Jasper looked at his old friend, he could see underneath the slightly weathered face and the rough features, the man he once knew still existed.
“Its like old times” Jasper said, smiling with a glint in his eye.
“One of us hasn’t changed much” Zoeloft said laughing back at his friend.
“How do you know that she is this way?” Asked Jasper.
“I sent a scout this way, and I never heard from him again.”
“Sounds ominous.” Sarcasm dripping from Jasper’s mouth. “I’ve seen a lot of things Zoeloft, things that I would gladly forget.” The two men paused, the beauty of nature soaking in around them.
“Both of us” Zoeloft said. They rode off into the distance, approximately in the direction of Yelya. The sun rose higher into the sky as the day went on, the two men only stopping to let their steads rest. As the day turned slowly to night, Jasper thought he heard footsteps, perhaps not human, but it occurred to him that something was following them. Jasper whispered to Zoeloft.
“I don’t think we are alone.”
“Yes, I saw some movement to the right.” In a quick movement Jasper leaped off his horse and stretched out his hand into a fairly concealing bush. He pulled out a little boy; the boy was kicking and flailing his arms.
“Put me down, brute!”
“It has a sense of humour” chuckled Jasper.
“Watch out, it could be dangerous” laughed Zoeloft.
“He reminds me a bit of you when we were young” Jasper said.
“On the contrary, he much resembles you!” replied Zoeloft. The two men laughed for a while, almost forgetting that they had a new impostor.
“Excuse me sir! Please put me down!” Jasper looked down at the boy, curiosity appearing on his face.
“And what is your name young man?”
“My name is Raymond, but soon I shall be Sir Raymond!” The boy exclaimed. He looked to be about nine years old, long blond hair nearly reaching his shoulders and a surprisingly stern expression painted on his face.
“And how are you going to do that Sir Raymond?” Jasper asked.
“I’m not a knight yet! I am going to slay the dragon and rescue the princess!” Raymond said, confidently.
“Oh ya?” Zoeloft said, raising his eyebrows as he did.
“Well it seems like a noble quest young sir” Jasper replied, a smile forming on his face. “I think it is time for you to be off on your way to fight the monstrous dragons!”
“No! I have to stay with you! You shall lead me to my princess, we shall be the three noble knights.” He swept his hand across the horizon staring into the distance as he did.
“I’m afraid you are on your own kid.” Zoeloft responded. “You will only slow us down, and you do not know of the danger that lies ahead.” The little boy gritted his teeth.
“I can handle any danger we come across! Danger is the sandal on my foot!”
“Oh ya?” Zoeloft said a second time. “It is time for you to go little fella.”
“But you are my friends.” The boy said, his voice trailing off. Jasper turned to Zoeloft.
“He can ride with me, I don’t think he will be a nuisance, besides, if we come across anything, we can just leave him in charge of the horses; he’s harmless.”
“He is your responsibility then. The last thing I wanna deal with, is some kid.” Zoeloft turned to Raymond. “Alright kid, you can come with, but you have to be quiet, and if we come across any danger, you are in charge of the horses and are under no circumstances to help us, okay?” Raymond nodded, an enormous grin coming upon his face. Jasper promptly lifted Raymond up unto his horse.
“Hold unto me when we are riding.” Jasper smiled, then winked at the boy leaning over to say something so that Zoeloft did not hear.
“He is a little rough around the edges, but underneath, he is a good person. Don’t worry kid, I’ll take care of you.” The night had ended and the sun began to rise once more.
Raymond pointed up ahead. There in the distance was a cloud of smoke just rising above the tree line.
“It could be what we’re looking for” Jasper said. They continued to ride towards the heavy smoke. It rolled out of the trees, exaggerating the beams of sunlight that peeked through the vast forrest. As the three travelers approached the mysterious sight, the smoke surrounded them, encompassing them so that they were unable to see one another. The light shown through the smoke blinding the three that slowly moved into the forrest. The sheet of white that lay in front of Jasper did not frighten him, he drew his sword and continued to dismount, whispering to Raymond as he did.
“Do not move. I will return.” Zoeloft followed his friends lead, dismounting and tying the reigns to a nearby tree. The two men silently moved to the source, swords drawn, eyes wide. A large willow tree confronted them as they reached what appeared to be the center of the great smoke.
“Where is it?” Zoeloft asked his friend. Jasper tapped Zoeloft’s shoulder pointing upward. A great phoenix rose from a branch of the willow tree and into the day’s sky. Jasper shuddered.
“There is someone very powerful nearby.”
“What are you talking about?” Zoeloft asked.
“I fought in the Phoenix war.” Jasper replied. “It started because of that great bird.” Jasper began to back away sweat dripping down his face.
“We need to leave this place. There is power here that we alone cannot defeat.” Jasper said as he began to walk towards the horses.
“We must fight it? Can we not join this person?”
“You do not know of what you speak Zoeloft. They say he is the very mist that you breathe, that he does not have a body, and the trees whisper his name. This is dark magic.”Jasper said. Zoeloft grumbled as he followed his friend back to the horses. The smoke was beginning to clear as they reached Raymond.
“What did you see?” Asked Raymond, excitedly. The two men did not respond, but when Jasper mounted his horse he turned to the young boy.
“The less you know, the better.” Raymond was silent. Jasper and Zoeloft managed to find their way through the mystical forrest, being careful not to arouse anything. They did not speak, and all that could be heard was the quiet thud of the horses on the soft forrest floor.
As they reached the edge of the forrest, it opened up unto a wide escarpment; water poured off the enormous rock cliff that overhung an expansive forrest, bordered by mountains.
“That is spectacular.” Jasper said. He was not speaking to either of his companions, but needed to put voice to the grand sight. The sweeping landscape spoke to each individual differently. Zoeloft wandered out unto the giant rocks, and fell on his knees, tears forming in his eyes as the most painful moments in his life flashed before him. Raymond stayed on the horse, his eyes wide. Jasper stared at the water that disappeared over the edge, each droplet never to be seen by his eyes again.
“Where are we?” Jasper thought to himself. “What land is this?” Raymond leaped from his horse.
“I know this place, I’ve been here before!”
“You have?”
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