by Chris Ward
The lake was quite small but at its centre was an island containing several trees and rich grasses. Immediately Rema knew this was the place to camp, for the water would prevent the more dangerous of the night creatures from crossing. Only perhaps a determined bear would try and he knew they could take down a bear or two easily enough. The water too seemed deep and within a short time Rema had run quickly around the lake some distance and confirmed that this was so. He returned to the others and informed them of his discovery, and so as the sun gave the last of its light they led their steeds down the faint track to the edge of the lake and coaxed them in. The water was deadly cold but presented no problems for any and soon they were comfortable enough on their own small island with a roaring fire and fresh cooked venison; more than enough for all.
The wolves came more quickly this time. Their howling was clear and loud, and it seemed a larger pack than the night before. The fire was built up and the archers stood with weapons ready whilst the horses gathered uneasily together and huddled as best they could under the only tree which stood in the centre of the small island. Suddenly a dozen wolves appeared out of the shadows and stood together in the moonlight, and it was clear the leader of the pack was the same one they had seen the night before.
‘He has tracked us all day, and yet did not attack us,’ Reigin said.
‘Truly creatures of the night,’ Rema responded. And so they looked on quietly as once more the huge beast marshalled its companions and planned what attack they might devise. In the end the water seemed to defeat them, although for one wolf the smell of horseflesh was too much and it took a running leap and landed far out in the lake but not close enough to worry any on the island and a single arrow from Rema dispatched it on its return to the others. As it stood dripping and shaking off the cold lake water, the arrow dropped it before its companions without a sound. The pack howled eerily together then and it was clear that they were greatly distressed at the loss. The leader snarled horribly after the howling ceased and it seemed that this wolf was not about to give up on such a prize. It had tracked them all day and now the horses were so close... The wolves disappeared into the night but Orcxyl said he could see them sitting back in the shadows, waiting.
Finally they settled to sleep leaving only Rema to guard. He kept the fire well fuelled and he could see the faint outline of two of the wolves since Orcxyl had pointed out where they waited, but they did not move and when he handed over to The Great Hunter just after midnight they were still there. Orcxyl however detected a change.
‘There is one by the water,’ he whispered and sure enough an enormous wolf had crept unnoticed down to the lake’s edge and was sitting motionless looking at the horses. ‘Look, there is something in the water,’ Orcxyl whispered again for once more his keen sight had detected yet another small change in what was before them, ‘there is ripple there, just ....’ But before he could say another word the water in front of the lone wolf suddenly exploded. A mighty creature seemed to emerge from the depths and instantly fixed itself onto the head of the wolf, indeed its whole head disappeared into the mouth of the attacker. The wolf screamed in agony, immediately bringing its companions to its side. The sleepers on the island were instantly awake for the noise of the terrified wolf was fearful.
‘It is a snake!’ Rema cried in awe, ‘...an enormous snake,’ and they watched as the giant creature writhed and coiled itself around the doomed wolf. The other wolves tore at the snake but even their great fangs did little to deter such a beast. Slowly it pulled its coils tighter and the wolf cried less and less for it could not draw any breath, and then the snake drew back and disappeared beneath the water with its helpless prey, and in a moment the water calmed, leaving only the frantic wolf pack running back and forward along the shore sniffing and pawing at the water in distress.
The five companions stared silently at the place the snake had disappeared for quite some time before Sylvion gave voice to what each was thinking.
‘That was in the water when we swam over here,’ she said very slowly, sounding each word carefully. To this Gravyn added grimly...
‘And it will be there when we swim back.’
‘As we must,’ Reigin whispered after a time.
They slept no further that night, but built up the fire and sat quietly talking. The wolves departed before the dawn and this time it was hoped they had left for good. They decided not to attempt the water crossing until the sun was well up thinking that perhaps there was some mood in the forest which brought fearful things only in the dark hours, and that the daylight brought a different world; but it was desperate hope. There was yet more to be revealed, for Rema went cautiously to the water’s edge and walked along the bank, examining what else might be there and best avoided. What he saw made his heart freeze.
‘Come!’ he called quietly when he had recovered himself, ‘Come now!’ And within a moment they all gazed into the depths for the water was clear to the bottom.
Sylvion put her hand to her mouth and could not speak.
‘There are snakes everywhere,’ Orcxyl muttered, ‘as big as the one last night...’
‘Look there it is,’ Reigin said and pointed. Some distance out and lying still upon the bottom was the snake which had taken the wolf; it was clear enough, for its giant belly was mightily distended from swallowing the wolf whole.
‘Are they resting?’ Sylvion finally managed to speak.
‘Well we must have passed over some last evening, and they did not attack,’ Rema said, ‘perhaps the daylight settles them.’
‘How are we to know?’ Sylvion asked. ‘We must get back...’ But none knew what the answer was, until Gravyn offered a simple plan.
‘It is not much help My Lady,’ he said, addressing himself to his Queen as was his custom, ‘but perhaps we can use the carcass of the deer. If we throw it in over the other side of the island and then depart quickly from this side we might distract them...’
No one said anything for a time, but they all thought hard and in the end none could come up with anything better.
‘Ready the horses and take them to the water,’ Sylvion said finally, ‘and let us hope they cannot see down into the depths as we can.’ And so they were quickly ready and Reigin and Gravyn took the deer carcass to the far side of the island and threw it far out into the water. The snakes on the bottom suddenly came to life and swam toward the disturbance to investigate, except for the one with the wolf in its stomach which did not move at all.
‘Quickly now!’ Sylvion cried as the way before them seemed to clear, and she spurred her steed into the water as the others followed and with the horses swimming strongly they made the opposite bank without incident save for their emotions which required some time to recover from the ordeal. It was Gravyn who had the final word before they rode away.
‘I prefer the forests of Revelyn,’ he said gruffly. And no one disagreed.
Once more the travelling by day was uneventful, in fact all seemed most pleasant, and the nightly events receded a little, until once more in the mid noon they gave thought to where best to spend the night; but as they discussed the matter they came upon another road, leading directly west, and this was no small path off into the forest. They halted and knew that the choice could not be lightly made. Orcxyl dismounted and did all he could to find some useful mark upon the ground as the others sat upon their mounts and waited, but in the end he could not say which road Rayven had travelled.
‘I can find nothing My lady,’ he said in some frustration. He shook his head. ‘There is no clue to which road she took.’ Sylvion looked most grim at this news and turned to Reigin.
‘What do we do?’ She said. ‘If we choose the wrong road we will not find Rayven in time.’ But Reigin shook his head.
‘We have an even chance,’ he said quietly weighing the odds. ‘My thought would be to take the west road, but there is no great reason, save it is more direct to where we think she went...’
But they had no further time
to consider the matter for suddenly a mighty sound of galloping hooves came to them and in a moment before any could react to defend themselves, they were surrounded by a score of mounted soldiers, who emerged from the forest to the east. They were well armed and rode upon the greatest horses they had ever seen, save Sylvion... and Reigin too.
These are Equin, she thought, astounded, but then the leader of the soldiers spoke. He was an impressive man, both tall and strong and with a most intelligent face, and one they all quickly noted was without a blemish on his forehead. Indeed none of those around them bore the mark of the beast.
‘My name is Tryon. I am true Ravalin. You have been watched since you entered the Great Forest. You are in great danger.’ He pointed toward the road to the west. ‘A great army is less than a league away and is coming quickly. In a span you will be slain if you travel that road. You must come with us to safety. Have no fear for you are with friends.’ His horse reared as he turned it hard and then once more he ordered, ‘Come now, ride with us, all will be explained, but it is death to remain longer,’ and so without protest they found themselves galloping alongside the huge and beautiful horses of the ones who claimed to be the true Ravalin, on down the road to the south west, but not for any great distance. Within a league they swept over a rise and halted momentarily to take breath. What lay before them was a sight which took that breath clean away.
The forest opened up and for near a league down the hill before them and perhaps the same distance either side, was open ground, well tilled, both lush and green. Small fields and stone walls took up the space and channels of clear water flowed to every corner and every field, but what lay beyond was far more amazing. A mighty river flowed there, wide and powerful. To the north were falls, in several steps, and the roar of the water now came clearly to them. The spray, climbing high into the air captured the light and made a rainbow which danced about most beautifully. And opposite where they sat on snorting steeds, was a promontory which jutted out into the river and upon it was a mighty fortress, high and well defended, with deep and swift flowing water on three sides, and battlements facing to the open ground. The fortress was built on a small and steep hill upon the promontory, so it towered over the fields and the water and the five companions were struck with its magnificence and its design.
‘Welcome to KingsLoss, my friends,’ Tryon leader of the true Ravelin said, and then he spurred his horse forward and they raced down the hill and across the fields and within short time they rode between two towers on the gates and into the mighty fortress and to safety; although from what danger they fled they could only guess.
They dismounted in a cobbled courtyard and Tyron greeted them once more.
‘I am sorry for any distress we may have caused you, but as you will soon see, we barely escaped from the warlocks who come against us. However for now you are safe. Please allow your mounts to be cared for, and I will take you to better shelter than you expected for the coming night.’ He laughed again most infectiously at this most obvious of claims. ‘Giraldyn our leader will no doubt be most eager to meet with you all as soon as he is able.’ Again Tyron laughed most wonderfully, and they all thought how good it was to hear such emotion after so many days of travel and danger. And then he grew more serious. ‘But please,’ he said, ‘you must tell me your names.’
‘My name is Sylvion,’ the White Queen of Revelyn said with such authority that Tyron immediately saw she was one of great bearing, and perhaps even the leader of the group, ‘and this is Reigin, Rema , Gravyn and Orcxyl, friends all,’ she introduced them carefully one at a time. ‘We are of course somewhat unsettled by your sudden appearance but we thank you for your trouble and are most willing to stay here this night within these safe walls.’
‘ Well,’ Tyron replied, ‘I am sure you will sleep more comfortably here in KingsLoss than perhaps you did these past two nights,’ and he chuckled as though he knew far more than he was letting on. And then they were escorted into what appeared to the main Keep of the fortress by Tryon and two others, one an impressive woman who had ridden with them, and who reminded Sylvion somewhat of Germayne, and this memory brought a sadness to her and she wondered how her dear friend was managing so far off in Ramos.
They were treated most kindly and shown to simple rooms with even simpler furnishings but which all agreed were far superior to what they had experienced in recent nights.
Tyron left orders with some who were stewards and who seemed most agreeable in assisting them with all they required.
‘I will return to you in a short while,’ Tyron said. ‘In the meantime please rest and take what refreshment you require. We cannot offer a great deal, but what we have we share willingly.’ And with that he left them, and the five companions gave their attention to making themselves more presentable than they had for quite some time.
‘KingsLoss,’ Reigin said to Sylvion after they had bathed and put on clean tunics which were made available to them. ‘It is a name of great mystery I think.’ They stood together on a high balcony overlooking the river to the south and now in the setting sun it seemed even more beautiful than when they first saw it from high on the hill overlooking the fortress.
‘This must be the Ravalin River,’ Reigin said, surveying the mighty river before them. ‘No other is as big in these parts or runs west to east.’ He nodded without knowing he did so, but in mute agreement with his words.
‘And look below us,’ Sylvion said pointing. ‘There are many small dwellings like a little village, and then all this open ground stretching down to the river. It is quiet perfect to behold.’
‘It seems they have brought in the animals for protection,’ Reigin added, noting that there were many sheep and cows grazing close by on the common area below them, surrounded on three sides by the swirling waters of the river.
‘And look beyond,’ Sylvion said once more, ‘see those long jetties built out into the water, surely they are not for boats here in this forgotten forest.’ Reigin thought for a time and then nodded once more.
‘I think they are for fishing,’ he said. ‘They are so narrow. They are not built for trade or the mooring of boats; and the current is too swift to tie up broadside... which those would require.’
Sylvion placed a hand upon the tall man’s arm and sighed. ‘It is quite beautiful Reigin. When so many things are troubling the land; and to think such a place exists, and we in Revelyn know nothing of it.’
‘It is another world,’ Reigin said, ‘and did you hear...they call themselves the true Ravelin. This is interests me greatly.’
‘And I too.’ Sylvion said. ‘I cannot think but that we were meant to come here Reigin, but I suppose it will become clear soon enough.’
‘Well I will enjoy a night without having to fend for the horses, or ourselves,’ Reigin added with a chuckle. And so the others joined them soon after and they stood together looking out onto the beauty before them, and wondered how once more such a provision had come their way.
‘It is strange indeed,’ Reigin said at last, ‘Such beauty before us to the south, but to the north, war threatens.’
‘It is the way of men,’ Orcxyl said quietly, to himself but Gravyn heard and gave him a curious look.
‘And what is our place in all this?’ Sylvion said, clear enough for all to hear, but none had the chance to answer for at that moment Tyron returned.
‘My friends,’ he said most warmly, ‘I trust you are refreshed, please accompany me for a meal awaits, and our leader too is anxious to meet you.’
And so they accompanied him.
Chapter 17
Tyron showed them into a large chamber on the upper levels of the Keep. It was sparsely furnished, in fact the most inviting thing was the large fire which roared in a huge hearth and gave great warmth to all. An oldish man sat in a chair by the fire and Sylvion was immediately reminded of her beloved kindpa, now long dead, but whose memory she treasured above all else, for in his last days when his wanderings ceased they became
very close... The man spoke softly to them all, but did not stand, and a less likely ruler did not in that moment seem possible.
‘Welcome my friends,’ Giraldyn, the old man said. ‘You will forgive me for not standing but in truth I am not well able these days to do so.’ However, despite this apparent infirmity his voice was as vibrant as any man half his years and his eyes were the deepest blue and flashed fiercely in the firelight. ‘Please come eat with me,’ he continued warmly, ‘and we will talk for there is much to discuss.’ And at this Tryon went to his chair and pushed it, with Giraldyn in it, and only then did they see it had two solid timber wheels affixed to the frame so that it was easily moved with any in it. Tryon brought his leader to the head of a large table and they all sat around on simple benches and ate of the fine fare of KingsLoss.
‘We thank you for you kind hospitality,’ Sylvion said after some simple introductions were completed. Giraldyn waved a hand dismissively.
‘It is a small thing and besides we have followed your progress with some interest.’ This statement caused them to all to show great surprise. Giraldyn looked around and noted this and laughed, as did Tyron. ‘Of course, you did not know, but we are very careful, we Ravalin. We have watchers in the forest on the roads and in places of what we call... a strategic interest. The moment you entered the forest it was reported.’
