by Joshua Hoyt
Chapter 14:
The companions had traveled for about ten miles when John held up his hand and motioned for everyone to find a place to hide. Tom, Cody and Aithnea hid behind a nearby bush. Tom sat quietly, fearing that the pounding in his heart would give them away as he strained to hear anything. After a few minutes, he heard men marching on the road below, but he couldn’t see anything through the bush he hid behind. Several more minutes passed as the men drew closer. John suddenly came out from behind a tree and walked toward a group of men. He made a slight motion with his hand telling the others to stay hidden. “Hello friends!” John said.
The group stopped and a woman spoke. “Hello.”
“I have been lost in these hills for several days now and hoped that you could point me in the right direction,” John said casually.
“Where’re you heading?” the woman said.
“I’m heading to Darthmoth.”
“Well, you’re only a day or so from there if you continue going in that direction… If you don’t mind me asking, where’re you coming from?”
“Well you see, it’s kind of embarrassing to tell you the truth, but I’m from Darthmoth. I was out hunting and slipped and fell. Hit my head. Since then I can't remember the direction and have been wandering for several days,” John said.
“I see. Are you all right?” the woman said with some concern.
“Yes, I seem to be doing just fine other than running out of food and water.”
“We’ve a little to spare if you don’t mind bread.” John walked closer to the woman. “Have you seen anyone else out here? We’re looking for some friends who have also become lost,” the woman said.
John stopped for a second then continued walking. “No, I’ve only seen you. Do you have a description of your friends?”
Some rocks rolled behind Tom and he turned just in time to see a man throw a net toward them. “It’s a trap,” Tom yelled as he rolled out of the way. The net fell on top of Cody and Aithnea and hit Tom’s feet. The woods came alive as men exploded from behind the trees. Two men rushed Kristiana and Caspin, who had hidden behind another bush. Kristiana turned throwing a dagger at the first man and dodging to the side as the other man grabbed for her. Caspin hit the man in the back with his staff knocking the man face first into the bushes. The man who had thrown the net came toward Tom with his sword drawn. Tom dodged as the man reached for him but slipped on the loose rocks on the hillside falling to his hands and knees. Something hit him in the back and knocked the wind out of him. He fell to his stomach, his lungs feeling as if they were on fire.
Tom gasped for breath, too stunned to do anything else, as the man who hit him fell on his back and grabbed his hands pulling them behind him. Tom struggled but the lack of air and the weight of the man on top of him made it impossible to move. The last thing he heard was Aithnea screaming out his name.
