HOME | DD

Description
I killed him, thought Marandus.
The large group of men rode dejectedly through the rain and mud, clothed in darkness. The road skirted the great forest and stretched out of sight, no lights or civilisation in evidence. If the road did run through any towns Marandus would insist they trudge through the boggy fields surrounding it to avoid any contact.
He did not feel like contact with anything now and he rode several meters ahead of his men. I killed him Marandus thought; he could not bear to say that name in his head. He forced himself to think it; Zacharius. An involuntary shudder ran up his spine, he gritted his teeth and ploughed on; I killed Zacharius; son of the First Elder; the most promising of our kind in centuries.
Marandus turned suddenly and stopped. He stood erect in his saddle, regarding his men coolly, the tears that ran down his face indistinguishable in the light rain. He watched them bumbling to a stop, those at the fore not bothering to announce to those coming behind that they were stopping. They milled around for several minutes, cursing each other, until eventually they were still.
They were children really, children who would fight like the furies if need be and perhaps then would sit and tally up how many men they had killed each. This thought kindled some of Marandus’ old anger, but he crushed it ruthlessly.
“Zacharius was right,” this shock statement produced many startled exchanges, but Marandus silenced them with a sweep of his hand. “Zacharius was right. The chest is our responsibility, and not one we can ignore. It must be taken to Tierras Negras.”
Someone spoke up, "We do not deny that Zacharius was a good man and..." the speaker faltered "... and a good leader, but his idea of taking the chest to Tierras Negras was madness surely...!" Marandus recognised the voice; it was Perenus, his good friend. "We do not condone what you did Marandus, and perhaps we should not even be following you..." Perenus trailed off, glancing uneasily at him.
They watched Marandus closely. He did not seem like the same man of only a few hours before. He looked older somehow, his feline face was set, and his broad shoulders gave the impression of holding up a great weight.
They were right of course, Marandus mused. He was not a fit leader, but if not he, who amongst them was fit to lead? Who would make sure the chest was destroyed?
A rider came up the road fast behind them, and many in the group drew their swords, but it was only one of the scouts Marandus had sent out. His name was Teesius, Marandus recalled.
He rode straight to Marandus and saluted awkwardly, "Covenant patrol heading this way fast!" he managed to gasp out.
Marandus nodded, "Into the trees!" he ordered. Those trees were the outskirts of the Meyer Forest. They ended abruptly just before the road, and provided more than adequate screening for his men, although Marandus had heard stories about those woods... Another thought interrupted him; did the Covenanters know about the chest? It was a disturbing possibility.
"Cover our tracks," Marandus ordered the young scout, and he jumped to obey.
Marandus thoughts swirled erratically as he followed his men into the trees; what would it mean if the Covenanters did know? Had they attacked for that purpose? If only his men and he had been able to slip by their army, they would be half way to Tierras Negras, and half way to ridding themselves of the chest. But no such luck.
It suddenly occurred to him what had just happened. He had assumed command with the natural ease of a cat to the hunt. It appeared he would lead them, for now.

Salina tip toed through the trees, her eyes sharp, the small dagger in her hand held low. In the distance she could see and hear the Covenant troops moving about her fathers’ mansion as it burned lower and lower. The light almost reached to the sparse wood she sheltered in; if it had it would have revealed a small, dirty, fierce eyed young woman.
She again scoured the area for any sign of her father, but all she could see were Covenant troops lounging around after their victory. They were easily identified as Covenanters; they were the only army in the world that allowed women to fight. Salina had not believed it to be so barbaric a practice as her father had once said; anything any man can do, a woman can do also.
But these thoughts were far from her mind. It would be dawn soon, and these woods would offer little protection in day light. She had to decide if she would stay to search for her father, or if she would attempt to reach her family in Akamalean.
Her thoughts raced as she crossed a small clearing, bent low so as not to be seen. Suddenly she stopped. Directly in front of her a body lay crumpled against a tree. She had seen many bodies this night, but this one looked different somehow. She studied his face; what was it about it?
His eyes opened and she looked on the face of a merciless animal. A sword rushed to her breast- and stopped, the point touching her skin. They stared, wide eyed at each other.
"I know that sword. That is my father’s sword. Where did you get it?" She spat, her eyes once more fierce.
"Your fathers..." Zacharius murmured. He looked into her fiery, hard eyes, saw the dagger raised as if she would fight him for the information. Fate has played me a cruel hand this night, thought Zacharius, but perhaps our salvation stands before me.