They arrived at a quiet place in Langard forest, a wide space forest with big trees surrounding them.
It was a long ride out of Trentshire and its harbours, so Mantis was getting pretty tired of it. Cassey hasn't been himself since he touched the Trident, but no one could tell, for he was connecting with his main self, but the connection was going back and forth, and would continue like that, until something happens...
"Here, we will settle here tonight, we leave at first light" said Mantis, who was exhausted from the long journey. They had journeyed from the cave till Langard Forest, in hope of reaching the last gateway to Castron And The Albions
"We still have time to reach the borderlands before nightfall." Alby said
"No, it's too dangerous, if the night falls on us during movement." Insisted Mantis
"And who is afraid of danger?" Asked Alby
"The boys Alby! No more objections we rest right here"
"We know you're a tired old man, just admit it, we might build a bed of roses for you." Said Alby, Allen chuckled, Cassey' was clearly not in the mood.
"Hmmm no respect" said Mantis
"Well, I think we should move on," added Cassey. But he got out of his horse, and got out his bag, it was clear that he was staying for the night. This was Cassey who said they should move on. All the attention directed to him, they were just staring at him, waiting to see what he was going to do. But Alby called out
"Cassey?"
No answer. she called again, this time loudly, and Cassey Answered
"Oh, oh right right we should uhhh do what you said, what you suggested, I think we should go with that ,yes yes." Cassey said, not even knowing what he was saying
"I didn't say we are staying here" said Alby puzzled
They were then realizing that Cassey hasn't been with them all the while
Cassey
"Oh! Okay , okay then, so where are we going?" asked Cassey....They all got weakened and startled
"Come on Cassey, when did you join us? Now?" Alby asked, disappointed
"Possibly, possibly not." Cassey said scratching his head
"Be a man boy, make your own decision" demanded Mantis
"What, haven't you been listening? I said we would go with her decision." concluded Cassey
"And what's her decision?" asked Mantis, waiting patiently to see Cassey let himself down, and make a joke of him. Cassey shrugged, there was a momentary silence, then
"Because she is a girl? Stop trying hard." said Mantis
He got a dead look from Alby, a blank face from Cassey, they came out of their quarrel to see Allen had made a place for himself and the fire was on, there was bush meat in his hand, getting roasted. They realized that Allen wasn't with them, he had been out getting the place set up.
They looked at each other, surprised. Alby was speechless, because she thought she had a supporter.
Mantis smiled at his win.
Later in the woods, they had settled at that spot and added even more fire, they sat in a circle, facing each other, and enjoyed much more bush meat which Allen had hunted himself.
Alby wasn't happy, but she ate the meat hungrily, like she had never had it so good in a while or since when she can't remember
"Mmm perfect! Perfect my boy! Been decades." Mantis said, devouring the bush meat like no man's business
He ate a heavy portion, fondly rubbing Allen's hair . They realized that Alby had been treating herself to a big lap quietly, while in pretence.
"We still have to reach the boundaries before nightfall. We are not stopping." Mantis said, making fun of Alby. He burst into a huge laughter, Allen followed, tapping Cassey to join them to laugh, but Cassey didn't want to offend Alby in any way.
Alby was however irritated by this, she looked at them in pity, followed by a nod. She went back to her treat still!
"Don't mind them stomach, you're more important than them!" Allen added, they found another reason to laugh
They bursted out into another wave of laughter, Cassey tried holding back, but instead he let out a muffled laugher accompanied with a remorseful face.
****
Night had befallen them. The group was fast asleep except Cassey. It was a cold night, illuminated by the moonlight. The fire they made still burned in the middle.
Cassey was lost in thought, staring dead at the flames. Mantis stretched, halfly awaked, and noticed that Cassey was still up. So he got up and went to sit beside him.
"I know you love her, but stop trying." Mantis said, feeling sleepy himself, but Cassey was not with him. Mantis called and shaked him continuously to live, it raised suspicion for a moment, but Cassey got back to himself
"Are you okay? Why are you always out" asked Mantis, interested to know what's up with Cassey
"Do I?" asked Cassey. Mantis ignored him, and continued his speech
"I know you love her, but not because of the fact she is Castro's wife.."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"There are laws. They are entitled to love only one man, have feelings and all that for the rest of their lives, it is a code that can't and won't be broken... don't worry, soon enough you will understand."
Cassey stared at him, as he finished saying this, it only rang one thing in his mind,
"Then I'm not Castro?" asked Cassey feeling cheated on and played on