Winterfinding (5 page)

The commander hurried off as Moxley
continued to stand behind Lesur. “Sir, what exactly is your
intention?”

“
We need to find out whose
fleet that is and what they want. We need to ready The Blockade
because it cannot be broken. And we need to notify the Spires as
quickly as possible.”

“
I’m going to the
Spires?”

“
After I come back from
that fleet. And even if I don’t.”

“
But sir.”

“
They’ll listen to you in
the Kyria; you’ve been groomed for the assemblage since you were a
boy.” Lesur began to button his coat as he looked out toward the
mysterious fleet shaking his head, “They’ve nothing but disdain for
me there, but you’ll fair better.”

“
I don’t think it’s wise
for you to go, we have no idea of what that fleet is capable
of.”

Lesur turned and slapped Moxley on the
shoulder, “Exactly. Finally a bit of drama.”

“
I don’t think it’s
appropriate…”

Baxter had appeared again seemingly out of
nowhere, holding the Admiral’s sabre and gloves. Lesur began to
further straighten himself, “You will take command should something
happen to me. If nothing happens, then I will send you to the
Spires to with all the information I’ve been able to glean.”

“
Admiral Lesur, I have to
protest. I should be the one going to meet this Lappalan fleet.”
Moxley asserted.

“
If it is from Lappala,
meeting with the second-in-command will yield us nothing. They will
feel slighted, and we will be in no better a position than we are
now. I must go.” He waved Baxter off; the valet disappeared down
the stairs to the Admiral’s cabin. “The Aral hasn’t set to sea in
centuries. This…happening,” he waved his hand, “has no precedent.
We need to approach this carefully and confidently and, my
apologies Kieran, you aren’t there yet.”

Moxley smiled despite himself when Lesur
used his first name. He understood, pulled himself to attention,
saluted, and went to organize the ships and men needed. Lesur
walked to the edge of the ship, he put on hand on the railing and
let his other rest casually on the hilt of his sabre.

He remembered back when he was a boy and his
nan use to tell him stories. Always of brazen adventurers who
through some witchery were granted their fondest wishes and deepest
desires. They got what they wanted when they had reached their
lowest point and when their dreams came true they invariably
twisted in such a way to be a nightmare. Those adventurers always
learned a valuable lesson. Yvor Lesur smiled as he imagined the
lesson he would finally learn.

CHAPTER Two

17
^th
of Samhain

North of
Midhalm

Two riders on unsaddled steads burst from
the forest. They raced into a large, open glade pulling up around
the middle. One of the hooded riders spat as the other fought with
limited success to bring its horse around. Once the horses were
near to each other, the second rider pulled back his hood.

“
What was all that about?”
Goshen shouted.

“
Fuck, you ride like
shit.” Declan said casually as he slowly pulled his hood down. Not
looking at Goshen, he stared back into the woods from where they
had emerged.

“
You didn’t say anything
about stealing horses.” Goshen was trying to sound furious but it
was clear to Declan that he was only going through the motions of
outrage.

“
We had no coin.” Declan
replied flatly. “I think we lost them, but we shouldn’t stay
here.”

“
I’m going to fall off
this damn beast.” Goshen was desperately trying to situate himself
on the horse. The animal could tell he wasn’t a competent rider.
Declan reached out grabbing Goshen by the upper arm to help
straighten him.

“
There’s no real trick,
just hold the mane and the damn rope and use your legs like you
would in a saddle.”

“
I’m not in a saddle.”
Goshen protested.

Declan scowled, “You need to get better at
this.”

“
Do I?”

“
Don’t get snippy. I doubt
this will be the last time we might need to pinch a few
items.”

“
These aren’t items. These
are horses.” Goshen righted himself seeming for a moment to have
stabilized.

“
Of the two of us, it’s
clear I’m the one that most knows just what they are.”

“
Only just barely escaping
farmers,” Goshen muttered.

“
You think you’re better
than that?” Declan chuckled and Goshen cracked a smile. “Those two
boys nearly overtook you. You’re lucky their steads wouldn’t jump
the fence.”

“
I think this horse was
just trying to buck me off.” Goshen mumbled.

“
Most likely.”

Kira and Fery were just through the woods
behind them camped not three hillsides away. If they road well and
didn’t run into any further difficulties, Declan and Goshen would
arrive within about a half hour. The four of them had left the
ternary headwaters weeks ago. They’d moved slowly at first allowing
Declan to heal more from the wound he had endured at the battle at
the Cruor. Their trek had been a quiet up until this point. The
current drama was due to Declan’s own impatience.

The two moved out of the glade into the next
thicket of woods. They had taken drays with the belief that two
workhorses would better carry the four of them. Goshen refused to
let Declan steal four riding ponies, reasoning two would be an
easier loss for the rancher. Declan had conceded simply because he
was sick of walking, something being better than nothing. The pair
made their way through the forest without any subtlety. Goshen was
dreadful on horseback and the dense understory made egging on the
thick, heavy steads less than easy.

“
What do you reckon? A day
with these two?”

Declan scoffed at Goshen’s suggestion,
“Well, we won’t be galloping. I’d hate to see you fall and crack
your head open.”

“
I’m not so bad,” Goshen’s
grip on his horses mane tightened and horse winced as his legs dug
in, “At least, I can get better.”

Declan halted raising his fist up to signal
Goshen to stop and be silent. Goshen scanned the woods, looking for
movement. Declan turned to him and gestured up ahead to the right.
In a fluid motion, Declan dismounted and tied this horse to nearby
tree. Goshen watched as Declan disappeared into the thick woods
crouched and moving with astonishing silent speed. Goshen still
couldn’t see or hear anything.

A few interminable moments passed as he
tried to spy through the trees. He heard birds, and for an instant,
he thought he heard movement but it was just a couple of squirrels
leaping about. Suddenly, Declan was at his side. It startled him so
much he almost fell off the horse.

Grabbing him and keeping him upright, Declan
whispered, “There are three men just ahead; they’re on a rise a bit
above us.”

“
How do you
know?”

“
C’mon,” Declan scowled,
“Stay here and keep the horses as still and quiet as you can.”
Before Goshen could reply, Declan was off again.

His footfalls were
shockingly silent. Goshen debated staying on the mount or not.
Getting back on would be a headache but it’d be easier for him to
keep the animals at heel if he were on the ground.
Or maybe not
, he
thought, as the two drays simply stood bored and
unmoving.

Declan moved with pace as the woods thinned.
He stopped short before a long ravine dipping maybe two yards down
to a stony creek bed with silently moving sad trickle of water.
Just next to him was a thick fallen tree, which he used to cross,
and began to move up the gentle slope. Near the crest of the hill,
he heard voices. He slowed crouching lower still, moved forward,
and then laid down near a shattered stump to spy the group.
Declan’s worry was that the rancher they had robbed had somehow not
just found where they were but had assembled a hunting party. His
concerns were unfounded; it was much worse.

Five foot soldiers were in a semicircle
around an oxcart helmed by two peasants. There were two mounted
troops as well. The foot soldiers were inspecting the oxcart, armed
with queer looking glaives that had blue ribbons dangling from them
and wearing stiff looking leathers dyed a similar azure. The
horsemen were well-armored sporting blue sashes around their waist
and directing the actions of the soldiers. The peasants were
arguing but weren’t interfering. In fact, Declan got the impression
they were bartering.

“
What might you be doin’?”
A mocking voice came from behind Declan. He froze cursing
himself.

“
So why don’t you get up.
Slowly.” Another voice added. Declan rose with his arms open out at
his sides and turned around toward the second voice. Two soldiers
stood facing him, one with a crossbow fixed on him and the other
casually tapping the hilt of the sword at his side.

“
Yer name then.” The first
soldier demanded.

“
Rainway.” Declan said
bitterly.

“
Kinda pissy, ain’t ya.”
The soldier chuckled.

“
Just shoulda done a
better job of hearing you two come up on me.” Declan
shrugged.

The soldier with the crossbow gestured with
it at him, “Your sword.”

“
Yeah, right.” The first
added, “And any other blades you might have on ya.” He stepped
toward Declan as his face squinted up in a threat, “If you try
anything you’ll die with an arrow through your skull. So don’t fuck
with us.” Declan closed his eyes and nodded; the soldier took his
sword, boot knife, and the knife he had sheathed at the small of
his back.

“
Just having a peek about?
Looking to rob these folks once we’re gone?” The soldier held
Declan’s weapons in one hand as he unsheathed his own sword
gesturing with it for him to start heading down the hillside to the
rest of the troop.

“
Hold on,” the bowman
said, “You alone?”

Declan was silent for a beat too long,
“Speak up, son.”

“
Yeah, jus’
me.”

“
I doubt tha’,” the
soldier nodded to the bowman, “Go have a look in the wood, right.”
The bowman pulled up his weapon, then disappeared into the forest
more quickly and silently than Declan had seen from someone in a
long time. The first soldier could tell he was impressed; he cocked
his head toward his departed comrade, “Was a warden in Elixem
before he was drafted.”

“
Well, he caught me sure
enough.” Declan spat.

“
Oh, yeah, wit ease. Go on
now, to the wagon.”

They made their way down the hill and joined
the party around the oxcart. One of the mounted men trotted over to
inspect Declan. Looking him over, the horsemen betrayed no emotion
then looked passed him to the soldier prodding Declan on.

“
Who have you found,
Reeves?” The horseman’s voice had bite to it infected with
annoyance.

“
Calls himself Rainway,
Master Kees.” Reeves handed up to the horseman Declan’s weapons, “I
think he may have some friends in the woods though he don’t say
so.”

“
Arcite checking it out?”
Kees asked, and Reeves nodded. “Bind him; I’ll deal with it in a
moment.” Kees turned his horse trotting over to the other
horseman.

“
Right then,” Reeves spoke
to Declan, “cross your wrists behind your back.” Declan obeyed and
he felt cool leather strips wrap around his hands. Reeves twisted
the strips tight, then patted Declan on the shoulder, “No worries,
son, we’ll have you along your way soon enough. Assuming everything
goes smoothly.”

Declan nodded to the oxcart, “So what’s this
about?”

“
Master Kees and Oswold
are confiscating these folk’s wagon and stock for the legion but it
seems they’re rather resistant to let it go.”

“
Confiscating?”

“
Aye,” Reeves nodded,
“legion’s growing every day, so we’ve been tasked with collecting
from the locals. Not many too keen on it though.”

“
The legion is…Novosar?”
Declan fished.

Reeves laughed, “Hardly, though t’ere are
quite a few of us in the ranks. And more are supposed to be
coming.”

“
So then…”

Reeves raised an eyebrow, “Where ‘ave you
been, son? We’re the Silvincian army looking to be sanctioned by
The Cathedral.”

“
To do what
exactly?”

“
Well, the line is ta
intervene in Essia to protect the Cassubian and Silvincian
enclaves.”

“
Intervene? Protect the
enclaves?”

“
I know, right? Such
rubbish. But the Spires and Cathedral, they like to keep their
hands clean.”

“
At least on paper.”
Declan sneered.

“
Right you
are.”

“
How many of you are
there?”

“
Oh, I dunno if you need
to be told tha.” Reeves winked.

Just then, there came a whistle from the
hillside behind them. It was Arcite, the bowman, leading the two
drays while pushing a bound Goshen along. Reeves held up a hand to
Arcite, then turned to Declan with his eyes narrow, “Friend of
yours, then.”