muttered curses. Knowing it was impossible to outrun a horse Eloen turned and readied herself for a fight. When she saw the face of the rider she broke out laughing. Set astride a tall brown horse rode Darryl. He pulled up next to her and leaned down. “Since we were picking up a new guest I thought we could use an extra horse. Where’s Thad? And who is our dandy dressed friend?” Darryl said pointing at the unconscious form hanging over Ballard’s shoulder.
“It's who was in the transport. Don’t know who he is but we can find out once were a safe distance away from here.” Eloen said her voice showing her pent up anger and frustration at the situation.
Once they were back to the horses they quickly saddled up and secured their unconscious guest onto the stolen horse. They were limited on where they could go. It wouldn’t take long for the soldiers to regain their mounts as well trained steeds seldom wandered far even if spooked. They needed a place to hide but Eloen didn’t know the layout well enough to know of a place close by. They followed the only real path left open to them, they continued forward keeping close to the edge of the mountain. After an hour of riding they came across a cave.
The mouth of the cave was large enough for the horses to enter one at a time. Not far down it opened up into what must have once been a well-used mine. It was large enough for the horses with ample room left over for the four to sleep.
It had been a tiring night and the sun was fast rising in the sky. With no energy to spare they laid their guest on the ground and set up a small camp. Darryl took the first watch as he still seemed to be brimming with energy.
Closing her eyes Eloen was once again haunted by the visage of Thad wallowing in anguish. Then everything calmed and Thad’s pain filled face smiled. He wouldn’t never have asked her to save him. He would never condemn her for failing. That’s why she cared for him. Tears formed in Eloen's eyes and streaked down her cheeks as she drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER XI
Eloen nervously sat waiting for Darryl to return while she watched their unconscious guest sleep. They had risked their life to save Thad and instead ended up with an overdressed fop.
When Darryl finally returned he headed straight for the small pot of food Eloen had started making before he had left and grabbed himself a bowl. “No sign of us being followed. One good thing about the ground around here is that it doesn’t leave many tracks and signs of our passing and allows us to hear anyone approaching from a ways away. On the other side when we leave out if anyone is listening they will hear our horses. Sound carries a long ways around here.”
“That’s one thing to be thankful for at least.” Eloen said rubbing her hand over her forehead.
A soft groan sounded from behind them. The three friends turned around to watch the man they had rescued open his eyes and do his best to sit up. His hands and feet were firmly bound making the feat hard to accomplish and Eloen had to admit it was also fairly amusing.
“Where...where am I?” The man said trying to rub the knot on the back of his head.
“Right now you’re in a cave Mr. Peacock.” Eloen said handing the man a bowl of the food. He took it with his bound hands. “Now would you mind telling us who you are and why we found you in what we mistook for a prison transport?”
The man shook his head laughing. “My name is William, son of the king, and prince of Abla.” the man said without fanfare as if it was a fact he wasn’t too happy about.
“That's hard to believe considering where we found you. I can't say I know everything about Abla, but I didn't know they let their royalty travel in such a manner.” Eloen said giving the man a stern look. To her surprise he laughed again.
“That's true. Normally I would travel in a much nicer coach with a window and three times the number of guards. The problem is that right now is that
“It's who was in the transport. Don’t know who he is but we can find out once were a safe distance away from here.” Eloen said her voice showing her pent up anger and frustration at the situation.
Once they were back to the horses they quickly saddled up and secured their unconscious guest onto the stolen horse. They were limited on where they could go. It wouldn’t take long for the soldiers to regain their mounts as well trained steeds seldom wandered far even if spooked. They needed a place to hide but Eloen didn’t know the layout well enough to know of a place close by. They followed the only real path left open to them, they continued forward keeping close to the edge of the mountain. After an hour of riding they came across a cave.
The mouth of the cave was large enough for the horses to enter one at a time. Not far down it opened up into what must have once been a well-used mine. It was large enough for the horses with ample room left over for the four to sleep.
It had been a tiring night and the sun was fast rising in the sky. With no energy to spare they laid their guest on the ground and set up a small camp. Darryl took the first watch as he still seemed to be brimming with energy.
Closing her eyes Eloen was once again haunted by the visage of Thad wallowing in anguish. Then everything calmed and Thad’s pain filled face smiled. He wouldn’t never have asked her to save him. He would never condemn her for failing. That’s why she cared for him. Tears formed in Eloen's eyes and streaked down her cheeks as she drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER XI
Eloen nervously sat waiting for Darryl to return while she watched their unconscious guest sleep. They had risked their life to save Thad and instead ended up with an overdressed fop.
When Darryl finally returned he headed straight for the small pot of food Eloen had started making before he had left and grabbed himself a bowl. “No sign of us being followed. One good thing about the ground around here is that it doesn’t leave many tracks and signs of our passing and allows us to hear anyone approaching from a ways away. On the other side when we leave out if anyone is listening they will hear our horses. Sound carries a long ways around here.”
“That’s one thing to be thankful for at least.” Eloen said rubbing her hand over her forehead.
A soft groan sounded from behind them. The three friends turned around to watch the man they had rescued open his eyes and do his best to sit up. His hands and feet were firmly bound making the feat hard to accomplish and Eloen had to admit it was also fairly amusing.
“Where...where am I?” The man said trying to rub the knot on the back of his head.
“Right now you’re in a cave Mr. Peacock.” Eloen said handing the man a bowl of the food. He took it with his bound hands. “Now would you mind telling us who you are and why we found you in what we mistook for a prison transport?”
The man shook his head laughing. “My name is William, son of the king, and prince of Abla.” the man said without fanfare as if it was a fact he wasn’t too happy about.
“That's hard to believe considering where we found you. I can't say I know everything about Abla, but I didn't know they let their royalty travel in such a manner.” Eloen said giving the man a stern look. To her surprise he laughed again.
“That's true. Normally I would travel in a much nicer coach with a window and three times the number of guards. The problem is that right now is that
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