•You guys are going to love this chapter. It must be, by far the best chapter I have ever written•

Five days before

Castle Araluen was a hive of activity. Servants scurried to and fro, carrying an array of objects such as pitchers of water and trays of refreshments for oversea dignitaries, fresh pillows and sheets, even different seized beds. The harbour at the river that was close to the majestic castle was a bustle of life and crowded to the brim. Ships of all kinds were docked there, mainly the terrifying wolf ships of the Skandian party.

The battle grounds were alive with the clash of steel on steel and the grunts of their wielder as they fought their opponent. Among the crash of steel and wood was also the deadly thrum of long bows and the ugly smack of a cross bow. The shooter held a most curios object. A smoother and more advanced cross bow that no one has ever seen before.

Ignoring the inquiring looks some of the other archers at the small range were giving him and the whispers that floated over to him, he focused on his task and slammed bolt after bolt into his target.

After all, sword fighting can only get me so far if I'm after a Nightrider, he thought. Though after a few more bolts went sailing into the the air and then slamming into the hay target, his thoughts were interrupted. A large hand soon sent him reeling forward, nearly causing him to loose a bolt into a throng of people not far away. He rounded onto his attacker. "Watch out you mindless idiot, you could have made me shoot someone!"

Laughter was the only thing met with his words. "Oh come of it Hal, I was only messing with you," Stig replied cheerfully. "Besides, its time." Hal needed no other urging besides those three words and his first mates sudden seriousness. Gathering what little things he had with him, he unloaded his crossbow and carried what little bolts he had left in his hand as he began to walk with Stig. Neither of the two friends said a word to each other on the way to their destination.

Entering the castle and quickly dropping off his things, Hal went with Stig to the throne room of the castle. The large room had taken to some very recent changes due to the arrival of the oversea dignitaries. A large oaken table had been set square in the center of the room, chairs lining its long sides. At the head of the table already in their seats, where the leaders of the allying countries that had agreed to come.

To the right was Emperor Shigeru with his chief military commander and a dozen of his Senshi warriors along with Lord Nimatsu and and a dozen of his Hassanu warriors. Across from the Nihon-Ja delegation were the Skandian sea wolves. Oberjarl Erak was accompanied with the Jarl's of all the wolf ships that had brought the other country leaders which included Gundar Hardstriker and his first mate along with Svengal. Hal and his Herons had been asked to come along by Erak in order to describe the details of what the Nightriders do at sea. Because of this, the entire Heron crew was present and gave slight nods to their skirl as he took a seat next to Gundar's second in command. Next to them was the Arridian Waiker Selethen along with the Bedulin Tribe leader Umar with some of their desert soldiers and warriors. Across from him sat King Sean O'Carrick and his royal company from Hibernia. At the very front of the table sat King Duncan along with his chamberlain standing behind him and his supreme army commander to his left while his daughter and her husband, Princess Cassandra and Sir Horace sat to his right. Standing off to the side and wrapped in his mottled green and grey cloak was Crowley, Commandant of the Araluen Ranger Corps.

Farther down the table sat the Barons of Araluens fifty fiefs along with their craft masters and several of their castle lords that have control of a castle in their fief. When all the chair scraping and shuffling of feet and papers quieted, King Duncan stood up to address those assembled.

"Thank you all for coming. Together we have united in a time of need when we and our people are faced with a threat that we not only understand but also cannot overcome alone. If we are able to find a pattern and a weakness to their attacks we have a chance at exploiting it and ending their raids on our lands and making our people feel safe once more." Sitting down he looked in the direction of Emperor Shigeru who spoke once the King had taken his seat.

"Nihon-Ja has been plagued by the Nightriders. They raid our villages until there is nothing left for them to see them through the winter and slaughter any man, woman or child that is unaware of their presence. Not only do they murder the innocent, they also leave a distinct mark carved close to or on their victim. The citizens of Nihon-Ja are suffering and no matter how hard my warriors try to follow or prevent any further attacks, they slip around them and cause more devastation. They learn and adapt, no trick or trap ever catches them twice or even once for that matter." Shigeru had a look of contained anger as he spoke of his people's suffering.

"Your not the only one Emperor. My people have been captured, tortured and even burned by the riders. Just last week I received word of one of our fishing villages that had a ship burned in the harbour with three bodies on board along with a distinct carving in the mast that was somehow untouched by the flames. Whoever or whatever these people are, they know things beyond our understanding and are not afraid to show it by using their skill on innocent people," King Sean said once Shigeru had finished.

"They may know a few tricks, but the sea isn't one of them. They've tried many of times to steal some of our wolf ships but fail each time. Though not without casualties, many of my sailors have lost their lives in their raids and it's something I won't forget when I come face to face with one of those devilish fiends." Growled Erak, his fellow sea wolves muttering in agreement. Battlemaster David spoke up in a curious tone, "If they are trying to steal some of your wolf ships Oberjarl, does this mean that they do not have ships of their own?"

"I'm no expert on the ships of the Nightriders Battlemaster, but I'm sure Jarl Hal will have an answer for you." Erak looked over at Hal as did everyone else, expecting an answer. "The Nightriders do have ships of their own," he said, his voice firm as it echoed across the vast hall, "but they are small and slow, posing little threat to anyone if they run across one." Selethen caught the sound of Hal's voice as he finished his statement. "But do you think something else Jarl?" He asked him. Hal nodded in agreement, "I do Wakir. I believe that the ships that me and my crew have seen are not ships at all, but decoys. Or even something more dangerous."

"Dangerous? You said not just a few minutes ago that they pose little threat," interjected Lord Nimatsu. "They are, physically no real danger to anyone at sea or maybe even at shore, but you have to think. From all that we do know about them is that they are cunning and clever. The raids on our ships and the sightings of their small ships may be a part of something bigger, a bigger picture that we are not seeing and by the time we do it may be to late to stop whatever it is." Hal looked around at the people present, seeing that his words had registered with them.

"Good observation Jarl Hal. It's one that won't be forgotten and kept in mind if we ever come across one of these ships that you speak off." King Duncan said as he nodded to the young skirl. "Their ships may be a future problem to think about but at this moment, we have little time to do so except the problems they cause now." Selethen said, looking at Umar for confirmation.

The Bedulin leader grunted in agreement and spoke up with a bitterness in his voice. "Not only are the Nightriders a threat themselves, but their creatures as well. War dogs swarm our deserts and attack anything that moves, killing and devouring it instantly. Never leaving anything more than the parts it doesn't like behind. I had a run in with one a few months back and had the unpleasantness to see its latest meal." Umar cringed at the memory as its sight came into view in his minds eye.

"Events in Araluen have been quite similar. The Nightriders attack anything from small farms to some of our most fortified castles. My Barons and their knights have been working tirelessly to run down the riders." King Duncan said. "Not only that but they evade our Rangers at every turn, leaving nothing for them to follow behind. Please correct me if I'm wrong Crowley."

"I'm afraid I can't your majesty," he said as he stepped away from where he had been standing to reveal himself so other could see him. Many of them jumped as they did not even know that he was there. "Almost all of my Rangers have returned from scouting out their fiefs to find not even a single trace of a Nightrider my lord." His face was grave and impassive as he spoke those words, a true counter look to his normal cheery attitude.

"What of the Rangers that haven't returned yet? Any word on their whereabouts?" Now Crowley looked uncomfortable, maybe even a little nervous as he answered his kings question. "Rangers Halt and Gilan of Redmont fief and there apprentice's have yet to return my lord. No word has been received by them." The Redmont delegation and the assembled Rangers farther along the table gave an almost inaudible stir of movement. Muttering to each other for a few seconds before falling into a nervous silence once more.

Stig looked up from where he was seated to the sandy haired Commandant and asked out of concern for Gilan, who was a friend to all the Herons. "How long should it have taken them?" Crowley looked at the Herons first mate, answering in a bland voice. "Redmont is one of the larger fiefs, taking maybe perhaps two or three days to do a full sweep of the fief, another three to ride straight to Castle Araluen, but even then they should have been here a few days ago."

Silence greeted his words as the amount of what he had said reached the others, but he wasn't done yet.

"Many of things could have kept them," he said, "Lets just hope that it was nothing bad."

•Okay, a so-so ending to this chapter, but I still like it. Hope you did too. The fb page I was talking about is now up and ready for ppl to like it. The link is-

http://facebook.com/weareauthorstogether

Any way, hope this made up for not updating in a while and as for all the mistakes in this chapter, I wrote most of it during my vacation so once I go back and edit the book, things will get better.

~SO•