yet again
the road felt as if shards of glass were digging slowly into his bare feet. Ice fell onto everything, coating Michael as well as all the area arround . The air shimmered to itself, as the light started to give way to the comming of night. He felt the pulll of the cold, the warmth of his skin under the coating of frost from the temperature. Michael kept his eyes on the road in front of him, if you could call it that, rutted and scarred from a time long forgot, it was now a loose connection of old stone squares that wasnot even complete in many places.
Three days ago , it had been only three simple, walking in sleep days. Memories flew, and parts returned even those he did not want to return. Standing on the battlements of the castle, looking off into the distance and seeing them.. A long line of ants that marched towards his home, never stopping, never even stopping for food. They simply marched, as they got closer you could see the light glimmering off of swords and armor, they were thankfull when the light started to die. Now.. and now Michael stood in the cold, his eyes blurring, the cold whispering wind, blew furiously, stinging every part that was not covered. Jessica ran up the inner stairs, her armored skirt barely moving. She was a Godess, a warior one to be sure yet still a creature of astounding buety . Thin whisps of smoke left her mouth as she skidded to a halt, raised her arm in a salute, smilingly.
" they are getting even closer, tommarow they will be here, most of the townpeople have left Michael do you not think it wise that the new captain of the guard go with them to protect them on heir way?" She asked, her smile quickly turning into a frown of majestic proportions.
"You know i can not Jessi, that should be your job, in fact I'am ordering you and Thomas out of here. I know the last caravan sargeant he is making room for you as we speak. You two will take the princess and prince safely to their father , I will remain here, as a rear diversion. go ...go you do not have much time" he said this as he pushed not to gently on her shoulder, shoving her back a few steps.
" Haha you want me to leave, iam the second cousin to the king, and a warrior maiden, i will not leave as long as one brick stays whole."she snarled back.
Michael wrapped a arm arround the pair of cold shoulders,
" I was afraid yuo were going to say something like that"
jessica was not fast enough although she cam close, her eyes, accusingly fell on Michael as she slumped to the ground. from the same stairs an old man came into view, he was knarled from head to food and stood over nine feet tall. A cross between a giant and another creature of the realm, Stromgruin was a fine warrior , he was a sight to behold. Stromgruin reached them, bent down and easily lefted Jessica to his massive shoulders.
" She will not like you for this, she may try to kill you if you survive, in fact I'am willing to place a bet on it."
" I know that Strom yet it was the only way. Get her to the caravan along with Thomas, I wasnt you all gone before the true night gets here. Make sure you tie her up , her hands and feet, i do not want her waking up ansd running back here even if it is only to slaughter me.".
Strom looked down ast his dimure captain, and half frowned and growled at the same time,
"I .. I'am not going!! I shall stand by your side tell the last sir, you are numbered out of four i count as friend and since you just bashed one on the head and are sending two away and the other is missing up north somwhere that leaves me here to guard your back.!! You need someone to guard your back for the love of all the Gods you have enough enemies within your own walls!!!!"
Michael stepped forward and laid a hand on the bigger arm of the other, squeezed, and smiled for the first time in days,
"You have no choice, you are the only one i can count on to protect the woman i love and her brother. I would give this charge to none other. you knoqw this, you are my true friend in a den of backstabbers and thieves. You alone do I trust to get them both to their father and the king. When them out there come i do not think i shall survive, you must do me one more favor ol' friend.. Tell her that i love her, tell her that she is why i got up to meet the sun in this terrible outpost, tell her I..... tell her I shall miss her."
Strom was startled at the tears that slid down and froze to his friends face. For one so big he could move faster than others thought. Within a heartbeat, Michael was lifted into the air and into a bone crunching hug, he could hear Stroms' mufffled attempts not to cry himself.
" Put me down you.", he tried to sound gruff but could not help the soft laughter that mixed in.
Strom put him gently down, nodded his head, repicked Jessica up where he had sat her on the gound . He looked back only once as he descended the staircase, and in that instant Michael knew he was right in choosing this one for a friend, more than that even, for famliy. He turned his back to the retreating people he loved most in this crazy world and stared once more into the new falling snow as it fell heavy from thick grey clouds. Across the distance though it could still be seen, now by the multiple torches that had been lit, the column marched on...
And that was three days ago, since he had been traveling over rough ground, dangeroud ground, with the coming of that strange army also came other things , creatures hat had no t been seen since his great gradfathers time, and probly even worse things he had not seen yet. Michaels' mind was on the face of a giant as he carried his love away and a promise swell in his heart, a promise to find them, to save them , no matter the cost. The shaking trudging became a stronger walk as the falling ice turned to new snow and the night got darker
