A Sight for Sore Eyes
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 85338
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“Luc!” bellowed Fred with all the wind his lungs could muster. “Lord Frederigo!” the squire’s clear, commanding voice rang out across the alpine meadow in return. Perched atop his steed he looked quite the sight - Sober and statuesque, in stark contrast to the evergreens that towered behind him, swaying drunkenly in the lazy summer breeze. He was a man of twenty years or so, strong of limb and keen of eye. He wore armor similar to that of Fred (now Exotica’s) - though a slightly less elaborate affair - and bore proudly the unfurled standard of the House of D’Honaire, eloquent in it’s simplicity; a golden gryphon on a field of white. Truth be told, he was almost a knight in his own right and, what’s more, was Fred’s most trusted man at arms. Fred lifted his hands to the heavens and thanked providence for this unforeseen turn of events. Immediately though, he turned his attention back to Matthias, wordlessly conveying the direness of the situation to Luc with a simple nod. The squire dismounted, while Fred converged on the distraught warrior.“Please, Fred! Do something!” the princess pleaded through heavy sobs.. “MATTHIAS!” cried Fred, surging with renewed energy. “STOP THIS MADNESS AT ONCE!”Matthias tore himself free from Exotica’s frantic embrace with little difficulty, sending the girl tumbling head over heals into the dirt like a spoiled child tossing away a rag doll that bores it. Then, in an act of true madness, he cast himself onto a jagged rock, smashing his head against the unforgiving granite with a sickening plop! before finally collapsing to the tall grasses below. Fred was upon him a moment later, shaking him for all he was worth. “MATTHIAS! Wake up! What happened!? Where are Sigin and the others!?” The young man’s eyelids cracked slowly open. “Go,” he said in a trembling whisper. “Just go...”“Where are they?” Fred demanded once more. “Where are Sigin and the others?” Matthias laughed as rivers of blood streamed down his face. “I see now the wisdom of your mistrust,” he said weakly. “Of mages and the lot. All hellbent on one thing and one thing only: POWER!”Fred hoisted the young warrior up by his shoulders and peered deep into his eyes. Each held the others unblinking gaze for what seemed like hours but was in truth only a few fleeting moments. Fred was the first to turn away, a sudden realization laying heavy on him.“Adele,” he muttered, visibly slumping. A split second later he tightened his grip on Matthias and yanked him to his feet with a roughness he reserved for his enemies. Again, looking deep into his eyes, he repeated the name. “What has she done, Matthias!? Stand up like a man and answer me!” “They all underestimated her,” Matthias replied cryptically, smiling broadly, as if in suddenly a more sporting mood. “I guess I always knew it would end up like this. Why do I always fall for the power-hungry sorceress type...?”“THAT RING!” Fred thundered. “That damn ring is behind this, isn’t it!” “M’Lord!” came a familiar voice. “Your sword! Your armor! Do you need water? The mountain rained fire last night and the earth still trembles! What of Minestus? Did you succeed? Are you alright?”Fred spun around, nearly toppling over in the process and relinquishing his hold on Matthias. “Never mind that now,” he responded coolly. “Tend to the princess’s needs first. Yes, that’s princess Exotica over there. Don’t give me that look! There’s no time for questions, my lad! And even less time for answers! Well, go on! Get to it!” The squire straightened up. “Right!” And he rushed over to the fallen Exotica’s side.“What time is it, anyway?” asked Fred, immediately breaking his own rule. “I’d say around nine thirty in the morning, give or take.”“How are the horses?” “Fine, a bit spooked by recent...events... they’re pasturing by the brook down there.”“Good,” said Fred. “We must make it to Pellgar-on-Rayne by sundown.” “Sundown! There’s no way. We might make it as far as Mudspot or maybe, if we're lucky, the garrison at Muggleswick...but Pellgar?”Fred’s eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze to the hazy northern horizon. “Pellgar.” “Well!” Exotica suddenly broke in. “Sorry to interrupt, but are you going to help me up or what!?”Luc blushed a crimson shade of red, offering a thousand apologies as he extended a gloved hand. “Pray don’t mention it,” Exotica finally conceded.Luc sighed, a million unanswered questions racing through his mind.
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1/19/2009 10:36:28 PM
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