Chapter 21

Version 2.0

The mid-day air hung heavy with the acrid scent of burning wood and the glow of the remains of the village homes, whilst the palisade crumbled under the savagery of hungry bandits. Snowflakes, untouched by the turmoil made delicate descent from the inky sky, as they settled on bodies and homes alike.

On the far outskirts of the smouldering village, Brandon exchanged a few words with one of the village men, a grateful nod passing between them. "Ye saved us back there. We can take care o' ourselves now, but your help was appreciated," grumbled the man, earning a slap on his arm from his wife.

Brandon offered a small smile, "You handled yourselves well, too. Take care and find shelter."

The man nodded, "Aye, we'll find our way. Thanks again, laddie."

The Riverside villagers quickly moved on, taking what they carried from home with them, and talking about whether the village will still be standing when this all blows over.

"We best be on our way, Brandon. We need to get out of here, best to put some distance between us and this chaos," Jon said, his eyes scanning the horizon.

"What about the other villagers? What are they going to do?" Jocelyn tugged on Jon's arm.

"There's not much we can do with just the three of us. They're a hardy bunch; they'll find a way to fend for themselves," Brandon responded, his gaze lingering on the remnants of the village, now engulfed in flame and battle.

Jon scratched his head, "This sucks. They were nice people, minus the accusing us of murder."

"Yeah, they seemed alright. They didn't deserve to be butchered like this," Brandon exhaled heavily. "People are getting desperate for food; this will become all the more common. Come on, let's go then."

"But what about Lyanna and Edric? Are you sure they'll be fine? Do you think they got out of the village okay?" Jocelyn again tugged on Jon's arm.

"They'll be fine, Jocelyn. Edric might be quiet, but his swordsmanship is good. Just between us, he's the best swordsman among us," Brandon patted her back, smiling at her.

"Yep, Edric could probably take on a dire wolf with a toothpick," Jon added, smiling at Jocelyn.

With the river still flowing beside them and the remnants of the burning village casting flickering shadows, they headed north.

It wasn't far from the village that, as the adrenaline of the fight wore off, Jon and Jocelyn started to feel the effects of their injuries. Jon winced as he felt a stinging sensation on his arm, looking at his light gash that oozed blood. Jocelyn, on the other hand, saw her scrape running down her arm from the sword graze. Brandon inspected their wounds. "We need to tend to these before they get worse."

With some distance between the village and themselves, they headed to the river where Jon's arm was carefully cleaned with water, and a makeshift bandage was fashioned from a torn piece of cloth. To prevent infection, a poultice made from crushed herbs found in the woods was applied to the wound. Jon gritted his teeth as Brandon bound the bandage securely. For Jocelyn's scrape, Brandon cleaned the wound with water and applied the same poultice. A clean cloth was wrapped around her arm to keep the poultice in place.

"The children of the forest knowledge is amazing," Brandon said while washing his hands.

Jon smiled. "Alright, keep your dick in your trousers, Bran." Brandon merely rolled his eyes.

With their injuries covered and healed as best as possible for the moment, the trio pressed on, ascending the winding path that led them further up the river. As they ascended a particularly large hill, the panoramic view unfolded before them, revealing the further undulating landscape of the Lonely Hills.

From the crest of the hill, the trio gazed out across the vast expanse. Hills bounced into one another like eager puppies as the distant forest beckoned like their mother, its lush canopy contrasting with the rocky hills that preceded it.

Descending from the hill, they weaved through the valleys, where clusters of rocks and boulders formed constant obstacles. They moved in silence and they struggled past the difficult hills with the only moments of life were the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds.

The air was crisp and invigorating, like a cold drink after hard manual labour. The scent of pine mingled with the earthy aroma of moss and damp soil as the whistle of the wind through the hills played around them. Steep slopes and sharp inclines tested their stamina, and the breathtaking scenery tested their mental resilience to continue.

"Hey, Brandon," Jocelyn said, catching up to him. "Why were we accused of murder in the village? I kind of lost track after a while."

"The gist of it was that they thought we murdered the Bryden family, I think. Well, we had their family ring, which Lyanna had gotten in a trade from their nephew before he was then murdered himself. I think it might just have been we were there at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Jon rubbed his growing stubble. "Coincidence that we were there and then the next day during the early morning the village was attacked. I mean, those bandits were oddly organized."

Brandon turned to Jon. "Mmm, so what, you think the bandits killed that family and the nephew after he traded the ring for some food?"

"But he just goes along with it then, is he not bothered by the killing of his family?" Jocelyn asked.

Jon threw his arms up. "Agh, I don't know, and what does it matter now? I think it will just have to remain a mystery forever now; I doubt we will ever get the answer to it,"

Brandon shook his head. "Seems to be." He sighed.

Continuing their journey, the trio advanced beyond the confluence of the two rivers, where the currents converged into a single, meandering river. The sound of water flowing, accompanied by the distant murmur of the merging currents, complemented nicely the whistling winds.

As they traversed the landscape, the terrain shifted. The Lonely Hills' influence gradually faded, giving way to a more varied environment. Tall grasses bordered the riverbanks, swaying gently in the breeze, and joined together into open fields of grass. The air carried the sweet fragrance of wildflowers and the increasing presence of birds.

Upon reaching their predetermined meeting spot, the trio set up camp, nestled beside the river and the forest. To one side, the lush forest swayed calmly in the winds, and on the other the calm and flowing river feeding the life of the forest.

And as the dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, they rested and lived in that moment. The cold air rested pine needles perfectly on them, as the subtle perfume of blooming flowers settled with them. Birdsong emanated from the hidden inhabitants of the forest. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as the distant murmur of the river followed by.

They patiently awaited the arrival of their missing companions, the crackling of the campfire punctuating the calm evening air. The landscape around them transformed as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows and bathing the scene in warm.

After such an intense day and rude awakening, they quickly fell asleep, hopeful for the next day and the return of friends and family. The rhythmic crackling of the fire and the soft hum of the river created a serene ambiance.