"Hehehe..."
A rough laugh drifted through the evening air as Kavin sat atop his horse near the crest of a grassy hill.
Below him, Timber Wood Village rested peacefully beneath the fading sunlight.
Thin trails of smoke rose from chimneys, winding lazily into the sky while the village was as empty as a matchbox without sticks.
From this distance, the village looked calm, ordinary, and completely unaware of the trouble descending upon it.
Kavin's eyes remained fixed on the settlement.
He possessed a broad frame and powerful physique, though not the bulky build commonly associated with warriors.
His muscles were lean and tightly packed beneath sun-tanned skin, giving him the appearance of a hunting beast rather than a soldier.
Short black hair sat messily atop his head, constantly disturbed by the wind blowing across the hilltop.
