two riders returned to report, the first of them rode swiftly up to Princess Zephany, whilst the second returned to his former position at the rear of the captives.
“Princess, the soldiers of Vantrax have not followed us. They stayed for only a few moments after we returned, we saw them turn around and head off towards Heron Getracht. I counted six, they do not appear to have left any scout behind, what is your command?” the soldier asked dutifully.
Zephany couldn’t conceal the disappointment in her face. She sighed heavily, thought for a moment and then replied. “We will meet them again, soon enough I fear. Raaart! The advantages here were all ours. They were no fools. No matter. Return to your post at the rear, Hierlath. And thank you.”
The soldier bowed his head slightly, then he turned his horse and rode away. Zephany called two others over to her and instructed them to rip some cloth off their tunics. “Blindfold them.” she ordered, pointing at the three captives and pausing briefly to see if there were any objections from her prisoners. Jake thought seriously about saying something, but he didn’t. He didn’t want to risk upsetting anyone in this strange world unless he had to. The two horsemen approached and began their task but as they did, Princess Zephany asked some more questions of them.
“Why do those horsemen follow you? You!” she said, pointing at Verastus. “You say you have escaped from Lidzenstor? Hmmmn… I find that highly unlikely. But then, it would explain the soldiers. And Vantrax would definitely want to make an example of you. But, I do not know, you could be his servant? Sent to assassinate the King. Why should we believe your story? And as for you two, who, or rather, what are you? What is your story I wonder?” she asked, fixing her gaze curiously on the two boys as the soldiers finished tying the cloth around their eyes.
Jake really wanted to respond to Zephany’s questions, although he was sure that she probably wouldn’t let him speak. He decided to chance his arm and speak anyway and he was just about to begin, when Zephany spoke to them again.
“No. Do not speak now. We ride for the camp of King Artrex. There you can convince us all not to kill you. The King will now decide your fate. It remains to be seen if you are friend or foe, for your sakes I hope you are friends. The blindfolds are to ensure you cannot lead anyone back there should you escape.” she said assertively. She held up her arm and waved it forward, then she turned her horse and galloped away swiftly into the forest. Two riders at the rear grabbed the reigns from Jake and Verastus, they pulled them over td to. The se’s heads and led them away as quickly as they could in the same direction. The rest of the group followed behind them and they rode deeper and deeper into the darkness.
They journeyed for hours through the trees, weaving in and out between them so fast that Ben began to feel a little nauseous. He was being thrown violently in opposing directions as the horse manoeuvred, but his eyes were covered and he couldn’t prepare himself for each rapid movement. “Oh my God!” he screamed to Jake loudly, as they rounded yet another tree. “I think I’m gonna pewk!”
“Don’t you dare, Ben Brooker!” shouted Jake, who was feeling no ill effects at all, the result he supposed of his new-found powers. “It’s embarrassing. And besides, I’m right in front of you.”
“Oh, good. Something to aim at then!” answered Ben defiantly, unimpressed to find that Jake was once again immune from such side affects.
Luckily for Ben, his nightmare journey seemed to be coming to an end. The horses slowed their pace to a gentle trot, his stomach began to recover almost immediately and he took in a few deep breaths of fresh air. They were still in darkness behind their blindfolds but soon they began to hear voices. Then they heard the ‘clinking’ sound of weapons striking each other. Ben’s nostrils suddenly caught the whiff of fires and cooking, even in its upset state, his stomach grumbled and his mouth watered at the thought of food.
“Corr. Whey-hey! Smell that mate? Chicken!” he hissed to Jake excitedly.
“Aw, for Christ’s sake Ben, give it a rest.” replied Jake. “Think of the situation we’re in, will ya? And, I thought you were going to