Chapter 66: The Long Eared Guardian 6

His head covered in snow. He’s feeling the cold but he persisted. The snow was falling and the cold wind that is blowing froze his lips. He clattered madly while kicking his horse. His horse is trained for long travels but he could see that even his mighty steed is feeling the cold. He rummages his saddlebag and took out a torch. He then took the flint from his pocket and lit the torch. The flint made sparks while the torch he had lit the way.

It was foggy white, the cold kind. He sees that the road is completely covered with fog and even the torch in his hands barely lights up the road. The flames on his torch were dancing backward. He kicked his horse to proceed forward. The horse neighed and jerked back. He fell from his horse and felt the impact of hitting his back badly. Wearing steel armor didn’t help him and he felt like there was rock. He cursed three Gods and mounted his steed.

He didn’t blame his steed. Doing so and angering his partner would not be great. Almost all of his belongings are on the saddlebag and besides, he could feel that he was near. The string of energy his following is getting closer after all. He smiled and kicks his horse again. He then rode through the snow with only the sound of his horse’s feet tapping the dirt road coated with snow.

...

They had grim faces on their head. They knew that fighting against the sun’s crown will end with their tribe’s demise. Their tribe has existed for many grand years. Ever since the beginning of the Altria’s or before even the Kingdom was established. The tribe has existed despite many suffering yet never had it betrayed its own tribesmen. They are strict to their own kin and have proven that sometimes put them into harsh conditions but never sold out a member of their tribe.

Their faces are crumpled. Their eyes had bitter shapes as they contemplate on what to do. The letter of the sun’s crown still lingers on the hands of the tribe father. He could destroy it and let the execution of one of their tribe member delayed and let her escape but knowing the sun’s crow’s servant. She would be chased even at the ends of the world.

Dark thoughts usurped their heads. They know the strength of their long eared guardian. Her powers are valuable and possessing two types of blood and blessings makes her a prime weapon. She could possibly kill the sun’s crown emissary but doing so would make the whole land they wander their enemies.

Is one life equal to the lives of many?

To the elders, they begin to weigh the heaviest. Should they sacrifice the whole tribe for the sake of their long eared guardian? They do not think so. And the life of many compared to the life of one. It was already obvious what the correct choice is.

...

She saw the insides of the hollow tree. There is a stuffed bed, a rather warm looking blanket, and hearth. There is certainly something about the inside that made it look like a better home. She followed him in this hollowed tree to eat. Lafiel had nothing to do other than worry about the camp so she might as well stay in this place. The hollow tree is also towering and using her left eye she could scout for quite a distance.

“Do you want some roasted meat again?”

He said.

“If there is anything else then I will take it.”

“Then roasted meat it is.”

He handed her some of the meat being cooked in the hearth. He took some fruits from a clay bowl and took a bit. He sat near the fire while she pressed her back on the hollow tree’s wall. She took a bit of the roasted meat. It was juicy although lacking in any salt. She didn’t know what was put in the meat.

“Do you really not put salt on this?”

“I don’t. I use some saltherbs I find in the forest though. They act and taste like salt but they leave this green taste in the mouth.”

She carefully tasted the meant and indeed she noticed the ‘green taste’ that he was implying.

“I can taste it. I didn’t notice it since I am used to eating wild herbs.”

“You can’t taste it immediately unless you pinpoint it. I do not have salt and making one without the ocean or any salt stones around is practically impossible. So instead I ground them into a paste and rub it on the meat. It also works well in preserving them”

“I see.”

She kept on biting the roasted meat. It was good. She thought.

“It’s snowing real hard out there.”

Arden saw the heavy snow outside and commented. Lafiel could see the falling snow with her left eye so she merely nodded and reply.

“Indeed. All of the beasts are in their burrows or fighting on small caves. Usually, you can hunt a lot if you smoke them inside their caves. Imagine the amount of food you can get.”

“It would be indeed if I am feeding a tribe. But I am not. That reminds me why not hunt them with your tribe?”

“We have enough food for the winter. Although it would be best to hunt more food and keep our stomach full. But the appearance of werelizards and other dire beast made the village Mother wary. The Village Father has also instructed me to keep an eye on anything that moves.”

“So I guess you are wary about the monsters?”

“Yes, even some beasts are dangerous. There might be a beast that is highly resistant to Magic. There might be monsters that my vines and roots could not take down. The werelizards were not that smart. They also didn’t have any black scales, therefore, they were just young ones.”

“So those are newborns. Is your village father scared of their parents taking revenge?”

“Not really.” she raises her shoulders. “The werelizards abandoned their children the moment they can crawl. But the possibility of them taking revenge on their skin isn’t off the table. Who knows? They might attack us. Not to mention that we started peeling the scales of the werelizards.”

“Are you going to use them as equipment or sell them?”

He asks.

“Sell them mostly. We could use the scales as spears but trading with actual spears is much efficient. Not to mention we are not smiths and we do not have the right knowledge to make use of the scales.”

“That’s a given I guess.”

He said. He looks at the food in his hand. He put it down and upright himself. Lafiel saw him and tilted her head in wonder. What was he doing she thought.

“Are you okay?”

“I am.”

He said while obviously trying to hide the pain.

“Are you injured?”

“I was, but this is just after effects.”

“Want me to take a look? I can use healing magic.”

“Is that fine?”

“It is, please show me where it hurts.”

Arden nodded and started to remove his upper clothing. Lafiel observes and then saw Arden’s body. She noticed the huge lash diagonally across his shoulder up to his right hip. There was also a huge scar on his stomach that looked like it was cauterized. His body was well toned and she could see how masculine he is. She has been healing her tribesmen so she was used to seeing the male body. But seeing his tanned skin and the rather mutilated scars that he bears made her frown. His skin looked like it was rubbed, skinned and dried. Indeed his skin was tan but it had the appearance of rusted steel too.

She touched his back and ran her energy through his body. Once she did she saw the horrible injuries he has. His bones were like wrought steel. His organs were riddled with scars that will stay for his life. His muscles were mutilated and sewed by Mana forcibly. She thought how terrible it was and even though she spread her energy to restore it back to normal. The wounds didn’t heal and stayed as it was.

His body seems to recognize the wounds as parts of his body. She could not restore something that has already been healed. She felt bad but she can’t do anything about it. She lifted her hands away and then told him.

“You’re healed. But your body is badly suffering. Was your fall that bad?”

“It was. And very painful believe me.”

He said smiling. She found that smile rather self-deprecating. She walked back to the place where she sat and let Arden clothed himself up. It was winter after all and the blistering cold will freeze him despite there being a hearth inside the hollow tree. Arden dressed up and then said.

“Thank you for helping.”

“I really did nothing though.”

“The thought counts.”

Lafiel was silent. She didn’t talk. Instead, she huddled on the spot and made herself comfortable. Her eyes are still watching the outside but despite that, she was relaxing to the fire inside the hollow tree. Arden saw her. He merely smiled and made sure the fire on the hearth didn’t get extinguished.