Ghost of Whisper Creek

The trio road hard and fast towards the area that Krita was sure was the hiding spot for the elusive Ghost. Whoever killed the scouts who had accompanied them to Zankin’s hut either took the success of killing those three and left, or allowed Krita and the other two advance following silently or seeing no threat from the Northern Lady. Whichever of the possibilities were the case it troubled Krita the whole of their ride. Only the fact that Horeak was a skilled horseman and keeping up with him in country that he was more familiar with than she was a chore, kept her from dwelling on the possibility that they were next.

That possibility seemed less and less likely as Megwan started to fall behind and eventually could no longer see her Lady or the soldier as they rushed forward. The young squire was so determined to catch them that she did not worry about being in the woods alone. When Krita chanced a look back however she did start to worry and ordered Horeak to stop. They waited a good twenty minutes right out in the open until Megwan finally appeared. No one was seen in the trees nearby, no one got in Megwan’s way or took advantage of her aloneness. “We are doing well. How often do people travel to Whisper Creek?”

Horeak’s hand reached to the side of his head and rubbed as he thought. “Not many come. Here and there young people come to hear the whispers and hope that the stories of the ghosts abandoning the place are false. There was a rumor that an outlaw band used it for a base, but that was fifty years ago and that band was destroyed by the combined efforts of the Lords Arandil and Hubor of that time. Not sure anyone travels there with any regularity.”

Krita gave a nod, “Don’t take us in some secret way you’ve heard of. Just the normal route. We’ll be quiet and leave the horses before we are close enough for them to be heard.”

Horeak nodded, “To be clear however there is no ‘normal route’. Everyone has their own. I’m sure some overlap, but to be sure there is no secret way in.”

Krita smiled, “Good I intend to be very hidden and very sneaky, but I am depending on those skills not some secret foolproof way into a creepy glade. I don’t want to deal with the distractions just finding any possible hiding place for the Ghost.”

Horeak gave a bit of a snort as a response before answering in words. “There are many hiding places m’Lady. We could spend days searching them. There are holdfasts for the natives and those who came out of the mountains to attack. All of them are in ruins now, but depending how many this ‘Ghost’ actually is they could be hiding in many of them or all of them.” He reined in his horse and pointed to a tree line a good distance away. “Whisper Creek,” he said in an ominous tone, “best we leave the horses here if you wish to surprise anyone.”

“But I was just getting to the point where I could keep up with you,” Megwan complained sarcastically as she gladly flung herself from her saddle and started to tie her horse to a tree before Horeak could step forward and do it for her. Krita and Horeak also dismounted and secured their horses. Then Krita took the lead as they headed for the treeline that Horeak had pointed out.

They weren’t within those trees more than a few moments before Krita and Megwan, who were experiencing the place for the first time, understood its name. A clearing could be seen through the trees, as well as what looked like it might have been a river a good while ago, now Krita guessed that was Whisper Creek. It wasn’t the sights that troubled visitors however it was the sounds. Krita could hear the flowing of a good sized river, but the water in the creek was barely a trickle now. She heard voices telling her to turn back and some telling her to rush forward and attack. At one point she even thought she felt a hand reach out and grab at her sword, but there was nothing there.

Silently the trio moved through the trees. Horeak pointed towards a grouping of ruined wooden buildings. Swords quietly left their scabbards and they advanced on the spot. There was no one in the hollowed out buildings, but it was apparent that there had been. “No one,” Krita whispered to Horeak.

Horeak shook his head, “Someone has been here though. Perhaps they move from building to building to keep visitors from guessing where they stay, or the ones who inhabit these ruins might be out on patrol.”

Krita gave a nod, “Which way to the next buildings then. I can’t imagine they patrol inwards so let’s move forward with caution. You’ll need to point me in a direction and then watch our backs.”

“I’ve trained as hard and long as him,” Megwan protested, “I can watch our backs.”

Krita shook her head, “You’re as well trained as any of us that’s true, but smaller, younger and less of a threat. If a patrol comes upon us I want them to attack at first sight. If they see you they might circle back and warn the other, then we’ll be knee deep in it.”

Reluctantly Megwan accepted the reasoning and followed behind Krita when Horeak pointed out the next closest ruin. Of course if Krita hadn’t given a reason just insisted that Megwan follow orders the young woman would have done so. The next group of emptied buildings were found in much the same fashion as the first. They surveyed, tested to see if they could tell how long the fire within had been extinguished and then moved on.

So it went for much of the daylight hours in Whisper Creek. In the seventh building they checked Horeak suggested that they return to their horses and make camp there for the night. He suggested that even were in not inhabited, as it seemed was the case, they would not want to be among the ruins at night. Krita nodded her agreement, but insisted that they check one more building. So as they moved on each swore they heard something, but dismissed it as the Creek playing tricks on them. Then Megwan cried out in pain.

Quickly after the young woman fell to the ground. Krita and Horeak were quickly crouching down next to Megwan. Horeak tore the arrow that was the source of the pain and the trip from her calf. Krita put a gloved hand over Megwan’s mouth to stifle any further cries of discomfort. Krita’s head poked up and searched for the bowman. The trees nearby were the only possibility. “Looks like no more buildings today. Horses. Tend Meg’s leg. Camp. You think she can get out of here?”

“I’m not dying and you’re not leaving me here for them to take and do whatever they want with me. I don’t care if you say that I’m a young woman and they will likely treat me and hold me,” Meg said with passion. “I carry a sword. They might think it’s a joke, but they will learn quick I must be taken serious. I’m coming with you. I can run.”

“Fine,” Krita said sharply with a nod, “Horeak will help you up and then you hurry straight to the horses.” Krita pointed in the direction she knew they had come from. “Horeak and I might have to fight off these attackers you don’t stop to help you understand!”

Megwan nodded and even went so far as to extend a hand to Horeak for the aid that Krita had instructed her to take. Horeak grabbed past her hand and gripped onto her forearm. Megwan followed his lead and clasped her own fingers around his arm as well. Horeak looked to Krita who then looked back to the trees. She saw no movement but knew they were out there somewhere.

On a nod from Krita Horeak pulled with all his might and Megwan used his grip to quickly get to her feet. The leg hit by the arrow nearly gave out, but she made herself move on. Krita was a few steps ahead of her and Horeak without having to be told remained a few strides behind. When they reached the treeline Krita made out movement and called out for Horeak. At this point he hurried in front of Megwan who like promised continued on in a straight line towards where they had left the horses.

As Megwan continued on Krita reached the movement she had detected and saw the man behind the bow hesitate upon seeing her challenge him. He wasn’t quick to his sword. It was as if he thought he was attacking someone else and when the truth set in he wasn’t willing to follow through with the attack. Krita gave a kick to his knee and was quickly on top of him sword across his throat, “Who is the Ghost!?”

There was no answer from the archer, but another form rushed out of the shadows and pushed Krita from his companion. Krita’s blade flung away from the fray. While holding off the new attacker She struggled to get a hand to the knife she kept high on her thigh. It was more for hunting than combat, but she never liked the feel of a dagger. She heard a sword coming clear of its scabbard and then the clang of metal against metal as she assumed Horeak took up the fight against the archer.

“We’re not supposed to kill the She-Wolf,” the soldier on top of her growled as he struggled to keep her still. “Nothing was said on what we can do with you while we hold you and wait for the others. You’re much prettier than the rumors say.”

Krita gave a rumble of her own and a grin as the tip of her fingers found the hilt of her knife. “I bet you say that to all the girls that stumble through here.”

The soldier locked his hand around Krita’s forearm which was not grasping at the knife. “No girls come through here. You’ll be quite popular come nightfall, Commander has refueled the stories of Ghosts in these parts. The common folk don’t come here any more. ’Tis a shame, was much better when we had visitors. That’s when we were just hiding though. Commander got bored, was time to strike back.”

Krita slowly moved the knife out of its holder hoping the struggle and conversation would cover the sound it made. “Striking back,” she growled through clenched teeth. “Very good idea.” With that her hand thrust out and stuck her hunting knife through the attacking soldier’s throat. He was quick to roll away and soon after that he died clutching at the knife. Krita reached for her sword, but when she rose she realized that Horeak had taken care of the archer. With a smile she knelt and retrieved her knife. “Let’s get to the Megwan and the horses.”

When they reached the spot they had left their horses the animals were missing and Megwan sat with her back against a tree, her knees were up and bound hands inspected where the arrow had been pulled through her calf. “I’m sorry m’Lady,” she sobbed.

“It is not her fault you know that. Right She-Wolf?” Came a voice from the shadows. A dozen armed soldiers stepped out from behind the surrounding trees. One of them looked like Trakas and the Lord Knight of Thornvale, Krita guessed he was the voice.

“I believe ‘my Lady’ is the title that I have earned. Even from a ‘Ghost’ wouldn’t you say?” Krita asked in a hissing tone.

The soldier shrugged, “Very well my Lady, your little companion could not have warned you about us. You know that he...or is it she? Hard to tell with this one and all the armor and what not.” At the perceived insult Megwan tried to lunge at the man but sunk back to her tree when the burning in her calf started.

“She,” Krita said defiantly, “Could not have done any better than she did. We were foolish to think we could take them by surprise.”

“Oh under certain circumstances you might have been able to succeed, but not with the surprise I have waiting at my camp,” the man said smugly. “The Ghost is all of us. The stories they tell of the Ghost are mostly fabricated, but we don’t disuade such a thing. Me you can call Thorne, though that might get confusing. Maison or Commander will do just fine. Please surrender your weapons, and don’t resist. And the girl, let’s just call her ‘him’ for now I am pretty sure I can keep my men off Ammon’s daughter. They have seen what he did to North Port. Her...even as homely and young as she is I’m not sure.”

Krita gave a sad nod and gave a non-verbal apology to Megwan in way of a sad smile. “Does the Lord Knight know what you are doing? If he did he must be a very good chess player. He fooled me even though I went in there with high suspision.”

Maison gave a shake of his head, “Unfortunately my brother lives by the King’s Law and is loyal to the crown first and foremost. The King recognizes your father as Lord of North Port, Horbin would never authorize attacks on the Lord’s men. No my backing comes from Visby and Lakeburn. Seems Lord Hubor’s love for his sister and her children is greater than his love for the King. He is quite generous so long as we keep our activities away from his city. Now let’s go settle into the camp so we can figure out how to get the most value out of you. Surely your parents will pay a good deal, but it isn’t gold we’re after.” Maison gave a chuckle as his men collected the weapons from Krita and Horeak then pushed their captives back towards Whisper Creek.