Chapter 6

"Ohh.. My head hurts.." Complained Jeremy.
"Yeah well thatll happen if you get drunk kid." Retorted Oldfried.
It was a bright morning (a little too bright for Jeremy), the previous nights rain had left a damp but fresh smell in the air, which was a little chilly, in fact thought Jeremy bloody cold, looking down, at his pale skin he realised the reason for this.
"Err..Mr Priest, Sir... where are my clothes?" 

Oktar was standing by the Skloplje river, which ran from the Skloplje mountains picking up speed and size through the lower vallies, out into the Great Expanse (an ocean no-one had yet traversed, or indeed returned from, whilst attempting to). The river was wider and much faster than normal with all the recent rain fall, and the banks, though doing a valiant job of holding back the brown swirling liquid at the moment, threatened to burst at any time. Well I guess were not going to cross here.. thought Oktar to himself.

"Where are we?" Enquired the Druid.
"Kid, you ever gonna stop asking questions?" Oldfried asked, not really wanting an answer, he just wanted Jeremy to Shut the hell up!.
"Well maybe if someone round here gave me a few answers!"
"Well maybe if someone hadnt got drunk and thrown up all over their clothes before passing out, they wouldnt need answers! Now SHUT THE HELL UP!!"
Oktar returned. "Well, theres no way to cross here." He announced, "we can either try going down river, and hope some of the bridges are still standing (though I doubt it), or we can take our chances and keep going towards the mountains."
"I suppose wed better keep going up, well lose too much time going down river" Oldfried said.
"Any chance the White wonder could sort something out for us?" Oktar enquired with a smirk.
"You know he dont work like that" Oldfried said bitterly. This brought a smile to Oktars thin lips, "Just a thought."
"Heres your clothes, Druid." Oktar threw a pile of clothes to Jeremy, "And next time I aint the laundry service."
"Theyre still damp." moaned Jeremy. "Should have taken my advice at the precipice Oktar." Oldfried grinned.

Oldfried had managed to snare a couple of small furry creatures earlier that morning, and has skillfully skinned, gutted and was currently cooking them over the fire for breakfast. Jeremy was putting on his Druids robes (still damp) when he called them to eat. "OK, grubs up, and Kid, one moan outta you, and Im gonna use my scythe to cut you down to normal size... get me?" Jeremy did. They ate, 

Oktar broke the silence, "OK, were decided to go up river, taking our chances that well be able to cross. Still agree the destination?" 
"Not got a lot of choice." Replied Oldfried, "Its the last known place She was at.., isnt it?" he continued, glancing at Oktar to see if he got any kind of silent response from Oktar. Oktar sat impassive, idly picking at his food, "Well, its where I saw her last..", "Hmmm.." replied Oldfried, "not really the same thing, is it..?".
Jeremy watched the exchange closely. It appeared to him, that the two old guys were not telling each other everything they knew, and were telling him, even less.

Oldfried covered the fire over with damp earth, and stood, grabbing his scythe, "Right. Lets get moving."
"Is anyone going to tell me where were going?" Asked Jeremy as he stood.

"NO !"


Copyright © 2005 Mark Wilson