They took in her tattered form and dirtied appearance, before looking to the royal family. The n.o.ble houses were stiff, but they too looked to the royal family. The king had on a blank expression as he stared down at his former wife, Prince Thelmus had a look of horror, while Queen Raine looked to be enjoying herself."Train you eyes! Before you is Princess Lilith of Northern Lan. My hunters, I present your prey!" she announced to the still arena.
***
The voice in Walter"s head laughed deeply, "You intend to say that this fear you refer to, is a person?"
"Person or not, I am not leaving here without the inheritance. Many that have stood before you wanted to live. They wanted this power and to also live. I don"t care what this power could be used for, neither do I care what happens afterwards. Live or die, I must return with that inheritance or be buried here." Walter said and the voice remained silent for a second.
"You don"t know what it is nor do you care what it could be used for, but you will leave with it. Interesting. I will make a deal with you, young man."
"What is it? As long as it does not touch my bottom line, sure." Water said causing the voice to laugh again.
"Your bottom line? You said you would do anything."
"I never said such. There is only one person that can make me do anything. And if your request goes against her, I will not do it." Walter said.
"When you take the inheritance, you must take me with you." the voice said, causing Walter to pause.
"Why?"
"I have stayed here for millennia watching over the inheritance. Even before the last owner, I watched over it. But I am dissolved the moment the inheritance has an owner and only reformed when the owner is gone." the voice said.
"You should have some control over the inheritance, am I right?"
"Yes, you could say that."
"Why should I let you, who could control the inheritance, stay with me? There can only be one master at a time." Walter said and the voice laughed.
"I had not deduced that you would come to that conclusion. I have powers of my own, that is why I can protect the inheritance. You would be the first master of the inheritance to bind me as a servant."
"A servant. If it were that simple, many would have bound you to them. Why am I the first?"
"There was never any need for me to become a servant at those times. But this time, it is of great importance. You need not worry about the details, I will not hinder you." the voice said.
"Then what will you be doing?" Walter asked. He was very curious why this guardian would want to tag along. He understood that this guardian was powerful, so how could he allow someone that strong come out of this confinement?
"It matters not what you think. You must choose. I will not let you into the testing grounds otherwise." the voice said making Walter pause. He sighed inwardly, wondering if something was really wrong with him. People are usually scared at moments like this, but he could not muster enough fear. Maybe it really is as he had said; only fear could scare him.
"Fine, I will take the deal." Walter said and suddenly heard a loud crack and woke up. He looked around himself and noticed he was just outside the first level of the west side forest. He looked behind him and noticed D"huile was unconscious by the corner.
"D"huile." he called and the well built man sat up abruptly. His eyes sharpened as he looked around, trying to figure out where he was, then looked at Walter who was trying to get up.
"Why are we here? I was just fighting a strong force." D"huile asked Walter. Walter would have noticed this was the first time D"huile had spoken in a while since their journey, if he was not so preoccupied with the fruit in his hands. It could not really be called a fruit, as it was a pod. A kind similar to a bean pod, safe the yellow colour, it"s size; which was the size of ripe corn, and the sweet smell that rose from it into one"s nose.
Walter looked back at D"huile and it dawned on him; D"huile had asked a question. But he did not hear what it was, so he ignored it.
"I have what I need. We will find time to visit the tree people." Walter said.
"What was that thing?" D"huile asked.
"What?"
"When I was inside, you disappeared and there was a force that could match my power. It may have been on par with me, but I could definitely feel it"s overwhelming strength; for it felt as though it was playing with me. It was nothing I"d ever felt before." D"huile said.
"That must have been the guardian." Walter sighed, " Let us return."