Post by Gideon Sinclair on Dec 28, 2017 15:26:58 GMT -5
Gideon only slept as his body demanded and even that did little to banish the fatigue that seemed to settle heavily over him. Whatever had blighted the land was also affecting them. It felt as though there were some small unseen leaches, steadily drawing the energy out of them, no matter how much one ate and rested. It was unlike anything Gideon had ever experienced. Yet, deep down, he knew they could banish the blight.
They had to.
When the morning light came, Gideon roused the party to waking and offered them the warm food he had prepared. It would have been more timely to simply use cold meat, cheese, bread and fruit, but Gideon knew they would need a warm meal. The warmth would help them in the long run. While they ate, he also set about preparing their mounts and confirming the route to their destination: Hollinton. If they departed now, they would arrive before the evening.
What Gideon had not expected was the priest insisting on traveling with them. The knight was dubious, but a brief conference with the twins persuaded him. The man, fortunately, had a mule upon which he could ride, as well as provisions and an understanding that it was to be a long day’s ride to Hollinton. Within the hour, they left Appleton.
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The sun was in the western sky as they drew nearer to Hollinton, but to the party, it seemed night had fallen over the land. Clearly, the sun was shining in the clear sky, but not all of the light was reaching the surface. A haze had settled over the place making the great orb more grey than yellow. It cast a sickly light. The grass was lifeless and the trees were black. Before long, however, they arrived at Hollinton.
The place was a shell of its formerly quaint charm. Some houses still stood, but many had fallen to disrepair and weather. The hamlet’s tavern and inn appeared the only salvageable place, but even that was questionable. What was more striking, however, was the obvious signs of the evil that had transpired. Ashen husks of homes, abandoned weapons, old blood stains and other various signs of battle dotted the main road. No remains could be seen, to which Gideon simply explained that they had been buried. It had taken them days to bury the dead. Even if they had a dedicated graveyard, Hollinton had clearly become a tomb.
The knight was silent upon his horse as he slowly gazed around the town from the main road. The day was coming back to him in flashes, everything from the opening charge to the final horrid moments. In his mind’s eye, he could clearly see the raiders’ leader, standing proudly in the middle of the road. The battle had been a savage one, but even after his death, the smug grin stayed locked upon his face.
Gideon shook himself out his reverie and turned to look at the others.
Sophia Tesoro
They had to.
When the morning light came, Gideon roused the party to waking and offered them the warm food he had prepared. It would have been more timely to simply use cold meat, cheese, bread and fruit, but Gideon knew they would need a warm meal. The warmth would help them in the long run. While they ate, he also set about preparing their mounts and confirming the route to their destination: Hollinton. If they departed now, they would arrive before the evening.
What Gideon had not expected was the priest insisting on traveling with them. The knight was dubious, but a brief conference with the twins persuaded him. The man, fortunately, had a mule upon which he could ride, as well as provisions and an understanding that it was to be a long day’s ride to Hollinton. Within the hour, they left Appleton.
---------------------------------------
The sun was in the western sky as they drew nearer to Hollinton, but to the party, it seemed night had fallen over the land. Clearly, the sun was shining in the clear sky, but not all of the light was reaching the surface. A haze had settled over the place making the great orb more grey than yellow. It cast a sickly light. The grass was lifeless and the trees were black. Before long, however, they arrived at Hollinton.
The place was a shell of its formerly quaint charm. Some houses still stood, but many had fallen to disrepair and weather. The hamlet’s tavern and inn appeared the only salvageable place, but even that was questionable. What was more striking, however, was the obvious signs of the evil that had transpired. Ashen husks of homes, abandoned weapons, old blood stains and other various signs of battle dotted the main road. No remains could be seen, to which Gideon simply explained that they had been buried. It had taken them days to bury the dead. Even if they had a dedicated graveyard, Hollinton had clearly become a tomb.
The knight was silent upon his horse as he slowly gazed around the town from the main road. The day was coming back to him in flashes, everything from the opening charge to the final horrid moments. In his mind’s eye, he could clearly see the raiders’ leader, standing proudly in the middle of the road. The battle had been a savage one, but even after his death, the smug grin stayed locked upon his face.
Gideon shook himself out his reverie and turned to look at the others.
Sophia Tesoro
