Epilogue

Whilst the six friends made their way back from Setherland small scale war was fought along the Nothering border. The death guards crossed the river at will and without the need for boats or bridges. The Nothering defenders never knew where they would strike next.

The advantage was due to impressing. The boardway had been constructed and allowed rapid troop movement. The cooling effect of the wood had been expanded upon and now ice bridges let the guards cross pretty much where they wanted. There was no way that their counterparts could keep up.

The raids weren’t targeted against men but rather supplies. Early on, the death guards had been particularly successful and much of the food stored for the next spring had been destroyed. This meant that there were fewer targets and the Nothering defenders could put more troops in the obvious places. The raids slowed down when too many of the Setherland raiders started being killed.

Their commanders were intelligent enough to switch targets. By late winter they had raids attacking the supply lines and the less battle-hardened troops. The results were better than they knew. The number of deaths grew in the telling and the Nothering troops became more disheartened. The Setherland habit of taking their dead and wounded with them led to tales of their invincibility.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

As spring grew closer, more Nothering troops were brought to the border. Many were slaves, half-starved through the severe food shortages and unwilling to die for their country. The stories of the raids grew to epic proportions in their camps.

The tactics changed again. Nonnies were let loose all along the border, in the hope that they would cause more havoc. Small groups moved behind the Nothering lines and caused whatever damage they could to bridges and roads. The call went out to all Setherland men to join the army after planting had finished.

The same call went out in the northern country. As the country was larger, the movement of troops had to start earlier. By early summer both countries would be ready and the fighting would start in earnest. The largest war ever to grace the planet was building. The neighbouring countries looked on. Some would show allegiance with whoever looked most like winning, whilst others would seek to prevent any country getting too strong. Few people saw any hope.

* * *

In Elseth, on a fine, late spring day, Nedric and Elsebeth were married. Those who attended included Elsebeth’s family, the two rangers, many impressors and accompanied by Rialto, Nedric’s mother, smiling at her son’s happiness.

The ceremony was short but the celebrations lasted well into the evening. Eventually the couple left the others and retreated to their new house. RAN Supplies was a profitable concern and Nedric had returned to find he was wealthier than he had ever dreamed. Rialto of course had larger dreams.

Nedric and Elsebeth spent that night and many more oblivious to the world. The threat of war faded to nothing, compared to the love they found together.

There is more to their story and this will be told at another time. Before that it would be best to learn how one Priestess learned some things that would change Nothering forever.