Heed My Warnings And Survive

Chapter Twenty Eight

Ecorn

It had been a few days since we had left. We had seen no signs aside from the occasional footprint from Devin, and his men. It was driving me crazy. I couldn’t stop searching, and when we had to I would pace the ground, back, and forth, not wanting to cease movement for a second.

One night whilst Finley was sitting against a tree, I had started pacing around the fire, the leaves crunching beneath my feet.

“Draven your pacing is driving me mad,” Finley said I bit jokingly, but mostly serious. I sat hard beside him.

“I’m sorry Fin. I’m just restless. I don’t know what to do.” I leaned my head against the trunk of the tree, sighing deeply. “I’m afraid Fin.” I closed my eyes tight, placing my head in my hands. “What if I lose her.” The last words escaped quietly. Tears welling up in my eyes. Finley placed a hand on my shoulder.

“We’ll find her. On my life, I promise that to you.” I gave him a weak smile.

“Thanks Fin.” he smiled, leaning his head against the tree, and quickly fell asleep. My smile faded, and I looked at the stars.

“I’m on my way love. Hang in there. Please.” I dozed off quickly. Preparing my body for the long journey ahead of me.

When I woke, the sun was rising, and the day was growing humid. I woke Finley, and after eating a small, quick breakfast, we were walking once again. I wouldn’t allow for much rest, my adrenaline was to high, and that combined with the worry, and dread in my heart, wouldn’t permit me to rest in any case, and Finley had agreed to go at my pace, and I was keeping an eye on him, making sure he wasn’t too fatigued.

A few days had passed. The sun was setting on our fourth day of travel when we saw them. The Ecorn’s, beautiful tree-like people, with cracks throughout their bark like skin, and through the cracks shown a glow, like there was wood burning inside their bodies, they moved at a sluggish pace. When Finley saw them he jumped.

“Don’t worry. They’re migrating,” I said. Watching in wonderment at the beautiful creatures.

“What are they?” Finley asked.

“Ecorn’s.” Finley’s eyes.

“Really? Like the ones who helped Tuliana defeat the dark creatures of magic?” Finley said in astonishment. I nodded.

“Unfortunately their minds have deteriorated over the years, and they are no longer the wise creatures of legend. They’re closer to animals now,” I informed him.

“But still. They’re beautiful.” I smiled

“Indeed. I wish Zander was here. The legend of the Encor always fascinated him.” Finley nodded.

“He would’ve loved it. He used to read the books about they’re armor at the orphanage. He used to tell me he wanted his own someday.” I gave him a surprised look. “He didn’t want to slay one, he wa​​nted to honor on that had passed, by projecting the look of one on his enemy.” I nodded. And I know what you may be thinking. Honoring the dead by wearing their skin? Ok that does sound disgusting, but when we would lose something precious we would often imbue a part of it into an item of clothing, and on the battlefield, soldiers would have things imbued into their armor, so as to have the thing, or person close to them, and also to project the ghost of that person onto their enemies to strike fear into them. So we didn’t wear their skin, but a small part of them was put into an item of something you would wear, mostly hair, entwined into the threads of shirts, or even a finger, melted into the steel of someone’s chest plate,and I know awful that sounds, but that was how we showed respect for the dead.

We left the migrating Ecorn’s alone, continuing our journey toward the woman I loved, and the man I loathed for taking her.

The day after seeing the Ecorn’s we were walking through the harsh sun, when we saw our first sign Kiara had been there, on a small tree branch something glinted, and when I got closer I recognized it. It was a small band of silver, with a curled up sleeping dragon on it. I picked it up.

“Fin look,” I said, beckoning him over. He came to my side.

“Is that?” I nodded.

“Kiara’s ring of promises,” I said. Finley examined the branch.

“It’s been here for a few days. There’s a dry patch on the branch, it was here during the last rainfall.” I clenched my fists, remembering her dislike of rainy traveling, and cuisine=g Devin for his forcing her to participate in it. I know it a dumb thing to get mad at, but when you add it onto everything else, it made it so much worse.

“You know she hated traveling in the rain,” I told Finley.

“Really? I guess I’ve never traveled with her in the rain before,” He said.

“It was raining the first day we traveled together.” I sighed sadly. “I miss her Fin,”

“I know, and I know I can’t miss her in the same way you do, but I miss her too. You two are the only family I have, not counting Phonwhin, and Coan of course,” He said. I gasped.

“What if we ask Phonwhin, and Coan for aid?” Finley smiled.

“I bet they’d say yes, and I know Coan can track better than I can.” I nodded. Then a thought came to me, and my shoulders dropped.

“But in order to ask them, we would have to let the trail go cold, turn around to get to them, I don’t know if we can afford to do that,” I said. Finley stood.

“I’ll keep looking, and leave you a trail, if you go quick you could make the castletown in a few days,” He said. I furrowed my brow.

“Fin I can’t ask you too-”

“You don’t need to, she’s like a sister to me Draven, and I won’t let them hurt her.” I nodded.

“Be safe, Fin. I trust you.” I hugged him tightly, and for the first time since we had reunited, we parted ways, the only thing I could do was hope he was safe.