The Contention Read Online Free

from where he had been left, drawing the boy’s attention. Seeing his quarry turn and register the sound, Mordal quickly began to turn the crank on his weapon. As the boy again turned to locate this new sound, he abruptly went down in a heap, seemingly struck by the first arrow. As a result of this the rest of the shots flew above his fallen corpse to the mount he rode in on. Then something completely unexpected happened that even a trained assassin such as Mordal had never before witnessed.
    With blood pouring from several wounds, the great white mount reared up on its hind legs. With a snort it leaped over its fallen rider and came thundering across the river at an amazing speed. Though the charger had not registered Mordal, as his blessing made him all but invisible, the beast nearly trampled him causing him to dive out of the animal’s path at the last instant. He cursed loudly as several bolts spilled from the hopper on his weapon. Fortunately the great white charger had another target already picked out, and so did not turn to face him having heard him curse.
    Fitting his weapon back to his shoulder, Mordal took aim once again as the charger met his stallion upon the field. With hooves and teeth the great white war horse began its assault on his black stallion, and for a moment Mordal let his beast take the abuse. Had the animal kept its mouth shut neither of them would be in this predicament. However, even if his beast deserved the beating, he needed the animal. Turning the crank to his gnomish device, Mordal unloaded more than a dozen rounds, careful to spare his stallion any injury. Watching as the great white beast reared back, blood gushing from seemingly everywhere, Mordal witnessed it letting loose a pitiful scream before crumpling back upon its hind legs and thrashing about the ground blindly as its lifeblood pooled upon the soil.
    Finally Mordal had found a messenger, though to receive payment he would need to collect the boy’s medallion and his coin purse for good measure. Collecting the bolts that had fallen from his weapon, Mordal stood, leaving his mount where it was, to go and collect the spoils of his trade. However, this night was turning out to be quite aggravating as the boy was not where he had fallen. It appeared Mordal would have to do some tracking, to which he smiled, for never in his career had a target escaped him for very long.
    Excited by the thrill of the hunt, Mordal relinquished his magical camouflage and strode to the edge of the river to discern whatever details he could of the boy’s escape.
     
    *****
     
    Darion ducked beneath a portion of the far bank that had become washed out by the river’s slow current. This time of year the water was incredibly cold with the head waters filtering down from the mountains to the north, where winter had already staked its claim. With his teeth chattering and body shivering, Darion crouched within the small confines of his chosen hiding place and found himself in a terrible predicament. In order to entirely conceal his body, Darion was forced to kneel in the small depression in the bank, tilting his head back and leaving only his face exposed above the slow, icy cold waters. So small was the space that the roots of the vegetation above actually rested upon his face as he hid. For fear of giving away his location to the unseen attacker, Darion opened his mouth wide to keep his teeth from chattering. However, as roots dangled into his mouth, and flecks of soil fell into his throat, he was forced to fight his gag reflex. What was worse, with no way to see or hear his attacker, Darion had no idea how long he would need to wait within the icy waters, nor how long he would be able to do so. However it was not a long wait before the roots resting upon his face sagged nearer his flesh, and dirt began raining down upon him and into his mouth. Darion froze in realization, so fearful of being discovered he dared not even breathe, as his attacker was now