Assassin's Shadow (Veiled Dagger Book 2) by Jon Kiln

Author:Jon Kiln
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2015-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

The news of Ariswold’s passing saddened Rothar. He had known the apothecary for a very long time, and, in truth, the old man’s knowledge had probably saved his life more than once. His demise only further resolved Rothar’s determination to find the people responsible for all of the misery that had been brought upon the King’s City, especially Witherington.

The party of huntsmen had been forced to stop for the evening when a torrential storm let loose from the black clouds overheard. The density of the Banewood provided a good cover from the rain, but the gusting winds knocked down large tree limbs and made traveling treacherous. The group had found a cave in which to wait out the storm and spend the night.

Peregrin sat beside him as Rothar warmed himself by the small camp fire. Outside, the wind blasted across the mouth of the cave, creating a haunting howl that echoed past the men and disappeared somewhere deep in the recesses of the cavern. Occasionally, between gusts of wind and crashes of thunder, the ominous humming could be heard somewhere high overhead.

They had continued along the same route frequented by the dark shapes, as it had coincided exactly with the hoof print and blood trail that they had been tracking, so much so that they eventually stopped watching the ground for signs and just stayed in the line of travel of the mysterious flying shadows.

“Care to venture a guess yet?” asked Peregrin as they sat around the fire.

Rothar looked at him quizzically. Peregrin motioned towards the mouth of the cave, the humming sound could be heard somewhere in the distance.

“What are they? Are they animal? Weather? Demon?” said Peregrin.

“Perhaps all of the above?” quipped Rothar with a wry smile.

Peregrin laughed without humor. “Well, whatever they are, they seem to be heading to wherever our scouts… were taken.”

“Indeed,” Rothar said, leaning forward to put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You know that, when we find them, we are going to make this right.”

Peregrin looked Rothar in the eye. “That is our way.”

Suddenly, from outside came a deafening roar. A blinding light blazed and shone into the cave mouth, turning the night to a golden day. Rothar rushed to the cave entrance, followed by Peregrin and the rest of the search party.

The sky was on fire. Rain still pelted down and the wind still howled, but much of the sky above the Banewood blazed and crackled in an orange inferno. As the men watched, an oblong ball of flame fell slowly, until it touched the tops of the trees, setting limbs ablaze. Lowering deeper and deeper into the canopy, the hellish spectacle continued to emit a low sound, a droning hum that persisted until the whole mess broke apart amidst the giant trees, sending trails of flame in every direction.

The storm increased and rain fell in sheets so thick that the only thing visible beyond was the diminishing flames of the mystery.

***

At the first light of morning, Rothar, Peregrin and

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