Knox of the Bloom

Chapter 4: Gathering of the Bloom

Morning mist crept up the murky hills of the Slieve Bloom. The wind swept in from the east, carrying with it the baying of timber-wolves as the Moon dipped its head below the peak. Light slowly came and chased away the shadows surrounding Hornbeard's camp, and only a handful of red-eyed warriors could be seen from above the palisade walls. The Hall was mostly dark, with grumbling snores escaping from its squat windows. Down a side path, where not many strayed, footprints were slowly covered with falling leaves. A waterfall spluttered and splattered its stream down and along the rock pool. Near the edge, huddled beneath his thick cloak, a young man dreamt of far-away lands and adventures. Beside him, wiggling her way in closer for warmth was a large wolf. The scene was peaceful, and only when the sky began to break with dawn did the thing that watched the man skulk away into the trees, leaving not a footmark in the soil behind it. It didn't stir the mist, just seemed to shrink away into the undergrowth and vanish into the darkness of the forest.

* * *

Knox yawned and stretched, then quickly pulled his legs back in as his feet slid over dewy grass blades. He peeked out from under his cloak, a thick stag's hide that kept him warm and dry beneath it. The trees were dark green below, but the rising sun turned the tips to bright green. He blinked and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

'C'mon Tapa, we'd best get to the Hall before they eat all the food.' Knox slid his feet into his boots, tied the straps made from gut, and shook off the beads of dew from his cloak. At the mention of food, Tapa uncurled herself from the ball she'd been rolled into and stretched out her thick legs. She turned and licked Knox into the side of his face. 'I'm hungry too Tap. C'mon, damn ground's hard as rocks.' As they climbed the steep wall of rock to regain the path for the camp, Tapa stopped and sniffed the air. Knox froze. 'What is it girl?'

Tapa's ears perked up, and she sniffed again. She began growling, very faintly.

'What is it Tap?' He followed her into the undergrowth, where Tapa sniffed at the ground. Her tail wagged, and her growl grew deeper. 'There's nothing here girl. No tracks.' But the dog's eyes were wide with excitement. 'C'mon,' said Knox, pulling the cloak tighter around him. He couldn't help but notice the dog's hair standing on end. As they travelled the trail, Knox kept thinking he heard footsteps. He'd always been at peace living in the woods, even in the dark woods far to the west, where no other mountain folk would spend a night. But something wasn't right. The air, it seemed... different.

Knox said a prayer to the God of Life and Luck when the palisade wall came into view. He gave the warriors a wave and a nod as they pulled wide the gate for him. Some more folk had shown up during the night. A group of Faes from some distant valley were piled up in a corner, with their small carts pulled by those strange mules with trinkets tied to their manes. The Faes liked to travel in large groups for safety, and gave entertainment and healing for their board and feed.

Two groups of warriors had made camp also, and he recognized one of them. The Red-Pine clan were close-knit and valued allies of Hornbeard's. But the other group he'd never set eyes on before. They were sat around a low-burning fire beside the hall. A bare pig had been roasted over it, but now it was a mere mound of bone and gristle. Some of the camp's dogs braved the group to get a lick or bite at it. Knox stopped as he noticed what one of the unknown men was wearing. Draped around his shoulders, the man wore a thick wolf-hide coat; his necklace had numerous fangs on it. The man eyed Knox.

Another man, thin with wiry grey hair and a cloth tied over one eye pointed at Knox. 'What the fuck are ye looking at, boy?'

'I don't like men hunting wolves for sport. Tell him to take it off.'

The thin man gave Knox a yellow smile. 'That wouldn't be wise, boy. This here's Blue-Moon of the Valley-Rain clan. Best fighter on the Jagged Coast. I tell him that and your pelt will be the next one he'll wear.'