Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“You hold on to me, Dawn, no matter what, you hold on to me. But if by chance this mist somehow separates us, then you are to clap and keep clapping as loud as you can until I reach you,” he ordered, even though he knew his wife was wise enough to know what to do in such a dangerous situation.
She nodded vigorously, having no intention of letting go of her husband.
The mist crawled ever closer like a foe stalking its prey, ready to devour it.
“Lord Cree,” Dylan said as he came up alongside him and held out the end of the rope.
“Is everyone secured firmly to one another and holding tightly to the rope?” Cree asked, taking the rope from him.
“Aye, my lord.”
“Those boulders just up ahead,” Cree said, with a nod to a rock formation not far away. “We should reach it before the mist does. We will stop there and shelter.”
Dylan looked relieved and the others cheered when Cree called out the orders. Silence followed soon after as a heavier mist began to advance from behind them.
“Not long now!” Cree called out as they plodded along, keeping his eyes on the boulders ahead and the mist that seemed to race toward the formation. “Though the rope is fastened to you, make sure you keep hold of it,” he reminded with a strong shout. “We stay together. Do not allow yourselves to be separated.”
He kept his voice strong and commanding, his men needing his strength and confidence.
“Almost there,” Cree said to comfort his wife as she continued to cling tightly to him, but he could not blame her. If the mist grew any thicker, he would not be able to see her face.
He sighed with relief as they were about to reach the boulders when the mist rushed at them and devoured them so fast that he heard his men gasp.
“Halt!” he cried out, not able to see anything. He waited until he heard no more sounds of horses being brought to a stop. “We proceed slowly. We are but a short distance away from the boulders. Once there, we will remain tethered together and wait until this blasted fog leaves us. Then we make our way home posthaste.”
“Aye,” the men cheered.
Cree proceeded forward slowly. The chilled air was heavily scented with late autumn’s decay and the crunch of fallen leaves beneath the horses’ hooves was the only sound that let the riders know they were not alone… until a piercing howl broke the silence.
“Wolves!” a warrior cried out.
“Keep close, do not let distance linger between you. We are not far!” Cree called out and felt his wife shiver as she did as he ordered, keeping herself pressed tightly against him.
Another lone howl sounded and was soon joined by a chorus of howls.
“A pack of wolves,” a warrior cried out and even the horses protested with snorts and pounding hooves.
Cree’s concern grew. Wolves could prove a serious problem, their keen sense of smell giving them an advantage. The wolves could be on them before they even realized they were there, giving themselves little chance to defend themselves. The boulders would offer at least some protection from where they could fight if necessary.
Cree felt his stallion hesitate, the howls spooking him, but he urged him gently forward and he soon felt the brush of a boulder at his foot.
“I have reached the boulders,” he called out. “Proceed carefully, and once we are all gathered here, we will keep a close formation until the heavy mist passes. Dylan, have the men call out as each one arrives here.”
“Aye, my lord,” Dyland cried out, sounding close.
Cree had never seen anything like this mist, heavy to the point of no visibility and cumbersome as if wadding through thick muck, and it had raced with a strange force toward the boulders, reaching them before Cree did. It was as if the mist had made it clear it was in command. But Cree surrendered to no man, least of all a mist.
He carefully maneuvered his horse forward, leaving room for his men to enter and circle within the boulder formation.
“All is well, Dawn,” Cree said when he felt her tremble. “We will wait out the mist here and when done make our way home, arriving in two days’ time. And we will not be leaving there any time soon no matter who commands it.”
Dawn nodded vigorously against his chest so he could feel that she overwhelmingly agreed with him.
Cree listened for the crunch of the leaves beneath the horses’ hooves as they moved within the rock formation. It was good he had made them tether together and they would remain that way until the blasted mist faded away.
A strong wolf howl tore through the mist and was joined by vicious growls that sounded so close it frightened the horses, and fearful they protested ready to run.