When everything had settled down, they had lost three people: Moira, who had died attacking the enemy mage, Cael and Owen, who had both fallen to enemy swords. Wulfram frowned at the primitive funeral pyre they had set up for Moira and Cael, and the grave they had dug for Owen. They didn’t even have a Quietus priest to lay Owen to rest properly.
The Hesiodos party had their own rituals, and the shaman apparently doubled as a priest. He chanted over the bodies of Moira and Cael, placing flowers and leaves carefully over them, resting coins on each of their closed eyes. The corner of Wulfram’s mouth twitched up slightly, perhaps they weren’t so different after all.
He knelt by Owen’s grave, reaching in to set two coins on the man’s eyes. “Rest well my friend, may Quietus guide you in peace to the afterlife.” He said softly, and stood up, nodding to Harvick.
The mage swallowed hard, his eyes overly bright as he completed his ritual circle, adding a soft chant to activate the spell. A soft glow formed around the pile of dirt they had dug from the hole, and it lifted slowly. Their remaining group stood silently around the hole as it filled in with dirt, none of them were priests, they had no elaborate prayers they could say for their fallen friend. They could only send their simple, silent prayers for Owen’s rest. Wulfram turned from the grave in time to see Alastar breath fire on the pyre, lighting the dry grasses and twigs beneath Moira and Cael with the power of his breath. He didn’t know what gods the Hesiodos clans worshipped, but he sent a prayer to Quietus for their rest as well. They had died as well as any warrior, protecting their king.
“We shouldn’t linger here long.” He said softly.
Alastar straightened, staring as the flames wrapped around Cael and Moira’s bodies, hotter than Wulfram would have thought possible. He wasn’t even sure if Alastar had heard him.
The roar of the fire extended up into the sky, a beacon to any who might intend them harm. It wasn’t safe to stay here, especially with the unburied dead. Wulfram looked over the fallen enemy soldiers. They weren’t bandits, they were too well trained, too well equipped, and they had known where to find them. But who had sent them was a mystery, they had no coat of arms, and all seemed to be human, a mixed lot at that. It wasn’t unusual for towns along the Trade Road, but these were soldiers, they had to come from a common region, didn’t they?
He looked over their own mixed lot, not even all human. His own party had Gryff, a Felinae in it, and Alastar’s party had Hywel, a dwarf. But the humans all shared certain broad characteristics to the others in their party. Alastar’s people were all light skinned, most of them tall and broad. Although he suspected Alastar was not quite human, and he was the biggest of them all, nearly a giant in comparison to the people in Wulfram’s party, who were all dark haired with sun-kissed skin.
He knelt down by one of the dead. They hadn’t buried them, but had laid them out in a row. Wulfram frowned as he studied them, looking for some clue, any clue that might tell him who had sent them.
“Do we need to talk to one of them?” Alastar’s voice came from behind Wulfram, lacking it’s usual energy. He was dry-eyed, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t affected. Wulfram stood up with a frown, looking up to the bigger man.
“I know your people don’t have the same feelings about blood magic that we do, but surely you draw the line at raising the dead?” These people had been his enemies, had tried to kill them all, but there were some things that all people deserved. One of those things was to rest in peace, or at least whatever peace Quietus felt they had earned in their lifetime.
“It is forbidden magic, but that does not mean unknown.” Alastar looked at the line of the dead, clenching his hands into fists. “These are no bandits, and I want to know who sent them.”
“I want to know that too, but there are other ways of investigating. I won’t stand by and let you disturb the dead.” Wulfram stood tall, his gaze not moving from Alastar. “I know you lost people too, but we need to think clearly.”
“They died because of me.” Alastar growled, smoke curling up from his mouth as he stared, stoney-eyed, at the dead. “These people killed them, because of me.”
“They died doing their duty, honoring their king. I know it’s cold comfort, but you can’t blame yourself for their deaths!” Wulfram said, grabbing Alastar by the shoulders, giving him a firm shake. It was like trying to shake a statue, but Alastar’s gaze moved to him, and he caught a flash of grief in the man’s eyes.
“It was my idea to search for my sister, my selfishness that led them here.”
“Their loyalty and belief in you led them here. And is it selfishness? If Dani is your sister, then the alliance our mothers planned can move forward. It could mean peace for both our kingdoms.” As long as Dani went along with it. She had already made it clear she was upset about the marriage, but if he explained how it could benefit their people perhaps she would agree to it.
Alastar let out a snort of laughter. “I’m not going to pretend that was my first thought in this quest.”
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“Of course it wasn’t, but it was one of your thoughts, wasn’t it?” Wulfram stepped back and spread his arms. “We’re going to bring peace to our people, all of our people, that’s what Moira, Cael and Owen all died for.”
“You’re an idealistic fool.” Alastar shook his head, but he was smiling faintly now. “Let’s get moving before more people decide we need to die before we bring peace to our people.”
Wulfram nodded, and headed towards this horse. He paused, resting a hand on Owen’s horse. All it carried now was his sword and armor, which would pass on to his son. He closed his eyes a moment, swallowing around a lump in his throat. It was his duty to inform the boy and his mother. All that talk about how Owen had died to bring peace to their people didn’t make it any easier.
When he was sure he could talk without disgracing himself, he mounted up. “Let’s go. We ride through the night.” The sooner they got back to the city, the better.
They didn’t rest until the next night, near the same stream they had camped by their first night out of the city. They were close now, and hadn’t run into any more trouble. But they didn’t skimp on keeping watch.
“I guess whoever sent those men after us felt that one attack was all they needed.” Wulfram said, watching the fire crackle as he sat watch with Alastar. It was supposed to be Harvick’s turn, but the mage was sleeping so deeply that it wasn’t worth trying to wake him up. Besides, Wulfram couldn’t sleep anyways. They were going to arrive in the city soon, and he was worried about what they might find.
Alastar nodded, his back to the fire as he scanned the surrounding area. “Possibly. Although it seems foolish to not have a way to confirm the kill. I won’t be at ease until we reach our destination. You said we should arrive tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow evening, yes.” Wulfram frowned, Alastar had a point, they had to have a way to confirm the kill. Maybe someone was supposed to report back, but no one escaped that he had noticed. “We’ll report on what happened as soon as we get back, and begin working on who might have sent those men after us. They might be trying to start a war.”
The illusion the enemy mage had cast had made Alastar look like an enemy before it was dispelled. The only reason Wulfram could think for doing that would be to trick one of the Cresenvasht party members into killing Alastar. If the king of Hesiodos died while on a mission in Cresenvasht it would be bad enough, but if he were killed by a member of the royal party? War would have been inevitable.
“I think so as well.” Alastar said. He paced across the small clearing, watching the shadows as if expecting someone or something to jump out at them. “I also don’t think they were from Hesiodos. Their party was all male, and smaller than what is normal in Hesiodos.”
“Dani is small.” Wulfram smiled a little as he thought of her, glaring up at him in the tunnels with such spirit in her eyes. “Surely not all people of Hesiodos are big?”
“Not all, no. But most of us are. Dani took after our mother, she was smaller than average as well.” Alastar paused in his pacing, listening to the wind rustle the leaves around them. After a moment, he started to pace again. “And smaller people in Hesiodos tent to be trackers, mages, things of that sort. It is rare for one to be a warrior, they just aren’t built for it.”
“And I thought women weren’t built to be warriors at all, but your women fight fiercely. But regardless, I agree with you. It’s possible they’re from Cresenvasht, but that doesn’t make sense either. Why would anyone in either kingdom want war, or to risk their king or prince?” Wulfram said.
Alastar let out a laugh that sounded like a low growl. “There are many reasons why someone from either kingdom might want that. It could well be someone in power trying to make a play for either throne, or it could be someone from outside the kingdoms trying to prevent an alliance between us. We need to look for who benefits from hostilities between Cresenvasht and Hesiodos, narrow down the list of who could be responsible, and handle them.”
“Agreed. The first group that comes to mind is the Empire of Black Ice. It took both our kingdoms to repel them last time, it’s possible they’re preparing for another strike.” Wulfram picked up a stick, starting a list in the dirt.
“There are certain clans within Hesiodos that are not pleased with being unified under my clan, it could be organized by any of them as well. Cresenvasht follows the male line, correct? Who is next in line after you?”
Wulfram frowned, tapping his stick against the ground as he thought. He was the only male heir, and his sisters were too young to marry. That meant it would have to go out of the direct line. “Lord Roderick would be the next to take the throne if my father died with no further male heirs. But the illusion was cast on you, not me. They were trying to get you killed.”
Alastar nodded, scratching at the stubble on his chin. “You have a point. Who else might profit from conflict between our two kingdoms?”
“No one. Not that I can think of anyway. The conflict has cost us in trade and reputation. Before the conflict we worked together to secure the Trade Road, but since our kingdoms have been at odds it’s been harder to patrol, harder to repair.”
“For us as well, we’ve seen fewer caravans coming from Cresenvasht to Trade City, and some have complained about the lack of certain goods. Our people want an alliance, I just want to make sure it’s a fair alliance.” Alastar said.
“We want a fair alliance as well.” Wulfram paused, thinking of some on his father’s council. He gave a reluctant nod. “Most of us want a fair alliance at least. But even those who are greedy wouldn’t benefit from your death.”
“No, if I die before bearing a son, preferably multiple sons, then they would be left with a group of clans to fight for the Trade Road.” Alastar finally sat down, picking up a log and tossing it into the fire.
Wulfram paused, eyes widening. “Oh. You’re right!”
Alastar looked at Wulfram, an eyebrow raising. “You sound like you’ve thought of something.”
“We were worried about fighting a united Hesiodos.” Wulfram leaned forward, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Our army would struggle to fight off a united Hesiodos, but a fractured one, where we only have to fight one clan at a time? We would be able to handle that easily.”
“Not as easily as you think, I imagine. But I can see your point.” Alastar’s face darkened, and he stared into the fire. “If someone from your kingdom is trying to break apart the clans of Hesiodos, we need to stop them.”
“And we need to keep you safe.” Wulfram looked at the tents, fighting the urge to wake the others and continue on to the palace tonight. But it would be better for them to be rested, just in case something happened.