by Chris Ward
Not so the massive escarpment which rose before them. From their vantage point they could see all the way down to the rich valley to the west through which the Plenty River flowed. Beyond that a forest and then the sheer walls of the Eastern Upthrust rose vertically into the clouds. It formed an impassable wall of rock stretching far north and south.
‘Somewhere up there live a people of legend.’ Rema spoke in awe.
‘The Edenwhood,’ Serena whispered. The other two sat quietly and considered what was before them.
‘We are travelling truly Rema?’ Scion finally broke the silence with a question.
‘Yes Scion, Freiers’ directions cannot be faulted thus far. It should not be hard travelling until we enter the forest beyond the river, then we will need to take care, for we do not want to become lost; we need to find the exact location, and he said it was easily missed.’
‘We have been followed since we left Waterman.’ Ofeigr spoke without emotion. His comment had the effect of a stone hitting a smooth pond.
Serenna gasped. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I am sure,’ Ofeigr replied. ‘One man, one horse. I have dropped back on three occasions to make sure. At first I thought it sinister, and it may still be, but I have a belief our pursuer does not wish to remain hidden. I am sure he saw me. We should take care; this is my advice.’
Rema considered this news with some consternation.
‘I do not like to be followed without knowing what intent drives such a one. We will travel on and make camp earlier tonight. Perhaps he will show his hand before we reach the river tomorrow. Perhaps tonight.’ He spurred his horse on, and then stopped and turned to Ofeigr. ‘You are a man of few words my friend, but I thank you for your keen eyes and careful watch.’ He nodded at Ofeigr who smiled and returned a nod of acknowledgement.
The sun disappeared early behind the massive Upthrust to their west. It cast a shadow for a great distance, throwing the Plenty Mountains into an early evening light well before the rest of Revelyn. They made quick progress down the western slopes, and well before nightfall the four travellers found a disused stone hay shed not far from the rough track upon which they rode, and only a league short of the banks of the river The shelter was dry and gave good protection from the wind. The lack of a roof made little difference for the weather was mild, and the straw which was thick enough upon the ground offered all an agreeable bed. A fire was soon lit and a meal of rabbit and the fruit from a roadside orchard promised a welcome end to another day in the saddle. All four were stiff and sore for they none had been riding much in recent times. Scion who had not ridden for a score of years now walked in such a peculiar manner as he tried to ease the pain in his aching backside that Serenna could not help but giggle quietly at the sight.
They ate cheerfully and shared simple stories, although the mood turned sombre when Ofeigr mentioned the imminence of a meeting with the Edenwhood; but they had no time to discuss this subject for suddenly the sound of a horse’s hooves upon the hard ground came clearly to them. In an instant Rema had his bow ready, whilst the others drew their swords. They stood around the fire and waited. The one who approached made no effort to conceal his movement for the sound of the approach was slow and steady as if to give them warning. After a time the horse’s hooves close by suddenly ceased their gently clip against the ground and a muffled voice was heard giving the beast a kind word.
Footsteps approached, once more quite deliberate and in no hurry. Then a very tall figure appeared at the open door. He was fully cloaked and hooded and such was his size that he ducked his head to enter. He held his empty hands out before him to show that he bore no weapon, or leastways not one that threatened, for beneath his cloak a long sword was clearly visible. He halted just inside the door and waited. For a time no one spoke. Rema finally broke the silence.
‘You have followed us from Waterman, what is your business?’
The newcomer’s face could not be seen for his hood was full and deep, but he spoke in a quiet and gentle manner as though the very sound of his voice might calm the anxieties which such a strange meeting could give cause to overtake them all.
‘I come in peace. I bring news of Sylvion Greyfeld.’
Rema was shocked to his core for these words were so utterly unexpected. The stranger stood unmoving, his hands still extended in a gesture of friendship waiting for some response to his news. Serenna sat down quickly and considered what this might mean; Scion was greatly surprised for he had some greater knowledge of events than Ofeigr who was the least disturbed of the group. He looked to Rema and waited.
‘You have recent news of Sylvion?’ Rema spoke hoarsely, his voice weak from the shock. ‘She is alive? She is...’ and now his voice failed him, for suddenly a deep fear engulfed him. Perhaps she was dead.
The tall stranger nodded. ‘Rema Bowman, I have heard so much about you. I wondered how it would be to meet you face to face, for Sylvion spoke much of you. She is alive and well when last we spoke, not five nights past. She escaped from her captors and history will record that it was a most miraculous escape, and I will testify to this, for I was there. We escaped together.’
Rema felt a wave of relief wash over him. ‘Then you are most welcome my friend, please join us and you will tell us all.’ He turned to Serena and they exchanged a look which only true friends can. She was overjoyed at the news and happy for Rema despite her deep feelings for him.
‘Rema this is great news!’ she exclaimed, and the tears of happiness which shone on her face in the firelight were truly genuine.
‘You must tell us your name.’ Rema took a step toward the man extending his right hand in friendship, his bow and arrow held loosely in his other hand, but the stranger held up his hands as though to prevent a closer contact.
‘Please wait Rema for I need to explain myself.’
Rema halted, unsure of what he meant.
‘Please, all of you listen to me,’ he continued, ‘for I know that what I must now do will be hard indeed.’ The four waited in puzzled expectation. The man slowly reached up and threw back his hood, revealing his close cropped head and unusually close set eyes. These were unmistakable, especially to Rema who had had recent violent dealings with his kind. He stepped back in shock, instinctively brought his weapon to bare, and before anyone could do anything he stood with a full bent bow and an arrow at the man’s heart.
‘You are a Wolver, you cannot be trusted. What lies have you brought to our ears? What foul trap is set? Speak or I will surely slay you now.’
The change which this sudden revelation brought about was great indeed. An immense cold fear seemed to fill the roofless building and no one moved. They were as stone statues, all eyes upon the Wolver, expecting him to react as only one such as he could do. He was death to them all save for the arrow which was aimed at his heart.
‘Rema Bowman, I have spoken truly. There are no lies and no trap. I have come to you alone and in peace. I am a Wolver no longer for I now serve the true heir to the throne of Revelyn, Sylvion Greyfeld. I am about her business. My name is Reigin.’
No one moved, but they thought much upon his words. Rema stood unflinching.
Reigin smiled despite the great threat to his life, for even the skill of a Wolver could not avoid such a deadly arrow at that distance. He spoke then, slowly and clearly, knowing that the impasse had to be resolved with care.
‘I think I will sit by the fire now. You can shoot me if you will, but then Rema Bowman you will learn nothing of what Sylvion would have me tell you.’
Ever so slowly the tall man eased himself closer to the fire before sitting carefully in such a manner that nothing he did could be seen to be anything other than peaceful in its intent. He smiled warmly up at Rema who had tracked his every movement with his arrow. It was still aimed at his heart. Their eyes met and in that moment Rema knew his words were truth, and slowly he lowered his weapon until there was no longer any threat.
Suddenly, warmth returned to the humb
le shelter. Rema took a seat opposite the great soldier and looked long and hard at him. Reigin returned his stare. There was no rudeness in this action for they both had a need to size the other up. Each knew the other was a deadly enemy in other circumstances and so it would take time for any apprehension to be reshaped into acceptance.
Once they had all regained some composure, they sat long into the night as Reigin told them all that had happened to Sylvion from the time of her capture at his hands, till they parted on the south road from Fisher some five days before. His account of their escape from the Vault amazed the listeners and Rema in particular realised that Sylvion was more wonderfully brave and capable than he had ever thought possible. He was disturbed when he learnt that she had made claim to the throne, for he had assumed she would have no interest in pursuing such a thing, and he wondered what it might mean for their plans of a life together. Serenna sensed his disquiet but kept her thoughts to herself. Scion listened attentively to Reigin’s account, whilst Ofiegr once more seemed curiously detached, his face betraying little emotion throughout.
Rema had many questions which burned in his heart but he knew that they must rest for the following day would prove a trial indeed. So he kept them for a later time, but for one.
‘Where is Sylvion now my friend? You said you parted with her some days past?
‘She returned to Wildwood,’ Reigin replied, ‘She wanted to bury her kindma and make contact with the Equin, about which she said little, and I know nothing; but I believe this was of great importance to her. I promised to return to her before the next full moon, whether or not I discovered anything of you. She believed that you would travel to Wildwood if you learned of her escape.’
Rema thought long on this before replying.
‘You must travel with us Reigin, and then we will decide what is best to do, for there are many things which I have leaned and which you will benefit from knowing, but now is not the time. When we have had dealings with the Edenwhood, we will know what must come to pass.’
Reigin was immediately intrigued by the mention of these mysterious people.
‘You travel to meet the Edenwhood,’ he whispered. ‘This quest becomes more mysterious by the moment.’ He said nothing more on this but finished with a final sobering comment.
‘We are being followed. From the heights to the east I saw a troop of soldiers far below but well mounted and travelling fast on this same road. I counted a dozen, well armed and ordered. They will be camped a half morning’s ride behind us, and higher up, so they may well see this fire if they keep a keen lookout. I doubt they will come close in the night but we will do well to make an early start. I will keep watch, for I need little sleep at times such as these.
The night passed without further disturbance and at first light the four companions, now five, rode out across the valley towards the Plenty River and under the spell of the mighty Upthrust which now towered before them, not three leagues distant.
‘We cross at the white ford,’ Rema spoke to all as they halted on the bank of the fast flowing river. ‘The directions Freiers gave are clear enough thus far.’
‘Those rocks are white enough,’ Scion remarked, pointing at a pile of large boulders by the track which had led them to where they stood. A cairn of sorts had been made by ancient peoples long ago and covered in a white pigment which had defied the years and weather to remove. ‘This must be the place.’
Rema rode up and down the bank sighting the river and picking up the rocky bottom for some distance out. The river there was a hundred paces wide and so he could not be sure of what lay further out where the smooth flow hid what lay below.
‘The water flows fast here but it seems shallow enough for the horses. We must press on. I will lead, Serenna to follow. Scion you stay with Reigin for he will support you if you falter.’ He had remembered the look of fear on Scion’s face when the Scoria seemed certain to founder in the storm, and he knew he could not swim. He assumed that Reigin was able, for Wolvers were masters of all things. Ofeigr seemed not concerned at all and besides, he had grown up by the sea. He would understand the ways of water, fresh or salt.
They rode out into the current in a single file. The horses bore them well and the water rose only to their saddle straps; but in the middle the flow was fast enough to sweep a man quickly into deeper water. It was cold and uninviting, despite the morning sun which now warmed the valley and lifted the mist through which they had ridden. They arrived without incident on the far side and within a short time riding up a gentle grassy slope, reached the forest but a league from the river. They halted there, where the trees and the valley grassland met, and looked up at the mighty escarpment before them. Sheer cliffs rose vertically into the clouds on either side, a vast wall of rock beyond all possibility of scaling.
‘I hope there is some secret to mastering this barrier,’ said an awestruck Scion who was relieved at surviving the swift river, only to find another even more impossible challenge before him.
‘The map I have is clear enough,’ said Rema, ‘but the forest hides the path, so we must watch carefully...’ He got no further for Reigin who was looking elsewhere cut him off.
‘The soldiers are at the river, they have caught us.’
The five riders swung around as one, and sure enough a dozen mounted soldiers were but a stone’s throw from the far river bank. They rode easily together and even from a league distant it could be seen that their steeds were the finest and most sure footed of beasts.
‘Quick,’ Rema commanded, they may not yet have spied us, for we are uphill of them. Into the forest.’ And so they disappeared into the shadows of the trees which grew thereafter right up to the mighty fault in the earth which birthed the mighty cliffs that reached above them to the skies.
‘We must delay them.’ Rema spoke clearly. ‘We cannot travel fast in our search and once they cross the water they will be swiftly upon us.’
‘I will go out to them.’ Reigin spoke quietly. ‘I can take that many with little cause to fear...’ but this time Rema interrupted him.
‘No Reigin, they might have archers and whilst your sword would best them all, a clever bowmen will even the score. We need you here.’ Reigin was unused to such a limit being placed upon him for he was trained to other ways; ways which put him at the forefront of any fight.
‘There is none other here who can stop twelve men.’ He spoke as though it was an indisputable fact.
‘I did not say we stop them, just delay them; and I can do that well enough,’ said Rema coldly, for he did not like Reigin’s tone. They sat and looked hard at each other for a moment; then in an instant Rema leapt swiftly to the ground and threw off his cloak. Taking his bow and two arrows from his quiver he found a place at the edge of the trees and took up position. Reigin was soundlessly at his side, and spoke quietly.
‘They are a league distant Rema Bowman. No arrow can travel that far and hit its mark without great luck.’
Rema ignored him and drew the mighty bow as all in the small party watched in anticipation. Even Ofeigr seemed greatly interested in the outcome of such an impossible act.
Rema sighted down the arrow and took aim upon the leading rider who was confidently but slowly urging his horse out into the river. He held the bow at full draw, the string to his cheek, feet planted wide and side on to his aim. His mighty torso and thickly muscled shoulders held the strain as his narrowed eyes sought out the breeze and judged speed and distance. His breathing slowed and stopped, his heart rate fell away. No one spoke or moved in the slightest. All held their breath and waited under the spell of Rema’s bow.
With a sharp thwang the arrow was set free. It went high at the start for the earth would seek to pull it down despite its speed, and only Rema could see its travel for his eyes were on it from the start. He remained unmoving as it flew. Reigin squinted hard for his sharp eyes perhaps saw something of the arrow’s flight.
Whilst Rema had a gift to hear, he also had another gift, and thi
s was far more mysterious, and one which had been with him since he could first draw a bow and flight an arrow. He could bend the path of its flight as it travelled if his mind travelled with it. No other knew this, and he had practised the skill many long days in lonely forest glades high in the mountains of his home until he had mastered the art. He had learnt that if he could travel with the arrow as though in some manner perched upon its tip, and see what the arrow saw, he could by some force beyond understanding, shape its flight until it hit its mark.
Rema smelt the air as it rushed passed his arrow. He felt the rapid spin which the three grooves along the shaft imparted. Half way across the league which separated him from his target he sensed the flight was wide to the left and he willed it back on course. The arrow curved back until Rema saw the rider now thirty paces from the bank and almost where the water flowed fastest. The arrow was slowing now, for a league was an almost impossible distance to cover. As it slowed, the deadly energy it possessed died too, but Rema knew there was enough. The arrow dropped a little low and so with all his concentration he willed the shaft back up and then it was done.
The rider never heard or sensed the deadly shaft which travelled so swiftly to him. One moment he was confidently guiding his horse across the water and then as if by magic an arrow appeared in his right shoulder. He saw it before he felt the force of it, a mighty blow which knocked his upper body back. He caught himself a little but began to slide off his saddle to his left side. He tried to use his right arm for that hand held the reins, but he had lost the use of that limb. With a cry he toppled off into the water and was swept away, just his head above the water surrounded by a sudden spreading red stain which quickly vanished.
As soon as he was sure his target was down Rema took a deep breath and spoke to Reigin without looking in his direction.
