Chapter 1: Shadows in the Forest
Steam billowed out of the horses nostrils in the cold of the night on the Northwestern front of Alagaesia.
"Easy there girl!" said Theriot, a young man who was stationed as a guard. He was an average man, standing around six feet tall with a slight build. He had deep brown hair like molasses and eyes to match. He was twenty and four years of age and had joined the Border Guard on the turn of his second decade. He was from Bullridge, the son of a blacksmith and a nurse.
He slowly stroked his horses neck and calmed her down. He rode on a big black stallion named Windcloak, and he was a mighty war horse and steed provided to Theriot by The Empire at the time of his joining The Guard.
Theriot pulled his cloak closer around his neck, shivering in the cold. He wore a thick, black woolen tunic with a black leather armored vest over the top. He had thick black leather gloves and deep blue breeches with knee high riding boots. The inside of his cloak was the same deep blue as his breeches and the outside was a velvet black. It had a deep hood that obsucred his face during the day and concealed his identitity completely at night, only being revealed under the light of a torch or spme other form of magic. On the back of his cape was The Empire ensign; a bright blue dragon and 3 white stars underneath. Once the black king had been defeated, the peoples of Alagaesia thought it was fitting to get rid of his symbol as well. He had a long hand-and-a-half sword strapped to his waist and a curved longbow strapped on his back.
"I don't even know why the hell we are out here," He said to one of his partners, "It's been 110 years since that bastard king fell and ain't nothing bad has happened since then." He sniffed and wiped his nose. "This weather is also terrible, mind you..." he added.
"Well I'm glad that since I have to be out here they stuck me with someone as cheery as you, it definitely makes the whole experience a lot more enjoyable" a blonde haired man of around the same age whose named was Davis Juddson answered with a snicker.
"I dunno about you fellas but I might rather be out here riding around than at home with my wife.." The comment had come from the other member of their unit. It was Davis' older brother Thornton Juddson, both from the lakeside town of Furnost and the sons of a proud lawyer.
They were outfitted similarly as was the normal issue under the Empire for The Guard. While they did not normally see full on combat, they were held in a very highly respected and regarded light.
Theriot and Davis both gave a chuckle and shook there heads.
"What a lucky lady to be married to someone so charming" Davis said, grinning and punching his brother on the shoulder.
"Damn right she is." Thornton declared with a sly smile.
"You should both be put in chains, lest one of you lose anymore of your mind." joked Theriot.
"...I'd like to see them try" Davis mumbled under his breath. Theriot could not help but grin. While the weather was cold and windy, He had always felt at home with his two companions. He had been in the same unit since he joined, for 4 years. They were stationed Northeast of Ceunon, along the Western Edge of Du Weldenvarden and to the east of the spine. They were patrolling the shore of a large lake that lay there at the beginning of the Anora River.
This night held a certain darkness in Theriot's eyes, there was an odd mist that hung above the ground but seemed unnaturally still. It was damp and the stars and moon were completely blocked out with dark clouds. He had an odd feeling in his gut, like something was watching them. That something wasn't right.
Theriot switched his torch from his left hand to his right, towards the edge of the forest as he peered in between the thick, clustered trunks of the trees. Davis and Thornton were still arguing and firing jokes at each other, but Theriot felt as though he was deaf. Through the inky black of the trees he thought he saw a change in the darkness. Not a shadow, but rather a shift of shape it seemed.
"What're you looking at Theriot?" Thornton asked noticing Theriots actions.
Theriot did not stop staring and answered back after a couple moments, "I thought I saw something, just wait here.." He spurred his horse to the right and into the woods, moving in the direction of the movement he had thought he spotted. As he progressed deeper and deeper, the thicks grew more thick and clustered. A breeze suddenly came and before he knew it his torch had been blown out. He suddenly felt terrified. Something was there, he could feel his skin crawl and his bold turn cold. He began rotating in circles with Windcloak trying to find the source of his horror. The last thing he heard was a twig snap above him and the last thing he saw was a man, as pale as the moon who was cloaked in black and a mouth with two sharp and enlongated teeth heading for his neck.
The neighing of Windcloak was the last reminder of Theriot that Davis and Thornton Juddson would ever have. They were never seen again.