7.

The boundary of Alvar

An owl hooted in the distance of dark and luxuriant forest as a man washes the sweat and dust from his face in the pond. His vigilant blue eyes burned from exhaustion and sleep. It has been three days since he started patrolling the borders of the forest to look out for the intruders. The threads of sleep coiled under his eyelids as he tried to wash them away. He rubs them gently while splashing cold water in them. It did help in reducing the burning sensation.

Just a few more days of patrolling until the army of Baden returns in its den without discerning and disturbing the peaceful forest for any resources.

Another dark figure landed in front of him to repeat the same procedure to wash away the remnants of seductive sleep. It soothes his heart knowing he wasn’t alone to guard the mighty forest, but a few of his best mates had his back too.

It all started three days ago when they heard the piercing echo of a conch shell from the south, from the direction of Baden. The nation was preparing for war and was close to entering the borders of Alvar. The dark and thick forest, which he and his people called the Ambaram, the home of ancient spirits, falls in the way between two kingdoms. As the notorious forest was esteemed as the home of terrifying and wild creatures, the folks of the two nations keep a good distance from the said area. Whoever tried to step within the borders of this forest have either died or returned scarred for life. The bravest hearts that have survived the atrocious forest always had stories to tell. They would punctuate the thrill of animals having sharp and big claws that could rip a being in pieces. Their ghostly eyes would often reflect the gruesome secrets of the dark spirits.

But the harrowing and unspeakable danger lurked only over five miles inside the borders of Ambaram. What those intruders didn’t know that the heart of the same forest was home to humans. A civilization of those who’ve been kicked out of the community. The lost ones. The bloodthirsty tribe of Ambaram. It was equal to the size of a small village where hundreds of people live together as one family, away from the greedy eyes of high kings and their royal rules. It was the home of a free horde.

“Good gracious, Arnold. I think we will return home soon. Rob sent words that the army of Baden has already won over Alvar and would soon retreat towards their nest.” The dark figure mumbled as he drank from the pond to quench his thirst and Arnold nodded feeling relieved.

He was missing the roasted meat baked by the modest wife of his Chief. The old woman was certainly gifted with a sense of spices. No one in the entire tribe could cook as well as her. The thought made his stomach grumble in hunger and his friend in front of him tosses him a couple of loaves of bread.

“Here, have these. My sister, Alvira packed them for emergencies. We have more of them.” The dark figure mumbled and Arnold’s pink lips quirked up in a thankful smile.

“Thanks, Anton.” He addressed the dark figure in front of him before tearing a fine portion and chewing it gently. Suddenly, Anton raised his head and sniffed the once fresh air. His nose cringed in distaste smelling the fire and rotten stench of burned flesh.

“They must have lighted the towns like usual,” Anton mumbled regarding the poor townspeople and a demonic army of Baden, making Arnold freeze mid-bite but he soon continues as if the thought didn’t affect him slightest. He shrugged his shoulders, gulping the bread down his dried throat, and takes some water to help the process.

“Alvar had it coming. King Thales was an idiot to call Baden for help. The Bastard King of the satin country would only look for pleasure in other’s misery. Instead of helping a dying country, he sped up the process by simply putting fire to whatever life it had. You know those people had a chance to survive, considering the weather was changing in their favor. But mankind is hard to understand and it loves to tamper with the laws of nature. The rampage King of Baden conducted destroyed another nation. I have no idea when his cunning mind would go to rest, sparing the world the display of his dirty deeds. The future will remember him as the dark spot of history, you will see.” Arnold commented bitterly as he lost his appetite and retreats. Anton follows close behind completely agreeing with his friend. He was aware of the rule of Henry Waterworks. The bastard might sell his flesh if it got him excess of profit.

“But Alvar deserved a chance, mate. I think they have already suffered so much to end up dying like this.” Anton commented with a heavy heart,  catching Arnold’s undivided attention.

“Why are you sympathizing with a nation which doesn’t care about someone other than its own? It’s a miracle that somehow drought and plague didn’t cross the borders of Ambaram. The plague that rode Alvar to the brink of abolition could’ve erupted here too, sucking many lives. By any chance, if we had gone through the same crisis in place of Alvar, do you think that the satin country had helped us?” Arnold asked with fiery eyes and Anton found himself speechless.

“The king must have shown his back to us and close the doors of his beautiful Castle.” Arnold snarled in hatred as they walked in the darkness to check the perimeters.

After that, Anton decided to stay silent for the rest of the way. There was nothing he could do to change his friend's mind because he knew Alvar must have done the same. He felt bad for not helping the innocents in the ashen estate, but he didn’t feel guilty.

In the past, the King of Alvar has broken their trust and forced their community to take refuge in the confines of this dangerous forest. The two friends had each other’s back since they were little and had gone through thorns of life together. Anton was aware of where all this anger came from. He was aware of Arnold’s dislike towards King Thales. Fifteen years back, if the same King had either fought for Arnold or took him in, then so much could’ve been saved. For them, Thales was nothing but a coward who always lacked the power to fight against evil and submit easily in front of foes to save his own.

After venturing the borders for a few hours, when the moon shone directly above their heads, Arnold turned to face his best friend and asked to separate because that way they would be able to cover more area in less time. The noble friend obliges and turns in the opposite direction. The hardness of Arnold’s face cracked and his shoulders slumped in tiredness. He felt bad for arguing with Anton. Somehow the thought of Alvar always brings the worse out of him. Shaking his head to clear the sour thoughts, he continues on his path and it’s when he heard shouting in a distance followed by huff and puff of labored breathing. The cracking of dried leaves and small twigs echoed in the area next, causing his hackles to rise. His hand immediately reached for the sword tucked tightly against his belt. The sudden noises alerted the fauna of the forest too as the atmosphere became silent.

The chirruping of crickets in the darkness of night stops and the usual hoot of wise and old owl also holds.

Someone has crossed the borders and decided to call out on the Ambaram.

With lightning speed, Arnold rushes towards the source before the wild in the forest decides to tackle the enemy within the borders only. He runs without making any noise, preventing from alerting the lurking enemy. The sleep vanished from his eyes and blood pumps hotly, tightening the bulky muscles underneath his dark clothes that help him to camouflage with the surroundings during the night.

He pulls the mask up till his nose such that only his eyes were visible to the waiting intruder. His bright blue eyes glint with excitement under the silvery glow of the moon.  

Finally, he was going to see some action.

As he ran towards the forest, he heard a pair of other sets of legs following him. It was more like the soft thump of heavy paws.

From the corner of his eyes, he noted the dark furs of hungry wolves that lusted for some meat. Two wolves were running by his side and howled in the night air, making sure that the foes should know where they were stepping.

The wolves fasten their pace and guide Arnold towards the source without any intention of hurting him because the creatures of the forest didn’t touch any being from the tribe. It was against the laws as the same tribe protects them in the time of crisis. The animals and men were indirectly dependent on each other.

The wild of the forest was bonded with the man living in the heart of the forest.

The scent of the white hydrangeas that only grows in the periphery of the village in Ambaram wafted off Arnold’s skin, alerting bloodthirsty guardians that he was a friend.

The two big wolves suddenly came to a halt and crouched low in a predatory position. Arnold braced himself when his eyes caught the lights of fire torches coming from a few meters ahead. The creek of metal and thump of boots cleared the presence of soldiers of Baden in Ambaram.

The wolves howled again and launched themselves towards the beasts that have tormented humanity not long ago. The flash of blood on their armors said it all. Arnold was about to join them in the thrill when he heard a painful whimper from the right. His head whipped in the direction and without further delay, he jumps in action. Another intruder was raiding the forest through the south.

But what he saw next nearly pulled the ground beneath his feet.

He can’t say whether it was enemy or some lost soul as she ran on her wobbly feet blindly, hitting her shoulder with the trunk of decade-old trees. Her disheveled hairs stick to her sweaty face hiding her features, whereas the torn blood-red dress got stuck in a few of the thorny branches. Her entire frame was shivering for some reason. And lips were releasing a painful whimper with each step.

As he watched the lost female in a daze, he failed to realize that she was cutting the gap between them. From the distance and the area he just left, the cries of soldiers and growls of wolves echoed along with breaking bones and ripping flesh. The girl didn’t even flinch or buckled back. She ran forward as if it was the only thing that her body knows when all of a sudden, her bare and bloody feet tangled in the mass of her dress and she falls faceward on the dirty path of forest ground, right in front of him.

A shocked gasp rips from her chest as she tried to stand back but failed to achieve the goal. Maybe she was too tired. Maybe the soldiers of Baden were looking for her.

Arnold thought as he looked down at her with mixed emotions and breathes hard when suddenly her worn out and teary eyes lift from the ground and meet his depthless ocean blues.

The wisdom of magnificent brown fills his vision as she looks up at him in hope and in that mere moment, he finds himself dropping the sword.

A sob vibrated in girl’s chest and she uttered a word that rang as a mere whisper in the curious forest.

“Please.”   

Her torn clothes and disheveled appearance must have given away the fight she has survived because in the next moment Arnold found himself lowering on his knees and with gloved hands removed the hairs from her face, exposing the weary look. She tried to scurry away from the warm touch but he cupped her face and stared in her barely open eyes.

Soon her orbs roll back and she lost the tight hold on the world. But before the darkness could completely swallow her, Arnold lifted her cold body in his warm chest and looked at her face. It looked ugly under the light of the moon as she was slowly letting go of the threads of life.