Vanor: The Journey Begins. Vicki Inc. Wilson

yes I didn’t notice but you had a lot of burns that would have killed someone else twice over. You also had a deep gouge in your back that had burnt flesh and bone but by the looks of it, that too was healed. Well done, that’s what I say, and I have no doubt now that this is a very special gift that has been given to you.”

      After Vanor had washed off all the residue dirt, dust and ash at the village well, and Kajn had buried the few remaining bodies, they went in search of another horse for Vanor who was riding pillion on the black. After riding a fair distance from the destroyed village without success they decided to take turns riding the black.

      “How are you feeling now?”

      Vanor looked down from the black and said, “Well I seem to have just added countless scars to the list on my body but other than that I seem to be fine. Why do you ask?”

      “Well, it’s a bit unnerving when you think you know the colour of your love’s eyes, and then it changes while you watch, that’s all, nothing serious.”

      They both laughed, and what little tension was there was lost in the whispering wind.

      That night they stayed at another town and it was very comforting for Vanor to have a warm bath, a good hot meal, a change of clothes and a comfortable bed to sleep in. She slept very well snuggled close to Kajn’s warm body. When they awoke the next morning, they had their breakfast; the innkeeper told them that the blacksmith had a spare horse, which they were delighted with. The gelding took a liking to Vanor straightaway and had a huge appetite for apples and seemed to be forever nudging Vanor’s back for a scratch behind the ears. The blacksmith had told them that he’d given up adventuring now, but the horse hadn’t, and was delighted with the price given by Vanor.

      “I’ve always called him Greedy Guts because of his apple fetish but I’m sure he won’t mind you calling him something else.”

      Vanor and Kajn laughed as Greedy Guts nudged Vanor’s back for the apple that was in her pocket.

      The next day they set a good pace, with the black trying to outdo Greedy in the galloping stakes, but Greedy soon tired due to his unhealthy lifestyle and paced himself at a steady trot. At last they reached the castle and it looked more terrifying than it had seemed; when they got close to the “red” outer wall the horses shied away from it, baffling both Kajn and Vanor. Vanor dismounted and nearly threw up when, on closer inspection, she saw the wall was covered in blood.