A New Ally

Aeralia befriends Baron Garrick's prisoner and helps him escape.

Neither Lynya nor I much enjoyed traveling with Baron Garrick.  He was charming and friendly, but I sensed that something menacing was underneath all the light-heartedness.  My suspicions were confirmed one moonlit night.  I liked to sleep under the stars, unlike the Baron and his two men; they slept in tents.  The Baron thought I was sleeping in my bedroll outside, but in reality I was watching him.

            He walked carefully so as not to wake anyone.  Garrick made his way over to his captive, whose hands and feet were both tied.  Shaking him roughly and dragging him to his feet, the Baron whispered something I couldn’t hear.  The other replied something, spitting in Garrick’s face.  Garrick’s face turned scarlet and he viciously hurled his prisoner against a tree.  The dark haired man struck the tree and crumpled immediately to the ground.  I barely remembered to stifle my gasp of rage and horror.  As it was, I waited until Garrick stalked into his tent and doused the light.

            I called softly to Lynya, but there was no need; she was already by my side.  Take some water and food for him, she advised.  I got my canteen and some bread and dried meat.  I also put on my sword, just in case Baron Garrick or one of his men decided to interrupt me.

            Making my way over, I was thankful to see that the man was no longer unconscious; on the contrary he was struggling against his bonds fiercely. 

            “Here,” I said, “There’s no need to do that!  I can cut you free.” 

            He turned towards me for the first time.  He was younger than I might have thought; eighteen or nineteen at most.  His eyes were a dark, steely grey right now, but I was to learn that his eyes changed shades of grey according to his mood.  A quick smile passed over his lips, so swift that I wondered if I had imagined it. 

            “Hello,” he said quietly.  “I’m Ariston.  Pleased to meet you, Highness.” 

            “Don’t call me Highness.  I’m Aeralia, Ali to my friends.” 

            Lynya mewed softly.  “Oh, and this is my familiar, Lynya,” I added. 

            Ariston took that in stride.  “Pleased to meet you, Lynya.” 

            Then he looked at me.  “You’re a bit quick to assume that I’m your friend,” He informed me.  “What if I was trying to kill you?” 

            I laughed.  I liked him.  “But you’re not.  As far as I know, you are my friend.”              He shrugged.  “Well, Ali, if I am your friend, then you are mine, and my friends see fit to call me Aris.” 

            Lynya purred and crawled onto Aris’ lap.  Then she rapidly clawed apart the roped binding him. 

            “Thank you,” he said.  Settling into a more comfortable position, he murmured, “I suppose you want to know who I am and why I am currently the prisoner of Baron Garrick.”  The last two words were filled with pure venom. 

            I shook my head.  “It’s all right.  You can tell me later.  Here.”  I handed him the food and water. 

            Aris wolfed down the food hungrily.  “Sorry,” he apologized, “I don’t think I’ve eaten properly all week.” 

            I grinned, just asking, “Do you want to get out of here?  I think my stallion can double us up for a while.” 

            My new friend winked.  “I’m not going to pass up an opportunity like that!”

            We grabbed all my things (luckily, they were all outside) and mounted Alonwyn, me in the front and Aris in the back with his arms around me.  Lynya took her usual position and we were off into the night without a second glance.

            Neither of us saw Baron Garrick slip out to watch us.  Nor did we see the small, satisfied smile that slowly spread across his face.  I would later learn that Lynya saw, but she chose not to say anything for the moment.

 

Author's Note

Constructive criticism and compliments gladly accepted.