Davin

Chapter One

The horse stumbled for the fifth or sixth time in the last ten minutes, Davin couldn't remember which. He knew that it was nearly dead, but he didn't dare stop now, with the Emperor's men so close behind. He'd been riding now for two days, and he'd been pushing his horse mercilessly. Davin himself was in no better shape than the horse. His blood soaked shirt was crusted to his side where the spear had gone through him, and his head was crudely bandaged, where his helm had saved him from a split skull. The cut-off shaft of an arrow protruded from his left thigh and he held his left arm cradled against his chest. He was swaying in his saddle from loss of blood. Only his incredible vitality had kept him going this long.

Davin and his men had been hiding in the forested hills north of the capital. His scouts had been taken by surprise with arrows from a distance, and the Emperor's troops had attacked. Even though surprised, the Rebels had held their own for a short time. They always kept their weapons close to hand, so they were able to survive the first pass, although half their company was killed or wounded. The Imperial troops had all been mounted and so held a height advantage which they used to its fullest. His Rebel Army had slowly been killed around him, and Davin had been wounded a number of times. A spear was thrust through his body and a sword clanged of his helm. He had killed both men, and taken stock of his surroundings. Few of the rebel troops remained alive and as he watched two more were killed. The remaining rebels were being herded into circles that were slowly being pushed towards the center of the camp, where they were being slaughtered by the longer reach of the mounted spearmen. Grabbing the nearest horse, Davin vaulted into the saddle and booting his heels into its ribs, he turned it towards the narrowest band of the enemy shouting for his men to break off and escape. A horseman with the stripes of a captain engaged Davin as he neared the encircling ring. The Captain was an experienced swordsman, and so delayed Davin by precious seconds. Screaming in rage Davin pressed his horse into the Captains, and blocked the incoming stroke with his arm. The sword cut deep, but it allowed Davin to slide his own sword under the Captains breastplate and end his life. Turning the horse, Davin galloped for the safety of the trees. Arrows streaked after him, one plunging deep into his leg, and then he was among the trunks of the wood.

The first couple of hours had been a flat out race and then as the horses tired, it became more of a game of cat and mouse. Davin tried every trick he knew. He followed rivers downstream and then exited the river a couple of miles down, he followed every rocky path he could find, all to no avail. There was something uncanny about the way the soldiers were always a couple of miles behind him. This had puzzled him for almost a day until as he left the cover of the woods, a raucous cry had directed his gaze up. There, circling high above him was a lone raven. This was not strange in itself, but during the afternoon, it followed him wherever he went.

Sorcery, Davin thought sourly, they're using sorcery to follow me. Having nothing to enable him to strike out at the bird, and no cover now that he'd left the forest, Davin slouched down in his saddle and grimly continued on.

Now half a day later, the bird was still circling high above him, and Davin's horse was tiring fast. It stumbled again and Davin knew that it was now only a matter of time. In the distance, Davin could make out a faint line of dark, which he knew to be another forest. It was thicker than the last and darker. A plan began to form. Spurring his horse into an uneasy trot, he moved towards the line of trees.

The Raven cried out from above, and Davin smiled grimly, Yes you know that you can't see me once I reach that forest, he thought, you're telling your master this aren't you!? 

As he neared the forest, Davin began to hear a faint pounding behind him. Turning in his saddle, he made out a dust cloud about a mile or so behind. Davin looked up at the bird and shook his fist in a vain gesture. He booted the horse but it could go no faster and the cloud behind him was getting closer with every step. The forest loomed in front, but the horsemen were only about five hundred yards behind him now. He could hear their yells as they closed him down.