A dark forest loomed in the distance. Though the sun was at its highest a shiver ran down Shara’s spine. After all the stories Robert had told her of the Kanid Forest, the actual sight of it made them seem all the more real.
The week had passed with little to mark it save two meetings with merchant caravans. Robert had spoken with both groups and done a little trading. Neither group had passed through the forest, so they could offer no information. Of the patrol that questioned them earlier they’d seen no sign. If the soldiers suspected them of burning the farm, they hadn’t managed to catch up yet.
“Grim sight, huh?” Robert asked when he caught her staring at the forest.
Shara swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “The light seems funny around it.”
“The tall trees cause shadows to fall across the road like that. Don’t worry about it, we’ll be fine.”
Shara looked down at the crossbow he’d assembled the day before then back to him.
He shrugged. “You can worry a little if you want, but don’t overdo it.”
Shara laughed. It sounded a little hysterical, but she felt better afterward.
“Will we be alright?” she asked, a slight quiver in her voice.
Robert put a comforting arm around her. “Listen, every year hundreds of caravans pass through the forest. Less than a dozen of them are attacked. As a gambling man, I’d say our odds of getting sunk in a storm on the Sea of Torments are better than our odds of being attacked.”
“We gonna keep going or what?” Shale demanded.
Shara realized Robert had let the horses slow to a walk. “We were just discussing if we should go now or after lunch,” Robert said with a solemn face.
He managed to hold it for a few seconds before breaking into a broad grin.
Shale snorted in disgust and kicked his horse forward.
“Before lunch I guess,” Shara said.
Robert gave her one last squeeze, then urged the horses to a quicker pace. As they passed into the shadows the horses shied, perhaps sensing their rider’s fear.
Shara glanced over her shoulder. The shadows near the entrance of the forest appeared to create a barrier, almost a wall of shadows. Even though she knew they could turn around and ride out if they wanted to, it appeared the way was cut off.
Her breathing grew fast and ragged.
The world was closing in on her.
Everything started spinning.
Robert’s hand fell on her shoulder. “Steady, kid. You’re alright.”
Shara took slow, steady breaths until the dizziness passed. It was all in her head. She had to be strong. Every turn of the wagon wheel brought her closer to home. She shuddered. And the sorcerer waiting for her.
They traveled through the dark forest. Huge trees towered over them. None of the animal noises she’d noticed in the Vale seemed evident here. All she could hear was the creaking of the wagon.
The silence was getting to her. “Talk to me, Robert.”
“Sure, kid. What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything. Tell me about the forest. It seems different from the Vale.”
“It’s not that different,” Robert said. “Once upon a time I heard they were both part of one big forest that included all the ground we’ve covered and then some. The land was gradually cleared for farms and towns. That’s the way it goes most everywhere I’ve traveled.”
Unable to imagine a forest that large Shara asked, “Why weren’t the Vale and Kanid Forest cleared as well?”
“The Vale survived because it provides a buffer between two kingdoms that really dislike each other. The Kanid Forest is still standing because the Wolfen decided they didn’t want it cut down. Anyone with a saw would do well to steer clear of this forest, unless they fancy becoming a Wolfen’s dinner.”
Shara shivered at the thought.
Robert smiled and chuckled to himself.
“What’s so funny?”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that with all the things in the world to be scared of, the thing that gets most people is the thought of getting eaten by some big-toothed critter? Ask any sailor what scares him and I guarantee you the most common answer you get won’t be storms or pirates. Sharks are what sailors fear most.”
“I don’t think it’s funny at all,” Shara said. “Aren’t you afraid of getting eaten?”
“Sure, you’d have to be out of your mind not to be, it’s just that I fear some things even more.”
Shara was about to ask what when he hauled back on the reins. “Did you hear that?”
Shale rode up beside the wagon. “What now?” he asked.
“I heard something, over there.” Robert pointed to the left side of the road.
Swords cleared scabbards and in an instant everyone was armed. They waited, tension filling the air. You could hear a butterfly sneeze it was so quiet.
After a minute or two where nothing happened Robert shrugged. “Must have been an animal.”
Everyone sheathed their weapons and they continued on. Robert looked at Blade again and Shara thought she saw a nod pass between them. She wasn’t certain and decided not to mention it.
The rest of the day passed without incident and near dark they made camp in a small clearing beside the road. They made no fire and set a double guard.
Shara had just finished her cold jerky when Robert came over and sat beside her. “How you holding up, kid?”
She smiled weakly. “I’ll feel better when we’ve left this forest behind.”
“With any luck tomorrow night we’ll camp beyond the forest. We’ll be safe then, at least from the Wolfen.”
“How can you be certain?” she asked.
“No Wolfen has ever been seen beyond the borders of the forest.”
Robert left her and headed toward the edge of the clearing near the forest.
Shale stopped him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’ve got to piss. You want to come along and shake off the excess?”
Shale spat at Robert’s feet then wandered off.
Despite her anxiety, Shara soon drifted off to sleep.
It seemed to her only seconds had passed yet someone was shaking her awake. “Time to get up.”
Shara rolled over, not bothering to open her eyes. “I just fell asleep.”
“Open your eyes,” Robert said.
Shara opened her left eye and bright morning light stabbed it. She closed it again.
“We’re leaving in five minutes. If you don’t want to spend another night in the forest I suggest you get up.”
Shara sat bolt upright, her eyes wide open. “I’m awake.”
Robert grinned and bared his teeth in a mock snarl. “I thought that might get your attention.”
She stuck her tongue out at him which only made him smile more. She tossed her blanket off and took the water skin he offered. The skin was halfway to her lips when she paused and looked down at the blanket. She hadn’t had it last night.
She looked over at Robert but he was busy fussing with the wagon. Shara finished her drink, folded up the blanket and brought it over to him. “Thanks.”
Robert stowed the blanket in the bed of the wagon. “Climb aboard. There’s a bag of food on the seat, help yourself.”
The little group soon got underway. The morning sun filtered down through the leaves creating strange patterns on the ground that swirled in the breeze. They hadn’t gone far when Blade drew her sword. Everyone else did the same, looking on both sides of the road for the threat.
When nothing appeared she muttered something about the wind and sheathed her sword.
The rest of the morning passed without incident. As they ate lunch Shara said, “You and Blade seem awfully jumpy.”
“This forest tends to encourage the feeling. Do you trust me?”
The question caught her off guard. She thought for a moment and realized she did. “I trust you, why?”
He lowered his voice so she could just hear him above the creak of the wagon wheels. “If anything happens, I need you to do what I say, no argument. Promise me.”
She found the intensity with which he spoke a little scary. “I promise.”
He grinned and the feeling passed. “Good girl.”
Not long after their chat Shara heard a branch snap. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah, hang on tight, kid, things are about to get ugly.”
When Robert saw that Shara had a tight grip on the seat, he said, “I heard something, over there.”
Robert pointed to opposite side of the road from the noise she’d heard.
No one reacted until half a dozen hairy forms burst from the tree line.
Shara screamed.
The Wolfen looked like true monsters. Most stood as tall as Morden and were covered in thick gray hair. Their heads resembled wolves but from the neck down they had the bodies of men. The only difference Shara could see besides the hair was that their hands ended in two-inch claws.
The first Wolfen hit Morden and sunk its claws into the big man’s side, tearing him from his saddle.
Morden roared and struck the Wolfen in the chest, forcing it back.
Robert glanced over his shoulder and Shara turned with him. The two bandits in the wagon bed had gotten to their feet. Robert flicked the reins and sent the men sprawling on the ground.
Robert snapped the reins again and the horses took off.
“Blade!” he yelled, reaching out for her.
Blade rode at the front of the group and no Wolfen had attacked her yet.
She kicked her feet free of the stirrups and grabbed Robert’s arm as the wagon thundered by.
Their momentum jerked her off the horse’s back and Robert lifted her into his lap.
With Blade safely aboard Robert urged the horses to even greater speed. They soon left the other bandits behind.
Shara looked over her shoulder. A huge black Wolfen was chasing them and actually managed to gain a little on the horses.
“Robert! Behind us!”
Blade disengaged herself from Robert and slid into the wagon bed.
She reached back and grabbed the crossbow off the seat and leveled it at the Wolfen chasing them.
The weapon twanged and the bolt embedded itself in the Wolfen’s hip.
It fell to the ground unable to run.
Blade reloaded the crossbow and set it on the bed of the wagon beside her.
“Nice shot,” Shara said.
Blade looked at her and Shara saw a deep sadness in her eyes. She doubted shooting the Wolfen had anything to do with it.
When they’d put some distance between them and the fight Robert slowed the wagon. “Take a look, kid.”
Shara had been watching behind them for signs of pursuit. She faced front when Robert spoke. Ahead a bright light flashed between the trees. A broad plain spread out before them. The evening sun colored the land pink.
The sight cheered Shara a great deal.
They stopped to make camp a couple miles from the edge of the forest. While Robert busied himself making a fire Shara noticed Blade sat away from them, not saying a word.
Shara went over to Robert and asked, “What’s with Blade?”
Robert sighed and put another piece of wood on the fire. “Those guys had been a big part of her life since she was a kid. By choosing to come with us, with me, she left everything she’s ever known behind.”
“Heaven’s mercy, Robert, what about the wizard? He put a spell on me, remember? He could cause me pain so I wouldn’t be able to move.”
Robert grinned. “Don’t worry, that was just bullshit. In his current form Scratch doesn’t have enough control over his magic to cast a spell like that.”
Shara slapped him on the shoulder. “You jerk. You made me think that if I misbehaved that wizard would hurt me.”
“Exactly, it didn’t matter if the spell worked as long as you believed it would.” Robert had a good fire going. He put a pot of water on to boil.
Shara felt relieved and annoyed. “So Scratch can’t find me either?”
Robert grimaced. “That’s another matter. The beacon spell is quite simple and well within his ability.”
Shara threw up her hands in frustration. “So what’s to keep him from hunting me down?”
“The Wolfen with any luck.” The water started boiling and Robert added meat and vegetables for his stew.
Shara shuddered as she remembered those huge, hairy forms boiling out of the forest. “How did you know the Wolfen would attack?”
Robert looked up from his stew. “When we made camp last night, I scarred half a dozen trees near the camp. The Wolfen consider themselves guardians of the forest. I figured a little vandalism would anger them enough to get the job done.”
“What if it hadn’t?”
“It did. Let it go, kid. What’s done is done.”