Chapter 29

      Dense, thick, and impossible to move through, adequately described the forests of the Cherish empire. The trails themselves were narrow things and made Aurelia wonder how people got around without the aid of roads or horses. Her enhanced hearing kept track of the various noises associated with the forest.  

    Zinjo strode next to her and offered to do some wedding planning to help while away the hours, "I'd like to be dressed in my suit," He declared with dignified words.

  "Red and black are hardly wedding colors, Zinjo, black and white are more acceptable," Aurelia gave him a playful shove. Should we have it at the castle?"

    "No," Zinjo shook his head, "We will be spending all of our time in the castle after the wedding is over. I think it would be better to hold it in the town. The people would love it," he argued. 

    The idea was inspired, but the extra security meant extra costs, and she didn't want to place a hardship on the people just so she could have the wedding of her dreams, "Maybe after we've had a look at the kingdom's budget. It takes a fair amount of gold to hire decent security." Aurelia spied Redford, his face is aglow with nervous tension. She sighed and floated over to him. "What's wrong now."

  "I heard rumors about this place, something evil lives in the forest," Redford hugged himself. 

   "Pshhh," Mshindi scoffed, "You are being paranoid as always, Red." He sniffed the air and shook his head, "My nose does not detect anything out of the ordinary."

    Redford growled and crossed his arms, "Yes because you are not from here. Men have gone missing along this trail."   

   Mshindi stopped dead in his tracks and craned his neck, "Do you hear that? It's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I have to know who makes such enchanting music," With that, his visage became the muscular hyena and tore through the underbrush.

   "Mshindi..." Zinjo started to say before he trailed off, "It is like a thousand lionesses with their voices raised in song. I will battle Mshindi for the singer's hand," Before Aurelia could say another word, Zinjo roared and raced through the trees. 

   "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?" He said in a hopeless tone. 

   Enough was enough, Aurelia cuffed Redford, "I suggest you pull yourself together, my future husband just took off, I want to know why. More importantly, why couldn't I hear the music?" She pointed to the path Mshindi and Zinjo took. 

   "Did you not hear me the first time? I said men go missing along this trail," Redford spoke in a superior tone. "The Cherish empire may be the biggest kingdom, but that's because nobody wants to inherit the problems that come with this accursed land."

   The rustle of leaves and swish of branches accompanied their journey through the healthy bushes and saplings. The birds were alive with song, and search the ground for juicy insects. Aurelia could hear the things that crawl and prayed the birds found the nourishment in their icky little bodies.

   "I need to know everything you do, Redford. Start talking so I can figure out how to save our companions," Aurelia kept the brigand ahead of her, in case he tried to bolt for the hills.

    Redford glowered at her and parked himself on a stump, "Don't I matter?"

    "You do, Redford, but Zinjo is the Future king of Shadowfen, and Mshindi is too dangerous to be under someone's control. We need to find the source and put an end to the madness," Aurelia tried to comfort the man-child without losing her patience. 

    "Fine," Redfords sounded like Aurelia took away his favorite toy, "I can't tell you what is at the end of the trail, I can only tell you men goes missing in these parts. The worst part is all expeditions to find the source of the disappearances come up empty."

    "How is that possible everything leaves a trail of some kind, even ghosts leave ectoplasm in their wake." Aurelia stared at the forest and tried to find an answer to the puzzle. 

   "I agree, princess, but there is more to this world than both you and I will ever know, or hope to know in our lifetime. I used to keep a journal of every new creature or circumstance I encountered in my youth, but after I was disgraced, I stopped."

   "I think that's the most useful thing you've said all day, do you have the journal on you?"

   "No, I left them all back at the brigands camp."

   Aurelia sighed in frustration, her nose searched for the spicy scent of Zinjo, and found it. She closed her eyes like Zinjo taught her and focused on the direction, "Lets get going, Redford. If men go missing I'd like to find our friends before that becomes permanent."

****

   As the day wore on, Aurelia began to wonder why Mshindi hadn't killed Redford. He complained worse than bratty noblewoman and acted twice as poorly. Every step brought a new grievance from the brigand'sips to the point where Aurelia considered knocking him out. 

   "How much further..." Redford never got to finish before Aurelia backhanded him down. 

   "Enough of your selfish prattle. You are not the victim, and yes I realize you are male and we are walking directly into danger. How did a woman find you attractive enough to marry?"

    Redfords face turned crimson, and his hands shook with rage, "Let me tell you, something sweetheart, back in the day I was the best at what..."

   "Back in the day, being the operative term. Look at you all washed up, and pathetic. Don't you want vengeance for your wife? I know if Zinjo died I wouldn't rest until the culprit was brought to justice."

   Redford leaned against a tree and remained silent for the next few minutes, He started to say something several times, but stopped. "She's dead because I let Dunkelheit into my life. I wake up every day knowing my carelessness got her killed. I sold out everything I believed in and she still died." His face now carried the rage of a thousand suns. 

    While a twinge of sympathy touched her mind, Aurelia continued her mental assault, "What have you done to make up for it? My mother says the mistake may draw attention, but it's what you do after that people watch closely. You have done nothing to vindicate yourself or your wife. No wonder you feel so horrible all the time."

   Redfords eyes glazed over, "Do you hear that? It sounds like my wife singing the morning." he turned to leave only to be caught in Aurelia's arms. She thanked the goddess Zinjo dared to change her, otherwise, she'd lose him too. 

   She gathered two clumps of moss and stuffed them into both of Redfords ears. He struggled against her and almost got away twice. Once his ears were plugged, the brigand went limp and passed out. She looked down at the middle-aged man and shook her head, "Hang on friend, your journey is going to get bumpier."

    With a great heave, Aurelia slung the brigand across her shoulders and started to move through the thick underbrush.