Chapter 3, (Not yet named.)

Chapter 31

“I’m sorry,” said Dineth while she hugged the lady. “I know how it feels to loose a loved one. It hurts so much, and a possibility of loosing another must be horrifying,” Dineth said in her most comforting voice. 2

After many hours, men started to come back. But some did not, including the lady’s son.  The horn blew and the sound of horse’s hooves filled the air. The drums and the horns faded away as the group disappeared beyond the hills. As if nothing happened, the peasants went back to their jobs, the guard went back to his post, the knights went back to their duties, and Thain and Dineth Began wandering around the market again. 3

There was a loud thump. The watchmen were lowering the draw bridge again. The Shadains rode in. They got off their horses and walked over to Thain and Dineth.4

“We leave when sun rises,” Kada told them. 5

Thain nodded and sat down. The Shadains walked around to look for something to eat. Dineth sat down next to Thain,6

“Now, we are at the castle. It is safe, what land are you from?” she asked.  7

Thain took a deep breath. 8

“No excuses!” Dineth told him.9

“I know” Thain sighed. “I come from the land of Falco,”10

“Falco?”  Asked Dineth “Now how was that so hard to tell me?”11

“The land was thought to have been destroyed long ago, there for we mustn’t tell anyone,” said Thain.12

“But I do not understand, why do you have to keep a secret?” she asked.13

“Please princess…It is getting dark, Lets go to the inn and see if we can get you a room,” Thain suggested.14

“Oh alright,” agreed Dineth.15

The morning came at last. The bright pink sun rose over the mountains. The castle returned to its normal shade of white. The kingdom began to wake up, birds sang, The sounds of people working filled the air. 16

Dineth sat up in bed, she stretched and gave a yawn. Slowly, she got out of bed and slipped on her dress. All of a sudden she realized what time it was. She scurried out the door, untied her horse from a post, and ran to the draw bridge.17

The Shadains and Thain were waiting for her. The watchmen let down the bridge and pulled up the heavy portcullis. Kada lifted his hand up.18

“Henaca!” he said in his deep scruffy voice. 19

Everyone started riding out of the kingdom. It was not long before the mighty castle was out of sight.20

“Now that the goblins are dead, could you tell me about the land of Falco?” asked Dineth.21

“The Shadains only killed a small group of them, I am sorry but You’re going to have to wait,” he replied.22

“Very well, keep your secrets,” Dineth laughed.23

The Shadains were tossing a bota around. They tossed it to one another, each drank from it. They laughed and talked to one another in their language. They were so at ease when they rode their horses that you would think they were born with those skills. One of the Shadains started laughing at something another one said, his face turned red from laughing so hard. Soon, all of the Shadains were laughing and pushing that started the laughing fit.24

“They sure have fun!” Dineth said to herself.25

“Well, they are with each other all the time” Thain answered.26

“That is very true. I remember when I was in my learning class with my cousins. We would spend all day with out teacher. Soon we would ignore everything except out discussions, even when mother and father walked in. One time our teacher didn’t even notice my parents standing there till he dismissed us.” Dineth said. 27

She sighed then smiled.28

“Were you ever in a learning class, Thain?” she asked.29

“Sort of, I was an apprentice, so I did learn things, just not the same things you did.” He told her.30

“What did you learn?” she asked.31

“I was the apprentice of a trapper,” he told her.32

“A trapper? That’s fascinating!” she said to herself.33

Thain heard something in the forest that they were riding by. He looked into the darkness of the shady, mossy, cold trees. He could see no movement. Thain watched the forest for a while then decided that it was an animal of some kind. He turned to Dineth and said,34

“Being a trapper is a hard job, you need to be clever and quick, and of course, you need to have lots and lots of training.”35

“You speak of catching animals like it is as important as being a knight,” Dineth laughed.36

“Ah, but I never said I was an animal trapper, did I?” Thain asked with a grin.37

“You are impossible!” Dineth said laughing.38

Thain gave a slight chuckle and turned his attention back to the forest. 39

The Shadains had stopped for lunch, so Thain and Dineth rode over to them. Thain helped Dineth off her horse and led her to the Shadains. They gave her food and invited her to sit with them.40

“I’m going to get some uh… fire wood,” said Thain while looking into the forest.41

He grabbed sword and went in. Dineth watched Thain walk through the forest. She watched until she could not see him. One of the Shadains walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. He was tall and had a scruffy face like the other Shadains. He has brown eyes and light brown hair. He handed her a bota.42

“Water,” he said.43

Dineth took the bota and drank some water. She smiled and handed it back to him.44

“Thank you,” she replied.45

The Shadain nodded and said something in his language.46

Thain crept through the forest.  He heard a crackle of twigs in front of him. Quickly he climbed up a tree and looked around. There in a clearing near him he could see a goblin standing there. It looked back and forth. The goblin could smell an unfamiliar smell in the air. It drew out its sword and started walking in Thain’s direction. 47

© Lauren Carpenter 200548

My Hidden Life49