His smile faded quickly when he turned to look at me, as if he'd remembered that night as well. I gave him a knowing nod, and a much smaller grin appeared in the corner of his mouth, gently wrinkling his scar.
After ensuring all the others were prepared to leave, the Master mounted his horse, looking out over the crowd. He could feel the words he was about to say weigh heavily in his heart.
"I despise being the bearer of bad news, but I have received messages this evening that a large force of glicks, trolls, and other foul creatures has defeated a Harutian army destined for Coltend," he said to us, getting a few shocked gasps and murmurs from us as we all looked at each other, likely wondering whether or not this was going to be a suicide mission.
Another one? I felt my eyes widen.
"Not only that, but King Truls has been murdered, and now the Church has forcibly taken command of Coltend Castle. Therefore, our goals are now twofold: To protect Coltend from the oncoming horde and restore order to this country's capital. Perhaps a few of you will not like the idea, or maybe even decide to flee before the battle of our time, but believe me when I say there is more at stake than simply saving a city," he continued gravely.
A few more murmurs rose from those in front of him, but none dared voice it any louder than that.
"As it stands, we must ride to Hjalfar to seek help, since the Rhydian Pass has been overrun with beasts, denying help from Harut or Caegwen. I must know who will stand with me, and their fellow synners to save our country and possibly others from this dreadful fate," the Master continued. A few New Bloods shifted in their saddles, glancing at one another to see who would be the first to decline the challenge.
"I will not consider you as outcasts if you decide to leave now, but know that the odds of us all coming home are slim at best," he said, giving the crowd one more chance.
No one moved.
"Very well, then. We ride to Hjalfar," he said, the great wooden doors opening to the empty road ahead of them. The Master was the first to exit the fortress, followed closely by Bernar, Anwill, and Garett. I was ahead of the others in hopes of staying as close to my brother and the Master as I could. Hooves echoed across the courtyard, taking over the quiet of the first light of day.
"It might be a hopeless cause. I might be leading them to their deaths," the Master told Garett just loudly enough for me to hear. "Perhaps, but not for all of us. This may look like our final stand, but I am sure we will succeed in protecting this Continent to the extent of our abilities," he replied with a firm nod.
I admire your optimism," the Master replied, staring down the road for potential threats. "So do I," Bernar said, pulling his horse up next to the master bow-caster. "I mean, this might not be the brightest idea we've ever had, but it's our only hope of not being completely overrun and having it stolen from us," he continued.
"Which is exactly why we must not fail. I just hope the traitor will not pose so much of a threat to where it jeopardizes our mission," the Master said quietly. "We'll soon know who it is," Garett said. "Once again, your optimism is outstanding," the Master returned.
After deciding it was probably best to give up on eavesdropping any further due to the thunderous sound of hooves, I glanced over toward the sunrise. As we turned down the northern path, I felt the first beams of sunlight warm my face.
A blood-sky on the morning of a long journey is usually not a good sign, I thought as I observed the sky fade from a dark blue into a bright mix of orange and red.
I closed my eyes, taking the warm rays that warmed my cheek as a sign.
The night is always coldest before the dawn, or so I've heard. Everything will happen in the time and way it's meant to, but even with all my training and close brushes with death so far, I don't think anything could have prepared me for this feeling, I thought, taking in a deep breath through my nose.
I watched the sky begin to disappear behind the ever-thickening trees. Birds sang in the high canopy of the woods, completely oblivious to the ones below them and our fate-deciding quest. I listened to their early morning songs, breathing in the woodland air deeply. I filled my mind with their songs, and my lungs with air to calm myself down.
Not much else to do right now, after all. I just pray the gods will look down on us favorably, just like the Lord of Codrean all those years ago. If not, well, at least we tried, I mentally shrugged.
While I was lost in thought, Ed rode beside me and punched me lightly in the shoulder. "Morning, sunshine," he said brightly, obviously trying to get me out of my own head. "Yeah, it sure is," I chuckled, briefly looking behind me at the others, who were likely thinking the same things I was.
"I never would have thought it would come to this," he began with a heavy sigh, as a small cloud of steam rose from his mouth. "I had always thought I would die on a hunt far away from here," he said grimly. "You won't die," I said firmly. "You can't promise that," he scoffed. "You're right, I can't. Never have; never will, either. But you're my best friend, and I've known you long enough to know that no matter what happens to either of us, our memories will live on in the other," I smiled weakly.
"When did you get all philosophical?" he raised an eyebrow and blinked a few times in utter confusion. "Just now, dipshit," I chuckled. "Well, that's comforting, I suppose," he said with a false smile. "Don't get all emotional before the battle, you pair of saggy tits," Bernar interrupted.
"It fucks with your head, and that is not something you want to happen. We haven't even reached Hjalfar yet, and you're already thinking about your deaths?" he asked with a hint of disappointment. "It's not like that isn't possible," Ed shrugged. "It better not be. I don't want you to wet your hose again before you even draw your sword," Bernar said wryly. "That wasn't even me!" Ed replied louder than he intended. "Sure it wasn't," Bernar grinned. "Shut up, you two," Garett spat back, making the two of them flinch.
I looked at my brother with an upturned lip and raised eyebrows. "Not a word," he scowled at me, pointing his index finger between my eyes. "I didn't say anything," I replied smugly, causing him to squint his eyes and return to the Master's side.
"What is it between your brother and the Master, anyway? I mean, I know they both have the same glowing yellow eyes, but what's that got to do with playing favorites?" Batch asked, finally joining in on the conversation.
"Couldn't tell you even if I tried," I replied. "You don't have the same eyes as your brother, and yet the Master still seems to take you closer under his wing than the rest of us," Irun added. "Look, I don't know a damn thing about the Master and his choice of favorites, alright?" I shot back.
"Ooooh, kitty's got claws. Should I be scared?" he said mockingly. "They'll tear you from taint to throat, if you push me far enough," I retorted with a slight scoff. "Oh, you wish you could take me in a proper fight," Irun said, obviously trying to provoke me further.
I did my best to mimic my brother's monk-like attitude and not allow him to push me further.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't come close to snapping, though.
We continued on our journey, down the beaten path towards the borders of Hjalfar. We came to a choke in the river, which was teeming with aquatic lifeforms; trout, salmon, frogs, and other such animals could be seen just beneath the surface of the crystalline water. The horses and wagons had no difficulty wading through the gentle current as everyone crossed safely to the other side.
"We have just crossed into Hjalfar," Garett told the four of us behind him as we observed our surroundings. "This land is full of dangers, many more so than Coltend, so be on your guard," he continued.
We began to look more closely as the landscape changed from various trees into a pine forest. Birds and other beasts could be heard in the distant reaches of the forest, far away from the road we were on, when something stirred in the distance. Garett picked up on them through the trees and immediately moved towards the Master. "Master, we're not alone," he said quietly, nodding in the figures' general direction, allowing him to find them after looking into the indicated location. "Let's go," the Master said, turning his horse towards them.
Bernar signaled for me to follow along, while Garett halted the others. The three of us rode through the trees, leaping over rotting logs and low-lying bushes in our path. The figures saw us coming and rushed to find cover. The Master reached where the three figures once stood and looked around, finding little more than a few footprints in the disturbed mossy floor.
"We mean you no harm if you mean none to us," the Master called out.
No answer came.
Suddenly, a large man appeared from behind one of the larger pine trees. "Hallo, Master," the man said. "Thorsen!" the Master said astonishedly. "Where are the other two who were with you?" he asked. Leona and Meliss emerged from behind a nearby shrubbery, dirtied and cold.
"Your Majesty, young lady, are you alright?" the Master bowed from his saddle. "Not so majestic now, am I, master Synner? I am just a woman with little left but her life," she said, returning the bow. Bernar looked at her with wide eyes, remembering her beauty from the first time he saw her at the council.
What's the fucking queen doing here? Holy shit, is that who I think it is? She's alive! I hope she's not hurt, I thought, realizing Meliss was hiding herself behind Thorsen's large figure.
"You have no horses with you? How have you come so far from Coltend?" the Master asked the giant. "We failed to find any during our escape, Master, so I carried these two until I was sure we would be safe. Coltend has suffered a great treachery, Master," Thorsen said, shaking his head and glancing down at his filthy armor riddled with specks of moss, dirt, and dried blood.
"We're aware of the situation, but we only have minimal details," Bernar stated. "The Church decided that we were unholy and unfit to rule over Coltend, and so they took matters into their own hands by slaying nearly every innocent person who had failed to escape, or supported the royal family within the palace walls. I fear they may have taken over the entire capital by now," Leona sighed heavily.
"I didn't know priests knew how to fight like warriors," Bernar said incredulously. "Neither did I. They must have paid off most of the Guild to turn a blind eye to ensure their success in taking over the city," she said grimly. "I can think of more than a few who would readily accept such a deal, but it's just as likely they joined in," Thorsen added. "This is ill news, indeed. I pray you can tell me how it all began," the Master said.
"I was fast asleep in my quarters when the sound of screams echoed up from the hall to my ears," Leona began shakily. "I went downstairs to investigate the cause of the screams, and found the majority of my staff strewn across the floor, with the symbol of the Church engraved in their foreheads, and their throats slit from ear to ear," she said with difficulty, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"I found Meliss fleeing from a few of the murderers, and we managed to reach Thorsen, for he was the only one I could think of at the time who may have been able to help us. He gave us each a dagger, but we approached the nearest gate, where we encountered some resistance. He fought bravely, and healed the wound that an arrow had made when it struck my shoulder," she explained, causing our eyes to widen in surprise.
"He healed it? How?" Bernar asked, visibly intrigued. "With mana. He is one of the last Synners of Grundvollr to have survived the attack that didn't turn to banditry," she explained.
Well, I'll be… I thought, shocked at the news, but I quickly found that the Master was nowhere near as surprised as I was.