Chapter 3: To the North

By the time they emerged from the Ethereal Forest, only scattered rays of light beamed down and through the vivid shades of red that tinted the night sky.

Side by side, two men rode out onto a paved road. The men were similar in appearance, except the youngest man, whose face had a stubbled beard. They both sat on a horse each. Only the men who stood close to eighteen hands could mount these horses.

The younger of the two riders cues his horse closer to the older man on his right. Behind them, a dark chasm of trees and forest stretched back further than the eye could see.

"Fuck the Gods for creating that horrible place. I hate that forest," Lohan glanced over his shoulder. Glad they made it through safely but turned his attention upwards. A set of thick brows furrowed together above two deep-set eyes. "I don't like the looks of this shity sky either, should we make camp or continue through the night, brother?"

"You know the General likes to keep moving and a red sky is a good sign, it means that we'll have clear weather. Perfect for traveling." King Zehan answered.

Lohan sighed, his brother's the King, but sometimes that meant nothing to General Ryas, who made most of their decisions. "Yes, I know that fucker likes to keep us busy all the time. Isn't he from the Ethereal Forest?" The men talked about General Ryas and his incredible abilities. In the forest, Lohan witnessed it for the first time. He knew the General wasn't human, even though his appearance resembled theirs.

Zehan glanced over to see his brother's sharp profile. "Yes, our General came from the Ethereal Forrest when the First World fell. He's the reason our Kingdom still stands. What kind of Prince swears as much as you do?"

"A Prince named Lohan," he laughed. "Father should have named me after someone nobler instead."

"Be careful," the sounds of hooves approached from behind. "There's an abandoned town up ahead. We don't know what hides there," a stern voice cautioned them.

Both men turned to find General Ryas riding up behind them. He positioned himself right between both brothers.

"The King should not be front and center. It's not safe," Ryas said.

"Lohan's here with me. You worry too much, General," Zehan assured him.

"I promised your father I'd look after the both of you," Ryas cued his horse ahead. "I intend to keep my word."

"We appreciate that, General," Zehan answered. "Did everyone make it out of the forest?"

"Yes," Ryas answered.

Nighttime brought on a cooler temperature and Lohan pulled the cloak he wore around to the front of his body. They were on the road for weeks and with no real town nearby that meant more riding. He just wanted a warm bed and body to lie with. What kind of women did the North have? "Hey General," Lohan smirked. "You've been to the Northern Kingdom before, right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious. What do the women look like?" His lips lifted into a mischief grin. He'd never seen a Northern Women no one from the south has. People were too afraid to pass through the Ethereal Forest.

"You're asking the wrong man," Zehan laughed. "General Ryas doesn't see women as we do."

"Bullshit!" Lohan shouted. "Unless he likes men. He sees women exactly as we do. Isn't that right, General?"

"Keep your voice down. It's late, and we don't know who could be out here. There's no room for a woman in my life when I have the two of you to constantly worry about," he remarked. "If you must know Northern women have lighter complexions and hair color," Ryas tugged on the reins of his horse and trotted further ahead.

"Thanks, Brother." Lohan moved closer to Zehan and elbowed him. "You pissed him off. Now I can't even ask him about their bodies."

"Striking the King is a death sentence. I could have you killed for that." Zehan teased his brother.

They continued to ride in silence, and a short while later the men come upon a burned Manor littered with rotted arrows and behind it a few runs-down homes.

"What is this place?" Lohan asked. Whoever lived here definitely died. There's no way anyone survived.

"The old Wey Manor," Ryas answered.

"What the hell happened to the Weys? This place's burned to shit," Lohan looked around.

"The Dark Ethereal Spirit attacked them," Ryas said.

"There's a dark Ethereal Spirit?" Zehan slowed his horse down to a trot. "Did anyone survive?"

"Yes, there is, he created the Ethereal Forest. Some of them survived and made their way to the Capital, along with General Wey. The same place we're going, but it'll be a few days ride still. Let's keep moving," Ryas pulled the reins on his horse and trotted ahead of King Zehan and Lohan, to retake the lead.

The three of them, including a regiment of Captains, speed through the town headed towards the Capital.