Clevatess, the lord of beasts of the south

Klen stands dripping among the reeds on the far bank, alone beyond the crossing. Behind him, the goblin trader remains with his barge and struggling mules as the river carries the fugitive's trail away.

Clouds part overhead. Moonlight spills across the wet reeds, and a faint silver mark glimmers briefly beneath Klen's skin before narrowing into a silent point toward the south.

The riverbank stretches into black reeds and low willow shadows. Water drips from Klen's clothes while the current mutters behind him, concealing every sound from the ford.

Then horns sound far downstream, deep and measured. Their echoes travel along the bank, followed by the distant rhythm of riders moving through mud.

The riders have not seen Klen. Their lanterns remain hidden beyond a bend, while the silver glow beneath his skin fades and leaves only moonlight on the reeds.

Klen bursts from the reeds as the riders round the bend. The nearest is a broad-shouldered adult man in muddy iron plates, a blue scarf, and a lantern hooked beneath his saddle.

Before the rider can turn, Klen drives his foot into the man's side. The impact tears him from the saddle, and he crashes into the wet bank with a startled cry.

The freed horse rears and its lantern swings wildly, throwing broken gold across the mud. Klen lands hard beside the fallen rider, scraping his palm on a buried stone.

Two other mounted figures wrench their reins toward Klen, hooves churning the bank. Their startled horses block the fallen rider from immediate pursuit, while alarmed horns answer downstream.

Klen plants one foot on the fallen lantern rider and stomps down repeatedly. Mud splashes his boots as the rider’s cries collapse into silence.

The lantern rider lies motionless beneath the swinging lantern, his blue scarf darkened by rain. Klen’s scraped palm opens again against the stone, leaving a bright smear across his skin.

The other riders recoil, then shout toward the downstream patrol. Horns answer at once, louder and closer, while the freed horse bolts into the reeds.

Klen has silenced the lantern rider, but the cost is immediate: every rider on the bank now knows his exact position, and torchlight begins gathering beyond the bend.