Read Online Cloudfyre Falling - a dark fairy tale by A. L. Brooks - Free Book Online Page A

watching, stalking a gorse or a fleim, or
some other beast, for long stretches, with greater concentration to
the task than his father had known in other boys of similar
age.
    They were soon locked in stalemate
it seemed, Gargaron and this demon thing. Gargaron dared not take
his eye from it. And yet, he were conscious of the fact that this
were perhaps another ploy, to distract Gargaron whilst another
beast snuck up silently from behind him. Regardless of his
Nightface’s recent failing, he put faith in it to inform him if and
when something did.
    It were scantly lit beneath the
copse; the rain had turned away at last but clotted, thunderous
cloud clogged the sky and thus Gohor and Melus remained veiled.
Gargaron dared not move, crouched where he were, clasping his sword
in both fists. His eyes focused primarily on the shape that hung
there in the morning gloom; still, impulses had his sight flicking
left and right, on the lookout for any more of these hidden
creatures.
    As it were, he would’ve had
trouble seeing anything crouched in amongst the remainder of the
copse but when he removed his eye from the creature it shifted
quickly. As if it had been waiting for that exact moment. And when
he looked back, it had gone.
    His hearts beat loud in his ears,
his eyes darted to and fro, nervously scouring every shadow, every
beech tree.
    Suddenly there it were, half the
distance closer to him.
    He gasped.
    But then frowned. And blinked. And
ultimately lowered his sword.

    7
    It were no more monster than he,
it seemed. It were but a giant’s horse. With two heads like those
used by the Autumn Guard. Yet, that were not all. A rider hung from
its saddle, caught by his leg, dangling there, his arms and fingers
dragging through sodden grass, sodden hair covering his
face.
    The horse snorted. Gargaron
straightened to his full height. He looked around, still suspecting
a trap. As such he did not yet sheath his sword. He kept it gripped
in hand. Though he hoped the steed would not be spooked by it. If
this were no trap, if this animal sought friendly company, then he
did not wish it to bolt. It were, after all, the first living horse
he had met since before this blight fell. And besides, there were
someone in its saddle, someone who looked in need of help. And
someone who potentially carried information about what had become
of this part of the world. And crucially, may have knowledge of how
it might be rectified.
    When the horse
made no move toward him, Gargaron felt he had no choice but to
sheathe his sword. Though he sent a clear mental message to his
Nightface: Keep vigilant. This may be an
ambush. Watch for anything approaching.
    He raised his hand to the
twin-headed horse, gesturing that he were no threat. The horse
whickered from both mouths, but did not retreat, nor turn away. All
its ears flickered, listening, listening…
    Gargaron looked about, wondering
if the steed had heard something. He saw nothing. Nor did his
Nightface. He gazed back at the horse and tread slowly to it. ‘Be
calm,’ he spoke to it softly, ‘be calm, I mean you no
harm.’
    As he drew closer he reached out
his fingers and gently touched the long smooth snout of the head
closest him, patting it softly, murmuring to it the way his father
had done to calm the wild stallions of Chayosa. The second head
swung in his direction, and all four eyes focused on his for a
while.
    ‘ I mean you no harm,’ Gargaron
told it softly. ‘Hear me now, I speak true.’
    The beast did not flinch at his
touch, not even after he lifted his free hand to the other face.
Indeed the majestic creature demonstrated signs that it accepted
Gargaron, bowing its heads in almost a gesture of
affection.
    Gargaron took this moment to place
his forehead first against one long sodden snout held gently in his
palms, and then the other. As he did the steed’s eyes closed
softly. Gargaron projected a mental impression of friendship, of
peace, and of good will.
    When he removed his head