The Veredor Chronicles: Book 02 - The Journey West by E J Gilmour Page B
Authors: E J Gilmour
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silver or gold. These have been troubling times for us. Now the Irvarians are coming we have reason to hope. Can you stay and help us fight the Skatheans?’
‘I’m sorry ,’ replied Eben. ‘We are urgently on our way to Faircastle and can’t afford any delay.’
The young man nodded. ‘You should know that something evil lurks in the wilderness to the north of here. It’s not safe for men to be out in the night. Several caravans have completely disappeared on the river road between here and Irvaria. Men are telling stories of a shadow that walks in the darkness.’
‘What kind o f shadow?’ asked Red in a low voice.
‘We don’t know. About two weeks ago a group of our tribesmen were camped half a day north of here. Their camp was attacked by something they couldn’t see because it kept to the shadows. Several men were dragged into the night and were never seen again. The survivors said they felt unusually cold the night when they were attacked.’
‘We wi ll be careful,’ said Eben.
**
They walked quickly for the remainder of the day and passed by two more river settlements before dusk. Once again they set up camp in the hinterland and found a cleared grove surrounded with trees and out of sight of the road. Red and Stella collected firewood while Cassiel and Eben set up the camp.
‘What’s your opinion of the warning we received?’ asked Eben.
‘It’s probably nothing to worry about,’ answered Cassiel. ‘The people are strained from fighting the Skatheans. It could be the Skatheans trying to create a state of fear among the village folk. I’m hoping that we don’t have to fight another draug. I think we should keep a vigilant watch tonight.’
‘Do you think we could beat a draug,’ asked Eben .
‘I think I understand the method a draug uses to attack. They tempt their victims with their deepest desires. The answer is simple; whatever they offer you, understand it’s a lie, and then simply reject it,’ said Cassiel assuredly.
‘Easier said than done,’ said Red as he returned to the camp with Stella. ‘None of us beat the draug, and we all knew that the things we were tempted with were not real. If Baftel hadn’t been there we probably would have all been victims.’
C assiel nodded. ‘You are right, Red; although once you touch the fire you’re unlikely to touch it again. We all saw what the draug could do. I think we would do better if we ever face such a challenge again.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Stella. ‘But let’s hope that we never have to.’
**
Eben awoke as Cassiel shook his shoulder. ‘Eben, wake up,’ he whispered uneasily.
‘What’s happening,’ whispered Eben, sitting up quickly. He could see in the firelight that Cassiel was intensely staring out toward the edge of the clearing.
‘There’s something out there ,’ whispered Cassiel, continuing to watch with wide eyes.
‘What did y ou see?’ asked Eben, looking in the direction Cassiel was staring.
‘I didn’t see anything; I felt it, an evil intention. A terrible feeling in my heart,’ said Cassiel.
Eben quickly shook Red and Stella and they both sat up.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Stella.
‘Cassiel thinks there’s something out there,’ whispered Eben.
‘I knew we should have insisted on staying in one of those villagers by the river ,’ said Red as he drew his sword and stood up.
‘Quiet,’ whispered Cassiel. ‘Listen, can you hear that?’
‘No, I don’t hear anything,’ whispered Red.
A cold breeze blew across the clearing. The flames of the campfire reduced until only the hot coals remained. Only a little red light from the coals lit their faces, and the edge of the clearing had fallen into complete darkness.
‘Reve al yourself,’ said Cassiel, lifting his hand. For a moment nothing happened. There was complete silence. A blast of icy wind struck them. The light of the coals dimmed until almost no light remained. Cassiel fell to his knees and hunched over, groaning in
‘I’m sorry ,’ replied Eben. ‘We are urgently on our way to Faircastle and can’t afford any delay.’
The young man nodded. ‘You should know that something evil lurks in the wilderness to the north of here. It’s not safe for men to be out in the night. Several caravans have completely disappeared on the river road between here and Irvaria. Men are telling stories of a shadow that walks in the darkness.’
‘What kind o f shadow?’ asked Red in a low voice.
‘We don’t know. About two weeks ago a group of our tribesmen were camped half a day north of here. Their camp was attacked by something they couldn’t see because it kept to the shadows. Several men were dragged into the night and were never seen again. The survivors said they felt unusually cold the night when they were attacked.’
‘We wi ll be careful,’ said Eben.
**
They walked quickly for the remainder of the day and passed by two more river settlements before dusk. Once again they set up camp in the hinterland and found a cleared grove surrounded with trees and out of sight of the road. Red and Stella collected firewood while Cassiel and Eben set up the camp.
‘What’s your opinion of the warning we received?’ asked Eben.
‘It’s probably nothing to worry about,’ answered Cassiel. ‘The people are strained from fighting the Skatheans. It could be the Skatheans trying to create a state of fear among the village folk. I’m hoping that we don’t have to fight another draug. I think we should keep a vigilant watch tonight.’
‘Do you think we could beat a draug,’ asked Eben .
‘I think I understand the method a draug uses to attack. They tempt their victims with their deepest desires. The answer is simple; whatever they offer you, understand it’s a lie, and then simply reject it,’ said Cassiel assuredly.
‘Easier said than done,’ said Red as he returned to the camp with Stella. ‘None of us beat the draug, and we all knew that the things we were tempted with were not real. If Baftel hadn’t been there we probably would have all been victims.’
C assiel nodded. ‘You are right, Red; although once you touch the fire you’re unlikely to touch it again. We all saw what the draug could do. I think we would do better if we ever face such a challenge again.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Stella. ‘But let’s hope that we never have to.’
**
Eben awoke as Cassiel shook his shoulder. ‘Eben, wake up,’ he whispered uneasily.
‘What’s happening,’ whispered Eben, sitting up quickly. He could see in the firelight that Cassiel was intensely staring out toward the edge of the clearing.
‘There’s something out there ,’ whispered Cassiel, continuing to watch with wide eyes.
‘What did y ou see?’ asked Eben, looking in the direction Cassiel was staring.
‘I didn’t see anything; I felt it, an evil intention. A terrible feeling in my heart,’ said Cassiel.
Eben quickly shook Red and Stella and they both sat up.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Stella.
‘Cassiel thinks there’s something out there,’ whispered Eben.
‘I knew we should have insisted on staying in one of those villagers by the river ,’ said Red as he drew his sword and stood up.
‘Quiet,’ whispered Cassiel. ‘Listen, can you hear that?’
‘No, I don’t hear anything,’ whispered Red.
A cold breeze blew across the clearing. The flames of the campfire reduced until only the hot coals remained. Only a little red light from the coals lit their faces, and the edge of the clearing had fallen into complete darkness.
‘Reve al yourself,’ said Cassiel, lifting his hand. For a moment nothing happened. There was complete silence. A blast of icy wind struck them. The light of the coals dimmed until almost no light remained. Cassiel fell to his knees and hunched over, groaning in
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