a King. And yet, we do not live like royalty. I do not know if this boy is all that he thinks he is, but I think we have to take that chance!”
The group had been talking for hours. The fires were crackling all around them as Artrex looked up at the night sky. The stars were shining brightly overhead. He thought hard for a moment before making up his mind.
“I love this land. I would gladly die for its people, if I thought… We have to…”
Artrex was about to deliver his decision. But his attention was suddenly drawn towards a flame which was shooting across the night sky immediately in front of him.
“A flamed arrow!” he shouted out loud. “The enemy has been sighted!”
There was a frenzy of action for the next twenty minutes or so in the camp. Soldiers readied themselves for battle. Jake and Ben discussed with Verastus how they could help. But all the preparations were cut short at the sight of a lone rider coming from the direction the boys had taken on their way into the forest. The horseman entered the camp swiftly, but it was not with the urgency of one who had sighted an army and the group gathered again around King Artrex, as he pulled up just short of the King. There was a bundle strewn across his horse and he threw it roughly down onto the forest floor. It made an ‘Oooomph’ sound as it hit the deck.
“Sire, we caught this ‘thing’ on the edge of Erriard.” said the horseman.
The group gazed down at the bundle. It moved stiffts bones aching from being thrown from such a height onto the hard floor. A head lifted so that all could see its hideous features. Verastus was the only one to speak.
“Nytig!” he shouted loudly, his voice full of hatred.
Chapter 16
14th August – Heron Getracht Fortress – Rhuaddan
Some hours earlier, Nytig had scurried up the stairs to the tower room as fast as his deformed legs would carry him upon King Vantrax’ summons. He knew from bitter experience that delaying his response would not be a good idea and he had no wish to receive another beating for being too slow. In his haste, he tripped on the final step of the stairs and stumbled into the room, almost falling on the floor at Sawdon’s feet. “Y-yes sire?” he said, as he attempted to regain his posture and composure, panting rapidly and trying desperately to catch his breath from the effort of climbing the stairs. The dash to the tower room was just about the only exercise that Nytig undertook on a regular basis, and he was sweating profusely. Vantrax and Sawdon smirked at each other in mutual amusement at the pathetic figure before them. It was some time before Nytig’s breathing eventually slowed and he began to recover. The evil King’s lips moved slightly to form a wicked smile, as he thought about the servant’s likely reaction to what he was about to sa.
“I have decided, Nytig, that I need a volunteer.” said Vantrax smugly. “I need a special kind of volunteer. It has to be someone who will arouse no suspicions, someone who will appear completely believable to my enemies. Or at least, be seen as no physical threat to them. You will no doubt be delighted to learn that I have decided that volunteer, shall be you.” he stated, in a matter of fact kind of way that gave Nytig no opportunity at all to argue, or object to the decision.
Sawdon suddenly erupted into uncontrollable laughter. The evil tyrant hadn’t discussed his idea with his most trusted warrior, but Sawdon now believed that he could guess at the King’s intent. The look of absolute horror on Nytig’s face at being selected for a task that would obviously be above and beyond his normal duties amused the Thargw. He thought it sweet revenge for the lack of respect the servant had shown him earlier and he was enjoying the moment. He leant forward, deliberately invading Nytig’s personal space and looking him straight in the eye, from an unnervingly close distance.
“What is wrong little facqs?” he asked, mocking the shell-shocked servant and intentionally placing his teeth-filled face even closer to him. “You seem to have lost your colour all of a sudden, are you ill?” he enquired through his laughter.
Nytig attempted a feeble response, but the sound he emitted was a pathetic squeak, barely audible to the warrior who was less