The scream tore through the morning air, its tone reaching deep inside every man gathered

in the
hollow, Leofric surged to his feet, spinning his sword in his grip so as to hold it before him. Instantly,
he saw that Helene was not in sight and that a soft greenish mist gathered at the lip of the hollow.
"Helene!" he yelled, running for his horse.
The men-at-arms stood transfixed in fear by the green glow at the top of the hollow, coils of mist
slithering down towards them. Another wailing scream, anguished and terrible, echoed from beyond
the hollow and the spell was broken, soldiers running for horses and gathering their weapons.
Leofric lifted his foot into the stirrup and hauled himself into his saddle, raking his spurs viciously
back and driving his mount onwards. A terrible fear gripped him, hot and urgent in his belly, as he
once again shouted Helene's name. Behind him, his squire struggled to catch up, the gold and red of
Leofric's banner waving crazily in the air.
The greenish mist sparkled with light and Leofric muttered a prayer of protection to the Lady as
he rode Taschen into its glittering depths. Hidden, spiteful laughter whipped around him, together
with something that sounded like the musical tinkling of an icy wind-chime.
"Come on, damn you!" he yelled, looking over his shoulder to ensure that his men-at-arms were
following. "Your lady is in peril! Make haste!"
His sword shone with a spectral light, its blade cutting through the mist with ease as Leofric felt
the ground level out beneath his horse. Ahead, he could faintly see the dark outline of the forest's
edge, the gnarled trunks of the oaks seeming to close ranks as he charged towards the source of the
screams.
"Helene!" he shouted, circling his horse and riding up and down the length of the treeline.
"Helene! Can you hear me?"
Leofric heard the muffled thump of hoof beats and turned as he saw Baudel and the men-at-arms
riding towards him.
"Spread out!" yelled Leofric. "Ride along the forest's edge and do not stop until you find her!"
Baudel nodded, but before any of the soldiers could begin the search, another scream sounded,
this time beyond the trees, echoing from inside the forest. Leofric turned his horse once more and felt
his flesh chill as he saw a splash of fresh blood on a tree trunk.
"Oh n o . " he whispered. "The forest has her."