Eckardt’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, catching a glimpse of the pale grey sky. His breathing was shallow, his body was numb and blood oozed from a wound under the clump of wet rags, piled below his neck. The ranger in black armor dragged Eckardt’s body across the snow in a crude sleigh made of gnarled branches.
For the first time in a long time the Mighty Oak was scared. More painful than his wound, was the fact that his captor had so easily bested him. It took only a matter of minutes, the speed and ferocity of which, had left Eckardt defeated not just physically but mentally as well.
Beneath a leather mask the dark ranger spoke to his victim while black whispers wove threads of terror into the man’s utterances as if the creature commanded two voices at once.
“Though nothing would give me more pleasure than laying you out in the new fallen snow, your Grandmaster is much more precious to me. He will come for you, and I will be waiting,” the dark ranger growled while scending the mountain with his prisoner in tow.
Eckardt fought to block the feeling of despondence creeping in, as this Servant of the Dark’s hateful words echoed off the frozen bark, “He will come for you, and I will be waiting”. The words slithered into the inner recesses of Eckardt’s mind taking root.
This whole time The Order had thought themselves clever. The Grandmaster had sent Eckardt off to hunt down the dark ranger, though now it was clear Eckardt was the one being hunted. Falling prey to his own mark.
What vile machinations this hateful creature had in store for The Order or himself, Eckardt knew not. He knew only that he must find a way to warn them. By now The Grandmaster would be wondering why his emissary had not returned and already have the others searching for him.
With all the strength Eckardt could muster, he opened his eyes once more, trying to spot a landmark or any indication of his whereabouts. Instead, all he managed to see was the pale grey sky, a little darker than before. Nightfall was upon them. The Mighty Oak’s strength quickly waned, and his eyes closed once more as he drifted into unconsciousness.
