The Curse
an excerpt

The night was quiet and far off in the distance strange calls of the nocturnal animals can be heard. The long grass swayed in the gentle wind that blew over the land. A man adorned with a long cape and shining suit of armour galloped past with his horse and stopped near a great oak tree that grew next to the cobbled road. The man dismounted the horse; he wiped the dark blood from his sword and sheathed it. He went down on his knees between the tangled roots.
“It’s safe to come out now Gabrielle, they are gone now.” The man said in the direction of the hole which is dug at the bottom of the tree between the roots. There was a rustling and from the hole a ginger coloured rabbit appeared with white paws and grey tips to its ears.
“Oh thank you once more Edward, I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t show up to chase those foxes away.”
Edward stroked the rabbit’s head with his finger.
“You know by now Gabrielle, I protect my lands and anything that lives in it. Someday the time may come that we all must stand together and protect it.”
“You have my word King Edward, when that day comes I will be at your service” the rabbit gave a small bow and Edward mounted his horse again and galloped off into the direction of the dark shape which is the castle.
She sat at the opening of the hole when a raven landed next to her and ruffled his feathers.
“Hello again Denis, thanks for calling Edward to come and help, I owe my life to you.”
“Oh Gabrielle, I’m just glad you are all right now. Is Christine safe too?”
“Yes thank you Denis all is well now thanks to Edward, well I’m off to bed now Denis, I’ll see you tomorrow”
“Good night then Gab sleeps tight.” Gabrielle climbed back into her hole and Denis lingered a moment longer before returning to his nest high in the oak tree’s branches.