Chapter 131: Onward We Go
---Indigo---
"I sent out notices for our soldiers to bring as much rosewood as they could find to our rendezvous area," Lionel stated as he rode atop a great white stallion. He was dressed in a suit of light armor, complete with a fluttering white cloak. "You said rosewood is fatal to Evils, right?"
"Yes, it is." I answered as my horse trotted along beside Lionel's. I couldn't help but think how Lionel looked like a real military leader. "All of the Rosewood Seven's swords are tipped with rosewood. But there's a spell you need to cast in order to activate the magic and actually kill the Evil."
"A spell? Like the one you cast the day you rescued me?" Lionel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Can non-magical people like me cast the spell?"
I actually had not thought about this. "I don't know," I admitted. "I'll teach you, and then you can see if it works when an Evil actually attacks you."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Well, then, I guess you'll die." I spread my hands and shrugged in an oh-well fasion. Lionel chuckled.
"Ah, I knew you didn't truly like me. Why else would you teach me a spell that doesn't work and then send me to face danger?"
"Oops, did I let that slip?" I feigned surprise. "Well, Lio, I don't know what to tell you. You're just not very likable."
"I'm so hurt, Indy!" Lionel pouted. "And I told you to stop calling me Lio."
"Hey, you call me Indy, so it's only fair I get to call you by your nickname too." I stuck my tongue out at hi. Ever since I found out Lionel's nickname was Lio, I refused to call him anything but that. This was my revenge for him calling me "Indy" all the time. Despite his protests that it was a childish nickname, he still answers whenever I call him by that name.
Before anyone set off on the journey, Joe divided his group of a hundred men into four groups and planned to send them off one at a time so we wouldn't be traveling in a large, eye-catching group. He was going to go with the first group and recruit some more people along the way. The last group will travel with us to ensure our safety. Lucian and Rachel volunteered to help lead the first group.
"We'll make sure the journey to the Northern Mountains is safe and obstacle-free," Lucian promised.
"Our powers together should be enough to fend off any bad guys," Rachel added. "Also, someone from the Rosewood Seven should oversee what happens at the rendezvous point."
Lionel approved of this plan. I didn't. Something bad happened every time we split up. There were only three of us left, and I didn't want to let Lucian or Rachel out of my sight. Through long hours of pestering and persuasion, though, I finally relented, but with one condition: "You two can lead the second group, not the first. That way, Lionel and I won't be too far behind."
"Fine, fine, Lucian and Rachel can lead the second group." Lionel agreed immediately. "Any other conditions, Indy?"
I shook my head no. Lucian high-fived Lionel. "Let's get our stuff ready, Rachel. We're leaving tomorrow." I watched the two of them leave, chatting animatedly all the while. Lionel came to stand next to me.
"I just wanted to give them some alone-time," he explained. "They can't be alone together if you're around."
"I know I'm the third wheel." I rolled my eyes at Lionel. "And I totally ship them; why do you think I relented? I'm just worried something will happen to them too. We started this quest with seven people. If Lucian and Rachel are gone too, I'll have no one."
"You have me." Lionel moved as if to hug me but stopped, perhaps thinking it wasn't proper. "I'm not a chosen one, but you can rely on me, Indy. After all, I'm tall, handsome, and an amazing swordsman. What's there to not love about me?"
"Your bragging habits," I deadpanned. Lionel laughed and punched me on the shoulder lightly, something he does with all of his closest friends. "You're funny, Indy."
I shook my head at him, but I was smiling. I've noticed that being around Lionel made me happier and more lighthearted.
"What are you thinking about?" Lionel's voice woke me from my thoughts. We were still on the road, riding our horses and leading our group of twenty-five soldiers. They were all fitted with simple and light pieces of armor, such as a helmet, a breastplate, and gauntlets. The armor was designed by Lionel, who utilized cheap but tough materials to craft armor that wouldn't be bulky to wear but was still highly effective at protecting the wearer.
At this time, the sky was beginning to darken. The sun was setting rapidly. The western heavens were painted in shades of red and orange, with rays of the setting sun shining through the colorful clouds.
"Lucian and Rachel." I answered. "They're probably already at our rendezvous point, right?"
"I think so. We only have three more days' worth of travel, so you'll see them soon." Lionel replied, glancing at the setting sun. "We better find a place to set up camp before it gets totally dark."
As we moved towards the Northern Mountains, villages appeared less and less often. When they did appear, they were mostly small communities that contained a hundred residents or less. No one could accomodate twenty-five strangers, and no one would. What's more, we could be mistaken as Lord Victor's soldiers and frighten the villagers. To avoid these troubles, Lionel and I had decided that our best solution was to just camp alongside the road.
We set up camp in a field nearby, pitching our tents up in an organized formation. Lionel and I were the only ones who had personal tents, since he was the commander and I was the only female in the entire group. These two tents were placed side by side in the center, and all other tents surrounded them in a strange pattern. If looked at from above, our tents formed a rune. Rachel came up with the idea of arranging tents in a defensive rune so that we would have another line of defense. I doubted if simply putting our tents in this formation would work, but it gave everyone—including me—a peace of mind.
The moon was unusually bright that night. Everyone huddled in groups around campfires, eating and laughing. The soldiers seemed happier than usual. Lionel also seemed to be in a good mood. He always wore his armor these days, but tonight he changed into a light blue medieval tunic and black warrior chausses. In the firelight, he looked ever more handsome and mature.
Lionel and several of the captains—basically people Lionel was familiar with and sent to manage others—sat around a fire, roasting a large hare one of them caught earlier and talking loudly. As usual, I sat next to Lionel, adding a few comments here and there when I could. Mostly, though, I just listened to their conversation and kept to my own thoughts.
Someone passed around a wine flask. "It's good wine." The guy sitting on the other side of Lionel said after taking a sip. "I haven't tasted such good wine in a long time. Lionel, you should try some."
"Good wine, you said?" Lionel took the flask that was offered. He looked around the circle with a smile. "We have roasted meat, a bright moon, a roaring fire, and my brothers-in-arms. On such an occasion, how can we not have wine?" He raised the flask as if to make a toast, and then downed a huge gulp with a lift of his chin amidst the cheering of his comrades.
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