Knights Are Brave and Strong

Chapter 6: Shadowhunters

Katherine made sure to release Shelby's hand before the prince and princess woke up the next morning. They ate the cold rabbit and continued on the way, talking and laughing. 

It was around noon when trouble arose.

The cold mist became colder. Katherine heard hoofbeats and pawsteps through the trees.

"Shadowhunters," Scott hissed. "Don't be scared. They can't hurt you if you're not afraid."

Katherine felt a small hand slip into hers. She glanced down and realized that Shelby had unconsciously grabbed her hand.

The first Shadowhunters stepped out of the mist.

They appeared to be made of smoke. Tall people rode taller horses, and wolflike hounds trotted along at their hooves.

One of the hounds bayed, a chilling sound. 

They were surrounded now, at least a dozen people on horseback, and more hounds than Katherine could or wanted to count.

"Remember," Scott hissed. "No fear."

Katherine took a deep breath, firmly holding Shelby's hand. 

One of the hounds broke away from the pack, snapping at Shelby's hand. She trembled, but held her ground. The teeth passed right through her flesh like smoke, leaving her untouched.

The hound growled. 

A person shot a crossbow at them. Automatically, Katherine stepped in front of Shelby. The bolt hit her in the shoulder, but dissipated quickly, painlessly.

A horse chomped its teeth down on Scott's arm, but its teeth, like the hound's, passed harmlessly through him.

One of the horses whinnied and reared up, throwing its rider, and ran into the woods. The rider ran after it. One of the dogs went with him, loyally following its master.

"Good," Scott murmured. "The braver we are, the more scared they get. They'll all run off eventually."

Another rider kicked his horse in the side and yanked on the reins, turning and following his companion. A trio of hounds ran howling into the trees.

Finally, only one person remained. He was on horseback, with two dogs at his feet. The animal's ears were flat against their heads, the horse pawed the ground nervously, and the dogs' tails were tucked between their legs, but they didn't run.

"The leader," Scott muttered. "Let me do the talking."

Katherine was about to ask what he meant when the person spoke. His voice was raspy and had an almost snakelike quality. "Why do you travel in the Misty Forest?" he demanded.

Scott stepped forward. "We are but mere messengers, sir. We wish only to deliver this message to the kingdom on the other side of your forest." Shelby held up the sealed message for Lizzie.

"You know the Misty Forest well for mere messengers," the hunter pointed out suspiciously.

"Our family studies it, sir," Scott informed him. "But we know only to stay on the path and not to show fear in front of your people. And we have no wish to harm the forest."

The Shadowhunter laughed. "I shall let you pass, messengers. But keep your promise, tiny blue-haired one. If you do not, we shall return."

With that, he disappeared into the mist.