Chapter 1

The Battle

Eric Luchsieria clambered onto the lowest branch of the tree. He checked his belt to see if he had dropped anything - his fingers slipped through the tight space between his belt and pants. Satisfied, he ceased groping and stared up the dark crown of the tree that blended into the unlit night sky.

Shivering a bit, he pulled his tunic tighter around his body. Then, after glancing several times backwards, he swung up onto high branches swiftly - as high as he could.

Picking out a broad and sturdy branch, he climbed onto that and perched on it. Eric fumbled for two things - his bottle of hot spiced tea and what his family called a 'night close-up vision object' (for now - for they could not agree on a name for it yet) , something which belonged to only his family. It allowed one to see far away objects clearly in the night without light.

He peered into the object and scanned the area once, rather nervously. Strictly speaking, he was not supposed to be scouting in this area - there was nothing that held the interests of his family now as they gathered their troops to storm the last stronghold of the Schlusig, the only barrier to the throne, and to the progress of the kingdom.

The moon was rising, edging the leaves of the forested landscapes, with its silver light. It was a full moon tonight, and the season's end, so the silver globe suspended close to Ardeth, blotting out the faint twinkles of the stars that usually decorated the sky. The heat vapour clung close to the crown of the trees, warping his view.

Eric took a swig out of his bottle, letting the sweet taste spread throughout the mouth, and the heat of the drink warm his stomach. He shivered again, despite the tepid night. He was ill - the only reason why he was left to himself in the camp without being assigned scouting missions this night. But he had a pressing matter and he had slipped out of the camp without permission.

He pressed the device close to the bridge of his nose and stared harder at a dark circle of trees. There, he could barely see a lone fire flickering.

Eric pressed a button on the gadget, magnifying the scene.

Dark-clothed people were walking about, carrying small pieces of burning sticks. They were packing up to move.

Eric counted them. There were some thirty adults and around the same number of youths and children. Eric scanned for his object of interest. There! A little girl clambered upon the back of an old man. She was laughing as she bit into a bun.

Eric watched them for a while as the group of people disappeared into thicker part of the forest before leaning back, fastening the object onto his belt and gulping down the rest of his drink.

At least she is safe, he thought of the little girl. At least for now she would be.

Relieved, he slid down the trunk of the tree and started back for his camp.