Lady Thief [on hold]

~ Chapter Six ~

After traveling for the entire day, Key had come to many conclusions. The first was that Link wasn’t one of the sorcerers in their group, for she’d spend enough time watching the back of everyone else’s heads to memorize every spare strand of hair that stuck out of place. The second was that her horse really did hate her, perhaps even more than she thought that he did. Finally, the third was that she should never ever ride on a horse’s back again, at least if she had a choice.

When they stopped to camp for the night, in a field not far off from the road, Key almost fell off of her horse. She practically flung herself off of her mount and into the tall, rain-slicked grass. A deep set ache groaned in her legs, and the only thing that kept her from collapsing to the ground was her iron grip on the reins of her horse. The horse let out an indignant snort, tossing its silky gray mane. Key resisted the urge to smack it across the speckled muzzle.

“That horse really doesn’t like you.” Eren said as he dismounted his own horse.

“I know.” Key muttered bitterly, glaring daggers at the beast

“Alright, men.” said the warden, who was still on his horse so he towered over everyone else. “Set your bedrolls in a ring around the fire and set about to eating your rations.”

“What fire? I don’t see any fire around here!” exclaimed one of the swordsmen. From the tone of his voice, Key guessed that it was Chi.

“Use your brain, swordsman. We haven’t built the fire yet.” said the officer. “The fire will be set up where I am currently standing. “Street wardens, take to flattening the grass down, so we can set our bedrolls down. Swordsmen, go to the forest nearby to gather firewood and kindling. Sorcerers, come meet with me. I have things to discuss with you.”

At that, the group disbanded to go carry out their required tasks. Key followed the other swordsmen in the direction of the forest. Key grimaced when she saw the forest. Of all forests that were in the country of Francea, they just happened to be traveling on the road that ran past the Twisted Forest. She couldn’t help but grimace, none too eager to wander back into the haunted forest’s grasping arms.

The rest of the swordsmen spread out across the edge of the wood, with no one really daring to step under the tree’s shade. Overhead, the setting sun blazed at the edge of the western horizon, bleeding hues of red across the sky. Key knelt down at the edge of the wood, picking up a few spare twigs that had fallen from the tangled masses overhead. An eerie, chilling breeze tickled her face and teased her hair. Key’s gaze darted up to the forest. How could a wind be coming from beneath the trees, which blocked out any fresh air that wanted in? In the winter, the branches were even so tightly knit as to keep the snow from touching the ground.

A surreal feeling washed over Key, and, for some reason, she felt curiosity sparking in the back of her mind. The dry breeze, like a wind from another world, kept sweeping past her, but from where did it come? Key stood back up to her full height and took a few, cautious steps further into the forest. There were no more twigs littering the ground here. Instead, a few, long, leafy ferns dared to grow, somehow catching enough sun in that darkened forest. In the quickly waning light, the forest was just varying shades of gray. The breeze was still blowing. Key inhaled it, and tasted an odd, mineral taste on her tongue.

Despite her lingering sense of dread, she pressed on. Her slow steps carrying her further into the depths of the forest on near silent feet. She paused for a moment, realizing she was now several yards into the woods.  Her doubts, and common sense, consumed her again. Should she turn back?  What did she have to gain by investigating?

The mysterious wind stopped. The odd taste of it died on her tongue like a withering flower.

Something moved. Or did it really? Was that a blur, or was it a trick of the light, or rather lack of?