The Bridge of Fire

"It's time." The tone used was that of fear, there and then she knew it was going to be a long night. Walking through the corridors with an oil lamp, the servant made sure no one followed. As they took the turn leading to the secret door meant for emergency purposes, she felt like she was walking through hell. Holding the basket in her arms closely, she prayed for courage. The night was bare; they could see neither moon nor stars. It was unusual but it had happened before and such nights were becoming frequent. They made a beeline for the river through the forest. The hoots and howls of owls and wolfs were everywhere but neither came close. Reaching the river, the servant revealed some of the deep rooted mushrooms she had concealed in her leather pouch and placed them gently in the basket the mistress held. Chanting some words, the mistress dropped the basket in the fast flowing river while the servant prayed for it never to return. Turning to the servant she said "no one must ever know about this" "yes milady" was the reply and it came with a shudder. She was aware of what the servant feared: the unknown, she feared it too. What if they had unleashed a terrible darkness that would soon consume them all? Did they do the right thing? So engrossed were they in their thoughts, no one saw the pair of golden eyes gleaming in the dark directly opposite the river.