woods, but Amorian luck has been running a little thin of late. And it’s the only way.” He took a pause before continuing. “They will have Blackwolves, little mage. Many of them. I don’t want to scare you but thought you should know.”
Tenlon felt sick, remembering the flies buzzing around the massive creature along the dirt road on his journey in. He’d heard tales of the beasts over the past few months—everyone had—but that was his first time seeing one. Now he’d be facing more of them, and living ones no less. The mere notion of it gave him chills.
How could they even exist ? he wondered. Hairy beasts with teeth like daggers, cloaked in gray, terrorizing small settlements and murdering men as they tended their fields— feeding on them. He must have looked worried, for Accostas made his way towards them on his own mount.
“You should be okay,” the tall warrior assured him. “Desik has killed so many of them that he now finds it boring. Some he even put down with his bare hands! You stay close to him; he’ll keep you safe. Desik is the best.” Tenlon looked over at the brooding warrior who was securing his mount’s saddlebag. The tattooed man shrugged his shoulders.
“I took them down with spears,” he added calmly. “And they were usually alone, one or two of them. Never ran into a whole pack before. That should be interesting to see.” He vaulted into his saddle. “We’re leaving now,” he told the apprentice with the mildest hint of annoyance. “Will you be joining us sometime this morning?”
Tenlon looked around and noticed he was the only one not mounted.
Heaving his thin frame up into Darkfire’s saddle, he struggled at first with the bundle strapped to his back before finally settling. Whispering a few words of encouragement to Darkfire, his company took off, rising and falling into the wave like the grasslands south of Amoria.
They rode for several miles and the mountain clusters of his homeland became more visible as the sun rose into morning. The tree line of Killian Forest could be seen some distance to their right, but his troop continued riding towards the mountains. Tenlon wondered why they hadn’t simply turned towards the forest when it came into sight, but Kreiden apparently wanted to ride further for a deeper entry point.
After an hour the champion made a subtle shift in direction towards the dark tree line. As they came closer, a tickle of apprehension began to flower in Tenlon’s belly. He didn’t want to enter the shadowy woods.
The sun had just risen a few hours ago, sharing its warmth with the riders and strangely enough, he was beginning to enjoy himself. The grasslands were vast and open, with no danger in any direction. In contrast, Killian Forest was shrouded in darkness, a place where anything could attack from anywhere. He tightened his jaw and asked Darkfire to lend him some strength. The mount certainly had enough to share.
As the troop neared the tree line, Kreiden dropped back and Fenton heeled his mount about fifty paces ahead of the other riders, gripping a spear at his side. The remaining Amorians smoothly pulled into a wedge with Tenlon in the center behind the champion, flanked between Accostas and the irritable Desik.
Slowing to a canter as they entered the forest, the temperature dropped as they glided beneath the canopy. Soon their mounts were kicking up the dry, soft earth of an open trail. The riders slipped into a single line until Fenton found a path wide enough for Tenlon to have a soldier on either side. Shifting in and out of the wedge formation, they continued on until early afternoon without any trouble.
Minutes later Tenlon heard a distant howl.
Chapter 6
Draz was concerned he might collapse as he lumbered up the hill, his lungs struggling to pull in enough of the late autumn air to fuel his strength. He could feel the loose soil of the northern Amorian forest shifting beneath him as he
Tenlon felt sick, remembering the flies buzzing around the massive creature along the dirt road on his journey in. He’d heard tales of the beasts over the past few months—everyone had—but that was his first time seeing one. Now he’d be facing more of them, and living ones no less. The mere notion of it gave him chills.
How could they even exist ? he wondered. Hairy beasts with teeth like daggers, cloaked in gray, terrorizing small settlements and murdering men as they tended their fields— feeding on them. He must have looked worried, for Accostas made his way towards them on his own mount.
“You should be okay,” the tall warrior assured him. “Desik has killed so many of them that he now finds it boring. Some he even put down with his bare hands! You stay close to him; he’ll keep you safe. Desik is the best.” Tenlon looked over at the brooding warrior who was securing his mount’s saddlebag. The tattooed man shrugged his shoulders.
“I took them down with spears,” he added calmly. “And they were usually alone, one or two of them. Never ran into a whole pack before. That should be interesting to see.” He vaulted into his saddle. “We’re leaving now,” he told the apprentice with the mildest hint of annoyance. “Will you be joining us sometime this morning?”
Tenlon looked around and noticed he was the only one not mounted.
Heaving his thin frame up into Darkfire’s saddle, he struggled at first with the bundle strapped to his back before finally settling. Whispering a few words of encouragement to Darkfire, his company took off, rising and falling into the wave like the grasslands south of Amoria.
They rode for several miles and the mountain clusters of his homeland became more visible as the sun rose into morning. The tree line of Killian Forest could be seen some distance to their right, but his troop continued riding towards the mountains. Tenlon wondered why they hadn’t simply turned towards the forest when it came into sight, but Kreiden apparently wanted to ride further for a deeper entry point.
After an hour the champion made a subtle shift in direction towards the dark tree line. As they came closer, a tickle of apprehension began to flower in Tenlon’s belly. He didn’t want to enter the shadowy woods.
The sun had just risen a few hours ago, sharing its warmth with the riders and strangely enough, he was beginning to enjoy himself. The grasslands were vast and open, with no danger in any direction. In contrast, Killian Forest was shrouded in darkness, a place where anything could attack from anywhere. He tightened his jaw and asked Darkfire to lend him some strength. The mount certainly had enough to share.
As the troop neared the tree line, Kreiden dropped back and Fenton heeled his mount about fifty paces ahead of the other riders, gripping a spear at his side. The remaining Amorians smoothly pulled into a wedge with Tenlon in the center behind the champion, flanked between Accostas and the irritable Desik.
Slowing to a canter as they entered the forest, the temperature dropped as they glided beneath the canopy. Soon their mounts were kicking up the dry, soft earth of an open trail. The riders slipped into a single line until Fenton found a path wide enough for Tenlon to have a soldier on either side. Shifting in and out of the wedge formation, they continued on until early afternoon without any trouble.
Minutes later Tenlon heard a distant howl.
Chapter 6
Draz was concerned he might collapse as he lumbered up the hill, his lungs struggling to pull in enough of the late autumn air to fuel his strength. He could feel the loose soil of the northern Amorian forest shifting beneath him as he
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