Waiting for Spring - Part I

Chapter Thirteen

My latest discovery I am sure will be given the publicity I need. Master Cressan will be turning green with envy, I am certain. For two years I have studied the squirrels and their formidable resistance to diseases. Rats have proven less effective, but all results are good results.

The berries that grow high up in the treetops near the mountainsides seem to be what keeps the squirrels so healthy, but the Snowflower petals keeps the rat free from disease. These two combined into small beads, boiled with herbs and strong wine, even spirit from the Green Islands, can prevent any wound from festering. It is too bad that the berries only can be picked in the heat of summer, while the Snowflower only bloom in winter.

-Excerpt from herbalist Gendry's journal, Northport, Windsor.

A scream. Theron arose from the bedroll, reached for his blade. With bleary eyes he rushed out the tent. The snowy wind had settled at last, but he could barely see more than a dozen feet ahead. Something is wrong. He turned to the campfire and saw the young soldier lying behind the chopped-off trunk. The back of an arrow protruded from the side of his chest where the armour was loose. He quickly ran towards him and slid towards a nearby tree to get some cover. Another arrow whizzed past him and hit a tent. Darnell muttered something and groaned.

"Lay still," Theron hushed before looking around, his eyes searching the shadows.

~April

April carried the dead hare on her shoulder. She went past the final trees and came out in the ravine. The distance between the trees slowly became bigger and she could hint the campfire not far away. She longed for the warm breeze it would grant her. With every step she came closer and closer to the light. Suddenly she saw Theron standing by a tree, he looked tense for a moment and then his dark eyes met hers.

"April! Watch out!" he yelled and pointed towards the cliff to the right. Four men in splint mail with their bows ready and arrows notched were standing on the edge and they all seemed a bit disoriented when Theron had hollered at her. Quickly she dropped the animal and dashed towards a big rock as a handful of arrows hit the ground behind her. Theron on the other hand seemed to have found an opportunity and rushed out with his darts ready, throwing a pair of them towards the men on the crag. One quickly fell, the other reeled without falling, a blade stuck to his shoulder. The remaining two loosed more arrows towards both April and the assassin.

"April, take them down!" Theron commanded before he returned back to the campfire.

The bowmen on the cliff quickly realised that there were no point in chasing the man so more arrows came flying April's way. Standing frozen behind the cover she didn't have a clue what to do. No one had ever shot at her and she didn't want to shot back. The last thing she wanted was to hurt anyone. I have too... They are trying to kill me for ancestors' sake! She did need to defend herself. Sliding through the snow she hid behind a nearby tree. Two more arrows tore the ground where she had been running. While panting heavily she grabbed an arrow from her quiver with a shaking hand. However frightened she was she had to do something, or at least that was what she convinced herself. For a quick moment the young girl let go of all emotions, quickly stepped out and flung an arrow towards the men.

An excruciating scream echoed throughout the gorge as one of men fell backwards with an arrow pinned through his calf. April felt another arrow hit the back of her hiding place. Another arrow split against a nearby rock. Panting, she notched another arrow.

~Theron

Theron ran back to the tents and continued past them before stopping on the edge of the slope down. He scouted the area knowing that the archers weren't alone. Down the hillside five men ascended the slant, one of them carrying heavy plate armour along with a bulky shield. It did not carry an emblem. Mercenaries or someone who does not wish to reveal their origin it would seem.