Chapter 16: The Darkness among the Trees
-----In the grayish mid-morning light, the party leaves the village of Tru and rides swiftly heading toward the southeast. Skimming across a raised dry batch between two small swamps, the riders soon see mostly flat land before them spotted here and there with clumps of woods and hills. For the next hour and a half, they ride through a series of small valleys and skirt around patches of brush.
-----Raven and Sol take the lead, setting the pace for the others. Behind them ride Sarah and Gabe, the charmed one obediently following his mistress. Next, Thalog rides beside Dreda, the dark-clad woman with the scarlet hair staring passively ahead. Rand rides to the side of his brother. Heiros hobbles up and down in his saddle, his arms tied to straps leaving him bound but still able to maintain his balance. Finally, Zentil rides behind the party, the elf alertly keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble.
-----At about high noon, they emerge from behind a hill into an area dominated by scrub. They see before them a wagon trail leading north toward the Town of Hearthorn. As they cross the trail, the country looks devoid of any activity.
-----Onward they ride and soon before them to the southeast, they see the dark line of a huge forest. A moderate breeze blows across them as they transverse the expanse of plains toward the first trees.
-----The temperature drops as they enter the forest and the trees help block the cool wind. Here and there the riders come across clearings that helps them maintain their pace without slowing. The sun never breaks through the heavy clouds overhead.
-----Just inside the forest, the party stops to rest and eat. Raven and Sol also question Dreda about where they are heading. As the charmed woman answers, she continues to stare toward the southeast through the trees as though mesmerized. Heiros throws disgusted glances in her direction as she answers, helpless to do anything. Dreda indicates to keep following the direction they are heading in. Soon, they start off again. This time, their going is slowed somewhat by thicker clumps of trees, deadfalls and hills.
-----Finally, two hours after noon, when the day should be the brightest and warmest, the expanse between the trees appears very dim. The change would not seem to come from the sky although it is still overcast.
-----The party rides between an area of rough vegetation and a wooded hill on their left. Halfway up the hill, they see a small log home, smoke from its chimney carried off by the wind.
-----Dead ahead the forest appears much darker and the party notices the absence of any animal life around them. An uneasy silence begins to grow with each movement forward. Nervousness develops in the horses that even Raven finds hard to comfort.
-----Suddenly everyone sees the Darkness. About thirty feet in front of the party, a huge patch of the forest seems to be consumed by total blackness. The lifeless trees ringing the dark perimeter look like their color has faded to a dull gray. A chill hangs in the air and seems to radiate from within. Straining to see between the ashen trees, the adventurers can make out a dim purplish glow coming from about sixty feet within the darkness.
-----"The beauty of the Dark . . . ," comes Dreda’s voice, barely above a whisper. As the others look at her, the woman smiles with a look of awe and ecstasy as she gazes at it.
-----Sol eyes the darkness doubtfully. Without turning his head from the purplish glow, he addresses the captive woman, "Dreda, what is this exactly? And what's it doing in the middle of the forest?" His voice sounds curious, yet strained.
-----Closing her eyes with a strange smile on her lovely face, Dreda inhales deeply and then softly says, "This is . . . The Dark. Within you will find the worshippers of my goddess."
-----Heiros, still mounted on his horse, jerks his head in her direction. His expression is hard to read as he stares at Dreda. He remains silent as he is still gagged.
-----Sarah looks at Dreda, rather worried. "Can you see through the Dark, Dreda? Can they?"
-----"No, only the highest of worshippers are blessed with the Dark Sight." Then Dreda turns to face Sarah. "You must learn not to be frightened of what you cannot see. Do you not feel the Dark waiting to embrace you?" Dreda smiles and her eyebrows arch up with a chilling effect.
-----Zentil dismounts and, with a look of unease, quickly draws an arrow into his bow. He keeps an eye on the surrounding trees.
-----"Yeah, well...it's not going to have ta wait too much longer." Sol remarks as he dismounts also. He walks a few steps towards the darkness, then stops and turns his head towards Raven. Despite his apparent eagerness, his following question seems more for reassurance than for any practical value, "So we ready to go in, or not?"
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