The gap between Waterwell and Garn’s camp was at least five days walk, although all Arlandra knew was that he was heading for the Eldar Forest, which wasn’t exactly the nicest of places. The entire edge of the forest was lined with Surian lumber workers and great machines of industrial destruction. Day after day they had at the forest, expecting it to never end and just go on forever. But the machines weren’t at all the real monsters, because beyond the tree line there dwelled much more revolting beasts.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhVsl8S7Yh 維尼

The orcs of the Eldar Forest were massive, powerful creatures that were made of muscle and had a taste for blood. Much like the Djann, really – they could never stop fighting. They loved it. Perhaps the Surians got what they deserved when the orcs raided their lumber camps, destroyed their machines and killed their workmen. One should never dwell too far into the Forest, Arlandra’s masters had told him, or else who knows what you might find.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Mu4CKqiv 維尼

As they left Waterwell and the Sandra River behind them, they first passed through the shining red poppy fields. Arlandra thought of his dagger, and remembered that only two nights before he had taken the poppy from here that was meant for Juliet. He looked over the fields and saw how they sun shined off every red petal. He found peace here. This was his sanctuary, the only place in Noveria where he felt he could belong to something. Then he remembered that Juliet was with him. She was in his sanctuary.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡolPHiNWmSY 維尼

He looked at her – not knowing a thing about her – standing there with the poppies stretching over the horizon behind her. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. He had been so focused on tracking her down, and then finding Garn, that he realised he was beginning to miss details.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgFZ4jRRGb 維尼

The most dazzling thing about Juliet’s appearance was her hair. Arlandra had never seen anything like it before, not even in Taelliwey. Her soft dark hair flowed over her shoulders like a river where waves curled up at the end. A single streak of light rested over her left eye, past her cheek, and over her chest. She had narrow cheeks and a small nose but her eyes were bright and full. They gleamed like the poppy petals around them as she stared over the fields, admiring the sun.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHkPM5fRXR 維尼

Arlandra realised that it hurt for him to look at her. He found a pain deep inside, like a dagger of guilt driven deep into his heart. He would have killed, no, murdered this woman who was so full of life. He felt lost. Images of the masters flashed before his eyes and he suddenly remembered what it meant to belong to The Order. His purpose was to protect. Had he really strayed so far? I don’t belong anymore.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr23NBB30a 維尼

Juliet was kind, he saw that, and whatever her reasons her hating Garn, her cause was just. It was a long time ago when Arlandra had a purpose, a cause to fight for. The assassins took him in, gave him life, and asked only that he would take lives in return. By learning how to kill the right people, Arlandra was able to protect what was good in humanity. Since The Order fell Arlandra had been without purpose. Was this what he was meant to do?8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F3xKTu8xB 維尼

They came to a hill among the sea of poppies. From here the wind picked up and carried through the flowers, making them dance and sway this way and that. Arlandra came up behind Juliet as she took it all in. “It’s beautiful,” she said, almost a whisper.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsXXTJyo32 維尼

Each flower represented a life, and there was a vast amount of life here. “We should keep moving.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sW28S4Xef 維尼

By sundown they had reached the end of the poppy fields. Arlandra’s legs were moist up to the knee and scented with the blood of the poppies. He knew that the scent would carry with him for days. They would be in Riftsire by noon the next day. He looked back one last time over the glowing fields. “Until next time,” he said – if only to himself.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB1dX4glZm 維尼

He awoke the next day to the unnerving prickle of a scorpion – the size of his hand – creeping curiously across his right shoulder. At the sight of the creature so close to his face, Arlandra cried out anxiously and swiped it away. As the creature landed and rolled on the pale-green grass, the assassin reached for his dagger and drove the blade hard into the black crustacean’s back. Half driven into the grass, the scorpion’s hairy legs quivered and its massive front claws clamped open and shut until eventually it died.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LnX57NgKX 維尼

He hated scorpions. They reminded him too much of assassins. Both were – to the untrained eye – seemingly cruel and hateful creatures. Juliet awoke rather suddenly at the sound of Arlandra’s cry. She looked around sharply. “What?” she shouted. “What is it?” She saw Arlandra’s dagger and the dead scorpion, and then noticed Arlandra’s chest rise and fall dramatically as he breathed.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNcitHy7nZ 維尼

He looked away from the dagger. “I hate scorpions,” he breathed.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKatIuQ2wx 維尼

It didn’t take long for them to gather their things. Before they continued from their camp, upon awakening, Juliet noticed a thin piece of rope that had been tied to her ankle. Using her knife – a fine tool with a clean single edged blade and a handle of bronze and jastbury wood – she cut the leash from her ankle and lifted the string into the air, shooting a challenging look at Arlandra.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VCK04Z7kR 維尼

He was defensive to say the least. “I needed to know you wouldn’t run off,” he scowled.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40lw5ClciA 維尼

They walked easily for the rest of the morning through a flat meadow of grass that was fresh and green in some parts and the colour of old lemons in others. The smell of water was thick in the air. By noon that day Arlandra and Juliet had reached Riftsire, but their stay would only be short.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6C8IGx1Qf 維尼

Arlandra walked past the general store and glanced up at the mill, standing idly with the river by its side. He closed his eyes and in a flash, saw himself standing at the top window, with a body hanging by the neck beneath him. Arlen the farmer-man was his name, and Arlandra had never even thought of him since. He blinked the thought away and made for the general store.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnZ5wQi9LQ 維尼

It was stocky inside. A stout bearded man with a pipe stood behind the counter. Arlandra was quick to buy the supplies that he and Juliet needed for the next few days – food, water, weapons, and so on.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT53chUKnC 維尼

Next, Arlandra led Juliet to the stables so that he could retrieve his horse. Some time ago he had paid a stable boy to keep a horse ready for him, just in case he needed it. The shy stable boy led the horse out by the reigns and handed the horse to Arlandra. After patting the horse on the snout, and feeding him an apple, Arlandra mounted. “This is Fox,” he told Juliet, who was still standing on the ground.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ShuZ2I7qk 維尼

“Where’s my horse?”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4rMNTxOsa 維尼

“Do you think I keep a spare?” he said rhetorically. “Either buy yourself a horse or ride with me, or you could always run there.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb1osWXdRx 維尼

Juliet shook her head in defeat and climbed up behind Arlandra. Later, the assassin made arrangements for a special saddle so that Juliet could ride more comfortably. They made their way out of the town and soon Juliet directed Arlandra to a dull old shack on the edge of the flat Taegan Valley. She needed to fetch something and she insisted that she go in alone, but Arlandra was too cautious to let that happen. Juliet merely frowned and, rolling her eyes, she let it be.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VBp7uwd9R 維尼

The inside of the small shack was surprisingly tidy. There were deer, wolf, and bear pelts covering the floor and tables, most likely from the Eldar Forest. A great majestic elk’s head was mounted above the only door. There were other things, too. Strange things. A table was loaded with vials, beakers and flasks. There were viewing glasses and burners, and mixes of herbs and other ingredients.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrKsnbpYx2 維尼

Arlandra became concerned. “Where exactly are we?”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CjFtJ5Rzx 維尼

“Don’t ask,” Juliet replied, but in response to Arlandra’s expression she said, “someone’s place – a friend of mine. She has something that we need.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQzp9nf3bh 維尼

“Which is?”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxveuJf00a 維尼

Juliet was looking around the place. She was opening containers and lifting pieces of cloth, hoping to find something. Eventually she came out with a cotton bag filled with something heavy, and from it she pulled out a device. It was something that Arlandra had never seen before. In Juliet’s hand was a cylinder shaped object – it looked heavy and was deep bronze in colour. The entire thing was encased with a shell carved of great and intricate design.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFOiNfnpDJ 維尼

He stared at the object. “What is it?”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdpu0Rmpjn 維尼

“It’s supposed to stop Garn’s machines from working,” she explained. “I’m not entirely sure how.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡqONMTKcuLb 維尼

“Couldn’t we just use dynamite?”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsDSCIT7YH 維尼

“This is supposed to be better.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTM7uXRtEs 維尼

Arlandra had kept a few sticks of dynamite anyway, just in case. He and Juliet returned to Fox and they rode fast along the flat green valley until the sun fell and the stars and moon shined bright above them. The valley was empty tonight, and silent, save for an uproar of crickets and the sound of Fox grazing behind them.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhCWF6Ad9c 維尼

They stopped for the night, dismounted from their horse, and set about making a fire – which was reasonably difficult when there were no trees in the Taegan Valley. Arlandra had come prepared, however, and he poured a liquid from a flask in a circle over the grass before striking a match. The fire circle went up like a ghost – burning hot and blue and then transforming to a pale orange colour. It was remarkable. The fire needed no tinder, nor fuel, and yet it continued to burn.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kjLw9FG6F 維尼

“What is that?” Juliet asked, looking at the bottle in Arlandra’s hand.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOB5zgumBt 維尼

Arlandra smiled and took a gulp from the remainder of the bottle. “Liquid fire,” he said, “it’s good for drinking, too – interesting stuff. I brought it during my last visit in Taelliwey, from a merchant who came over the great sea.”8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqW0We2nYJ 維尼

They ate stewed meat and herbs, and then berries afterwards. With partially full bellies and sore backs from riding they slept easy around the false fire.8964 copyright protection628ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O4jZ8fxBL 維尼

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