Read Online Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls by Chris Ward - Free Book Online
Authors: Chris Ward
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you Mentor,’ he whispered. ‘Thank you, whoever you are, wherever you are, I will do what I must do. I will do your bidding.’
And with that Rema Bowman began a journey, the likes of which he could never have possibly dreamed of.
Chapter 4.
Sylvion Greyfeld cantered her mount Lightfoot gently along the well worn road towards Wildwood. She loved this part of her journey, one which she had made on countless occasions. The smell of the lavender growing wild by the road, familiar faces and the re-acquaintance with old friends; conversations about children and produce, and of course the weather. She loved the anticipation of her homecoming, and for days before would wake in excitement at the sheer joy of what lay ahead.
Sylvion had left Farview two days after Rema but by the only other route which led to the Lowlands, the one which most were forced to take. The basket lowered down the sheer cliff was never meant to handle the large volume of people and livestock and general merchandise which a thriving town like Farview needed in its daily life. Of all the towns of the Central Upthrust Farview had the most connections with the people and commerce of the Lowlands. A road had been laboriously cut down the massive escarpment well to the north of Farview where the mighty Vigarn Gorge had cut its way over millennia back into the highland plateau. It was a steep path allowing a single dray or cart to travel in safety, but the Council by law had prevented it being any wider fearing an organized assault from the Lowlands. The Farview Road as it was called, was the only way that any serious volume of traffic could gain access to the Highlands and so it was carefully controlled, with armed garrisons at regular intervals and several clever means of cutting the road completely in any emergency. There were other ways all around the Upthrust of getting up the sheer cliffs but none as open and accessible as the road from Farview to Wildwood . A good rider on a fast horse could cover the hundred and two score leagues in five days but this included a complete day for the descent of the escarpment, such was the traffic and the need for control of movement in either direction.
Sylvion traveled alone, which was unusual for a woman, but she had ridden since the time she could walk, and her skills with a sword were unequalled by any other of her sex, and even Goodman Cantor, expert that he was, was often bested by her at times when they practiced together for sport. Sylvion had a royal bearing which was often the comment of those whom she passed on the road. She rode like a man, astride the horse and in control, and liked nothing better than to feel the wind in her hair at full gallop and the beast with its ears pricked forward and blowing hard, pulling eagerly at the reins. Lightfoot, her beloved grey mare had been hers since its birth eight years ago in the fallow field behind her kindma’s house, on the forest side of Wildwood. She had watched its birth in wonder and amazement, and the two had been together ever since. Apart from Rema with whom she had fallen so deeply in love, and of course her kindma, Lightfoot was the most precious of all her possessions.
She had traveled quickly; stopping at night in roadside inns and sleeping soundly despite the rough hard beds. Now in the warm sunshine with the journey behind her, Sylvion drew her steed back to a trot and then a gentle walk as she entered Wildwood once more. She stopped and dismounted outside Pierman’s Store, still her favourite shop, and one of her childhood’s great pleasures, full of trinkets and treasures and lollies and sweets. She always purchased some small present to give her kindma , it was a simple ritual but one which had become an important part of her coming home.
She was surprised to find the door locked and the old carved wooden window shutters closed. There was a simple notice on the door.
Reduced hours due to illness. Open after noon.
Sylvion
And with that Rema Bowman began a journey, the likes of which he could never have possibly dreamed of.
Chapter 4.
Sylvion Greyfeld cantered her mount Lightfoot gently along the well worn road towards Wildwood. She loved this part of her journey, one which she had made on countless occasions. The smell of the lavender growing wild by the road, familiar faces and the re-acquaintance with old friends; conversations about children and produce, and of course the weather. She loved the anticipation of her homecoming, and for days before would wake in excitement at the sheer joy of what lay ahead.
Sylvion had left Farview two days after Rema but by the only other route which led to the Lowlands, the one which most were forced to take. The basket lowered down the sheer cliff was never meant to handle the large volume of people and livestock and general merchandise which a thriving town like Farview needed in its daily life. Of all the towns of the Central Upthrust Farview had the most connections with the people and commerce of the Lowlands. A road had been laboriously cut down the massive escarpment well to the north of Farview where the mighty Vigarn Gorge had cut its way over millennia back into the highland plateau. It was a steep path allowing a single dray or cart to travel in safety, but the Council by law had prevented it being any wider fearing an organized assault from the Lowlands. The Farview Road as it was called, was the only way that any serious volume of traffic could gain access to the Highlands and so it was carefully controlled, with armed garrisons at regular intervals and several clever means of cutting the road completely in any emergency. There were other ways all around the Upthrust of getting up the sheer cliffs but none as open and accessible as the road from Farview to Wildwood . A good rider on a fast horse could cover the hundred and two score leagues in five days but this included a complete day for the descent of the escarpment, such was the traffic and the need for control of movement in either direction.
Sylvion traveled alone, which was unusual for a woman, but she had ridden since the time she could walk, and her skills with a sword were unequalled by any other of her sex, and even Goodman Cantor, expert that he was, was often bested by her at times when they practiced together for sport. Sylvion had a royal bearing which was often the comment of those whom she passed on the road. She rode like a man, astride the horse and in control, and liked nothing better than to feel the wind in her hair at full gallop and the beast with its ears pricked forward and blowing hard, pulling eagerly at the reins. Lightfoot, her beloved grey mare had been hers since its birth eight years ago in the fallow field behind her kindma’s house, on the forest side of Wildwood. She had watched its birth in wonder and amazement, and the two had been together ever since. Apart from Rema with whom she had fallen so deeply in love, and of course her kindma, Lightfoot was the most precious of all her possessions.
She had traveled quickly; stopping at night in roadside inns and sleeping soundly despite the rough hard beds. Now in the warm sunshine with the journey behind her, Sylvion drew her steed back to a trot and then a gentle walk as she entered Wildwood once more. She stopped and dismounted outside Pierman’s Store, still her favourite shop, and one of her childhood’s great pleasures, full of trinkets and treasures and lollies and sweets. She always purchased some small present to give her kindma , it was a simple ritual but one which had become an important part of her coming home.
She was surprised to find the door locked and the old carved wooden window shutters closed. There was a simple notice on the door.
Reduced hours due to illness. Open after noon.
Sylvion
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