Chapter 1

The air sat still as the sun beat down on the forest of WinderVal casting long shadows across the simple dirt road that curved into its shadowy depths. Stretching from the mountains far off in the distance the road rand parallel to the forest before it suddenly curved leading in to the forest itself. This bend in the road had garnered the name Bandits Bend as it was an ideal spot for robbery as travelers transitioned from wide open hills to the darker interior of WinderVal. On this day however No movement or sound graced Bandits bend and several miles away Dust rose, the occupants hidden by the hills.

Several minutes passed before Sun glistened off steel helms, a group of riders cresting the largest hill in the distance coming in to view of the forest. As a knight galloped in to sight atop the hill a shadow stirred in the forest behind the bend. With as little movement as possible the lightly clad figure moved from the shadow of the tree it had been resting in. With a gesture of its hand several more figures appeared from the underbrush. Clad in heavy dark cloaks that masked their features the now ten figures nocked small hand-held crossbows and split into groups of five taking up positions on either side of the road.

The first knight on the hill was quickly joined by three others. They paused for several minutes before galloping down the hill and out of sight. As they disappeared behind another hill a large wagon pulled by two massive draft horses crested the hill the knights had just moved on from. The wagon paused atop the hill waiting. Several minutes later the knights crested the second hill and paused once again. Upon seeing the knights stop the wagons started again. Three covered wagons crossed the hill Followed by a rear guard of another six knights. The knights and wagons continued this process until they were well clear of the hills. As they got closer to the forest four of the rear guard took up positions on either sides of the three wagons leaving the remaining two guarding the rear.

As the Caravan neared even closer to the entrance to the forest an eleventh cloaked figure suddenly darted from the underbrush. Several hundred feet farther up the road from of his comrades the cloaked figure quickly and quietly ran along the road, climbing a large tree whose large branches stretched high across the road way. Situating himself among the branches His cloak suddenly shimmered turning from a brown to a light green making him almost invisible in the leafy greenery. Gently opening a small pouch belted on its side it reached inside its hand grasping for something then abruptly stilled.

The caravan rounded the bend and entered the forest as the knights entered the shade of the forest they began pulling off their visored helms with sighs of relief, several of them wiping sweat from their brows. Tossing their helms to the lead wagon driver he stowed them under the canvas covering the wagon. Several of the knights drank from small containers hanging from there saddles before catching small shield’s, Emblazoned with a Burning hammer, tossed to them by the second wagon driver. Strapping the shields in to place hands were placed to sheathed swords as the knights began to scan the surrounding forest. Seemingly unaware of the cloaked figures watching them the caravan continued forwards at a steady pace.

Barely a two hundred yards away the green cloaked figure slowly tensed pulling its hand from the pouch at its waist moving ever so slowly and with the utmost care. Nestled in between each of his fingers sat a small white sphere. The caravan now a hundred yards away the green cloaked figure suddenly stood the branch underneath him swaying as he tossed his cloak aside revealing a small crossbow nestled in his other hand.

“Cover” the figure screamed as it released its grip on the spheres and at the same time firing its crossbow at the lead wagon driver. Twenty-six pairs of eyes snapped toward the figure as it dropped its cross bow and threw its cloak around its face hanging on to the branch with dear life. The spheres slipped from between its fingers falling towards the road below. As they hit the ground The forest light up in a brilliant, searing flash of light.

Ten figures sprang into sight from either side of the road, the sound of arrows suddenly hissing through the air. After the first volley five of the figures tossed their crossbows aside and rushed the wagons while the others reloaded keeping up a steady hail of arrows. Blinded by the brilliant light the wagon drivers were the first to be hit crying out as the arrows struck two of them in the chest. The first driver took a bolt to the neck slumping in the seat. The Horses reared in panic as the cloaked figures weaved between them climbing up on to the wagons. With a simple flick of the reigns the panicked horses stampeded down the road. Tossing the drivers bodies from the wagons the cloaked figures guided the panicked horses as best they could keeping them to the road. Behind them the knight’s horses continued to rear in panic keeping them all in place. All the easier for the bowmen, for as the drivers had fallen they had turned there attention to the knights. They fell one by one pierced with arrows or trapped underneath their dying mounts. Blinded the knights shield offered little Protection as their mounts we shot from underneath them. The green cloaked figure dropped from the tree as the lead wagon passed underneath landing next to its partner who was trying to reign the two horses’ in.

“Let em run Gerald. The farther they go, the closer we get to our turn off.” The figure said clasping him on the shoulder. Gerald silently nodded in agreement loosening his tight grip on the reign’s but making sure to keep the panicked horses on the road. The figure watched as the last of the knights fell in the receding distance, cloaked figures dragging their bodies off the road into the underbrush

“That was the most successful ambush we’ve ever pulled off Henrik” Gerald said elbowing the green cloaked man in the ribs. “Where’d you get those flashy things? And that cloak? If ours could change colors like that we would be the best in the business.”

Henrik looked down at the cloak. “The cloak was from our employer. He said it would only work once. As for the spheres they were from him as well.” Gerald shot Henrik an astounded look.

“We’re working for someone. I thought this was a normal run.”

“It is a normal run.” Henrik sighed as he looked behind him. The two wagons were hot on their trail. “Try to slow the horses down. I don’t want to exhaust the horses and were almost at the pickup point. We also need time for Terral’s men to catch up. Gerald gave him a nod and began to reign the horses in.

"Damn this heat" Ryner remarked looking over his shoulder at the tall man riding next to him. "I’m burning up in this thing." He pulled the hood off his head. Wiping sweat off his head he ran his fingers through white streaked auburn hair. “This mask is stifling how do they were these?” he asked in frustration pulling off the pale white mask that covered his face. “Once we make it into the forest you’ll cool off.” Replied the man riding next to him.

Ryner snorted in response "I don’t like this and the idea of you coming along makes it worse. Do you know what would happen if something happened to you or worse if word of this reached the other lords?”

The tall man sighed pulling his own hood and mask off Revealing a clean middle aged face and head of blond hair. “I do. You have been reminding me ever since we left OakBarrow.”

Ryner nodded “and I’ll gladly say it again. Your putting you seat at risk. And not just your seat, should the Mage Council hear of this” Ryner paused as if choosing his words carefully “Ascelyn this is not me speaking as your Right but this idea of your fathers…”

Ascelyn turned in his saddle “We will not speak about my father. He is dead as are whatever plans he may have wished to accomplish. This seat is my responsibility now and I will do what I believe is right. We are at war.”

“Bah, we have not seen any sign of the enemy for a millennium…”

“That is not the point Ryner and you know it. You are afraid something is going to go wrong. I assure you I have made all the necessary precautions. You should know you handled several of them yourself.” Ryner grunted in response reaching for his water canteen. “Besides” Ascelyn chuckled shooting Ryner a glare “it’s not like someone is going around using my name in common conversation like it were some commoner name.”

Ryner choked on his water. “Right sorry about that”

“No harm done my friend. Just drop the worry act.”

“It’s not an act” Ryner growled slamming the cork back in to his canteen “I did not live this long without listening to my gut and it is telling me we are getting involved in something we should keep well clear of. Maybe if you had consulted more seers.”

“Yes those Human seers who read palms and divine from tea leaves.” Ascelyn snorted in amusement.

“I consulted a seer. She said she saw darkness either way no matter what path we took.”

“But She was an elf” Ryner argued.

Ascelyn nodded in agreement. “Yes she was. A four hundred year old elf. One who saw the times of terror and is still alive. That was true magic there Ryner. Tea leaves and palm reading seers do not see the future. Besides she even gave me some friendly advice free of charge.”

Ryner shook his head in puzzlement. “I hate word games and that’s all she did, play word games with you. You did not even let me assure her silence. Ascelyn turned to Ryner with an incredulous look before bursting out in laughter. “The day you can beat a four hundred year old elf is the day that I will personally take your place and give you the seat.”

Ryner threw the hood of his cloak back over his head, sneaking a glance at the sun before Muttering angrily. “My men will be in position by now we should hurry to the meeting point. We don’t want to be late.” Pausing as he went to put the mask back on his face he shot Ascelyn another question glance.

Ascelyn cut him off. “You’ll see what’s in the wagons once we get them and meet up with Gray.”

Ryner grimaced "It better not be something dangerous. I have enough trouble simply guaranteeing your safety on a normal day." Ascelyn smiled looking Ryner in the eye "you have my thanks for that. You have kept a faithful eye in me since I was a young boy."

Ryner let out a loud groan as he put the mask back on his face "Why did you have to put it like that" He cried. Ascelyn laughed out loud as Ryner glared at him "If something happens out here" he growled menacingly putting his hand on the large sword at his waist "You will find yourself over my shoulder like the child you are with me leaving with all speed. This whole endeavor be dammed." Laughing at the threat Ascelyn clasped his own mask to his face and dug in his heels galloping ahead while a furious looking Ryner looked on.