12 Years Ago - Part 4

"Run!" the now distorted face of the groomsman yelled.

I turned and started pumping my legs as fast as I could. I began to run back towards where Valk and my mother had been talking.

The roar of the groomsman had drawn their attention. Both Valk and my mother started making a beeline towards me. Valk, with his longer legs, reached me first. He didn't stop, but rather blew right past me, sword drawn.

"Keep moving!" he shouted as he ran past.

Once my mother reached me, she scooped me up in a protective embrace and turned to run in the opposite direction.

From what I could see from my mother's shoulder, Valk had gotten to the carriage and was trying to beat back some sort of ferocious animal. Hortim the groomsman was nowhere to be seen.

My mother continued running. Suddenly, we were on the bridge and crossing the river. My mother stopped and put me down on the far side.

"Honey, you see that pile of boulders over there?" She asked.

A ways down the road, there was a cluster of massive stones that littered the field. I nodded, acknowledging that I saw them.

"Keep running until you reach them. Once you do, hide as best as you can."

"You're not coming?" I asked.

"I'll be along in a few minutes." My mother said as she removed her cloak and set it on stone of the bridge. "I have to go help out Mr. Valk. Stay hiding until we come and get you ok?"

"Yes Mommy."

My mother pulled a short sword from a scabbard that sat on her hip. I stood staring. I had never seen my mother hold a weapon before.

"Go!" my mother said. She started running back towards Valk and the carriage.

I turned, and ran as fast as I could towards the rocks.

***

The stones were the remnants of some sort of ancient construction.

Even as a young as I was, I could could tell that they had once been purposefully placed in a pattern. Specifically what that pattern was, what the purpose would be, evaded me completely.

I found a spot where a few of the stones had toppled onto each other, creating a small gap that I could squeeze into. I pulled myself inside and twisted myself about so I could see the road.

From this angle, I could only see a small section of road. I wasn't able to even see the bridge that I had left only a few minutes ago. I waited for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally, I heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching. It had to be the sound of my mother with the carriage coming to find me.

I was just about to pull myself out of the ruins to go and greet her, when something deep inside told me to wait.

A figure on horseback came into view. They had approached from the opposite direction of where the bridge was. Bright green robes decorated their body.

In their right hand they grasped a golden amulet that hung from their neck. Their left arm was outstretched in the in the air, the palm of the hand facing outward. The hand was slowly moved in this direction and that, like it was seeking something.

The figure then quickly turned, their palm facing exactly in the direction of where I was hiding.

The rider dismounted. Still holding the amulet, they began walking towards the ruin.

I did my best to slide backwards into the limited space that I was hiding in. I scrunched myself down, trying to remain unseen.

I could see the figure was a man. He stepped closer and closer to the ruins. Then he stopped.

He seemed confused. He attempted to step forward again, but he found himself sliding backwards. He held out his free hand as far as he could, but try as he might, he could not push it past a certain point. I heard him curse.

He suddenly looked startled. He turned and bolted back to his mount. He spun his horse around and galloped in the other direction.

Moments later, I heard the sound of more hoofbeats. This time it was coming from the direction of the bridge. I stayed in my hidey hole and waited.

I saw the familiar carriage roll into view. My mother was at the reins. Valk sat next to her, several dents in his armor, and a bloody bandage on his right arm.

"Samantha?" my mother called. She handed the reins to Valk and dismounted. She looked around the ruins, "Samantha? It's safe to come out honey."

I pulled myself out of my hiding spot and ran towards her.

"Mommy!"

My mother bent down and I ran into her arms. She embraced me and kissed me on the forehead. "You did what I told you! Good girl!"

"Milady," Valk said. He motioned to the roadway. "Tracks. Fresh ones."

My mother brushed back some of my hair. She looked me in the eyes. "Honey, did you see anything while you were hiding?"

"I saw a man in green robes." I said. "I think he was trying to find me, but I hid!" I don't know why, but I made no mention of the stranger's weird encounter at the edge of the ruins.

With the mention of the man, my mother went pale and gave a look to Valk. "Good job honey. Now we have to keep moving."

She opened the door to the carriage and I stepped aboard. I waited for her to join me.

"Valk got a little hurt, so I'm going to stay up front with him OK?"

I nodded.

"Mommy, where is Hortim?" I wondered what happened to the groomsman who had been so kind to me.

"Hortim is... gone honey."

With that she closed the door, and I was alone inside the carriage. With a sudden jerk that almost knocked me off my feet, we started moving.

I sat down on one of the benches. Aside from the sound of hooves plodding along the dirt road and the creaking of the carriage, it was dead silent. My mind switched from face of the kind man that held me up to pet the horses, to the horrible visage with black eyes and sharp teeth. These images would haunt me for years.