Chapter Eight

The king's messenger galloped through the small, dimly lit village of Esmon, blowing a horn as he rode, calling them together. Men, women, and children trickled out of their homes and gathered around him, anticipating the news he brought. Mido and Ian ventured out of the tavern after an evening of drinking to see what the commotion was.

"There has been an attack on Alryn," the messenger shouted as he pulled his steed to a halt. The chestnut horse snorted and pawed at the ground. "One of Scarletta's witches got away and is on the loose. She could be anywhere. She could attack at any moment. King Sloan advises that everyone be on guard. He is sending his best men to keep post and to hunt her down, but be warned, she is fast and dangerous."

Citizens shouted and cried in panic and confusion as the messenger pulled his horse around and galloped to his next destination. Mido and Ian exchanged uneasy glances. William and Jon stood together in quiet concern for their home; their usual toothy grins and peppy personalities quieted in that moment. They looked to Mido and Ian for reassurance

"Scarletta means business," Ian said to his friend. "I don't think she plans on being quiet any longer."

Mido shook his head. "King Sloan's army doesn't stand a chance. This kingdom doesn't stand a chance."

"Not as long as her witches are out there, doing her dirty work."

"She must be weak if she isn't doing this herself."

Ian eyed his friend. "You think so?"

"If we could capture her witch, maybe it will weaken her and give us a chance."

"We'd be able to bring her down once and for all."

Mido nodded and smiled slyly. "C'mon," he said. "Let's get this thing."

Ian hesitated. "I dunno, Mido, don't you think you're being a little rash?"

"When haven't I been rash?"

"You have no chance against a witch."

"I've got a sword collecting dust and you have a ridiculous need to change me. Don't let me go out there alone. It'll be fun."

Ian rolled his eyes. "Yes," he muttered. "So much fun hunting powerful witches."

The two men turned to leave the panicked crowd when William's voice stopped them in their tracks and quieted the villagers.

"You're going to look for the witch?"

The villagers mumbled together as they turned their eyes to Mido.

"I don't think so." Maria's familiar voice boomed as she pushed her way through the crowd. She pointed a finger at Mido. "Don't be stupid Mido, ye 'ave nothin' to prove."

"He thinks it will be fun," Ian said to her.

"King Sloan will need all the help he can get."

"That's jest what ya fatha said, yanno."

Mido smiled. "Well, let's hope I don't end up like him, hm?"

"Not funny, Mido."

"Look, I'm not gonna sit around and wait for something to happen, and I don't think anyone here wants to go through that again."

Men stepped forward and nodded to Mido.

"We'll come, too," one of the men said.

"This is ridiculous," Maria muttered under her breath.

"I'm leaving at dawn," Mido informed them. He turned his back on the villagers and made his way towards the barn.

Many of the men – and even some of the women – hurried to their homes to ready themselves for the hunt. They assisted each other with the sharpening of their weapons; dull swords, rusted axes, and small knives were gathered from the dusty corners of their homes in hopes of never having to use them. They readied their horses, throwing saddles onto their backs and cinching up their saddle bags filled with resources for a long journey.

William and Jon trotted eagerly to Mido's side as he walked through the busy village, a wave of excitement rushing over them.

"We want to come," William said as they walked with him towards the stables.

Mido shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I don't think your mother and father would appreciate that."

"Sure they would," Jon chimed in. "I mean, we're nothing but trouble here. Out there, we could redeem ourselves. We'd be heroes." William nodded enthusiastically in an attempt to convince their role model.

Mido laughed sharply. "Unlikely."

"Unlikely? What's that supposed to mean?" Jon asked.

"You'd be more trouble out there for us."

"Oh, come on, now," William whined. "We're men. It's about time you guys start treating us like men."

Mido stopped and faced them. "Maybe you should start acting like men instead of immature boys."

"Oh, look who thinks he's all high and mighty," Jon mocked.

Mido entered the barn and gathered the mare from her patch of hay.

"You could use some young, quick guys like us," William added.

"The king would have to make us soldiers," Jon said to his friend.

"Ladies love a soldier." William and Jon exchanged excited glances, imagining their lives as heroes in the kingdom.

Mido sighed and turned to them. "You don't know what Scarletta is capable of."

"We're not children, Mido," William reminded him.

"Let us help."

"Ya not encouraging these young men, are ya now, Mido?" Maria stood in the doorway of the barn, her arms crossed across her chest. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Come on, Maria, you're not our mother," William said.

"Didja follow us here?" Jon accused.

"No boy goes followin' Mido through a chaotic village without some crazy idea goin' on in their heads. I knew ya both were up ta no good."

"Mido," they whined, turning away from Maria and looking to him for help. Mido threw his arms in the air in defense.

"They're men, Maria. If they want to help their kingdom, I can't stop them."

"Mido, yer a fool," she hissed. She turned and stormed out.

Mido eyed the young men carefully. "You better stop her," he said. "You know she's going right to your mothers."

He watched as the two young men hurried after Maria in an attempt to convince her to let them go. Mido patted his mare's nose and she snorted quietly. He saddled her quickly and found the old sword he left on the floor earlier that morning. He picked it up and turned it in his hands. It hadn't seen any action since his father held it so many years ago. He brought the sword to the back of the barn and went straight to work, honing its dull edges back to life. As he worked, he saw his father doing the same thing, so many years ago, in preparation for war. Standing just where Mido stood, he carefully worked the edges of the blade in hopes that they would meet a witch's neck.

Mido worked quietly, feeling an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. He turned his thoughts to the witch that ran loose in their kingdom. He had seen the witch's powers years ago when Esmon was first attacked, but surely Scarletta's pawns were stronger now, after all those years. He shivered as the memory of his father working in that same spot as he did came into his mind. Perhaps his father's thoughts wandered the same as Mido's did as they worked on the same blade before their departure. Mido saw himself battling with Librona's army, just as his father had done, face to face with the evil witch moments before it struck him, bringing him to his knees, just as it had done to his father.

He continued his work as his mind wandered, not hesitating at the thought of his possible death, face to face with a witch. It almost seemed like his destiny – a fate he must suffer just as his father had. Only this time, he had no family to mourn his death. No one to suffer in his absence. No son who faced life alone and fatherless. In fact, the thought reassured him. Whether he lived or died, it didn't matter, because he would have no one to abandon as his father had. He felt a sudden wave of anger towards his dead father, as if he made a selfish choice, not taking a moment to think of his own family.

But should he survive, there would surely be woman to admire his heroic actions. His bachelor lifestyle never disappointed him, despite Maria's attempt to guide him away from that life. "Ya jest afraid of havin' a family," she would say to him. "Things ah different, yanno."

His lips pulled into a crooked smile and looked outside in hopes of catching a glimpse of the caring woman, who had always been like an older sister; a stubborn, overbearing, older sister, who always felt the need to bring purpose into his life. Mido sighed, the threat of the witch that threatened their home lingering above him. He grew anxious to leave the village and join the kingdom on their hunt.

Mido examined the sword one last time in his hands, satisfied with it's sharp edges. He returned the weapon to its sheath and hoisted the weapon around him, fastening it securely around his waist. He patted his favorite dagger, secured on the other side of the sword; all that remained was readying his mare for their journey. He saddled the horse, tightening the cinch twice to ensure the saddle's hold, and packed the saddlebags with other odds and ends. He fastened the bridle over the mare's ears and smiled as she chomped at the steel bit in her mouth.

"It's been a while since we've left home," Mido said to his horse. He spent much of his youth galloping across the kingdom with his young sister with that same mare, only three years old, then. Many times Mido found himself clinging to her neck as she tried to throw her rider in a childish fit. She had rather run in the paddocks and eat her hay then stand quietly as they tried to teach her to do. She had never lost her spunk, but Mido was grateful to have survived that stage in their training. He hadn't dared to travel far from Esmon after Selene died. In fact, the only time he ever left the village was to help with their flock, herding them from their grazing, and even then, he felt an uneasy pull in his chest; a force calling him away from the comforts and safety of the village he grew up in.

Mido took the reins in hand as they stood alone inside the barn. He looked out beyond the village and to the distant horizon, mentally preparing himself for what waited.