[EO]Arc#DY#s Children-Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Preparations are well underway your Majesty. Also, I thought you would like to know that the pair have moved out of the shield zone, although they've yet to make contact. It might be due to the effect of the area that they're currently unable to even attempt to communicate with us." The elder mage stopped, looking at Queen who sat gazing out of the window.
"I still think we're missing something important, our emissaries to the Southern Empire still haven't reported back and I find it hard to keep these two events unconnected. The trouble is the pieces don't fit the puzzle." She sighed, "I just hope that they manage to find something, at least we know then what we're up against."

The pair ran out of the tower, and with Armenthos carrying the girl on his back, continued till they were out of sight of the place. Resting in a small break in the forest, the rays of the distance moon casting it's shadows across the ground, the set up camp with, Armenthos taking first watch, waking Aurille up later on to swap.  Each kept a close eye on the child who was sleeping curled up.  Upon the rising of the sun, they packed up their little camp, Armenthos once again carrying the girl. As the pair made their way through the forest, they began to hear someone arguing.  From behind a rocky outgrowth, a man appeared, his long purple hair mirroring the colour of his eyes, he looked as though he was only in his mid twenties. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Aurille, his face splitting into a wide grin.
"Seems to me that we've got a gift here"
"I agree, but strange it is to walk these paths"
Aurille stared at the man who seemed to be talking to himself. Gift? She wondered what he was talking about, and carefully placed her hand closer to her sword.
"Aye, I agree with you there, especially walking these paths alone"
"Especially when you don't know what's out there"
He clearly seemed mad, Aurille thought, not only was he talking to himself he couldn't see Armenthos standing to the side of her holding the child. Looking at Armenthos to see his reaction and seeing her gaze he quietly razed a finger to his mouth, all the while muttering under his breath, sending thin whips of mist that circled him.  With this she realized that it wasn't that Armenthos wasn't there, he was just simply hiding himself and the girl from the view of the man.
"I think it's time to have something to eat, I haven't been able to since all those children"
"I can still hear their screams as they begged for mercy."
Both of them looked shocked at his words, it seems that this may have been one of the people responsible for the deaths of the children. Drawing her sword she shifted her poise ready to strike, but before she could the man sprang forwards attacking her with a jagged knife, hidden beneath his mud strained clothes. Side stepping, Aurille avoided most of the attack, but the knife caught on her arm causing her to wince in pain as the blood spilled out. Blurring she appeared behind him and for a moment there was a stunned silence as his arm wielding the dagger was cleanly carved off.
"Oh, it looks like this ones got a bit of a sting, no matter though"
"After all, prey which doesn't fight back is boring"
He grinned at Aurille who could only stand in amazement as his arm regenerated.

To be continued...