Chapter 1 - Arriving

From their vantage point higher up the mountain they could look down on the valley spread below them. The cool fall air was crisp and clear, except for the fogging of their breath.

The valley spread in a long, lazy arc from north to southeast. A castle stood across from them, at a similar altitude to where they sat watching. A rough-paved path wound up the slope to the castle from the valley below. There would be little approaching the castle unseen.

"He'll be in the castle, no doubt," Rickard said.

"Aren't they always?" Darrak agreed.

Their perch gave them a good overlook of the rest of the valley. Smoke rose from chimneys throughout. Some were scattered here and there among the woods, but most of the locals were clearly gathered into three hamlets and villages. The central one was the largest. That one would have an inn.

"Come on," Darrak said, standing up. "Let's go meet some locals." He strode forward confidently. This one would make four. They knew what to do. The rest of his team would follow him. Rickard would obscure the tracks behind them a little. Discretion was always good. He liked these little farm districts.

Posted by fictionman on November 24, 2007 10:13 AM | Permalink

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