Part 14: A Strange Encounter

Perhaps his sleep was too deep and relaxing. Philip barely moved throughout the night, and didn’t begin to stir until the sun had risen above the Eastern horizon and began shining directly in his face. He opened his eyes and groaned, then sat up quickly, looking around. Realizing that he had slept too long, he slapped his forehead.

“Oh, gods!� Philip forced himself to his feet with another groan, then began to look around. “Hauseld? Hauseld!� As if on cue, the horse appeared from behind a cluster of trees, trotting forward to greet Philip. Shaking his head, he stroked Hauseld’s mane and sighed. “Let’s get going, friend.�

He put the blanket, saddle, and bridle back onto Hauseld as quickly as he could, then placed his bag around his waist and hopped into the saddle, urging the steed into a gallop quite quickly. The rejuvenated creature seemed to have regained some of his youth from the evening before, and Philip was thankful for that.

The morning air was cool but the light from behind him was very bright. Clouds over the far-off mountain ranges were tinted slightly yellow for a time before the sun rose high enough to turn them to a fluffy white. The sky was clear and blue overhead, and it was going to be a very warm day.

Philip, however, was rather preoccupied about getting to Fork as quickly as possible. There were people in the surrounding country that needed to be warned of the advancing army. He wasn’t sure if the Dendrians would attack and destroy everything in their path, or just capture it. All Philip knew was that he didn’t want to find out first-hand.

He rode the swift steed West along the mostly straight road for a number of hours before coming to the top of a small rise in the terrain overlooking the region where Fork was located. As he rode to the top, his heart stopped in horror. To the South, maybe just ten miles away, he could see the massive army marching forward. He could almost see their movements as the mass of soldiers clad in black armor could be seen approaching.

Kicking Hauseld’s sides firmly, the pair bolted down the hillside toward the small village of Yellow Field. It was a community named for the massive field of sunflowers that were constantly in bloom from mid-spring to late fall just to the North of the town. It was a beautiful sight that lay ahead, but Philip had no time to admire it.

He rode into the village and slowed Hauseld down, sending him into a slow trot along the dirt roadway. The pair rode into the center of town, and Philip was shocked at how much Yellow Field reminded him of White Oak. The buildings were much the same – small wooden cabins with a doorway, a couple windows, and the occasionally stone chimney. In the middle of the town center was a patch of grass with a couple dozen tall, brilliant sunflowers rising from it.

Philip dismounted and looked around the village. It was completely deserted. Not a sign of human beings remained, except for the occasional scattered gardening tools and children’s toys lying on the ground. Philip walked slowly toward one of the cabins, peered inside, and spoke aloud.

“Where is everybody?� Suddenly, from behind him, an unusual, raspy voice replied.

“Gone.� Philip jumped and looked around quickly, his heart suddenly racing. He turned to look at the patch of sunflowers and was aghast as a black-cloaked, hunched-over figure appeared, using a cane to help its movements forward. The raspy voice again spoke. “They are already gone… Evacuated from this place. Warned before you could get here.� Philip stammered for a moment before speaking.

“W-who… Who are you? How do you know this?� A laugh came from the figure, who lifted its face just enough to reveal a bit of pale, wrinkled skin around a ghastly, smiling mouth beneath the hood of the cloak.

“I am of no importance to you, Philip son of William. But perhaps I am. I have watched your progress from afar for the last few days. For somebody who has lost almost all he cares about in this world, you manage to move without dwelling on it publicly. That’s very good…� Philip clenched his teeth and suddenly became enraged.

“What do you mean you’ve been watching me? Have you been following me?� He suddenly paled as a terrible thought entered his mind. “Were you with… the group of Dendrians who attacked and destroyed White Oak?� There was silence for a moment before the figured laughed harshly once more.

“Dendrians? How foolish! No, I was not with Dendrians, but I was with the group who attacked your little village.� Philip raised a fist slowly as if to strike the cloaked creature, but it held up a wrinkled hand and suddenly he could not move. “Violence will solve nothing, young Philip. I was the one who protected your house from flame and blade. I was the one who threw that stone through your window to awaken you at the right time.� Philip lowered his hand slowly.

“You…? It was you? But… But why? Why did you save me and nobody else?� The decrepit being simply laughed again.

“It’s all about timing, Philip son of William. Because my timing was perfect, perhaps your timing may be just right as well.� Philip shook his head, frowning.

“That doesn’t answer my question. That doesn’t even make sense!� The creature grinned beneath its cloak and raised its staff quickly, striking Philip in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground. The raspy voice softened slightly as it spoke to him once more.

“Nor will it for quite some time.� The very unusual person raised the staff again, and Philip saw a little more beneath the hood of the cloak. Its skin was pale and wrinkled thoroughly, but the eyes were a luminous shade of blue-green that haunted Philip to the bone.

It was the last sight he saw as the staff came down on the side of his head again, knocking him unconscious.