Chapter Five

The Greek army also consisted of men from several other Greek states while the Spartans took up three hundred of the total of four thousand men. Most of the men of the army took the chance of escape and all who remained were three hundred Spartans and seven hundred of another place in Greece called Thespiae.

Ebhali watched the fog roll in and the sun being clouded in a thick shroud. He was getting uneasy about Menegal and Luvilia. He knew they were gone to the watch, but the emptiness on the left of him was not reassuring. The other men around were quiet. No one had spoken or moved since in moved the fog. The hours dragged by slowly, while the sun began to tear through the clouds.

“How much further till thee’s castle?” Khalid asked Bibi.
“About a league after the forest.” Bibi pointed to a dark tangled forest.
“Is there a way around?”
“Not a quicker or safer one.”
“Well art there robbers and thieves in the forest?”
“Yes, but I know of safer paths. Follow me.”

“Watchers! Grasp hands!” commanded Vafi.
“Flohad! Your hand!” said Menegal, groping to the right.
“Here it is, Menegal,” said Flohad, putting forth his hand into Menegal’s unseen one.
“I cannot see you, Wixtil. Where is your hand?” cried Luvilia, fumbling out to the left.

Thirteen years later.

(This story might not be suitable for Children under ten.)

“Get Out!” snarled Raghib, throwing his cup at Qudir.
“Yes, my Lord,” said Qudir, dodging it by an inch, then he turned and walked to the door, opened it and closed it gently behind him.
“Rashad! Where is he? Rashad!!”
“Yes, my Father?” said a man, poking his dark head through the door.

Coming to a halt for evening’s camp, Menegal wearily set himself down on the ground to rub his ankle that had swelled up again. He had walked mainly in silence for the ending of the march for he was thinking about Golwitch. Memories of playing in the lake that was in the valley where they had lived as children came into his mind, and of the hunts they had enjoyed together.

(This story might not be suitable for Children under ten.)

“Where am I?” said Bibi, waking from a deep sleep.
“Thou art in Shamara’s Castle,” said a servant named Atherton, who had a brown bushy beard and strong brow. “Thou hast had a bad beating.”