Almost The End

Sometimes the world waits, as though expecting something. There is something tense, poised about it. Geffin could feel it��� something tense about the world around him. As though something was there, crouched behind the bushes either side of the road or hidden in the woods beyond and deep inside its dark shadows under the heavy late spring foliage.

The world itself was verdant, the frequent spring rains and slightly warmer weather turning what had been short stubby winter undergrowth bursting up towards the new sunlight.

If he were still a farmer, Geffin would be pleased with the way the world was growing. Now he was a soldier all he saw in the new green spread wide and high around him on either side of the road were places for the enemy to hide, places of ambush.

The lack of birdsong worried him too.

The stillness.

He pulled his horse up, raising his hand so the gossiping and chatting men behind him fell silent.

Melore rode up beside him. ���What?���

���The quiet.���

Melore was a city boy. ���What about it? The country is always quiet.���

Geffin stood in his stirrups, his eyes scouring the hillsides beyond the trees, then the shadowed woodland and back to the bracken, bushes and brambles at each side of the road. ���No, it isn���t.��� He turned to Melore. ���Not like this.��� His hand went to his sword pommel.

Melore���s eyes searched, looking for what Geffin had seen. ���What? There���s nothi���.��� The eyes widened as his hands clawed towards the arrow sprouting from his chest.

Geffin grabbed the other man���s reins, pulling the wounded Melore���s horse around alongside his mount. ���Back! He yelled to the staring shocked faces gathered there, now in front of him blocking the road.

���Turn! Back! Ride! Ambush!��� He had little idea of the words he yelled to the soldiers pulling, turning and swearing at their panicky horses as the arrows hissed down hard into them.

Two riders fell as the rest turned and galloped down the road away from the ambush. They rode right into the enemy horsemen waiting for them, trotting forward in line where the road was narrowest.

Geffin glanced behind, knowing there were more troops there waiting. Two more of his men fell, then a third, as the arrows poured down.

Geffin looked down as his thigh exploded in pain. He saw the arrow there, quivering. Blood spread and poured down his throbbing thigh.

Then his horse fell, an arrow through the eye.

Geffen landed hard in the drying mud, knowing then it was almost the end. Arrows fell around him like the sharp spring rains that had brought the winter world back to life.

Geffin knew then it was almost the end for him and that he would never see the summer.