“We’re in the Westwood.” Tanisin declared. He wasn’t certain but the place looked like the Westwood and there was that pervading feeling of awareness about the trees he recalled.

  “I believe you,” Relf admitted. “But can we be sure?” The question was rhetorical. “Even if we are, the Westwood is huge. We could be anywhere.”

  They spent the day looking around starting with the area surrounding their campsite. First thing they noticed was the ruins. What Tanisin took to be an old stone wall was only part of the vast array of other crumbled structures. They found more and more as they explored all very old and long reclaimed by nature.

  “The size of these ruins makes me think this could’ve been a city. If I'm right then these would be the Veliar ruins Anthin used to visit.” Tanisin paused looking around. Then he had a thought. “Follow me.”

  Without waiting he heeled his horse around and made his way south. They left the ruins behind following a game trail through the trees. For two hours he led the way and for his part Relf never once questioned him. The trees stopped and they came out onto a road. Well built it was covered in mud and full of tracks.

  “It is the Westwood!” Relf announced. “This is the road we came down when we went to The Citadel, look.”

  Tanisin followed Relf’s pointing finger and saw a stone marker beside the road, ancient and worn. “One of the markers.”

  Knowing where they were was a small yet encouraging victory. Relf piped up, “Now we only have to search the whole area, find this Shadow Being, hope it’s alone, kill it and make our way back to The Citadel.” His sarcasm was half hearted.

  “I think we should go back to camp for the night. Sayoshti told us we’d be where we needed to be. We can figure the rest out in the morning.” Neither of them had any desire to fumble about in the dark once night fell and the trek through the trees added to the searching about earlier had burned much of the daylight.

  They turned to the path they’d followed and were about to leave the road behind when Tanisin caught the sound of riders approaching. Hooves beating a staccato on the stones. Motioning Relf to quiet he dismounted, tying his horse within the cover of the trees. Relf followed and the pair crept back to the road, stopping short of exiting the brush.

  They listened as the hoof beats drummed towards them. The riders were approaching from the west, Dimabri City! By the sound it was two riders moving fast. Before long the riders came into view.

  As they approached both Relf and Tanisin caught their breaths. The men were in plain sight now and judging by their attire, all black flowing cloaks and their shorn bald heads they were cultists. Not daring to move–lest they be discovered–they let the riders pass from sight.

  “Cultists! What in Despair’s name are they doing here?” Relf wondered aloud.

  “Despair’s name indeed, you can bet it isn’t good.” Tanisin mused on it. “I bet if we follow those fellows we’ll find what we’re looking for. What do you say?”

  “I say you're right though it will turn bad for us should they learn we’re on their trail.”

  “We will just have to ensure they don’t then, come on!”

  They scrambled back to their horses and in short order were following on the cultist’s trail. For a good half an hour Tanisin kept them on pace to catch up and glean some sign of the riders ahead of them. It was pure luck that had him bring his horse to a walk when he did, just as he slowed for a turn in the road their quarry was revealed. Tanisin drew reign, his horse skidding to a stop with Relf hot on his heels. Slow and as quiet they backed their horses until they were out of sight again.

  The cultists were sitting on their horses at the edge of the road. “I swear it was right around here.” The voice carried in the chill afternoon air.

  “You’d better be right, we’re late already and if we keep him waiting we’ll be no better off than those husks he keeps.”

  “It’s not our fault.” The one sounded worried. “It’s that fool back in the city. He keeps saying the right things but I don’t think he’s convinced yet, and he’s dragging his ass getting things done. We’re going to have to press him more.”

  “We will. He’s the kind who wants power. Problem is he’s nothing but a thug, probably never thought beyond his miserable little piece of the streets. Now that we’ve given him the idea and assurances he’ll go for it.”

  “Maybe.” The worried one said, uncertain. “You can bet if we don’t get him on track that we’ll suffer for it.”

  “We got other worries than what Rollins will or won’t do. ‘He’ expects a report from the city.” Both Tanisin and Relf perked up at hearing the name of Stabber Rollins but it seemed to be all they'd hear of him for the moment as the other cultist announced “There's the path.” and the two riders walked their mounts into the trees.

  “That’s all we need, Rollins working with the cult.” Relf whispered to Tanisin who just nodded.

  The pair waited a few moments before approaching the spot the cultists were scrutinising. Then Tanisin took the lead. He found the path into the woods no problem as the ground was freshly trampled. It was another game trail, easy to follow. They wasted no time but going slow so as to not overtake their targets. The path meandered through the woods curving here and there, offering the way of least resistance as wildlife tended to do.

  For some time they followed not catching sight of those they hunted yet not worried. Those two would stay on the trail so losing them was all but impossible. The sun began to set and the chill deepened. They’d lost a lot of daylight with their efforts earlier. Tanisin was worried they’d not catch up before dark, already the woods became dim and shadows danced along the trail.

  They were about to quit before someone hurt themselves floundering in the dark but as they pushed on a bit further the trees before them opened up and they came to a cliff’s edge. They stopped to survey the vista before them. The valley below was not far down but their vantage point provided a full view of the ruins they’d left earlier. Their assumption that it was once a city proved correct. It was vast and choked with trees and rubble. Relf spotted the head of the path downwards and dared a look, spying the cultists heading towards the valley floor. Beyond them in the distance they could see the light of a fire indicating a camp and the cultist’s destination.

  “Well, we’ve found someone.” Relf stated.

  “Yes. I wish we had more light. I’d like to follow them more and see who they're meeting with.”

  “Let's camp off the trail and we can go down on foot. It’ll be slow but we won’t have to worry about the horses. Then we can get close enough for a look.” Relf’s suggestion was good but Tanisin remained uncertain.

  “I don’t know. Neither of us are woodsmen and I’d hate to face that thing in the dark, given what Sahyoshti told me about it.”

  “Come on, those two are no woodsmen either, by the time we reach them they’ll be relaxed and not even aware we were there. We can do this.”

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  Reluctantly Tanisin agreed. It was their best chance at finding out who these men were meeting and get an idea of what they were planning. If the Shadow Being happened to be there they’d just have to be extra cautious but they’d know for sure. He couldn’t deny the opportunity. Plus that nagging was back in his head, a bit stronger than before. He was certain it was related to the Shadow Being’s presence.

  Wth camp setup and night deepening the darkness of the valley below, Relf and Tanisin descended the cliff following the route taken by the two cultists. The men had almost an hour's lead but Tanisin figured they could only be going to the fire spied from above. The path was steep, slick and the dark made it uncertain. More than once one or another of them slid a foot or two or missed a step.

  The valley itself was a mix of ruins and trees. It was clear no one had inhabited this area for a very long time. The ruins were little more than piles of rubble leaving grass covered outlines, a few walls still stood stubborn against the encroachment of nature. Relf remarked on them appearing as some giant’s broken teeth and Tanisin couldn’t help but agree.

  They could see the light of the fire even from level ground. Despite the vast forest of trees and shadowed landscape they were able to make their way. Soon they drew close and slowed to not alert anyone of their presence. A snapping twig underfoot or the cacophony of tumbling stones would ruin any chance they had. Minute after minute of careful navigation brought them to the fire.

  It was a campsite. Tucked in a wide ring of stones standing chest high that very well could have once been a tall and elegant tower. They hid themselves behind one side of the stones, the light of the fire dancing in the night ahead of them. Both dared a peek through a gap.

  Three cultists prostrated before the fire, the two who’d led the way and another. The new member was larger than his companions, a bulky man though with fat or muscle was impossible to discern. His shorn head gleamed in the light, his dark robes spread out on the ground around him. The focus of the three’s attention was an even larger dark figure. It was some distance past the fire, enveloped in shadow with no feature visible beyond an overwhelming presence. A sense that it was there and an added darkness darker even than the night that enveloped it.

  One of the two they’d followed was addressing this figure. That has to be the Shadow Being Tanisin shuddered, he could feel it. There was Despair in the air, a feeling not unlike being in the Dreadlands.

  “... and I was telling Remis on the way here that it’s not our fault. Rollins just won’t take the lead.”

  “You were to convince him.” A grating voice emanated from the Shadow Being, not human. It sent shivers down both their spines. It reminded them of death and the grave, of the loss of hope. “You had the time and the incentive to prod him to our will.”

  “Lord, we tried and we are close. I think he will take the offer. We just need more…”

  The Shadow Being moved without appearing to move at all. In the time of a thought it had the speaker grasped by the throat, held above the ground with feet kicking at the air. The cultist gurgled and struggled but the thing held him in an iron grip.

  “You are out of time.” The creature tightened its grip more. Tanisin caught a glimpse of its hand and almost drew back in revulsion. In no way did it resemble a human hand. It was a steel grey colour with three long fingers and a thumb each ending in a raptors claw that was meant for nothing other than tearing flesh.

  In seconds the hapless cutest died, fighting the grip until the last. His feet stopped kicking, his attempts to draw breath grew less and less until the Shadow Being without any apparent effort crushed his throat and tossed him aside. The body landed a mere foot from their hiding place with a permanent rictus of dread painted on his face.

  Again with no seeming movement the Being was back in its original position. It raised its hand again pointing at the other two cult members frozen in fear where they kneeled. It was generally agreed in Etrusia that cultists were mad men but it was clear these men knew death when they faced it.

  “You…” That grating stone on stone voice, as if an open grave could talk. “Are to return to the city tomorrow. You will convince Rollins that our plan is the only way. He will have his power and control over all Dimabri. He needs only do as he’s told and when the time is right we will ensure he has men enough to take the city. You will convince him that should he fail or falter, should he shirk this task given to him by The Master that he shall regret it for the rest of his days. If he cannot deliver what he claimed I will end him and the city will fall anyway,”

  Unnerved and having heard more than enough Tanisin signalled to Relf and they crept away with a caution that needed no urging. The palpable fear this creature emanated faded as they put distance between them. Tanisin recalled Sayoshti’s warning, that this being could ‘travel in shadow’ He dared not speak aloud or make a sound. Silently the duo returned to their camp at the top of the ridge.

  They lit no fire, only huddled in the dark wrapped in their cloaks. Despite the cold the risk of discovery was too great, the enemy too close. Tanisin turned his mind to what to do next. Now that they’d located the Shadow Being and its minions.

  “I think.” He mused aloud. “We’ll have to stop those two from returning to Dimabri City in the morning.”

  Relf looked up at his statement. “An ambush, on the road perhaps.” A wicked grin spread across his face. Killing cultists had become a favourite pastime.

  “Seems the best choice.” Tanisin smiled at Relf’s exuberance. “We can deal with them and return. If all goes well their master will be none the wiser. Plus I don’t want to have to face them and it together.”

  “You should get some rest., I’ll take the first watch.” Relf offered. “We can set out before first light. Where do you think?”

  “Yes, let’s get them before they have a chance. We can wait in the woods off the road where the trail comes out. They’ll have to walk their horses through the brush and we can be on them before they know it.”

  “I like it.” Relf smiled again and clapped Tanisin on the back. “We can have it done by lunch.”

  “Haha. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, but yes. Anthin always told Dav and me to plan for the worst, hope for the best. Now, I’m turning in. Wake me for my watch.”

  Sleep didn’t come quickly. The cold coupled with intrusive thoughts kept nagging at him for a long time. He tried his best to get comfortable on the hard ground with no fire and had a restless fit of sleeping and wakefulness until Relf shook him for his turn on watch.

  He spent the latter part of the night into early morning shivering and watching the path back to the cultist’s camp. Going over scenarios in his head. It was no use. Whatever would happen would happen. All that mattered is that they were in place when they needed to be. Eventually it came time to wake Relf.

  They broke camp and Tanisin took a few minutes to ensure they’d left no trace. Satisfied, he and Relf walked their horses back to the road. They arrived ahead of their quarry. Crossed the road into the woods on the other side and picketed their mounts well back into the trees out of sight. Then they separated as each found a good place to watch the path where the cultists would emerge.

  They had a good chance, he thought. The brush lining the road provided ample cover for Tanisin on his side and he couldn’t see any sign of Relf. They’d decided to put some space between them so when the cultists emerged Relf would spring onto the road blocking the way forward and Tanisin would come unseen from the rear. Speed and surprise were the keys to success.

  They didn’t have to wait long. With the light of dawn bringing clarity to the world they heard the sounds of rustling in the bush and minutes after that the two cultists exited the forest path. They were about to mount when Relf leaped from cover and stood brandishing his sword.

  Surprised the cultists drew up. Then seeing only one man barring their way they made to approach, drawing blades of their own. Before they made any headway Tanisin emerged behind them unseen. Relf saw him and at that signal raised his blade and let loose a furious warcry as he charged.

  If the cultists were surprised before they were shocked at the gall of this man charging down upon them on foot. They had mounted and had the advantage. Tanisin ran lightly on silent feet towards them from behind with his own sword drawn and ready.

  Relf engaged the two. They seemed lackadaisical in their contempt for him despite his clear size and skill. He traded blows with one on his right hand, the other began to circle to get behind him. Tanisin was ready though and struck. He drove a killing blow into the cultists back. The man grunted then gurgeled, his dying breath escaping him. His companion swung a wild blow that Relf had to roll away from.

  Tanisin withdrew his sword from the dying man who then toppled from his horse. The animal panicked and attempted to kick Tanisin who dove aside but caught a glancing blow to the ribs just the same. Then the horse took off down the road.

  The second cultist, now realising his predicament, took off himself. Relf’s dodge had left an opening and the man took it, tearing off down the road mere steps behind the other horse. Tanisin regained his footing with pain flaring in his ribcage. Cursing he saw the cultist getting away. Relf stood with no hope of catching the fleeing man.

  In a last ditch effort to prevent the cultist from escaping Tanisin drew his dagger, cocked back his arm and threw. The early morning sunlight caught the blade as it spun towards its intended target. Through some luck or because the throw was rushed it struck the fleeing man but did not strike true. The dagger buried itself in the cultists thigh. He gave a startled shout as it struck but continued towards Dimabri City and was lost to sight.

  “Despair’s balls.” Relf cursed. “Do we chase him down?”

  Tanisin, panting from the kick he’d received, shook his head. “No, we’ll never catch him now. Let’s just hope he doesn’t circle back and keeps going to the city.”

  The duo paused then, catching their breath and taking in the situation. They dragged the dead man off the road and looked for his horse but it was gone too. There was nothing left but to get their own mounts and head back into the forest. They still had the Shadow Being to take care of.