[center][h2][b]Radford[/b][/h2][/center]

The forest had an eerie quietness leaving Radford on edge. His pet hawk, aloft looking for anything the Young Hawk may be interested in. Radford raised his right hand, elbow bent at a ninety-degree angle, halting the small group of lancers.

The trees in this area of the forest were sparse, more than twenty meters between trees. A thick undergrowth of bush was sparse and scattered, found more oft in the open areas. A brook, less than ten meters in width meandered from west to east. Radford had caught many trout in this brook during his youth. The smells of the forest filled the men’s nostrils and the sounds of wild birds chirping and whistling provided their invitation in their ears. But there was something not quite right about the forest today.

His eyes turned white as he entered another world, [i]‘the forest passed beneath him. He soared overhead looking down upon a dirt road; one formed years ago by his ancestors and those of Lord Ryger. As the hawk descended towards the road, he identified a column of soldiers on the march, heading in the direction of Ash Falls. Lord Rennault’s Host was marching on a collision course with this force. The Young Hawk could see the boar’s head banner in Ryger’s colors fluttering in the breeze as the force of more than a thousand trudged slowly along the road.

Two small groups of soldiers marched about two kilometers in front of the vanguard on either side of the road; both numbering about ten soldiers. They wore mail armor, steel spaulders, steel helms and armed with short swords and shields. They wore the colors of House Ryger. The Vanguard consisted of a small contingent of lancers; maybe fifty in number and over two hundred footmen. Another kilometer behind the vanguard were over a hundred archers and more than seven hundred footmen; most carrying swords, but a few carrying battle axes, but all dressed in Ryger colors. Another kilometer behind the main body was a force of 20 lancers and 20 heavy cavalry; knights dressed in plate armor covering the rear of the movement. The Young Hawk could see small vedettes of light cavalry posted on both flanks about a kilometer on either side. Their numbers were only about a half dozen.[/i]

Their presence and location were easily identifiable to the Young Hawk. He called for [i]Pecker[/i] to return. He looked at the other riders, relieved from his warg with [i]Pecker[/i]. “The host of our enemy is no more than five kilometers in front of us, heading this way. They will be at this spot in the forest in an about an hour and meet my lord father in about an hour and  a half.” Lord Radford spoke to the lancers around him. “They number about a thousand soldiers, with archers and light cavalry similar to our formation. We must get back to the Lord Kayne with all due haste.”

Lord Radford wheeled his charger around and galloped back along the route of march of Lord Rennault and Lord Kayne. The bird raced ahead of them. At a full gallop, the seven horsemen would reach Lord Kayne in under under five minutes.

[@LordLinguinie]