A/N: Hello All! Well I am happy to thank you all for the reviews. And I forgot to say that this story takes place after Tricksters Choice; shortly 4 years after. Later.
Chapter 2: What Makes Children Scream?
The journey was horribly cold. Even though it was bright and sunny at the capital, the trip to Snowsdale was snowy. There were no storms, to the company's great relief; but little snowflakes were always falling. The scenery was completely white.
"You realize it is very cold?" said one of the soldiers to Alanna, his name was Linsk, "I think we should all get a bonus for this." Though the were in the company of the Queen's Riders, the King had insisted that two members of the King's Own came along. The two men were experienced mages, having both the gift and excellent use of the sword.
"I thought you knew you were getting paid very little for this job; this is a matter of saving people, not getting paid," said Alanna.
Linsk gasped, "No money!" he then sagged in the saddle, "Fine, I guess. I don't really need it. I am riding with the King's champion, that's more than a reward." He flashed a smile in Alanna's direction.
She grumbled something and moved forward to talk to Numair. Linsk signed and began to hum to himself. There were seven members of the Queen's Riders along with the group, and they each were talented in their own way. One of the girls could use three swords at once, another was an excellent spy, she could not be seen or heard even if she was right behind you. It was all a very promising company.
As the week passed they were finally coming upon Snowsdale. The Queen's Riders went to the village to announce their coming and Numair, Alanna, Diane, and the two King's Own men went to see Coram. Perhaps he knew of something.
Diane knocked on the door and it opened quickly enough. Coram stood in the doorway, "What? Diane? What brings you here?"
"We have come to see what has gone wrong with the children in Snowsdale. The problem had started in a village just outside here, but we wanted to see if anything has happened near here yet."
Coram showed them in, he had a fire going and though the room was small, they all somehow fit.
Coram shook his head, "Yes, I know what you speak of. It's been horrible, children are screaming all over the place. A few children have actually seen what the thing looks like. You know, the thing that is doing all this".
Numair leaned forward, "And what is it?"
Coram nodded to him, "They said it looked like a young boy. No older than fifth teen or sixteen. They say he has gleaming gold eyes and he wears all black. Weird boy."
Nuamir looked worried, "So it is a boy older than all they children he is attacking. The children are all young right?"
"Yeah, only seven or eight."
Alanna was just as worried as Nuamir, "What would an older boy have against such young kids?"
Diane signed, "How could he be attacking through dreams?"
Numair jumped up, "That's right! He only attacks through dreams; he must be very powerful to have such skills. Not even I can enter dreams. But then he must be giving them all night mares. Why is the question?"
"Who he is, is also another question," said the other member of the King's own, this one's name was Brianlener, "We should go see the children ourselves."
Alanna now stood, "We should watch them tonight too. Perhaps the boy will give some sign and we can capture him and ask questions."
"It's the only plan we've got," said Diane.