Night Song Part one: The gathering

[Desertrising]

In a distant land a song shall rise. It will come from the mouth of midnight and its wail shall disturb the dead. This song shall be known as the Night Song.

Arathian Legend

Solomon gathered his great coat about him as a sudden and chill wind made its way across the forest lined path he currently walked along. He had no desire to be out this evening, nor any other evening if the truth be told, but the master had made his desire for the message to be delivered this very evening clear. So here he was, walking in the brisk autumn night and longing for the warmth of his bed.

Not only did Solomon not like traveling about the path's of the woods at night, he had no particular love of walking period. In fact he had so little love for walking that his frame had grown rather large and even the most routine of exercise caused his breathing to become labored. Now he huffed his way wearily down a path that led to the house of the Comden family with a message about whose contents he had not the slightest clue.

When he had first been tasked with delivering the notice, he had begged the master to send anyone else. Surely there was someone better suited for the task he argued. Yet his pleas fell on hears of stone and his master merely insisted in his quite and firm way that always meant the end of the conversation. So defeated Solomon had taken the sealed envelope and departed into the night. Now here he was, his feet tired, his lungs aching and each and every part of his being set in with a deep cold.

Suddenly Solomon heard the sharp snap off in the woods and froze in place the sound of wind and his heart the only things his straining ears could discern.

"Hello!" Solomon called out into the night his voice full of trepidation "Is someone there?"

His heart in his throat Solomon waited for several seconds before again moving along the path. However, no sooner had he taken a step then the sudden light of flame, shortly followed by the distinctive glow of a lantern lit up the path just as a pyre would light a cathedral. Solomon stopped again and saw that holding the lantern was a shabbily dressed man with a pistol pointed in his direction.

"Aye my fine friend" said the stranger his voice full of unexpressed menace "There is someone here. In fact there is someone all around you."

Without thinking the pudgy man took a step away from the threat of the man and his pistol only to feel himself bump into another form that as quick as he could think wrapped his heavy frame in iron strong arms.

"Oh no you don't" Said a low voice whose smell made Solomon think of both a refuse heap and tavern at the same moment "You won't be runnin' away just yet."

"I d-d-don't have any money." Solomon stammered as the man with the lantern and pistol drew closer.

The man drew closer a dark smile on his face given an almost supernatural appearance from the lantern "Either you do or you don't, but you still have clothes that will fetch a fine price in Westover."

"But I could freeze to death without clothing on a night like this." Solomon protested.

Suddenly the man with the pistol laughed. However, this laugh was not one of humor, but a laugh of sheer malice. "I doubt the cold will be what kills you tonight."

Solomon attempted to struggle against the man that held him, however he knew before he even began that his captor was far stronger than he. Desperation crawled into his throat and a wail escaped it resounding with fear.

Shaking his head, the man with the gun stepped close enough that Solomon could feel his fetid breath blast his panicked face. "Screaming won't do you no go friend, this is night and the night belongs too..."

Suddenly it appeared to Solomon that his tormentors forehead grew a large red colored third eye. Then almost as suddenly he felt the man who held him grasp weaken. These observations were then followed by the familiar retort of gunpowder charges. Standing numb and unmoving Solomon watched as the man in front of him swayed slightly and then finally crumpled onto the ground.

As he felt the man who had grabbed him slump to the ground as well Solomon instinctively drew his great coat closer to his pudgy frame and held still as a rabbit caught in light. It was not long before he heard the sound of approaching footsteps behind him. Without a word and hardly a breath Solomon turned his bulky frame toward the direction of the footsteps and saw two figures with muskets aimed in his direction carefully making their way to where he stood.

The two figures approached slowly and when they got within speaking range the larger of the two spoke from the partial concealment of the lantern lit darkness. "We wish you no ill will if you are a friendly traveler on these roads."

Solomon silently nodded his head his being a jumble of hope and fear. He then watched silently as the two figures came closer. The first to come within the light was a broad shouldered man whose strong featured face remained partially hidden beneath the hood of his cloak. The other Solomon could discern little about other than he was much shorter than his friend.

"What brings a man such as yourself out into this night?" The larger one asked.

"I am delivering a message to the Comden manor." Solomon replied shakily.

The man raised his eyebrow slightly "It must be important for your master to send you out on such a cold night." he said.

Solomon merely nodded his assent and remained silent. For several moments the man seemed to stand still then a curt nod and a motion to his companion. "Xandria, it appears we have a direction this evening."

The smaller of the two figures moved closer and Solomon saw the delicate chin and full lips of a women. "Aye," she said "it seems as if we do Peter."

"Very well then, before we go might we have your name good sir?" inquired Peter.

"Solomon, Solomon Wilson, servant to the lord Matheson." he replied bowing slightly.

"Well Solomon, we should get a move on, I would hate for such an influential man blame me for the freezing death of one of his servants."

Solomon nodded and with a motion from Peter began to make his way along the path with his two saviors walking along side of him...