Journey to Raldon

"We need to leave here, immediately." Agnar said, surprising his sons.

"Leave the village? But where would we go?" Kiyan questioned.

"Raldon city. " Agnar replied.

Raldon city, along with Venus, were the two surviving cities in Mulgard kingdom. Around them were several villages.

"Will this one be the last move?" Kiyan asked. In the past few years, they had moved from village to village and now they were moving into the city.

"I can't tell." Agnar replied. "Remember, I once told you of Demas, your cousin, who had invited us over? I sent him a letter stating we would be there. I planned to tell you both, but with what happened last night, I forgot."

The thought of leaving the village put a gleam in their eyes. For long, they wished to leave, hoping life would be better elsewhere.

So far, every place they've been had only been filled with agony.

Still, they were being hopeful about Raldon. They've always been hopeful. Getting to meet a relative was a plus. Not to mention finally getting the answers they longed for.

"Tomorrow is when we leave." Agnar said.

'We need to start packing.' He wanted to say. But what did they have to pack? Food? clothes? They had none. The thought of this saddened him.

"I need to get some things for the journey. I will be back." He turned to leave.

"Father?" Kiyan called out softly, stopping Agnar.

"Why don't you use the money we got? I know it was gotten the wrong way, but it's all we have."

"The people will definitely overcharge you for whatever you purchase. I mean we got it because we needed it. It will be a waste if we don't use it. We can't return it either." Raten added.

Kiyan took out four gold coins from the pouch still hanging on his shoulders.

Raten carefully watched their father's reaction. Usually, he would get furious at the suggestion and they would get whooped. But today was different. He looked defeated, saddened and hadn't flinched at all.

"Please father, take it." Kiyan moved in front of him with his arm stretched out. Agnar had remained unmoving.

Sighing, Kiyan took hold of his father's hand, placed the coins in it and closed it.

Though it stung Agnar that they had to live off stolen money, he had to admit they needed it.

"What other option do I have?" He clenched his fists. "I really did fail." He mumbled and walked off, closing the door behind him.

"That went well." Kiyan said.

With nothing else to do, the twins decided to practice magic. It was the only thing that kept them occupied. It wasn't till late in the evening that their father returned.

With everything they needed ready, they had dinner and went to bed. Early the next day, they left for Raldon.

*******

"It seems they are leaving." One of the neighbours spoke, seeing them pack their bags and hang them on their shoulders.

"What a beautiful day it is. This village will finally have peace."

"I hope you never return!" The little boy, Torrance, yelled as they walked off to which Kiyan stuck his tongue out at him.

"Goodbye now." The people said.

"They seem very happy." Kiyan noticed.

"Shouldn't we tell the healer we are leaving? He did say he was your friend." Raten suggested as they left the village.

"We don't need to. Besides, he will find out soon enough." Agnar replied.

The people set their home ablaze and rejoiced merrily. They believed to have been cleansed from evil that day.

Unlike Venus, which could be journeyed to and back from the village in a day, or two if on foot. Raldon was much farther and would take more time.

Agnar had not even bothered to get a carriage for transport. No one would have agreed to it anyway. So they carried on their journey on foot.

"How long till we get there?" Kiyan asked, breaking the silence.

"Two more days." Agnar replied and they resumed their silent journey. The twins noticed their father no longer used the cane and walked normally. He didn't even bring it along.

Kiyan and Raten would occasionally look around, admiring the greenery and structure of things. They would often comment on what they saw, moving and asking their father countless questions.

Along the way, they encountered a reindeer. Agnar with a single punch crushed its skull and sent it flying into a tree.

"Time to eat!" Kiyan said with a wide grin. They found a place to camp off. Agnar prepared a fire and began roasting the kill.

Hours went by, the stars soon flooded the sky.

Raten and Kiyan, after having their fill, eventually fell asleep. They lay on the grass covered up by their father's cloaks, while he sat next to a tree keeping a watchful eye.

Sleep was far from him. He knew to be alert for at times like this, bands of thieves attacked travellers. The kingdom had done well to suppress it, but one can never be too sure. He only hoped they would have no such encounter.

There were also cases of magical beasts roaming these areas at night from the cities. He had to be alert at all times. He didn't want a repeat of last time.

Before the break of dawn, the trio were on the move again. Kiyan used a long stick to pull himself forward. He acted as though he would die if he took another step forward.

Raten, acting the same way as his brother, breathed heavily and asked, "H-have, have we arrived?"

"Not yet," Agnar said. The twins then fainted. Well, they pretended to.

"Get up." Agnar said, but they didn't move. He then held them both by their ankles and dragged them across the floor as he walked.

"Ow, ow ow! Oi, oi, oi! Father stop! Stop! We'll walk!" They shouted while struggling to free themselves from his hold.

"No, it's faster this way," Agnar said and walked faster. Their heads collided with their ground repeatedly, dust went into every hole in their head.

"Father stop! Stop! Please, we'll walk! Stop!" They begged.

Eventually, Agnar let go of their ankles. At that time, twigs and stones were stuck in their hair. Their eyes were red from dust. They coughed and sneezed. Agnar gave them the jugs of water he had. They drank and washed their faces. The journey continued.

By the break of dawn the next day, Agnar and his son's had reached Raldon city. 

Its large walls stood firm, with the flag of Mulgard - which was purple with one red line cutting across it - hung freely on either side of the wall with two knights each standing guard at each gate - north, east, west and south, of Raldon.