SELENAThe night air, frigid and smelling of pine and damp earth, rushed past my face, a continuous, biting curtain that kept me utterly awake, utterly present. The foot of horses slammed on the road, the rhythmic, heavy thudding of hundreds of iron-shod hooves against the hardened path creating a low, drumming vibration that traveled up through the horse’s muscle and into my bones, a primitive, urgent soundtrack to our march. Above us, the high canopy of the forest swallowed the weak, scattered light of the stars, plunging the road into near-total darkness that was only broken by the intermittent, bobbing glows ahead. Each warrior had a small, focused touchlight strapped on his head, or perhaps a lantern affixed to the bridle, creating a dizzying, dancing constellation of moving lights that illuminated the path in fragmented, hurried bursts. Every horse was energetic, taut with anticipation and the sheer will of the riders, and the occasional burst of speed saw the darker shapes of w
Last Updated : 2025-11-22 Read more