Chained Shadows

Prologue

     Soft glow of the sun setting in the West. As a lone rider headed towards

civilization after months of riding through rough wilderness. The rider which sat upon a

tired and foaming horse from the non-stop journey, was leaning to the side hardly aware of

anything around him.

      He wore a black rough cloak with the red dragon emblem stitched onto the back of the

hood. Which he had pulled up over his face to hide from the long hot humid days. Making the

heat almost unbearable and the sweat sticking to his shirts. His only thought was to warn

everyone he could.

      He was the last of his coven, it fell to him as his duty to inform the people about

the prophesy of the nameless one. The rider glanced up to look around trying to see through

the shadows were he was. He knew that after days on end riding that he could have been

followed by the enemy to stop him from warning everyone he could.

      Up ahead and to the south side of the hard earth packed road soft glow of oil lamps

and smoke from chimneys could be seen like little dots in the night. He finally made it to a town

and people he felt that his mission was almost over. From what little he saw the town was small.

it was so small it maybe had ten buildings in all and a small inn but he didn't care he was so

tired.

      He felt relieved to have found it that he pulled himself straight and whispered happily

into the horse's ear while slowing the horse down to a slow walk. A smile spread across his

drawn tired face for the first time since he started this journey. He pulled a small water sack

and took a sip wetting his dry mouth and lips.

      As he made his way into the small town people who were still out headed home or

to the local inn for drinks stopped what they were doing and stared at him as he made is way

passed them. As he came to a stop at the tavern inn he slowly slide down off the horse. His

feet and legs sore from all the riding from his home.

      Coming up to the door of the tavern he could hear soft music playing in the background.

People laughing and talking, the smell of something cooking. He didn't want to stop the good '

feelings these people seemed to be having in the quite small town that they live in. He took a

deep breath and steeled his heart for what was about to happen.

      Shaking his head the rider knew that all that was going on inside was going to come to

a stop when he walked into the place. Weak from traveling the rider pushed through the

hardwood door. As he knew it would everyone stopped and turned to look who came into

the tavern.

      Stone faces of simple people so far the capital meet his calm face as he slowly made

his way to the bar not caring if everyone was upset or not at his arrival to this small town. Then

he wondered why these people were not at home getting ready for then next day of work in

the fields. He sat and looked around, he noticed also a couple standing next to each other.

The woman had a sad look upon her face moved closer to the to  once happy man.

      He couldn't stop looking at the stranger that just walked in. From the way the couple were

dressed the rider guessed that they just been married. Just his bad luck he must have ruined

their happy party they were having at the tavern.

     His eyes clouded over and in an ancient raspy voice called out so all could hear him speak.

Evil will slowly engulf the land,

when he wakes from is dark slumber,

the world will shake, oceans will calm,

the winds will rise, and the moon will turn,

red like fire. And is army of demons will ride,

forth. Hope will still remain he will show us the way,

he will be born to talent but not truly understand it.