Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( Pt 1 ) Friend or Foe

Varden took his hand from Cinnamon's mouth, as she looked around, he put his finger to his lips, telling her to shh! Listening he tried to hear what the two riders were saying, but they were too far away, even though the forest was quiet.

Peeking up from out of the thicket, Varden tried to see what was going on. The two men stared in the direction of the girl and boy, Varden quickly went down again.

“Did they see you?” whispered Cinnamon, very scared.

“No...I don't think so.” replied Varden, nervous as well.

The two men eventually rode off and Varden felt they could relax once more. “I think I'd better see you home, I don't want anything to happen to you and it's late.” Varden took Cinnamon's hand and led her back down to the river, and along the path that led to her cabin.

As they walked they spoke of Cinnamon's plan. “I will make up two lots of the cider brew, hopefully Will can get the guards drunk enough, for us to free Dawson.”

“We'd better not take too long,” said Varden. “Cause that Mr Dawson is not well, he has to take some kind of tablets, to keep him alive.”

Cinnamon looked at Varden confused. “What are tablets? I've never heard of such things.”

“Neither had I until I met Mr Dawson,” replied Varden, “but they're some kind of white substance that stops him dying, so you can see it's urgent we free him soon.”

Varden put his hand on Cinnamon's shoulder. “I'm counting on you girl...don't let me down.”

“It all depends on whether I can persuade Will to cooperate, but I'll do my best. I'll see you tomorrow after work...okay?”

There wasn't much more Varden could say, so when they neared Cinnamon's cabin, they said their farewells.

Varden moved through the fog, back down to the river, he was feeling restless. He realised he was really hungry and also needed a tree to sleep in. His belly rumbled as he began to undress, no amount of cold weather could refrain him from diving for some fish, his life depended on it.

Finding a large stick, that was luckily pointed at one end, he moved slowly down the bank, clutching himself tight, shivering, goosebumps appeared all over his skin, tightening his flesh, he could hardly breathe, it was so cold. With one great intake of breath, he jumped in the freezing water, going under, then bobbing back up for air, the stick still in his hand.

Taking another deep intake of breath, he dived back down under, the fish were plentiful as he swam around. One fish was speared, then another and another. When Varden came up for air, he was pleased. But as his eyes opened, shaking his hair, he peered up at the bank where his clothes lay, and had a shock, the two riders were standing with their horses. Varden quickly swam to the edge of the bank and climbed out.

“Hey boy...isn't it a bit late for swimming and diving?”

Varden...shaking with cold and frightened, but not wanting to show his fear replied. I...I'm just diving for food, just leave me alone and I'll be on my way.”

“Shouldn't you be at home at this time of night?” replied one of the men. “Where's your family?”

Varden didn't recognise the two riders, he knew most of the men who worked the forest, maybe he thought, 'they might be ship builders.' he didn't want to be kidnapped again.

Putting the fish down, he started to get dressed, the clothes clung to his wet skin.

“Shouldn't you dry off, before getting dressed? You'll get ill,” said one of the riders. “Stay a moment...I want to ask you a question. We're looking for a couple that moved down here recently, would you know of them?”

Varden felt uncomfortable and was desperate to get away.

“Sorry...don't know any new people. Look I've got to find somewhere to sleep the night.” He was agitated and turned to walk away, his fish in hand.

But the two riders would not leave it there, climbing on their horses they trotted off after the boy. As they got closer to him, one of the riders spoke.

“Hey...listen...I'll tell you what, we're making camp in the forest tonight, we have a couple of rabbits, how about staying with us? We promise you can leave whenever you want, but you look like you could do with a decent meal, with your fish and our rabbits, we can feast tonight...what do you think?”

Varden was tempted, but was still unsure of the men. “I don't really know if I can trust you, there are a lot of bad men around, I don't want to be captured again.”

The two riders looked at one another, then turned to the boy. “Look...my names Ben and this is Jay, we have been travelling down here for four days now, all we want is to find Jay's parents, they were brought here recently...their names are Evelyne and Nathen, have you heard of them?”

Varden suddenly felt more at ease. “No I ain't heard of them, but then I've been trapped in an underground cave. I managed to escape, but it's a long story.”

“Well then boy...that's even more reason to stay the night with us, you can explain what happened to you...perhaps we can be of some help,” said Ben.

The boy decided Ben and Jay seemed okay, so he resolved to putting his trust in the two men, it was better than being alone. “Me name's Varden and I'm starving, so if you can share your rabbit, then I'll share my fish. But we need to get further back into the forest, it's too dangerous here.”

Ben looked at Jay and agreed. “Sounds like a good plan to me. Quick climb up on the back of my horse and we'll be away.”

Varden had never been on a horse before, he took the man's hand, as Ben pulled him up. “Hey...up! That 's it...now are you comfortable Varden.”

“Yeah!” said the boy, feeling nervous, never having been on a horse before.

Ben smiled. “Right we'll be off. By the way, this is Bracken my horse, and Jay's is called Rainbow.”

Varden had never met two finer horses and clung onto Ben. As the fog became even thicker, they trotted off, further into the forest.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( Pt 2 ) Fear of the Dark! | ABCtales