Heir

Chapter 3, Scene 5

Rylan perched in an oak tree deep in the Silvervale Forest. His perch gave him a good view of the little glade where they had camped the day before and stowed their supplies overnight. It also allowed him to scan the area around the glade through breaks in the foliage for any sign of approaching danger. The boy hung close to the tree’s trunk, his bow strung and ready, just in case. His brown clothing and brown skin helped to camouflage his presence. Having been born and raised for twelve years in the forest, Rylan knew how to all but disappear among the trees.

Brayden, Rylan’s older brother by two years, was down in the glade double checking their rations of food and ammunition. They had to be ready to move as soon as their father, brothers, and the others arrived – which could be at any moment.

Rylan’s keen ears picked up just the faintest sound of old, dried leaves being shuffled on the ground. It was so subtle it could have been just the movement of the wind. Rylan recognized it as the sound of footsteps in the forest, but he also knew immediately that it was the footsteps of rangers. The king’s men were never so quiet in the woods. A moment later, Rylan and Brayden’s father, Nolan, appeared at the edge of the glade. He was accompanied by a half-dozen other rangers, although Rylan did not see his two oldest brothers among them.

“Rylan, come down.” Nolan directed his youngest son. “Brayden, I need to talk with both of you.”

Nolan’s group numbered only about half as many as when they set out to attack Silvervale Town. Many were missing. The rest looked battle-worn and tired.

“Kaylin, pack up. We leave immediately.” Nolan told his second in command. The woman set the others to work right away packing up what meager supplies they had and shouldering the load for travel.

“Brayden, Rylan, I have some bad news.” Nolan spoke to his sons when he had pulled them aside from the rest of the group. “The attack on Silvervale Town was successful, but we lost more than a few men. Your older brothers, Ethan and Aiden, won’t be coming back.”

Nolan’s speech was very matter-of-fact. There was no emotion in his words. Rylan saw the streaks of clean skin on his father’s dirty face, though, and knew that he had cried intensely before coming back to camp. That was somehow comforting to know, as Rylan was sure he would be crying himself in a moment or two. For the time being, however, he simply stared directly into his father’s eyes while he absorbed the man’s words.

“Your brothers were brave young men. We cannot slow down to mourn them, and we cannot let grief stop us. We must honor them by continuing to press the attack. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Father.” Brayden affirmed what his father had said. Rylan simply shook his head in agreement. He could already feel the tears welling up in his eyes.

“Good.” Nolan drew both boys into a tight hug for a long moment before turning his attention back to the rest of the group. They had shouldered their packs and stood ready to march. Nolan stood before them as their commander, holding their respect. He wore his bow and arrows on his back and a dagger on each hip. A black wolf pelt cloaked his shoulders. Underneath, his leather battle garb was worn and tattered both from fighting and from living exposed to the elements. His dark skin showed many scars and his hair was shaved close to his scalp.

“We can count our last battle as a victory. Though many of us have fallen, we are not defeated. We draw strength from each sacrifice made by our fathers, our brothers, and our sons.” Nolan began. “I have received good news from the priestess. King Caiden of the Noldes is on his death bed. With his passing, the kingdom will face a period of confusion while a new king assumes the throne and the nation’s power structure shifts and reorganizes itself. This is our opportunity to make a coordinated strike on multiple fronts. We must rally with our brothers in Blackmire Shire.”

Nolan took a moment to scan the faces of his small audience for a reaction to his speech. They all showed comprehension and determination.

“The old rise anew.” Nolan clenched his left fist over his heart as he spoke the mantra. The other rangers made the same gesture as they echoed the words. Rylan found that the words caught in his throat when he tried to say them aloud, but he spoke them silently in his heart. The tears were flowing freely down his cheeks now.

*****