Damien gave Sebastian and Dorin white tunics to wear before leading them out of the burrow. They hiked for a while until they came into a clearing where huge deer were grazing in an emerald field.
“We will meet with your aunt by the edge of the Dark Forest,” said Damien as he gestured to the majestic creatures. The deer looked larger up front, with hooves and antlers of gold. “from there, you are to travel back to your university.”
[Are these golden elks?] Sebastian asked as he came near one of the animals, his hand outstretched.
“Yes,” replied Damien. “they can take us there in no time.” He made some sounds at the elk who approached his two companions. The golden elks lowered themselves, their golden antlers touching the ground.
[Is it really okay?] Seb asked, a little hesitant. He looked at Dorin who was already mounting his elk.
“Is there something wrong?” Damien asked, walking close to Seb, “Have you never ridden a horse before?”
[No... Not really.] wrote Seb, [Only in a carnival once, and there was someone leading it around a pole.]
Damien smiled at this and called to one of the does in the field. It came closer and bowed its head before Seb.
“Do not worry,” said Damien, “she will be gentle with you. There is no danger of falling.”
Finally, Seb mounted the doe that gently raised itself as soon as he sat on its back. Seb held on tightly at the base of its antlers and closed his eyes as it leapt in the air and landed right beside Dorin’s elk.
“Ready?” Dorin asked him with a grin. Seb simply nodded with his eyes still shut.
He kept his eyes closed for a while, until he gradually got used with the movement. He finally opened his eyes and gasped as he watched the forest flash before his eyes. The fleet footed elk ran through brambles, over bushes, and under low laying branches. He watched as Dorin and Darien’s elks ran side by side before him, his own mount just a few paces away.
Soon, the trees thinned out until they came into a clearing and saw a low brick wall crossing the horizon. They came nearer to the wall and as they did, he noticed two people standing on the other side.
They alighted when they neared the wall. Seb’s legs felt like jelly when he hit the ground and almost lost his balance, but the gentle doe nuzzled him and helped him stay on his feet.
“Are you ok?” Dorin asked, suddenly beside him. “That’s normal on your first ride, especially when you travel that far.” He held his arm and assisted him until he finally got his bearings back. “C’mon, aunt Agate and Marcus are just beyond the wall.
“Okay, I think I can walk on my own now,” he wrote.
The two of them approached the stone wall. Damien was already at the other side, busy talking with Agate and Marcus. The wall was only about three feet high and was missing pieces at some parts. Wild plants and lichen were growing on it, and it didn’t look like it could keep anything in or out of the Dark forest, but as Dorin and Seb went over it, it felt as if their body had gotten heavier. Suddenly, Seb wanted to get back beyond the wall.
“You felt that didn’t you?” Dorin asked him.
Seb looked at Dorin who was looking at him seriously.
[Yes.] he wrote, [It is as if the atmosphere here is heavier.]
“Yeah, it’s the same back in my mountain.” said Dorin. “There’s a wall there too, much higher though, with watch towers and guards to booth. As soon as I got over that wall, I felt the magic lessen.” He told his friend. “It was as if the wall was keeping the magic from seeping out of the forest.”
[Or rather, the outside is eating up too much magic.] wrote Seb. Dorin looked at him, his eyes wide open.
“I never thought of that...” he said.
Before the two can discuss it any further, they were approached by a very worried looking Professor Althea, followed by a frowning Major General Muller.
“Dorin!” called the professor who threw her arms around him, hugging his waist. “Thank gods you’re okay!”
“Aunt Agate...” said Dorin in a muffled voice, “Sorry to get you worried...”
“Are you two okay?” she asked, looking at Sebastian and pulling him closer. “I was told you had to stay longer since your injuries were fatal!” she turned Seb around to look him over.
“Don’t worry, aunt Agate, we’re both okay now,” Dorin grinned, “Damien and his brethren took care of us.” He looked over at Damien who stood at the other side of the wall. Beside him were the two hairy creatures he saw on the night of the failed abduction.
“Damien,” Agate called to the games keeper, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for keeping them safe.”
Damien simply nodded before turning away, the two creatures trailing behind him.
“Goodbye! It was great knowing you!” Dorin called, waving his hands.
Seb ran to the wall and raised himself over it. Damien turned around and read the message on his slate. [Thank you!] it said, [I’ll look forward to seeing you again when the new school year starts! I’ll visit again some time!]
Damien smiled at him and raised a hand to wave goodbye. “I will look forward to it.”
With that, he mounted his elk and left with his companions. Dorin and Seb watched them ride until they were swallowed by the shadow of the trees.
“Okay, boys, it’s time to leave.” Major General Muller went to their side and placed a hand on each of their shoulder. “We’ve still got a long way to go, Dorin.”
“Are we going straight back to Monarch Forest?” Dorin asked Marcus.
“Yes,” Agate answered, “You have stayed here too long.”
[You’re not gonna say goodbye to Mar and the rest?] wrote Seb.
“His proxy has already done that,” Marcus retorted. “Besides, he should have left three days ago.”
“What about my stuff?” asked Dorin.
“In my truck,” answered the General “Now get a move on, we haven’t got all day!”
Dorin looked at Seb, shrugged, and gave a deep sigh.
“This is goodbye then.” He told his sworn brother.
[For now.] said the slate. [Try to convince your mother] was added, [tell her about the University]
“I’ll try.” Dorin smiled sadly, as if he knew deep inside that it was a lost cause. “It was a pleasure to have met you.” He went to Seb and gave him a tight hug.
“Write to me.” Seb whispered to him. “Keep in touch.”
“You know that won’t work on me,” Dorin whispered back.
“Still worth a try,” Seb replied with a chuckle.
“We will always be sworn brothers,” said Dorin as he let Sebastian go. “My first brother, we will surely meet again.” He held the other’s hand in a tight grip, not wanting to separate, not wanting to leave.
“Dorin, it’s time to go,” called Agate. “Seb, you stay with me.”
“Coming!” Dorin ran after Marcus who was heading for his truck which was parked at the end of a dirt road leaving Agate and Seb behind.