Broken Portal

Part 7 Horses That Pass In The Night

Furion Berryhill was always punctual, but even for him arriving in the pitch black was a wonder, his horse had been the finest and quickest steed he have ever ridden, which was surprising, due to the lack of stallions, Old Burnt, provided the Kings guards with nowadays. Furion was also more agitated than normal during his journey from the capital, he had been fidgeting constantly in his tunic, convinced it was a size too small for him.

Thunk, had accompanied Furion, alone for the first time, sure he had been on many an outing protecting the King around the Capital and beyond, but he had never, been with Furion on an outing to verify a Portal shard, nor did he realise or probably care about the level of expertise Furion had in such matters.

The King had always trusted Furion with important tasks, he was the most honoured Kings guard in all the realm, and the King had even betrothed his eldest daughter the Princess Arianna to him, not because it gave him any political gain or family advantage, as the Berryhill’s were not noble, it was because he just plain respected and liked Furion, some would say even more so than his own sons.

Thunk, was a former mercenary, a Blood Rapier, the scum of the world, the King had named them ever since they had come over from Pathagon, and sold their swords to the highest bidder. But in one brutal encounter between the Kings Guards and the Blood Rapiers, which in the end turned out to be a misunderstanding by both parties, many Blood Rapiers died, but Thunk, was spared, thanks to the goodwill of Furion.

He knew the hulk of a man, was simple of wit, and was only obeying orders, as he had been trained to do, and his loyalty, was unwavering, but Furion had a way of understanding a person motivation and turned Thunk to the side of the King, and now into his obedient sidekick.

“You expected to arrive, by night.” Growled Thunk as they approached the village of Myrn

“No, I am shocked by the speed of our horses.” Replied Furion “I was expecting to be here in the morning.”

 “Good stock of stallions,” mentioned Thunk “Old Burnt, sure knows how to breed them.”

Furion nodded his bright blond hair in agreement as they rode steadily down towards the village. Two horse and riders bolted past the Kings guards at a rapid pace, Furion tried to identify the men, but they sped past too fast and caught him surprisingly unawares.

“Someone’s in a rush.” Remarks Thunk as he turns round to see the dust kicking off the southern causeway road

“Curiously so,” Pondered Furion “especially at night.”

“Should we go after them?” asked Thunk

“Probably just travellers keen to get out of the night sky,” Thought Furion “Their more than likely wolves in these parts, maybe they got spooked by one.”

“Wolves.” Worried Thunk

That was Furions Berryhill’s first mistake, and a rare one at that.

“Did you see the Kings Guard?” shouted Ornoc over to Kan as their stallions galloped at great speed away from Myrn “They were on the road back there.”