Kingsbane_A Soul Stones Story by T. L. Branson

Author:T. L. Branson [Branson, T. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-17T22:00:00+00:00

***

When Ocken awoke the next morning, he climbed to his feet. His knuckles popped as he placed his hands on his neck and stretched. He took a deep breath and let out a long exhale. He felt refreshed.

Guilt washed over him as he thought about the way he treated Khate last night. He gathered his belongings once again and made his way back to the camp. He would apologize first thing.

He looked for one of his stone markers, but it was gone. He shrugged. No matter. The camp was straight ahead from where he sat against the tree. He’d wanted to keep an eye out in case Khate came after him.

He traced back the fifty paces, but the camp wasn’t there. Had he taken a wrong turn? No, he’d walked in a straight line, this morning and the night before. He decided he must have miscounted. A few more steps and he’d be back in the camp. They were probably watching him, laughing at him right now.

After another fifty paces, he started to worry. If he got himself lost, Khate would never let him live it down.

Then another thought entered his mind. What if he was lost—permanently? What if he had fallen pray to the legends of the Wandering Wood?

His breathing grew heavier. He turned his head, looking from side to side. All the trees looked the same, none of the paths looked familiar. He spun in a circle and ran back the way he’d come. Once he made it back to the tree he’d slept against he could find his way back to camp.

Except he never found that tree again, or rather he didn’t know if he did. It could have been any of them or none of them. He’d only been lost for a matter of minutes and already he felt himself going mad with confusion and terror. A deeper understanding of the myths and legends surrounding this forest settled upon him.

All pride went out the window in that moment.

“Khate!” he yelled.

Nothing.

“Callum! Your Majesty! Anyone!”

Still, the forest lay silent.

Wisdom told him to stay put, that they’d find him. They couldn’t be far. Perhaps they were still sleeping and couldn’t hear him.

But his gut told him if he stayed there, he’d eventually die. In the end, Ocken figured it was better to keep looking than give up hope. At the very least the effort would distract him from his demons.

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