Robyn Chapter I
Note: This is the first chapter of Robyn's P.O.V. First draft. Enjoy.
The Sun was setting over the tall Norashe Mountains, when Robyn was falling asleep on her brown stallion, when Abraham galloped next to her and poked her on the ribs with the butt of his sword. She felt as if she was going to fall of her horse and quickly grabbed the reins of the horse, and felt her blood rushing from her head to her toes in a burst of adrenaline. “Why did you do that?” Robyn asked trying to keep her anger down, and her big sleepy blue eyes open.
Robert galloped next to her and helped Robyn to steady herself. “Are you alright?” Robert asked and shot an angry look towards Abraham.
Robyn held her horse reins with her right hand, and with her left cursed hand brushes off the hair from her face and smiled. “Yes, I will get him next time.” Robyn said with a sinister smile forming on her thin red lips. Her young and genius mind was already forming ways to make Abraham suffer. When he least expects it.
“You better watch out Abraham. Witches do not make idle treats. I would sleep with one eye open.” Robert said smiling and his long dark brown hair moved with wind that was picking up.
Abraham turned his horse around and began to make it dance from side to side and laughed. “I see that you got yourself a strong ‘Protector’ Robyn. No other than the prodigy of the Royal Army, but nevertheless I am not a small fly. “Abraham said imitating Robert’s straight posture. Then, he took out his sword and pointed it towards Robyn. “I might look young but I have killed a few witches already, they are really not that hard to kill.” Abraham said and within drew his sword once again and turned his horse around.
Everyone went quiet. It was not secret that most of the Royal Army hated witches not just because what they practiced, but because witches were known to be strong allies of the enemy and a series of myths surrounded them. Of course, it was now illegal for the Royal Army to hunt witches down since Queen Blanca made it illegal. But, no one believes the Queen that it was for the sake of peace. Many suspect that the Queen herself is a secret witch, and the Royal Army is powerless to do anything about it. But that does not stop the old families like those of Abraham from finding loopholes and killing witches at will. Robyn is grateful that it is illegal to kill witches, but she still goes around carefully and the danger ever present. Just like Abraham reminded her.
Robyn sighed. She was tired. Two days of riding nonstop, and she was hungry. The sun was out of sight; just the orange strokes of light illuminated the cloudless sky.
Robert stopped his horse and licked his finger then lifted it to the air, then put his horse into a run. The others followed, and then he stopped after a few minutes into a glove of pine trees. It made for a nice barrier against the gusting wind. “Here, we can set up camp for the night it is a bit off the road and it will shelter us from the cold wind. Abraham and I will go and get some wood to get a fire going.” Robert said and galloped towards the trees and Abraham followed at once.
Robyn got off her horse and was glad to finally stretch her stiffed legs. She was left just with Elias that was more of squire than a full knight. Robyn always preferred the silence of Elias. He was quiet and almost never made any comments.
Elias got off his horse and at once began to unpack everything that was needed to cook. Robyn began to set up the camp. Her mind drifted to the events of a few nights ago when Sebastian was born. The intense fight with the powerful witch that left her with a cursed left hand and that it does not stop bleeding and that at times bring tears to her eyes because of intense pain. She tried to push those images away as she began to put up her tent. She still did not have the hang of it. Elias knelt next to her and quickly put up her tent with a few quick movements of his thin agile hands. Robyn was impressed how quickly he moved them, and he was just a 13 year old squire.
“Thanks Elias, I guess I will now help you to get the meat ready for cooking.” Robyn said and stood up. She felt her left cursed hand throbbing and she pressed tight on it with her right hand saying an incantation top stop the pain. Elias looked concerned. Robyn smiled and said, “It is alright, it will pass” and walked off. She needed to clear her head for the magic to work better.
After a few minutes of walking, Robyn’s mind became cleared. She looked up and the full moon was already rising. The sky was full of shining stars. She liked the clear skies of Norashe. Her home country was always cloudy and stormy. Terra Magica, the Land of Magic, not that magic as the name suggested she thought. It might have been beautiful once before the big war. She is awoken from her day dreaming by the shaking of Elias weak hands. She turned around and saw the pale face of Elias. “What happened?” Robyn asked concerned.
“They are in trouble.” Elias said and pointed towards the sea of pine trees.
Robyn’s heart began to beat fast. She took her staff from the side of her grassing stallion and Elias followed with his training shield and sword. She did not bother to ask Elias how he knew, but she thought all in the Royal Army shared some kind of special connection. She held to her staff with her good right hand as tight as possible and walked carefully towards where Elias had said they went. Elias followed at her heels. She could almost hear the fast beating heart of Elias. Obviously, the kid was excited she thought and perhaps it was Elias first real battle.
They walked under the light of the moon and the stars into the thickness of the pine forest. The aroma began to make Robyn a little dizzy. Her allergies were slowly making its way into her nose and it began to run. She tried to control herself. It was no use trying to use magic to keep the allergies at bay, but she tried with all her will to stop her running nose. She needed all the magic she had for what was to come, she thought.
Elias stopped suddenly on the middle of a circle of trees. Robyn also stopped and looked around. She felt as if someone was looking at them. She put her stuff in the defensive position and tried to listen to the slightest movement. She felt Elias heavy breathing against her neck. Robyn was getting ready to shot whatever was watching them, when she heard a voice. “Drop your staff at once witch!” And Robyn immediately shot a lighting spell towards that direction.
At once many wolf like creatures jumped from the trees landing next to Robyn and Elias, their bright yellow eyes shining the full moon. Elias pushed Robyn aside so quickly that she almost fell and he lifted his shield and sword and in Elias said a few Angelical words and the sword and the shield turned afire. The creatures stepped back and Robyn was awed by what she was seeing. Wolves walking in two legs and some of them talked. She heard legends about them, but they were usually on other lands far away from Norashe.
“Don’t be foolish boy. You are outnumbered.” The voice from before said.
Elias did not lower his shield or sword.
The owner of the voice stepped forward, a tall creature with light gray fur and fierce looking fangs that stuck out at each corner of its mouth. It looked fiercer than the rest of the creatures that were around. Perhaps for its closeness to Elias’ fired sword and shield. “I said to put your sword and shield down boy.” The creature said once again.
“Do you want us to kill him boss?” one of the creatures with black fur asked.
“No need. I can handle it myself.” The boss said and walked around Elias and Robyn, scanning them from head to toe. Robyn felt as if the creature eyes were undressing her. Robyn tightened her lips and her heart was beating faster and faster. She was looking for a route of scape.
“There is no way to run. We know every corner of this forest, and besides if I was to kill you I would have done already. The instant you missed the shot.” The boss smiled and pointed to Robyn’s staff.
Robyn lowered her staff and then asked. “Alright, what do you want from us?”
“She asks what we want from them.” The Boss laughed and laughed, then tried to catch his breath. “We don’t need any help from you, insolent Witch.”
Robyn was confused as to what she did wrong. She waited in silence to see what else the creature had to say.
“Let’s start all over again, shall we?” The Boss said and bowed his head. “We are the Luna Clan,” he said and pointed to the rest of the creatures around him. “And I am Marcos Luna.” He said and bowed his head once again.
Robyn bowed her head as well, and decided that Marcos was being honest at least for now and decided to return the courtesy. “Well met Clan Luna and Mr. Marcos Luna. I am Robyn Sinful ofTerra Magica, and this here is Elias Blackwood of Norashe.” Robyn said in the usual polite way.
Elias lowered his sword and shield. The flames disappeared at once. “I am guessing you are looking for your fellow companions.” Marcos said pointing west.
“Yes, Elias felt that something was wrong and we came at once.” Robyn admitted.
“Well, your friend there was right. They were taken by Clan Rivers. A fierce one, I smelled their nasty scent from a mile away, but when we arrived it was too late.” Marcos said looking at the ground.
Robyn looked concerned and asked, “Do you think they were harmed?”
“I don’t know probably just a little but the River Clan must have been carefully. Since you know, capturing knights of the Royal Army is always such rewarding business.” Marcos answers.
Robyn does not know of such things happening and she imagined that such things did not happen in their homeland. “How can two of the strongest Knights be taken so easily?” Robyn asked.
“Well, they might be strong but it is a difficult fight to fight on a land that is unknown to you and they probably had an overwhelming numbers. Such clans usually drag with them the worst of the worst.” Marcos said with resentment.
Robyn tried to remain calm and think what she and Elias were going to do. They could have just gone with their original plan and continue all the way to the nearest outpost and ask for help, but then it would be too late. She needed Marcos help, and she had sensed the bitterness of Marcos voice when he mentioned the Rivers Clan. “Is there anything we can do for them?” Robyn asked.
“You can go and try to storm their hideout but you will probably be killed on sight. They have no need for a witch, and an apprentice.” Marcos said and began to walk towards the direction he had said earlier. Robyn and Elias followed. “But, there is an alternative.” Marcos said.
Robyn felt as if a cold buckle of water was being drop on her. What could be the alternative, she was uncertain. But, she needed to hide her concern and said, “I am open to any ideas, you know the forest better than us.”
Marcos continued to walk deeper into the forest in silence. The pine trees began to disappear as they climbed a small hill. Robyn did not leave her guard down. Perhaps she was too trusting of Marcos, but she was no fool. Elias seemed to be in the same mood. They finally arrived to the top of the small hill, it was an easy climb but the lack of food and the tense situation made Robyn stomach protest.
Marcos laughed. “You both must be hungry. We got some food back in camp it is mostly raw. We never cook our food, but you maybe could cook it. Anyway, look over there,” Marcos said and pointed to a long and wide river that was flowing wildly under the moon light. “That river comes from the mountains over there. There have been many rains lately, and it is hard to cross even under normal circumstances. “Marcos said and with his finger traced in the general path the river took.
Robyn felt her heart sinking in that river current. Even if she had known Abraham and Robert for a few days, she was already used to them. Abraham with his constant pranks and Robert with his serious face trying to act grown up.
Marcos continued walking along the clearing. The moon shinning on his gray fur, made it almost look like silver. “But, there is a low bridge just beyond that curve do you see it?” Marcos asked pointed down the river. There was a faintly visible wood bridge just hanging from the edge.
Robyn’s hopes went up. “So, we can cross it?”
“Yes, but under this full moon we will be an easy target. They got bows and are probably guarding the bridge.” Marcos said and smiled.
Robyn wondered what that smile meant. She was concerned.
“There is another way,” Marcos said and paused.” But it is dangerous and I am not sure if you can survive it.”
“Well I have been known to survive against such bad odds. Lead the way.” Robyn said trying to regain her confidence.
“You are going to get a little dirty.” Marco said and at once began to fast walking downhill.
Robyn and Elias followed close, but Marcos long legs allowed him to walk twice the distance. The rest of the Luna Clan followed to the sides shooting glances at Robyn’s staff. Maybe they were also worried for their leader safety. After a few minutes they were near the shore of the river. Robyn saw the wild river passing by, she could almost feel the muddy ground shaking as more and more water passed. She looked around for way to cross it, but there was none.
Marcos turned north up the river and said, “Esmeralda and Ralph,” the both names he called a pair of brown furred creatures appeared at once in front of him. “You two go ahead and scout the old tunnels.” Marcos said, and Ralph showed his sharp teeth in the direction of Robyn. He was not pleased, but at once followed Marcos orders and Esmeralda followed him running on with their hands and feet. They disappeared into the night.
Robyn wondered what those tunnels were. She was going to find out soon for sure. She followed Marcos and Elias seemed nervous as well. After a few more minutes of walking almost knee deep on the muddy shore of the river, they arrived to a cave entrance covered tree branches that were all over the place probably Esmeralda and Ralph had removed them just a moment ago. Marcos stops at the mouth of the cave.
“Lady from this point forward there is no going back.” Marcos said with a serious face. But, there was more to it, Robyn thought.
“I understand.” Robyn said sounding conformed.
“No!” Marco shouted and her echo carried inside the cave.
Robyn suddenly felt very afraid, and she held tight to her staff. Maybe this was the moment that Marcos was going to attack well away from the main road and near a hidden cave that probably not many knew.
“Do not be afraid. I am sorry if I scared you.” Marco apologized bowing his head and smiling. “What I meant to say is that you need to understand that once we go through the tunnels there is no way to return, and the possibility of dying is high. There are many hidden dangers in there, we almost never use them. They go back for hundreds of years.” Marcos said and walked in.
Robyn and Elias walked in nervously and alerted.
Marcos continued, “You will have to follow me very close it easy to get lost in there. Also there are hidden traps. Our ancestors built them we worked with the vampires; to smuggle people and goods.” Marcos said and sighed.
It was a dark cave it was hard to see anything at all. Robyn, wondered if it was alright to light her staff. It would provide some light for her and Elias to see. But she was concerned because the creatures did not seem to look that happy about magic… especially just after she almost shot their leader. “I can’t see anything.” Robyn said.
“That is right I forgot you can’t see that well in the dark.” Marcos said.
“I guess there are no torches around.” Robyn asked.
“No, and if there were they are long gone with humidity and long time without use.” Marcos said and continued walking.
Robyn tried to feel the slippery ground she was walking on. It was as if she was blind. Then, she decided to ask Marcos if she could use her magic, “Can I light my staff?”
“Sure, but don’t shoot me with that staff again.” Marcos said joking.
Robyn shot a spell on her stuff with her left cursed hand and she felt the warm fire coming out of her fingertips. The tip of the staff was a fire at once; it did not burn all the way down just the top. The cave came alive with the light. The cave was taller than it looked form the entrance and along the walls there were long roots hanging down and some buried statues. Almost at the end of the cave there were some descending steps. Marcos walked that way and the group followed him.
------To Be Continued---
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