The horses cantered off through the forest, bearing their cargo of woodfolk. Once well inside the trees, they slowed to a walk and the nervous woodfolk on their backs sat up carefully and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Golden Toad, you are safe now,” called Creaking Bough quietly from astride a large roan. “Just hold on for a while longer and we will take you down and get those chains off you.”
The horses carried them further into the forest, but every ten minutes or so, they would stop beneath a large tree and mill around pointlessly for a few minutes before once more setting off. Eventually, they brought the woodfolk into a large clearing deep within the forest canopy. The horses came to a halt and stood quietly, facing a tall young sorcerer with glowing golden eyes and long black hair. G
