The Dark Omens Trilogy - Book One - The Erlking
an excerpt

It wasn’t a night out of the ordinary, nothing unusual, nothing circumspect, it was a night like any other which was apparent by the complete absence of thunder, lightning or fog. In his tiny house, built into the foot of a great tree, Dillum got himself ready for bed. It had been a long, hard day and as it would be the same again tomorrow it did not pay to go to bed too late. He removed his tunic, folded it neatly, carefully picked some lint off it and admired it briefly before placing it in his little wardrobe. He climbed into his bed and slid under the covers into a world of warmth and calm, his overworked bones sighing with relief.
There was a loud knock at the door. Dillum pulled his sheets around him tighter, whoever it was and whatever they wanted could wait until tomorrow. The knock came again even louder suggesting that, in fact, it couldn’t wait. Dillum muttered to himself and clambered out of bed much to the complaint of his bones and made his way down stairs to the door that was still being fiercely thumped. He lifted the locked latch and threw the door open in one fluid movement causing it to bang up against the wall. The visitor jumped back startled, then with seemingly little time to waste composed himself, looked over his shoulder and hurried into the house.
‘Are you alone?’ the man hissed, looking around the room, his wide eyes darting to every corner.
‘Rebis, what is this about? Don’t you realise what time it is?’ Dillum asked, but the man didn’t appear to be listening to him. Rebis turned to the open door horrified, ran over and slammed it shut then pulled himself up to the doors small window and inched the curtain to one side and peered out into the night. Dillum watched his friend worriedly and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Rebis turned quickly grabbing Dillum by his wrist, his pale gaunt face starting at him uncertainly.
‘It’s me Rebis,’ he spoke softly ‘it’s Dillum. Are you okay?’ Rebis gave a strained smile to his friend and shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He slumped to the floor.
‘He’s dead.’ He whispered and then fastened his hands over his mouth as soon as the words had gotten out. Tears escaped and ran down his cheeks over his trembling fingers. Dillum crouched down and took hold of Rebis’ hands, bringing their faces next to each other.
‘Who? Who do you think is dead?’
Rebis’ hands trembled and his mouth quivered as he opened it to speak.
‘The Watcher.’