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Cleo was right, there was someone to burn. She had taken a shortcut and met the caravan, riding through the night and through the dark oak forest, on a horse that was probably stronger than the entire infrastructure of Docs kingdom. It had taken her two days.
They had caught someone that Doc had been looking for, they had caught Dinnerbone.
His name was such because Doc didn't know his actual name and the fool had insisted on being called “Ditren Baron” so Doc mocked him with the name Dinnerbone. He was the reason for Doc's extensive training and crippling fear of being unprepared.
When he was only 15, Doc had defied his fathers order and taken a mule, riding off into the night with no one, not even Beef at his side. He traveled west, to the border of his kingdom and Xisumas.
The Baron was a smart bastard, he roped Doc into his scheme. Seduced him with the talk of freedom and then held him for ransom. When Doc caught on, it was too late. He attempted to escape, but was once again caught, the baron threatened to cut him into pieces and send him home bit by bit. He ended up dislocating Docs left shoulder and breaking his wrist in two spots. Docs right eye also suffered, a punishment for not being complacent as the baron wished. His eye healed. Now the lense of his eye was just scarred, his vision slightly blurry on one side.
Doc sat up, Etho slipping off his side. Cleo just impatiently tapped her foot, axe swinging idly at her side.
“Come on! We can get there in four days through the forest and sail instead of taking your stupid caravan!” Cleo all but ripped the blankets off of Doc and Etho, while Bdubs threw himself backwards, hiding behind where they had stacked all their packs. In his defense, Cleo was very intimidating. “Whos this?”
“Uh, Cleo, this is my husband, Etho. And why would we sail when we have good solid ground to walk on?” Etho pushed himself up, swaying slightly. He squinted aggressively at Cleo.
“You're tall.”
“Um, yeah. I am?”
“Hmm, really tall.”
“Whats wrong with him?”
“Hes a bit sick, um, it kinda came out of nowhere but he should be better by morning.” Etho shuffled closer to Doc, again, leaning against him, he completely ignored Cleo in favor of rolling closer to Doc.
“We have to get going Doc.”
Doc sighed, slinging an arm around Etho shoulders. “Do you want to leave now?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, Bdubs, how can we ride with him?”
“Uh, give him the thing i mixed up, with water Doc- and then some soft root just before we saddle up, and he’ll ride with you Doc, i don't trust him riding Giddy on his own when he's delirious.”
“Okay, okay, can you find Beef? Ill start packing things up.”
“Ugh, yeah sure.” Bdubs leaves the tent, and Doc gently pushes Etho to the side. He stands up with a stretch, cracking his back and rolling his shoulders, handing Etho the mixture and a water bottle and with a sigh, he kneels and begins to pack the few things still left outside of the bags. Etho sat up, watching Doc with half lidded eyes. Etho grabbed the blanket around him, scooping them closer to himself in some form of an nest.
Cleo kneeled by Etho, and he looked up at her blankly. “You are tiny.”
“Hes just like that, and normally he talks a lot more.” Etho stared at Cleo.
“How sick is he?”
“Dunno, Bdubs said he gets loopy on any type of medicine though.”
Cleo and Doc packed up everything except the blanket Etho had shrouded himself with. They saddled up the horses just as Beef and Bdubs came back to the tent.
“So how was Wels?”
“I’ll kill you.”
Doc just shrugged as he pulled a saddle onto Giddy, his own stallion was left unsaddled but given the saddle bags. Within a few moments, They were all saddled up and Beef was strapping the tent onto his saddle. Doc pulled Etho up onto Giddy, setting the smaller in front of him. Etho was practically asleep, again. He nestled back against Doc and Doc just pulled the blanket higher over Ethos shoulders.
“You, uh, kid,” Doc shuffled Giddy to face the watch boy who’d been in charge of their horses, “send word to the king- I mean, The royal Claster, that Cleo and I are taking a shortcut and we’ll meet him at the kingdom.”
“As you say sir.” Doc grimaces as the boy scurries off. He didn’t like that title, he didn’t like any title actually. He hated most things to do with being royal, but the food was a plus. He chose some great cooks.
Bdubs nickered softly and Lulu started off, Beef and Doc following close behind, Cleo rode up to Bdubs side, for some reason, but Doc saw how quickly Bdubs got defensive and Doc assumes she was cracking jokes about his height. He didn’t seem to be bothered too much though, Doc hoped they would get along. Or maybe not, two chaotic forces conjoining might be a terrible thing for his sanity.
They rode quietly and quickly. Doc held onto Etho like a life line. The forest irked him. His brothers had told him stories of the forest, that there were dark things in there. Dark evil things. Warped versions of humans.
They rode for hours, and mentions of those beasts never left Docs mind.
“W’ere we goin’?” Etho mumbled, lolling his head back on Docs shoulder. Doc wrapped his arm around him a bit tighter, something bit at him, made him anxious and restless.
“Taking a shortcut, we ride for a day and a half? Maybe less, and then take sail over the Altic Sea, cut off about 3 days.”
“Hmmm.” Etho closed his eyes, probably going back to sleep. The sun was barely up so it was justified. Etho was warm against his chest and the air was cold, stagnant in the broken trees. He could hear the wind, up above the canopy, brushing the leaves back and forth. They were about a third way through the forest, it looked like they’d have to camp in the forest at this rate.
Something moved behind Doc, he stilled Giddy and turned to look. The trees blocked out most light. But he saw it. Gleaming eyes, pale skin. A body shrouded in red feathers. A human with wings like a cardinal.
Doc started at it. And it stared at him. It looked so human. But it wasn’t. It’s wings folded against its sides, a long red feather tail brushed the ground. It’s legs were longer and it’s bends more defined, thinner, shrouded in feathers. It’s feet were as a birds. But bigger, claws sharper. It’s arms were so human, and it’s face, it’s face, it was so human looking. And Doc couldn’t ever think of such a thing expiating naturally, this had to be witchcraft.
Doc was so entranced looking at it, he didn’t notice the rest of the party turning back, but he did notice Etho jumping off the horse.
Doc reached for him but his husband jumped away, hands out stretched as he reached for the bird human.
“Xelqua!!” Etho reached but bird jumped back, trilling at him.
“Xelqua, please, please it’s me, it’s your brother.”
It trilled again, cocking it’s head.
“Come on, please, it’s me!”
Then, with a chirp, “Eeeeeetho!”
And Etho looked so happy.
“Yes yes! Thats me! It’s me! Etho!”
The bird hopped forward, stepping carefully. It nudged Etho.
“Xelqua?”
It shook its head. “Was, now Grian.” Its voice was chirpy and short.
“Grian?”
“Grian.” The bird confirmed, nudging at Etho again.
“Etho,” Bdubs slipped off his horse, edging closer to Etho and Grian. At the sight of the encroaching Bdubs, Grian ahead shot up twittering loudly beofre jumping and taking off, he glanced back at Etho.
“See you soon Eeeeetho!” And he disappeared into the trees.
“Etho,” Doc stared at him from atop Giddy, “what the fuck.”