SWNOVELS Chapter Ollen's Run
"Can you get them out of Zolon for me Abeh?" Doon asked quietly.
"Not a problem, I may even make sure they reach Farmell." Abeh replied.
"I'll keep the pursuit delayed as long as I can, but I expect Oaklen will quickly figure it out. Once that happens I don't know how long I can keep him off your tail."
"That's alright I know the whole country of Zolon like the back of my hand. I have plenty of hiding places that are near impossible for someone to find who doesn't know where to look."
Abeh lead the small group to a forest not far outside the wall. They followed a creek into the woods until it came to a fork and became two creeks. There was a small hill nestled in between the two creeks. The mountains to their right loomed close enough to cast their shadows over their path. The sun was beginning to set and all the birds were singing their evening songs. Ember's phenix began to sing softly while perched on her shoulder. It's soft yet piercing song made all the other birds stop, as if they too hushed to hear it's beautiful song. There were no words to her song obviously, but there was definitely magic. It was as if it's song sent images of rivers, seas, forests, and mountains into the mind. Wind blew over prairies and all the things in the world united in love. When the phenix stopped singing Ember pulled out a little food and fed her.
"That was beautiful Esh." She said as she hand fed her.
"Esh, what's that mean?" Abeh asked as they began climbing the little hill.
"It's the elvish word for fire, seemed a suitable name for a phenix." She replied.
"Speaking of how did you come by a phenix, I thought they were extinct." Abeh replied.
"So you thought that something immortal could become extinct?"
"Well, they only don't die if they aren't killed right?"
"Nay, even if killed the resurrect. However they don't reproduce very much or often. A brand new phenix is born maybe once every few hundred years."
"So why have I never seen one until now?"
"They don't tend to live near people. Now we need to find a place to hunker down for the night."
"This hill concaves on the opposite side, it provides some coverage and shelter. We'll camp there for the night."
As they began settling in for the night and trying to start a fire, it began to rain. Not a mere drizzle but a downpour. Abeh struggled cursing under his breathe because of the cold. At every little noise they all jumped to attention, fear seemed to grip them. Although there was no proof of pursuit they knew they were outnumbered if pursuit came. Lenan was the only somewhat chipper one.
"What be ye all afraid of?" He said. "We have the jarls son with us, surely they won't harm him."
"If only that were true, I doubt Oaklen would care. If he killed all of us he could make up any story he wants. Likely cast me as the bad guy, and you all my witless compassionate companions who trusted the wrong man. My reputation would certainly help his story sound plausible." Ollen replied soberly.
"Well we also have an elemental elf on our side. Ember could handle a good many of them herself." Lenan replied and Ember forced an obviously difficult smile.
"Of course, we have an elemental elf, why don't you light this fire instead of watching me struggle." Abeh snapped cursing more under his breathe.
"You misunderstand my power, nabal chamowr." Ember snapped cursing him in her own tongue.
"What did you call me? Speak to me in the common tongue when you speak to me!"
"Oh I'm sorry, are you so naive you can't understand me. I forgot you only know how to sword fight and whine about your circumstances."
"Well I could leave you all to navigate yourselves out of this mess." Abeh stood up and glared at Ember.
"Be my guest, I don't need you. With or without you I will get to Kephiyr. So you go ahead and leave and prove yourself a coward. Or you can sit down, quit your whining, and Esh will light the fire."
Abeh started to reply but then shut his mouth and sat down again. Esh lit the fire and Ember used her magic to make it grow and protect it from the rain. She moved tree branches over their little camp, creating a living ceiling. They huddled near the fire and warmed themselves.
"I thought you said your power couldn't make a fire." Abeh said.
"It can't, I can manipulate fire when it's present, but I can't create it. I can manipulate virtually anything natural, earth, fire, wind, plants, water. And powerful elemental elves such as my father can manipulate space and time."
"Time, man that would be something I'd love to manipulate." Ollen said.
"Only to an extent, slow it down or speed it up or pause it. But unfortunately time doesn't go backwards only forward. Or if it does go backwards nobody has figured out how to do it."
"Still that would come in handy, especially now. Pause time and escape without having to worry about pursuit." Ollen said.
"It wouldn't work that long, you can only keep time paused for maybe a hour. And that would take a lot of concentration." Ember replied.
"Well perhaps we should all get some sleep we're going to need our strength for our trek tomorrow. I wish we had some horses it would make the trek much nicer." Abeh said.
"Whine, whine. Does whining about what you don't have or what you have to do help?" Ember mumbled but not quietly enough.
"Do you have a problem with me?" Abeh snapped.
"Not with you persay, just with complaining in general. I was always taught that no matter what is happening don't complain. Because complaining doesn't help anything, and in fact draws negative results. But I'm sorry I'm not meaning offense, I'm just grumpy." Ember replied.
"I'm sorry too, I'm a bit grumpy myself and I've been rather cross. But if he's alive I want to see Kephiyr too. Don't know exactly what i plan to accomplish in going with you, but I must see it through. Abeh said and Ember chuckled slightly.
"Nabal, that is definitely my nickname for you, fits you perfectly."
"Why do I get the feeling you're calling me an ass or some other lowly beast." Abeh said and Ember laughed as did Lenan.
"Nay, that was chamowr, also rather fits but no. Nabal will be my nickname for you, though really at the least you're a good man." And with that they slowly drifted off.
They woke early the next day, the sun was just beginning to peak out over the horizon. They were sore and wet with dew. Esh began a fire and they huddled around it to get warm and dry and started a meager breakfast which was mainly bread and a little water.
"A fine predicament we're in. Never thought I'd be running for my life from my own country. Who would have thought it, the younger brother of one of the greatest warriors of Zolon, would run off with a fugitive. I'm not too brave or strong myself I might add."
"Oh Nabal it is time for action not for witless words. We must get on quickly, so either quit complaining and help us or go back and at least don't turn us in." Ember sighed.
"I never said I wouldn't do this thing, just want to talk about it a while. But you're right, so long status quo, hello to the unknown. And what does nabal mean anyway?"
"Foolish." Ember said with a roll of her eyes and Abeh laughed.
"I guess it does fit, and I will permit you to call me that but nobody else. So am I guessing correctly that you called me a foolish ass?"
"That's exactly what I called you, but if you think there's a chance of us being together, my heart belongs to Kephiyr."
"Nay, but I respect you, therefore I won't protest. Now let us be off."
At that moment there was a sound that was out of place in the midst of the chirping birds. Heavy booted feet impacting the ground not too far off. A twig snapped, they were moving toward them. Thump... thump... thump. Several men for certain and soon they could hear the gentle clink of their armor. Ember manipulated the earth and made a covering all round them, until they looked like a small mound of grass. And she quenched the fire. Only just in time several men wandered into their camp. Muffled voices came through one was obviously Oaklen and Carlon was another.
"The embers are still warm, they didn't leave long ago." Oaklen said.
"Aye, but what way have they gone? I don't see any footprints." Carlon replied.
"Well I'm certain they would head for Athen, let's head there and set up a guard to look for them. Then we will come back and search for them. They can't evade us forever."
"Very well, seems an airtight trap. Shall we send men to hunt the woods for them?"
"I want several men with me to take Ollen. Do not underestimate him, he's strong as an ox and slippery as an eel. We set the trap first then we hunt little by little."
After a few moments Ember moved the earth back into it's place. They all exchanged knowing looks and sighed.
"We are doomed, Athen is the only way out." Ollen said.
"Nay, I mean yea and and nay." Abeh said gruffly. "Yea we must go to Athen, but nay the gate is not our escape. There's a tunnel in Athen that leads to the old Parlon, Oaklen and Carlon know nothing of it." Abeh replied.
"If we can reach it, do we attempt the open field to gain speed? Or do we stick to the cover of the woods, slower yet safer." Lenan said.
"After some time we'll get off, stick to the woods the first day, make slowly let them get distance between us. The second day open field for at least part time." Abeh said gruffly.
"If they catch us up I can always manipulate our footprints in the earth and send them in the opposite direction." Offered Ember.
"You can do that?" Abeh asked.
"Yes, but it takes some time so we will have to travel slow."
They traveled slowly the rest of the day through the forest, getting about a quarter of the way to Athen. They had no further trouble that day and settled down in evening near a creek not far from a little village.
The next day, in order to cover more distance in shorter time, they left the cover of the woods. It was mostly uneventful and they walked in silence, constantly looking over their shoulders and all round them. Close to two in the afternoon Ember noticed a battalion of about four hundred soldiers on horseback heading their direction. They were spreading themselves out, obviously they hadn't noticed them and they were creating a search parameter.
"We must get to the forest now! I guess blocked our escape from Zolon, and now are searching the country side." Ember said pointing to the men.
"I don't think the forest will be much cover around here. Only a few rolling hills, maybe a bridge over a creek here and there." Abeh replied.
"Well it's better then sitting out here in the open Nabal. Might as well fly a flag saying here we are." Ember retorted.
"I didn't mean we shouldn't, I was more meaning don't be surprised if they still find us." Abeh scowled at her and they made straight for the forest, which was about fifty yards to their right.
They slowly made their way through the underbrush keeping their eyes on the roving soldiers. They had broken up into groups of around twenty soldiers each. They were combing through the plains, towns, and backwoods. It wasn't long before a group came right toward them.
"Climb the trees quickly it's our only chance." Abeh said quietly and immediately began helping Lenan up the nearest tree.
"I don't need your help Abeh, I'm a faun, I likely climb this tree better than you." Lenan said insulted. Then he jumped up, grabbed a branch with one hand and practically walked up the side of the tree, dropping bark as he did.
"You really are Nabal aren't you." Ember laughed and using air floated up beside Lenan who was quite hidden among the greenery. Ollen merely shook his head and jumped from one branch to another until he was hidden in a tree across from Ember and Lenan.
Abeh rolled his eyes. "Why am I helping these people?" He muttered under his breathe and climbed up another tree until he was hidden.
"Do you really think I couldn't handle twenty men, here in the woods." Ember whispered to Abeh.
"Twenty men is a tall order." He whispered back.
"For a human, I'm an elemental elf surrounded by ammunition Nabal."
"Okay do you think you could take the other three hundred and eighty?" Abeh retorted.
"Now that's a bit much, even for me."
"Exactly, one blow on a trumpet and they all converge in this direction. If they don't return they'll have a good idea of where to start looking." Abeh said with a little smile.
"Okay I catch your point. How long til we reach the city?" Ember said, blushing slightly for not thinking that far ahead.
"We should reach it by tonight if we aren't held up. If we are tomorrow night." Abeh said.
"Do you have a plan for when we reach the city?" Lenan asked.
"My only exact plan is not to enter the city until after dark, and use the tunnel that leads to the old Parlon base."
With that the soldiers were within earshot and they clung hushed to the trees. Ember watched them as they rode right under them. She fought the urge to take control of the tree branches and impale them all and raise them up into the trees. An anger rose up in her as she watched her potential helpless victims ride past. She wanted them punished, all of them, they deserved it after all. However, she fought the urge and after a few minutes they disappeared behind a hill.
"How can we get to the city with them combing the landscape like this?" Lenan asked.
"I'm not sure, but if we keep hiding like this it could be a long time." Abeh replied. Then suddenly Ember perked up.
"How far do these woods go?" She asked.
"All the way to Athen, it breaks here and there and goes further south in places. But it reaches the outskirts of the city." Abeh answered.
"We stay hidden and keep moving at the same time!" Ember said with glee. She pulled a branch from another tree with her power toward her and Lenan. Then they jumped on it and she swung it over to another tree. Then she pulled branches to pick up Abeh and Ollen. They continued this over and over, stopping anytime soldiers got near. This actually went fairly quickly, however with having to go out of the way they couldn't hope to enter the city until tomorrow night. At time of rest Ember fashioned fairly comfortable beds out leaves and branches using her powers and they slept in the trees. Lenan and Abeh fell asleep fairly quickly. Ember and Ollen stayed up looking at the stars and chatting.
"You know, you confuse me." Ollen said.
"How so?" Ember answered stroking Esh who laid on her breast.
"You're both a badass and yet soft as a feather. Harsh and yet caring, like a walking contradiction." Ember laughed charmingly and bit her lip.
"I suppose I am." She breathed out heavily. "I suppose my emotions are like a fire in me, everything I feel I feel with all of me. Yet I still keep my wits, my emotions don't control me. Though perhaps at times my emotions choose my words faster then my wit can catch them." Now Ollen laughed.
"Yeah I understand that all too well. The tongue can bring trouble, but don't beat yourself up too much about it."
"I don't though part of wishes I hadn't called Abeh nabal. It may be true at times but it's more ignorance than foolishness and he's a good man." They sat in silence for a moment and then and Ember pointed a branch at Ollen's nose shaking it like a finger in his face.
"If you ever tell him that I'll hang you by your ankles from a tree naked. Until you sunburn from top to bottom. I have my image and pride to think of." Ollen laughed.
"If you haven't noticed my skin is rather dark I don't sunburn easily." Ollen said laughing.
"My point exactly." She replied stroking Esh. Ollen stopped smiling and was trying to determine if she was serious. He thought it best not to test it. Slowly they too drifted off.
By evening the next night they perched in the trees just outside Athen. Soldiers swarmed to and fro throughout the city. The tunnel to Parlon was not guarded as most of the soldiers were of Beryl and knew nothing of it. But still there were so many soldiers they couldn't see how they could reach it undetected. But as they pondered this a voice came to them from behind.
"You won't get out undetected no matter how stealthily you try." Came a very gruff voice and they swiftly turned to see a very tall bearded man with his hands up requesting them not to shoot. Two huge war dogs sniffed around his feet.
"My name is Meni, I stand with Kephiyr. When I learned what the soldiers were looking for I kept my eye out for you. I was hoping I'd find you first."
"Are those the same type of dogs as Bear?" Abeh asked curiously looking at the dogs.
"Yes, these are her parents Buster and Praxair. Now come down my friend Fanden and I can get you to the tunnel undetected."
They came down as Fanden came up round the bend hauling a huge wagon filled with straw. As he came up they all got into the wagon and hid in the straw. Meni and Fanden carried them to the tunnel by cover of darkness and as soon as they were sure it was clear they scrambled out and into the tunnel. They began their journey now toward Parlon.