The Sword and Heir of Shadows

Chapter 46: Two little heads.

Amid their journey toward the void, Hector, Marlow, and Jack make a halt in a secluded area. It was time for the horses to rest, and they took a moment to catch their breath.

Marlow couldn't contain his curiosity, and as he wandered through the resting area, his eyes fell upon a group of storage cases. Among these, one chest seemed to vibrate faintly, and Marlow could swear he heard hushed sounds emanating from within.

His intrigue piqued, and Marlow approached the chest with caution. He carefully unfastened the latches and slowly opened the lid. To his astonishment, two young faces stared up at him, wide-eyed and apprehensive.

Kael and William, who had hidden themselves inside the trunk, were now revealed. Their eyes met Marlow's, and they couldn't contain their surprise. Kael, always the protector of his younger brother, was quick to speak. "Who are you, mister? And why are we here?"

Marlow hesitated, caught off guard by the presence of the two children. He had not expected to discover them in the storage chest. He glanced at Hector, unsure of how to proceed.

Hector, who had been tending to the horses, approached them with a mix of concern and relief. "Kael, William, you are safe now. This is Marlow, a friend."

Kael remained skeptical but was willing to trust his father. "Father, where are we? And why are we here?"

Hector explained briefly, "We are on a journey, and I promise I'll tell you everything when the time is right. For now, let Marlow help ensure your safety."

Jack, who had been keeping watch, sensed that the situation was under control. He nodded in agreement with Hector.

Kael and William, although uncertain, sensed that their father's intentions were genuine. They allowed themselves to be carried by Marlow's soldiers. As they departed from the chest, Kael hesitated and turned to his father. "Father, please come back soon. We want to be with you."

Hector, with a heavy heart, assured them, "I promise, Kael. I'll return as soon as I can."

Marlow nodded, acknowledging the promise. He had not anticipated the presence of children on this journey, but now he had a sense of responsibility toward their safety. He gestured to his soldiers to ensure Kael and William were treated with care.

With the children in the care of Marlow's soldier's carriage, the group continued their journey towards the void. The mountain, still a looming presence on the horizon, signified the final destination of their quest.

The children watched as their father, Marlow, and Jack rode off towards the mountain. They held onto their father's promise, hoping for his swift return. The road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, and the destiny of the kingdom remained uncertain, its future tied to the enigmatic void.

As the group ventured deeper into the mountainous terrain, their destiny drew nearer, and the void lay just beyond their reach.

The group decided to make a halt in the greenery near the river as the horses needed to rest. Marlow excuses Hector and Jack and walks towards the carriage. When he sees two chests rustling, Marlow doubts the presence of someone in that chest so he moves forward to open one chest and finds nothing but swords Rusty swords but as he opens. Another chest,

Marlow was taken aback when he discovered the two young boys, Kael and William, hidden inside the storage chest. Their presence was entirely unexpected, and he couldn't help but wonder how they had ended up in this peculiar situation. Gazing down at them, he could see the mixture of curiosity and fear in their innocent eyes.

"Who are you two?" Marlow inquired gently, hoping to put the children at ease.

William, perhaps more trusting or more anxious to fill the silence, began to answer before Kael could stop him. "I'm William, and this is my big Bruder, Kael."

Kael shot a reproachful look at William, reminding him of their father's instructions to be cautious about revealing their identities to strangers. Nonetheless, Marlow simply smiled warmly and said, "It's nice to meet you, William and Kael. I'm Marlow."

He reached out to caress William's cheek reassuringly. Marlow was struck by their vulnerability and innocence. Despite his ruthless reputation, he felt a wave of sympathy for these two boys who had been thrust into an unexpected situation.

Marlow beckoned to one of his subordinates, who hurried over. "Prepare some food for them; I can hear their stomachs grumbling. And send a message to the palace to let the king know that I'm on an important mission and will return soon."

The soldier nodded and quickly went to carry out Marlow's orders.

Kael, feeling slightly more at ease with Marlow's kindness, decided to speak up. "Mister Marlow, we didn't mean to be in that chest. We were with our father, and the next thing we knew, we were inside it."

Marlow nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Your father, huh? What was he doing, and where is he now?"

Kael hesitated, struggling with how much to reveal. He remembered his father's words about being cautious, but at the same time, he didn't want Marlow to think they were hiding something. "Our father is... on a journey. He needed us to stay safe, and he said he'd come back for us."

Marlow observed the uncertainty in Kael's eyes and detected a certain level of guardedness. He sensed that there was more to this story than the children were letting on. However, he didn't want to press them further, knowing that they were still children, and he was somewhat responsible for their safety at the moment.

"It's alright," Marlow reassured them, "I'm here to make sure you're safe. Your father sounds like a responsible man."

Kael and William exchanged relieved glances. They had been told by their father to be cautious and not to trust strangers easily. Marlow's actions so far had made them feel a little more secure, and they began to trust him.

With the arrival of the food, the two boys eagerly devoured the meal as they sat on a nearby blanket. Marlow watched them with a mix of emotions, wondering how these children had become a part of his journey. His quest to open the void was taking an unexpected turn, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the presence of Kael and William would play a significant role in the events to come.

As they continued their journey towards the mountain and the void.