Free Champion by Jon Kiln Page B

will do everything he can to save it. Just leave messages where you have been instructed to, along the road. I will be following.”
    The man bowed his head but said nothing, his face still hidden in the hood.
    “That will be all,” the General dismissed him. “You will be given all that you need.”
    General Jeon was once again alone with his thoughts. He yearned for the day he and his son would be together again. Was it wrong for a father to love his child enough to do the things he did? Always he questioned himself, but having his son back was all that mattered.
    ***
    Artas was readying himself for an evening of hard work. He had agreed to help Daphne deliver some of her herbal medicines to the sick. She had explained that she only went to those who needed care through the night. Others cared for them during the day. These medicines had to be administered soon after they were concocted, otherwise they would lose their healing power.
    “I am a healer, Artas, that is what I do,” she had told him. “That is what I have always done. It is made harder now with the curfew.”
    “Why do you suppose the General has imposed this curfew?” he had asked her.
    “I see many strange things as I go about my business. I think that whatever they do on an evening, they do not want the people of Aelland to see. Sometimes, I see the witches leading strange apparitions, like the ones we saw the other night.” She shivered at the memory. “You saw them too, you know of what I say is true. They have the smell and look of death, yet they walk the streets of Aelland.”
    Artas shivered also at the memory of the columns of creatures that smelt of death. He hoped they did not come across them again on their nightly prowl.
    As soon as the sun set, Daphne packed the medicines into her bag and they set off into the night. Any thoughts of meeting the creatures was soon forgotten as the night was a glorious one. The moon was full and bright, and the sky alight with millions of stars. Under other circumstances he could think of no better setting to be out with such a pretty girl.
    As they arrived at each house, Artas waited outside. Daphne did not wish to startle the ill by explaining she now had a bodyguard. Plus, he could watch out for the witches. On one occasion he had spotted them passing the end of a long street. Keeping himself in the shadows, Daphne had opened the door to come out of the house. Luckily, he had managed to pull her against the wall, and they let the witch and her Night Shadows pass them by.
    He waited outside the last house, glad that the evening was over and they could both go back to safety and off to their beds. As he stood in the shadows, he heard a voice calling him, softly. It sounded like Daphne’s voice, but yet he knew she was still in the home she had entered.
    Artas, I need you, come quickly.
    Artas tried to ignore it, thinking he was tired and his mind was playing tricks on him, but the voice sang out to him, urging him to come to her.
    He turned into a small alleyway, and there she was, at the far end. She seemed to be sheathed in a soft warm glow and she held her arms open, invitingly.
    Come my love. Come to me. I am in need of a brave knight…
    The voice was beautiful and so was the speaker. He could see now that it was not Daphne, but a beautiful woman with long flowing silver hair, dressed in a long silver gown.
    I have an errand for you, my love, an errand of love. I will reward you well…
    “Artas!” someone shouted his name loudly. Was that Daphne’s voice?
    He looked around to see the shape of a figure, standing at the entrance of the alleyway that he had just entered. When he turned back to look at the beautiful woman, she was gone.
    “Artas, why are you here? You are supposed to be keeping watch!” Daphne asked him angrily.
    Artas was confused for a moment. Where had his love gone?
    “Come on, we are finished. It’s time to return,” Daphne said as she took ahold of his arm, dragging him