"This bloody cold" came a voice from behind me, one of the 'guards' The Duke lent us, "I cannot even feel my legs, we should rest," he spoke to me, the little lamb eater - [Lamb is considered a delicacy and eaten by the noble houses of the Snowlands (Norselands).] - dares to ask for rest. For three weeks we've been travelling, through different villages and forests. Now we are so close, not even a mile away, they want to rest?

"What are you? A child?" said Ryan, a SpellSword mercenary The Duke hired alongside me, my sister - Rina - and another mercenary SpellSword - Tyler -. Our group, marching towards the town, consisted of four out of the eight guards and two out of the four SpellSwords sent to save some teenage girl. We planned to split up and investigate the town at two points, meet in the town square and search for the girl. "Who are you calling a child, mixed blood?" the guard replied, Ryan answered by raising his hand towards the man, the snow that was to crunch under our feet began to rise, as did some chunks of the frozen earth beneath. In one swift but powerful motion, multiple small rocks and chunks of earth began to hurl themselves at the guardsman. Ryan chuckled, 'What a waste of Magic blood' - [SpellSwords, unlike Mages, have a limited use of their hereditary Magic proficiency that refills the more their Magi (Magic heart) produces, but to counteract this, they have an immunity to Mage Morph (the metamorphosis of the body and mind due to the overuse of powerful Magic).] - I thought to myself.

The path was barely visible under the fresh snow, only the broken twigs and fallen branches told our path. Travelling through a forest on foot isn't usually what I choose to do, but there were so many of us, and only so many Dire Wolves were able to be mounted. There were enough horses to go around but travelling in the blizzard was out of the question. Thankfully said blizzard has calmed to a light hail of snow. Even at the entrance of this Forest, no matter how small it may be, put me on edge, my hand still gripped my hilt. I'm sure my knuckles were white from the action, but under my fur-lined gauntlets, I could barely make out the shape of my palms.

"Can you even see anything in that mask?" asked the Vice-Captain, I wasn't sure at whom the question was meant until he said my name "Endyarr?" If that idiot thinks that's my first name I swear on the Goddess and the Ancestors... "My helmet was made specifically for me, I can see perfectly" I replied, trying my best not to show the anger in my voice. "Your family is rich then?" the Vice-Captain asked, fanning the flame further, "No, My family has a blood contract - [The Blood contract Isaac is talking about is the alliance between SpellSwords and those outside of their family, be they other SpellSwords or, in this case, Elves. Failure to stick by this contract means death for the one the contract deems to have broken the terms.] - with some great Blacksmiths" I replied, some irritation finding its way into my voice, Ryan looked at me, a wide smile on his face, "With knife ears ~" he joined in on the conversation, and a long silence followed. I knew what they were thinking and I didn't care in the slightest, they could think what they wanted, and it's when they speak is when it becomes a problem.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

The silence held until we came up against the wooden wall and gate surrounding the perimeter of the town. Said wall didn't have much use, there weren't any guards and anyone or anything could just push the gate to enter. Unlike the Fortress settlements typically seen in the Snowlands, This town was structured and defended like a Plainlands settlement. Though- those Plainees don't have to worry much about monsters like the deceptively intelligent 'White Vipers' or unfeeling 'Stalkers' - [These 'monsters' are both seen primarily in the Snowlands. Especially the Stalkers, These 10-12 foot tall monstrosities are incapable of cognitive thought, unlike White Vipers, as such they cannot be reasoned with. Not that they would ever give you the chance.] -

We passed the poor excuse for a defence for the town, the Forest continued past the wooden wall. It seems that the wall surrounds not the perimeter of the town but is a deterrent and it must be designed to make the town appear larger than it is. Another mile forward, inside the wall, is the true perimeter wall of the town. Still made of wood and oddly short but it's rather smart. "It's getting dark, we should be quick" advised the Vice-Captain, he gestured his group over to him, telling them another plan I take it.

Around an hour later we found ourselves at another unmanned wall, this one however had a barred gate "What now?" Ryan asked, the vice-captain frowned, mumbling something under his breath. Sighing, I spoke "I'll handle it" and I approached the wooden wall. Placing a hand on it I estimated its height, my eyes shot from place to place to find a way up and my efforts bore fruit. I clasped a log, sorter and newer than the other, some of the remains of its branches stuck out. I began to climb. Climb it I did, I went over and dropped to a platform, a makeshift battlement emplacement spanning the whole of the inner wall. Some passers-by gawked at me as I climbed down and unbarred the door. Dropping down and joining the others we find near deserted streets. The only people walking around were all rushing to their destination. It was odd behaviour, they should only be like this if there was a blizzard, not light snowfall. Noticing the behaviour, Ryan gripped the hilt of his war axe, the others didn't take much notice. Me and Ryan shared a glance at each other. We knew only a predator could give these people such fear, it's not in the town yet but it's close at least.