Dark One Rising(150)

She was quiet for a few moments, then, “I don’t know if I can do this.”

He lifted her chin up so he could look her in the eye. “The moment you start to believe that is the moment Fallon has won.”

She took in a deep breath and placed her hand on her chest, touching the necklace Dain gave her which she wore under her tunic. She kept it on always to remember the love Dain had for her, just as her mother had done for her father. She somehow got strength from it and needed it near her always. She took in another breath and blew it out, then stood, Tomaz with her. He picked up his sword from the ground where it lay and smiled reassuringly at her. They picked up their linens from the grassy area under a tree and flung them over their backs. They went into the city center together.





CHAPTER 34


Alekzand’r, Kevaan, and their men had ridden hard for a couple of weeks, avoiding the main roads. They hoped to slip into the Dark Woods and get partway through them without being noticed. The sun was beginning to set, and they were tired. Alek shifted his weight in the saddle, cracking his joints and stretching. They knew they would have to stop. The rest in Azlyn was short, and his body didn’t recover as quickly as it once did; he was sure Kevaan felt the same. He didn’t know what he really expected. Old age was creeping up on him, and, although he refused to give in to it just yet, he knew he would have to slow down sometime. He knew they should stop for a bite to eat and a rest, but he wanted to reach the Dark Woods before sunset.

They pushed their mounts on. They would stop for a couple of minutes at the small stream to feed and water the horses, then be on their way again. Then a few hours later, they would stop to grab a bite themselves and stretch.

They continued on the back roads, then cut through into the woods. They reached the stream after a couple of hours and dismounted in a clearing approximately three hours from the outskirts of Amaris. Alek paced back and forth across the clearing, working his cold achy muscles, and took a drink from his water bladder.

The evening air was cold, and his breath could be seen in front of him. He grumbled. He looked over at his friend who was pacing as well, having a drink from his bladder. This long winter was intolerable. He couldn’t understand how Kevaan could stand it. Just a few days before he was warmer and happier in Azlyn; now he was wandering around in this God forsaken realm again. Winter had not yet come to Azlyn; it was still fall, but Aaralyn’s bitterness had never left. It hung over the realm still.

After a light refreshment of cold meat and bread, they drank their fill of water and got back on their horses again for the remainder of their ride.

Fallon had not yet dared to cross over the eastern border into Azlyn, as far as they knew, knowing full well just how outfitted Dain was in border patrol and easily moveable troops. The Isamarians had to know what Fallon was planning. Even if they didn’t agree to help, they needed to be prepared.

Aaralyn was small and not as well funded, and he knew because of that, Fallon could place troops of his own enlistment anywhere he felt was the most beneficial for his movement. Alek suspected he wanted to re-draw the lines of the realm and put himself on the throne. Before he could do that, he would have to get rid of Kevaan. He was saddened for his friend’s loss and wondered how long Kevaan’s strength could endure the push from the wraith. One thing he knew, Fallon would have a fight with Kevaan, and if Alek knew his friend as well as he did, Fallon would have to kill him in order to prevail. Kevaan would never give up his realm while he was alive to prevent it.

Alek and Dain would have to make sure that didn’t happen, but he feared they would have to enlist more help to do so. With the elves, and Brogan on his way back from Yarden with news of the dwarves, they should have enough troops to start the war with, but they needed more if they planned on finishing. The cities in Isamar were small, with no armies of any force; however, they would be powerful by shear numbers alone.

They traveled for an hour more when Kevaan glanced over his shoulder. He shook his head, then glanced back again. Alek noticed.

“What is it, my friend?”

“I’m not sure, but I swear I saw two riders close behind us, but when I looked back again, they were gone. They may be using the trees to keep themselves just out of sight range.”

“Are they wearing Fallon’s colors?”

“I didn’t get a long enough look, but I don’t think so.”

“I know a way we could find out. Let’s get a drop on them.”

“Alright, let’s get a mile or two more up the trail; we’ll slip behind the ridge of boulders.”

They kicked their mounts into a harder run, then pulled in around the ridge, dismounting and drawing their weapons and crouched in waiting. Kevaan had his sword; Alek had his bow with a bolt nocked and ready. The men kept the mounts hidden and quiet. They waited for about fifteen minutes when they heard the snorting of horses and the crunching of needles and crushed rock under heavy hooves. Kevaan lifted his sword over his head, ready to swing down. Alek held his crossbow, ready with bolt. The first horse that emerged fully from the dark trees reared up when confronted with combatant.