Lantessama

Isla Weyr

The Rescue

Night had fallen and the lights of the fire were glowing dim. Ikron and Mireille were waiting for Evron to appear. Ikron was sure his brother would come. The night was dark as no light, not even the stars shone through the forest. The guards were drunk, thinking they had gotten away with their crime and without Leon to contain them… That little rat-like man had been the real danger in the group.
Finally, after hours of waiting it seemed Evron felt movement in the air. He more felt his brother than he saw him. Evron opened his mouth and eyes, the wet white lighting in the dark. Mireille smiled back while she tried to get up.
Ikron pulled her back down. Evron pulled out his knife and quickly –but more important- soundlessly cut through their bonds and helped them up. With a finger against his mouth he signalled Mireille to be quiet. No need to talk here where they could get caught.
Evron led them away from the camp and led them down to a small creek. Sheltered by trees and foliage he finally opened his mouth.
"Sorry I didn’t come sooner."
"How did that happen?"
"There was one bandit that insisted on keeping awake."
"And the horses?"
"Nope, that one is awake too. I think Iker is watching him. By the way, his name sounds like yours."
"I’m nothing like him." Ikron said, "Wait? You see me as a fat pig with a hair problem?"
Both brothers smiled at each other, joking in the heath of the chase.
"They will come after us." Ikron said.
"Will they be able to catch us?" Mireille asked.
"They have horses though they won’t do them much good if we head through the forest… but eventually, by the end of the day, yeah, they’ll get us."
"A day?!" Mireille whispered-screamed, "Is that all?"
"Yes, it should be enough to disappear."

But luck wasn’t their bond this night. For in the night rode back a dark cloaked figure. Beneath the cover a small man with a sharp nose and big teeth. The rat-like Leon was on his way back from Derpell. He had ridden all day and night to get there. He had inquired all he needed to know and returned on another horse. He was rushing to get back, rushing to get the girl first and hurt her. The thought made him smile…

Mireille, Evron and Ikron meanwhile were walking as fast as they could following the stream back to civilisation. A new day was dawning, only 24 hours after their leave, and every one of them wished for more darkness. For clouds and rain because they’d be harder to find. The day however was calm and pleasant. A soft breeze guided them toward more open Forest, not that it would do them good. The open forest still extended miles before it reached the first houses.
Another hour further the thumping of horse hoofs was audible behind them. Mireile looked back and tripped. Ikron stopped and helped her up, pulling her further while she was trying to get back into pace.
"Are you ok?" Evron yelled back.
"Yeah." Mireille said, biting away some pains at the side of her ankle. They were just bruises.
Ikron didn’t leave her alone anymore. He kept her his hand locked around hers and pulled her further. In the distance some horses already started to appear from the morning fog.
"They’re coming!" Ikron yelled.
Ikron cursed the bandits that had stayed sober during the night. As he looked back he saw them led by a dark figure. Leon, no doubt. Only four horses were following. Maybe that little rat had seized power. This made things even worse. The bandits now knew who they were and that they had in fact been on the verge of committing sacrilege. There would be no mercy if they were caught.
The horses came closer with every step. Evron, Ikron nor Mireille dared look back after that. All their energy was focused into running forward. Then something hit Ikron from behind. He fell, dragging Mireille down with him as the horses ran past. Evron stopped and turned back. He was rewarded by a knock in the shoulder with a metal-tipped boot. Evron fell down backwards, hitting the ground hard with his back.
The horses turned and were stopped by their riders. Leon mounted down from his horse and walked slowly toward them, making sure he enjoyed every step. Evron had joined Ikron and Mireille pulling his sword. Behind him Ikron grabbed some rocks and started throwing them. Leon raised and arm and deftly averted the rocks.
The 3 other bandits waited behind their new leader laughing and grinning at their victims’ desperate measures. Evron and Ikron stood back to back, Mireille at the side, trying to look small enough to be unnoticed while she was stepping back.
Leon drew his sword and started with Evron. Meanwhile Ikron was trying to get one of the bandits alone to steal away a sword. But they had been instructed to move in group.
Mireille at the edge of the forest noticed a small lucky event. One of the horses the bandits had ridden was her very own Iver.
"Iver come!" she yelled and whistled.
The horse, trained to listen to her under all circumstances came to her. She mounted and rode right into the two fighting men, thrusting aside Leon. Next she aimed at the group of three men standing at the edge. She rode past Ikron who followed. He grabbed a sword from one of the fallen men and kept them at bay.
Then a bang on his head made the world turn black. Mireille turned back and saw both Ikron and Evron laying on the ground. Leon however was still standing and grinning like nothing had happened. He came closer. Iver reared on his hind legs. Then Leon grabbed his reigns and pulled the horse down.
"Now it’s time for us."
Mireille looked around but no-one was going to save her. She saw Evron moving, but he was in no state to fight, nor was Ikron who hadn’t even gotten to moving yet.
"You’re not getting anywhere near me." She yelled, furious and scared.
"Oh, but I already have."
Suddenly the man took a step back, fear in his eyes. Mireille looked confused at the scene and wondered what had happened. Had the temple send men to save her? A pang of sadness torn through her. That would mean she wasn’t going to see Ikron anymore.
Mireille turned around and gasped. Behind her were not the troops she had expected. Only one man was behind her, but the fear in Leon’s eyes had come from the sight of the creature he flew on. A blue dragon, as told of in faerie tales was flying above the clearing in the woods.
"Are you ok?" the man yelled down.
"I am now. Can you help my friends?" Mireille asked.
"Sure. Siyeth get me down will you."
The blue dragon put up his paw and helped his rider down. He  closed her eyes and sat basking in the sun.
"What happened?"
"Bandits." Mireille said.
"Were you going anywhere special?" P'mir queried.
"Sort of. Nothing I wouldn’t want to get out of." She said smiling shyly at her own openness.
"Good, if your friends feel the same I can make you an offer."
"I think Ikron at least would go. I’m not sure of Evron."
The rider helped Evron up while Ikron was tended by Mireille.
"Just my luck to get the guy and not the girl." Evron remarked smiling when he felt the pain in his skull.
"I take it they aren’t supposed to…" P'mir asked.
"No. What’s you’re name? I’m Evron."
"P'mir, and that is my dragon Siyeth."
"He’s big."
"Not really compared to his sisters and brothers. But he spots people that could help his kind when they’re little from two worlds away. That’s how he found you."
"Going away?"
"It would certainly be a solution for them I take it." P'mir said.
"Yeah. But what about me?"
"You are very welcome too."
"It’s not like I have anything left behind here." Evron shrugged, "So how do we leave?"
"Siyeth will take us if she’s up to it."
The blue creature snorted and extended a paw. "He is." P'mir smiled and helped Mireille on.

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All images made by me
Font used is called First Order and can be downloaded here.