Chapter 5, revised.

The next day at dawns first light, Cedric roused Rowan from sleep. "It's time for training." Cedric said cheerfully as he pulled back the woolen curtains blocking the small window on the east side of the room. The scarce morning light poured into the room.

Rowan groaned in reply to the unwelcoming light. Reluctantly, Rowan climbed from the soft comfort of his bed and yawned tiredly. The boy rubbed his eyes before turning to look at Cedric.

The Battlemaster smiled widely at his brother. Rowan noticed the unusual attire that Cedric wore. The knight had neglected his trade mark coat of arms surcoat and instead donned a pair of dark breeches, soft boots that reached to his knees and a green surcoat. On the right sleeve of the neat looking surcoat was the unmistakable coat of arms belonging to Cedric. Cedric's coat of arms was a maroon lion's head, etched into the sleeve of his surcoat vividly. He'd been awarded the coat of arms for his bravery and courageous acts during a battle against a raiding party of Skandians. In Cedric's right hand he held a small stack of neatly folded clothes, and now he passed them to Rowan, the smile never dying from his tan face.

"Get dressed and meet me by the stables, it's time we started your training, make sure you bring your sword."

Cedric only took a second to explain before he left Rowan to himself. The newly named apprentice spread the clothes out across his bed, there was a pair of light brown trousers and a brown jerkin with a sage colored undershirt. Rowan changed into the clean clothes quickly, he tossed his dirty clothes into an untidy pile in the corner of the room, he'd deal with them later he decided.

He then retrieved his short sword from the end of his bed and headed to the Redmont stables.

Cedric was waiting for him as he had promised, and along with him, the Battlemaster held the reins of two Battlehorses. A large white stallion and a slightly smaller bay mare. The horses had already been saddled, and Cedric handed the reins of the bay to Rowan.

"First I thought we should go over a few lessons of riding." Cedric said as he mounted the muscular white horse. Rowan nodded and climbed astride the bay with little difficulty.

"Follow me," Cedric called to Rowan as he sent his white Battlehorse into a swift trot, Rowan followed close behind him. Cedric led them out of the castle and into the forest of Redmont, moving at an even gait. The horses hooves pounded against the hard packed earth beneath their feet, kicking up dust into the morning air.

They rode on through the mass of trees for several minutes before Cedric reined in his horse, Rowan following suit, his own mount slowing to halt beside the Battlemaster.

"It seems you still remember how to ride." Cedric murmured to Rowan. The boy simply nodded, still feeling rather weak with sleep.

"Well come on now," Cedric said as he swung down from his horses back lightly. The knight had brought his own drill sword with him and now he moved to a clear spot beneath the trees. He tied the long reins of the Battlehorse around a lowly hanging branch. Beside him, Rowan mimicked the action.

Cedric held his sword in his right hand and stood across from Rowan. "Well, let's see what you've got." The knight prompted. Although Rowan was not talented with a sword, he knew the basic tactics, vaguely. Now he demonstrated them against the Battlemaster.

Rowan hefted the drill sword in his right hand, he stepped forward and swung the wooden weapon at Cedric. The hickory hardened wood arced towards Cedric's side, and the Battlemaster stopped the sword with his own almost effortlessly. Rowan continued to attack Cedric, and the Battlemaster continued to easily parry and deflect the sword strokes with short and precise movements. It didn't matter what attacks Rowan chose. From thrust, side hands, overhands and back hands, Cedric effectively blocked them all. Finally, Cedric raised a hand for the relentless attack to stop.

"That was good, but you shouldn't hold the sword so tightly. If you used a more relaxed grip and tighten as each stroke strikes your opponent you do more damage, and you won't strain the muscles in your wrist too much." Cedric instructed. Rowan nodded, and once more the wooden swords clashed together.

By sundown that day Rowan felt as though his muscles were on fire. Cedric had kept the young apprentice busy through out the day, having him run long distances through the blooming forest, and continue to practice drills with Cedric.

Finally, as the sun began to set the two abandoned their boots and shirts and enjoyed the refreshing feel of an icy stream. The wide stream was only a few feet deep at the most, but the slow flowing water soothed Rowan's stinging muscles after the long day of training.

After the short break Cedric peered through the trees, trying to see the drooping sun. He sighed at the failed attempt and gestured for Rowan to follow him back to where they had left the horses tied. They mounted swiftly, fearing they might not make it back in time before the last of light died away beyond the horizon.

Cedric turned to Rowan, a grin forming on his handsome face, "I'll race you back to the castle." Rowan grinned widely and sent his horse forward into a gallop. Cedric followed after him, matching his speed evenly.

Halt and Gilan rode side by side through the woodland, and behind them followed the Knights of Meric. In all there were eleven full fledged Knights and one inquisitive looking Battleschool apprentice.

The group had set out at dawns first light, only stopping for a short lunch of bread and cheese during the early hours of their journey. Now they rode through the thinning line of trees on their way to the western village. So far they had made good time, and Halt suspected that they would reach the village well before night fall.

As it came to be, the Ranger was right, and just as the sun reached it's peak in the clear blue sky the group rounded a ridge and on the other side they caught sight of a break in the trees. Just a short distance ahead of them, standing before the vast mass of trees was a collection of houses and barns that made up the west village.

The Knights of Meric clattered into the town, their horses' hoof beats ricocheting loudly off the cobblestone path beneath them. Though the settlement of houses retained the name 'village' it was much more than that. Unlike most villages that consisted of only houses and small farms, the western village was complete with a large two story inn, along with a blacksmith and stable. Most of the structures were built from stone, and as Gilan took in the sight of the rather large settlement, he had to admit, it would serve as a rather effective Hold.

Surrounding the village there was little to protect it from attack. Running around the village was a mass of masonry that might have been a wall at some point in time. All that was left now was a tumbling pile of useless rock. The structures in the village seemed to all be made of a sturdy pine wood. Though the village seemed homely enough, there was an eerie aura that seemed to hang over the place. There was a constant feeling of being watched. Gilan glanced beside around warily, searching for unfriendly gazes.

"Where is everybody?" Gilan murmured quietly. Beside him Halt gave the slightest hint of a shrug. The village was bereft of activity, there wasn't a sole in sight. It only added to the disturbing feeling that settled over the Knights as their horses slowed to a halt in the center of the village.

Gilan spotted a small sign, sticking out of the ground in a rather crooked fashion. The words painted onto the lopsided sign were withered, and Gilan could barely make out the faded words. After a short time of studying the wording, the Ranger could make out the name 'Faladore village'.

Frowning Gilan turned to Halt, who was glancing around the small settlement suspiciously.

"So this is it, Faladore village… What a welcoming place…" Gilan said quietly.

Suddenly from the small stable set beside the two story Inn a small boy stepped forth. The boy had tousled blond hair and deep set eyes, the child's voice was dominated by a thick veil of fear as he spoke.

"Y-you're the Knights of Meric right?" He said shyly, staying a distance back from the Knights.

Cedric decided to take the lead, and the tall Knight nodded once before speaking. "Yes…" He said simply, his voice puzzled. He too had noticed the unearthly feeling of the village.

"R-right this way then good sir, I'll take care for the horses…" The boy stammered unevenly. The Battlemaster nodded and swung down lightly from the saddle, and behind him the rest of the Knights followed suit, there armor clanking loudly.

Leading there horses by the reins, the Knights led there exhausted Battlehorses into the Faladore stable. To their surprise there was hardly any horses in the tidy stable, and Cedric counted at least a dozen vacant boxes. Picking the first empty stall he found, Cedric led his horse into the small box and began to unsaddle the white Battlehorse. Rowan followed Cedric's actions, and the bay horse tossed it's head gratefully as the short boy removed the bridle. As Rowan worked he heard a voice from behind him, he turned to see the boy, looking up at him expectantly.

"I'll g-get that for y-you." He mumbled to his feet.

"That's alright, I've got it," Rowan replied, smiling slightly. The stable hand looked about his age, but Rowan felt a prickle of unease as he saw fear flicker in the other boys eyes. The stable hand turned away and went about his business unsaddling the Knights horses.

Once the Knights of Meric had finished bedding down there horses the uncomfortable stable hand directed them to the inn that stood across from the airy stable. While the boy stared at his feet, he had informed Cedric that the village elder would be there, and he was expecting the Knights sometime that day.

As they walked the short distance form the stable to the inn Halt was highly aware of the eyes that followed them.

The inn was a stuffy, musty little place, and Gilan wondered when the last time someone had opened a window in the place. The entire first floor was little more than a tavern. There was a small bar on the far side of the room, across from the front door. Behind the bar stood a rather stocky man with a red beard and a mess of curls to match. Wooden tables, made of glossy pine wood were scattered through out the tavern. A large fireplace was set along the wall close to the door, and a small fire burned calmly. Sitting across from the Inn keeper was an elderly man, in his late fifties at the youngest. His hair was streaked with grey, and his dark eyes held a deep concern as the Knights entered the dimly lit tavern.

The elderly looking man turned to look at the newcomers, his dark eyes lit slightly as he recognized the burly men as Knights of Meric.

"'Ello there youngsters! We've been expecting you for some time now." The man's voice was deep, and as he spoke his face lit in a warming smile.

"You must be the elder?" Cedric asked as he shook hands with the older man, in response, the man nodded.

"I'm Collin Grimes, village elder of Faladore."

"I'm Sir Cedric, Battlemaster of Meric fief, we've come to replenish the garrison in the woods."

Collin nodded before he turned to the inn keeper, "Won't you treat these brave men to a warm meal Gilbert?" The inn keeper nodded and ushered the Knights to a long table that spread across the side of the room. Heavy wooden benches stood on either side of the recently polished table. Collin followed the Knights and claimed a seat for himself across from Cedric.

Halt and Gilan took care to sit close by the Battlemaster, and as expected Collin began to explain the fear that riddled through the village.

"There's ghosts in them woods." He claimed, his voice grave. "They wear long flowing cloaks as dark the night sky, and carry long daggers they use for killin' the innocent," Collin rambled on, throwing his gangly arms into the air to add emphasis to his bizarre description.

"Have you actually seen these… ghosts, as you call them?" Cedric asked, his voice growing serious as he spoke. "Well of course I has, they be the reason this village lives in fear! They been livin' in the forest for a long they has, and something had got to botheren' those creatures. They be the ones' who slayn' the good men at the garrison! I saw one of them monsters too, just last night one of them come creepin' through the village."

Cedric eyed the superstitious old man wearily, the Battlemaster felt that the story was definitely unfeasible, but for the moment, it was all they had to go on.

"You say you saw one last night?" The Knight inquired curiously, Collin nodded rapidly several times.

"That phantom came waltzing in to this here village like nothing more than a drifting shadow."

"Care to describe it?" Halt asked grimly from where he sat. Collin looked up at the grizzled Ranger, a look of fear brimming in his dark eyes. The villager had seen Ranger's before, but he'd never heard one speak before. To the credulous old man the Ranger was a daunting figure, and the fear in his eyes remained prominent as he pointed a lanky finger at the cloaked figure.

"He looked a lot like you, he wore a cloak like yours, only it was darker and he was twice your size, and he had no face!"

Cedric looked up, slightly alarmed, "No face?" He echoed. Collin nodded rapidly once more.

"It had a cowl pulled around it's head, and when it stepped into the moonlight all you could see was the blackest abyss that there ever was! Those creatures of the night will spell the end of all that's good unless you good fellows stop them!"

Halt met the fearful gaze of Collin evenly as he spoke grimly.

"We plan to."

Chapter 5, revised.