Serafina and the Black Cloak

Near the carriage, it is too dark to see. The four horses hitched to the carriage grow nervous at the sound of the wind in the trees, and the front team rear up. Braeden calms them with his soothing voice and hands, which fascinates Serafina. Suddenly Mr. Crankshod and young Nolan, the other coachman, appear from just ahead on the road where a large tree lies, blocking it. Braeden thinks they are in Dardin Forest, a place near the old, abandoned village. Serafina points out that the tree blocking the road appears chopped down. Things then happen in quick succession: Gidean barks, a tree falls and blocks the road behind them, the horses panic, and Braeden calms them again. While Mr. Crankshod hacks away at the first tree, Serafina and Gidean watch the woods, becoming allies. Serafina, though, enters the woods to hunt whatever presence she is certain is there. She soon tracks a man who begins running through the woods toward the carriage. She hollers a warning to Braeden, who turns just in time to see and sidestep the attacker. He, Nolan, Gidean, and Serafina all try to fight off the attack.