|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 16: Prophecy of the Elders

I buried Benjon beside one of the tallest trees I had ever seen. The branches spiralled out far above, enveloping us under its canopy of brown gnarled fingers. I marked the spot by drawing a cross in the bark, and placing a bunch of flowers on the disturbed dirt. Blood and blisters marked my fingers and skin. Rain poured down on me the entire time and the horses stood with their manes falling in tangles and damp knots. It took me most of the morning to dig up the dirt using nothing other than a flat stone I had found and my boots. It was a shallow grave, but I covered it with stones and pebbles, giving his grave a cobblestone shield. It wasn't grand, or impressive... but at least he was at rest. I flicked through my memory of Faeri gods — brought up in the Empire it was hard not to eventually learn their gods.

"I send you to Nave..." I said softly, remembering the god of death. I tied the horses reigns together and climbed up onto mine, leading them away through the trees. I wasn't sure where I was, but I knew that if I kept moving south I would eventually find myself near Trinstone.

I rode until my thighs grew sore and ached from being in the saddle and still we walked. The sun broke through the cloud cover and the rain dulled to a light shower and I started thinking of how I would find Cedric. Trinstone was a good place to start. It was there he had been headed — whether or not he had reached it though was another question. I hoped he had the sense not to travel along main roads — it would be far too easy to track and kill him if he had. Concern began to bubble like acid. I made my horse go a bit faster.

I eventually stumbled upon a path, wider than a forest game trek, but narrower than a proper road. I glanced up each way, but couldn't see anything but more trees lining each side. I took a short breath before turning and riding down one way. I supposed it didn't matter which way I had gone — either direction was sure to take me a village or a town of some sort; but I didn't have time on my side — I had to find Cedric, before the second Black Hand did.

Despite the fact it would probably have killed him, I found myself hoping Cedric had also found this same path, though it was unlikely. I wanted him to be riding beside me, sitting in that now empty saddle. I wanted to see him as he sat in the saddle, relaxed posture, hair messily in his face and his hair shining brightly. He had looked happier in the saddle, and much more beautiful.

A murder of crows suddenly shot overhead, cawing in alarm. I jumped almost out of my skin, the noise and movement startling me in the quiet. My horse tossed its head as it paused and pawed at the ground nervously. The other horse also stopped and threw its head up, eyes wide. I froze, glancing around. There was nothing on the path behind us. The word ghost echoed in my head for a moment, followed by a horrible coldness that slid down into my stomach. Don't be stupid, Irene, I told myself sternly, there's no such thing. The rational part of my mind told me that it was an animal, maybe a deer darting past.

I began to slide from my horse, eyes scanning the trees from where the crows had taken flight. I saw a flicker of movement and my boot slipped slightly from the stirrup. As I struggled to regain balance and climb back into the saddle — it would be best if I kept moving — a huge, sleek beast dove out in front of me. My horse reared back, throwing me from the saddle and I hit the ground hard, knocking all the wind from me. My bow and quiver skated across the path far out of reach and my bag fell to the ground. I scrambled for it as the horses started galloping away. I watched as the rope tying them together snapped and they took off in separate directions, slipping away between the trees lining the path. There was a monstrous growl and I turned to see the wolf watching me, with his hackles raised and his fur bristled. I drew my sword and glared at it, baring my own teeth. It snarled and ran at me before I could react.

I hit the ground and its claws dug into my shoulders, pinning me to the ground. I was glad for the armour protecting me but my sword was knocked from my hands and I was left barely keeping the wolf's jaws away from my face. My fingers snatched and pulled at its fur, but it was too soft to hold for long. It fell away through my fingers like sand. It snapped its teeth and I could smell its fetid breath. Yellowed canines hovered inches above my nose, and eyes as dark as ink ensnared mine hungrily. I gagged and tried to push it off me. I managed to shift it slightly and its claw came up and swept across my face. I cried out in a pain and blinked, blinded by my own blood. The wolf growled and I could see its eyes were wide with excitement now, the scent of my fresh blood riling it up. Its back paw thudded down on my thigh and I stifled a shout as the claws buried themselves in my flesh. The gash had opened up again, even more blood leaking out through the scab. All I could smell was its awful breath and my salty blood.