My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 6

Mark and Lizzy were riding side by side, each wondering what the other

was thinking and if they would complete their task. They would have to work as a team for their chances of success to increase. Team work. That was the keyword.

Night was slowly descending upon the kingdom, enveloping everything

in its darkness and our two heroes as well. They were still a very long way from the Forest of the Lost Souls. They would have to camp soon though as their horses were just as tired and famished as the masters. They had to find shelter for the night or maybe just camp out in the open as usual.- Lizzy, Mark began, shouldn’t we allow our horses a break? And ourselves as well? The moon has been up on the sky for some time already…- Ok, we find a good place near the river and we camp.- What river? I don’t see any rivers… Mark said wondering if she knew something which he didn’t.

- I don’t see any rivers either, Lizzy answered chuckling, but I can hear one. Do you know anything about the world you live in?- Oh, he said embarrassed once again, I know you are afraid of snakes…- Huh? How'd..? She said in a jiffy and with certain nervousness in her voice. But then she said in a calmer and lower tone: how did you know? I never told anyone about this.

- Well, I am a good observer. I saw how you scanned the grass before you jumped back on your horse. And I figured you weren’t scanning the grass for crickets so…

- Ok, ok, I got it. You are right. Can we change the subject now? Lizzy said evidently annoyed by his observations.

- Sure, if you heard a river then maybe you can lead us to it so we can finally set up camp?

- Ok, follow me and keep quiet. We might have company.- Company? What do you mean?

- What do you think? Try to make a wild guess, she said giggling again. You, you are funny but if we have company we should be on our guard.- What? Mark said looking all around but not seeing or hearing anything he thought she was just trying to scare him.

- Ok, enough! She said in a very high- pitched tone. Come out so we can see you.

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- Who are you talking to? Mark asked her puzzled as he still couldn’t see anyone.

- If you don’t come out, Lizzy went on totally ignoring Mark's remark, I’ll just have to make you come out. Your choice but first choice would have been less painful…for you! And she raised her hand and sent a fireball into the darkness. No sooner had she sent the fireball when screams and shouts were heard from behind the burning trees.

- So, smart guy, if those aren't talking trees then I bet they are the thugs that have been on our tails for the last few hours. But now they got a little too close not to get burnt if I may say so. They won't be troubling us anymore.- You just killed someone? Was all Mark could say. He was staring at the burning trees.

- Better them than us. But I didn’t kill them. Just scared them away.- Oh, ok if you say so.

- Let' s find the river and camp. And Lizzy led the way towards the murmuring sound of the river until they found it. Ok, we can camp here. Tomorrow we should arrive at the outskirts of the land of the savage tribe known as Mekeke. We will have to go through it to get to the Forest of the Lost Souls.

- That seems dangerous. Isn't there any way around? I mean I am not afraid but we are clearly outnumbered. We are only two and they are a whole tribe of savages…

- No, this is the shortest way. We have to go through their land. If we see any, we will have to fight our way out. They are not known for their diplomacy or mercy towards their prisoners.

- So what happens to the prisoners? Mark asked curious and intrigued.- Well, they are the main course on the leader of the tribe's dinner table. They are cannibals. Lizzy said it all without a twitch on her beautiful face.- A tribe of cannibals? Oh, Lizzy, so how much longer would it take if we went on the other route?

- I thought you wanted to test that blade of yours. Well, here is the perfect chance. And you got me to watch your back. But if we are quiet enough and lucky, we might pass through their territory unnoticed. Now get some sleep. I'll take a bath in the river and then get some sleep myself.- Ok Lizzy, need me to watch you…oh I mean over you while you are bathing? I mean just to make sure those thugs are indeed gone and won't be attacking you while you are bathing. It is totally for your own benefit, Mark

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said smiling at her.

- If I ever need your help, I'll let you know. But that's not the case now so go get some rest. I'll be back in a jiffy too. And don't you dare come watch me or you will be sorry.

- Ok, ok. Suit yourself, Mark said with disappointment in his voice. Then see you in the morning.

Lizzy was all sweaty from the day of riding and she needed that bath.

She took off her clothes and looked at the river. It was wide but she didn’t know how deep it was. But she was a good swimmer and the cold water would refresh her and help her sleep. She put her foot in the cold water. It really was cold but it didn't matter. It was good after a hot day of riding in the sun. She took another step and then another until the water reached her waist. Then she dived and started swimming. It felt so good. Almost magical. Then she felt something grabbing her hands and pull her under the water. She was powerless with her hands tied. She couldn’t cast any spells without her hands free. She could feel herself being drawn deeper and deeper under the cold water. Everything started to spin and the more she struggled to get free the worse it got. She got a glimpse of the creature that was dragging her to the bottom of the river. It was some kind of mixture of a woman and a snake. It had the head of a woman with nasty fangs and the body of a large snake. And it had four strong arms with which she grabbed her hands. Then everything went as dark as the night.

- Hey, are you ok?

Lizzy faintly heard a familiar voice asking her if she was ok. She slowly

started coming back to her senses. She was naked and Mark was …kissing her? What the…? She slapped him over his face as hard as she could.- What do you think you are doing? And why am I standing naked next to you? What happened?

- Oh, thank god you are ok, it is not what it seems. Don’t you remember? You were swimming in the river when that…thing caught you. I guess I saved your life and this is how you repay me.

Then slowly it all began to make sense. She remembered. She was drowning and thought she was surely going to die. So he indeed must have saved her.

- What happened? How did you know I needed help? I thought I told you to get some rest and not to follow me to the river. Have you been watching me while I swam?

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- No, no, calm down. I was almost asleep when I heard splashes in the water and thought that I had better check it out and make sure you were ok. But you weren't. I was there just in time to see how that thing, and he pointed towards the dead creature lying next to them, was dragging you under the water. I know that you are the most powerful sorceress and all but it really looked like you needed help. So I took my unused sword and dived after you. This is my first kill. And kiss. And he blushed. The adrenaline had taken over him and in the rush of the moment he leaned to kiss her again.

- Not so fast, and she smacked him again. Thank you for saving me but enough with the kissing!

- Sorry, sorry, it won't happen again, he said in a hurry. Unless you want to that is…

- Geez, what’s wrong with you? I said thank you and I owe you but let's get some rest now. And she put her clothes back on and went to sleep thinking that the kiss hadn't been that bad….