The Horseman

The Horseman ~ Chapter 1

I grew up listening to tales of the Horseman. Hushed whispers from townsfolk traveling from village to village. He was the reason they lived in fear; curtains closed before dusk, doors bolted shut, blades sharpened to a point.

He lived in the shadows behind the walls of his castle and plagued the lands with endless torment.

No one could overthrow the power he held.

'Esme, hurry, we don't want to be late!' My older sister, Ingrid, was her ever-so-bossy self, 'Hurry! We need to gather in the church.'

Villagers usually gathered at the church to pray or make offerings, but this was different. From Ingrid's frantic steps, I knew this was more than that.

We were in danger.

Ingrid hurried down the narrow path that glistened with candle-lit lanterns. The orange flames matched the color of her linen dress and danced across her ivory skin.

Although my family wasn't the wealthiest in the village, our father was a tailor and spoiled Ingrid with the finest material he had spared since she had come of age to find a potential suitor. My dress wasn't as glamorous as my sister's. It was simple, white, and hung loose on my slender frame; the perfect dress for blending into the crowd.

My leather boots tapped against the wet cobblestones as I followed Ingrid to the church entrance. The wooden door creaked as she pushed it open, and various eyes fell on us as we stepped over the threshold. I met my Father's worrisome gaze as we walked down the aisle to the seat next to him.

"Where have you both been?" his voice raised with concern, but he was careful enough not to disrupt the pastor from his rantings.

"Sorry, Father, we lost track of time." Ingrid always knew how to calm him down.

"Esme, what happened to your dress?"

My face wrinkled in disgust as I looked down at my dress. The ivory skirt had become stained with dark soil. I could have cursed myself for following Ingrid down that dreaded path.

"Oh! What a mess. I must have stepped in some dirt on my way here." My chest felt heavy as a sudden rush of guilt wavered over me. Father always spent time sewing my garments together. The disappointment on his face made me regret being so careless.

"With your clumsy nature, it was bound to happen." I rolled my eyes at Ingrid and drowned out her harsh words with the pastor's voice.

"For years, our village has been full of darkness. Crops won't harvest. People are dying. Everything is rotting around us. It is all the Horseman's doing!"

A surge of cries filled the room, and a string of unanswered questions followed.

Who will protect us?
How do you kill the Horseman?
What will we have to sacrifice?

Villagers spiraled into chaos with question after endless question.

Does he exist?
Should we leave our land?
What does he want?

"Enough!" The pastor stepped down from the platform in front of us, "For anyone brave enough to stop him, please, be my guest. For any urgent questions, speak to Lord Fendrel and the council. This meeting is over."

Their pleas fell silent as he opened the doors to reveal the night and ushered crowds of people down the cobble steps into the dusk-filled air.

I stepped outside with Ingrid and saw a familiar face with piercing blue eyes glancing over at me. His boyish grin stretched further as he saw me walk towards him.

"Where are your manners, Tristan?" I stopped in front of the pillar he was leaning against, "It is rude to stare." The apples of his cheeks flushed an even deeper pink. I almost giggled at the sight.

"I couldn't help but admire your beauty." Tristan had grown used to girls falling at his feet with his bronze skin and charming dimples; it was hard not to be in awe of him, but I knew better.

"We are having a party tonight." He revealed two halo vines intertwined with snowdrops and placed one of them delicately over my head, "You and Ingrid should come."

"I don't think father would be pleased, especially since the Horseman's curse has worsened."

"We shouldn't let that stop our fun." Even though he was Lord Fendrel's son, he sure didn't act like it.

He held out the second halo to Ingrid, who appeared next to me.

"I agree," she snatched it out of his hand and wore it like a royal crown.

"I'm so tired of all this curse talk. I want to go to a party and dance and not care about whether the Horseman will burn our village to the ground."

"Father will be worried about-"

"Esme! Father won't know we are gone. There is no need to worry. I promise to have us back before supper."

I couldn't shake off the feeling of what it would be like to enjoy myself and not live every moment in fear. So I complied and followed Ingrid and Tristan to the neck of the woods.

~

I forgot how much I enjoyed dancing.

The wind brushed against my face as I whirled around in circles, arms flailing above me.

The fire had died down from when we first got here. Father would be so mad, but I didn't care; he could scold us later.

A hand touched mine, and I turned to fix my eyes on the culprit.

"Tristan?"

"Dance with me?" He held out his palm, wanting me to place my hand in his, and I obliged.

He laced his fingers through mine; my raven curls swayed in the wind as he softly spun me around. I locked my arms around his neck as he dipped me low enough to feel the grass tips tickling my bare shoulders. We were laughing now, standing breathless from all the dancing, with no care about who was surrounding us.

I caught Tristan's gaze once again. His usual playful stare turned serious and filled with longing. He caressed my cheek with his hand and glanced at my rose-painted lips. On impulse, he moved closer to me. I stepped back.

"Tristan...we can't." I purposely stared at the ground, not wanting to see his expression.

"Understood. I'm sorry, I-I should have never tried to kiss you." His voice quivered with each word, and his cheeks turned crimson.

"I should go."

Without uttering a goodbye, Tristan left my side, possibly in search of those who would accept his offering of a kiss. Even if I had wanted to kiss him, I wouldn't let him have that satisfaction. Not when he could have any girl in the village wrapped around his finger.

The uncomfortable silence I found myself in was interrupted by a panicked Ingrid.

"We have to leave!" Her plea was desperate. She had a fearful look in her deep brown eyes that I had never seen before.

"Why, what happened?"

Silence.

"Ingrid...what is it?!" My heart was pounding; each beat was like a wild animal trying to escape its gilded cage.

"The Horseman is here." Ingrid held onto my trembling hands as she gingerly uttered the words that sent a shiver down my spine.

"He is here for you, Esme."

~