In Which Cola Joins The Questors

"Gorden, " David said, "You know we've been friends for a long time."

"Yes"

"And you know how we can tell each other anything?"

"Erm, Yes"

"And you know how we've said that we'll be friends through thick and thin?"

"Urrm, Yes.." Gorden was starting to wonder where this was going.

"And you know how, in years of friendship we've had a total of two arguments - both over what channel to watch on the telly?"

"Get to the point..."

"Well. I. Um. Er." David was having trouble putting it in words, "I think having a woman along is asking for trouble and I think she's double trouble and I don't want her to come between us and cause trouble and..."

"It's alright," Gorden said tapping him on the shoulder, "Trust me."

"'trust me'" David said in a small voice."i hate it when people say that." Then with some force "Why is she talking to Plessey like that?"

"Because she *knows*." Gorden said, "She knows the prophecies. She knows the legend of the Golden Carrot. And," he whispered, "She knows how to cook!"

David thought on this for a moment.

"Cook?".

Gorden nodded.

"Okay," David said, "I'll give her a chance then." His brain kicked into high gear, "Is she the 'One Who Knows' that the swans spoke about?"

Gorden looked at David out of the corner of his eyes and hummed.

"You mean we've started to fulfill prophecy already?" He smiled "I think I could get the hang of this Questing lark."

Plessey floated over.

"We've talked about the first few Prophecies of the Carrot, and I think I know where we're supposed to be going." He pointed, "This way, lads!" He floated off to catch up with Cola.

Cola had a short pole with a handkerchief tied on the end. It bulged with things which just might be food, might be useful objects. Gorden smiled at her behind...

Plessey turned his 'lecturing' voice on:

"We're going to follow the seventy-third ley-line. Now, ley-lines are lines of power that those with the right skill can see and follow. A wizard can draw power whilst following long a ley-line, although crossing a ley-line pulls some power off of the wizard, or indeed anyone that crosses the line. If a lot of people cross the line then the energy can build up and will cause strange things to happen, accidents and the like.

"So we're following one of the oldest lines in the country."

"Hurry up you lot of slacker!" Cola called from in front "We're nearly at the edge of the forest!"

Gorden shivered- he'd never been out of the forest before now. In fact he'd never met anyone who had gone beyond the forest. Well, not any that came back anyway.