The sun was high in the sky, warming the ground, the rays drifted down through the branches casting shadows on the white snow. All was still in this grove of trees, not an animal moved, the air smelled fresh and clean, the snow having washed away any traces of activity. A blanket of undisturbed snow covered the land below. Barrek stirred in his hollow of a tree.Yawning he rubbed his face. His eyes fuzzy with sleep glanced out at the forest. He shot up. Groaning he tried to stand. Slower this time, his legs were weak, pain flowed freely through his veins. Looking up he saw that he had slept until mid day. The sun hung high in the middle of the sky, its warmth beginning to melt the ice that coated the trees. Remembering his injured shoulder he decided to test it. The slightest roll. Something so little could not do much harm. Barrek placed his hand on his shoulder. He cried out in pain. He stopped. He stood their breathing heavily. Pain clouded his vision. He closed his eyes. After a moment he opened them again. He glanced at his shoulder. He winced when he saw it. Dried blood and dirt was caked in his wound, he would need to clean it and wrap it up, he hoped that it would not become infected. He stood there, doing a mental check of his body, he breathed slowly. He took a step, nothing other than a sore ankle from his running blindly through the dark. A bird sounded the alarm and took off from its perch, something dangerous was about, he needed to get a move on. Barrek felt the cold snow soaking into his socked feet. He sat back and pulled his boots back on. He smacked his lips, he needed water.
Nothing moved as Barrek limped through the trees, he needed to find fresh water to drink, he was in desperate need of water, he realized that the last time any type of nourishment had passed his lips was over a day ago. He glanced up at a low branch, his eyes glistened as he gazed at the snow that clung to it. His mouth felt dry. He snatched at the snow, pulling bits of it into his mouth. He felt better, he still needed to find stream, he would never survive this journey without it. Barrek tilted his ear, listening for the sound of water, he could not just wander around blindly and hope to find what he needed. Nothing for a moment. He focused all his senses- closing his eyes. His eyes shot open. He heard the faint sound of flowing water, he followed his ears. His mouth salivated at the thought that he would get to taste the refreshing flow of the water soon. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, freezing he looked about for whatever caused him to feel in danger. His head moved from side to side. Nothing. A small bird was flying over head. It was nothing to fear, still something was in the air that worried him. Barrek picked up the pace, he did not want to be out in the middle of nowhere if there was something dangerous around. Looking about himself he walked quickly, if anything was out there he would be ready for them, he kept his hand on the sword on his hip. The sound of the water grew louder, he was almost there, grimacing he tried to run, his ankle screaming out with each step, his heart thudded in tune with the pulsing of his injures. Roaring from the rushing of water blocked most sounds from his ears, breaking through the tree's Barrek saw a river flowing in front of him, he sighed in relief that nothing was amuck, dropping to his knees he was about to draw the water to his lips.
A low growl emitted from above. His hand stop halfway to his mouth. His heartbeat growing in speed. He looked up. There on the opposite bank sat a mountainous wolf. Frozen in place Barrek watched the animal. He scanned the surrounding area for its pack. Nowhere to be seen. It was a dark brown and grey, blood leaked from its side, it's pack must have left it alone to die. The wolf's tail twitched, it had finally noticed him, it crouched low readying itself to leap.. Barrek staying close to the ground backed up, he did not want to get in a fight with a hungry animal. Suddenly it jumped over the narrow river, landing about twenty feet away from him. His heart beat in his ears. Slowly it crept closer to him, backing Barrek into a tight cluster of trees. He had no other option but to fight. He lowered his hand to his stolen dagger he had stuck in his boot. Foam seeped from the wolf's mouth, a dangerous hunger beating on him through its eyes. It watched him, its red eyes piercing his own. It was waiting for its moment to attack. They both stood there, unmoving, sizing each other up, waiting for the other to move. Suddenly the wolf raced towards him! Barrek dove to the side at the same time he pulled his dagger free. The wolf grabbed a hold of his leg. Searing pain sucked the air out of him. Barrek thrust his dagger deep into its wound. The wolf howled and released his leg. Again Barrek dug his dagger in. The wolf lay there whining in pain. Its sad eyes looking back at him. Barrek's heart wilted some, he felt pity on the animal. He knelt down beside it, the wolf was breathing weakly.
"I shall ease your pain." He leaned down and slit its throat. It could feel no more pain now.
Barrek stumbled towards the water's edge. The bite marks in his leg oozing blood, he needed to clean out the wound. He ripped his already torn pant leg off at the knee. Hissing as he plunged his leg into the freezing water, he rubbed at the bite marks with what remained of his pant leg to clean them out, bloody red water surrounded his leg and drifted down with the current. Keeping his leg submerged he pulled his coat opened and ripped part of his shirt off. After wiping off the water as much as he could he wrapped the shirt around his leg wound. He repeats the whole thing on his arm. Dipping his hands down into the water Barrek quenches his thirst. Small fish swim by him, causing his stomach to complain. Barrek sits up and limps over to the tree's, he finds a nice thin branch and fashions a spear to catch the fish with. After what felt like hours Barrek has a few fish slung over on the shore. The sun began to dip down below the tree line, shadows spread all over the ground. Barrek gathered some dried wood and proceeds to build a small fire, the fire takes and soon he is sitting, warming his hands. He takes the fish and cleans them out putting them on a spit to cook. The smell of the cooking fish rising up to meet his nose, clinching his stomach he stands and goes in look of some berries to ease his hunger while it cooks.
Bushes full of winter berries lined the river's edge, Barrek ate a few and carried some back with him, he lays them out on his torn pant leg and wraps them up to take with him tomorrow on his journey to the border. A twig snapped. Barrek's head flies up. He looks about himself, seeing nothing. The hair on his neck still stands up, he feels as if he is being watched. He ignores the feeling and checks his fish. Almost done now. Again he hears a twig, this time he stands and walks away. He stops and watches from behind a tree. Nothing happens and he wonders if maybe he is just too stressed and needs a rest. Barrek sighed. He almost went back to his fish before it burnt when a man stepped out of the other side of the tree's. The man's clothes were worn and old, many patches could be seen. The stranger had a long dirty blond beard to match his balding blond hair. Barrek watched as he walked around, if he was a soldier he did a very good job of hiding his true self. Cautiously the man walk around the camp, checking for any people. Barrek decided he had seen enough, once the man stepped in front of him he pounced. A thud rang out as the two men landed on the ground. Barrek laid his dagger on the man's throat, just hoping he would say something to stop him, he had seen enough bodies in the last day.
"Please!" The man cried. "My hunger is what lead me here! I have not eaten in days, being half starved the smell of food drew me in! Nothing else! My nose caught the smell of the fish! I swear that I mean no harm to you or anyone else!"
The man held tight to Barrek's arm, using all his strength to keep the blade's edge of his soft weak skin. Barrek could feel him shaking underneath him. The man's breath came quick, shaky, and hot on his face. Looking him over Barrek saw that the man was covered in dirt, his clothes mere rags and his frame skinny. Barrek knew nothing of him but after looking over the stranger he knew that the man had not eaten for days and surely could use a hot meal.
"Sir, please, all I ask is that you release me and I will leave you be! I do not wish to lose my life today! Surely you can find some kindness in your heart to let an old hungry man free?" The man's pleading voice grated on Barrek's ears, how a man could have such a shrill voice he would never know.
Slowly Barrek stood, he held his knife up, ready if the man made any sudden movements. Gingerly the man stood, his blond hair brushing up the melting snow, causing it to look more white than blond. The man got to his feet and waited for Barrek to say something.
"I will not harm you." Barrek said slowly. "If you wish to stay and partake in my meal you are welcome to......."
"Oh sir I could not ask that you do such a kind thing! I have wronged you and should leave you be...."
Barrek held up his hand stopping the man. "I would like to share my meal, you look as if you need it. Please, sit." Barrek motioned with his knife for the man to sit down across the fire. "The fish should be about done."
The man watched as Barrek poked the fish to see how done it was, ravenous hunger showed out of his eyes. Barrek's heart went out for this man, the stranger was alone in this world as he himself had been these last three years. At least he had his wife Lesil and a child to return to. He hand went to the ribbon in his hair. The soft fabric easing his worried soul. Barrek let his hand fall down. Reaching for the fish he pulled it from the flames and handed the first stick to the other man, Quick as lightning he stuck the fish in his mouth. His whole face turned red and he almost dropped the fish.
"Take your time, it is red hot!" Barrek told the man. He pulled a stick for himself, gently blowing on it. "What is your name?"
Rubbing his burnt lip, the man turned and looked at him. "My name is Bently, I come from Kerdun, and you?" He then started blowing on his fish.
"I am Saren," Barrek felt a bit guilty lying to the man but he did not know yet if he could trust him and he was still in enemy territory.
Barrek started on his fish, it tasted better than anything he had eaten in years, prison fare did not have any flavor other than rotting meat and moldy bread. The sun had dipped low in the sky, stars twinkling in the heavens. Barrek loved to stare at the stars, Lesil had sat beside him many a warm summer night gazing up into the wonders above. Nibbling on his fish Bently watched him, the man was skin and bones, he looked about eighty five but he was probably no older than fifty, the outdoors and lack of food aging him considerably. Barrek looked down at his own self, he was thinner than he was before his capture, and his clothes had worn and tore, the coat he had on was stolen. Barrek was glad for the darkness and shadows to hid the the emblems on it, he had forgotten that it showed that he was a soldier in the Glendorain army. Bently was staring at his fish entirely distracted, Barrek slyly slipped away. In the cover of the tree's by the river's edge Barrek pulled the patches and colors off, after looking closely over it he was satisfied that none would take it as a soldiers coat unless they inspected it in more detail. Walking back Barrek carefully tried putting all of his weight on his leg, the lower half had stopped swelling and appeared to be less red. It held him up, but the pain he felt made him woosy. He limped back to where Bently sat.
"Thank you for the meal." Bently said after he had returned. "I feel much better, I am glad that I came upon your camp. Not many others would have taken so kindly to a thief. How did you come to be here?"
Barrek sat down and gave himself a moment to think "I was a guard in a merchants train, I was injured, as you can see. I was not able to continue walking with them so I was left behind. I was given some food and water, which ran out yesterday, luckily I was able to catch this fish or I would be going hungry as well."
"That was wrong of them to leave you, you could have died out here alone!" Bently's eyes were huge. Barrek coughed, the man's stare boring into him. Bently averted his gaze."I have been traveling towards Dovant, I am hoping that Frandle's capitol city is better than Kerdun." Bently looked back up at him. "Have you ever traveled there? With you being a merchant guard and all I am sure you must have visited many interesting places."
"I have been there, it is not much different than Kerdun. Cleaner and a bit more open, but the people are the same, all afraid and crowded in a small area, the rich do well but those who are poor suffer greatly."
Barrek looked away, the years in Glendore lingered still in his mind, he had seen little while in the tower but before he was taken he had stayed in the city for a week. The king of Glendore was not much different than his own, more interested in lining his pockets than feeding the poor. He wished that he could do something about the suffering but not much could be done when the people in charge cared little and always asked for more.
"I see that you have not enjoyed your time in the cities. Why do you travel so much if you do not like it?" Bently inquired.
"Come I must sleep now, you are welcome to stay and enjoy my fire but please no more questions." Barrek tossed more logs on the fire and lay his head down.
"I will be as a mouse! You shall not hear a peep out of me, I can assure you of that, once Bently gives you his word, it is law. Sleep well my friend, perhaps we can travel together in the morn, I am more than happy to repay your kindness by helping you return to your home."
"That is not necessary I am not heading back to Dovant, just towards the boarder. I do wish you well on your travels though. Goodnight Bently."
Barrek closed his eyes breathing slowly he felt his body relax, the aches and pains still were there just not as strongly aware of them. A new day would be welcome, his freedom a gift. A gift that he would not dare to believe he would have the day before last. He smiled, by the next sunrise he could be with his wife. He rubbed her ribbon in his hair and smiled to himself imaging what her face would look like once she saw him as he drifted into a deep slumber.
. . .
The next morning the sun shone through, much of the snow melted and dripping, Barrek stretched his sore body, the wound on his arm and leg looking much better in the light of day, he would need to move quickly today if he was to make it to the border by dark. He had heard that both armies patrolled around a wall that had been built between the two countries, making travel more risky and time consuming, all people were questioned and many had their belongings searched. Barrek knew that he could not walk right up to the gate and get through, he now would be watched for, he had angered the king by escaping and killing so many of his guards. Bently was gone, perhaps the man had listened and gone on his way this morning. Standing Barrek gripped his stomach, the fish from last night gone, he needed more food today. The fire still burned lightly, he kicked at the coals to help them cool, he did not want to start a fire, smoke drew too many eye's.
"Good morn Saren! I have brought some late winter berries, I fear many of them may be crushed, but it will still fill the belly well enough!" Barrek turned and saw the man walking back into his camp, he had some berries in his hand but his pockets were stained purple, surely most of them made their way here in there, that would be why they were crushed.
"Bently, I thought that you were gone, awakening and seeing you missing. I am glad to have a meal, crushed or otherwise." Barrek held his hand out and Bently laid a handful of berries in his palms, his fingers stained and dripping the purple juice.
"I am happy to return the favor. The fish from last night helped me considerably." He slapped Barrek on the back. "We are friend's now, drawn together by the harshness of the outer-doors, I knew that I could not sleep again if I did not make sure that you made your way safely to the border at least, if you wish to go separate ways after that I will rest easy knowing that you are near other people and not alone in the forest!" Bently slapped Barrek's shoulder and turned kicking the fire around.
Barrek groaned, rubbing his shoulder, Bently not only never was quiet but he was friendly as well, striking him even as a good man.Well kind as one who had a gash in their arm could understand. Barrek sighed, he knew that there was no way out of this now, he would just have to go with the man and pray that he would help keep the soldiers off his tail. The sun hung high in the sky when they set out, Barrek's spirits were high, everything was better, he could feel the warmth of the sun on his pale skin, the cold weather season ending as they grew closer to Frandle. They stayed near the river, knowing that it would lead them to Frandle just as well as the road, for it flowed straight through the middle of its capital city. The seasons were beginning to change, green buds were peaking through the melting snow and more animals were seen running about. Barrek breathed in the fresh air and felt as if he was beginning a new season in life as well. A season more full of joy and happiness, well deserved after years in the tower, the horrors he had seen trying to come to mind, he forced those thoughts out and focused on the now, that by the morning he would be back with his family. As long as he could find a way to cross the border, perhaps word of his escape had not reached this far yet.
"I love the outdoors this time of the year!" Bently said. "Everything getting a fresh coat of life and bringing the color back!" He brushed the snow off a branch that was leaning over the river, the snow dropped in with a splash and floated down, slowly sinking into the fast flowing waters. "My wife used to say that 'No matter where you were in life, whether rich or poor, the spring could always bring a smile' I never will forget that, how right she was about it! The spring is a much too happy season for worries and strife to sneak in and steal the joy!" Bently walked with a spring in his step, swinging his arms merrily. "You know I think that you need to look around yourself, I know that you are hurt but there is no reason to be sour about it. Why don't you tell old Bently about your family."
Barrek staggered as Bently jabbed him in the side. "My wife's name is Lesil, we have a little boy named Timothy." Bently looked at him his eyes begging for more. Barrek sighed, better to appease the man. "We have been married seven years, our son is about six, his birthday is in a month."
"Oh how wonderful, I love birthday's. I am sure that you have something grand planned, birthdays are very special to little ones. I remember my little Jennie's sixth birthday, we had very little money, but we had a jovial time, my wife Ginda baked a little cake for Jennie and we had a lovely little picnic. The smile on her face when we gave her her present, I shall always cherish!"
"Sounds like a wonderful time." Barrek said.
"I bet you are wondering what a man who had a family is doing all alone." Side aching jabs again. Barrek rolled his eyes and suppressed the urge to jab him back. "Well last winter the sickness hit, took me wife and daughter, she was ten at the time. Don't feel sad for me now, I am just as happy, I know that they both are in a better place and that soon I will be joining them. A few weeks ago I decided that mopping would get me no where so I hopped up off me tail and took off, I sold everything that we had. Well I kept this." Prepared for the jab Barrek was able to avoid it. Bently pulled a golden ring from his pocket. "This was my wife's weddin' ring." His voice softened, as he stroked the tiny ring. "She never took it off once, the vicar told me to leave it on her hand to be buried with her but I wanted to keep it close." He gently laid the ring to his lips then slide it back in his pocket. "Do you have anything that you keep to remind you of your wife while you are gone?"
Barrek's hand flew to the ribbon holding his dark hair back. He thought of the first time he had taken this ribbon from his wife, the golden ribbon she had tied in her hair everyday for a year, calling it her lucky ribbon cause she had been wearing it the day that Barrek had proposed. He had plucked it from her hair the night of their wedding telling her that she did not need luck anymore for he would always be there to take care of her, she had then taken it and tied it in his hair and told him to wear it and remember his promise. He had kept it through everything. Touching it whenever he felt like giving up, to be reminded that he had to keep his promise and that the only way to do that was to keep on going. Bently jabbed him in the side again dragging him away from his thoughts
"It is that there ribbon in your hair, belongs to your wife no doubt about it, that smile on you face tells all. A smile of a man who has a lovely wife and loves her dearly. I still think of my wife Ginda that way, no other woman alive like her, I won't marry again, none can take her place."
They both looked off ahead, sighing and thinking of times gone passed. The men were silent as they walked the paths of the forest, heading to the border. The day growing old as they neared their destination. The wall dividing the country laid before them finally. It was not grand in any way, quickly built and small, only perhaps five or so feet high, it was made of mud and stones, not built to last only to help keep those out. Many people were lined up on either side to gain access to the other country, a few soldiers on the Frandle side, some watching the gate others patrolling the wall. On the Glendorain side, there were many more soldiers, they were looking quite deeply into whatever or whoever was passing through the gate. Barrek feared that the soldiers had been sent to look for him.
"Well now Saren, I think this is where we part ways. I am off for adventure and you must return to your lady love, please give her a kiss for me. I shall never forget your kindness towards me, if you are ever in need of anything try and find me, I will be happy to help you in return." Bently squeezed Barrek's shoulder and ran towards the line of people heading through the gate.
Barrek watched him as he went, feeling lonelier than he thought he would, though the man never shut his trap he did bring some joy back into his life. Now the only thing that was left was to wait for dark so he could get to his home.