Chapter 11: The Journey Beings

The party of questers made good time through the woods, following Reverend Peppy. Fox was eager to ask a few more questions, but the hare's urgent yet stealthy pace gave the feeling that enemies might be close by. So he kept quiet. All of them did.

this went on for over and hour and a half, until they reached a small stream. There Peppy sat down with a weary huff.

"Hopefully this will be safe, both for them, and for us," he said. "At least long enough to catch out second wind."

"Works for me," Slippy replied, dropping by the stream to drink. "Heh, couldn't do that back home."

"Do what? Walk so far?"

"Drink directly from the stream," Fox explained as he took a seat. He was surprised at how comfortable he was in the armor. "On our world, natural water may look clean, but often it isn't, Reverend."

"Peppy, please. You are supposed to be Sir Fox, remember?"

"That certainly feels more natural," Falco commented, adding, "despite the crazy outfits."

"Heh, given the way you speak, I'd advise silence should we encounter anyone." Peppy chuckled. "Your mannerisms plainly give you away as imposters."

"So the McCloud Keep is five days away?" Fox asked.

"Yes. We're taking the most direct route to it. There aren't too many places to rest, however, save the ground."

"Ah, so it's Survival 101 finals all over again," joked Slippy as he leaned back against a tree. At the reverend's confusion, Falco clarified,

"A test we took in the Academy, where you got blindfolded, taken to the middle of the woods, given a map, compass, some food, and told to find your own way back. Usually a five day trek." He grinned. "We made it in three, with food to spare."

"How much trouble should we expect to run into?" Fox was trying to learn as much as he could, to figure out exactly what he was facing. The reverend shrugged.

"Hard to say. We might run into quite a bit, perhaps - I pray - none, at least until we reach the manor itself. Then - " He sighed. "it will all depend on how much Andross knows about the Keep's design, and how much he has changed. My hope it to enter through one of the escape routes, directly into the chapel itself. If it's blocked off however, the only entrance will be the front gate itself."

"Isn't there anyone who could help us?" asked Krystal. that question seemed to improve Peppy's mood.

"Oh, we have our allies," he answered. "Namely those members of the Royal Order of the Brotherhood still left alive."

"The Royal Order of the Brotherhood?" echoed Slippy.

"Yes, or the R-O-B for short." His use of the initials made the others look at each other, noting the almost eerie coincidence. "It's comprised off all the leading knights and nobles, including the king himself, who make up the core of the government. It started almost as a game, really, between myself, James, and the king - then a prince - and Beltino, Slippy's father. We began to call ourselves that, like a fellowship of sorts, and bit by bit other noble's children joined in. And after we all grew up, it was only natural that out game became a real Order."

"And they'll help us?"

"As much as they can, Falco. Almost all of the nobles of the Brotherhood have been forced to yield to Andross, or pay with their lives, but they secretly give aid to the rebellion. And the knights became the rebellion itself, although we are scattered to the four winds, forced to meet in secret, never more that two or three of us at once, and communicating mostly though the spy network. In fact, I'm overdue to receive a message. The skirmish that wounded Sir Fox put us a bit behind."

"Is it close by?" Krystal wondered.

"Yes, and it's a message I cannot let wait. It is from one of the best informants we've got, known as Poet by his own claim. He leaves me messages at a temple in a nearby village... which is sadly overrun by Andross' dragon-men minions."

"Then we'll go with you," Falco instantly said.

"No. Such a crowd is sure to draw their attention."

"Then only one of us," Fox countered. "Peppy, what happens is one of those goons figures out who you are? We have no idea how to get to the McCloud keep, and even if you told us, or gave us a map, chances are we wouldn't make it. Even if we did, how would we find this passage you mentioned. Like it or not, you just became the most crucial member of this team." Peppy sighed.

"Very well. Who will go with me?"

"I will," insisted Fox.

"As you wish. We leave tomorrow at dawn."