“No! we must travel due north. It is the fastest way!” Shouted Captain Dunnon. He was a tall man standing around Elyar’s height. He was muscular with some scars on his arms and one across his left cheek. He wore Koraxian steel armor, but not quite like the messenger from the other night. Elyar could see the similarities, but Captain Dunnon’s looked older. He was presently arguing with his second in command, Sergeant Willard.
“Sir, as I have stated already, Castle Yinthu will have better maps and
scouts that can guide us. It is better in all directions.”
Lowering his voice, the captain responded, “Yes, it will have a few positives that the northern villages won’t have, but it is too far west! We should go North and speak to the Reaches villages. They will know the rumors. Someone will be brave enough to guide us!”
Before they could continue Lord Cane entered the room. Elyar saw him coming as he sat in a wooden chair bored out of his mind. The two men had been arguing for nearly an hour. They were in the barracks near the training grounds Elyar had fought Joob at. It was not an unpleasant place, but it was more rustic. Even for a country noble like Elyar.
As Lord Cane approached his soldiers he let a small smirk cross his face before he replaced it with a snarl. “Men! Since ye cannot seem to decide on a route, I will do so for ye! You will follow Captain Dunnon’s
plan. I rather speed than safety on this trip. There are few safe places where you are going. And for me as well.”
With that both men stopped arguing. Their direction was decided.
Both men placed their right fist over their heart and took a small bow to Lord Cane before exiting the room.
Lord Cane then looked over at Elyar and said, “they are very competent soldiers. But unfortunately, they are cousins. They bicker like family even though one outranks the other.” He sighed and than motioned for Elyar to follow him. “Let me introduce you to some of the men you will be with.”
Elyar stretched a little and stood up. His legs were a touch stiff. He must have been sitting there longer than he thought. Lord Cane was walking through the door the quarling cousins had gone through. Walking quickly, Elyar followed.
They exited the barracks and Elyar saw a large group of soldiers standing in the training field. Some of them looked like traditional soldiers. They had Koraxian armor, shields, and the traditional short sword hung at their belt. But there was a smaller group standing near the soldiers that looked like they did not belong.
As Elyar was led to the second group he looked over their odd attire. There was a large man near the size of his father who wore a fur cloak. Maybe of a bear or something. A greatsword was slung over his right shoulder and two axes hung at his belt. He also had leather armor under his furs.
Elyar’s eyes moved to a man beside him. There stood a shorter man who carried a large two headed axe. He had a mixture of plate and leather armor. He held his helm in the crook of his arm as he talked to a sle nder man.
The slender man stood at a height between the other two. A longbow was slung over his shoulder with a full quiver of arrows. He wore light leather armor that looked more for speed and flexability than for protection. A green cloak was flung over his shoulders and he half wrap ped himself with it. But the man next took Elyar’s full attention.
There stood another ox of a man. He wore no armor and only had a tunic cover his body. Each section was a different shade of tan or brown. He had a round shield on the ground by his feet and two swords, one on his hip and one on his back. A longsword hung behind him while a shortsword was by his side. But his odd clothes was not the thing that captures Elyar’s attention. His skin was near the color of a black night. His eyes narrowed to see if he was the man from his dream. But as he approached he saw that he looked very different. A jolly smile stretched across his face and he laughed a merry laugh that did not match the sinister one he had heard that night.
They had reached the group and Lord Cane began his introductions. “Elyar, this is Havol. He hails from a northern province like you.” He said pointing toward the goliath of a man. The man nodded his head toward Elyar and grunted. “He is short of words, but mighty of deeds!” Chuckled Cane.
He then turned to the shorter man. “This,” he said gesturing to the man, “is Declan. He used to be a miner here in Val, but recently his skill with those axes has earned him a place amongst my elite hunters.”
Elyar’s brows furrowed at the statement of hunters. “What are the hunters?” He asked before Lord Cane could continue.
“Oh, your father never mentioned the hunters? Curious. They are my elite soldiers dedicated to searching the empire for, well, whatever I may want.” He smiled at his men. Elyar thought he looked a little too satisf ied with them.
“Now, where was I?” Lord Cane asked more to himself than to
anyone. “Oh right, Declan. He used to be a min…”
“I think you already said that.” Elyar interjected.
“Did I? Where is me brain this morning?”
Lord Cane then turned to the last two men. “Frem is the best tracker in Val. He used to… well, no need to mention that, but let me just say there be no man who can get away from him.” The man bowed as
Lord Cane looked to the last man in the list.
“Here he is. The newest member of our little group. I saved him last for his special place in me heart. here is Ruzur! A man of might from the southern part of the empire!”
Ruzur looked at Elyar with a quizzical glance. “Who is dis man? Why doth he accompany with us?” There was some contempt in his voice.
Elyar was surprised by the response. He had never had someone look at him that way. Such anamosity from someone he had never met.
He glared back at dark brown unmoving eyes.
“This is the son of my daughter’s father-in-law. He is accompanying the century, and the hunters as well, because I and his father say so. Is there a problem with that?” Lord Canes voice had become low and gravely.
“I do not want a child’s blood on mine hands. That is all mine lord.” Ruzur said not moving his gaze from Elyar.
“His life belongs to Theos, not you. If his time comes to a short end he will be remembered in his father’s hall. And we will be reunited with his soul in the Field of Glory.” Lord Cane said as he lifted his hands to the heavens. Elyar was curious if they would part for the lords holy words. A sole raven flew by but that was all.
Waite, a raven. Elyar had not seen any birds in over a day. The last one he saw was also a raven. What was the coincidence of that? He was snapped back to the moment when he saw everyone walking away.
“Come Elyar, it is time to assemble lordling. It would be a shame to leave thee!” Ruzur laughed as he taunted Elyar. He clenched his fists as his pressure rose.
But Elyar followed. He had no other choice. When he arrived at the assembled soldiers the captain and sergeant were instructing the men. “We leave at dawn. We will sleep in the barracks so we may leave at first light. Century, you will bunk in the great dormitory. Hunters, in the lesser. Elyar, you are acting as a Hunter so you will sleep with them. This is your last night of freedom, but do not let your…evening prohibit you from performing your duties.”
The men gave a unified, “yes captain.” And then he dismissed them.
Elyar was not sure what to do. He didn’t want to go back to the fortress, but he did not want to just sit around the barracks alone.
Moments like this I miss having Master Pyke to talk to. He thought to himself. After a minute of deliberation, he decided to find the Fallen Doe and see if the Feud’s men were still there. As the Century and Hunters began filling out of the field, Elyar slipped out without anyone noticing.
It didn’t take long for Elyar to find the Fallen Doe. He remembered what street it was on, and once he figured out where the barracks was compared to the fortress he needed only to cross a few streets. On his way he saw some sections of the city he had not see before. There were more shops selling food or for making tools. The sun was beginning to descend, but there was plenty of time before night would fall. He hadn’t eaten much and his stomach was beginning to complain.
He finally reached the Fallen Doe and the lights danced merrily in
the windows while laughter and clinking of dishes sang from within. He approached the door, but as he reached out it swung wildly outward nearly colliding with his skull. He jumped out of the way just in time as th ree drunk men stumble out singing.
Oh ho, ship me down to the docks!
Oh ho, i need me a ship befer I be in the stocks!
Oh ho, oh ho!
The rest of the song became unintelligable. Elyar laughed to himself before he entered the inn. The roar was louder than last time. There must have been a few dozen people drinking, laughing, singing, and even a few trying to box. But they looked to drunk to do any damage.
The barkeep looked at him and over the crowd shouted, “How may I be of service?”
“Just a mug of the house drink will do.” Elyar loudly responded as he surveyed the room. After a few passes he finally saw some of his families soldiers near the middle. Elyar slid the required coin as the barkeep handed him his mug. Now came the hard part. Reaching the Feud’s table.
He took a deep breath in and waded in.
He had to dodge elbows from rowdy men, dishes from passing servers, and a few flying objects. He eventually weaved his way through and found his desired table. He was beginning to recognize most of them. Those that saw him gave him a respectful node. But none of them stood which was fine with Elyar. One man half stood and waved him over.
Elyar sat down near his friend and did he have a lot to catch him up on. Immediately they broke into stories of their day. Jerome told Elyar about a fight in the inn and some of the crazy stuff they saw at the market. Elyar told him about his dual, meeting his betrothed, and he hinted at the mission he was about to go on. Jerome also apologized for not seeing him at the feast. He said he had gotten…distracted. He said it with a wink and Elyar thought he could read between the lines.
“So…this mission young lord, where is your destination?” Jerome as ked casually.
“I cannot say. Partly because it is a secrete, and partly because I have not been told.” Elyar laughed at that last part. He thought it a little comical that he was about to leave on a secret mission and he had no idea where he was going.
“Let me git this straight. You have been attached to some group, you cannot say who, to complete a task, which you cannot say what, and you are going somewhere, but you know not where. That sum it up?” Jerome raised a brow while a smile grew across his face.
“Yep. That about sums it up!” Elyar laughed at how ridiculous it sounded.
“I want to come.” Jerome’s face grew a touch serious.
“What do you mean you want to come?” Elyar responded quizzically.
“You have to return to the Feud to then meet Father at the Fork.”
“Yes, but that task is boring my young lord. I want something dangerous and full of adventure. Who knows if we will even see battle in my direction.”
Elyar sat and thought about it. On the one hand Jerome was needed by his father. But on the other hand it would nice having at least one person he knew on his journey. Especially with how hostile certain memb ers of his group seemed to be.
“I’ll ask Father and Lord Cane.” With that Elyar slid his chair back and stood up.
Spitting out some of his ale Jerome sputtered, “now!”
“Yep. I leave first light and the fortress will be nearly asleep by now. It is now or to the front with you!” Elyar smiled as Jerome downed his drink, jumped up, and presented himself ready for their little outing.
“All set mi lord!”
With that they meandered through the crowd, out the door, and into the night.