The Chase
Evron was at a loss. He didn’t know
if he should follow the bandits or turn back to reach Trevore and his men.
The bandits seemed to want to stay the night. Evron tried making himself as
comfortable as possible to spend the night too. Evron peered inside and saw
the bandits were happy with the food and money from Trevore for now.
Evron crouched down behind the wall and listened. He wouldn’t get much
sleep. But maybe, maybe he’d get a message to his brother.
Inside the shelter Ikron and Mireille were looking at the bandits. To her
own disgust Mireille heard her stomach growl. She hadn’t eaten since the
afternoon and her stomach was used to regular meals. How Ikron could keep
himself still she didn’t know. She had thought herself so though at home.
But she wasn’t much of a survivor in real life. Mireille felt a tear roll
down her cheek. She felt her body shake as more tears came.
Ikron felt Mireille cry. He had to make sure none of the bandits saw it.
Quickly he grabbed her hands. She wasn’t alone. Nothing would happen as
long as he was here and Evron was outside. If all else failed and something
was going wrong Evron would show himself and save her. Maybe he’d get
himself caught as well, maybe he’d get either himself or Ikron killed…
but Mireille would be safe. It was what they did.
Mireille calmed down when she felt Ikron’s hands around hers. It must be
hard for him to move them. The bandits had seen him as a greater threat than
her. Suddenly she felt mad. How could they ignore her? How could they only
see her as a girl. Something they could take advantage of? It wasn’t
right. Mireille embraced the rage. It kept her from crying and it made her
think.
She squeezed Ikron’s hands to let him know she was ok. Suddenly exhausted
she lowered her head to his neck and rested her body while her mind stayed
focused. Night fell and Mireille looked out the small window to the stars
outside. It was strange how situations could change so fast. Only this
morning she hadn’t wanted to leave at all. This afternoon she hadn’t
wanted to get to Derpell at all, but she had wanted to leave, preferably
with Ikron and now she just wanted to be anywhere safe. Getting through the
night unharmed seemed like a miracle on it’s own.
The next morning Evron crawled up, stretching as much
of his muscles. He hadn’t slept, neither had the bandit guard. He hadn’t
been able to get a message to his brother, but Ikron would know he was
around. They had always been around to cover each other.
Evron wondered if he should get his horse to follow the bandits, but they
would miss it. Evron felt pretty useless but during the night he had decided
not being around would be more hazardous fro Ikron and Mireille. Ikron
couldn’t stop anyone… he just might with the element of surprise. A plan
was ripening in his head, a bold plan.
Ikron and Mireille were hauled up from the floor.
Ikron had been awake all night as well, watching the guards, trying his
knots. Mireille had been working too, but somewhere after midnight she had
fallen asleep. Ikron shook his head when her eyes looked guilty. She’d
need all of her strength.
The bandits mounted, Mireille placed like a package over her own horse with
Ikron bound behind her. Ikron would have to walk. The bandits turned toward
the forest and headed in, following some paths that were clear for them, but
were in no means clear for Mireille. Though her unusual position might take
credit for that. Sometimes branches hit her head and more than once she felt
strands of hair get caught on trees.
Evron followed a mile behind, hiding behind trees and
following the trail of horseprints, footprints and hair. Thankful of his
brother’s hard lessons. A print was so easy to overlook in the forest, a
piece of dirt on rock, some wet stains on a riverbank where horses had
trotted in. He didn’t dare follow closer, afraid some bandits might see
them.
Around noon Evron crept closer. He wanted to hear. His first and most
important job was to keep Mireille safe. Evron was nearly caught when two
bandits retired from the fire to relieve their blathers. Evron could scuttle
away just in time and was rewarded by some information. "When
do you think we’ll get the girl?" n° 1 asked.
"When they confirm the story. She might just be a
noble girl asking to be permitted… then we’ll still be able to get a
ransom. You know how the boss likes his money."
The last words were said walking away, but Evron had heard enough. He still
had time. But after tonight he’d have to make a move. One of the bandits
was probably riding ahead to make inquiries. Leon. Evron thought disgusted.
There was something wrong with that guy. A move had to be made before Leon
came back.
Ikron saw Leon go. One advantage from being a hostage…
you knew what people were planning with you. Iker would camp here until Leon
came back with information on Mireille’s status. Evron would know it too,
or at least Ikron hoped he did.
The man were weary and they felt safe. If they drank a lot, they’d sleep
far in the day. Ikron knew Evron liked nightly raids. They were clean and
didn’t carry much risks with them. Ikron felt more for an open direct
approach, but he wouldn’t fuss about that in this situation.
Carefully Ikron leaned back and tried to loosen the ropes a little bit more.
Mireille felt his efforts and started fidgeting too. The ropes hadn’t much
given in, their nails on the other hand had. But Mireille knew Ikron was
planning something.
All images made by me
Font used is called First Order and can be downloaded
here.