A warm breeze swept aside loose sediment along a path worn down to dirt by frequent foot traffic and rickety wagon wheels. Kilena and her addled companion added their boots to the trail, relieved to see the end of their mundane trek. Tiers of thatch rooftops emerged above a protective, towering log wall. The village of Beckton awaited their arrival in the distance. Soon they could feed on more than charred fowl, perhaps a few pastries or pudding, and rest their weary legs. A cloudless, cerulean sky reigned above, the world warmed by rays of a pale yellow sun that already approached the western mountains.
A serene day, perfect for travel, suddenly interrupted by a resonating screech of a roar.
Ezekiel abruptly halted and exclaimed, “What was that?” Frantically searching, he tossed his head from left to right while fumbling for his crossbow.
Kilena promptly brought to bear her buckler, and listened until the shriek came again. This time, accompanied by the frightened neigh of a horse. “This way,” the knight shouted, and bolted from place toward her right. The armor she wore proved no hindrance. She sprinted across the grassy plain while equipping her sword. Ezekiel raced to catch up.
Rearing back on powerful hind legs, a saddled, raven horse punched its hooves into the air. Instinctively, the steed made every attempt to frighten and intimidate the predator seeking a hearty meal. Tawny fur sank into the tall grass, crouching down in preparation to pounce and strike with destructive jaws. Kilena quickly approached, shield in front of her and sword raised. Once near she sprang into the air, boots leaving the ground all at once. She swung her weapon down and landed where the large feline had once been. It fled, abandoning its meal. Dry grass flitted side to side in a trail leading toward a forest surrounding the mountain.
Fearing for its life, the horse continued its fight by rocking on to its hind legs and stomping down to crush all unfortunate enough to be caught under hoof. “Grab the reins,” Kilena called to Ezekiel, and sheathed her sword on her back. He caught up at last and snatched at the bridle’s straps to prevent the horse from rising again. Kilena ran to the opposite side and snatched the bridle. After casting her shield to the ground, she placed a hand on its neck above the shoulder. “Whoa. Easy, easy,” she said calmly, words drawn out to soothe the horse. Every breath she took was intentionally inhaled slowly and released just the same. With Ezekiel in charge of the reins, Kilena reached her hand forward to curve around the bridge of the horse’s snout above the muzzle and forced its head down. It resisted, scrambling back and shaking its head, but she persisted. “The danger is gone,” she said, firmly hooking the snout once more and successfully maintaining that hold. “You are safe now.”
Their grip tight for restraint, Kilena speaking softly, the horse gradually settled down and stood still. Only once its nostrils ceased flaring, and its tail hung limp, did the knight relax. She peered around the horse to garner Ezekiel’s attention. “We need to reach Beckton and return her to her owner.”
The mare cooperated, allowing the two who saved her from death to lead her into the village. A mixture of aromas filled the air, from the tarry scent of refined leather to the richness of freshly baked bread rising in a stone oven. Laughter of children erupted into the air as they hurried along the street. Walls of stone lined narrow, bumpy paths, making the small town difficult to navigate.
“My horse!”
The abrupt shout made Kilena twist around on the heel of her boot, and found a man dressed with a leather apron approaching quickly. “This horse belongs to you? She was being attacked out in the field,” the knight explained, hoping to divert any claims of thievery.
“Yes, yes! Not long ago, half my livestock was scared out of their wits by a mountain lion. I’ve spent all day trying to track them all down. This happens every week,” the man complained fervently. Kilena passed the reins over to him, and he led the horse onward.
Pursuing him, Kilena queried, “Every week, you say?” She motioned for Ezekiel to tag along.
“That’s what I said. Nothing but a nuisance,” he explained, throwing a hand out to his side.
The knight continued to follow, slipping by a group of loitering villagers to keep up with the man. “Is it always the same animal? Are there any bears or wolves?”
“It varies,” he answered curtly.
Pausing briefly, Kilena glanced at Ezekiel who kept up pace at her side. “This is no coincidence. That may not even be a mountain lion,” she confided to him. “Sir,” she shouted, rushing ahead. After a few quick strides, she stopped and turned around in front of the mare’s owner, which forced him to listen. “Allow me to track down this beast for you. I will put an end to this menace in your village,” she promised with a smile.
“What are you? Some girl playing knight?” the man questioned derisively, brow bunched into wrinkles. Dull eyes scrutinized her attire from the mahogany brown hair atop her head to the tip of her boots. “You’ll get yerself killed.”
“I do have experience,” she kindly countered without missing a beat, though her smile faltered. The glimmer in her sapphire eyes dulled. “My name is Kilena. I am truly a knight and I wish to help you in your time of need,” she pleaded.
“It’s true,” Ezekiel said, stepping up to Kilena’s side with his arms crossed. “She saved my life.”
The scruffy man scoffed, face contorted with disgust. “From what? A puppy?”
“Try animated skeletons,” Ezekiel countered, his expression hardened.
The stranger fell silent, disbelief seeping out of his eyes and replaced with consideration. His head turned, attention drifting back to Kilena. “I suppose a mountain lion should be nothing compared to that. Here,” he said, and thrust the reins of the horse toward the knight’s gloved hands. “Her name’s Clover. If you die, well, hopefully she’ll come back home. If not, keep her.”
The layered metal of her gauntlets folded when Kilena wrapped her fingers around the reins that were handed to her by Clover’s owner. Stunned silence encompassed her, stealing all thought, as her pleasant eyes searched the face of the gruff man. Although many questions percolated through her visage, rendering her appearance quizzical, she decided a simple response might grant the most significant impact. “Thank you,” she said. Her gaze darted toward Ezekiel, poised proudly at her side for his deed, and she sought to recompense the favor. “My companion will need a steed as well. I have coin to compensate.”
“Ah, of course. Can’t be giving away two horses for free today,” the man derisively laughed. “This way.” He waved his arm in a circular motion for the pair to follow.
Navigating the streets proved as difficult as a maze without a map. Kilena and Ezekiel followed their guide closely, until the stench of a barn full of livestock invaded their nostrils. Wreaking of manure and all manner of feces, with buzzing flies, snorting pigs, and the harmonious baa of sheep having their wool snipped by a farm hand.
“Here. This one’s Wayland,” he informed, standing in front of a closed stable occupied by a cinnamon brown stallion with a black stripe down the length of his snout.
In unison, Kilena and Ezekiel reached toward their purse pouches tied to the belt at their waists. The knight produced a handful of silver coins, but her companion held out his hand with a ruby balanced in his palm. Grinning with satisfaction, he asked, “Is this enough?”
Azure irises fully exposed, pupils dilated, Kilena was shocked to find that Ezekiel possessed a gem of such high value. She gasped, surprise swept away as quickly as the farm owner snatched up the ruby and unlocked the half door to the stable. “He’s all yours,” he said with a grin twisting his lips buried beneath a curly mustache and beard. Payment collected, he turned while chuckling and strode out of the barn.
“Ezekiel,” Kilena admonished, exhaling a breath she never realized was trapped in her chest.
Bewildered at her disapproval, Ezekiel nervously asked, “What? Did you want to pay that badly?”
“We could have afforded ten horses with that single ruby,” she informed the man rendered naïve by misfortune. “Also, we have no way of knowing how you obtained it.”
“Oh,” he exclaimed sedately, a frown befalling his countenance. “I didn’t know- didn’t think. I’m sorry.”
“I should have been more considerate,” she realized, comprehending the fault was not Ezekiel’s alone to bear. In saving his neck from the noose she accepted the responsibility of guiding him in his new life, and she blundered. Round face softened, the knight’s pale lips formed a tepid smile. “It was generous of you to pay. Unfortunately, that man took advantage of us. Let this serve as a lesson for next time.” She raised her free hand to place it reassuringly on Ezekiel’s arm near his elbow, and squeezed. “There is nought to be done now except continue our journey. Saddle up your new horse and we will leave.”
“You’re right,” he responded in a tone that reciprocated her warmth. “Thank you for your kindness.”
Kilena and Ezekiel departed Beckton on the backs of their new mounts, the sun having sunk another fraction toward the western horizon obscured by a towering peak. At once, they turned and trotted across the grassy plain toward the forest line where the predator vanished after its encounter with the knight. Curious, Ezekiel wondered, “You said this was more than just a mountain lion. What did you mean by that?”
“Why would a different predator attack the same village every week? Why not every day? Why not a different village?” she asked in return, encouraging her companion to ponder.
Shrugging his shoulders, he guessed. “Easy prey?”
Kilena’s head rotated back and forth slowly, gaze locked on the forest in search of any movement. Above, two hawks circled in wait for their next meal. “It is not a coincidence. I believe this behavior is intentional. If that turns out to be true, we are not hunting a mountain lion. We are chasing a magical creature. Either way, we must remain on guard.”
The sprawling foliage of tall trees offered relief from the afternoon sun. Their horses carefully navigated the root laden forest floor, cluttered with ferns and branches. Progress was slow, but there was little made before Kilena brandished her sword and tugged on the reins to bring Clover to a halt. The piercing scree of a hawk split the air a moment before a brute force struck the knight between her shoulders. Hand tightly gripping her weapon, she hit the ground with a clank of metal armor. The mighty bird flapped its powerful wings to fly up through the leaves, back into the sky. As Kilena tried clambering off the ground, a four-legged predator dropped down from the limb of a tree overhead and landed on the shield attached to her back. A paw pressed down on her skull, shoving her face into the ground and leaving her neck vulnerable.
Alarmed, Ezekiel dismounted his horse and shouted, “Kilena!”
The beast raised its head and roared in his direction, jaw separating to expose fierce fangs.
Kilena Shrelack 