Preparations were progressing steadily, and the officers that were overseeing the emptying of the supply stores for Yol’vastume did their best to spur the workers on. The change of weather was probably cause for concern as if this light snowfall turned into a storm, then it would be all the harder to move the army. It took a few hours, but eventually the last of the supplies designated for removal had been loaded up into what was a hundred horse drawn cart train.
It was an impressive sight, one that I never expected to see. No sooner than they had finished the process than there was a call for mobilization of the carts to outside the city walls. They would gather along the road and be sorted into the ranks of the coalition army in preparation for their upcoming march.
Soldiers all over the town were gathering their arms and armor as they funneled down the streets and towards the main gate. It was less organized than the parade at Sor’Balvas, probably because there was nobody here that they were trying to impress or inspire. What few people of the original population were still living here were simply hunkered down in their houses and rarely ever set foot outside. We weren’t abandoning Yol’vastume completely though. A small occupying force would remain here just to make sure that it stayed under our control.
The coalition's main army had already broken down the camp they set up last night and were waiting outside for us to join them. Durdan's personal force formed their own ranks right beside the rows of coalition forces, adding to the mass of bodies that were assembled before the walls. The general had assumed control over the army as the highest-ranking individual present and the one who probably had the most experience fighting against the Thrainians.
As Kala, Silia and I approached the gates ourselves, we found the rest of our group waiting for us. Otar noticed us first, and he crossed his arms and put on an exaggerated expression of disappointment akin to that of a parent who caught their child doing something wrong.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the lovers who decided to ditch us for a little private tryst. I feel quite hurt by this betrayal and abandonment, don’t you, brother?”
“Indeed, brother,” Jorn chimed in at Otar’s prompting. “This is the worst kind of betrayal, one that comes from a friend whom you have previously placed your trust in. I don’t know if I'll ever recover from this.”
This whole act was of eyerolling levels of ham as they played their parts like they were in a Greek tragedy. I glanced at Hargon, Ulthises and Velian to see if they intended to join in on this farce, but it seemed that they were simply trying their best to keep a straight face and somewhat failing at it as little twitches in their expression broke through. It was obvious from the get-go that the two wannabe actors weren’t serious as they never referred to each other as brothers in such a direct manner.
I crossed my arms and gave them the ‘really’ look. “Are you two quite done making fools of yourselves, or should I set up a stage for you to perform on?”
Jorn exaggerated a gasp, feigning injury. “How cruel! Even now he scorns our feelings and casts them aside as though they were nothing.”
“So true, brother. It seems the bonds of friendship are not as strong as one might have thought.”
As I witnessed the overly dramatic duo go about their routine, I noticed a waft of something coming from them. Leaning in a bit closer and taking a smell, it was evident that they had been drinking with the rather potent scent of ale hanging off them.
“Are you two drunk?” I questioned.
“Maaaaybe.” Otar replied in a drawn-out fashion.
Well, that explains the impromptu act. Hargon stepped forward with a chuckle a moment later. “We heard from Velshi that you and Kala went off to find her mom. In the meantime, Otar and Jorn wanted to visit the bar to get one last drink before leaving for good. Ulthises also wished to settle on his bet with the barkeeper.”
Ulthises snickered like a greedy little goblin as he jingled his freshly stuffed coin pouch. “That’s right. I even bought everyone some drinks and still have a lot left over. That Thrianian was completely convinced that he would win the bet and promised quite a bit. Hehe, sure showed him.”
“I’ll admit,” Velian chimed in, “you fall flat on your face when it comes to bets most of the time, but when you do get a payout, you make it a large one. If only you can pick your bets this well all the time.”
“Wouldn’t be gambling if there was guaranteed success.”
I decided to cut through the conversation and absurdity. “Alright, I think we’ve run our course on this whole act. Are you two good enough to travel?” My question was directed at the brothers.
Otar waved off the question. “We’re fine. Might not be patching holes in our clothing for a bit, but we can still ride.”
“Good, because it looks like we are set to leave any minute now.”
“Best not delay then. I’d hate to be scolded for tardiness of all things.” Hargon said before gesturing for us to make our way out of the gate.
Taking his lead, we passed the threshold of the portcullis and out into the muddied fields. The sight of the army organized and ready to march at a moment's notice was certainly awe-inspiring. Even if they weren’t as uniform as the Thrainian army, the raw power that was on display was something else.
It took a minute of walking before we located our carriage and horses, conveniently looked after by the Ulgor knights that were on loan from Larvell. They greeted me with a bow of respect and then offered to assist in the boarding process by opening the door to the carriage. I still wasn’t used to the special treatment that my new status afforded me and hoped that someday it wouldn’t be such a glaring problem. Just as I was about to accept the offer, I was distracted by a group of galloping horses that were riding out of the town.
After a moment I was eventually able to recognize that this was Durdan and his personal retinue. The general was in full battle dress, sans the helmet, and carried an air of stern determination on his face. He pulled back on the reigns of his steed, bringing him and the rest of his company to a halt at about the midpoint of the army. Durdan’s gaze ended up crossing over me and he gave me a slight nod in acknowledgment which I returned before he directed his attention to the soldiers before him.
The throng of soldiers assembled before him were paying rapt attention to the general, standing just a little bit straighter as they waited with bated breath to hear what might be said. Durdan’s horse shifted a little beneath him, almost as if it too could sense the tension in the air. Then, finally, the quiet was pierced by the bellowing voice of the general as he raised his voice as if trying to challenge the very sky itself.
“My soldiers! My patriots! The enemy flees before you like vermin driven from their nest. Any who hold fealty to the mad king Alathos will suffer a similar fate as we will exterminate this taint upon the land so that peace might prosper once more. Go forth with pride and valor as history will be written about your deeds. Let us ensure that it is in a favorable light. To victory!”
His words were met with a thunderous roar from those that could hear, and even those that may have missed the words soon got swept up in the fervor that spread like a wave throughout the army. With a wave of his hand as a signal, one of the riders next to him pressed a horn to their lips and blew a trumpeting horn that reached the farthest corner of the army. We watched as the first column of soldiers began to march down the road. Durdan moved to follow directly behind this first detachment, and I figured that we should be ready to join them as well.
Everyone mounted up while Kala and I entered the carriage, settling in for what was sure to be another few days of travel. I would have complained about it being boring, but boring was better than encountering problems along the way. If enduring a little tedium meant that things went smoothly during our travels, that was an acceptable trade in my mind.
Of course, the definition of smoothly changes depending on who you ask, and to some, our journey wasn’t off to best of starts. The weather took a turn for the frigid. It felt like every hour we lost several more degrees of what little warmth might have been remaining. Later in the day the temperature dropped to a point that Kala, even inside the carriage and with her heavy cloak on, was cuddling next to me like her life depended on it. Even with me serving as a heat source for her, she was lethargic, and slow to respond to any stimuli.
I worried about the more reptilian members of the coalition army and how that would affect our overall speed and performance in the event of an attack. It seemed the army had some solutions for that, one of the simplest was having the soldiers most at risk carry a source of heat, often a torch or a hot stone kept in a thick leather bag. My own little invention in the form of the heat crystals helped as well, keeping small groups of them moving until we could finally stop for the night.
That was the way most days ended, with a fair percentage of our soldiers stumbling into what would be the campgrounds for the night. They improved somewhat once they had a roaring fire going, but it still wasn’t easy as some of them did fall into a hibernating state and had to be either carried or placed in the back of a cart. At the very least there had been no blizzards, yet the near constant snowfall had left layers of frozen precipitation upon the roads, an occurrence that nobody was happy about.
It was several days before we finally arrived at the first Thrainian village along our path towards the capital. Even from a distance I could tell that there was something wrong with the way it looked. Winter wasn’t really a time for people to hang around outside, but there wasn’t any sign of movement in the slightest. No people looking out their window, no smoke from the chimneys, not even any animals to speak of. Eerie would be an understatement.
The army swept through the small village like a flood. After a brief investigation it turned out that the homes had been abandoned with anything of value being stripped from them, leaving it almost a skeleton of its former self. There didn’t appear to be any signs of violence, so the most logical conclusion was that the residents fled in fear because of us.
I didn’t like how empty and desolate it felt, like all the life had been drained from this place. Homes are meant to be warm and safe, not cold and abandoned. I hope these houses can withstand the winter alone. Snow could be quite destructive if it is allowed to pile up after all.
We didn’t intend to stay for very long as this was simply a distraction on the road to our eventual goal, but nature decided that she had other plans. Dark clouds were forming on the horizon, telltale signs of a storm. It was decided that the army would shelter in and around the village to wait it out. There weren’t enough rooms for everyone, but the buildings themselves could be used as a windbreak at the very least for those who could not fit inside.
Kala and I were assigned to a small little hovel of a house that looked to be just big enough for two people, though I imagined that a poor family might very well have managed to fit a child or two into the single bed that was present. The only other features beside the bed were a small table and firepit that was scorched black from repeated flames. It felt strange to be in someone else's house. Even as empty as it was, it felt like I was trespassing on someone’s life.
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There were little signs of activity everywhere I looked. Wooden dishes that were well worn with use, notches on a support beam that may have been marking the growth of a child, and even a spinning top toy that had fallen beneath the table. I idly placed the toy on top of the table in the hope that the family would return and find it.
After getting a fire started, the inside of the building warmed up quite significantly just in time for the storm to hit. Outside the raging winds and driving snow were muffled by the walls of the building, but the cold could still be felt if you got too close to the walls. The bed wasn’t exactly comfortable as it seemed to be a pile of hay that was sealed beneath a thick cloth sheet, but it still offered more support than the normal cots that we slept on in the tents.
The night passed in relative silence, with only the slight creaking of the house as it weathered the storm for us. Sleep didn’t come easy for me as the unfamiliar environment kept me from achieving comfort. It was only exhaustion that eventually put me to sleep after staying up for several hours longer than Kala.
I was somewhat surprised that when I woke up it wasn’t because someone was knocking on the door or because Kala was starting to stir. My consciousness returned naturally and steadily as I shook off the grogginess of sleep. Kala was breathing steadily, but it was quite chilled in the room so she was likely to remain unconscious until I could restart the fire.
The second I opened the door to retrieve more firewood I understood why no one had come to give us a wake-up call. The storm was still going. It took some effort to even open the door as a pile of snow had built up in front of it and the wind was fighting me for every inch. Leaving the shelter of the house also saw me being attacked by the unrelenting and bitter cold that the snow brought with it. By the time I gathered some logs from the shed on the side of the building and brought them back my body was wracked with shivers and felt as if I had just wrestled with an Ulgor.
Once the fire was restarted the chill in the building was quickly eliminated. With the return of warmth, Kala also began to finally wake from her forced slumber. She sat up with a grumble and rubbed her eyes.
“Morning. Are we leaving soon?”
“Unfortunately not,” I said while taking a seat next to the small table. “The storm is still raging, and it doesn’t really look like it’s going to clear up anytime soon. We may be stuck here for a while.”
“It’s still that bad?”
“Yeah. Nearly got knocked over by the wind a few times just trying to bring some more wood in for the fire.”
“Damn. Do you think we will be able to make it out of here today?”
“I hope so, but even if we do the roads are going to be a nightmare to navigate with all this fresh snow.” All I could see was problems in the future, and I wasn’t even a military expert on the matter. Any way you looked at the situation this was going to take time and effort to overcome. Maybe Durdan had a solution that I just wasn’t seeing though.
Regardless, we were forced to wait out the storm as it continued to batter the village and the surrounding camp. Trips outside of the house were rare, limited to the acquisition of food or more wood. It was like this for nearly half the day before finally the winds died down. All that remained of the storm was patchy clouds covering the sky and a light snowfall that saw the flakes drifting lazily towards the ground at a steady rate. We weren’t completely out of the woods as the sky still looked like it was threatening to kick up another storm, but I imagined Durdan was willing to take the risk if it meant making some progress.
I trudged through the snow as I tried to make my way towards the largest building in this village, which wasn’t saying much, the mayoral home. It was only marginally bigger than the average home in this village, but Durdan needed the extra space for all his logistical needs. When I approached the door, the two guards that were outside simply bowed their heads to me as I passed through the threshold.
The low light interior of the main room looked to have undergone some changes to the layout. Furniture was pushed to the far wall while a singular long table was placed as the centerpiece. Upon its surface there were the usual logistical necessities like maps, reports, and a few markers to denote positions of interest. Surrounding the table was Durdan, Captain Caldern, and another face that I hadn’t seen in a while, Norwik.
The leader of the small band of rebel Thrainians noticed my entrance and his face lit up with a friendly smile. “James! I missed you at Yol’vastume.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Norwik. Were you avoiding me?” I said with an air of humor.
“That would be my fault, actually,” Durdan chimed in. “After the sieging army was expelled from Yol’vastume, I sent Norwik out immediately to scout ahead. His knowledge of the terrain and history of hit and run warfare against Alathos’ armies has proven invaluable with both navigation and preventing ambush from any remnant forces.”
“Not that I found any,” Norwik admitted. “Honestly, it’s like they disappeared into the wind, and that makes me nervous. It can either be a problem for us, or a problem for the Thrainians and the civilians of the empire. The way I see it, one of two things is happening right now. Either they are amassing again for another attack on us, or the scattered soldiers, without command or supplies, are raiding their own people just to survive.”
That was disconcerting either way. “You really think they would do that? Turn to banditry?”
Norwik shrugged. “If it’s a choice between starving and stealing, then it’s an easy one for most. People are selfish creatures at the best of times.”
It was difficult to argue with that assumption. Our conversation was interrupted by Durdan though as he brought us back to the current issue at hand. “While that is something to keep in mind, we were just discussing the merits of leaving now or waiting for clearer weather. Captain, what is your opinion on the matter?”
Caldern nodded before relaying his thoughts. “The weather is still temperamental, but the horizon looks favorable to us. We may get snow, but I don’t think the storm will return.”
“Good to hear. Along our path to Fulvrist there are a number of villages and towns that we will cross paths with. The next closest one is two days march if we don’t encounter any serious diversions and the weather holds. If things turn for the worse, then we can force march to make it there before to avoid getting trapped without shelter. That could spell disaster for those who are susceptible to the cold.”
“So, we’re leaving then?” I asked.
“Yes,” Durdan confirmed with a nod. “Captain, give the order and have the mages begin clearing the road ahead of us.”
Mages? My confusion only lasted a second before I was struck with the obvious answer that was dangling in front of me. Oh, right, I had completely disregarded magic for that use. Any mage with an affinity for water could probably clear the road easily so long as they had ample enough stores of crystals to use for such a mundane task. And here I was thinking we would have to break out the shovels.
After the meeting was adjourned, the village exploded into motion. It might have been a combination of boredom and a desire to fight the cold with motion, but many of the soldiers who weren’t of reptilian disposition seemed eager to get to work. Tents were broken down, supplies loaded up, and horses hitched to carts.
I spent a little time watching the mages get to work on the road. It was fascinating watching the snow simply move out of their way like their bodies were hydrophobic in the extreme. An idle, and amusing, thought entered my mind as I imagined that they didn’t even need an umbrella when they went out in the rain.
After shaking myself from the distraction, I decided to help get the carriage ready to leave. Most of the packing was done already, but I assisted in loading the crystals and handing out extra blankets to my friends who needed them. While Kala had me to keep her warm inside the carriage, Ulthises I handed a warming crystal that should help him stabilize his temperature if it dropped too low. He accepted it gratefully before moving to the front of the carriage to drive it.
In less than an hour, the army was ready to move again, and we set about marching to the next village. It was cold, it was tedious, but there has been no resistance from enemy forces to date. I considered Norwik’s words about the state of the Thrainian army after their recent loses. Maybe it was in disarray, but it would be wishful thinking to believe that we could make it all the way to the capital without resistance.
Luckily, the weather remained consistent for the next few days. Dreary and overcast with light snow near constantly, but not storming. We were able to arrive on time to the next village only to find that this one wasn’t as abandoned as the previous.
It was a quaint little collection of houses that sat on the edge of a forest next to a river. It appeared to be mainly farming and fishing that took place here, so nothing too out of the ordinary. However, something felt off about it as we looked on from a distance.
Smoke rose from the chimneys of a few houses, but there was no one walking around. Even in the dead of winter there were still jobs that needed to be done, particularly those that involved maintenance of buildings. Either they knew we were coming and are trying to keep their heads down, or something else was happening here.
Durdan apparently didn’t like it either, because he decided to send a detachment of a hundred soldiers, which was probably close to the population of this place, to scout the situation instead of just flooding the army through the streets. The soldiers approached with weapons drawn while the rest of us were relegated to watching how events played out.
Several minutes after they first entered the village, a few of the soldiers came into sight once more and waved a flag that signaled that we should approach. Scouts were sent into the surrounding wilderness, but the majority of the army marched to the edge of the village. The one waving the flag, a young Droln by the look of him, apprised us of the situation.
“Sir,” the young man began with a quick salute. “We discovered remnants of the Thrainian army.”
“How many? Do you know what they were doing here?” Durdan asked.
“A few dozen, and no. They panicked when they saw us and tried to escape. We got into a brief fight with them to prevent that which resulted in some of them dying, but the rest are captured as of now. The villagers are still here, but they seem too scared to approach or even leave their homes.”
Durdan adopted a considering look on his face, an expression that highlighted his slightly aging features, before deciding on a course of action. “I will attempt to get whoever is in charge of their village to speak with me so we can know the full story. Keep an eye on the prisoners and make sure this isn’t a trap. James, would you mind coming with me? It may help put them at ease to see someone who looks like them beside me.”
I nodded in agreement to which he gave an appreciative bob of his head in reply. With orders given, a portion of the army began to disperse throughout the village to keep vigil. Durdan rode into the center of the town and called out in a strong voice to anyone who could hear.
“Whoever is in charge of this village, come forth. I wish to speak with you in a civil manner. No harm will be dealt if respect is maintained.”
There was no reply for a few minutes, and I wondered if they were perhaps just going to remain in hiding. Then, from one of the houses on the corner of the intersection, a man emerged. The older gentleman had greying hair that was fading from brown, wrinkles that were beginning to form on his face, and a slight limp on his right leg. He seemed nervous, but that was understandable as he slowly approached to stand before us.
“I... Ahem, I am the alderman of this village. I-I know I'm not in a position to argue or bargain with you, but I must beg of you to have mercy on us. We lost so much when the soldiers arrived, if we lose anymore, we won’t survive the winter.”
“The soldiers stole from you?”
“Not at first. When they first arrived, they were hungry, dirty, telling stories about your army sweeping through the land in a tide of destruction. As citizens, we wanted to support them, offer them what aid we could to help them protect us. However, after a few days, it became clear that they had no intention of leaving. Maybe if it was just a handful of them, we could have fed them throughout the winter, but the dozens of new mouths to feed was putting a strain on our stores. We attempted to convince them to leave, rejoin their army or make their way to a larger town that could support them, but they grew violent when we tried, and then started demanding things while feasting like kings. One of them knocked me down and stomped on my leg for daring to speak up.”
That explains the limp. There’s a good chance his leg might have a fracture.
He wrapped up his story with another request and a meek bow. “Please, we will not impede your army or even speak of your passing to anyone. We have very little left and what remains will have to be rationed as is. I beg of you, leave us in peace.”
There was a tense moment that hung in the air between this alderman and Durdan, but the general was quick to remedy that with some reassurances. “Fret not, for our fight is with Alathos and any soldier that remains allied to him. When this war is over, we will no longer be at odds and must learn to live with one another again. Let us begin that process now. Captain!”
His commanding call drew Caldern to his side. “Yes sir?”
“Tell the quartermaster to leave these people enough food to last the month, and then inform the rest of the army to proceed. We are leaving.”
“As you command.” The captain gave a quick salute before moving to fulfill the order.
I didn’t want to just stand there without doing anything either, so I offered what I could. “Durdan?” The general turned his attention to me with a querying look. “Might I treat the alderman for his injuries?”
A pleased smile formed on his face. “A wonderful idea. You are free to do so.”
The alderman in question was simply staring at all of us, mouth agape in disbelief at the turn of events. It was rather comical really, and I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. This was one little patch of warmth in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Tomorrow, we will have to brave the cold once more.