Prophecy

V "I Have Them Too"

By the time we left Kredow the sky was already lit up in pale blue, the silent moment before the sun peaks over the mountaintops. Early risers still yawned with tin mugs in their hands, steam rising from its dark liquid surface and into their faces as they quietly sat on the front steps in a kind of ritual before the start of the day. The only sound as we depart is the "clip clop"as the horses' hooves hitting the cobble-stoned streets and the occasional snort as Saragon eyed the tall houses towering on our either side.  Amadio's friend, Bradwr,  rode in front of me dressed in clinking steel armour, leading a small chestnut pack horse alongside him. His face was somber but kind, and wrinkles formed at his eyes and  mouth when he smiled. 

We rode through the valley paths in a stubborn silence. It had been hours since I had heard a human soul, I couldn't hear Amadio sulking behind me and didn't dare turn or look back. Around me the trees created a canvas of greens and gold as the sunshine filtered through their leaves. It was dense and humid in the Valley Land. In the stillness, I could hear the trees whispering to each other as their branches gently brushed against each other and hid us from the world. Saragon stumbled over their roots , grunting with irritation as he carefully navigated the damp terrain. The further we went into the valleys the bigger the puddles grew and the higher the trees stretched, their thin trunks going up for miles into the canopies. The undergrowth was thick and the trail twisted between the forest, curving around the contours and rising and sinking continually as we wandered across the foot of the mountain. 

The forest floor was wild and lush. Hogs and deer wondered through the trees at ease and birds of all colours dashed across the clearings with vigour and zeal. We were crossing a stream when Bradwr's chestnut pack pony spooked and darted frantically forward passing Bradwr who's horse promptly bolted after him. Bradwr landed with a large splash in the river.  I watched Bradwr's face grew red and his chest started glowing hot with rage. He struggled to get to his feet as the current swept him downstream. Amadio's gaze immediately swept down where he detected the movement on the riverbank as something heavy slid into the river. He cursed quietly grabbing his bow and pressing his obliging horse into the deeper water. Something was moving towards Bradwr and fast. 

"Go after those horses." he commanded without looking back at me.

A lump formed in my chest and I couldn't move. Amadio brought an arrow to his string. Further downriver, spikes protruded from the current as the reptile swam closer to Bradwr who struggled against the waves. I couldn't move as I watched in horror as the monster swam close to the old man. Then Amadio vaulted from his horse's back and into the air between his companion and the beast, waiting until the moment he touched the water to loosed his arrow. The water erupted in a savage display of flying water and blood. From out of the fray a sword pierced straight through the giant crocodile's head and everything became still. Amadio's arrow protruded into the it's eye and thick blood desecrated the river water. Amadio pushed the foul corpse away letting it float down the river and pulled Bradwr onto his horse. When they reached the river bank Amadio just sheathed his sword and walked on without a word. His horse dutifully followed behind him with Bradwr slumped on his back and his black coat glistening with the water from the river. 

With my head bowed in shame I quickly cantered away to retrieve the runaways. They hadn't got too far and stood grazing in the rich grass beside the path. They nickered when they saw Saragon and I quickly looped their reins around my arm and started back, tugging the reluctant creatures along with me.

It was a few hours after the river incident when night fell, Bradwr halted and dismounted. He tied his horses to a tree and walked into the bushes. Amadio let his charger loose to graze close to the camp and  began clearing a spot for the fire. His hood was off and his long dark hair was in a bun that was falling apart and into his face as he worked. He had a scar that ran from his right eye to his cheek and his eyes were sombre and indistinct. He had a rough stubble and high cheekbones. He looked up and stared straight into my eyes, absently cocking his head to the side as if thinking,