Episode 23

Captain Hyde

Hyde opened the cinderbox, which poured forth its light.

He reached in and carefully placed the glyph, pushing it until it clicked.

The cinderbox hummed, and the glyph unfolded.

Hyde paused, his breath fogging, looking across the field towards the deer, who were moving into the trees. The stag looked back at him for a moment, then followed the herd into green leaves.

Hyde adjusted his backpack, and took a swig of the waterskin. He checked the map, took another bearing. His destination was straight ahead, halfway up the escarpment. He thought he could just make out the entrance to the cave.

Still, something was bothering him.

He didn’t believe in magic. Mummery and superstition. Something in the food they’d given him, or in the water. There had to be a rational explanation.

He signalled again.

Next episode: The Fog of War