Chapter 20

The sun was nearing the peak of the mountain, its light dimming, making the sky turn red. Within the twilight, an odd procession moved along the clear, quiet plains.

A carriage pulled by four steeds was being escorted by a battalion. A dozen knights and priest at the front and back, but only two sets of guards remained with the vehicle.

Yet, the distance between the transport and escorts range from about fifty meters apart. It made it clear they were avoiding whatever’s within the cargo.

The beast pulling it continued to whinny in defiance, fear, and panic. While both guardians seemed to dawdle, barely holding on the reins.

At the very end of the line, two combatants who had survived the rigorous competition in the kingdom a few days before.

“Why do we have to accept such a lowly job?”

Hallor’s face was fuming. It was as if smoke was coming out of his head. And his gaze towards the soldiers was as sharp as knives.

“Be thankful we have one. This will provide us with some coins when we finish.”

Galford’s composure was the opposite of his companion. His expression stayed stoic, unbothered by all the ruckus that was going on around.

“I don’t trust those royal guards.”

Hallor grumbled, his eyes squinting at the group in front of them. All of whom remained indifferent since they left the capital.

Upon hearing that, Galford ended up heaving a sigh. Unable to stop himself from shaking his head, because of the youngsters continues rambling.

“Nobody is telling you to do that.”

He mumbles.

Not wanting to further the conversation about their group, he stayed silent. Along with keeping his sights in front to avoid anymore discussion about their task.

That put the lad in another fit. As seeing his companion’s gaze remained upfront.

“What’s in that carriage, anyway?”

He ends up grumbling. All the while looking at cargo they were delivering into the outskirts. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen before.

The frame was of a certain obsidian stone, with intricately carved bones on its sides. They filled its entirety with paper talisman; the doors roped and parts of it had chains etched with runes, symbols, each letting out a humming glow.

Also, there was this eerie sensation that’s been bothering them for the past few weeks of their travel. As there was this tingling aura that was seeping out of the vehicle, it kept getting stronger that the surrounding air seemed to turn rancid and heavy.

“They say it’s an accursed.”

Galford’s tone became ominous. His eyes squinting upon saying it.

Just by looking at the thing was enough to make his skin crawl, along with an immense throbbing in his chest from knowing.

“Isn’t that a bad omen? Grandfather said the first one brought calamity on the world last time it appeared.”

Hallor’s face quickly changed.

From being hardened, it immediately turned pale, as his blood felt it drained from knowing that. He ended up swallowing hard, because of an imaginary lump getting stuck in his throat.

“They’re probably planning on burying it in the deepest part of the forbidden forest.”

Galford pursed his lips.

There was this immense dread creeping into him, clawing like some rabid animal. It made him want to run away.

If it weren’t for the gold and the punishment from abandoning a job.

“It must be one of those powerful ones, since they are bringing it to that place.”

Hallor’s eyes grew wide, understanding what that meant.

“What else do you think is the reason? Once they’ve used all their means of cleansing and still fail, this is the only choice they have.”

Galford shrug his shoulders.

Though he remained poised and collected, his insides were rattling, unable to control the increasing sense of terror crawling into him.

“So it’s true. They can remove a curse by pitting it with a more powerful one.”

Hallor tried to laugh it off.

With the knowledge of what was inside the vehicle, his composure waned.

Also, the guards who got replaced about a moment ago were already weakening, along with the mages who were moving slower than before.

“I’m unsure of that. But better you do not poke your nose into it too much. If you know what’s good for you.”

Galford hissed, waving it off as he did not wish to continue talking about the thing.

He’d rather not think about it and just finish the job as fast as possible.

“Hey, something is happening there.”

Hallor was keen to stop his horse upon seeing the commotion.

Several knights rush to the carriage. Behind them were priests, who were holding a chained lantern of sorts.

The clergy were mumbling some words as they blessed the outer part of the cart. While the armored men were quick pull out their companions as two of them had fallen off from their seat.

“Hey, you! Come here.”

The captain of the knights whistled, waving a hand at the only outsiders there.

“It seems it’s our time already. This is earlier than I had expected. Too early.”

Galford took a deep breath, steeling himself for their upcoming challenge.

The soldiers dragged their fainted comrades away with such haste they left marks on the earth. While the mages and priest continued chanting, making the runes shine brighter and the entire carriage shake from its magic.

“What’s going on? Why do they look like that?”

Hallor frowns after glimpsing at the four individuals who were in charge a while ago.

Their complexion turned green, and he noticed boils appearing on them. Also, some parts of their skin were peeling off.

That only added to the dread he was feeling at the moment, as they did not see what had exactly happened.

“It must be the curse seeping out of the carriage. This is already the tenth time the guards have changed since we left the last town and the exchange is getting faster.”

Galford tightened his hold on his steed as they were making their way to the said vehicle. He didn’t think they’d end up in such a sore predicament. Now he understood why the pay was so high.

“What? It’s affecting them. Wouldn’t that be bad for us, too?”

Hallor’s eyes turned menacing, understanding this too. He can’t help but grit his teeth in rage, knowing they were being used as a sort of fodder.

“Why do you think they hired us to carry it all the way to the forbidden forest?”

Galford threw a sharp gaze at the young lad to silence him, seeing as there were eyes and ears focused on them.

They got stopped mid-way, as they needed to alight from their horses before approaching.

“Hurry, you damn village bums!”

It was the knight’s captain, throwing a fit as he was the one holding on to the steeds.

Also, the priests and mages were out of breath, sweating like pigs from just standing there. Yet they continued on with their task.

“Master, maybe we should turn back.”

Hallor can now feel the immense pressure coming from the cargo.

From the pungent air assaulting their nose and mouth. To the skin crawling sensation it sent the closer they got. It was making each step heavier, making their knees trembled.

“Its already too late for that.”

With a wave of his hand, Galford dismissed the thought.

With several guards surrounding them and a clear field from miles away. There was no chance of escape.

Also, he was certain they’d end up being forced to do the labor if they backed out.

“But what if we get cursed?”

All Hallor can do now was stay close to the older man. As the drumming in his chest increased. It was as if his heart wanted to jump out and just run away from there.

They cut their conversation short when one wizard collapse, prompting the others to scatter.

“What took you so long? Here, take this!”

The captain was keen to grab hold of them, pulling them towards the cart to give them the reins.

“Apologies. My wounds were getting to me.”

Was all Galford can say. Not wanting to admit or show their fear.

“From here on out, you two will drive the carriage.”

After saying that, the man immediately ran to his horse, making the poor beast dash to the nearest platoon where another group of priest were waiting.

They began throwing what seemed to be mystical water towards those who had fallen, while they blessed the others with their magics.

Both Galford and Hallor ended up staring at each other, swallowing deep as they nodded.

So, after taking a hard swallow to harden their resolve. They finally ride it, praying they’d live through it all.

It was the only thing they can do, as those before them did not do well. With some even ending up needing to be sent home, as their condition worsened.

Days passed, and they remained fine, unlike the soldiers who ended up falling just hours after exchanging.

Because of this, the captain ordered them to handle the carriage for the rest of the travel, as they seemed unaffected by it.

This somehow put a lot of them at ease, as even the commander had become complacent.

Yet even with that, none dared to get close to them. As the platoon stayed at a distant from them.

“Seems the seals are finally doing their job.”

Hallor heaved a sigh of relief, seeing how the rune chains glowed with such intensity it provided enough light and warmth for them in that chilly evening.

They camped in the forest, far from the soldiers, so they were on their own. Together with the ominous pulsing cart that continued to let out an eerie purplish glow.

“That or the curse is getting weaker.”

This was the thought that came to Galford’s mind, sensing the thing no longer threw that frightening hostility it had days ago.

The creeping dread got replace by a solace. As they now had this feeling of warmth all around them, even while being shrouded in that odd light.

“But it is still a week’s travel before we reach the village.”

Hallor took the piece of meat from the bonfire, munching it in one go.

After the reduction of the troops, it left them with a little more food. And thankfully, the captain of the guards considered it as extra payment, because nobody wished to take their place.

So the lad savored their given prize.

“That’s just how strong the power of the forbidden forest is. It’s not called the cursed lands for nothing.”

Galford gave a nod, before gulping the bottle of wine he had been keeping for sometime.

Since it was his turn to sleep, he wanted to drown himself in its spirits. As he’d been getting odd flashes of images inside his mind these past few days.

“Is it true that not even the gods have power over there?”

Hallor asks.

There was a sudden silence that came between them.

The old man remained staring into the flames, watching how it flicked, together with the popping sound of twigs.

The lad couldn’t help but wave a hand in front of him, frowning at realizing the geezer was in a daze.

“Master, are you all right?”

He ended up tapping the elder, worried because he’d been gazing at nothingness for the past few moments.

At that point, Galford finally snaps awake, shaking his head before gasping for air. His skin color was no pale, along with excessive sweating.

“Did you not hear that?”

He says, eyes wandering around while trembling.

An odd sound flew by, as if whispering. What got him riled up was the fact it sounded familiar.

“What?”

Before Hallor can even say another word, he ended up freezing. As a chill blew through his ears.

He was keen to grab his sword, swinging the blade to where he’d sense the noise came from. But there was nothing there, only darkness everywhere and the carriage.

Both men swallowed hard as they gave each other meaningful glances. Before directing their sights at the only thing there.

They looked around once more, checking for anything.

The soldiers from both front and back remained too far off.

Again, they gathered up the courage to move closer to the vehicle, all the while making sure they stayed close to each other.

Swords on hand, they began approaching it, as their curiosity was eating at them on where the noise could have come from.