The Sundermere Mountains

"I am so sorry," Odi said. "It's my fault. If I hadn't hesitated…"

"No," Lauren interrupted. "It's not your fault. I'm glad you didn't shoot him right away. You didn't want to kill your friend." She glanced down at Mlinzi, whose body was lying lifeless in front of her. "Besides, there is one person who needs to pay. She glanced at Amias. "Icas Thornton. Odi, where is the map? We need to find these Knights of Evermore."

Odi pulled out the map. "We have about another hour of travel time before we reach the Ashvon's border. The Liminglow forest is protected on three sides by water and the other by a large mountain range. We will have to scale the Sundermere Mountains."

"We should get started then," Amias said.

"Wait," Lauren said. She gently moved Mlinzi's body into a nearby shallow hole and gently covered the hole in the dirt. She then started to pick some of the nearby flowers. Amias and Odi started to help. Amias took half of the flowers and tied a rope around them. He dug a little bit of the hole back out and placed the bouquet in with Mlinzi and covered the hole back up.

Odi planted the flowers in the dirt pile as Lauren picked up a decent-sized rock and sat it behind the flowers. She then took the tip of her sword and etched some writing onto the stone: Rest in peace Mlinzi, last of the Starglow wolves. On the backside, she wrote more. Even though I only knew you for a little over a day, you were the best friend and guardian I could ever ask for. I hope you are somewhere better with the rest of your family.

Lauren sheathed her sword and stood up. She wiped the tears from her eyes and mounted Askari. "The sooner we get going, the sooner vengeance will come."

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Hours later the group, now down to four, reached the end of the Ashvon. The soft grassy terrain soon grew rocky and the air became colder. A large mountain range spread as far as the eye could see, both horizontally and vertically. "We have to climb that?" Lauren asked. Odi nodded. "I haven't seen a mountain this huge since I saw a picture of Mount Everest."

"I assume that is a mountain on Earth?" Amias asked. Lauren nodded. "Well, when you get back, you can tell everyone that you climbed the highest mountain range in Eddeathra; they won't believe you though."

Lauren smiled as she gazed up at the beautiful landscape. "Will our horses be able to make it up? And won't the air get thinner?"

"The horses will be able to make it because you need to use your sword to make a path for us, and no, the air will not get thinner."

"What do you mean 'my sword will make a path for us?'"

Amias just smiled.

Lauren heaved a heavy sigh. "The Liminglow forest is on the other side?"

Odi looked at her and gave a sarcastic shake of his head.

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The mountain was steep and loose rocks covered the surface. Askari had to stumble up the first few steps before Lauren unsheathed her sword. She held it out in front of her and examined it, hoping that it would magically make a path like something out of a child's TV show.

Lauren's wish was soon answered when a beam of sunlight shone down on the silver blade and reflected across the mountain. "Why am I even surprised anymore?" Amias chuckled as he flicked the reins of his horse and led the way up the silver path that spiraled around the mountain. Once the group reached the peak of the mountain, the group stopped for a rest before their descent.

The sight was breathtaking. Behind them, the Ashvon spread as far as the eye could see. Before them, a wonderful forest sat, blurred by the clouds below them.

Amias smiled. "Welcome to the Liminglow forest, home of the Knights of Evermore."