"That's not good enough!" 

"But my lord he-"

"He what, beat you with a few sticks!? It's all magic. None of it is real enough to severely hurt a man, only to question his loyalty, bravery and judgement." The King screamed at his Knights. "You have armour and weapons forged of the toughest steel, a few sticks and stones shouldn't be a problem to a group of your caliber." 

"But sire, this one was different, he is stronger than any we have encountered. He radiates this... this, energy."

The King slammed his hands on the table and grunted in frustration. His head hanging in disbelief that a group of soldiers trained to fight this evil was beaten by the very thing they were equipped and trained to hunt and defeat.

"My lord, rumour has it that this person is not some lonely Primary, but a Sage, a man of the Ealdred." the Captain of the group of soldiers said wearily.

The King looked over to one of his advisors, before his gaze met the Captains with a sharp look of distain, which masked the disbelief he felt. "He can't be, the 'Old Counsel' were wiped out during the Purge, I was there, I lead the assault, I witnessed the decimation of this 'Old Counsel' and wondered the area checking every possible hiding place, and every one of their bodies to ensure none of them survived."

The Captain looked to the floor as he hesitated in an attempt to think of an answer that would be a possibility as to who or what this man was, without causing any further anger or despair to their King.

"Sire, may I suggest something?" A feminine voice echoed across the hall, the knights and advisors that filled the hall turned to reveal a woman in Red Armour standing at the back of the hall. She was the only woman in the history of the Kingdom to have ever been offered a rank in the Royal Barracks. Proving herself time and time again fighting her way through the ranks to become a member of the Kings Elite Soldiers, known through out the land as 'The Red Lions'.

The King turned to face the room, his eyes focusing on Adeina. His eyes that have been dark and full of frustration until now, seemed to become slightly brighter now that Adeina made her presence in the court known. She was one of his best soldiers within the Red Lions, and being a woman, he was always interested in her perspective on matters such as these, as she was known to think differently to the rest of the male soldiers, which more often than not was a benefit both to her and the Kings council.

"Apologies my Lord,  I do not wish to intrude or interrupt." Adeina said with a bow of her head.
"Never an intrusion Adeina, I have always had faith in you and have time to hear your opinions and views on matters such as this, you know that. Please go on" the King said eager to hear her input.
Adeina smirked and nodded once more as the King addressed her, before clearing her throat. "I do not wish to doubt your authority or insult you in anyway, but are you absolutely positive that all members of the Ealdred were present during our assault?"

The Kings gaze darkened once more. The hope he had in his mind that her input would be beneficial to the circumstances had swiftly vanished within a few seconds of Adeina speaking. Not knowing where she was going with this he took a few steps towards her, his gaze firm on her face. The Red Lions were alongside him when the assault on the Ealdred occurred. He knew that it would take his best warriors to match the strength of such a dangerous enemy let alone defeat them once and for all. The silence and demeanour of the King as he walked closer towards Adeina gave away his mood let alone his uncertainty of Adeinas intentions, alongside those of his own. With the only female in the royal barracks clearly questioning the Kings reliability, exacerbating an already tense atmosphere, the crowd of knights and advisors took a few steps back as the king passed them growing closer to Adeina. Her gaze fixed upon the King, her stance as relaxed and sturdy as it was when she first spoke seemingly un-phased by the Kings keen and relentless focus on her and his physical demeanour. Did she not understand what she had just said? Does she not see everyone else in the room slowly and cautiously back away as the King passed them? Did she believe she was being brave questioning the King like this, or did she genuinely believe there was conviction in her words?

The King stopped and was now standing nose to nose with Adeina. She could feel his breath on her skin as his eyes twitched ever so slightly, staring deep in to her eyes, as if searching to see if she was the Adeina he knew. The reliably loyal and devoted warrior he had always known her to be. Or was this another side of her that had always been hidden? A side that was brave enough to doubt the King, and foolish enough to doubt him before his Court.

"Adeina, I know you were there during the assault on the 'Old Counsel'. However do you not think I would charge on such a powerful enemy if there were any loose ends to escape, rise and fight back?" The King asked his voice soft but writhe with conviction. "As I said not moments ago, we scoured the area for any potential hiding places, and checked the bodies to ensure no survivors. A task I personally took part in alongside yourself and the other Red Lions that joined us."His tongue sharper than usual, his words blunt and agitated as if to provoke her to continue speaking as she was.

Adeina stood up straight and bowed her head. "Sire, I must reassure you that I am not doubting you one bit. I am only putting to you and the council here today, that we still do not fully understand how these people, and their lifestyle or their ways work. We do not know how one becomes a wielder of such powers. We do not know how they get stronger, or if they can control more than one element. We do not know how one becomes a member of this 'Old Counsel' or 'Ealdred'. All we know is there were too many of them and our lives and lands were endangered by such dangerous and powerful people."

The King closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he slowly turned away from her and began to walk back to his previous place at the table at the end of the hall. She seemed very confident that she was safe in presenting such questions to the King and his court. As if she knew her words were accepted by him in the way they were intended, as a possibility, rather than an accusation fuelled by a lack of confidence in the King.

"I understand your weariness, and I admire your bravery to speak out so openly about this." The King made it back to the table centred in the room. The eyes of the advisors and the various soldiers and Knights rapidly flitting between their King and Adeina who didn't seem at all concerned by her intimate encounter with the King. "However, I couldn't be more positive that no more of this 'Old Counsel' exists. Surely we would have been made aware of them by now if any one of them had survived." His voice softer and calmer than before he processed the questions and tried to justify them before reacting too brashly.

"I disagree sire." Adeina said as she started to walk across the hall to where the King was now standing. "Consider they are in hiding with any other survivors of the Purge. Possibly healing them or maybe even training them to help them grow and become stronger, then when the hunts have all but stopped and they believe our search for them is over,  they strike back to avenge their kind-" Adeina spoke hurriedly, as if she knew that her words weren't going to sit well with the King.

"-enough!" Snapped the king as his fist fell firmly on the table causing everything sitting upon it to shake causing everyones head to swiftly turn and face him. A few of his the more soldiers who have just returned from the hunt injured and still reeling from the fight with their target to jump as his head rapidly turning to face Adeina.

"But sire, how do you explain the strength of this man? How he has escaped so many hunts, and eluded our knowledge of his existence until now?-" Adeina continued to argue, softly but quickly before the King had the chance to interrupt her again. 

"I said enough! I do not want to hear any more theories, or rumours, or failures!" The King beckoned, his voice booming as it bounced from the walls of the large hall. "I want results. I want this man found. I want him killed, and I want his body brought to me." His eyes wide, his cheeks red, and his fist still so tightly clenched it was now shaking.

"Yes sire" she muttered softly bowing before him. "I apologise for the disturbance and I shall personally lead the next hunt in search of this man." Adeina offered as an apology and to keep in good sake with the King.

"That you shall. You have one week to find this man, and report back." The King said as his hand fell upon her shoulder, in acceptance of her apology. 

Adeina nodded and rose to her feet, meeting the kings eyes, softer and not as intensely as they had met previously. "I won't disappoint you sire, and if I get the chance to bring him back here before the week is out, then I shall do so."

"See to it that you don't disappoint me Adeina or else I will be forced to question your position in the barracks." the King said his voice low but very firm, without any trace of regret.

Adeina's eyes widened slightly, as she fought back the possibility of her face revealing the shock and worry that filled within her the moment the King had spoke about questioning her position."Understood sire". She nodded before turning to leave. The advisors and soldiers averting their gaze as she passed as not to awkwardly meet hers.

Closing the heavy wooden door behind her she leant on the door with a heavy sigh, hearing the muffled voices continuing their meet as if she had never been there and spoke a word. Before King Rhoury introduced the Elite Soldiers as 'The Red Lions', before he even became King, he knew of Adeina when she was a young girl living within the castle grounds. Her father was one of King Reuben's Knights, the equivalent to her current rank in those times, and because of this and her having no mother to care for her whilst her father was fulfilling his duties as a Royal Knight, she was granted access to the royal grounds where she could grow up with the families of the other Knights and Soldiers of the Guard. Due to lack of maternal influence, Adeina grew up to be a bit of a tomboy. She was often found wrestling and rough housing with the other boys of her age. The wives of the other soldiers and Knights tried taking her in and influence her upbringing to become that which is more suitable of a Lady, but she had already had a taste of what the Knights do, and was too boisterous to even consider being a Lady. She enjoyed play fighting, and hunting. She even fashioned her own swords from wood to practice with when the other boys trained to follow in their fathers footsteps, she was relentless and insisted on joining them. It was unheard of, a female training to be a knight. The Maester saw her in the yard one day being picked on by some of his students because she wanted to become a Knight but she could never be because she was a girl. He saw her skills in fighting off the boys and proposed to both her father and the King that she join his classes and informed them of her gifts as a warrior. It took a few weeks and much persuasion for them to relent, but it paid off and Adeina was top of the class. Second only to then Prince Rhoury of course. 

"Sire, maybe Adeina is right? Perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to dismiss her theory. I may not have been present at the scene when you attacked the 'Ealdred', but she is right. We have no idea of their full potential. Maybe this vigilante, I dunno, blended himself into a tree or something in order to hide while it was safe." The Kings advisor spoke soft as not to aggravate him any further than Adeina had already. 

The King scoffed at the thought of this man bonding his person with a tree for protection. The more he thought about it the more ludicrous it sounded, and he began to laugh turning to his advisor. "Thank you, I needed that."

His advisor looked confused, but smiled hesitantly awaiting the King to speak further hoping for clarification as to why he was laughing. Secretly hoping this wasn't another ruse to lull him into a false sense of security before turning on him and scolding him also, like he had done Adeina moments before.

"That goes to show how ridiculous the preconceptions of what we're facing here are. These people may have powers to control certain elements to a certain extent. But to become them is impossible." The King said factually as he glanced around at his audience. "You are all trained to fight this and are equipped with appropriate armour and weaponry to capture and or kill these people. The fact that you are all here to report a failure is embarrassing. You're all my knights, and now I'm having to send one of my strongest Lions out with you to get the job of catching a feeble and elderly man." The King spat with conviction before turning away from the crowd to the map on his desk.

"But sire-" the Captain of the hunt protested.

"-You are all dismissed. Captain gather a new group, you leave with Adeina in the morning" the King interrupted the Captains plea, still with his back turned to the court, hunched over the table before him, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. 

"Sire there are still four of my men out there somewhere I must find them and bring them back!" The Captain argued with a passion in his voice.

"Good day Captain" the King replied bluntly as if he didn't hear the Captains plea to go and recover his fellow soldiers.

Defeated and unhappy the group of Knights reluctantly left after being severely scolded by their Leader. The advisors waited for the Knights and soldiers to leave before the wearily moved forward and gathered around the table aside the King staying silent awaiting him to speak.

"I hope you understand why I reacted like I did Lord Duncan" King Rhoury said after a few minutes of silence as he glanced up to one of his advisors from across the table. 

"Completely my Lord. Adeina may be my only daughter, but that is no excuse for her foolish rumourmongering. It was embarrassing and I could not begin to apologise enough for her actions. I have no idea what has gotten into her." Duncan replied clearly embarrassed and ashamed at the scene his daughter caused in front of himself, his peers and his King.

"Good. Now let us revisit the lands to see if there is anything we have missed for this bastard Primary to hide." The King and his advisors all focused on the map which was marked where previous hunts had taken place, battle grounds of the purge, and assaults on the Ealdred and all potential spots where they would gather.

The woodland grew thinner, and lighter as he was getting closer to the borders to the valley with each passing step. The shadow that the moss green hood had cast over his weathered face began to retreat as he grew closer to the Valley. His emerald green eyes seemingly glowing as they were greeted the bright golden sunlight that had been absent for many days. He squinted, allowing his eyes to adjust as he turned to follow south across the woodland edge. However his time to enjoy the sun was short lived as a flock of birds flew past him and across the Valley. Turning around he could see the bushes behind him thrashing back and forth. Unsure what was about to come bounding through them he turned and ran. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble as the unknown disturbance grew nearer. Wanting to turn back to see what it was he was up against would risk him getting caught up in whatever lay ahead.

Hearing distant voices he took a sharp left into the woods, it was clear now that he was up against The Kings men. He began to question how they had found him as he had been so cautious. But he couldn't let his thought distract him. The ground still shaking beneath his feet he knew he hadn't managed to shake them yet, and had to focus on evading capture.

The sounds of the horses hooves pummelling the earth and foliage of the forest floor became clear and were much to close for comfort, and he had to lose them and fast, or prepare to fight and defend himself. Something that he couldn't really consider to be a feasible option. He hasn't used his powers for self defence or attack in years, since the Purge when the King and his men penetrated the Ealdred and assaulted and killed all of the leaders of his kind. His training and teachings of peace are something he still values to this day, regardless of the infuriating lust for revenge on his people that constantly boils within him. Since the Purge he has been travelling the lands in order to heal certain parts of the forest where attacks had previously happened and restore them to their original beauty. As well as remaining in hiding himself, evading all hunts that came his way or any where near his position in the forest. Such work could have lead the Kings men to his trail and be the reason why they have found him. However he swore an oath, and it became his life to preserve the earth and restore and revive it back to its natural state when needed. Or at least plant the seed and nurture it back to health in its own time.

The warmth of the golden sunlight fell absent once more as he found himself running deeper into the forest. The golden rays now faint in the distance behind him, highlighting the figures that were pursuing him, and gaining closer with every attempt he made to shake them off. Hearing the intimidating screams of his attackers he turned for a moment to check his distance from them, before he found himself in a clearing, where he was ambushed by a supporting party of the Kings men. He stood tall in the centre of the clearing as his emerald green eyes panned the scene that surrounded him. Counting in his mind those that were poised and ready to take him head on, alongside those who had been chasing him. A heavy sigh escaped his thin cracked lips as he bowed his head awaiting one of the men to address him or attempt the first hit. The ground shuddered as those on horse back had caught up and the leader of this party dismounted, as his feet landed crushing the plants into the soil beneath him, Kendrick turned his head to see a man broad in stature, nearly as tall as he was. But with what little light available shining from behind his assailant no features were recognisable. 

"You don't belong here" Kendrick grumbled with a sense of disgust in his voice. 

"It is you that doesn't belong here old man" The soldier replied, his voice deep and intimidating, or would be for those who hadn't seen or experienced what Kendrick had. "By the laws of our lands and the orders of King Rhoury, you must be taken into custody. Any resistance will be punishable by death.

"It's great to see that his resources aren't going to waste." Kendrick chuckled, as if he hadn't heard the soldier's words. "So many of you to capture and kill an old man like myself. I suppose this is an attempt to intimidate me, to scare me in to voluntarily coming back with you and yielding to your kings laws-" Kendrick's voice calm but firm as he looked around at the group of soldiers who were all focused on him.

"Silence old man, you have bought this upon yourself by choosing the life you have. Now you can make it easier by voluntarily accompanying us back to the castle or-"

"Or you can die trying to make me" Kendrick said finishing the soldiers sentence, as he fully turned to face the leader of his particular pack. "I've seen many like you boy… you may be the captain of this rabble, but you and your soldiers are all so naive. So blinded by the fears your King has drilled into your minds." He began as his eyes focused on the soldier, glistening emerald as the breeze dances with the trees, causing the suns rays to shine on them between the motion of the branches. "Do I look like a threat to you?" Kendrick asked hypothetically as he raised both arms in the air, his cloak billowing out to reveal his tall but thin body. "I'm only here to repair the damage that your people did to these lands in the name of 'justice' and 'honour'" Kendrick rambled on as he turned around revealing his seemingly frail frame to the group that have surrounded him. Showing them that he wasn't in possession of any blades or form of weaponry, or at least weapons as far as they know them. 

The soldiers began to murmur and look around at one another, before their leader raised an arm to silence them. "Then I suggest you come with us of your own accord" the soldier said as he smiled taking a step towards Kendrick. "I don't want to fight you old man, but if you won't allow us to escort you back to the Kingdom, then you leave me no other choice." He said as his hand fell upon the the hilt of his sword ready to withdraw it.

Kendrick bowed his head and took a deep breath as his thin lips grew thinner as he smirked. "You and your soldiers are just as foolish as your King, so quick to use violence and aggression to intimidate your own way. Well not today. You and your group are wasting your time. I'm not going back to the kingdom, I have too much to do. The damage that you and your people have caused is greater than you will ever understand, and it's left up to me to fix it. So when you go back to your ignorant King empty handed, you can tell him that his hunger to wipe out those who survived the unjustified attack on my kind, if any, is over, and that this is one person he will never get his power hungry, blood soaked hands on." Kendrick spat out. His tongue sharp and his voice stronger and more aggressive than before. 

The air grew thick, carrying an eerie silence with it as it picked up beating the bushes and trees that surrounded them. The leader of the surrounding soldiers smiled as he withdrew his sword. "So I take it that you are resisting orders, and refusing to come with us of your own accord." He spoke rhetorically as he looked around at his fellow soldiers who were readying themselves for a fight. "Shame. It appears that you are the foolish one old man. There is one of you and nine of us-"

"I'm aware of how many of you there are to go back empty handed." Kendrick smirked as his eyes met the piercing gaze of the large Soldier that stood armed before him. "I also noticed that you're all in black and silver." Kendrick said confidently looking around at the soldiers who looked towards their captain awaiting his signal to advance. "Your King must have a more dangerous target to send nine of you out after a single old man, without at least one of your Red Armoured people to accompany you."

The Captain's face grew red and his teeth grinding together. "We do not need to be supervised by a Lion. We are trained to hunt and capture our targets. We have more restraint than the King's Red Lions do. So consider yourself lucky that you are dealing with me and my men, rather than a Lion" He spoke through gritted teeth, trying his hardest not to give away and indication that Kendrick had provoked him so.

"Lucky?" Kendrick scoffed. "Please, if I was lucky I wouldn't be wasting my valuable time and energy on a bunch of low level henchmen."

The Captain suddenly removed his sword from his hilt, and pointed it at Kendrick. "I tire of your ramblings old man. You've wasted enough of our time as it is." the Captain said his voice full of frustration, and with a single nod his soldiers began to move in to apprehend Kendrick. Three of them began to run at him, swords in hand. Kendrick took a deep breath as he closed his eyes beginning to channel energy from the earth at his feet and the nature that surrounded him. The only sounds he could hear accompanying the footsteps of the soldiers that were running towards him was the rustling of the leaves in the trees. With both hands on his cane and he bowed his head continuing to breathe deeply. The first soldier raised his arm and put all of his weight behind his swing as the blade of his sword connected with the hooded figure in front of him before the hood fell to the floor. The three soldiers poked at the hood with their blades and feet, before looking at the Captain in disbelief. 

'It can't be" the Captain muttered under his breath as he looked on unsure of what he had just witnessed. Taking a step forward to investigate the apparent and sudden disappearance of their target, one of the soldiers picked up the cloak by the hood. The cane was no where to be seen, nor was Kendrick's body.

"He's not here sir" one of the soldiers called out to the Captain.

"Look harder he can't have just disappeared in thin air! That's impossible!" the Captain yelled as his men began to look around to see any tracks or any sign of what could've happened to Kendrick. The ground be can to rumble, and within seconds the three soldiers looking at the hood, were thrown back to the floor as the ground beneath them erupted and soil and leaves began to rain down on everyone in the clearing, who took a step back in defence at the sudden burst of the ground beneath them. As the three guards landed on their back, the Captain and the other guards lurched forward, still no Kendrick in sight the Captain signalled for them to stay back. 

Kendrick soon became visible as he rose up from out of the ground where he stood as his cloak fell down settling upon his shoulders. His hood no longer covering his face, the soldiers and captain could now see the weathered features of his face, along with what looked like a scar on one side of his face. But it couldn't be a scar as it was green. The three soldiers that were launched through the air were now back on their feet, and were now running back towards Kendrick, to attack him again.
Kendrick looked up, his eyes were now glowing a bright emerald green, so bright that none of them had seen anything like it. 

Stabbing his cane into the ground, the sound of creaking became apparent to all who inhabited the clearing and the roots of the trees unearthed themselves and move up from the beneath the soil and began to wrap around the three soldiers who were headed towards Kendrick stopping them in their tracks. The soldiers began to hack at the roots in a futile attempt to free themselves. Some of the soldiers ran over to try and help break them free of these bonds. All the while, Kendricks eyes didn't leave the vision of the Captains efforts to mask his disbelief at what was unfolding before him.

Kendrick raised a hand, the other still tightly gripping his cane, and making a fist Ivy suddenly fell from the tree branches gripping the soldiers arms legs and torsos viciously tearing them away from those being bound by the roots. The Ivy binding around the soldiers was tight and they screamed as the Ivy ripped their feet from the soft soil beneath them and threw them high into the canopy of the forest.

Frozen in awe of how quickly the situation had turned agains his favour, the Captain looked on as this feeble looking old man had already apprehended five of his soldiers. His grip on his sword so tight, his knuckles were now white. Although witnessing the assault on his soldiers his eyes never left their target, as if hypnotised by the bold colour they were emitting. The soldiers that were tangled in the Ivy were now hanging helplessly from the trees, unable to reach their weapons to break free of the ever tightening and binding plant. While the soldiers being restrained by the roots were now being pulled to the ground where the roots were re-embedding themselves in the earth to reinforce their strength regardless of the soldiers still relentlessly writhing in hopes of breaking free.

Kendrick stood calm counting in his head that there were three soldiers left as well as the captain making four. He looked upon the captains expression, and he enjoyed the evident uncertainty and shock if what just happened painted clear upon his face. "I did warn you I wasn't coming with you." Kendrick said with a smug grin on his face. 

"You will release my soldiers or you will die here with them." The Captain said viciously his whole body flexing in anger.

Kendrick sighed, "It is evident you underestimated me and were not as prepared for this as you thought. I must admit, this was a very disappointing attempt and I was expecting more from so many of you."

One of the remaining soldiers ran towards Kendrick from his right. He turned to face his assailant and raised his right hand high causing a wall of solid earth to rise up from the ground and as planned the soldier ran straight into it and fell back as if he had ran in to a stone. 

Turning back to the Captain Kendrick lowered his hand as well as the wall, revealing the unconscious soldier.

"You will pay for this" the Captain spoke, his voice littered with rage.

"I take it he was new because that was one of the most feeble attempts of an attack I have ever experience." Kendrick chuckled. "I am only defending myself and my home" Kendrick said patronising the Captain. "Now if you don't mind I must take my leave, as I said, I have much to do." Kendrick said as he stood tall both hands now on his cane. He began to turn and casually walk away.

"Don't even think about it!" The Captain yelled.

Kendrick stopped in his tracks and began to turn to face the now seething Captain. As he turned an arrow cut through the air and impaled Kendrick's arm. The force of the arrow caused Kendrick to stagger back a few steps as he cried out in pain. Looking at his arm then to the Captain who now had a smug look of his own he winced in pain slowly releasing a deep breath as his eyes fell on the soldier stood to the Captains left with his bow raised and another arrow already lined up to fire. 

The Captain took a few steps forward towards Kendrick. "I thought that would get your attention." His words filled with delight as he had hit the target who had embarrassed him in such a short space of time. "I would like you to now reconsider your decision and allow me to escort you to the castle. This is your last chance." The Captain spoke as he cautiously grew closer and closer to Kendrick, his sword still in hand.

"You will never learn will you." Kendrick spoke his voice now shaken as he could feel blood dripping down his arm. 

Another arrow flew swiftly past the captains head which didn't seem to redirect his gaze from Kendrick who managed to turn in time to dodge the arrow. But as he turned back the Captain had his sword in the air and was bringing it down fast upon Kendrick who raised his staff which greeted the steel sword with a mighty crash. The Captain paused for a second, as if surprised that the strength behind the attack and the strength of his sword should've cut clean through Kendrick's old wooden cane, but didn't even make a dent. The Captain stepped back withdrawing his sword as did Kendrick awaiting for the Captains next move. The Captain grunted before he swung his sword again Kendrick lifting his staff and blocking every swing. He turned back and nodded to the two soldiers that were still standing to attack. Both began firing arrows at Kendrick who whilst fighting off the captain took another two arrows in the one arm causing him to fall to his knees. 

"It seems as though you're not as quick as you thought you were old man" the Captain said as he stood over Kendrick who was on his knees holding his arm. "What else will it take for you to yield?" 

"You will have to kill me before I yield." Kendrick replied as he slowly gripped his staff, and stabbed it into the earth causing it to tremor resulting in the Captain falling back as well as the two archers.

Kendrick used the staff to help him get to his feet. He knew with the arrows in his arm he couldn't fight them off for too much longer. He he only had to hold them off until he could create an opportunity to escape.

As the Captain and the archers got to their feet, Kendrick snapped the arrows so they couldn't be targeted and used against him, leaving the arrow heads in his arm as not to open up the wound any further resulting in weakening himself any more. The Captain reached for his sword as Kendrick struggled to his feet using his cane to support his weight. The Captain issued another swing of his blade which cut Kendrick's cloak as he stepped back to dodge what could've been a fatal blow. As Kendrick found his feet to stop him from falling the Captains sword collided with his cane, and with force Kendrick pushed him back sending his blade flying into the earth as he struck the Captain in the chest with the head of his cane which dented his armours chest plate and winding the Captain who shortly fell to his knees as Kendrick's cane lit up with an unnatural green light and like a beam hit the Captains chest sending him a few feet through the air. 

Kendrick took a second to catch his breath dodging a few arrows as he did so. Taking a heavy step forward, his foot leaving a deep imprint in the ground, thorns uprooted and began to bind the archers weaving in and out of their armour both restricting them and cutting them in the process. Kendrick turned to flee but was tackled and slammed into a near by tree by the soldier who was knocked back by the protruding wall of solid earth. The soldier pulled out a dagger from a holster strapped to his thigh and stabbed at Kendrick but missed embedding the blade deep within the trees trunk. Kendrick lifted his cane beating the soldiers arm away from the dagger and knocked the head of the cane against the soldiers forehead dazing him slightly before Kendrick screamed in pain as the soldiers grip on his wounded arm tightened. He lurched forward pushing the dazed soldier back and promptly turning, using the soldiers weight to slam him into the trunk of the tree with a strength he didn't think he could muster in his current condition. Chanting a few words under his breath the bark and vines of the tree began to crumble apart and the soldier began to be enveloped by the tree. Kendrick quickly took his hand away so he wouldn't get caught up and trapped with the soldier. Quickly scouring the area to see the archers struggling to fight off the thorns, and the captain on his knees trying to regain his breath, Kendrick took this opportunity to run. Turning he began to run out of the clearing without any sense of direction or intended destination, just the intention to get away before any of the soldiers could notice his direction and chase after him. As he fled he felt a swift breeze close past his face. He saw another dagger bounce off of a near by tree and into the forest floor, Kendrick didn't look back to see who threw it, but he did change his direction and darted out of sight. 

After what felt like hours, he began to struggle to keep up his speed, the blood now soaking into his cloak, and his wounds taking their toll on him he began to feel light headed. Finding a nearby trench where there were weeds over growing the ledge to provide a little extra cover, Kendrick crawled beneath it in an attempt to rest and catch his breath to try and regain his strength and work out where to go. He cannot head to Ealdred in this condition.  Unsure if anyone was following him he waited till dark to try and get his bearings and a heading in order to heal himself and get. Back on track to Ealdred. Crouched uncomfortably deep within the trench, with no idea how much time had passed by Kendrick used leaves and grass to create a bandage to support pressure to his arm, wrapping them around his arm on the outside of his cloak as not to get any dirt or a potential infection from the leaves.

The trench went deep beneath the forest floor. It was full of moss and soft moist soil. Looking upon it from above it would not be noticed at all. Kendrick set about cloaking the entrance to the hideaway as an extra precaution. Mumbling under his breath he grabbed a hand full of soil, and in one short breath, blew it, scattering it across the entrance. Within seconds of it settling foliage began to grow, making the gap as good as invisible. On his knees Kendrick crawled further under ground and deeper into the trench using his hands to guide him, what little light that did shine in was now blocked out by his conjuring., and he was cast into complete darkness, huddled up under ground awaiting time to pass until he was sure it was safe to leave his hide away.

As the night drew closer, the shadows were already beginning to form and mask large sections of the forest in darkness. Kendricks eyes, tired and heavy opened, very dull and sore. Slowly he managed to sit up, his face painted with pain as he did so. His arm still had the arrow heads within it, and now not only was it sore from the attack earlier. But tightly bound and stiff where he had fallen asleep in the trench. The level of power used in the fight must've drained him more than he realised at the time. Once sat he stretched his back and his arm, before his boney fingers clasped his cane which helped him to his knees where he could crawl out of the trench without hurting himself or causing damage to his temporary dressing. 

As he made his way to the entrance he let out a high pitch whistle. His hand rising up to push aside the branches that had intertwined to cover the trench and protect him so he could rest. He could see see a blackbird hopping around on the ground before him, pecking at the ground innocently as dusk began to settle over the lands. The little bird looked over his eyes meeting the dull glow of Kendricks from the within the bushes. The bird flew over and landed at the entrance still meeting Kendricks eye, as it sang as if only to him. Kendrick smiled and began to emerge from the foliage that he conjured. "Thank you my friend." He said softly as he got to his feet.

Headed North further towards the kingdom, was a very dangerous and risky decision, but necessary. He was already thrown far off track thanks to the Captain and his soldiers. night had now fall and Kendrick was in what was deemed as one of the most dangerous parts of the woods, but his intentions didn't falter, he was confident that none of the Kings Guard would be out hunting for him tonight. So he figured that it was safe to head towards the Kingdom, hoping that the Guards wouldn't think he'd be so daring to go towards them rare than further away. Plus he was closer to Drehyme than he was to Ealdred. Using his cane to support him as he struggled to walk, he raised his hood to mask his face for further protection as the forest can be very unkind at this time of night. His injured arm held close to his chest as he walked as not to snag it on a passing branch. 

The night was silent and still as the air grew heavy, the sky began to cloud over and the stars grew faint. Kendrick looked up noticing that the sky wasn't as clear as it was when he had set out from his place in hiding, and with all his might he picked up the pace and pressed on further into the woods, using the ever dimming light from the moon as his guide.

Using his cane to beat his way through the thicker bushes where even the bravest within the Kingdom dare tread, he found his way into Drehyme. The rain began to pour down, from the thick grey blanket of clouds that now covered the once clear sky. The stars now completely invisible, but the moon large and close enough to break through. The hazy glow lit up the scene that sat before him. A pool of water dancing as the raindrops met the once flat surface of the lake. A thin layer of mist sat delicately on the surface of the lake broken by the rush of water from the very shallow falls that made the lake what it was. 

Before the kingdom was built and the laws cast to make Kendrick and his kind outlaws. Those who could wiled and manipulate the elements watched over these lands. Helping the nature to grow to its full potential and protect it from hunters and those from the neighbouring kingdoms who sought to use it's resources for their own personal gain. Until King Reuben and his father saw the large space amongst the kingdoms to build their new home. There was a long struggle for power over the lands. Kendrick and his kind were against them building their settlement in a land they had always known and cherished, in fear of them jeopardising their work and hurting what took so long for them to nurture. Eventually they came to an agreement between the Kings Court and the Ealdred that they will assist him in the creation his new home, as not to damage the land. So the members of the Ealdred spent months moving the certain elements of the lands and the forest around in order to make a suitable platform the Kings new kingdom to begin being constructed for its new inhabitants. In return for their cooperation, King Reuben agreed not to interfere with their affairs or interrupt their work and lives, nor do any damage to their lands that surrounded his new home. Which meant there would be no hunting the wildlife that resided in the forest for food, as well as no mining the earth or deforestation. 

After all the terms were discussed and agreed by both participating parties, the Ealdred spent weeks working together moving the forest to create a clearing suitable for what King Reuben needed, meanwhile the King gathered his family, and his people and began to move to the land. The Ealdred made a basic dwelling for them to move into when they arrived. For this the King was very thankful and was in shock, never thinking that they would begin making his Kingdom for him. The new lands were encased with stone walls that were high enough to be seen from the Valley, and strong enough to protect them from any potential assault from beyond the boundaries. As the years progressed Kendrick and the Ealdred watched as the Kingdom developed in to what it is now, and the nature of the lands were uprooted and re-home have now settled in their new places within the out lands of the Kingdom, as if they had always been. The woodland they planted, nurtured to be fully grown by the time they moved in. Being seeded they were in full swing and could be used for whatever the people needed, as they seemed to grow much quicker than the nature intended, so they would never run our and be in need to venture out of the boundaries and use the forest in it's place. The farmlands were now thriving with crops and animals to supply all with food.

Drehyme was the result of the Ealdred shifting the flow of the river that ran through the forest so both those within the Kingdom could use the part of the river that ran through the kingdom as their water source and the forest and the forest dwellers can use it for their own resources. But with the lake being so close to the lands, and it being sacred to the Ealdred and their people, they had to protect it so it wouldn't be tainted by human hands. So the forest grew so thick that should anyone stumble across the lake, they wouldn't be able to find their way out or get their bearings to find their way home. There were no tracks or signs that lead towards or away from Drehyme, unless you knew where to look. It was deemed by the Ealdred as the life source to their land. The water so pure it was thought to have the properties to heal an injured Primary, with the help of an Ealdred. The water ran deep beneath the ground being fed all over the lands, and was blessed and kept as pure as the they could keep it, which allowed it to help their lands blossom into a place of unbelievable beauty that you only hear about in tales of fantasy.

Kendrick shakily walked up towards the edge of the lake and fell to his knees. He knew he was safe now, and could use this time to plan his route from here to the Ealdred and heal himself. The surrounding area was full of plants and herbs that could heal any of their kind that became injured for whatever reason. Untying the binds that kept pressure on his wounds, Kendrick unfastened his cloak and dropped it to the floor, carefully peeling it from his injured arm, as the blood soaked into it and became stiff. Wincing as he did so the cloak dropped to the floor, and lay there as Kendrick unfastened his shirt and sat at the edge of the waters of the lake. Cupping his hand and letting the waters from the lake fill it, his face glistening in the haze of the dull moonlight reflecting from the waters surface as he lifted his hand allowing the water to run down his arm. Kendrick shivered as the cool water ran against his warm and rough skin. Leaning back he tore a doc leaf clean from it's stem using the rain drops that balanced delicately to it's surface to clean the dried blood from his arm as he wiped the leaf down over his arm. He held his breath as he continued using the waters and the leaf to wipe his injured arm clean.

Once his arm was clean he let out a long sigh, as to relax himself before he even thought about removing the arrow heads that were still embedded in his arm. Kendrick lay on his side as he held his breath and his eyes widened as he immersed his arm in the cold, fresh waters of the lake. His body shuddered all over as his arm remained submerged, was now beginning to go numb. After a few minutes Kendrick slowly began to pull his arm out from the lake, and as he did so the arrow heads became visible, and one by one he slowly and carefully pulled them out of his arm, gasping and hissing in pain as he removed all three of the offending invaders. His teeth firmly clenched, feeling as if they were going to burst out of his mouth, as he resisted the urge to yell in pain. Feeling light headed he sat back, closing his eyes and breathing slow deep breaths, the gaping wounds in his arms now coursing with fresh blood, as his arm pulsing, feeling both sore and relieved. Kendrick took a moment to recover from the intensity of what he just felt before sitting up, and looking at his arm which was now covered in blood once more. "Bastards" he cussed under his breath as he cupped his hand and begin to wash the blood away for the second time before wrapping them in freshly picked doc leaves and binding them as tight as he could with some near by willow branches.

The train had come to a stop, and the clouds had dispersed revealing the large face of the moon clearly staring directly upon him. The air was crisp but carried much suspense. The soldiers were travelling further away from the kingdom, further than they had ever done before. Even though Kendrick had beat them off, and had sent them home like scolded hounds to embarrass their King with the story of how one old man had beat many younger fitter men, the night was far from over. Kendrick had been severely thrown from his course to Ealdred by those hunters. Losing even more time heading back to Drehyme. But this was necessary as there would have been no way Kendrick would make it to Ealdred at all if he was wounded, and after sending the Kings soldiers home with nothing but the story, he expected there to be another hunt sent out to look for him tomorrow, if there wasn't one out in the forest already. 

Kendrick got to his feet, and grabbed his satchel that sat by his cloak that lay on the moist ground. Opening it he removed a few vials and continued to fill them with the water from the pool, and sealing them before placing them carefully back in his satchel alongside a handful of doc leaves, should he be found and attacked again. Time was of the essence, and he could not afford to lose anymore by having to return to Drehyme. After checking the binds on his wounds were still tight, he rolled down his sleeve and fastened his cloak. Picking up his satchel and his cane he began to head back towards the Valley in the East which would then guide him through the treacherous parts of the thicker, denser forest where he would be safe to travel to Ealdred. Grumbling and muttering words of disdain under his breath as he staggered on his feet. With one arm injured he had to be much more weary on his journey, as he may not be so lucky next time he comes into contact with the Kings men.