Garth was determined to keep pace with the others, knowing that if he fell back they might just leave him behind. His pony, although blessed with prodigious stamina, had shorter legs than the others' horses and was beginning to struggle to maintain its canter.
He kept his eyes on the three figures ahead of him: Levan, a huge shape on his huge horse; Lena, her curvaceous figure, cloaked and hooded on top of her stallion. And of course, Katryn, the young woman whom he had always loved and the reason he was here in the middle of the night on the North Road, leaving the village in which he had lived his whole life.
It was maybe three months ago that some strange occurrences had begun to plague Fenceley Manor, Katryn's ancestral residence and Garth's home from his infancy. Garth had lived all of his eighteen years at Fenceley since he was orphaned as a baby, working the last ten as a stableboy. Katryn was the Baron and Lady Fenceley's youngest child, the same age as Garth, and the object of his wordless worship since his earliest memories.
So when random explosions had beset the Ladies' quarters, cooked chickens had flow off the platters at the annual Harvestswallow banquet and Lady Applefleck's hair had turned green while she was switching her maid, Garth had observed Katryn's suspicious behaviour. It was obvious to him that something was changing within her and that she was causing the sorcerous happenings, that she was blossoming into a practitioner of the Craft.
And it couldn't have escaped the notice of the Baron either because within a few weeks two unusual visitors came to the manor. Levan was a huge dark man in his fifties, muscled and scarred like the swordsman he patently was. Lena though was a breathtakingly attractive woman with honey-blonde hair, slightly above middling height but with a lush womanly body that begged for and received male attention. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties but her sparkling green eyes seemed older and wiser. In public, she treated Levan with a somewhat intimate fondness but still as her servant. Garth was certain that she was a Craftswoman.
He knew nothing of the Craft beyond what everyone knew. It was a type of sorcery, exclusive to women, which gave its users magical control over the natural world. When it was discussed by Garth's male colleagues, it was always in a spirit of mistrust although the legendary beauty of Craftswomen and their renowned yet fatal lust often featured in his fantasies.
And Lena fit his idea of a Craftswoman perfectly with her physical perfection and inviting attitude coupled to her confident controlling manner. Garth noted the time she spent with Katryn and reasoned that the guests were here to whisk her away to learn the Craft properly. He resolved to follow his love no matter where she went.
Which was why he had been waiting one Fannisday evening, saddlebags packed, when they had stolen into the stables at the dead of night.
"What do you want, boy?" Levan had challenged him once he was discovered.
"I saw you getting ready to go today. I, I want to come with you," he blurted out. "I want to protect you," he said more quietly, glancing up at a furious Katryn who was wearing practical and tight-fitting riding clothes which accentuated her slender frame and spectacular bosom.
Katryn's laugh was harsh and unkind. "And how exactly are you supposed to do that? You're nothing more than an ugly dirty stablehand with leering eyes. I've seen you watch me hungrily like a lecherous old man."
"It seems to me that you have a lot more than the Craft to learn, young woman," Lena firmly interposed. She looked up at Levan who, after a significant pause, nodded. "It's agreed, you will come with us," she said to Garth.
"What! No! He's just going to get in the way," Katryn hissed with passion, staring at Garth with hatred.
His feelings torn between joy that he would be going with Katryn and distress at her obvious contempt for him, he continued to saddle his pony.
And so now he followed his travelling companions as dusk arrived, his eyes fixed on Katryn's shapely arse although the disapproving set of her back made his cheeks burn with an indignant shame. He had loved Katryn from an early age, when they were still allowed to play together. And he had continued to love her from afar as she had grown into a beautiful young noblewoman, tall and full breasted with coppery ringlets of hair and limpid blue eyes. She had not shown any friendliness towards him for many years but then nor had she shown any of the loathing he could feel from her now. He knew that he wasn't an attractive young man, somewhat overweight, if still fit and strong, but it particularly hurt to be called ugly by the woman he loved.
As the sun started to crest the horizon, Levan pulled them off the road into a hidden clearing in a thick copse where they made a camp.
"Why are we travelling during the night? From whom are we hiding?" Garth asked Lena as Levan obscured their tracks and concealed the horses from the road.
"There are a cabal of sorcerers known as the Mannish Reapers who love nothing better than to capture and enslave potential young Craftswomen using a brutal sexual ritual. Levan and I are known to them as a recruiting team and so to avoid recognition, we will take back roads and travel by night until we reach our destination."
"Why can't we just use the Craft to hide ourselves or fight them if they attack us?" Katryn asked Lena respectfully.
"Excessive use of the Craft is like a beacon to them, child. You must learn that it is only to be used when necessary and there is always a price to play," she added cryptically.
"And where are we going?" Garth inquired.
"Why the hell did you come if you don't where the fuck we're going?" Katryn heatedly interrupted.
"There is no need for incivility, Katryn," Lena said, her calm voice still managing to be full of rebuke and disappointment for her ward. "Garth is with us for a very good reason. He has loyalty to you and friends one can trust are invaluable to all, Craftswomen included." She continued, "Also, Garth will be very useful as part of your training, as you will soon find out."
Katryn didn't say anything but looked up at Garth in disgust, her pretty face marred with barely controlled anger for the servant.
Lena turned to Garth, "We are going to Fanu Bataru, young man. This is the citadel where Katryn will learn the Craft and the spiritual home of my calling. It is four to five months' journey to the North-West of Fenceley in the land of Great Clench."
They prepared and ate a meal with nothing more than banalities despite the numerous questions Garth had; he rightly sensed that Katryn would explode at him again if he said anything and Lena wasn't in a particularly garrulous mood.
Eventually Lena stood up. "We will have to learn how to sleep during the day to make better speed at night. Get into your bedrolls and I will use a minor cantrip to aid your slumber."
As Garth waited for Lena to come to him he wondered what possible part he could play in Katryn's training. He also felt some apprehension about his first forthcoming brush with magic but when Lena came to him she sat down next to him smiling reassuringly.
"You mustn't worry about Katryn's hostility. She's very scared right now because of the changes happening to her. She will come to respect and care for you with time," she said. Garth gave a tight nod of thanks for her kind words. "And don't worry, this won't harm you at all," she reassured him. She bent over him, her impressive cleavage swelling from her riding top and lightly kissed him on the forehead. He fell asleep immediately with the view of Lena's perfect tanned bosom lingering in his mind
When he woke it was starting to darken again, although the campfire was throwing a flickering light around the clearing. He sat up, surprised that he had slept so long. There was no-one else there. For a second he thought his companions had abandoned him but their bedding and packs were still nearby and he could hear the horses whickering. He could also hear female voices through the trees. He stood up and made his way towards them.
Not wanting to interrupt the conversation, he carefully approached until he could see Katryn and Lena sitting side-by-side on a fallen log. There was no sign of Levan. He decided to remain concealed in the trees.
"So why did it come on me so suddenly?" Katryn was asking.
