Chapter 4: The Tree of the Dead
After saddling up and mounting two horses, Mrs. Adams and Charlotte took off at great speed heading for the woods with Mrs. Adams leading the way. As the two women passed into the dark shadowy trees, Mrs. Adams took them down an old rugged trail that led them deeper into the woods.
Sitting sidesaddle while gripping the reins with firm hands, Charlotte closely followed behind Mrs. Adams' mare until she watched her bring her horse to a stop, signaling for Charlotte to do the same. Their horses had followed the path down to its end and now stood in a small clearing surrounded by many trees.
Lying in the center of it was large, and ghostly looking tree that stood out from all the rest.
"Is this it?" Charlotte asked while she sized the tree up from its roots to its towering height above their heads.
"This is it." Mrs. Adams confirmed. Charlotte nudged her horse forward a few more steps to get a closer look at the tree,
"Huh..." Charlotte began as she gripped the horn of the saddle and slid off the leather seat, "...I pictured it...well...bigger." she stated.
Mrs. Adams gave a soft chuckle, "I know it doesn't look like much but one should never judge a book by its cover." she pointed out she climbed down from her seat on the saddle. "Ghastly thing isn't it?" she added.
Charlotte laughed, "Well it's certainly not a tourist attraction." she answered playfully. Mrs. Adams laughed before she walked over and linked arms with Charlotte.
"Come and take a look at this." Said Mrs. Adams as she led herself and Charlotte around the side of the tree where the ground rose in elevation, "Climb up here." the older woman directed after she unlinked their arms.
With careful steps, the two women climbed up the jagged and uneven ground that rose midway up the back of the tree. At the top, the ground smoothed out till it was perfectly flat. Charlotte walked out onto it for a few steps before coming to a stop.
A trench-like hole had been dug into the earth and Charlotte was standing at its edge. Her curious eyes looked into the black abyss-like hole in front of her before they glanced up to a rusty, forgotten sword that had been stuck into the ground at the head of the hole. As she brought her eyes back to the pit before her, she leaned out over the edge and looked down; a soft gasp escaped her lips before she turned to Mrs. Adams with wide eyes,
"This is a grave!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"Indeed it is." Mrs. Adams calmly replied.
Charlotte looked back into the pit once more, her eyes locking onto the laid out bones of a human skeleton, then her eyes darted back up to the old sword that stood rusting in the ground.
"This..." the young woman took a moment to brush her tongue across her lips, nervously, "..this is his grave isn't it?" Charlotte stated"...the Horseman's?" Mrs. Adams nodded her head.
Charlotte gave a soft uneasy laugh, "Wasn't much to look at I take it." she joked nodding toward the grave where the bare bones laid inside.
"Now don't let this deceive you... when the Horseman rode, he was solid flesh and bones; these are just his remains from when he was killed by some soldiers many years ago." Mrs. Adams explained
"Ah..." Charlotte murmured as she stared back down on the Horseman's remains; it was in that moment that Charlotte noticed something odd, "Uh...Mrs. Adams?" she started, "..the Horseman did get his head back right?" she asked.
"Yes deary." Mrs. Adam answered.
"Well then where is it?" Charlotte asked curiously as she nodded down to the headless skeleton. Mrs. Adams took a step closer to the grave and looked down into the pit,
"He has it Charlotte. So that no other can take it and use it to control him." Mrs. Adams calmly explained.
"I see..." Charlotte thought to herself quietly.
The soft sound of thunder roared overhead forcing Mrs. Adams quickly looked up at the now darkening clouds above, "Hmm...a storm's coming, Charlotte. Best we head back now."
"Of course."
The two women climbed down from the grave and then made haste back over to their horses who waited patiently for them in front of the tree. After hoisting themselves up onto the saddles, they set out for town once again, heading back to Charlotte's small cottage.
After arriving, the young woman quickly dismounted her horse before she handed the reins over to Mrs. Adams,
"Thank you, again, Mrs. Adams...for everything. It's been very informative." Charlotte confessed with a polite smile.
"It was my pleasure, dear girl. If you ever need anything," Mrs. Adams quickly added, "You know where to find me." she reminded. With that said, the older woman gave her horse a soft kick and made way for her own home, leading the extra horse alongside her. Once Mrs. Adams was out of sight, Charlotte turned about and headed inside her cozy cottage.