As they passed the obelisk, a breeze sprang up. It was fresh and
cool and seemed
to carry a sweet scent with it. Fred felt invigorated and his pony too
walked with a lighter
step. Indeed, the entire group perked up as they ambled toward the birch
trees. Could a
simple breeze make him feel so good, Fred thought. Or was it the way the
sun had just
brightened, or perhaps it was the merry sound of birds that he hadn't
really noticed before.
Either way, the day had suddenly become...joyful.
Once they reached the three birch trees they would cross over into Salmonshire territory. Fred remembered what happened to them the last time they passed through that country and he wasn't looking forward to it. But at least now the path back to the dragon's cave would be straight on. No more detours. The trees were not very remarkable, Fred thought, and he wondered to what god the shrine was dedicated to. There was no alter or statue, nothing to mark the god or its followers. Fred assumed that the deity could not be of any great worth. But once they passed beyond the stand and into the grassy plain that spread upwards toward the rocky foothills of the Goth, Fred was suddenly shaken out of his mellow frame of mind. The wind died down, but the air became very cold. The sun darkened, though there were no clouds in the sky. And a hush fell over the local wildlife, as if whatever lived there did not want to be heard. But Fred knew it was out there. Waiting and watching. Fred turned back in his saddle for one last look at the shrine and for a moment thought that he could see someone standing there, gazing after them. But then the figure was gone. If it had ever been there. But one thing Fred felt certain of; whatever god lived beside that shrine, in the branches or roots of those birch trees, it had given him a moment of joy, bereft of care or worry. And for that Fred promised that one day he would return to that shrine and lay a wreath of evergreen upon the gnarled limbs of the birch trees.
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9/12/1999 7:00:28 PM
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