You follow the path into the forest. After a
little ways beneath the dim trees, the path forks again.
To the right, the way wends through trees until it is
lost in darkness. To the left, the way seems a little less
dark. You choose to go left.
After perhaps an hour of walking, you are
hungry, thirsty, and beginning to get tired. The path
seems to be unused - it's covered in damp leaves. What
sky you can see through the tree branches above you is
dim and misty; the light seems like that of a full moon.
A hundred feet further on, and the light
seems to be that of pre-dawn. The trees seem to be
thinner here as well...
You hear a sound behind you - a rhythmic
rustling thumping of leaves. A horse is galloping down
the path toward you, though when you look, you see
nothing.
A sudden unreasoning fear grips you, and you run.
The trees become thinner still, and you stumble
out into a clearing. No, not a clearing - a river bank.
A covered bridge extends across the water, and on the far
side, you can just barely see some sort of building.
The sound that has been following you
suddenly materializes - a large black horse is bearing
down on you from behind. You throw yourself to the side
just in time. As you get up, you look toward the horse,
and you see the rider.
The rider wears a 18th century cavalryman's
uniform, and brandishes a saber, and has no head.
You stare in shock, backing up against the
entrance of the covered bridge as the horseman comes
around for another pass.
A hand grabs your shoulder from behind
and pulls you backward. At the same time, you are
nearly blinded by a bright light.
You hear the horse neigh. When you shield
your eyes and look, you see the horse rearing - then
it turns and the Headless Horseman gallops away.
"You're safe here," your mysterious
benefactor says. You realize that it is the Starherd,
and that there is a brilliant point of light balanced
on her fingertips. She sees you blinking in the light
and smiles, tucking the light into her robe. "...And
that's only a baby star," she comments.
You look back toward the path. "That...
that was the Headless Horseman," you stammer.
"Yes, it was," the Starherd says.
"But it - he's only a story!"
Starherd blinks at you, tilting her head
like she doesn't understand. "Isn't everything?"
She shrugs. "Don't worry, he has trouble crossing
running water, like a lot of spirits do. You look
rattled - come on, I'll get you some tea."
|
