Chapter 1 continued
(There is some ChatGPT story to copy over)
Clal and Ansa watched as they passed the forest by on as the cart jostled along. Ansa leaned toward Clal and whispered. “I’ve been thinking, Clal,” she wrapped her arm around Clal’s, “what if Gwynn doesn’t like the way I sew? Or, what if I talk too much? And, what if...”
“What if you absolutely amaze her with how fast you learn.” Clal said, “What if she adores you before the first week is over.” Clal winked, paused, then leaned forward whispering. “What if after a month she says, ‘How ever did I get along without my Ansa?’” Clal laughed.
Ansa scowled then shrugged Clal with her shoulder. “You make fun, Clal.”
Clal chuckled, “I do not. Everything I just said will come true and you know it.”
Ansa allowed a slight smile to grace her lips. “You really think so?”
Clal nodded then plucked a leaf from a nearby tree passing by and blowing it from his palm in Ansa’s direction, then smiled.
“I’m sure you’ll quickly be a favorite among the blacksmith’s customers.” Ansa smiled. “Is it true that Talon is the very best blacksmith in all of Illia?”
“Yes.” Clal’s tone become more subdued. The pit in his stomach returned as he thought about his new path. He looked down at his hands and wondered if he was strong enough and how hard it would really be. He looked up into the forest moving by and squinted balling his fist and setting it on the wall of the cart.
Ansa put her hand on his shoulder.
“I know it’s all new and we don’t know how things will fair, but I believe in you too Clal.”
Clal placed his hand on hers without looking and squeezed her fingers. “Thanks sis.”
Clal had always wanted to be part of adventures in one way or another. Now, he would be forging swords, axes, all kinds of weapons for the castle men and others who wish to pay the high price that Tallon exacted for his wares. It was as if Clal’s very childhood dreams were being realized and he almost couldn’t wait the day and a half to get there.
Clal and Ansa remained silent for a long time, their bodies moving with the sway of the cart as it jostled over uneven ground. The aspen trees waved at them as they traveled through the forest. The autumn breeze carried with it the scent of vegetation in full bloom. The forest was bustling with the sounds of nature; crickets, birds, and the wind in the leaves.
Clal was abruptly shaken from his daze thinking about future days ahead. He just realized that this was where they usually turned into the woods from the road when visiting Clal’s friend, Ruth. “Ansa, this must be the place where...” Clal squinted and peered into the forest, “Wait.” He stood up, almost losing his balance. He walked to the side of the cart then gasped.
“Hey! Hey!” he yelled, waving. “Ansa, look.”
Ansa sat up, “Rythe. Yes.” She jumped up to her feet, “Turl, stop the cart. We have a new visitor. It’s Rythe.”
In the distance a young lad with dark brown hair and a pack on his side was bobbing up and down waving his arms, his voice barely audible.
Then faintly they all heard Rythe calling out, “Clal! Clal!”
Turl stopped the cart and they waited for Rythe to arrive.
Rythe’s figure shot from the forest to the road where Rythe failed to communicate any words as he gasped in great gulps of air. He leaned against the cart for a span then began.
“Clal, Ansa, how fortunate I am to have caught you.” He gasped another gulp of air with one hand on the cart and the other on his chest. “Turl, thank you for stopping, by the way.” Rythe smiled.
Turl smiled back. One of the horses whinnied.
“Don’t suppose you have room for another passenger, do you?”
“I don’t see why not.” Clal said. “We’re stopping at Eldan Vyum.”
Rythe walked over to Turl. “Mind if I ride along?”
“Not at all, Rythe. You’re practically one of the family, or at least it seemed in times past.” Turl smiled and pointed with his thumb for Rythe to climb on.
“Hello Gree, Mina.” Rythe said as he ran to the back of the cart and climbed in as Clal helped him up.”
“Thank you.” Rythe said, tossing his pack onto the cart sitting beside Clal. Clal clapped Rythe on the back.
“I wasn’t sure when I’d ever see you again.” Clal smiled, “It’s been...”
“...too long, friend.” Rythe said with a smile. “What’s the news with you two?” he said, settling back against his pack, folding his arms and stretching his crossed legs out. “You’re heading in to market to sell apples like every other year?”
“We are going to Eldan Vyum for four months to learn a new trade,” Clal started. “I’ve been invited as an apprentice to a blacksmith that my father knew.”
“That’s a high honor, Clal.” Rythe said with raised eyebrows.
Clal nodded, “To think, making swords and armor for the finest men who walk this land.”
“Nails and locks, furniture and horseshoes too.” Rythe added. “It’s an important job.” Rythe turned to Ansa, “And you, Ansa? What lies in store for you in Eldan Vyum?”
11
She hesitated, “Well, mending and sewing clothes.” She smiled only slightly. “That’s it, just a clothes shop.”
“I see,” Rythe said hesitating, “...which...” he leaned forward, “...means that you’ll be crafting enchanting dresses for royal ladies while Clal is pounding out iron swords for epic battles.” He smiled a wide smile. “Who could ask for a more exciting way to end the year?”
Clal had never thought of their apprenticeships in quite that way. It was just what Ansa had needed and Rythe’s presentation of their future appointed stations even brightened Clal’s spirits.
“It sounds like you two are off to new adventures.” Rythe concluded. “Which blacksmith are you going to work with?” Rythe leaned closer to Clal. “I think there are three in the city.”
“Yes,” Ansa agreed. “Perhaps we are after all.” She smiled.
“Talon.” Clal said. “The one that is contracted with the King.”
Rythe’s demeanor immediately changed. He’s heard that name before. Rythe looked down for a moment then recomposed himself with a inhale and a smile.
What about you, Rythe? What brings you to Eldan Vyum?”
“The Adventus and the Examinations,” Rythe said, “I turned seventeen three and a half months ago.”
“I remember the year Turl went,” Ansa said, “he had some interesting stories to tell when he came home.”
“It’s a tradition that’s been around since before the oldest man’s great grandfather's time.” Rythe said, “Some say no one knows when it all began. But I hear that every year they rehearse the reason why and conduct an examination because of it.”
As Rythe was speaking he also continued to think about Turl, the blacksmith. Something was formulating in his mind.
“What kind of examination?” Ansa said.
“To see if one of the sons of Illia is the chosen one,”Rythe said.
“The chosen one?” Clal said. “For what?”
“Well, some believe that the evil in Illia will reach a tipping point, that a hero will need to lead the people to overthrow the ensuing evil.”
“And what do they do to examine you? Turl never talked much about it.” Ansa said.
“How could someone possibly find out who the chosen one is?” Clal said, puzzled. “How would that work?”
“That too I don’t know much about. I’ll surely find that out soon enough,” Rythe smiled. “Well, tomorrow.”
Rythe’s demeanor changed again. Rythe began to feel overshadowed. A memory kept haunting him as he thought about the blacksmith once again.
They were silent for a time, Clal was still trying to solve the riddle of how the chosen one was to be discovered. His thoughts turned to Rythe and how they used to meet up and spend so much time together. Then Clal turned to Rythe and said, “It’s been almost two years since we’ve spoken. Tell us,” Clal smiled, “where have you been? We used to gallivant all over the countryside together.”
“Right.” Rythe said quietly. Smile now gone. “We did.”
Ansa was also watching Rythe. She wondered if he was hurt by the look on his face. “Rythe? What’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”
She placed her hand on his arm. Rythe looked up at her.
“No. I, mean, sure. I’m fine.” He said.
Rythe looked down at his hands as he picked at his fingernails for a moment. Then, he breathed in and sighed, “I’ve been...around,” he said, “just staying closer to home.”
“Clal, I meant to stop by a while back.” Rythe said continuing to look at his hands then brushing one hand through his curly brown locks.
“I’ve taken trips to the sea and have visited the Eastern shores too.” He looked up at the sky and squinted, “And...there was a visit from my aunt, hunting season, we cleared another section of our land for farming. That was a chore.” Rythe was struggling to come up with something interesting.
“Rythe,” Clal said, “you don’t sound like yourself. I don’t know what it is but you’ve changed. What’s going on?”
Rythe’s face turned pale for a moment. He started to shake his head slowly. He looked up at Clal then to Ansa. His gaze turned to the open valley they were passing through, sun rays poking through clouds that were scattered across the blue sky. Then his head froze as he looked in the direction of the north to their left. Clal knew that his friend was troubled.
“Rythe?” Ansa said finally breaking the silence.
Rythe jumped then looked at Clal and Ansa again. “Okay. Okay. I will tell you.” He adjusted himself in the cart, shifting his weight and leaning forward. They all followed his lead and huddled together.
“I will only tell you because you ask,” Rythe began to say slowly, “and only because I know you will keep what I’m about to tell you…” Rythe leaned even closer, “…strictly secret.”
Clal and Ansa both looked at each other then back at Rythe and whispered in unison, “We’ll keep it secret.”
“Good. Okay.” Rythe breathed a long breath in and a long breath out. Then turned to Clal.
“Yes, Clal, you are right,” Rythe continued, “I have stayed away these past several months. I’ve been hiding. I’ve become a recluse of sorts.”
“Hiding? Why have you…” Clal’s voice faded away as Ansa gently touched his arm.
“And for that, I am truly sorry.” Rythe said, tightening his lips.
He leaned in closer, “Earlier this year I took a trip to the North.” He was struggling to say the words as if his mouth didn’t work right. Rythe pointed north. “It was just me, through the woods, though I took the plain road most of the way. Mother and I had agreed that we needed a new ox to pull the plow. Migg was getting too old and wouldn’t be useful to us for next year’s farm work.”
The distant look in Rythe’s eyes returned as he looked out into the woods gathering his thoughts.
“It was on the second day, just a half a day’s walk, that I was walking along the road in plain sight. I had just passed an apple tree and had plucked from its branches one of the biggest apples I had ever seen. I thought of you right then, Clal, I want you to know.” Rythe chuckled. “No apple could taste as good as yours, you know.” His smile faded away.
“I was eating that apple, walking down the wide road when I heard thundering behind me. Normally, I would watch whomever was on horseback, move out of their way, then continue on my way. But not this time.” Rythe shook his head, “No, this time I felt a fear that I had never felt before. The moment I heard their horse’s thundering hooves, I knew that some great darkness was upon me and it was approaching fast.”
Ansa slid closer to Clal and clutched his arm.
“And, so I immediately hid as fast as I could,” Rythe’s voice got quieter, “behind some nearby bushes. In the process I dropped my apple. I had only taken a few bites.”
“They appeared in the distance almost as soon as I left the road. I watched them approach and thought that I could endure their passing and be on my way. But to my great alarm,” Rythe paused, “the large rider in front silently lifted his fist in the air and the riders slowed and stopped right in front of where I had found cover.”
“There were three riders in dark clothing. Two of them dismounted. I froze, barely breathing.” Rythe paused.
“It was hard to take it all in really.” Rythe continued. “Just moments ago I had been enjoying my apple, walking along the road, thinking about some of the best things in life. Truly wondering what this new ox would even look like. I’m kind of fond of animals, well, most animals.”
Rythe’s voice spoke the following words even softer. "But now, I feared for my safety, my future, my very life.”
By this time Ansa seemed to have melted into Clal. She realized, however, that she was acting less like a sixteen year old woman and more like a juvenile girl. And so, she straightened up her back and smiled slightly even though her muscles were tense and she would be content not to hear how Ryth’s story would end.
“They were all searching the surroundings” Rythe continued, “looking here and there. The rider who seemed to be the leader, the largest one, was standing closest to me. He searched the ground, spotted my apple, then picked it up.”
“‘What is it? Must we delay?’ one of the riders still on their horses said.”
“‘Quiet,’ said the leader. ‘There’s someone here...and they think to hide from us.’”
Rythe stopped speaking as his head slowly shook back and forth. He looked deep into Clal’s eyes then into Ansa’s. “No…these men were no ordinary men.” He continued to shake his head. “I wanted to crawl into a hole, disappear. The feeling that I felt while in their presence forced the most terrible thoughts into my mind and heart.”
“Then the large one spoke again. ‘See here,’ he said, pointing to the ground. ‘These tracks are fresh. And this apple here, not five minutes ago it was plucked from that tree over there. A few bites and abandoned on account of our arrival.’”
“‘A pity,’ another rider said. ‘It looks like a good one.’”
“Then the leader took the apple in his massive hand and crushed it in his grasp. He looked in my direction and started to inch his way toward me with the other one close behind. The third one on horse back dismounted.”
Rythe’s face became pale. Drops of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. Ansa noticed this and felt a rush of sadness pass over her.
“I wondered why three men would pay attention to and even torment one who was alone almost in the dark of night in the middle of the forest.”
Rythe clenched his fist, head shaking faster now as he hit his palm with his fist.
“I soon found out the answer to the riddle.” Rythe was talking faster now.
“They had come behind and were headed north also and had seen my tracks for miles, I was sure of that. And when the tracks left the road, I’m guessing it was only because I heard them and could not be far, they probably guessed.”
“‘We know you are here,’ the large one said, ‘and we would have you show yourself.’”
“The other dismounted rider walked over to a rider on horseback and whispered something to him. The other two now striding next to the leader and I found no comfort in staying hidden any longer.” Rythe looked up at them with a stone look on his face.
“There was no use.” He said with an empty and distant voice.
“And so I did what I thought would be the only reasonable option if I wanted to save my skin,” Rythe leaned back and threw his hands up in the air, “I leapt out of my hiding place and ran.”
“I jumped over bushes and darted past trees. Clal, you know how fast I am?!” Rythe added. “But it wasn’t fast enough. I figured they wanted money or information, but I didn’t know exactly.” Rythe’s said, “I didn’t have either and, you know me, I wasn’t about to give them anything, those sniveling thieves.”
“I must have only taken ten strides when I was hit from behind and tackled to the ground by one of them. It was like he had jumped from a tree the way he collided into me.” Rythe looked up remembering the details, “He wasn’t behind me, it was as if he had been in front of me, but that’s not possible.”
Clal looked at Ansa then back at Rythe.
”It was one of them on pinning me to the ground while the other two ran to where I was being held.”
“Why are you telling us this, Rythe?” Ansa said, shaking, “This isn’t one of your tall tales?”
“No. Sadly, it is not, though I wish it was.” Rythe had that distant look in his eyes again.
He looked at Clal and Ansa then said, “I tell you this because this is a riddle half solved, and of all of the people I know, you two are fit to solve it.” Rythe sighed, “I never intended to tell a soul. But you asked why I have not been around, and I feel you ought to hear the truth, especially since you mentioned Talon.”
“Talon?” Clal said. “Was he there?”
“No.” Rythe said, “I’ll get to that part.”
Rythe leaned back close to the twins, “With three of the men pressing in I couldn’t think of anything to do so I said, ‘Hello friends. It’s a beautiful night. Care to join me in a stroll?’”
“I should have kept quiet because I was shoved to the ground with an incredible force. But, I continued, ‘Now really, this is no way to treat a complete stranger, or anyone for that matter. The name’s Riggin. How can I be of service?’ That didn’t work either. It just made things worse when I found a new pain in my ribs.”
“‘All we want to do is ask you a few questions...’ the large one said’”
“‘...and that shiny dagger dangling from your side, I’d like that too,’ another one said”
“‘...then we’ll leave you to your journey,’ the large one said.”
“‘No,’ I said.”
“You told them no?” Ansa said.
“Yes.” Rythe folded his arms and nodded. "I wasn’t about to let them take anything from me without a fight.”
“But they could have killed you.” Clal said.
Rythe paused and looked into Clal’s eyes, “I felt something strange, right at that moment, something that gave me the strength to know that what I wanted to do would work out some how.”
“‘No,’ I said, ‘you can’t have anything. I’ll be answering no questions...and this dagger was left to me by my father. It means a great deal to me.’ Then I pulled away from the rider who was holding me and yelled, ‘Why would you chase me and hurt me when I did nothing to you?! Cowards prey on the innocent. There are three of you and one of me...’ I said”
“I was shoved again but that time I shoved back. Then, they closed in on me inching forward like before.”
“‘This young lad here, he thinks he’s brave.’ The leader said, then continued, ‘First I thought to find some sport, but here we’ve found the budding hero of Illia.’ He laughed a cruel and wicked laugh. ’It’s clear to me what we should do with one who thinks to grow so brave.’”
“‘Do you not know with whom you are in the presence of?’ the one holding me hissed.”
“‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I do’. I felt as if these were men whose hearts were truly black, and so I said these words to them.”
Clal and Ansa leaned in.
“‘You were men who were once noble and great, but who embraced the evils of this world and now are servants to it,’ then I added, ‘slaves, you are.’”
“Rythe, that doesn’t sound like you?” Clal said.
“Clal, I felt something there, like I was bigger than myself somehow.”
Rythe smiled then shivered slightly, “It was exciting and frightening all at once.”
“Immediately one of them said, ‘Strike him down.’ The rider holding me released his grip, stood and drew his sword all in one movement then thrust it towards me.” Rythe leaned in again and the twins did too. “And here’s what happened next.”
“I hadn’t noticed but we were on the banks of a river, just a few feet away from the water. At that moment the river began to glow, a light deep beneath the surface started growing brighter and brighter, though the river was shallow. The light eventually illuminating the entire forest, like it was day.” Rythe’s smile had returned. “The three riders paused, stunned by the phenomenon.”
“‘Renthar,’ my attacker, yelled out, ‘what is this?’”
“‘I...uh...’” Renthar said, then looked at the third rider, “‘Imforo!’ He said, ‘Lower your sword.’”
“I ran towards the water. I was surprised that the men didn’t follow. I felt free from their evil intentions for a moment.”
“‘It seems as if we’ve mettled with the wrong boy tonight.’ Renthar said”
“Then, they slowly walked toward their steads, all three of them keeping their eyes fixed in the direction of the light. They mounted, cracked their reins and disappeared into the forest shadows.” Rythe said.
“When they had gone, I waited and watched the light within the river begin to fade.” Rythe’s voice was quiet. “I knelt down on that river bank and spoke to the kind water that had saved me in that moment.”
“‘Thank you,’ I said, ‘I will repay you somehow, someday. Thank you.’”
“I ran all night. And though I knew somehow the keeper of the light in the river was still with me, I wrestled with the fear of the encounter.” Rythe shook his head.
“I didn’t continue north but I retraced my steps, this time through the forest. I cut much time off my journey and soon, mid-day the next day I collapsed on the front steps of my home. Luckily my mother was still sleeping or else she would have been worried. When she awoke, I simply told her that I was unable to get an ox and returned home as fast as I could.”
Rythe held up two fingers, “For the next few weeks I had only two questions in my mind, who were those men, and why did that river shine its light when I needed it the most?”
“I found out a half answer to the first question only a few weeks later when I went to Eldan to finally buy an ox.” Rythe said. “They are known to some as” then he leaned in and whispered, “...the RISHK.”
Turl turned and looked behind him. “What are you three up to back there?” He said. The three of them jumped in surprise. Turl laughed and wore a wide smile, “Telling tall tales, eh?”
“Rythe is always good for a story.” Clal said. Clal was still captivated by the story Rythe just told them. It was mysterious. Clal knew every bit of it was true.
“I believe it will be time to rest our horses for the night.” Turl said. “There’s a stream just up ahead, about a mile or two. We’ll stop there for the night, set up camp after we water the horses, if that’s all right with you lot.”
“Is anyone hungry?” Gree asked, turning around. “I know I am.”
“I have some bread and cheese…” Mina announced.
“Me,” Ansa stood up then walked over to the front of the cart leaning over a barrel.
Mina handed her some cheese and bread. Ansa stroked Mina’s blond hair, turned, then sat back down Clal passing out the food to the others.
Rythe held out his hand. “Thank you Ansa,” He said smiling.
Ansa’s cheeks showed a hint of red as she smiled back.
“Wouldn’t it be great to be able to stop men like the ones you described, stop them from causing trouble?” Rythe said.
“I think so.” Clal turned to Ansa who looked back at Clal.
“So the RISHK you said?” Clal said, confirming what he remembered about their name.
“Yes,” Rythe replied, “that is their name. They’re some kind of clan.”
“And if they’ve given themselves a name they must have a purpose,” Clal concluded.
“Right,” Rythe said. “They must, and that’s what I thought.” Rythe smiled, “So I had to find out.”
Ansa shook her head. “You mean there’s more?” Here face looked as if she had just swallowed some moldy cheese.
“I mentioned that I traveled to Eldan Vyum a few weeks later,” Rythe continued, leaning in again and speaking quietly. “It took me that long to find my courage to venture out on my own.”
Rythe stared out again into the forest, which was now growing dark, the sun having set for the day.
“I must have replayed the scene a thousand times since that day.” Rythe returned his gaze to the twins. "I did muster up my courage to make a journey to the eldest city, Eldan Vyum. I found where they sold oxen, which was what I was in need of like before. I purchased the animal and told the merchant that I would return in the morning to take the animal home with me.”
“I asked him where the closest inn was to which he directed me and I was soon at the inn paying for a room and a hot meal. I sat down at a table in the corner and was enjoying some long needed food and drink. Then a group of men at a neighboring table who were boisterous and beginning to make much noise started livening up the atmosphere. One of them stood on his feet, wobbling and spoke.”
“‘He was large and rode a tall stead.’ He burst out, holding his hand out high to the height of an imaginary horse, kind of wobbling back and forth.”
“‘Sit down you old fool.’ One of the other men laughed, 'No storytelling for you today.’ They all burst out in a thunderous storm of laughter.”
“But the man continued, ‘I’d never seen him or any of his kind before.’ The man continued slowly sitting down in his chair. ‘He told me he had just come from the North and that he and his comrades needed me to forge him some weapons as quickly as they could be pounded and proved.’”
Clal gasped, “Talon, the Blacksmith.”
“Yes, it must have been,” Rythe agreed.
“Then the old man told those around him that he kindly told the man that he would not be available for three months as he was behind schedule with requests for tools and horseshoes and some swords for the king, to name a few, and that he had no time for his request.
Clal wondered if this was why Talon needed an apprentice to help with the overload of work.
“Then Talon said that the horseman pulled something from his saddle pack,” Rythe continued, “and threw it toward Talon. He said it was a sack full of gold coins and jewels as big as his own head and that the man called this quarter payment for the job that he wanted Talon to do.”
“Then the man told his friends at the table that he did not agree to do any work for him and that he told him to, as he put it, ‘Please be moving along.’”
“Then, Talon told them that the man tossed down a second sack of riches as half payment and told Talon that he would return in two weeks to provide the rest of the payment and to obtain his three weapons.”
“‘Then,’ Talon said said to the, now, riveted crowd, ‘Can you believe that he turned and left without saying another word?!’”
Rythe continued, “It sounded like the leader…Renthar was it…from the description.”
“And one of them asked for your dagger,” Clal said. “Wasn’t that one of the weapons this man that Talon was describing asked for him to make?”
“Yes,” said Rythe, “and I had to know more. So, the next morning I left the inn and went to the blacksmith’s shop in the city which was nearby. I could use a few new tools anyway and thought to trade some information for the purchase of a tool.”
“I found the blacksmith at his shop furiously working away. I could tell he was well into the crafting of a broad sword. I asked him for a few tools and he sold me one, but said that he did not have the other tool I asked for and would not be able to make one for me for some time.”
Rythe turned to Clal, “The old man looked spent and it was only early morning time.” Rythe shook his head, “I think I know what would have happened if he had said anything but ‘yes’ to…er…Renthar.”
Clal’s brow curled as he imagined the stress now tripling for the blacksmith.
“‘You’re making the broadsword for that man, aren’t you?’ I asked Talon that day. Talon stopped working and set the tool down.”
“He looked surprised and asked me what I knew about it. I told him I was at the inn last night and that I had overheard his story. I asked him who I thought the man was. Talon hesitated. Then he told me that he thought that the rider matched the description of what one of the RISHK might look like. Then he asked me what I’ve heard about the RISHK.”
“I told him that I thought that the man that he had encountered might have been one of the men whom I crossed paths with in the northern regions of Illia just two weeks ago. I told him that they cornered me, then attacked me and tried to take my dagger.”
“Then, he told me,” Rythe said, “to stay away from any of them at all costs.” He asked me to move along, and so I gathered my ox shortly after and returned home.
That was almost three months ago. And, since you’re going there, Clal, I thought, perhaps, I’d, sort of, check in. See how Talon is fairing.
Clal and Ansa remained silent for a time as the cart continued to creak and sway. Soon, Turl was calling out to the horses to slow down, then the cart rested well off the road, just before the bridge.
Gree unhitched their white mare and Mina unhitched the golden brown stud then led them both one after the other to the river’s edge, as they did every time they passed this way.
Swallows were swerving over head and jutting in and out from under their clay nests under the bridge.
Clal jumped out of the cart and helped Ansa down. Rythe climbed down slowly from the cart then motioned for Clal and Ansa to follow him up stream. Once closer to the river’s edge, Rythe knelt down and looked into the water.
“It was a river like this one,” he said, “where the light shined through.”
“It must have been so beautiful,” Ansa said trying to sound brave as she had also knelt down. Ansa leaned forward, cupped one of her hands and dipped it in the water. She pulled it out and let the water stream down her fingers and back into the slow moving ripples.
Clal was standing by a nearby tree. He leaned up against it and peered into the water. The trees in the distance reflected upon the water’s surface.
Rythe stood up and turned to Clal and Ansa. “It’s a strange thing what happened that night in the woods. I haven’t been away from home since returning from Eldan Vyum. How ever alarming it was, I’m going to find out more about the RISHK.”
Clal put his hand on Rythe’s shoulder and said, “If I can help you, I will.”
Rythe picked up a rock and tossed it into the water watching the rings spread then disappear. He walked through some trees and disappeared.
“Clal,” Ansa touched his arm, “I don’t want to hear anymore about the...RISHK. Can we try to find something else to talk about?”
Clal put his arm around Ansa as they walked back to the cart. “Sure, little sister.” Clal smiled. “The dark things of this world don’t deserve so much attention, anyway,” he said.
“No,” she smiled back, “I just don’t like to see you so scared when Rythe talks about them.” She winked at him then ran to catch up with Rythe. Clal watched as Ansa jogged toward Rythe who had already disappeared behind the tall bushes and low trees of Chipped Leaves Forest.
*