84 Kneel!

The river gods guided the canoe as it follow the current of the rapids. Frightened and shrieking, Umbriel stayed low inside the canoe as he hug himself tightly. He held his cross hanging from his neck as he mumble a prayer for the safety of their journey. On the other hand, Ottis held onto the gunwales as he watch where the river takes them. He was in complete awe witnessing such rare moment with the river gods.

Haelan, Jac, and Atrius followed the canoe while riding the river spirits. Jac hooted in cheeriness and even challenged Haelan and Atrius for a race. Atrius, on the other hand, kept his eyes wide open in worry. He held his breath at every quick turn of the river water spirits through the rapids. As for Haelan, she tried her best not to fall from Kelpie given her weakened physical state due to power usage.

Without any particular destination, they followed the current away from Brandenburg. The river gods took them through smaller and steeper waterways as they drift away.

At a farther distance, the group reached some place where tall pine trees grow and smaller boulders of rocks rest. Kelpie and the other river spirits safely unloaded Haelan and her friends at the riverside. As soon as Haelan, Atrius and Jac have set foot on the ground, the river spirits vanished from the water surface. The sun have started to split daytime and darkness, as the group settle down to rest.

Completely drenched in water, the group inspected the scenic purlieus of cedars and hemlocks. Ottis hurriedly ran to the riverside as he throw up leaving Umbriel behind. The rapids made him awfully dizzy.

Haelan helped Umbriel out of the canoe who seemed to have calmed down a bit. She let the priest walked on the soft ground, to a nearby stump of a tree. "Umbriel, are you alright?", she asked as the young priest move his eyes around.

"Ah! He's fine. He was down during entire the boat ride", Ottis said as he wipe his mouth. He breathe softly as he rested his hands on his waist looking up the birdless skies.

"Perhaps you shouldn't jostle him in the canoe", Atrius roughly bumped Atrius on his shoulder.

"Oh come on! He was petrified and taking too long. If I didn't shove him in that canoe, at least one of us will be mourning for another dead body!", Ottis said as he meet Atrius' fiery gaze. Jac stood by as he watch the two men tower each other. He then awkwardly peaked at Umbriel who could be reminded about someone dead.

"Enough!", Haelan meddled as she separate the two. "None of those matter now, at least we're all safe", she said as she shift her gaze at the two. The two then went on opposite directions as they meet each other's eyes.

Afterwards, Haelan went back to Umbriel who has been unusually quiet ever since they arrived. "Are you hurt, Umbriel?", Haelan asked as she look for Umbriel's wounds. Confused, she never found any cut that might have bloodied Umbriel's cassock. Moments after, Haelan was caught by surprise when Umbriel suddenly drop on his knees.

"Kneel! Kneel, before the only son of King Silvius and Beatrice of Caluso", Umbriel said as he bow to Haelan. "Even if you were not ordained or even acknowledged as the prince of the Kingdom of Nether, I will still treat you as the prince that you rightfully are.", Umbriel declared.

With his mouth open, Ottis slowly looked back and stood frozen before kneeling before Haelan. Jac and Atrius couldn't be more proud as they bow down to their royal-blooded comrade.

"Ah..No", Haelan shook her head as she help Umbriel up. "You don't need to regard me as a prince, or any person related to the royals. Treat me the way as you always do. Please", Haelan pleaded with an awkward smile as she refuse to be recognized as part of the imperial family. Atrius curved his lip up as he nodded at Haelan in approval and utmost understanding.

The group decided to rest for a moment before figuring out what to do next - given that Umbriel is not part of the initial plan. The early evening is starting to get colder, and their stomachs have began to grumble. As agreed, Jac and Atrius hunted for food nearby, while Haelan and the others stayed to build a camp.

In the wilderness, Jac thought of going face to face with Atrius about his hostility towards Ottis. He doesn't want to have bad blood amongst the men he travel with, thinking it brings bad luck.

"Give him a chance, Atrius", Jac said as he noted Atrius' apparent hatred towards Ottis. He held his sword up as they sneak in the bushes.

"That's hard to do", Atrius said with a soft sigh. "It's just so hard to trust him. It's like, he'll stab me even in my sleep", he said as look out for their food candidate.

"Let him prove himself this once, if he mess up, I'll answer for it", Jac said as he believe that there is still something good in Ottis.

"I don't understand why you have confidence in that man. After all he's done", Atrius scoffed at the thought that Ottis have betrayed Haelan to the point it could possibly the cause of the death of her.

"I don't know.", Jac shrugged off his shoulders cluelessly. "Maybe because sometimes, it takes only one person to believe in you.. so you can give yourself a chance to change and be better ", Jac said as he threw his sword against a wild boar.

Back to the riverside, Ottis have gathered a couple of firewood and dried leaves for Haelan to make a bonfire. As soon as the blaze was big and stable enough, Ottis and Umbriel sat nearby the flames to warm themselves up. Haelan sat across them, as she keep her distance from the furnace - just about the right nearness to dry her clothes because the fire makes her ill-at-ease.

"Excuse myself, I will just attend to the call of nature. Heh", Umbriel shyly said as he stood on his trembling knees.

Ottis tore a piece of fabric from his tunic and wrapped the edge of a tree branch. He lighted up the part where the fabric was and handed it to Umbriel. "Use this", he said as he took Umbriel's hand to give the torch with burning fire. "This should be enough to light your way, or.. scare wild beasts", Ottis said.

"Th.. thank you, Master Ottis", Umbriel accepted as if it was already a regretful acknowledgement of his offence. He then walked ahead just behind the trees.

"Don't go too far!", Haelan advised as Umbriel waved his hand to Haelan.

In awkward silence, Ottis and Haelan remained seated in opposite sides of the bonfire. They watch the flames dance to the sound of the quiet evening as it flicker in the nightbreak. Ottis had quick glances on Haelan, feeling suffocated with his bottle-neck thoughts.

With all the courage he can muster, Ottis decided to break the silence. "Uhh.. Prince Haelan?", he awkwardly called.

"It's Haelan. Have you forgotten?", Haelan asked as she tie her hair back.

"Right.. uhh.. Haelan.. I never had the chance to apologize... or even thank you", he finally said.