Zeydrick
With the three moons high in the dark sky, slivers of bronze, yellow, and a glowing light blue the eyes of the gods, our boots crunched through the thin layer of ice to sink into the snow. The pines hid our approach as we slipped closer to the city-camp, closing in from the mountains. Duras had left us after showing us the trailhead he’d found during his scouting, returning to the soldiers to start the clock for our distraction.
Euri crept along just behind me, keeping his eyes on our back. Though we left tracks, we were confident no scouts from the Tolstal would be out at this time. While the cold did not affect Duras, Euri, Eyvindr, or myself, the mortals were different and the night chill was well below freezing.
Once at the edge of the pine forest, we crouched and waited, watching the rear of Tolstal Hall. After an hour of silence, our bodies still as chiseled stone, a candle appeared in a window. The curtains were pulled away and the shutters pushed opened. A moment more and the tiny flame winked out.
The signal.
Euri and I moved in unison, dashing across the snow, our steps barely touching the snow and leaving no trace of our passing. Slowing my steps, I twisted and crouched, locking my hands together in front of me. Euri leapt, one foot in my clasped hands, and with my strength behind it, he leapt again, vaulting over the huge, spiked wooden trunks that created the barricade in the rear of the city-camp. I caught the sound of his boots tapping the wood on the other side, to slow his descent, and soften the sound of his landing.
Once I was certain he was over, I followed, using the trunks to lift myself through the barricade. Nimble as a forest cat, I navigated my way to the other side, landing softly on the other side of the barricade. Euri was already pressed against the back of the Hall, keeping watch. A glance around and I closed the distance with light steps.
Euri said nothing, simply nodded, and I locked my hands once more, my back against the Hall. The smaller Knight placed one foot into the crook, took a breath, and I hefted him up, feeling his muscles working to remain balanced and pushing himself up. With my height, it was an easy thing to get him to the second-floor window. He grabbed the windowsill and pulled himself up, through the window, and rolled onto the floor. I waited, my ears open, listening to the quiet steps of the Knights above.
After a moment, I heard a muffled cough above. Glancing up, I spied two figures leaning out the window and I held up my arms. Euri and Ev lowered a fur-wrapped bundle down into my arms. I barely felt the bundle’s weight as I took it from the Knights. Holding the bundle over one shoulder, I motioned for the Knights to follow.
Euri descended first, getting onto the windowsill, and gently lowered himself to my waiting arms. I bore his weight easily and set him on the ground. He moved to the side and Eyvindr came next.
Her cheeks were flushed as she straightened, tossing her blonde hair over one shoulder. In the dim lighting, she flashed me a grin.
I shook my head, giving her an answering smile before we dashed across the space to the barricade. With one hand, I launched Eyvindr through the barricade first, then Euri, before following.
Going through the barricade proved a bit more difficult with one hand. As I was about to descend, I heard a shout from the main road. Glancing behind me, I saw the horizon begin to lighten with a red glow.
I snorted and dropped down.
“Duras started,” I murmured to the two Knights. “Let’s hurry.”
The two nodded. I adjusted the bundle on my shoulder and we took off, fast as we could run, the two of them starting to huff and puff to keep up with me. Not wanting to leave them behind, I slowed my pace, just enough that they didn’t have to push themselves past their limits to keep up.
The shouts and glow behind us grew in volume until we were far into the pine forest that the press of trees muffled any noise. When we got to the mountain path, I slowed our pace, so as not to slip on the icy rocks.
“Watch your step, Ev,” Euri said from behind, his breath puffing before him. “Shits slippery.”
“No shit,” Eyvindr said with a little chuckle.
“So how was the Jarl?” he asked as we jogged along the game trail.
“Stimulating,” she replied simply.
“Quiet,” I muttered, slowing. They followed suit, obeying, their eyes scanning the surrounding area.
After a moment, we rounded a bend and our eyes fell upon our ebriaen mounts feasting upon the entrails of what looked like a Tolstal scout. I chuckled and shook my head, sending a thought of greeting to Zephyr.
The impression I got back from him was satisfaction as he filled his gullet.
“I’m so glad they don’t do that to our own people,” Euri said, rubbing his nose as he looked away.
“It helps that our people know not to give them the chance,” Ev replied as we closed the distance.
“Time to move,” I said, as much to the Knights as to the ebriaens. Zephyr snorted but allowed us to approach. Eyvindr took the bundle from me to allow me to mount, then I leaned down and she handed the bundle back. Holding the fur-wrapped bundle in front of me, against my breastplate, I waited for the other two Knights to climb into their saddles. Once they were settled, I turned Zephyr’s head towards the border, knowing Duras would take care of the soldiers and meet us across the border.
The ebriaens’ long strides ate the distance to the border as quickly as they devoured pray, not held back by the slow pace of our mortal soldiers. I gave Zephyr his head and he stretched his muscles, his pace increasing by the moment. Down the other side of the mountain path we flew, their claws digging into the rock and their powerful paws launching the beasts into bounding leaps.
At the bottom of the mountain, we encountered the first sign of our retreating column. We did not stop, however, as we had the package in hand. Instead, we avoided bowling over any of our soldiers and slipped through the pine forest, leaving the easier-to-travel road to them. Within half an hour, we’d left the column behind. Another hour and we were over the border, sliding to a stop in the center of our encampment.
Ser Aleanna, looking rather perturbed to have been awoken from her sleep, padded towards us as our mounts shook themselves at the entrance to the makeshift paddock.
“Well,” she said, looking us over, her eyes widening slightly as the bundle in my arms started to move. “I see negotiations were successful.”
I chuckled, handing the bundle down to her. “Indeed, Ev was very successful… Duras stayed behind to give us cover.”
“It seems like taking our legions was a waste of time,” Aleanna replied as she cradled the bundle against her.
“No, not a waste. We were only to start here,” I said, swinging my leg over Zephyr’s rump as I dismounted. “Next, we’ll go south. On our way south, we’re to drop her off with the Emperor and pick up our next orders. The Emperor will decide who we hit next.”
“Ah, I was wondering why we have so much in the way of supplies,” said Ji’u as he approached, holding a clipboard. “I went through everything and we have enough for a half-year campaign.”
“Sounds right,” I said, opening the paddock, letting Zephyr and the mares in to join their fellows. “The Emperor was supposed to announce my half-year banishment from the capitol just after we left. He’s using my banishment as an excuse to finish conquering this side of the continent.”
“Banishment?” Ji’u asked, glancing from me to the other Knights.
“Yeah, he wasn’t particularly pleased that we left before him, or that we didn’t invite him to the afterparty, or that I still treat him like a child,” I replied, counting off the current offenses stacked against me.
The Knights laughed, mirroring my smirk.
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