Chapter 12

Varden woke to the sound of pounding on the door. As he started to get up, he noticed that the room was changed around, and the two beds had been pushed together. At first, he thought he was in the wrong room, but he could tell that he was in the right one just everything had been changed around. He reached over to wake up Drake when he felt the soft smooth skin. He turned to look, and it wasn't Drake at all it was the woman that started all of his troubles to begin with.

She said, " Good morning love." With a huge smile on her face.

Just then there was another loud knock on the door. Varden yelled, "Just a minute."

He turned to the lady and said, " I will have to tend to you in a few minutes." Then he quickly slipped on some clothes and answered the door.

He stepped out of the room and quickly shut the door. Drake and Drayden were both standing at the door waiting for him.

With tears in her eyes, Drayden said, " I thought you loved me, and I almost believed you last night. Now she's in your room naked in your bed and the beds are pushed together. Just what am I supposed to think." She turned and walked away without saying another word.

Varden turned to Drake and asked, " What is going on?"

Drake said, "Last night when I came back to the room, I saw a naked lady in the room, so I figured you didn't want to be disturbed. So, I slept in a different room. "

Varden went back into the room and saw that the lady was slipping on her dress. He asked, " Why are you doing this to me?"

She just ignored him and continued dressing. When she had finished dressing, she started to leave. He grabbed her arm and stopped her as she reached the door and repeated the question.

She said, " Let me go!"

He replied, " Not to you tell me."

She said, " You have to let me go or I will be in trouble."

He said, " I'm not letting go of you till you tell me what I want to know."

Finally, she broke down and said, " I'm getting paid to set you up like this."

Varden demanded, " By whom?"

She said, " I don't know who it is. I didn't see, I was just given the instructions. I just know that if I do this, they will give me some money and if I don't, they will hurt me."

Varden asked her more questions but didn't get any really good answers she was too scared to tell the truth and even if she had said the truth with their being that scared, he didn't know if he could trust anything she said anyway.

He just let her go and started putting his armor on. While he was doing that, he was wondering how he was going to explain all this to Drayden. Especially since he couldn't believe it himself and there was no proof of anything except for there was a naked woman in the bed with him.

As he came down the stairs, he saw Drake hand something to the bartender. Then he noticed that Drayden was sitting at a table near the door looking out.

As he got close, he could tell that Drayden had been crying again. That made him more furious than anything to think that someone was doing this to them both on purpose. In his mind, it didn't matter that much what they were doing to him, but it was the fact that they were doing it to Drayden that made him so mad. He never wanted to see her cry and he knew that she had been doing a lot of it now.

Varden started to talk to Drayden and she gave him a cold stare and said, " From this point on we are no more than friends and that is if we can even remain as friends. We have all committed to seeing this to an end and I will hold up my end but that is all."

He started by explaining that he had been set up by her and she was getting paid by someone to do this and he didn't know anything about it until he had woken up this morning.

Drayden asked, " Well then just how did she get into your room in the first place? And how did the beds get pushed together? And I suppose you worse post to have slept through everything without knowing that a naked woman was lying beside you in the bed."

" She must have seen which room I went into and when she got in the room, she must have moved the beds together." He replied he knew that she could never believe it, he couldn't believe how it sounded coming out of his mouth.

She gave him a look of disbelief. He couldn't blame her he had been set up pretty well. It was pretty hard to believe that while he was sleeping someone was able to move the two beds together without him noticing.

Varden took Drayden over to the lady and demanded that she tell Drayden the truth. Lystra said, " You sure have one sexy boyfriend, and last night when he invited me into his room after your fight, I couldn't help myself but go with him."

Drayden cut her off and said, 'You were set up. Right!" Then she walked out of the bar. As she walked out of the bar, he could tell that she was crying again. Varden asked Lystra, " Why did you lie to her about us?"

Lystra answered, " I had no choice. If I would've told her the truth, they would have killed me."

Varden wanted to ask a lot more questions, but he knew that if he stayed here too long that Drayden would think everything was true. He didn't believe that he would get the truth out of her anyway, so he just left her.

Varden went over to Drake and tapped them on the shoulder and said, " We need to go now."

As Varden tapped Drake he choked on his drink and spilled the rest on the bar. Drake was disgusted at spilling his drink, so he got up and left with Varden. It didn't take long to catch up with Drayden on the way to Argus's Castle.

Drayden said, " Hello Drake." Letting Varden know that she was definitely mad at him and wouldn't be forgiving him or forgetting about it any time soon. Drake returned the greeting but didn't say anything more.

They all walked silently the rest of the way to Argus's where he had been waiting for them to arrive. As Argus looked at them, he could tell that something was definitely wrong and there was a lot of friction going on between them.

Argus said, " Let's go." So, they all started for the castle when they got about halfway there Argus said, " We must turn back." And he immediately turned around and started walking back toward town.

That surprised everyone and they tried asking him questions but all they would hear from him was that they would understand later.

As they got back to Argus's Castle, he told them, " Meet me here at noon. " And then without another word vanished quickly and he was just gone. Leaving the three of them standing at the gate just wondering what was going on.

Drake started for town, and Drayden yelled, " Wait for me." As soon as he heard her, he turned around, stopped, and waited for her to catch up.

Varden tried to talk to her, but she interrupted him and said, " Now look, I listened to you before when you came out of her room, and I almost believed what you had to say. But I find that when you say you were set up by a beautiful woman lying naked in your bed in your room, with the beds pushed together. It's a little hard to believe."

Varden took her by the arm and looked straight and her eyes and said, " I love you more than life itself, and I could never do anything to hurt you. I just love you so much." As he looked into her eyes, he could see that she was softening.

Drayden was confused and didn't know just what to do. When Varden said, "Just give me a chance and I will explain everything."

Just then Drake yelled, " Are you coming are not?"

That made Drayden have to make a choice quickly. She still loved Varden so she chose to listen to his story. So, she told Drake that she was sorry and to go ahead without her.

They went for a walk so that they could talk alone. Once they got away from the others Varden started explaining while they were walking. He said, " It all started a long time ago I noticed her watching me and that was partly why I wanted to talk to you because I saw her start coming up the stairs. And then when you went into your room, I was starting to go into mine when she called me over saying that her dress was stuck, she didn't want me opening her dress out in the hall and that is why I went into her room."

Drayden said, " You told me that last night. 'With an angry look on her face.

Varden said, "Well after you saw me leaving you went into your room, and I tried to explain it, but it didn't seem to do any good. Then I went to my room and just went to sleep. In the morning you woke me up and she was in the bed with me, and she was undressed. I don't know how she got in the room or how the beds got pushed together. After you went downstairs, I questioned her, and she told me that someone paid her to set me up like this."

Drayden thought to herself that if that was what happened Lystra would have lied about everything. Just then there was some excitement coming from town.

As they got close to town, they heard some yelling and Drayden stopped and tried to listen carefully. Then a big smile came to her face, and she said, " My father is here." Then she started running toward town. Varden didn't know what else to do so he just followed her.

As she got to town Varden saw her run to her father and gave him a big hug and kiss. Varden wished that it was him that she was hugging and kissing.

Sabol took her by the hand, and they walked and talked for a while before returning to town. On the way back to town Sabol asked, " How is Varden, and how are the two of you getting along?"

She explained about the way they were getting along and what happened last night. His face took on a serious expression and he asked, " Do you believe what he told you?"

" I'm not sure what to believe Father. I want to believe him, but I just don't know anymore seeing her naked in his bed makes things hard to believe." She replied.

Sabol said, " Maybe I can get the truth for you."

With a worried look on her face, she said, " Please, just don't hurt him."

He already knew how much she loved him and how much he loved her on board the ship and now he could see that she loved him even more, so we said, " I won't hurt him I promise."

When they got back to the town, Varden was there waiting for them. Varden greeted Sabol with respect, " It's nice to see you again sir."

Sabol knew that Varden was a man of honor, and he also knew how much he loved Drayden at least while they were on the ship. He nodded his head but didn't know what to say to him at this time until he found out truly what happened. He wasn't about to stand for someone hurting his little girl.

Sabol said to Varden, " I have a plan to see and prove your innocence. That is, we go into the bar, and you get her to confess while I am sitting close enough to hear it all. Drayden has told me what she looks like so I will go in first and sit near her that way there's no way you can fill her in first. Then you'll come in sit with her and get her to confess."

Varden said, " That is perfect, it's a great idea." He was eager to be proven innocent before everyone and get everything back the way it was.

As they got close Sabol when in and found the girl and sat down at a table close to her. A minute later Varden came in and sat right next to her.

Lystra was talking to a huge man in full body armor. Varden said, " I need to talk to you, it's important."

The man looked at him and said, " Go away boy, can't you see that she is with me now."

Varden said, " I just need to talk to her for a minute."

The man stood up and said, " I told you that she is with me now. Go away before you get hurt." Then he pushed Varden backward. Varden only went back two steps, but it was enough to make him mad.

Varden grabbed Ahold of the man's armor and lifted him a foot off the floor with one arm and said, " I said that I need to talk to her. Now you don't have a problem with that do you?"

The man hanging in the air said, "NNNO I don't have a problem with that."

The bartender saw them and yelled, " Put him down! And take it outside!"

Varden carefully lowered him to the floor, and he quickly left the bar. Lystra asked, " Why did you scare him away?"

Varden said, " Never mind that now. I want you to tell the truth to Drayden about what happened yesterday."

Lystra said, " You know I can't do that; they would kill me."

Varden gave her the meanest look he could muster and said, " How do you know that I won't?"

Lystra turned and smiled then said, "In the short time since I first saw all of you it seems to me like I know you and there's one thing above all else that I'm sure of and that is I am sure that you will never hurt me."

Varden knew that she was right, he was trying to trick her into talking but he could tell she knew enough that it wasn't going to work.

She said, " Since you lost your girl maybe you'll stop by and see me instead." She had always wanted a cute strong brave man to take care of her but never had that kind of luck with guys.

Varden shook his head and said, " No that is not possible."

He looked at her, she was pretty enough, but his heart belonged to Drayden already. It wasn't that Drayden was prettier than she was, but it was more than Drayden had an inner beauty that almost shined through that Lystra didn't have. She had an outer beauty that looked like it was going for the highest bidder.

Varden and Sabol left the bar and while they were walking out Varden asked, " Do you believe my story now?"

Sabol replied, " I have to admit at first I had my doubts when I first heard of what happened, but now I see you are truly a man of honor." Varden was glad to hear that he had felt that way.

Drayden was waiting outside the bar. She said, " I heard there was some excitement while you were in there."

Varden started to explain when Sabol cut him off and said, " It's nothing to worry about."

Sabol said, " Varden you'll have to excuse us for a while I need to have a small talk with my daughter."

Varden just wandered around while they were talking. Sabol explained what happened at the bar and that he believed Varden's story.

Drayden was relieved to know that Varden was innocent but that made her wonder why he was set up.

When they finished their talk, they went back to town where Varden had been waiting for them. Sabol walked up to Varden and said, " We need to talk. I have some very bad news for you your father has become deathly ill and has sent for you, and that is why I'm here."

Varden said, " Why didn't you tell me that before?" Then he realized it would not have mattered. Sabol started to answer when Varden asked, " When can we leave?"

Sabol said, " We leave tonight. That is why I came here myself, I wanted to give you the news personally."

It was nearly noon, so Varden went and started gathering his things together. Drayden went up to console him, but he was too upset for that. He was glad to see her and see that she was on his side and the fact that he was forgiven was great, but the fact that his father was dying bothered him so much that he told her to leave him alone.

That upset her so she left. By the time noon came around Varden was all packed and ready to go, the only thing he had to get was the rest of his treasure that was at Argus's castle. He stepped out of his room and into the hall and saw Drayden was there with her stuff and ready to go as well. At first, this took him by surprise but then he was glad that she was coming along and that would give them more time to spend together.

Drayden said, "I'm coming along to see if there's anything that I can do to help your father."

Varden knew that if there was anyone that could help him it would be Drayden. Then he apologized for being cross with her before, and then to thank her for coming along now.

Drayden was happy to be near him and she knew how much he needed her now she said, " We better get going if we don't want to keep Argus waiting on us."

Varden nodded his head and said, " Let's go."

As they left the inn, they saw Sabol yelling at Drake, but they were too far away to hear what he was being yelled at for.

Drake told Sabol he was the one that had set Varden up and that it was in the best interest of the team. Sabol was instantly mad because it hurt Drayden and he respected Varden but the more he thought about it, the more he understood why he did it.

Just before the others reached them Drake asked Sabol, " You won't tell them that I set them up, will you?"

Sabol said, " As long as you don't do this type of thing ever again I won't."

Drake promised not to do it again. All that Varden in Drayden heard was " ever again." Drayden asked, " What was all that about father?"

Sabol said, " I'll tell you later." He noticed that she was ready to go. So, he said, " Shall we set off for the ship?"

Varden said, " First we have to go to see Argus." Varden figured that Argus already knew what was going on and that's why the sudden trip back to town.

Drake said, " I have to get my things together so I will catch up with you there."

So, they went off to Argus's Castle. When they got there Argus was standing at the gate waiting for them. Argus said, " Hello Sabol, it's nice to meet you."

Sabol was shocked that Argus knew who he was. He asked, " Do I know you?"

Argus replied bluntly, " No."

Sabol asked, " Then how do you know my name?"

Argus answered, " I know lots of things that happened on this island. And it isn't like we have ship captains running all over the island, and you are Drayden's father, aren't you?"

Sabol nodded that all made sense to him.

Varden spoke out and started telling him that they were going back to help his father when Argus cut him off.

Argus said, " I know that you have to return home, and why you have to return, and that you will return afterward."

Sabol's mouth dropped open. Varden told him, " You will get used to that." Sabol shut his mouth and nodded his head. After a while, Drake joined the others. Argus would only let them take half of their treasure and made them leave the other half as a symbol that they were going to return.

No one had a problem with that, but Drake was not thrilled that he was leaving half of his treasure behind. They all had promised a long time ago to finish what they had started. One way or another they were going to see this journey completed.

It took them close to an hour together everything and tuck it all away. At this point, they noticed that the captain and a few members of his crew were on horses. They hadn't bothered getting horses to go back and forth to the castle, for one thing, it would alert everything in the castle that they were coming from and where they were, and they couldn't very well take the horses into the rooms where they were fighting. So that meant that they would have to leave them tide is easy prey for anything that would come along.

This would be a different situation it was going to be a long trail that they had to walk back to the first town. So, getting a new horse for them to ride would be the best thing for everyone and they wouldn't have to worry about whatever condition it was in. Anything would be better than walking. So, before they left town, they made the trip back to the blacksmith to try and round up some either riding horses or a couple of horses with a cart so that everything could be taken.

It didn't hurt Varden's feelings at all to think of not having to walk all day every day like they had been doing since they got to this island. And since Varden was the strongest it seems like he was expected to be the pack mule for everyone and their things.

The captain reminded them that they had to set sail long before it got dark. They wanted to use the outgoing tide in their favor.

When they got to the blacksmiths, he was hard at work forging some weapons and one particular sword caught Varden's eye. Varden walked up to him and said, " Excuse me, sir. We need some horses either to ride or a few with a cart. Would you have any that we can buy?"

The blacksmith said, " No need to call me sir Smitty will do just fine. As far as a horse goes, we have several that are for sale and one that I'm just housing. If it's a cart you be wanting, I believe we have an old one in the back that we don't need that I'll sell you."

They went over to the stable and looked at the horses they could tell that they were all old, but they were still in good condition, and if all they were going to do with them is use them to get back and forth from one town to the next, they would be good enough for that.

Varden saw a horse that looked good enough he had Smitty get a saddle and set it up. Once it was all ready to go Varden tried to mount it. The horse groaned under the strain of his weight and that was without the saddlebags that had the treasure that he was planning on bringing. So, he knew that riding it was out of the question.

Varden dismounted the horse; he could see that the horse was relieved. And that seemed to be the best horse that Smitty had to offer.

Varden asked, " You said you had a cart we could possibly buy?"

Smitty said, "Right this way." He walked around the stable and there was an old cart, it looked pretty rickety, but it was still in good enough shape for what they needed. It would take a couple of horses to pull the cart.

Varden said, " Can you set us up with the best horses that you have? The price isn't really a problem."

Smitty said, " With all that you have been doing for the town I will cut she's such a good deal and I'll make sure that you have nothing but the best of the animals that I have. Give me a few minutes to get everything set up for you."

Varden thanked him and then they all waited for him to get the horses in the cart together. He was correct it didn't take long, and they quickly loaded everything that they wanted in the cart. Varden asked just how much all this was going to be anyway?"

Smitty said, " I heard that you're coming back I'll just run a tab for you all until you return because you going to want me taking care of the animals when you get back anyway, I heard that Argus is holding half your treasure here, so I'm not worried about it."

Once the cart was fully loaded it didn't take long for them to set off. The trip when a lot faster with them not having to walk, there was no way that they could have expected riding horses to carry the weight of them plus treasure. It wasn't like Smitty had a bunch of mules to use to carry everything that they wanted to move.

The cart made things a lot faster along with the horses, but it did present a problem since they were planning on taking them on board the ship when they got to the river town, they had to find his place to board them while they were gone.

They found a stable that would take care of the horses and the cart. They would keep them properly fed, watered, and brushed for the length of time that they would be gone. It didn't cost them hardly anything for this service. They left them enough gold to pay for them to tend to them for a month. If they needed any more, they could always go to Argus's to get more if it was needed.

The stable was overly excited to get their business and made sure that the horses were treated better than any other animal in the place.