by Sigrid Kraft
I hope Branden was not the wrong choice. Now we have to act fast. “Sir Oswold, Raegnir and the men you have chosen should hold themselves in readiness. And you, Master Eriwen, leave as soon as possible for Falgars Vale before the Unhaer does you in.”
The mage didn’t object. In fact, he looked as if he was about to fall off his mount. So the Gray Wolf added: “Some of your students had better go with you.”
At that moment, Willen rode up to the commandant and suggested: “Lord Boron, we should carry on a little farther. When our man climbs the first hill, he will be able to see a good deal of the road below him. And he might get suspicious if he sees us riding back.”
There is truth in that. The man isn’t such a simpleton as he looks. But Master Eriwen is deteriorating by the minute. We must get him back soon, and it is two days of hard riding back to Falgars Vale. He won’t hold out much longer than that. Nevertheless, letting him go now could risk the success of the whole mission.
It was a difficult decision for the Gray Wolf to take but he gave the command anyway: “We ride on for just a short while.” They proceeded very, very slowly. “How much longer until he can’t see us any more?”
Willen shrugged: “Hard to say. You see that little hill there? He can see us from there. After that, it slopes down again, and then there is another rise to the top of the next hill. He could see us from there too, but by then he will be far away.”
“Our magician must turn back. When you think the shadow has had time to crossed the first hill, give me a sign and we will take the risk and send Master Eriwen back.”
“And if I get it wrong? He might rest for a while...”
I can’t anticipate every eventuality. And if we lose Master Eriwen or our target, you will pay for it. “Well, then, that’s the way it is. Are you a trapper or not? What would you do in his situation? That is how you should make your decision,” he shouted at Willen. The scout turned his head and looked up the hillside. He squinted as if this might help him to see farther. Then he turned again and said: “Now!”
A wave and Sir Oswold and his squad left the road and disappeared into the woods. The magicians turned their horses and galloped in the opposite direction as if they were being pursued by a dragon. That went well. Now let’s hope the timing was right. Discipline is certainly a fine thing.
The Gray Wolf relaxed a little. His plan seemed to be working as he had intended. Now there was nothing for it but to wait again.
Branden Hold was surprised to discover the true identity of their shadow, that ‘their man’ was in fact a woman. It was not hard to track her down after the mages had told him where she was hiding. Without their help, though, it would have been extremely difficult to find her. She was lying under the low hanging branches of a hazelnut bush and keeping watch on the Black Guard. When the troop left, she followed at a distance.
At first, Branden relied completely on his invisibility and wasn’t particularly careful. In a moment of inattention, he stepped on a dry branch and the wood snapped with a loud crack. Alarmed by the noise, the shadow stopped abruptly. Her senses alert, the woman stared in his direction, trying to make out the source of the sound. Branden held his breath and stood as motionless as a rock. Her eyes were directly focused on him. Branden dared not make the slightest move.
Does the ring really work?
And then she turned and ran on again.
She is damned beautiful, that pretty little bird. For a brief moment Branden doubted that the woman could actually be one of those crude outlaws they were after. Perhaps she is the daughter of a local huntsmen. Then, slightly annoyed with himself, he rejected the thought: Branden, don’t be an idiot. An innocent person would hardly spy on a troop of soldiers for three whole days, would she?
When the soldiers on the road made camp for the night, the shadow did the same. She made no fire, but just looked for a safe place, where she had a meal. As she ate, Branden crept up closer, taking pleasure in watching her. She is incredibly beautiful.
She took off her fur cap and long black hair cascaded down her back. Full lips and dark eyes lent her an air of sensuousness. Her skin was browned by the sun, although her natural coloring seemed to be fair. Through her clothes, he could see the curves of her feminine figure. Branden was transfixed by the scene and noticed his cock hardening. He wanted her. The desire to take her right now was strong, and he imagined himself forcing her down in uncontrolled lust. But his common sense won out: Everything in its own good time. Lord Boron will surely be upset if I destroy his delicate plan so thoughtlessly. And crossing Lord Boron is the same as crossing the Prince of Ardeen: A thought that frightens even me.
The woman now prepared for sleep, and Branden withdrew very carefully. Once he had reached a safe distance, he set up signs for the troops who would follow him: broken branches, and arrow-shaped incisions in the bark of trees.
Even those blind soldiers should be able to see these signs. I hope they keep a good distance behind me. They are like a bunch of longhorns trampling noisily through the undergrowth. The art of moving soundlessly on silent feet is unknown to them, and my beautiful quarry is as nervous as a fawn.
After he had set the signs, Branden also lay down. He was able to sleep lightly if necessary. In that state he was roused by any suspicious sound, and he would wake before sunrise, a skill he had mastered over many years of hiding and spying on others.
It would probably have been better to stay close to his target, but he knew he sometimes snored, and unfortunately, he was not able to control that unpleasant habit.
Our watchful beauty would surely find a snoring heap of leaves extremely suspicious. Going back to camp with the troops is not an alternative either. I could lose the rebel lady if she wakes before I get back. So I’d better stay close. And anyway I don’t enjoy the company of those soldiers. I can’t stand their overblown discipline – it makes me puke. Especially the commandant, his Lordship, Sir Boron. I’ll wager he doesn’t unclench his buttocks even when he shits...
As he had expected, Branden awoke before dawn. With great caution, he slipped back to the woman’s camp. She was still sleeping, and he found a comfortable place from which to observe her. He became lost in his own fantasies: What things he would do with her, and his cock hardened again. To distract himself from his lecherous desires, he ate something. All very slowly and silently, silently, silently.
The woman awoke as day was breaking. Shortly afterwards, noises could be heard as the soldiers’ camp stirred to life.
The disturbance piqued the woman’s interest. Quickly, she packed her things and crept quietly to her observation post. Branden tailed her, making sure not to get too close.
Finally the Black Guard broke camp and rode on with the shadow on their heels. Branden kept a safe distance and continued to lay a trail. Suddenly, the woman stopped and glanced at the road where the soldiers were marching. Then she changed direction and climbed up the hillside.
Finally, something is going on, Branden thought excitedly.
On the first hilltop she glanced back and Branden was afraid she may have noticed him. Then he saw her looking back towards the road, where in the distance, the column of soldiers marched on slowly like a colony of ants. Once she was sure that the soldiers were continuing up the road, she descended the hillside. Branden reached the top of the hill and marked another tree. He followed the beauty with his eyes as she headed down a straight path heading west, while on the other side of the hill, the soldiers carried on towards Aspengate. All at once, several men split from the unit and cantered back. A second group of soldiers vanished into the woods.
All right, the reinforcements are on their way, Branden thought, before hastening after the shadow, afraid of losing his quarry.
Now and again, the young woman followed a path used by game, then she turned off again to hike through the brush. At one point, she emerged from the woods to cross an open field, only to disappear again once she reached the next grove of trees.
It w
as already afternoon when the shadow vanished behind a rock and Branden lost sight of her. He rounded the rock a few seconds later and almost ran into her. She was standing right behind the wall of stone and speaking to three men seated on the ground around a camp fire.
“Hello, Corbe, you lot weren’t being very attentive. If I’d been an enemy...”
“... you would be dead on the ground,” Corbe joked and they all laughed.
Very, very slowly Branden withdrew.
Phew, my carelessness almost endangered the whole mission. Besides, it isn’t that simple to rely on being invisible. I can see everybody, which makes me think they might be able to see me, too. That makes me really nervous.
Now the woman grew serious and reported: “Soldiers are passing along the road. About one hundred men – heavily armed. I have been trailing them for two days now – since they left Falgars Vale. They are probably bound for the gate. At first I was afraid they were after us, but they continued along the road without turning into the mountains. I suppose we weren’t their target.”
“Well, not everybody runs to the mountains attracted by your beauty, Aileen Coldheart,” Corbe teased her.
Branden was charmed: Aileen, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.
“Aileen Nightshadow, do you remember? A spearwoman. You know what that means, Corbe?” she joked but then turned serious again: “I have seen Willen and Raegnir among them. There was also a third scout, but I don’t know who he was. They had four mages among them. I expect Vrat will want to know about that.”
“Willen, that filthy traitor,” he growled. “Are you sure? I thought he turned to ashes when Aspengate burned down.”
“Me too, but I am sure it was him. Willen Onetooth isn’t someone you’d easily mistake for someone else. Unless he has an identical twin who is just as ugly as he is.”
Corbe made a gesture of invitation. “Come, sit down and share our poor meal.”
But Aileen shook her head: “No, thanks. I’ll go to the camp and spread the news. It isn’t that far any more. You could join me.”
Now it was Corbe who turned down the offer: “We still have to check the traps we set yesterday. We need more supplies. This morning, Scagen and my little brother Hal checked the traps to the west while I went north. It wasn’t as successful as I had hoped. Maybe we’ll have more luck in the east. We probably won’t return till nightfall.”
“Well, good luck then,” Aileen wished them before continuing on her way.
The situation bothered Branden and he considered what to do. The squad is following me and they will run into the soldiers just as I did unless I warn them. I was invisible, so I managed to avoid being seen. However, they don’t have that advantage. If I stay, I can’t follow the shadow. The camp can’t be that far away, the woman said so herself. But if the huntsmen notice the soldiers and even one of them escapes, the rebels will be alarmed and run off to hide somewhere else. All right, one thing at a time. Branden made up his mind. He turned and went back the way he had just come.
A short time later, he met the others. They were closer than he had expected and were making more noise than he would have liked.
Raegnir is with them. That’s the reason they could follow the track so quickly.
Branden pulled off the ring and became visible to the surprised troops. He explained his plan to them. It was a simple one, made even easier by the fact that the three rebels were still resting on the ground. Simple solutions are usually the best.
Branden, invisible again, crept up behind Corbe. As soon as the soldiers appeared round the corner with drawn weapons the rebels jumped up. Branden grabbed Corbe from behind and slit his throat with a single, swift blow. Before the man even noticed what had happened, he sank down and was dead before he hit the ground. Scagen, the older of the two brothers, drew his long knife. The younger brother, Hal, had only a hunting knife.
Branden watched them anxiously. They are considering what to do now.
Hal seemed paralyzed by fear, but Scagen was clearly ready to attack.
“Weapons down! It is over!” hissed Branden. However, Scagen leapt forward and shouted:
“The time has come, brother, sell your life dearly!” Even before he could deliver a blow himself, three blades pierced him through and any further words were smothered in a swell of blood that surged out of his mouth. His knees gave way and death took hold of him.
Hal, who had been wavering even before anything happened, was now completely broken after seeing his brother die. Trembling, he threw his knife away. It wasn’t a threat to the soldiers anyway. He was overwhelmed in an instant, bound up and gagged. The whole action lasted no longer than a few seconds, so Branden thought that there was still a chance to catch the shadow. He exchanged a few words with Raegnir, who told him about a nearby valley which was an optimal place to hide. Raegnir gave a simplified description of the way there and then warned Branden that he would become visible the moment he touched another person.
Good I didn’t know about that important detail before now. That could have been a very unpleasant surprise. Magical things always need to be handled with care. Sometimes they do nothing, sometimes they do too much and most times they don’t do the things you want them to.
The soldiers and Raegnir waited for the others to catch up and Branden went off to find the shadow and the hidden valley. I wonder what I’ll find first, the beauty or the rebels’ camp?
The Black Guard, led by Willen, found the way as easily as Raegnir had done before, so they were not far behind. Willen had also been thinking about where the rebels’ camp might be. The path they had taken had already eliminated two possibilities and when they reunited with Raegnir, Willen was sure that the rebels were camped in Eaglevalley. The valley had a small gap that served as an entrance from this side and slowly widened out. On the other side, there was another entry point leading deeper into the mountains. A small mountain stream flowed through it, ensuring a steady supply of water. To get around the mountain to the other entrance of the valley, it was a ten-hour walk, so it seemed impossible that the valley would be attacked from both sides at the same time... unless the Gray Wolf had planned the assault.
The only problem now is that it may not be the right place. Branden is off to scout. Although his decision was right, I would feel much better if he and the ring were here. I don’t like to trust someone like him.
Lord Boron looked down at the rebels’ bodies and Raegnir identified one of them as Corbe.
“He was famous, the right hand man of Vrat, they say.” The commander nodded and Raegnir continued by way of a short explanation: “That one – unknown to me.”
The officer, who had also taken part in that first brief skirmish, was more informative than Raegnir: “The man showed true courage when he attacked our superior strength, knowing that he fought a fight he could not win, Sir. His brother turned out to be a coward and that could now be to our advantage.”
Lord Boron glanced at their captive. “He can give us some information.”
The boy was named Hal and his eyes were filled with fear. It won’t be long until he speaks, of that I am certain. He is little more than a child, not a warrior.
Interrogating people belonged to the dirtiest parts of war and Lord Boron delegated that unpleasant task to Sir Oswold. The officer disliked it just as much but had orders to obey. Two veterans of the Guard took the lad between them and dragged him off to one side. Sir Oswold ordered Willen to join them and the questioning began.
When Hal understood what awaited him, he pissed himself.
I am not as brave as my big brother Scagen. Never was. Scagen always cared for me. But now he is dead – gone to the Gods. He is safe now. No one can hurt him any more. But they can do things to me... I wish I were dead too. Hal gulped. Perhaps I should have attacked too. But I was frozen with fear when they suddenly appeared. And the black bearded one stood right in our midst, coming out of nowhere to slit Corbe’s throat. That is darkest sorcery. Hal attempted to s
ubdue his fear by bolstering his spirits: I am a Fenn. I have to be brave and try to warn the others. But if he were honest, he did not believe his own words.
The soldiers wore faces like stony masks and the trapper stood there looking slightly bored as if he were a casual bystander.
“Well, boy, listen. You can make it easy for yourself ... or not,” the officer declared.
“We just need some information. We probably already know most of it, so you can spare the lies. How many of you are there? Where is your hideout? What about the number and positions of the sentries? You see, very simple things. The gag will now be removed from your mouth, but you will not scream out. Just let us have a calm conversation and tell us everything we want to know. Do you understand?”
Hal nodded and the gag was removed. A shout carries a long way in the mountains. Maybe someone will hear me. In a spark of heroism, Hal decided to shout out a warning. He took a deep breath, but before a sound escaped from his lips, a fist punched him in the stomach and he bent double, gasping in pain. A soldier dragged him up by the hair. Then they gagged him again.
The officer seemed disappointed: “Apparently we have not understood each other. Well, where shall we begin?” He examined Hal from head to toe and made his decision: “Let’s start by breaking a little finger.”
One of the veterans held the lad tight while the other grabbed his bound hands. Hal tried to hide the finger by making a fist, but the soldier bent it upwards easily and snapped it with a quick jerk. The gag absorbed the attempt at a scream so that all that was heard was a whimper of pain. One of the soldiers cut Hal’s shirt open and allowed the cold blade to slide over the naked skin like a snake until he let it bite into the flesh. A thin red line appeared and blood trickled out of the wound. Hal tried to break free. It was not the courage of a hero but pure terror that gave him strength. The veterans were far too strong for him, however, and forced him to his knees. The knife again danced its wicked dance, and with the pain Hal’s desperation grew. I can’t stand this torture any more.