King of Crows

Chapter 5

Daren took a hesitant leap off a low hanging ledge onto a rotten stump. The sick feeling that lay like a stone in his stomach still lingered, intensified by the drop. The fact that the buzz of adrenaline no longer remained made his journey far worse. Noontide had passed, the sun remained hidden above the clouds. Daren took another leap, feet plowing through a pile of leaves. In his hand he held the map, its velum texture felt somewhat comforting.

Without thinking he leaped over a stream, the river boulders feeling slick underfoot. He was following an old game trail through a forest called Monarch's Glen. It was a thin stretch of forest running beside the grand highway heading north. The trees didn't grow close together giving the wood a desolate look. Open spaces filled the void between vertical trunks. The trees stood to straight, the length of their bows too perfect. It was if witches had raised the forest from the ground in order to lure foolish hunters into a deceptive deathtrap. The leaves high above shimmered with the pale colors of autumn accompanied by the mild chattering of swallows. Daren glanced warily about him, waiting for a spear to sail into his side or an arrow to pierce his leg. The sounds of battle still rang in his ears, threatening to haunt every waking moment.

A cry split the air like a sword slash, causing Daren to freeze. Another bird cry, pitched lower than the first, answered. The forest ceased its customary thrum of life, severed from existence. In the distance the flutter of sparrows taking flight set Daren's teeth on edge. With a quick intake of breath he flipped his hood over his head and rushed down the path. The signs were all too clear, there were humans in the wood.

The forest passed him in blurs, his footfalls crunched loudly in the silence. Beyond his heartbeat Daren heard the vague thunder of hoof beats. With a grunt he hurled himself to the right and into a low ditch. For a moment he hung suspended then dropped. A fallen tree, branches bared like spears, rushed up to meet him. Daren twisted furiously, trying to avoid getting impaled. With a jolt he landed on his side inches away from a spear-like limb.

The gallop of horsemen could now be heard, clearly silencing the forest. It was coming from the highway. Daren slipped on a patch of damp and slid to his feet. The horses could belong to knights loyal to the king, or they could be Fraleth's own butchers sent to patrol the highway. With a snort he charged up and out of the ditch, eyes peeled for the broad strip of earth that marked the highway. He had to know for sure.

The highway found Daren before he did. After running for twenty paces the ground disappeared from under his feet and Daren found himself inside a steep ditch. He hit the walls of the trench hard, his vision dimmed for a second before he shook himself awake. The thunder of hooves on packed earth was louder than ever, drumming into his skull. The soil was damp, but not muddy, allowing Daren to haul himself to the trench's lip. The smell of moist earth invaded his nostrils as he peered at the king's highway.

At the sight of dark clad men on horseback Daren slipped back to the bottom of the trench. The quick look had told him all he ever wanted to know. The horsemen flew the crimson flag of the dark phoenix, Fraleth's own mounted demons had taken to the road. Their faces were half covered in spiral tattoos, grim reminders of the master they served. With a sound like thunder they passed, horses snorting and armor rattling.

When the cavalry passed Daren squirmed out of the ditch and disappeared into the forest. Lord Fraleth was wasting no time in subduing the countryside.

Black smoke curled from a clearing cut from the forest beside the king's highway. The screams of the wounded and desperate mingled as one cry, chilling the evening air. Daren sat atop a small rise overlooking the charred collection of houses that had once been the village of Kavlin. His eyes burned with unshed tears as he witnessed the second attack of Fraleth's dark cloaked riders.