Chapter 6: The Road

The next morning, Jason, his father, and Stella walked Bentley and the empty cart to the market stalls. Jason spoke to the farmer at the stalls and explained the situation. and Jason and his Father helped to load the carriage with all of the supplies.

Eventually the carriage was full, and the shopping list was completed. It was mid afternoon.

“Lets buy some books” Jason said to Stella.

“Sure” she said, grabbing his arm.

“Father, can you look after Bentley for a while, we will meet you at the house.” he exchanged a quick look at his dad, then looked at Stella.

“Sure, I’ll see you guys soon.” His father kissed Bentley on the face and led him down the street.

Jason and Stella went into a bookstore and started to browse. She got herself a spellbook for beginners, so she could study magic. She wasn’t magical, but she was interested. She got another book by Lord Redran, an adventure novel. Then she found a recipe book.

Jason paid for all of the books, and when they left the store, they started walking towards the stables, so Jason could buy a horse.

“I hope you like them, Stella.” Jason said. Pointing at her books in her arms.

“I'm sure they will be excellent additions to my collection at home.”

“The stables are just ahead. I’ll get a new horse and then we can leave.” he said with a large smile.

They walked into a dirty yard, where some horses were wandering inside a small fenced area. There was a stable made from a dark brown wood, it had been built 20 years before.

The pair were standing by the gate when Redran appeared on a white horse, accompanied by a knight in a black hood on a black horse. The pair were giggling and laughing.

“I remember that girl from Lilytown. She had the biggest crush on you.” Redran said with a smile.

“I couldn’t get her off me. She used to throw love potions at my window at night.” Arkanon replied, his cloak covering his skeleton face. They both laughed and rode past Jason and Stella. They disappeared down the street.

Jason and Stella did not recognise the strangers. Another man appeared from inside the stables. He was wearing overalls.

“Good afternoon, friend. Might I interest you in a horse?” He said with a smile that was missing a few teeth. He held out a muddy hand and Jason shook it and smiled back.

“I’m looking to buy a horse for travelling. Have you got any good for long-distance?” Jason said.

“A horse is a horse, mate, they are all long-distance, as long as you stop for a while to rest and feed them an apple, some grass, maybe a bit of cake I suppose.” The shop owner paused. “Come have a look. I just sold my two best horses, but you can have my third best for a discount, I’m thinking, one thousand-two hundred dime? Come, come, look, look, look.” He ushered Jason and Stella inside.

The stable was cramped. There were twelve stalls, with eight horses. Each horse had a water and feed bucket. Jason walked up to the first one, it was a brown horse with dark eyes and a black mane. The second was a black horse, but it was very young, and still small. The third, fourth and fifth were unimportant. The sixth horse was a petite white mare with a gentle yellow tinge at the tips of her mane. She was a little muddy. The seventh horse was a giant thing, a black steed with black eyes, mean. The eighth horse was even bigger, but was white.

Jason asked the shopkeeper about the prices.

“How much for the two big ones?”

“Cassius, the white big son of a bitch is one thousand and two hundred dime. Romeo, the black one, is unfortunately reserved for a buyer from the North.”

“How about this brown one?” Jason said, asking about the first horse.

“We can do, best price, with my best customer discount, six hundred dime.” The shopkeeper said.

“And how much for the horse in stall six? The small white horse?”

“I can do maybe four hundred and fifty dime.”

“I’ll take this one, the brown one here.” He said, pointing to the steed in the stall behind him. The shop owner smiled. “Of course. He is a good horse. I will miss him dearly.” Jason smiled and pulled out a small wooden box from his satchel. Inside were the gold coins. He counted six hundred dime with the shopkeeper. This was his life savings. He had twelve hundred dime left.

“Would you like to keep the name or give him a new one?”

“What is it right now?” Jason asked.

“Bronson” He said

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

“I like it.” Jason said, then he turned to his horse. “Hey Bronson. You’re coming home with me, buddy.”

Jason and Stella rode Bronson to Rodrick’s home and tied him next to Bentley’s cart. Jason’s father had covered the supplies on the back with leather wraps. He was wearing his guard armour and was standing beside the horse.

Jason dismounted and helped Stella to the ground gracefully.

“Look at this magnificent beast.” He said, beaming.

“We should leave for Buttermilk now. I’m dressed for the road. I’ll stay with Alfred and Dottie for a few weeks while the festival comes to town” He said. “If we leave now we can make it to the outskirts of town by night, then it’s only a few more miles in the dark. I’ve got plenty of lanterns.” Rodrick said.

“Sure, let's leave now.” Jason said. Rodrick smiled, and then he locked his front door, and started climbing onto the seat of the carriage. He held out his hand and lifted Stella up onto the chair. Jason got onto his new horse, Bronson, and the trio left through the rough stony roads of the Castle of Flowers.

They walked out of the gates and saw a beautiful expanse in front of them, snowy mountains in the distance, forests, pastures and the town of buttermilk in a valley far below. It was a spec on the horizon.

They walked until the sun started dipping on the horizon.

“We should only be an hour's ride from Buttermilk.” Rodrick said. “So, Stella. Is your mother still making those rosewater candies?”

“She does, she makes some berry infused ones now that have become more popular,” Stella said, “And some with ginger.”

“Ginger?” He said, puzzled. “Ginger’s not my favourite but I hope it goes well.”

They heard a rustling in the bushes and Jason, ahead of them, stopped. He thought he saw a person hiding in the shadows.

“I think I see someone-...” Jason said. Then three men, dressed in black rags holding swords jumped from the bushes and started shouting at them.

“Give us your gold and the horses.” The men said.

“We’ll be taking the carriage and the girl, too.” Another one said. He bared his teeth and snarled.

Rodrick pulled his sword from his sheathe and stepped off the carriage. He stepped forward and the three men stepped back. Then they took a step closer.

Jason dismounted his horse, and reached down, picking up a medium-sized rock from the trail.

They raised their swords to attack and moved a little closer to Rodrick.

Suddenly. A dark black wolf pounced onto one of the bandits and ripped his throat out. His gargling scream echoed through the woods.

Everyone stood in silent shock, suddenly a sword appeared through the chest of one of the bandits. Behind him stood the same black knight Jason had seen earlier. His dark cloak was hiding his face. The knight easily lifted the man with his sword and threw him off his blade by swinging him off it. The man careened into the bushes a few metres away. The final bandit tried running back to the Bushes he was hiding in, but the wolf jumped on his back and bit down on his head, then twisted his neck sharply, snapping the bandit's neck. Then the wolf let go and licked its lips, then sat down, staring at the three travellers. The black knight also stared at the trio.

“Thank you, sir knight.” Rodrick spoke.

“It is my duty to protect my people.” Arkanon said, “Even in my death.” Jason thought he could see a skull beneath the Knight's cowl. “We should travel the rest of the way together.” He said, with a voice that sounded strange.

They were all too stunned to respond, they were even more shocked when the wolf stood on it's hind legs and started morphing into a handsome, silver haired man, who Stella recognised immediately.

“Lord Redran?” Stella asked.

“Yes, I just saved your life, maybe we don't have to share my secret with the world.” He said, his teeth were still sharp. He called his horses and the white stallion and the black horse trotted forward. The knight and the famous book writer mounted their horses and Jason did the same. Redran led the five of them along the road home.

“I won't tell anyone,” said Stella, “Right guys?”

Jason and Rodrick agreed..

“Thank you for the help.” Rodrick said. “Might I ask your name?” he said to the black knight.

“I am Arkanon,” said the Knight. He pulled back his shroud and revealed his ivory skull. “I used to be kind of a big deal.”

“King Arkanon?” Rodrick gasped. “What are you doing? Why are you back, here?”

“Just for fun, I guess.” He said. “A necromancer raised me from the dead as a trophy. Now I just live with him in the city. We watch gladiator fights on the scrying glass, talk about old war stories. He’s actually a pretty cool guy. I'm assisting my friend Lord Redran here, with some rebels living in the forest. Those fellows behind us, laying in pools of their own blood. Are some of the bandit friends we are looking for.” He snarled as he said this.

“Bandits… That's probably why the livestock keep disappearing.” Jason said. Riding his horse next to Redran and Arkanon.

“Perhaps.” said Lord Redran.

“Thanks for the help anyway. We definitely needed it. I was using a dumb rock… and how did you…”

“...Turn into a wolf? It's a long story, and one we must save for another time. We must go now.” Redran said.

“Sure,” Jason said. Then everyone fell silent, the only sound was horse’s hooves and rattling carriage wheels.

The lights of Buttermilk glowed far in the distance. Almost home.

Another hour later and the party had arrived back into the main street of the town. A few drunk men sat and talked on a stoop of a house, they were spilling ales and smoking from a pipe. The five people rode into the town with tired eyes, and stressed minds. Lord Redran and Arkanon turned their horses and Redran spoke.

“I will part ways with you here, young Jason, Knight Rodrick and princess Stella. May our paths cross again, under better circumstances.” Redran said.

“Thank you, again. You really saved our lives back there.” Jason said. Nodding his head with gratitude. Redran bowed his head in return. Arkanon did the same.

“I wish we did not live in such a dangerous world, but the land is full of darkness and evil. We must try to remain good.” Redran said. “And buy my books. Let’s go, Arko.” The pair rode off towards the edge of town.

“What the holy hell just happened?” Jason said. Standing there in utter disbelief. Bentley was gently munching on grass, all three of them looked pale and terrified.

“I will go see Alfred, I hope I don't have to wake him up. We'll get these crates unloaded. You two head inside and get cozy, start a fire. I'll stay with Alfred tonight, or I might come by and take the guest bedroom.”

“Sure, thank you, sir.” Jason replied. “Maybe we'll see you soon.”