Fantasy Best Seller "Rage of Night": Chapter 4

Amidst a swirling vortex of dust, Kelgore reigned in Fa'tum. He'd just crested the final rise before the gates of Zen Beldanon. It was an hour after noon, judging by the sun, and the city was now only some two miles distant.

Despite Fa'tum's exceptional stamina, the poor beast was in a lather from the marathon, and blowing hard. It would be the death of him if Kel pushed him any more today.

Kel really didn't want to kill his favorite horse. Not only was he strong, fast, and had a favorable temperament, but Fa'tum meant 'Doom' in the old tongue. You don't just find a horse like that anywhere.

Kel unsaddled Fa'tum, and wiped him down. He'd have to let the horse rest a bit before even giving him water, or it would only make him sick. While the valiant steed caught his wind, Kel rearranged his necessities so that he could carry them himself. He'd have to cover the rest of the distance on his own legs, with Fa'tum following.

Once Fa'tum regained a bit of his breath and his sweating dropped off, Kel let him have a drink. Not much, just yet, but enough to cool him off a bit. In a few more minutes, he'd run the brush over Fa'tum again, this time dipping it in the cool water.

Having nothing else to do for the moment, Kel decided lunch was in order. He began unpacking his supplies when he was surprised by a high-pitched voice behind him. It wasn't like Kel to be caught off guard, a realization that was more startling than the voice itself. It made Kel realize how weary he had become, not having slept since before the battle yesterday.

"Pardon, m'lord. 'ave ye just come up from the west?" It was peasant brogue, the dialect common to this part of the Kingdom. Kel let out the breath he just realized he'd been holding, and turned to face the speaker.

He saw a boy standing in a field just off the road. He was startled again to see the fearsome weapon the boy carried. At perhaps ten years of age, he bore a heavy infantryman's crossbow, which just happened to be set to fire, and also happened to be pointed straight at Kel's chest. At this range, even a boy couldn't miss.