The Silver Box

This is the beginning of a story that I started. I don’t know where I am going with it but I thought that I would share this first chapter with you. Enjoy.

Moving swiftly among the shadows, the hooded figure stooped at every tree furtively scraping the ground near the trees’ roots with a dagger. From tree to tree the figure stooped and scraped again and again. What seemed like a year’s worth of nights passed and still the shadow patiently, silently continued its fruitless mission.

Chink! The figure stopped cold as the dagger struck metal beneath the sweet humus at the base of a great oak. Excitedly the figure tore at the earth carelessly, clearing handfuls of dirt away from the metal object hidden beneath.

At last its treasure was free. The mysterious figure wiped away the last of the dirt from the object now resting in its lap. A few stray moon beams peaked through the bows of the overhanging oak and rested upon the recovered article.

The figure gave a muffled gasp. In its hands was a small silver box, a forest scene richly engraved on its top. Tall oaks rose up the sides of the cover, their bows reaching across the top of the box as if to shelter the meadow depicted below. Through the meadow flew a solitary hawk clenching in its talons a slain viper. In the background stood a large keep with seven large towers all of equal size except for the center most tower which was as large as all the others combined. The only ornament on the box was the deep red ruby which was set in the eye of the hawk.

The figure quickly stowed the silver box carefully into the folds of its robes. Still crouching, it looked about as if to see if it had been followed. Without making the slightest sound it darted among the shadows, stopping occasionally to listen for any noise that was out of place.

Finally, an opening appeared in the trees. The robed figure stopped within the edge of the forest’s shadows and looked out upon a well traveled road. Waiting and patiently watching for what seemed to be an eternity, the figure, satisfied that no one had been following, finally let out a low whistle. Almost immediately a tall sleek horse leapt from the shadows across the way and stepped lightly across to the crouching figure.

As the figure stepped out onto the road, the moon light pierced the shadows of the deep hood revealing the young aquiline face of a boy of about 17. His thin dark eyebrows accented a furrowed brow. His lips were tight thin lines above his cleft chin and shallow cheeks suggested that he had recently known hunger. His dark piercing eyes searched the tree line for any sign of movement.

The boy leapt lightly into the saddle. As he steered the noble mount down the road a snap was heard from the trees near the spot he had just left. He clicked his tongue, and the mount responded by flying down the road like a bolt of lightning. Venturing a look back he saw two dark shadows emerge from under the trees and give chase.

“If we can just make it to the river,” he thought.

A small glow passed over head. Glancing up he saw the flaming arrow as it disappeared over the trees to his left.

“They must be signaling someone ahead.” Crouching lower in the saddle he urged the horse on. Faster and faster they rode and slowly the two shadows lost ground.

Just as he was beginning to think that he had lost his pursuers, boy and horse rounded a corner only to be met by four horsemen. Pulling in on the reins the boy turned his mount to the right towards a break in the trees the four riders close behind.

The path they followed was an ancient road long overrun by the surrounding forest, low tree limbs and gnarled roots making the ride treacherous for rider and beast. Ahead, dark impenetrable shadows were interspersed with flashes of moon light that broke through the wooded ceiling. It was hard to tell when last any man had traveled this road.

The boy ducked suddenly barely missing a branch hidden in the shadows. Almost immediately he heard a thud and the loud neigh of a horse. One of his pursuers had been struck down by the branch he had narrowly missed.

“Only three left,” he thought vainly trying to calm himself.

After another mile along the road the trees began to thin and the road became smoother allowing the boy and his horse to increase the distance between himself and his mysterious pursuers. He risked a glance back over his shoulder. He was a good 150 yards ahead.

“They won’t catch me now,” he thought with a smirk. Just then the trees ended and only a few yards ahead the ground gave way to a deep ravine. The boy pulled in on the horse’s reins.

There was at least a 40 foot drop to the river below. Across the ravine the road continued and disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Obviously there was once a bridge here; nothing remained, however, but the stumps of what used to be the bridge’s wooden foundation. Frantically, he looked up and down the ravine for a means of escape. To his dismay the trees grew to the edge of the cliff on either side of the road permitting no room for passage.

Hearing the heavy pounding of hooves coming swiftly up the road he turned his mount to face the oncoming horsemen. His three pursuers came into the open and stopped some 20 yards away.

“Come boy, no more running, give us the box! We know you have it so it’s no use playing the fool,” the lead horseman called out.

The boy looked around anxiously searching once again for a way out of this trap. A bit further up the road the trees were thinner but he was cut off by the three horsemen. Only one option remained.

Gritting his teeth he charged towards the three men. Startled the three riders sat back in their saddles and prepared to meet this fearless frontal attack. Just before it was too late to stop, the boy reined in his horse and turned back to the cliff. With a valiant but vain leap, boy and horse sailed out into the ravine disappearing into the icy waters below.

The three horsemen rode up to the edge and peered over searching for signs of the boy or his horse. They could see nothing but churning rapids pummeling the rock walls of the ravine. Without saying a word they turned back to the main road.

AB