The Black Fountain

We need to prepare for the final battle!" The soldiers raised their hands with shouts of victor and great victories. They all gathered and walked off toward Yoct.

Somewhere off towards the desert, a few days later, the two soldiers which were dying of thirst dropped Verd off in the middle of the desert. They knew they would not survive the desert again and decided to just stay at a city they had just passed known as Bavion. There they rested until they were better.

Goater walked merrily alongside Xavon. They were now heading toward the mountainous area of Deckbin. It wasn’t long before they left they noticed winter coming in. Both Goater and Xavon knew it would not be long into thick coats of snow covered all of Deckbin. Xavon still did not trust Goater. Goater had tried his hardest to just stay out of Xavon’s way but he soon found it was much harder than he expected. Once after they exited the castle Goater tripped causing Xavon to fall head first into the ground, his mouth full of sand. Xavon did not say much to Goater after that at all. It was a long time after they left, around dusk, that Goater finally spoke.

"Xavon, where are we going? We have traveled for about three hours now and I’m tired. Can we just stop here and rest a while? It will not cause harm if we rest for only a little while, will it?" Xavon noticed that Goater was not much of a traveler. He wasn’t the best company either. "Rest? Already? We have much more land to still go across. And we cannot rest because where we are going may not be there much longer." He turned and continued walking. Goater ran back up to him. "Where we are going. Where are we going? You have just dragged me out of my castle and made me walk for hours without warm clothing, and not to mention the nagging cold, and still I have no idea where I am going. If it wasn’t for Gonz and his soldiers I could be back with them. Of course he will probably kill me by then but..." Xavon turned to face Goater with a grave look on it. "Listen you fool! If you don’t stop babbling now I will kill you. Now listen up. I did not want to bring you but apparently I have to. But I will leave you here all alone if I have to, also. So you pick. Will you go back to Gonz and die, or stay with me and shut up!" Goater didn’t have to think about it long. Xavon continued walking as Goater followed. "Okay," said Goater. "I will be quiet. But at least tell me where we are going?" Xavon turned but looked calmer than Goater ever had seen him before. "I need to see a friend. He lives high in the mountains. His name is Master Cove. He will make me stronger so I can defeat Verd." "Who is Verd?" asked Goater.

Xavon sighed and knew Goater would never learn. They continued walking.

It wasn’t long before the hard winter night was upon them. It was cold and they were both tired. He heard Goater shivering behind him. It wasn’t completely dark then but soon it would be. Xavon stopped. It was now completely dark. Xavon turned to a small thicket of trees on their right. As he walked over, he spoke to Goater. "I’m off to get some wood. You stay here and don’t move no matter what!" He didn’t look back at Goater when he told him this. Perhaps he should have.