CHAPTER TWENTY

We arrived at the camp, and it was chaotic.

Evelinde, always stay close to me, said Cleon as we walk towards a group of people.

My prince, they all greeted in unison with a bow when they saw us approach.

Thaddeus, what's going on?

My prince we have no idea, the tents over there is where the infected are currently lying, said Thaddeus pointing towards some tents not too far from where we are standing, that has been drawn together to look more like a canopy.

And they've been no improvement?

Nothing my prince, in fact the rest of us woke up this morning with what we can only describe as a fever that's why the entire camp is like this.

You all have a fever, including you?

Yes my prince, said Thaddeus letting out a little cough.

My prince, nooooooo; said Thaddeus moving backwards as Cleon tried to touch his head.

My prince it might be contagious, you can't fall sick too.

It's fine Thaddeus, just be still.

Cleon reached out and touch him, and after a while turned to the others who have already gathered around us.

I will prepare a soup using some herbs i came with, divide yourself into groups, get me fresh and clean water, get more woods and make sure all the pans and pots and utensils are all clean. Make this place livable the entire place is a mess.

My prince they all chorused as they all got busy with the instruction given to them.

Mathias, oversee them. Evelinde and i will go take a look at the sick ones.

My prince, bowed Mathias as he left.

Come Evelinde, Cleon said as we walk towards the tent.

They don't seem to fear you?

That's because they don't.

Why?

We've fought so many battles and gone on missions together that now they don't actually mind. They are wary of me true, but not afraid.

So they are like your fellow men in arms?

You can say that, but they are also my men i command them in battle.

What! you have your own men?

As crazy as it is, i actually do.

But how, i mean this doesn't make sense. I can't believe your father actually allowed you have your own men, I said as we came to a stop at the entrance of the tent.

My father said my combat skills is best use in defending Aegalia so he gave me my own soldiers to command and right now Evelinde these soldiers are going through something strange.

Cleon opened the tent and we found all the afflicted sleeping, no one is moving.

Are they all dead, I whispered.

I don't think so, said Cleon as he left me standing at the entrance while he walk the entire tent looking at the soldiers.

What could possibly be the cause of this?

In the dimly lit tent, Cleon's eyes widened with concern as he surveyed the scene before him. The soldiers, once strong and valiant, now lay sprawled upon the cold floor, their bodies contorted in silent agony. Boils marred their skin, angry and inflamed, evidence of a sinister magic at work.

This is the work of dark magic Evelinde.

Dark magic, who would have done such a thing and why the soldiers?

I don't know, it is however very strange and i don't know if this is related to the uneasy feeling i've been having lately.

Can you help them?

I can, said Cleon as he looked at me.

Closing his eyes, Cleon started an incantation. With each syllable that passed his lips, the air around him crackled with energy.

As Cleon uttered the ancient words of the incantation, i felt a shiver race down my spine, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. The air seemed to crackle with energy.

I watched in awe as tendrils of shimmering light coalesced around Cleon's outstretched hands, weaving a delicate web of power that danced upon the air. With each movement, the light grew brighter, casting its radiant glow upon the soldiers lying motionless.

And then, with a final, resounding utterance, a wave of pure, radiant energy surged forth, bathing the soldiers in its cleansing light and banishing the darkness that had held them captive.

The boils that had marred the soldiers' skin began to recede, their twisted forms melting away to reveal unblemished flesh beneath.

They will sleep for a while, but they are fine now.

Wow, i haven't seen anything like what you just did, are you okay?

I'm fine, this is the work of dark magic but it's nothing i can't handle. However i don't know who might be responsible or anyone in Aegalia that might posess

such powers.

What about the sorcerers that spelled your cell?

I don't think it's them, this spell is too dark for them, unless maybe they are working with others i don't know of.

How will you explain you breaking the spell to the soldiers?

I don't need to, they all know of my ability to heal using my plants and herbs.

So what do we do now?

Let's go prepare the healing soup for the rest of them to protect them, we will stay here a few days just to monitor what's going on around here.

I followed Cleon out of the tent and back to the remaining soldiers. To my amazement everything that Cleon ask them to do has been dealt with and all the soldiers sat on the ground in a circle with a boiling pot in the middle. The messy and chaotic camp i witnessed earlier has undergone a transformation.

Go and sit next to Mathias, Cleon told me as he walk to the boiling pot. I went and sat down beside Mathias as i watch Cleon.

Cleon opened his bag of herbs and using a small mortar and pestle, started grounding and mixing different herbs together. When he was done he poured the mixture in the boiling water and added some seeds while muttering something.

When he was done he stood up and faced everyone.

This is the work of dark magic, the reason why and the person or persons behind it is something that i don't know. For now the spell has been broken and after taking this soup you all will be fine. I've attended to the others and they are fine now.

Thank you for your help my Prince the soldiers chorused with their heads bowed.

My prince.

Thaddeus.

My prince a day before this incident occured we saw two strange men looking at us from a distance not far from here, when we gave chase we couldn't find them not even a trace of them or where they might come from or gone to. If this is dark magic, i think it might be related to them.

By strange, what do you mean Thaddeus?

They were wearing long and pitch black cloaks with hood covering their faces, although they were standing afar, it is not that far that we couldn't have make their faces, yet we couldn't make out their faces. And i don't think they are from here my prince.

Thaddeus if what you are saying is true then we have to report to the king immediately the feast of enchantement is a few days away, we can't afford having any surprises.

We've already done that Mathias, immediately we couldn't find them i sent Festus to the king.

And what did my father say?

My prince, he said that the kingdom is highly fortified and that nothing gets past the barrier without alarming the palace and the high sorcerers. He said we should stop meddling in things that we have no understanding of.

Hmmmm, my father is right, granted Aegalia is highly fortified and protected and no magic being comes in through the barrier without me or my family noticing or even the high sorcerers.

What do you mean you and your family noticing Cleon, i asked.

As custodians of Aegalia the royal family's magic is linked to the barrier that protects Aegalia. If any magic creature or being that will endanger the kingdom attempts to enter or enter through the barrier we feel it. The high sorcerers responsible for fortyfying the barrier also feels it because they feed the barrier their magic when they fortify it. So i can understand why my father will not take this seriously.

Why do i feel that there is a but, i said.

Because Evelinde despite all this, they are many ways a magical crreature or being can enter the kingdom without passing the barrier.

How?

They can be summoned or use a portal.

My prince what are we to do?

Mathias make sure everyone drinks the brew, yourself included. I will be here for sometime, let's see if anything happens.

As you wish my prince.

I stood close to Cleon as the others started taking the brew Cleon made.

Cleon do you really think there is an outsider in Aegalia?

I don't know Evelinde, but it is possible. Whoever is responsible for this, is definitely not one of our own.