Mist on the Moon

Hope for the best

Darkness had long since fallen, and Evie stared out into the total blackness, seeing nothing. She heard a light wind blowing in the trees and felt the night air grow cooler. Then, she heard something that struck fear into her heart, the howl of a wolf. Though the sound came to her from a distance, Evie knew that wolves have an uncanny sense of smell. She hoped that the wind would carry her scent away from the creature.

How could she sleep? Especially if there were more than one of the creatures for then they would have no fear. There was nothing she could do, except maybe climb a tree. But how could she do that when it was so dark she couldn't see? At last, the howls coming from what must have been a lone wolf ended. Evie tried to sleep. She pulled the blanket around her neck and pulled her legs up to her body to keep warm. Finally, she managed to fall asleep.

When light dawned in the morning she woke up, brushed a few green leaves off of her blanket and rolling it up and went to her horse. Patting her mane, she told her they would leave right away but would find water and pasture for grazing along the way. Picking up her bow, sword, food sack and satchel she mounted and was quickly underway, continuing to follow the trail left by Trent's army. She rode swiftly with hope of reaching the troops long before nightfall.

She stopped at a stream for water, letting her horse drink all it wanted. Then, while she ate what remained of the food she had packed, her horse grazed happily in the meadow. Not wanted to lose too much time, she soon mounted her steed and continued on toward the army. As the sun rose high in the sky she heard in the distance what could only be the sound of a large army. Urging her horse to a fast gallop, she knew that she didn't have far to go.

She first met a sentry, who seeing she was wearing the military garb of her countrymen let her go without question. She slowed the pace of her horse to a cantor and carefully surveyed the knights who came into view, all of them in motion as if they had recently received orders. Were they getting ready for battle? Then she saw Richard, she would know him anywhere, just by observing him in action. Dismounting, she walked, no ran toward him, afraid to call out his name lest her feminine voice give her away. As she drew near, he turned, and seeing it was her, stopped. Richard looked to his right and left, and then moved away from the other knights, asking her without words to follow.

"Evie," he said, softly, knowing she was risking much to come here.

"Richard," she whispered, as she drew close to him.

Pulling her into his arms, he said, "Evie, I am so happy to see you but you should not have come. We are going into battle."

"I had to see you, my love. Nothing else matters to me."

They kissed, tenderly, and then more deeply. Then Richard said to her. "Evie it is too dangerous for a woman to be on a battlefield. You must go back."

"But I want to fight. I want to fight with you."

"No, Evie," answered Richard, tenderness in his voice.

Evie turned to momentarily notice a man riding a swift horse coming into the camp. She turned back to face Richard, a tear in her eye. "But why, Richard? Why can't I fight alongside you?"

Richard put his arms around her, holding her tight yet still not saying a word in reply. Then King Trent strode up to them. Both turned to face him.

"Evie, I know who you are. I also know your love for Richard, but we are about to go into battle and you must return to the castle. I will provide an escort for you."

Evie turned from Trent to Richard. She saw that both men wanted her to leave for her own safety. Seeing both of them so set on her departure she bowed her head in submission.

"I will have three knights escort you. There is little time as the battle may begin yet this afternoon at any time. You must be safely on your way by then. Evie, take a message to Cara. Tell her," the king hesitated. "Tell her I love her."

"Yes, my lord," answered Evie meekly. "I will tell her."

In a matter of minutes Trent had chosen three knights to accompany Evie back. Evie said her goodbye to Richard, the two of them holding each other tight before she had to go. "Please be safe, Richard. I will be waiting for you. I will be longing for you to return so we can at last be married."

"You know I will be back as soon as possible," he said as mounting her horse she turned back to look at him. She was led away by the three knights.

Trent was glad to see her returning to the safety of the kingdom, but at the moment other concerns pressed on him. He knew from his scouts that the Magyars were on the move and he feared that they might try to skirt his army and head for the castle. Quickly, he shouted orders to his unit commanders to mobilize the men. He could not allow the enemy to get ahead of him. Trent knew a major battle would soon be fought and it was likely to take place on this very day. To the shouts of orders from their commanders amid the clang of armor and rattle of equipment the knights mounted their horses, adjusted their helmets and pulled their swords from their scabbards.

* * *

Rushing away from the encampment, Evie and the three knights hastened to withdraw from what might soon become a battleground. Each of the knights knew that time was of the essence for the enemy was on the move. As they rushed along at a speedy gallop even now they could hear the clash of swords behind then. Rounding a hill that opened into a meadow they spotted a handful of enemy soldiers. For but a moment, the lead knight tried to turn back the four of them to a place of concealment, but the shouts of Magyars let them know that they had been seen.

Evie saw what the knights saw, six fully outfitted Magyars blocking their way back to the castle. As the knights withdrew their swords, Evie reached for her bow and quickly pulled a sharp arrow from her quiver. She would be ready.