The landscape that they traveled through remained largely unchanged, as the litany of trees, hilly terrain, wide forest creeks, and narrow streams continued.
Majestic oaks allowed considerable sunlight to reach the forest floor, resulting in the flourishing of ferns, violets, and other types of plants low to the ground. Tall beeches, with their smooth gray surfaces, heralded the presence of minimal undergrowth beneath their ample, thick-shading canopies. Beautiful hazel trees with their dangling, cylindrical flower clusters, hardwood ash trees, and great pines were just some of the other types of woodland sentinels populating the area that they walked through.
The signs of animal life were minimal, confined primarily to a few more sightings of the strange, tree dwelling mammals that seemed to be prevalent to the region that they were traversing.
There were also a number of rather ordinary birds, of kinds much more familiar to Lee’s eyes. The diminutive sparrows emitting their sustained chirping, the blackbirds with their eyes ringed in yellow, and a few warblers, grey-backed with reddish undersides, were all witnessed by Lee as they hiked through the woodlands.
The birds were largely resting among the branches of the trees, sending their various calls out through the peaceful forest air. Lee passed the time by watching a few of them alighting upon, or taking off from, the living roosts. He watched them dart and glide amongst the trees, with some lifting out of sight on a climb skyward.
The afternoon slowly dissolved as the shadows lengthened, announcing the approach of the early stages of evening. By that time, it seemed to Lee as if his body was being sapped of energy with every passing moment. He had begun to envy Ryan and the two girls, who possessed natural, extra reservoirs of youthful stamina.
Yet despite the youth of the other three, all things were not equal in relation to their various conditions. Ryan and Lynn were holding up to the trek very well, while Erin now appeared to be toiling just to keep moving forward.
Just as Lee was about to call for an extended halt, for both his sake and Erin’s, they finally came upon a break in the trees and brush. They had just skirted around the base of yet another one of the ubiquitous, forested hills that dominated the region that they were passing through. The denser foliage gave way fairly abruptly, as an entirely new, magnificent vision was unveiled before them.
A series of very low, grassy hills undulated in what was essentially a broad, rolling plain, broken up only by pockets of brush strewn randomly about. The low waves in the sea of windswept grasses spread out to the farthest edges of their vision.
“Progress, I hope,” Ryan remarked, as the four of them looked out over the markedly different terrain.
“And maybe danger,” Lynn quickly returned, not looking very confident at the significant change in geography.
Lee could not blame Lynn’s apparent misgivings, as the new territory offered its own set of daunting concerns. It was considerably more open and exposed, especially if they were to try to walk out into it.
They would easily be visible for miles around, especially to any eyes watching from a higher vantage point. It was not lost on Lee that all four in the group had already witnessed formidable flying entities traversing the skies of this strange world.
Yet there was no imminent threat in view, or even a remote sign of danger. A very large, heavy-bodied bird with a substantial wingspan, chestnut-breasted with a white underside, flew calmly over the grassy surface, showing no apparent urgency in its easygoing flight.
Erin slumped down to the ground at the edge of the trees, breathing heavily as the others hesitated. Her body had been taxed to a much greater extent than the others had been. She looked to be genuinely grateful for the stop, rather than for any notable change in geography.
Lee stood silently, peering off towards the distant horizon, looking carefully to both sky and ground. He slowly dropped to one knee, and placed his hand upon the ground.
He had intended to simply brace himself, resting a little as he stared out over the open expanse. Yet something tugged at his instincts almost instantly, as his palm connected with the land.
He felt that there was something faint under his hand, like a barely perceptible tremor, though it was not strong enough for surety. A frown crossed his face, his expression swiftly growing pensive. There was not enough in the feeling coming from beneath his palm to convince him, but the foreboding sense prevented him from dismissing it outright.
“Let’s go!” Ryan said from behind Lee, taking a couple of steps forward.
Lee shook his head curtly, snapping his hand up to get Ryan to halt when the youth had reached his side. The young man was just a couple of steps away from leaving the cover of the trees.
Lee said emphatically, “There’s something here. Let’s pull back behind the trees for now… at least while we rest.”
Ryan groaned in frustration, as the others walked back a few strides, deeper into the cover of the trees. They waited in silence, hungry and tired, for nearly an hour.
Even if Lee could not say exactly what it was, he was increasingly certain that something was amiss. All of his instincts screamed out to him to heed his caution and stay away from the open ground.
Lee continued to feel the vibrations in the earth beneath, soon perceiving that they were growing stronger. It was clear from their moods that Lynn and Ryan were becoming quite restless, although Erin was still weary enough to value the extended respite. Lee had just begun to ponder whether his mind was playing tricks on him in his fatigued state, when their eyes were all suddenly drawn towards one of the low, grass-blanketed hills off to the right.
A light thumping sound, in a conspicuously galloping rhythm, filled their ears and grew steadily louder. Lee gestured urgently for all of them to get down and press their bodies to the ground.
There was no argument from any of the others as they hurriedly lay down flat upon the hard earth. Lee’s heart leaped and pounded, and he doubted that any of the others had a slow heartbeat in the sharply heightened anxiety of the moment. The rumbling beats swelled, the vibrations under Lee becoming ever more prominent. His eyes remained locked on the plains before them.
About a minute later, a number of mounted riders burst into full view.
Lee drank in the startling sight, spellbound at what he saw. Stunned, Lee stared at the throng of figures, taking in their strange appearances.
The riders were sitting in wood-framed saddles, astride horses of a strong, muscular build. Most of the riders were armed with long lances, the spear-blades featuring iron lugs at their bases that jutted straight out to the sides.
Near to the lead of the group was a rider bearing a special lance, to which a wedge-shaped pennon was affixed. The pennon was of alternating blue and gold stripes, with a fringe of red tassels lining the curving outer edge. It flapped vigorously as it cut through the air above the galloping riders.
All of the riders wore long cloaks, pinned at the right shoulder. Round shields of various colors were slung over their backs, suspended from leather straps. Iron bosses glinted in the daylight where they protruded from the middle of the large shields.
The riders’ heads were protected in a variety of half-helms. Some were of a rounded type, with chain mail aventails affixed to extend the wearer added neck protection. Others were of a more crested profile, protruding slightly in the rear. A few were crafted of segmented iron plates, with descending nasal guards in front.
The riders’ upper bodies were clad in coats of mail, and a few wore chain mail chausses, providing additional protection on their thighs down to the tops of their knees.
A bearded rider just ahead of the pennon-bearer suddenly raised his sword high, drawing Lee’s attention. Sunlight gleamed off the golden inlay on the hazelnut-shaped pommel and short, straight quillons. Long locks of dark hair whipped around from where they flowed out from the base of his half-helm, as the sword-wielder cried out loudly to the others, eliciting a spirited shout in response.