Chapter 2: Quest

Cedric found it tough to sleep that night. Many things bothered him -- the Eclipse, his parents’ argument, him being 18th descendant. Morning arrived slowly, with the sun beginning to rise.

He heard something, a barely perceptible noise. Was someone beside him awake at this hour?

He quietly got up and looked out - the door to his mother’s chambers was ajar. She must have spent the night in her own private room. He went to the door and looked in through the half-open door.

Cedrick gasped.

His mother stood half-naked with her back to him. Her hair was pinned up, and the back of a light dress could barely hide her round firm butt. Her entire back was bare. A beautiful palm back adorned with dark birthmarks, freckles, and small scars. He could see half of her left breast.

Cedric’s cheeks immediately blushed at the sight. His mother had a great body. “Damn it, that’s Mom. I can’t think of her like that.”

She let her hair down, covered her back with brown curls, and started getting dressed.

“Where is she going?” When he noticed she was almost done, he hastily retreated to his room and lay down on a bed. Moments later, the door creaked open again. He lifted his head from the pillow and saw his mother in the dim light, now wearing a cloak and a hood.

“Get dressed quickly, honey. We’re going out. All the questions later,” she said mysteriously. Despite his confusion, Cedric complied as his mother helped him get ready. “Just be quiet.”

They walked to the stables, avoiding the guards on their way through the castle corridors. Those who noticed them simply ignored them, as if they were asked to.

Elowen and the man from the council with the Lion emblem awaited them with two horses, it was still a sunrise.

“Finally, the sleepyhead is up,” said Elowen and yawned.

“I wasn’t asleep. And you are...?” Cedric glanced at the man.

“Elias Blunder, Your Highness. It is an honor to accompany you,” declared Blunder as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Cedric accepted the handshake with a hint of uncertainty. “Accompany me to where?”

“I haven’t informed him yet. There was no time,” his mother said to Elias.

“We’re going to stop the Eclipse and save the world!” Elowen added grudgingly.

“Yes, that’s basically what it is,” Blunder chimed in, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.

Cedric turned his attention to his mother. “What about Dad?”

“Your father is no longer thinking straight, son. Unfortunately, we will have to act in secret from him.”

“Let’s leave the castle as soon as possible. We can’t stay here for too long.” Blunder prepared the horses.

They rode through the city. Since he couldn’t ride, he sat behind his Mother, holding onto her waist. The cloak hid his whole face and body. Cedric rested his head against Seraphina’s warm back, wrapping his arms around her waist, and once again, he remembered the morning.

“Mom has a nice body,” he thought, pressing his face against her even more, savoring Mom’s scent, and imagining resting his head against her soft bare back. A small jolt brought him back to reality.

“You’re squeezing me a bit, sweetheart. Let go,” Seraphina whispered.

“Sorry, Mom.”

What’s wrong with me? I need to stop thinking bad thoughts about mom. There’s something nasty going through my head.

They left the city and entered the forests outside the capital, pulling off the main road. “How much longer are going to ride? My back hurts.”

Cedric heard his sister’s voice nearby. Blunder seemed to be riding next to Seraphina with Elowen at his back.

“We’re almost there. And please, keep your hands above my waist, my lady,” Blunder, judging by the sound, pulled Elowen’s hands higher, from his groin to the belt.

“Yes, sir,” Elowen said hesitantly.

After about 20 minutes they stopped. Cedrick’s cloak, which covered him completely, was removed from his head. The sun had already risen high and he looked around, shielding his eyes from the sun.

It was a camp. Men with the Lion emblem on their clothes and shields were scattered around. Tents were pitched at the edge of the forest. Sentries patrolled while soldiers sat around chatting by the fire.

“Welcome to your private camp, Cedric.” Blunder helped Elowen off the horse and approached the prince.

“My private camp?”

“Sir Blunder set it up for your journey to stop the Eclipse,” Seraphina said, getting off the horse after him.

Cedric felt his hands grow clammy. “So we’re really going to do it without father’s permission? Behind his back?”

“Unfortunately, we have to.” His Mom ran her hand through his hair like she always did.

“We leave in a couple of hours,” Blunder said, taking of his hood and cloak.

“But where are we going?”

“We’ll take you to the Archi-Library on the west. The answer to stopping the Eclipse might be there.”

“You’re so brave, Sir Blunder,” Elowen approached him, patting his sturdy back. “Saving the world and not fearing the King’s possible wrath, even though you know how harshly and cruelly he deals with his enemies and traitors.”

“Um ... yeah. Thanks.”

“Why is she coming with us again, Mom?” Cedric pointed at his sister.

“Because I won’t leave her with your father. I know how angry he gets, and he’ll be furious after what we did. “I couldn’t let him take his anger out on my daughter.”

“Hey! What? Didn’t you say my clever mind would help my dumb brother on his journey?”

“Well, I might have lied to you a bit,” Seraphina smiled.

“I’m sure your clever mind will indeed be an asset to us,” Blunder smirked.

“Oh, come on! I’m an 18th descendant too, you know. Don’t forget that. Maybe I’ll even take Cedric’s place and stop the Eclipse. Why did everyone choose Cedric as the hero of the prophecy instead of me?” She walked off towards the camp, kicking the grass in frustration. Some soldiers with lion emblems on their helmets walked past and gave her curious looks.

“Here, Cedric, take this.” Blunder handed him the sword as Elowen disappeared behind a random tent. “The hilt is shaped like a crescent moon. The sword was made just for you. I wanted to give you this for your 18th birthday and finally meet you at the king’s castle. But I got too caught up with the eclipse news.”

“A s-s-sword?” Cedric hesitated but took it carefully.

“I don’t think we need it, Lord. Thanks, but Cedric has never held a sword before,” Seraphina stepped in, about to take the sword from her son.

“You said there were no dangers in the castle, and I could only hurt myself,” Cedric didn’t give it back, lightly pulling the sword out of its leather sheath.

“Well, you’re not in the castle anymore. You’re in the Inner Lands, where bandits, mythical beasts, and creatures prowl. And if we’re lucky enough to get past them, we’ll be hunted by the king and his army. I’ll find your son a teacher, queen.” With these words, he bowed and headed for the camp. “We leave in two hours.”