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The Lost Stars ChronicleChapter 46: The Fragmenting Of The Fellowship
Temporary tents were erected for the night and the guard was set to keep watch until those in the Fellowship were ready to leave. Malder didn’t know how long he was out, but when he awoke he found Gib standing over him. And wonder of wonders, there was his horse standing beside him.
“Phirian?” said Malder weakly.
The horse sputtered, leaning down its long head to stroke Malder’s face.
“He says he missed you.”
Malder looked up at Gib. “I guess I owe you an apology Gib, and the others too for that matter. I…had no idea it what I was talking about.”
There was silence for a moment and then Malder spoke again.
“That man, BloodVaine, he was the one responsible for my father’s death. I couldn’t even fight him. It was like I was enveloped by this red haze…I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
“Hmm.” said Gib, “I suppose it makes sense that it would be so. BloodVaine was only a spirit after all, not a demon.”
“I don’t take your meaning.”
“Oh, nothing.”
Silence again.
“So,” said Malder at last, “You really are Rigger Belphinigib, huh? My half brother?”
Gib nodded.
“Yes.” he said, “I’m sorry too. When I left home…when I first came to the Neverwood, it had been over ten years since my father had died. And mother…I had helped her with the farming and everything until then, but when the time came that I was to become a knight…I was selfish. I didn’t think of her at all. You will tell her that I’m sorry won’t you?”
“Tell her yourself.” said Malder, “Why don’t you come back with us? You are the only heir to the line of Belphingib.”
“Pelegil, I --”
“Please, call me Malder.”
“Right, Malder. Look, I can’t come back with you. Mother wouldn’t have me. Did you see the look of horror on her face when she discovered it was me? No I can’t do it.”
“Rigger, she’s the one who sent me after you. The very reason she sent me was to bring you back!”
“What? But I thought you said you followed me to make sure I didn’t come back.”
“I lied. And I was going to lie to mother too, and say that I hadn’t found you. But you know what? I think that would have broken her heart. Please Gib, she’s already lost so much. And loosing you again would kill her.”
Tears began to well up in the hermit’s eyes.
“Alright brother, I’ll come home.”
And the two brothers sat there for a while, with only the swish of Phirian’s tail breaking the silence.
Sir Dractor was tired as he only remembered being tired on a very nights in his life. His emotional trials in the halls of the Temple, his fight with BloodVaine, his sprinting, and the general stresses of the journey they had been on all came crashing down on him. He was sharing a tent with Anardan, Bjarn, and Voolmark. And tired as he was, he was the last one into the tent. And although he dropped off to sleep as soon as he hit the bedroll, he had already caught the sounds of their snoring. Sir Dractor had been asleep for maybe an hour when something jolted him awake. It was not a sound, or a movement, or anything tangible. It was a voice in his mind.
Aethelred, came the Old Man’s voice, Aethelred.
“What?” mumbled Sir Dractor, aware that the Old Man could hear him, “It’s the middle of the night.”
Aethelred, I need you to come to Talistrand as soon as possible. Leave immediately.
“What’s the hurry?”
The Sorcerer-king is set to leave tomorrow. There are no more obstacles between him and the Wizardsbane. Elwen and I will be leaving at the same time, by a different road. I’ll give you directions to meet us there, as you go. We should arrive at the Old Ruins in a couple weeks. It’s slow going over rocky roads. Can you make it to Talistrand in that time?
“It’ll be close,” said Sir Dractor.
Then hurry. I can’t do this without you.
Then the Old Man’s presence in Sir Dractor’s head was gone, and he started getting up. It was a very slow Sir Dractor that began putting on his armor, and wrapping his bedroll, and grabbing his pack to fill with food. Then, just as he was about to go, he went a shook Bjarn awake. It took a good minute before the old Forestman woke.
“I’m sorry, my friend,” said Sir Dractor when Bjarn had finally opened his eyes, But I do not have time to wait until morning to say good-bye, and I needed to tell someone where I am going, so that none of you worry and come after me.”
“Good-bye?” said Bjarn, still sleepy, “Come after you? Where are you going?”
“Talistrand,” said Sir Dractor, “I’ve been summoned. I can tarry only a little, just enough to say good-bye.”
“Good luck, my friend,” said Bjarn, “Thank you for all that you did. Your aid was invaluable. If you get the chance when you’re done, come to Drullen Bell and visit. I hope to get the chance to see you again and reminisce.”
“If I can, I will,” said Sir Dractor, “Good night, my friend, and go back to sleep. You need it.”
Bjarn nodded, and lay back on his pillow, and before Sir Dractor had reached the tent flap, he could hear Bjarn’s snoring. Sir Dractor moved slowly out of the camp, his body weary, and his mind slow. He went to the supply tent, and filled his sack with waybreads and dried foods, and a skin of water. Then he made his way to the perimeter to head off, but before he did, he heard a small voice.
“Sir Dractor?” it asked, “Where are you going?”
The warrior wearily turned around. It was Luxus.
“What are you doing up, Luxus?” asked Sir Dractor.
“I couldn’t sleep,” said the boy, “Where are you going?”
“On a long journey, Luxus,” said the warrior, “My friends need me.”
“But you can’t leave,” said Luxus, “You promised to teach me to fight.”
“Luxus,” said Sir Dractor slowly, “I wasn’t promising I’d be able to teach you to fight. I was saying that I was sure we’d get out of there. I’d like to teach you, but I have a promise to keep with two other friends, promises made a very long time ago, promises about life or death.”
Luxus looked down sadly, and the fact that he was only an eight-year old boy became very apparent.
“But what about my birthday?” he asked, “You did promise that.”
“Yes, I did, Luxus,” said Sir Dractor very sadly, “And I’ll make sure before I leave that your brothers, and Shainya, and Bjarn see to it that you have one. A big one, while you’re in Orion. Maybe even the Emperor will be there.”
“I don’t want the Emperor to be there, I want you!” said Luxus.
“I want to be there,” said Sir Dractor, “But my friends need me. Do you want them to die?”
“No…” said Luxus, pausing for a moment, “Sir Dractor? Is it hard having to rescue people all the time? Is that your job?”
Sir Dractor was surprised, and touched. Anyone else would have asked it if was his job to kill people.
“It does get hard,” he admitted, “but it would be harder if I stopped, and people died, and I knew it was my fault. Now go back to bed, Luxus. You need sleep, even if you don’t feel like you can fall asleep.”
The boy started back to his tent, downcast. Then he came back, and hugged the big warrior tightly.
“Sir Dractor,” he said, “don’t get hurt.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said, and then Luxus set off for bed for good.
Sir Dractor then made his way to Hans Lentawl’s tent. The adolescent library clerk was still awake, not nearly as tired as the questors, and used to late nights and late mornings in any event. He was scribbling away at a message to one of his friends, somewhere up in the north, when he looked up and saw Sir Dractor come in.
“Hey! What can I do for you?”
“I...I’d like for you to prepare a birthday party for Luxus.” began Sir Dractor quietly.
Hans looked at the knight, then said, “Uh...sure, I can do that...when is Luxus’s birthday?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Sir Dractor, “No one knows. That’s why I want you to set one up.”
“Ohhh...kay…” Hans replied, “I can do that...no problem. Say, did you get up in the middle of the night just to tell me this?”
“No.” Sir Dractor shook his head, “I have to leave. And I think it would be better if I left without a fuss.”
“Leave? Now? Dude, take a breather! You just survived an underground furnace and now you’re leaving?”
Sir Dractor sighed. “Yes. I have other things to attend to. Old friends need my help.”
Hans looked at Sir Dractor curiously, but didn’t press further.
“When you say now, you mean this instant?”
“Yes. In fact, I must be off now…”
Sir Dractor turned to leave, but Hans stopped him.
“Wait. At least take one of our horses and a pack of food. You may the strongest tyco knight I’ve ever seen, but there’s now way you’ll manage walking all the way to your friends, and food is scarce during these months”
Sir Dractor smiled and clapped Hans on the shoulder.
“Thank you, Hans. You have been a great help. You had been an integral part of this quest as much as anyone in the fellowship. I hope to see you again.”
“Same here. And make sure you attend one of Luxus’s birthdays in the future, ‘k? Every kid needs a hero.”
Sir Dractor smiled. “You can fill that role for me while I’m gone. Farewell.”
Sir Dractor exited the tent, and within ten minutes he had left the camp on his horse with a food pack slung on the saddle. He headed southwards, towards Dragonar, and ultimately towards the coast. In Glondur he hoped to take ship.
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