CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser
† 4 - spring air †

The breeze blowing through the forest is hardly strong enough to ease the stifling summer heat hanging thickly in the air beneath the closely packed trees. A rustle of leaves in the green canopy is the only sign of life in this vast expanse.

Nothing else moves and a peaceful quiet reigns, the crisp spring morning burning away as the sun rises high overhead, all manner of creatures seeking a cool patch or hole to while away the time till evening. A meadow of grass lays silent as the rising sun overhead beats mercilessly down upon the earth, the area clear of the encroaching trees covered with heat waves drifting lazily through the air, dancing eerily in the currents of the wind.

A small figure lies spread eagled beneath a single oak tree, the only patch of shade on the banks of the small creek gurgling through the meadow. A tattered and faded yellow straw hat pulled low over the face, short locks of brownish hair peeping out at the bottom. Slender hands and bare feet peek out from worn white blouse and brown trousers stained green on the knees from the moist grass. Standing beside the tall oak tree behind her, a pair of dusty boots and dirty socks lies scattered across the soft grass.

A small hand flicks lazily through the air.

‘Damned flies!’

Another quick flick of the hand whips through the air and suddenly the hand flies up to the hat, ripping it off as she waves it wildly around her head.

‘Go away you pesky buggers!’

Fwap! Fwap!

‘Arghhh! Is there no end?’

Sighing loudly she sits up and rests her back against the big oak trunk behind her. A sharp nose peeking out between the locks of hair, flecked with strands of gold, falling across her face. Moving her deft fingers swiftly, the shoulder length hair gets tucked tightly behind a small pointy ear as sunlight catches the high cheekbones and rosy cheeks she tilts her head back, a narrow chin flowing seamlessly into the soft creamy skin of her neck. Plonking the hat back on her head with a plop she looks at the meadow spread out around her, green eyes flashing as sunlight catches it.

‘The warmest spring remembered... so damned hot... but even then these damned flies don’t seem to mind!’ Groaning as she reaches behind her she pulls the boots and socks closer, grumbling as she starts to pull them straight. ‘No rest for you, Talli. You might as well accept it and get on with it.’ She wriggles her toes and mumbling softly she shoves her foot into a sock, pulling the boot on with a sigh. Wiping her hands she looks around her before she stands up, a yawn cracking her mouth wide open as she arches her back in a nice long stretch. Turning around, her lithe body twisting easily, she reaches behind the huge brown trunk and pulls a small bag from under a small bush growing between the roots. ‘Right where I left you!’ She yanks the straps too open the bag and pulls out a dented tin bottle, flips off the cap and takes a big swig. Cool water spills down her parched throat and across her chin dripping on her dirty brown shirt clinging to her chest. ‘Aaahhh!’ she exclaims loudly, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. ’That’s more like it!’ and sits down with a thud on the soft grass, crossing her legs at the ankles as she leans back against the hard tree trunk.

Sipping slowly from the bottle she gazes across the glade, staring at the bright patches of sunlight breaking through the leafy canopy, highlighting spots everywhere in the dark forest surrounding her. Dust motes, thrown up by the wind or some animal moving, drift aimlessly in the rays of light. Tilting her head lazily she listens to a bird’s song drifting melodiously through the air, screeching bugs filling the air with their rasping wings scratching together. Closing her eyes she inhales deeply, the soothing sounds of nature relaxing her and she slowly begins to drift off. Ignorant of the incessant flies buzzing loudly around her head, the creek’s soft gurgle echoing through the glade she slips into dreamless sleep.

Talli’s eyes pop open and she looks anxiously into the rapidly darkening forest around her. ‘Where am I?’ Tilting her head she looks up, the sun’s tip descending slowly above the treetops she realises she must have fallen asleep. It was still early in the evening but the day’s heat had begun too dissipated, leaving the forest covered in a blanket of cool air, moisture already rising in a soft mist. Shivering from the chilly air, Talli opens her bag and pulls out a thick green woollen cloak, throws it over her shoulders and pulls it tightly around her chest. ‘Brrrr..!’ she exclaims loudly through chattering teeth as warmth returns slowly to her chilled limbs. Dropping the bag she rubs at her arms vigorously inside the cloak, urging her teeth to stop rattling.

Warmer, she kneels next to the bag, rummaging inside before pulling out a small scabbard. Bending over she fastens the small knife to her belt with a metal clip, the light brown leather bound along the length of the hilt shining dully in the faint light. Talli looks around as a sudden unease flows into her, looking into the dark forest as niggling thoughts of why she had woken so suddenly from her sleep creeps into her head, her hand white against the dark leather of the dagger’s hilt as she grips it tightly. The mist thickens as it flows between the trees, moisture rising sinuously into the air from the small creek between the oak trees. ‘Shhh..! What was that?’ her voice soft, head cocked slightly to one side. ‘I’m sure I heard something in the bushes over there.’ Standing motionless she waits and listens intently for any sound out of place. ‘....it is too quiet.’

‘Oh Talli!’ she admonishes herself. ‘There is nothing out there. It was probably just the cold that woke you. Stop being silly!’ With a shrug of her shoulders she shakes her head, turning around too kneel next to her bag, ‘Well, it’s time to move on. You shouldn’t have slept so long, you silly, silly girl!’ Closing the straps on the bag, she berates herself under her breath. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Heaving the bag up and over her shoulder she stands up, spinning around. Lifting her eyes she sees a flash of white teeth in the soft moonlight, thin bloodless lips pulled back in a tight sneer.

‘Good evening, dear.’ the thin voice floats through the cool air suddenly even more frigid than before, the small hairs on Talli’s arms and neck rising like a scared dog’s hackles. Hand lifting towards the dagger at her side she tries to utter a word but the tall thin man in front of her, dark grey cloak hanging to the ground at his feet, raises his hand and a thick syrupy darkness envelopes her mind. Hands dragging strangely though the air, streaks following her movements in slow arcs she touches her face, shaking her head from side to side to clear the thickness crowding her brain. Dark cobwebs thicken her senses as her vision narrows to a small tunnel spinning away in front of her. The pale narrow face moves closer, filling the tunnel completely as he stares emotionlessly at her. Flashes of detail pop maddening into her head; tall face framed with short light brown hair; grey patches at the temples; a brown beard and moustache circling a thin lipped mouth; penetrating grey eyes startlingly crisp and clear with a few small flecks of black in the irises. Collapsing with a hard thud Talli rolls sideways, the bag slipping off her shoulder, bouncing over the ground as it rolls down the hillock, coming to a rest at the edge of the small creek. ‘My bag!’ her mouth moves but nothing comes out, darkness bending inwards across her vision as the man bends stiffly next to her, crouching down next to Talli as he reaches a hand towards her head, his movements slow and dragging as his long fingers brush the bronze locks from her face.

Kneeling on the ground, eyes pinched as he looks down on Talli’s prone body, Siril clances at his hands and wipes them on the grey cloak pooled around his feet. ‘Rest now, my child.’ a soft whisper. ‘We have a little way to travel before you can be allowed to wake again.’ Pulling her up by the arm he holds her around the waist as he heaves her up over his shoulder, grunting as his feet shift slightly beneath him, shifting her dead weight around until she lies comfortably balanced across his shoulders. Walks stiffly to the creek he bends down to retrieve her bag, hooking it over his free arm. Looking around the peaceful glade, a quick scan of the area where she had slept, he turns around, crossing the grass in silence and with a few quick steps disappears into the darkened forest, the silence quickly left far behind them.

Pwoop-foo!

A lonely forest owl’s cry echoes through the air as the huge bird takes flight. Flying swiftly through the branches heading off on its nightly hunt, sharp golden eyes noticing the slightest movement made in the undergrowth covering the silent glade. The smallest amount of light needed to hunt by.

Pwoop-foo!

A quick dive brings it close to the ground, dagger-like talons spread wickedly as it sweeps down and in, tightly squeezing the small body of a field rat clenched between its claws. A wailing scream of death ripples thinly through the night as the owl takes flight again, prize dangling limply from curled up claws before the natural silence of nature settles like a cloak over the moonlit glade, the small creek gurgling along happily beneath the huge oak tree.

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