Midwinter

A white satin blanket of snow covered the ground. The guard looked up at the moon. Almost two by his estimate. His watch would be over soon. It was midwinter today and he never liked winter anyways. Turning his gaze around, he noticed a small red light from the east side of the camp. Easing his sword in its scabbard, he moved to get a better view of the tiny spek of light. From out of nowhere appeared another red dot, hovering about five meters apart from the first. Feeling some apprehensions about the whole situation, he moved towards one of the sleeping figures closer to the center of the encampment.

‘Baldor… Baldor… I think we might have trouble.’ He whispered whilst gently rousing his comrade.

The second man struggled to his feet and looked in the direction pointed at by his friend. The two specks had, by now, drifted so close together that they appeared to be eyes. Panick gripped the second man when his eyes met the two specks. Waking everyone in the small encampment he shouted at them to take to arms and defend themselves. Swords flashed from scabbards as men rose to their defense.

When the man turned his eyes back to where the dots had been, he only saw the giant shadow speeding towards him as he sagged and death set in. White streaks glinting in the faint moonlight cut of screams of terror. Only moments later not a sound was to be heard.

‘The prince’s party isn’t in yet. It was due to arrive early yesterday morning. I want you men to locate them if possible.’ He glanced at the two men sitting at a table. A big piece of meat was sitting on a platter accompanied by two flagons of wine. The two men had a look he knew well. A look that revealed the hardened attitudes of men who had witnessed just about anything a soldier would ever get to see.

‘Why us, sir? There must be some young fools around who have time to kill. The prince probably just ran late.’ replied one of them.

‘Just go. I have a bad feeling about this. I need two veterans out there.’ He turned and walked away, leaving his men to prepare for their departure.

Having ridden for several hours, the two men dismounted. They had ridden hard and were sure to have seen the prince’s party by now. Deciding to get some rest, they headed to what appeared to be a clearing in the forest. The lead man pushed aside some branches as he entered the clearing. Even before the second man entered into view of the clearing, he came running past.

A few feet from the clearing’s edge, he started gagging and throwing up in the bushes.