The return home?

[Efren]

Efren and his party had began their week travel back to the mountains. Efren felt defeated in the fact that they had not completely obliterated the bandits, not only that, but he had let down his friend. The moon was beginning its usual rise late in the evening, the group stopped and made camp. Efren stood next to some trees and watched the sun begin to set as the others set to their own duties.

"I cant wait to get bloody home, a bath sounds nice..." Inaldor had said to the others.

"Yea, my armor has got blood stains all over it. This is going to take hours of my drinking time to clean." Trixeal had said while getting the fixings to make a fire.

"You're not kidding, I have blood that soaked through my armor into my clothes, I stink..." Jero sat against a tree and complained.

Efren heard their complaints, he couldn't blame them for complaining. He had gotten them in this mess, he had dismissed the laws of his land, something was bound to happen.

Efren contemplated going back. He felt so trapped being forced to stay in the palace, confined to the mountains. He knew he would upset Aes, but not only that, his people, his mother. He didn't want to only know the world as a normal dwarf would know it, but to actually map it out himself. Colarion had a free wandering mind, why couldn't he. Efren was soon brought out of his trance by Inaldor.

"Ale, my king?" Inaldor held a cup to Efren.

Efren looked at it, and sighed. "Not for me Inaldor, not tonight."
Efren turned back to the sun, its light slowly dimming away as darkness crept its way across the land. Efren turned away from the sun and sat by the fire. The flames began to dance around as the others began drinking their ale. He looked at the others and smiled to himself. They were able to have a good time, as soon as he returns home, he wont. He knew the counsel was going to be angry at him for acting so harshly, acting upon emotions is what gets people killed. Then again, it could do so much more.

[Efren]

The next morning as the sun rose, Efren was the first to wake. He yawned and stretched, then stood up only to see that his group were still asleep. Drunk, probably...

He walked out of their encampment to a nearby stream. He splashed water on his face, and began to wash his hands. There was a sound, so quick it came, and was gone. This made him wary of his surroundings. He began to look around him, in every direction he could twist his neck. Nothing in sight. He began his way back to the camp, and suddenly he had heard it again. He quickened his pace towards his encampment. He was being followed, he knew it.

Suddenly he ran to the camp. "To arms!" he yelled. His men woke up instantly, knowing that the battle was soon to be near. Efren picked up his axe and waited for any sight of the enemy. "Where are they my lord?" Inaldor asked

Efren scanned the scenery again, still nothing came to sight. Had what ever was following them stopped? Perhaps he was imagining things. "At ease."

Jero gave Efren a look of disbelief and turned to the others. "I think he's lost his bloody mind."

Trixeal turned to Jero. "I know what you mean, first he doesn't want to drink, and now he's seeing things."

Efren knew something was there? but how to make it visible to the others seemed near impossible. Perhaps he just needed to get to the palace and get some sleep. "Lets pack up and start our day off early..."

The mountains were becoming more visible as they traveled. The wind played with their hair, and also brought something else with it. "Ok who passed the bloody wind." Inaldor had said while covering his nose.

Efren covered up his nose as well. "Smells like something died in someone's arse."

Jero also covered up. "It was me..."

The rest of the group shook their heads simultaneously. "And you had to lead the bloody way." Trixeal said from the back.

[Efren]

The base of the Atlas Mountains was finally visible to them, but it seemed so much different. Had there been a building constructed without his consent? The wall had gotten bigger, and with it, the harder it was to pass.

Efren walked ahead of the group. He was glad to me home. He walked up to the wall, and slung his axe over his shoulder. "Open up the bloody wall!!"

The gates began to move, but it had a different sound. There were no grunts of men behind it pulling it backwards to allow them to pass through. Instead there was a sound of gears pulling the door open. "Well tha's new..."

Immediately the group spread. most of them to the pub, one to the barracks. Efren made his way through the stairs that led to the palace. The sweet smell of the mines came to his nostrils. "Good to be home." The sight of the palace was near, but he was stopped by the guards at the entrance. "Sorry sir, we cannot allow you to pass."

Efren looked at them. "Why the bloody hell cant I pass." He said sternly. The guards looked at one another and back at Efren. "Under Counselman Cylios' orders."

Efren couldn't believe it. He couldn't enter the palace under the counsel's order. Who do they think they are...

Efren walked forward, the guards tried to block his move, but he pushed them aside. "Touch me again, and I'll personally order something for you..."

He continued to the palace door, and opened it. He saw Counselman Cylios sitting in the throne. As the door opened, Cylios looked at the door. [color=Maroon"I said no... oh... Hello my king."[/color]

"Decided to play leader now? How old are you Cylios?" Efren said mockingly towards him.

Cylios bowed. "My apologies Efren, I was... er... Making sure everything was perfect for your return."

Efren glared at him. "I'm sure... just leave me in peace." Cylios bowed again, and began to leave. "And Cylios?"

Cylios stopped and turned towards Efren. "Yes my king?"

"Stay away from my mother..." Efren walked to his personal chambers and slammed the door.

Efren undressed from his armor, and had his servants begin a hot bath for him. He got into the tub, and relaxed for the first time in three weeks.