Caleb's Journey
Chapter 4

New friends

Caleb’s craft safely reached the shoreline of the Golden Realm, the land of the Light King. It wasn’t an easy journey and more than once when the waters got rough he feared the boat may capsize and that he’d drown in the ocean, that he might run out of provisions, that his navigation skills might fail him, but finally, he made it. He dragged the ship onto the shore so as to not let the tide carry it out to sea. While he had no intention of leaving, he felt it a shame to waste such a nice boat. He thought, “Let whoever finds her enjoy her.” Stepping out of the boat he removed the roughly drawn map of Mithkre from a leather case on his belt. Grateful to be home, he knelt and kissed the warm, sandy shoreline. Today was a beautiful day with the sun shining and the waves gently lapping against the shore, created an almost serene setting for Caleb to walk to the nearest city, Morgado.

As he rose he stretched out his muscular arms to bask in the sunlight. “I’m home, at last,” he remarked. “I never thought I’d see this land again. This is but the beginning of my journey. Raven thank you for freeing me my, third father. I intend to see you again, next time as a knight in the Honor Guard. My family won’t see me, as much as I miss them, until I can look them in the eye and tell them of their good fortune. They think me dead. What better way to return to them than as a hero who restores their lands and their previous standing with other nobles? Mother and sister, I miss you, but now is not the time for us to meet, not yet. If I am going to achieve this happy reunion then I need to get walking to Morgado.”

Eyeing the forest in the distance he patted his brow and said, “Whisper, your first job is to get us some breakfast. It has been some time since we dined on anything besides dried meat and fish. Some fresh deer would be a welcome change. A forest such as that certainly has game for me to kill and eat.” He began his walk with a spirited gait. Years of performing slave labor had developed his cardiovascular system and given him thick, powerful legs. Fleet of foot and full of vigor he raced towards a path that led to the dense trees. In a short span of time he entered the thicket. “This place is darker than I had expected.” Very true as the tall, fully green leafed trees blocked out a great deal of sunlight, so much so that the rays that entered seemed to have fought their way through the clusters of green like water pouring down from a rainfall.

Several hours of walking passed before Caleb spotted anything worth trying to kill for his morning meal. His other provisions had not lasted as long as he had planned and he felt famished, a feeling reinforced by the audible growl emanating from his stomach. Then in a tiny clearing he spotted a deer. Slowly and quietly he notched an arrow into his bowstring. Drawing back the taut string with ease he took careful aim before letting loose with his shot. The arrow whizzed through the air and found its mark, piercing the throat of his quarry. His prey gave a groan of pain and then fell to the ground, slain.

As he approached the creature, he slung his bow over his shoulder, between the dual scabbards that housed his swords. When he got near to the deer he heard a shout and saw a tigan, a race of humanoids that had the head the head of a tiger, striped fur, stood some seven feet in height, with paws for hands, and long, lean, muscular legs, leap over the animal and into the forest, blood dripping from his body. Caleb quickly drew his weapons, ready for anything. Anything appeared, in the form of three bandits giving chase to the tigan.

“

Stop!” Caleb shouted as he examined the pursuers.

Not expecting to happen across anyone, they did stop, momentarily startled. Clad in light, brown leather armor with matching belts and boots, each had a pouch hanging from his belt and a sword gripped in their respective right hands. All of them had a grungy appearance consisting of unshaven, dirty faces, yellowing teeth, and menacing countenances.

“

You lost us our victim, but one kill is as good as another, eh Visis?”

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Sure is, Tuda,” another snarled. “Bess, flank him.”

“

We got ya beat, kid,” Tuda chuckled. “Toss us your gear, all of it, and we’ll let you live.”

A steely, angry glare showed itself on Caleb’s face. “I don’t surrender my swords,” he replied. “Take them, if you can.” The young man oozed confidence. He hated tigans for killing his father, but his code of honor demanded that he protect anyone from harm.

Visis flanked him on his left. “Three against one,” Caleb thought, “not good odds for me.”

He drew both of his blades and had them at the ready. Impetuous in many regards, when it came time for combat, he exhibited great patience. He waited for the trio to strike first and flicked his eyes in every direction, waiting for that first move from his foes and letting that dictate his actions.

Bess acted first, moving in with an overhand slash. Caleb blocked the blow and barely had time to duck a sword blow from Visis. Tuda had followed his friends in the rush and he paid the price for it. The ducking warrior thrust his left blade forward into the gut of the charging bandit. Tuda fell to the ground, grabbed his stomach in the place where the blade pierced his skin, and in agonizing pain gave vent to a loud wail.

Visis slashed again, his blade opening a gash on Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb had tried to roll to avoid the blade, but had not been quick enough. Now on his back, he managed to move in time to dodge a stroke from Bess’s blade. He returned the action by thrusting his sword upward into that man’s groin, felling him instantly. Jumping to his feet, he stared down Visis and snarled at him, “If you stop now I’ll let you live.”

Without hesitation, the bandit tossed aside his sword. Caleb approved, “Wise move. Now, look to your friends. They may or may not live, based on the severity of their wounds. Never darken these paths again. You can’t be sure who treads upon them.” Caleb walked away to leave the trio and their screams behind him.

After walking for a bit he heard another noise. “Not again,” he said aloud. He had looked over his shoulder at intervals to ensure that Visis had opted to follow him. Nothing behind him, but a deep voice was heard to say, “Many thanks for saving my life, friend.”

Caleb looked over his left shoulder and he found himself staring at a large tigan. Stifling a negative reply, something like, “I despise your kind for killing my father. If I were a lesser man I would have let those bandits slay you.” Instead the mercy he received from his surrogate father, Raven, shone through. “You are welcome my friend. I can’t abide bandits or other men of low character. Friend, my name is Caleb.”

“

I’m Seth Nikita,” the tigan replied as he stretched his hand and emerged from the woods. “Those bandits took me unawares as I was out hunting. I let my guard down. The scent of the deer distracted me. Otherwise, I would have been a match for all three of them.” Seth angrily, but proudly uttered to his new companion. “Now I’m bound to you by blood. Where you go, I go.”

Caleb hated the idea of someone being indebted to him as it reminded him of his time on the Cadre Island. Worse still, it was a tigan that wanted to follow him. “I will respectfully decline his offer,” he thought.

“

It was my duty to intervene, Seth. I can’t have anyone tied to me and where I am going.”

“

Where are you headed?”

“

Morgado to get a horse, then to the palace of the Light King.”

“

I live in Morgado!” Seth shouted. “I respect that you want to free me, but tigan law binds me to you until the debt is repaid. I’ll see that you get to Morgado, let you stay in my house, and outfit you with a horse. That’s a start.”

Seth felt uneasy, but knew that the offer came at a time of need, “I accept that offer and then we are even. Now, what about our breakfast?”

Both of them laughed. They headed back to where Caleb had killed the deer. Tu oh laid there dead, his body unmolested, for now. The duo retrieved the deer and headed off to Seth’s home in Morgado. It wasn’t uncommon for other friendly humanoids to live amongst the humans. Many members of the other races lived in the land of the Light King, forsaking their own homeland for the grandeur of the largest kingdom on the continent and the richest in culture, money, and opportunity

As they marched to Morgado, Caleb shared his personal story with Seth. He decided upon it since they had much time to kill on the journey. Seth pledged to help him in his quest and would consider his debt repaid upon successful completion of whatever labor befell his new friend. Once in Morgado they secured two steeds from Seth’s home and headed to the Luminous Palace to seek an audience with the king.

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