Author #2
Alex sprang through a gap between trees, his feet finding nooks and crevasses among the exposed roots with unconscious skill, eyes fixed of the boar’s tail as it darted away. The rough and slippery ground proved no obstacle to the experienced hunter, and as he drew closer to his quarry his bow arm rose mechanically. Pulling the thin sinewy hair of the bow back as he ran, he continued his pursuit, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Duncan tried his best to keep pace with Alex, although he knew his friend would require no assistance in making the kill. Alex had a ferocious reputation with the bow, his keen eye and steady arm had filled their bellies and saved their lives on many an occasion. It had been a number of days since they had secured any fresh meat – and their supplies of dried bread could not last forever. This would be a welcome meal.
Alex was now closing on the beast, and the forest was becoming increasingly less dense as they travelled further from the river Forth that wound through its heart. Fleeting opportunities to release an arrow began to present themselves, but Alex wanted to be sure and waited the perfect angle to present itself. However, before it did, the intensity of the chase was interrupted by a chorus of disparate howls that chilled the hunters to the bone, and sent the boar into a frenzied panic. At least three great silver wolves materialised between the trees, also giving chase to the now petrified creature. The largest of the three, a behemoth which must have measures twelve feet from snarling jaws to tail, bounded onto the path not twenty paces in front of Alex and rapidly closed in on the hapless fleeing boar.
Alex rapidly came to a stop and wheeled round, grabbing Duncan as he closed the gap, and the pair bounded into trees away from the giant beasts. The crashing of trees behind them, and the ominous snarling, told them they had not escaped notice of the pack, and they redoubled their efforts to put some distance between them. A faint squeal was heard, terminated abruptly, which must have signified the last breaths of the boar. Thoughts of a full belly were however far from the pairs mind.
A human stands little chance of escaping from a pack over open grounds, and even the most dexterous could not hope to stay ahead in a forest chase. None of the trees looked thick or high enough to protect against the fearsome wolves, and Duncan frantically scanned for anything that would offer protection. As the pair crashed through the undergrowth and into a clearing, Alex suddenly spun round and fitted an arrow to his bow. The released arrow flew barely ten feet before it buried itself in the fur and flesh of the leading wolf, penetrating between the eyes and killing it mid snarl. Its companion quickly closed the distance and pounded toward Alex; only a glancing blow from Duncan prevented the five inch teeth from finding his friends throat. The wolf spun round, only slightly wounded by the sword and immediately sprang once again, its powerful claws opening a deep gash on Alex’s shoulder. Duncan again thrust towards the beast, stabbing the exposed side twice before dragging Alex back. The beast, now more severely wounded, maintained its distance but was soon joined by the third of the pack, who arrived with the mangled carcass of the boar clutched between its jaws.
Alex, wincing at the considerable pain caused by his injury, managed to send an arrow into the shoulder of the new arrival, although in his injured state he was unable to draw the bow string fully, and his arrow did not stop the beast. Duncan threw a dagger straight for the head, but the wolf was too quick and easily evaded the blow. Alex released a second arrow into the flank, but the wolves pressed forward, feeling that their injuries were not severe enough to hand the humans the advantage. Seeing that Alex was in no state to evade a further attack, Duncan sprang forward towards the closer of the two beasts and, swinging his short sword wildly, landed a number of blows across the face. This bought Alex time, and another two arrows were sent into the other wolf as it advanced. The animals, sensing that the humans were far from beaten, collected the boar and slunk away.
*****
As the evening sun vanished behind the treetops, Alex and Duncan sat close to a low burning fire, sharing another meal of dried bread and oats. The wound on Alex’s shoulder was clean, and he had managed to bandage it. It would, however, be a while before his bow arm was back to full strength.
‘Do you think the child is still safe?’ murmured Duncan, as he nursed an oat broth.
‘Yes, I believe so.’ Alex replied; ‘We were the first to set out, and I very much doubt anyone else has made better time.’
‘Will there be many other searching?’ Duncan quickly interjected, clearly asking a question which had been on his mind for some time.
‘Yes, I am sure that an order of knights have also set out. We must avoid them at all costs, they will be a large detachment and pose a considerable danger.'
'These knights, this enterprise, the child is of great importance is he not?' asked Duncan. This as his first mission in the field, and although the considerable awe in which he held Alex was a source of confidence, his nerves were growing as the days wore on and the day grew closer.
Alex paused before replying, he could not reveal too much lest he worry Duncan any more than was necessary. Nerves were a useful reaction in so much as they kept a man from growing complacent, but soon a cool head would be required and he could not afford to calm his camp anion.
'Yes, the child is important. He is the next in line to our Kingdom, the elderly Kings only son. His arrival from overseas was supposed to be a guarded secret, but the court cannot be trusted. We know, and so it is safe to assume that others do too.'
'And those others intend to harm the heir, or hold the King to ransom?'
'I fear it is the former. Although the King naturally feels very strongly about his Prince, and would surely pay a handsome price for his safety, the kidnapper would find themselves a marked man. There could be no rest for them, forces would scour the country to exact their revenge, not least the heir himself when he came of age.
No, the real danger is from those who intend to end the heirs life. Doing so will plunge this country into chaos, and there are many in this land unhappy with their current lot. In this chaos they see an opportunity to improve their standing. These are the people the Royal Family must fear.'
Duncan's innocence was both an advantage and a disadvantage. He had proved himself useful already on this journey, and doubtless would again.
*****
As the sun rose, burning off the last of the mornings fog, a distant sound caused Alex and Duncan to startle. Listening intently, it was clear this could be the moment they had waited for. A horse drawn carriage was approaching along the rocky road.
Duncan darted forward to peer along the road, listening as the carriage drew nearer. Alex began to gather their personal effects, confident that this was the moment they had been waiting for.
'Duncan, maintain a lookout and let me know that the carriages entourage is intact.'
Alex slipped southward, moving slowly towards the road, while Duncan willed the carriage to appear. He did not have long to wait. A few moments later the first horses appeared round the bend, and Duncan was elated. The carriage looked magnificent, and its guard looked formidable. For days he had been nervous that they would come across a carriage worse for wear, scarred by numerous attempts against her passenger. Worse still, he had feared they would find only the burned out remnants.
He doubted not that there were those out there who would attempt to intercept the carriage, but with his sword and Alex's bow, they would ensure that no harm came to the infant.
Duncan swelled with a sense of duty. It was strange, until a few days ago he did not understand the importance of the child. Now, he would lay his life down should he be required to, and intended to make it his life's mission to ensure this child acceded to the throne which was rightfully his. Those traitors who would prevent this would experience justice at the tip of his sword.
The carriage drew closer, and Duncan began to wonder whether he ought to reveal himself to the other guards, and organise themselves to ensure they delivered the Prince back to the palace. Duncan could hear the guards chatting to each other happily, they appeared relaxed and untroubled by the huge responsibility that fell to them. A slight sound caused Duncan to start, the cry of a child! To think, that this fragile baby would one day inherit a Kingdom, and determine the fate and prosperity of so many people, and yet here he lay, unable to feed or water himself, and at the mercy of those that would bring him harm. Their cause was a noble one, indeed.
A second sound puzzled Duncan, seeming out of place in this tranquility. The twang appeared to echo for many minutes, and he could make no sense of it. He stood, transfixed as the fine lace curtain on the carriage was plucked aside. Would he catch a glimpse of the heir?
But something was wrong. The child's gentle cries stopped suddenly. A strange silence hung on the air for a moment which seemed to stretch on for an eternity.
A low, anguished wail rose slowly from the carriage, increasing in pitch and volume. The pain of this cry snapped Duncan back to his sense, and he sprinted from the trees toward the soldiers who were rapidly dismounting. A grief stricken woman appeared, holding a limp bundle of blankets, stained a terrible crimson. The feathered tail of an arrow could he seen poking out between the folds.
The sight of this froze Duncan. To all appearances that seemed to be one of the arrows used by Alex, but it couldn't be. Puzzled, he did not feel the guards seize his arms, yanking his sword from the scabbard and forcing him to the ground. No, this must be some terrible accident, was he dreaming?
From the trees, Alex watched the scene unfold as he replaced his bow. Yes, innocence had been an incredibly useful virtue in young Duncan.
). Then again, it was specifically introduced because I felt something was off, and I may have missed and made it differently off.
