The path of Unity

Chapter Four - Threat of the Silence Bind

Jacob was following Trion to the Unity Church; the path was worn from use. Trion himself has travelled this route any times before. Jacob had been warned before of the length of the journey, but that didn't stop him from complaining.

"Are we there yet?" Jacob whined with an exacerbated sigh.

"For the last time, no. You will know when we get there." Trion stated, getting irritated with the younger man.

"We have been walking for days. We should be there by now." Jacob said with a huff.

"Don't exaggerate. It has only been 12 hours." Trion states while looking at his surroundings.

"12 hours, huh. Feels like longer." Jacob said wistfully while walking behind Trion with his hands behind his head.

"Trust me, it has only been 12 hours. Now stop asking or I will put a silencing bind on you." Trion threatened.

"Oooooooo, what's one of those?" Jacob asked sarcastically.

"Would you like a demonstration boy?" Trion narrowed his eyes at the young Hout.

"No, that's ok." Jacob muttered with his eyes wide, showing his fear that the other man would make good on his threat.

"Good. Now come on, we will camp here for the night." Trion said after finding a pathway into the forest next to them.

Whilst walking Jacob took notice of the disturbances in the forest. All around them, there were fallen trees, trampled bushes, and scratch marks on the ground as well as the larger trees.

He assumed that it was all caused by the local wildlife, if Trion didn't seem concerned by it, then why should he be. Still, he couldn't help but mention it.

"Trion? There are a lot of scratches and animal marks around here, should we be worried?" Jacob asked, trying to hide the tremble in his voice.

"I have travelled this way many times in my life, there are no beasts here anymore, they moved on a log time ago. Let's rest here for the night, there is a lake nearby so we can resupply the wineskins and bathe." Trion stated while scanning the area.

"Great, I can finally rest." Jacob said while taking seat on the forest floor and leaning back on his hands, closing his eyes for a moment, until he felt something getting a little too close for comfort. He opened his eyes to find that Trion was right in front of his face, with his nose scrunched up. He grabbed Jacob by the scruff of the neck and started dragging him away.

"What are you doing? Let me go." Jacob yelled while trying to pull Trion's hand from off of his neck, but the older man was stronger than he was, so after a minute of trying to escape, Jacob went limp, making it hard for Trion to keep pulling him.

"You smell boy, you need a bath before we set up camp for the night." Trion explained dragging Jacob out of the tree line towards the lake.

"I can walk there myself you know, old man."

"I know you could, but then I wouldn't get the joy of getting to do this." Trion said smirking down at the young man.

"Joy of doing what?"

Trion grabbed the back of the younger man's shirt and one of his legs before swinging him, building up enough momentum to be able to follow through with his plan. In a few short moments, before Jacob could understand what was happening, Trion had let go and thrown him into the icy lake. The impact of his face meeting the water was like being hit by a well-built man after you have taken his drink in a tavern.

Jacob spluttered as he came to the surface, wiping the water from his eyes. He started to take deep haggard breaths while taking in his new surroundings, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He moved his body in the water to face what was in the lake with him, hoping that Trion hasn't gotten him into any trouble. Hiding behind a collection of rocks near the edge of the lake, stood a beautiful women. She looked to be around Jacob's age, with smooth tanned skin, glowing golden locks, and dazzling azure eyes, his eyes started to follow the length of her lithe body, his eyes becoming wide as he noticed her small round breasts that she was trying and failing to hide from view.

He quickly averted his eyes as her scream reached his ears, he heard splashing and without meaning to, his eyes drifted back to the beautiful maiden, to see her running down a path in the forest, clutching some material in his hands that he could only think to be her clothes.

While Jacob's eyes had followed the women until she was no longer in sight, Trion had approached the lake to wash the dirt and grime from his hands.

"No need to scream boy. The lake water is not that cold" The only man said with a gruff laugh.

"There was a women. She was naked. So beautiful, like the sunrise." Jacob said in with a dreamy inflection to his voice. "She must have been bathing here when you threw me in." He spun around in the water to glare at the older man.

"A women you say. I thought that high pitched scream came from your mouth."

"I DO NOT SCREAM LIKE A WOMEN!" Jacob yelled turning red in the face. "Anyway, why did you throw me into the lake? I would have washed willingly and now my clothes are soaked through".

"You and your clothes smelt boy. Everything needs to be washed. I couldn't put up with the stench of stale ale and sweat any longer. Besides, throwing you into the lake is the most fun I have had for a long time." Trion was again laughing at the younger man.

"Can I learn that silencing bind now?" Jacob asked sarcastically.