“Yes, greater and stronger,” agreed Joseph Longhall. “And Erdwick no longer lives to fight against this unspeakable evil that plagues us. And all his armor is lost to us, scattered throughout the wide world. But they say that the blood of Elwin Yelts still exists in the westlands. Through a mighty blacksmith named Horwin Yelts. If war does indeed come, he may be able to help us and forge us what weapons and armors we would need to fight against the beings of darkness.”
In due time Pedrew Joseph and Joseph Longhall parted ways and Longhall arrived at his home to the greeting of his lady wife, Manirendae and his two daughters and son: Silver, the eldest child, Gold, his youngest daughter, and Augustus, his only son and middle child. “You have returned,” said Manirendae with a gentle kiss. “I had not expected you to be gone so long.”
Manirendae was an ebony-skinned woman with dark eyes and black, curly hair. She had long eyelashes and smooth skin that little showed her age. Their daughter, Silver had lighter skin, more like her father and his same nose and eyes, as green as the leaves. Augustus Longhall looked more like the mother, with her same dark skin and dark eyes that often looked tired. His hair was short and curly and his eyes were brown. The younger daughter, Gold, was similar looking to her brother, and had straight black hair that was longer than her sister's, and strangely her eyes were a bright blue.
His first child, Silver, was born in Spring and had just recently seen her eleventh year. Augustus was younger by two years, and Gold was only six-years-old.
“And for that I apologize,” said Joseph. I have been kept too long from my home and family speaking with the king. It feels good to return. “I held counsel with King Heroi Smo today, as you know. But the king seems to have grown stubborn.”
“He would not listen to your pleas?” said Manirendae.
“He would not,” Joseph said. “And it is not my place to order my king. But it leaves me to wonder how close the darkness will creep before our king listens to reason. If he had seen the creatures in the sky today, he may have not been so reluctant to render aid where it is needed.”
“There was a creature in the sky today?” asked Manirendae. “One of the Noiseless Sentinels? A creature from the darkness?”
“Yes, Manirendae, a Noiseless Sentinel from the darkness,” he agreed. “What is to be our fate if such creatures roam our lands? There is only one choice left to me. I must ride out on the morrow and consult with the High King himself.”
Manirendae grabbed her husband's arm. “Ride out on the morrow? You would leave your wife and children at home when strange beasts ride in the night air? The north is a long way from here. It would not be many days until you come back.”
“If I do not go now, I may not come back at all and none of us may live to see the dawn.”
“You're leaving, father?” said Silver, his eldest child and the one most like him. “But you've just come back?”
“Would it make you feel better if I sang you your favorite song, Silver?” said Joseph. “Would you like that, dear?”
The child nodded with a wide smile upon her face and her father began to sing.
There was a child born in Spring
Wrapped up in a bed of roses
Of her the songs did sing,
While smell of flowers filled their noses
The child was small,
Her legs were tall
The land was fair,
The birds above did call.
There was a child born in Spring
Wrapped up in a bed of roses
Of her the songs did sing,
While smell of flowers filled their noses
The child had a shining light in her eyes,
The eyes were kind and knowing,
Spring she loved,
And flowers bloomed at her call.
“Where are you going, father?” asked his youngest child, Gold. Augustus said nothing, but the boy looked sad and hugged his father.
“I must leave momentarily,” their father said. “You'll be safe here with your mother until I return.”
And so, on the break of the next day, Joseph Longhall rode out north to meet with the High King of Condeth Rahal.
Chapter 13: Betrayal
Just as the Sun began to rise in the sky, Ing was up. He said his farewells to Mildren and his mother and left their quarters. As he was leaving, he conducted a quick survey of the area; he spotted no one. The village was quiet. Everyone must have still been sleeping comfortably, concealed in the pleasant warmth of their beds. Ing was almost reluctant to leave behind the welcoming air of the town and its residents. But he would not be hindered; he had to complete his quest. Mustering up the energy required to move on, he drudgingly let his legs carry him out of the village, and set off down the path he had previously used to reach the valley.
“Hello, Ing,” said Alma, walking up from a distance.
“It’s good to see you again,” said Ing. He was relieved to be reunited with Alma. He thought that, with her, he could avoid incidents like the one with the village chief, Bartock. “So, where to?” Ing was sure he knew the answer, but he asked anyway.
“Our final destination: The Lake of Promises,” replied Alma, confirming what Ing had figured.
Ing and Alma followed a straight path that led northward and out
