laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Across the golden fields of wheat and beyond the small clusters of farms, he rode into the forest darkened by the triple canopy. Nervousness soon gripped him again as shadows elongated and gave fuel to his imagination, hearing the stories that many had told about these woods. Servants to the demons had also claimed their share of brave men over the years. At least those were the claims of many in the Flying Gorgon.
Horses hooves pounded the hard ground littered with sporadic clumps of grass, fallen rust covered leaves and thick, dark grey roots. Haunting birdsong echoed in the distance and high above as Aodrenig tightened his helmet’s chin strap, then gripped the reins as his eyes scanned the foliage around him.
Soon, his horse stopped and stomped the ground which prompted the Kuzin warrior to dismount then unsling his shield from the saddle and slip his left arm into the straps.

“Remain here, friend,” he instructed and continued on alone. Around a large oak he moved quietly as the ground slowly rose towards the west and before him. Suddenly, the happy chirping ceased and he froze.
An explosion of leaves from his right spun the swordpoint towards the fighter in leather armor whose mace of blackened metal swung mightily downward, nearly taking Aodrenig’s shoulder as he dodged, then stabbed. His assailant stiffened as eyes went wide from beneath the leather cap as the dirty face then glanced up to his killer and smiled.

“You’ve only brought Nurmes to your door, friend,” the fighter promised as he slumped to the ground and Aodrenig retrieved his blade as he waited for another. Field plate glowed dully in the dappled shade that commanded the boughs above and he pressed forward. Movement from behind him spun the warrior from Jedburgh as blue eyes widened. The one he had just killed pushed himself up again, grabbed his mace and grinned darkly, then attacked.
Aodrenig shield bashed the man in the chest and furiously slashed the man. Maroon sprays arced into the air, peppering the leaves around them until the lightly armored man lay in a heap upon the ground and Aodrenig spun and ran. Thin branches slapped his metal covered chest and arms as he raced to find the keep. Hopefully all of their guards weren’t that resilient.
Light green and dark browns soon gave way to a shallow clearing as he neared a deeply cut stream and glanced down into the shimmering wound in the earth. To the right and left he scanned for a ford but, found none. Swimming in this armor wasn’t the wisest thing and he hoped it wasn’t deep as he began to slowly make his way downslope towards the light current which flowed southward. Checking his footing with each step, he made his way into the cool water and waded out from the rugged shoreline, now up to his chest.
Grabbed from below, he began struggling to free himself and felt strong limbs wrap around his legs and waist. Jamming his sword downward, he tried to cut and hack at the assaulting arms but found only more determination in the attack and he suddenly realized the splash of water was interrupted by laughter from behind and above. Desperately, he turned and noticed the fighter’s brown eyes aglow with glee at his predicament.

“You demons,” Aodrenig yelled. “I’ll have the last laugh, mark me!”

“No,” the bloodied warrior leaned down, left hand gripping the tree to his side. “Now you’ll serve Him with us,” he laughed. “Welcome home, brother.” Cackling continued as he was wrenched below the surface and came face to face with ghostly images of men and women whose ghastly faces made him scream....