so long.
She returned to their path and continued along another range of trees. Which felt odd being so close, not due to the number she has seen her life making her nauseous, she could feel emotions coming from within them.
“There should be a town nearby. I can tell you are hungry.” Ezra’s playful tone reminded her of the last meal she had.The drymites would offer berries from all around the forest. She herself knew it front and back, and could tell whether berries or fruits were fresh or not. However, the last real meal. With more than that. With meat, vegetables, grains, all the essentials. A forest with no monsters is a hard place to come by meat. Grain and vegetables could not grow due to forest changing all which grew from the soil. She pleaded with herself to take Ezra’s offer.
“I hope there is one as well, I could use a good meal.” Ezra looks in all directions for some piece of life.
“You know. I believe we should give you an actual name. If we are going to be working together, this could really help. I’m thinking of Anabelle.”
“Anabelle?”
“It’s the name I want to give my daughter if I ever get married.” Anabelle, she could feel herself getting closer to Ezra. A true name for the first time in 6000 years. This was more than acceptable.
“Thank you. I like it.” Anabelle now continued to sense the emotions coming from the forest. “Hey, I can feel something from within these trees. Happiness, sorrow, loneliness.”
Ezra stopped her. He turned to the trees and saw they were more bunched together. The two couldn’t get in even if they wanted to. They also stood way taller than any others from before. The blade on his back was unsheathed, revealing a blade just under his height, and with a width similar to that of the average throwing stone. Ezra lifted the blade over his head, then struck down with great speed. The collision caused a massive blast, knocking the two back. He quickly returned to his feet, the mare coming to his first attention. Anabelle was checked for possible bruises. None are found, just the horse giving him a joyful rub to his face.
“Having fun are you?” Ezra quickly turned, his weapon ready for another strike. Two men with mage staves stood before him, both dressed in the same purple mages garb with blue outlinings. A crest lay over their heart sections. A singular blue diamond within a red heart.
“Who are you?” Ezra asked the men while staying before Anabelle.
“Why don’t you tell us where you got that sword.” The man barked at him. He was confused at first, yet looking behind the men he noticed that his blade managed a small cut into what looked like some projected barrier. They stared fiercely at Ezra’s sword, keeping it their main focus.
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“Why do you care?”
“Ezra. These two seem worried. They are afraid. I’m certain they’re mages.” Anabelle helped Ezra’ turn this stand off in his favor.
“What do you want?’ was Ezra’s rebuttal.
“That’s enough questions for now.” The barrier opened entirely. The voice was feminine a figure strolled out through, she carried a staff just as tall as she was, for she dwarfed Ezra. She dressed the same as the other men, her skin was dark and riverlike hair sat at the top of her head in buns. The sun stinging eyes glared in harsh intent. As this she-giant was before them Anabelles sensed no fear growing in Ezra, and the sorceress did as well. She lifted her staff, then plunged it into the ground. Wind blasted through the air, causing the smaller boy to be pushed back along with the horse. As the gust stopped, he finally submitted. He put his sword away, and back towards Anabelle. The two other mages gathered to them, and took Ezra’s sword from him. It immediately dropped to the ground, and one of the men had his hand stuck underneath the hilt. He screamed for help, yet the other man couldn’t lift the mighty sword that seem almost close to normal. Their strain gave the two joy. The she-giant walked over and grabbed the sword herself with no ease or trouble. Her underlings and Ezra looked in shock. “Bring them.”
The boy and horse were carried through the barrier. Ezra looked back to see the woman repairing it with her staff. There seemed to be no trees where the barrier was, it was just an illusion casted possibly by the woman. A bulk of trees lay before them, yet these were spaced out and allowed for actual travel between. He continued wondering how she moved through them. Maybe some shrinking spell, or perhaps she wasn't as tall as she is, and enlarged herself with magic.
Sunlight reached his eyes and he was greeted to a village filled with more mages wearing the same outfit. Many girls substituted robes for skirts, boys for pants. Some of the people were also vertically superior to him.The homes also continued this trend, some were well adjusted for those of the normal stature, while others feature taller and possibly heavier doors for those who fit the frame. Ezra could even make out seeing a smaller man sitting in a much larger woman's lap. The two kissed confirming they were a couple. The moment they came into this village, everyone began looking at them, Ezra felt like a fly in a world of spiders. Everyone either stood straight or stopped what they had been previously doing to greet the woman guiding them in a professional manner. Down the street they approached possibly the largest house in the village. The doors slowly opened. He continued to be pushed through the large frame.
"Take him to the holding cells. The horse goes out back." The she-giant ordered.
"No, Anabelle stays with me." Ezra fought his way to the front of the woman. He pierced his eyes to hers. Anabelle stood back. Unsure of how to intervene. If she spoke, the mages here may take her away for examination. Ezra had the similar idea, and mentally told her not to speak.
"Very well. I'll be keeping this sword though."
"When will you return it. It's not yours to keep." The two held silence, mentally fighting for the weapon.
"For as long as I see fit."
"That weapon better be in my hands when I leave this village, or else I tear this whole place apart to retrieve it."
More silence was held. Only to be broken by the loud laughter of the she-giant. "Okay kid. Test your luck. We'll see how well you do. Take them away."
Ezra and Anabelle were lead away from her laughter, deep within the manor. The cells were surprisingly clean, almost like a bedroom. The mattress was large enough to hold five Ezra’s. The walls smelt of rose, same as the forest and village before. A carpet of Rosedog fur spread across the floor. Ezra saw this less as a cell, and more of a guest room. He sat Anabelle down, and laid near her instead of the bed. His weapon being in the hands of another keep him awake.
“Lady Irene, what is your interest in this weapon?” A simple mage asked his leader, Irene Vine, as she stared through her window at the place where he struck the barrier. The simple mage brought her a drink from her wall of bottles of ale. He picked a red bottle, the drink Scarlet Tears. Brewed from rednight flowers and raspberries, and aged for 30 days. Irene sipped from the glass. Then turned to her attendant.
“It created that hole. Noone has ever made a hole of such size. Nicholai usually makes one small enough for him, yet that boy comes here with this sword and not only penetrates, but punctures our barrier. The one thing keeping us hidden.” Irene began pacing around the room, glass in hand. The attendant stood back, not getting in the way of his superior. For the last time he did, his entire body was stepped on. He could mentally imprint where her feet will land. “Hey. I need a refill.” She completed the glass as they both spaced out. He returned to her and filled her glass. Taking a step back as she continued pacing.
“Umm...what are you thinking about my lady?” He asked.
“This weapon is a threat to us. If I could remove the magic around it, and repurpose it into a spell for my tome. Maybe we could- '' Irene was cut off by knocking. She stopped in her tracks. The attendant stepped off the wall and eased himself. “Come in.”
Two mages came in carrying a younger man with his hand forced behind his back. Irene shattered the glass in her hand. Her face contorted seeing him again.
“Nicholai!”