Anthanasius and Siadhal pulled their men back into the forest as one group. Leaving the path to the west to escape an attack from the east carried its own risks and all present knew without saying that more enemy might await them at their rear. Accordingly those first into the forest scanned the forest trees above for any warning sign; the glint of moonlight on metal, recently broken branches, or a trampled path.


    They kept their vigilance at a peak for nigh an hour while moving in a nearly silent huddle. After that time their nerves wouldn’t hold the strain any longer which necessitated relaxing a little. They didn’t get sloppy, though, and still kept a sharp lookout and low voices. Having two hundred men moving through a forest at night, quietly, without light, in the correct direction, and keeping them and their horses as silent as possible while in their mental state challenged everyone. Each one knew the danger he could subject himself and his comrades to with a single false move.


    Soon Anthanasius left Siadhal in the rear while he made his way to the front and showed his face to those around him.


    “We must continue north and eventually east,” he said, for reaching Bronlum region required no more western travel.


    Those near him quietly spread the word to their sides and began a slow turn which made the moon shine more on their backs than the left side of their faces. Anthanasius wanted to guard his men’s retreat as he did back in Rowaton Forest a month ago but knew they required him in the front should an assault happen and troops need rallying. His stomach ached like when he left Agar though he didn’t know Luke’s fate. He tried to convince himself Luke could have been overlooked and walking among their number, but his heart didn’t believe it.


    Anthanasius assigned Siadhal charge of the rear. His known capabilities caused Anthanasius no anxiety from that quarter.


    A man approached him from the company and he turned eagerly from his rumination expecting to see Luke. His soaring spirit fell when he noticed someone else.


    “Siadhal said to inform you, sir,” he said, “hat everything’s quiet in the rear.”


    “Thank you.”


    The man turned to leave and a few seconds later Anthanasius asked the soldier next to him, “How far since we turned north?”


    “Perhaps a mile.”


    He nodded. His distraction took enough focus away already and he owed his focus to the men with him. He made the effort of noticing the ground beneath his feet and the feel of the air on his skin to draw himself out of an inward wallowing.


    The sky reached the deepest blackness of that night after they traveled several miles farther north. Anthanasius called a halt lest they start tripping on underbrush and lose vigilance from weariness.


    He passed the message around as he went to find Siadhal, “Get what rest you can with your weapons in hand; otherwise remain on guard. We’ll stay here ‘till near dawn.”


    “Any sign of Luke?” he asked when he reached Siadhal.


    “None.”


    He looked past Siadhal’s shoulder into the deep blackness behind them and stared wistfully.


    “You can’t go back, you know,” Siadhal said while placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder. Anthanasius nodded while still staring back to the south.


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    “An ambush while separated is an unlucky chance,” Siadhal continued. “But Luke is strong and clever; he may still be alright.”


    Anthanasius took a deep breath. “I know,” he said, “I’m still afraid for him after walking off the road straight into their ambush. But those thoughts do no good.”


    “The first sign of the ambush came after I went to look for him. We hadn’t heard anything before that and since we had no casualties it seems like we surprised them as much as they surprised us.”


    “That’s right,” Anthanasius said, visibly brightening and now looking at Siadhal. “He would have made some sound if he was wounded or captured. Perhaps he walked right through their line unknown to them or him. At the sound of the battle he would try to help us from behind then make his own way to Brownstone Castle to join us.”


    “I believe it. I can’t think that he is hurt,” Siadhal said.


    The men around them either lay on the forest floor, leaned against brush, or sat with friends to talk and keep a lookout.


    “You need rest,” Siadhal said. “Hopefully sleep so you don’t start worrying.”


    Anthanasius smiled and took one look back along their path. “You’re right. Wake me when you think appropriate.”


    Then he turned and walked more toward the center of the lounging soldiers so he could fully relax and found a hard piece of forest floor where he went to sleep.


    *****


    Siadhal woke Anthanasius at first light the following morning and sat down beside his companion.


    “Nothing of note during the night, sir. Everything is perfectly still like the forest should be.”


    Anthanasius sat up and looked around at his men. Ten score men rested in a thick part of the forest but he couldn’t see most of them as Siadhal awoke him first. Those who stayed up talking together in groups lay on patches of moss, flat on fallen trees, or with their backs against upright trees.


    “So quiet,” he said. “Probably quieter now than during the night?”


    Siadhal caught his meaning. “Staring around in a forest at night is less fun once you’ve been hunted in a forest at night.”


    Anthanasius returned his friend’s weary smile. “Thank you for arranging the guard. Any sign of Luke?” he asked cautiously.


    “None, sir. I do hope to meet up with him somewhere in Bronlum, though.”


    “Let us choose hope,” he said as he stood. “Let’s rouse the men to leave immediately. We’ll break our fast on the way.”


    “Do you find it strange, sir,” Siadhal asked after they walked for some time, “that the Shalmen haven’t come upon our rear yet?”


    Anthanasius didn’t answer for a moment. “Yes, I do,” he said finally. “I’ve been puzzling that over in my mind and can’t think of a reason why.


    “It’s almost like they weren’t stalking us, maybe guarding something instead, or trying to sneak up on someone else. Something to have their deeper attention,” Siadhal said. “I wish that they came across us in daylight.”


    “So we would have stood our ground?”


    “Assuredly. If Luke managed to slip through their ranks without him or them noticing it, it couldn’t have been hundreds as we are. I’m not blaming you for I would have done the same. Looking back from our relative safety it is easy to blame oneself for actions taken under fear.”


    Anthanasius remained in thought so Siadhal continued, “I can’t figure why they were in the forest in a number too small to be part of a main invasion.”


    “Are they moving south?” Anthanasius said half to himself. “Moving in small groups before assembling?”


    “Going south to surprise Rohalot?” Siadhal wondered aloud.


    “Surprise Rohalot perhaps,” Anthanasius followed. “One could arrive at Rohalot within a few days from here; sooner if he hurried.”


    “I think that unlikely,” Siadhal said. “If Semias is at the bottom of this he knows as well as anyone the love the people have for King Nigel. An attack on Rohalot would only solidify resistance and serve to strengthen Lord Marillac’s resolve. Indeed I have every confidence he is fit to take King Nigel’s place as leader of the repelling forces should it come to that. Sending us to Brownstone Castle is proof of his willingness to act without direct orders.”


    They walked another mile before either said anything. Siadhal broke the silence, “Do you Anticipate Lord Marillac sending men east to Rohalot?”


    Anthanasius gave a grim smile. “I don’t envy his position now. What a decision to have to make!”