There was a solemn silence that hung over the four young warriors as they trudged their way north-east through the thick forest toward Castle Holm. A Makeshift pack had been hastily put together and Isvars body had been subsequently strapped to it under a travelling blanket. Klane had offered to carry the deceased captain but after much protest from his now subordinates, ceded the responsibility to Ewe who was, for all intent more muscular than him anyway, not to mention far less injured.
A brief customary service was observed by the campfire after Klane had issued Isvar his dying blow and absorbed his weakened light but, they as a squad had refused to leave is body behind which was protocol for the soldiers of Castle Holm. Though these were not ordinary soldiers either. Isvar, Klane, Ewe, Reged and Clair had made up a special squad, one of seven under the Head Lord of Holm. Their duty was unknown to all but the upper brass, they were adventurers in a sense. Tasked with going where soldiers couldn't, killing what killed others. They were future elites in training, and this routine mission had left their captain and mentor dead.
Klane had many questions ricocheting through his mind as they walked. What was a deamonkin doing in our territory? How was it so strong? Who had killed it by the cliff and left him to live another day? All of these and more took turns on the forefront of his mind on repeat till he found himself physically irritated at the lack of information and the regrets he had at not being able to save his captain and friend.
"Argghhh"
Lost in thought Klane had caught his foot under an exposed tree root and tumbled to the ground ungraciously. His squad who were all still very much on edge quickly drew weapons but Klane urgently spoke out with a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
"Sorry, i just tripped."
"Are you ok?"
Clair was the first to rush to his side after confirmation that the coast was clear. she reached out a hand and Klane reluctantly took it as he got back to his feet.
"I'm fine."
"If you need to take a brea.."
"I don't need a break." Klane snapped. He was on edge, exhausted and now embarrassed and it was beginning to externalise. Clair stepped back hesitantly and nodded in acceptance before continuing in front.
"I'm sorry Clair, There's a lot on my mind right now."
"There's a lot on all our minds mate." Regard had been the rearguard of the party and gave Klane a hearty slap on the back as he caught up, nearly knocking him to the ground once more. almost pushing them onwards he continued on with the conversation that everyone in the crew wanted to have.
"There's no way that deamonkin should be this deep in our territory without someone noticing."
Everyone mumbled and offered their agreement to the statement. A deamonkin in their territory was almost unheard of. Their nearest population was at their capital of Gurlgard, hundreds of miles away.
"Deamonkin can't just stroll past our borders either, especially not one that strong or that big." Clair offered to the discussion.
"Exactly! Which means it was either born here or let in. I just can't see one that size sneaking by."
"Most of our border men have at least some form of 'Detect' or a tracking skill so surely they would have sensed that aura."
"We didn't sense it to the last second though. Perhaps it had a seriously good evasive skill?"
Klane was listening on quietly to the two squad mates rattle off possibilities. It was true that they hadn't detected that creature's presence till it was upon them, but it was also true that they had not been on high alert owing to how close they were to Holm and home. A fatal hubris that he would never forgive himself for, he was sure.
"So, if someone on the border let that bastard through, what was their goal?" Ewe chimed in from the front of the pack for the first time. He had been silent on point as he navigated through the final thickets of shrub before the forest finally split in two by an ever welcome path that when taken right would lead to the main road running from east to west, from Castle Holm, the mid-north castle town of the Holm Kingdom, all the way through the vast Elven lands and on to kingdom of Syndar. Taking the path left would lead further through the forest and eventually after many miles emerge at a small village on the southern entrance where the trees gave way to vast plains and beyond that still, the Great Capital of Holm sat. The squad turned right and continued with much more ease along the cleared path.
"I think we know what it's goal was… There is no reason for it to be out that far from anything. There's one small village above that cliff and that's it."
"So, it was after us?"
"Seems like the most likely thing scenario to me."
"But why us…"
An awkward pause followed after Clair uttered this last words. There was an obvious reason for why their group might be targeted, but no-one wanted to offer that answer for her. Finally, after what seemed like minutes, Klane spoke out again.
"It was probably looking to kill me."
The awkward silence grew further still. Klane second Son was exactly that. The second son of the Current King of Castle Holm. Klane was a Lord himself, someone considered to be a champion among warriors or a scholar among the intelligent. He was strong, well balanced and in good consideration for the throne of Castle Holm even among his talented siblings who all shared the same genetic dispositions. Had someone really organised a deamonkin to assassinate him? Was there more to it than that?
Klane found himself lost in thought again as did the rest of the squad, and while the moon began to drop again across the clear starry sky, they found themselves at the road to Castle Holm. The familiarity of the scenery filled them all with a newfound vigour and even a touch of optimism. It was a straight shot now from here all the way home. Nothing could be more enticing than a hot meal and bed after a month in the wilderness, even with the shadow of the previous day's events hanging heavily over them, they couldn't help but feel relief on the wide well word road.
It would be another day of travel from their current point, but they were no longer in the wilderness. There were a few small villages set back into the forest slightly just off the road and a few more still built right on it. The first was only a mile away, built up around the road, there was a well-stocked in and Klane knew they would be able to rest there for the night but something in the back of his mind, an intuition of sorts told him they shouldn't stop here tonight. He couldn't put any reason behind the feeling but in his eighty odd years, his intuition had not done him wrong, and he wasn't going to ignore it now after all that had transpired.
"We're going to move past Gresch."
"What, why the hell would we keep going?"
"Are you kidding me? It must be nearly four in the morning. I've been carrying Isvar for hours."
Clair remained silent through the revolt on the decision.
"I've got the feeling we need to keep going and reach one of the forest towns."
"Damn it all"
The two other men seemed to accept this explanation and move on as if it were natural. They had been with Klane in training and in the current squad for over a decade now and were familiar with his knack for making good decisions on gut instinct. With a collective sigh they continued through the night. The trees on either side soon made way to buildings and streets. The Inviting "Golden Horse" inn still had lights on and muffled conversation even at this hour. It took an almighty will for the broken and exhausted squad to pass the lit windows and shuffle their aching feet beyond the outskirts on the other side of town.
Another hour on the road passed and the night had begun to lighten ever so slightly bringing with it the sound of the early birds making their morning hunt which climbed slowly louder every minute from the surrounding leaves. The squad had finally reached the branch in the road they were after. A smaller offshoot which ran off into the still darkness of the forest to their left for around half a mile before reaching the well-established town of Vindat.
Vindat was a relatively large circular village of a few hundred buildings and cobbled streets that wound concentrically inwards from the outskirts. It was also home to a well-established hunters guild, separate from the authority of the Castle Holm military but none the less law abiding and loyal to the crown.
"We'll stay at the hunter's guild and get a few hours rest."
"Righto, at least they'll have a meal and a bed."
"And a drink."
"Save the drinking for when we get home boys."
The hunter's guild was a few streets into town and stood imposingly amongst the buildings either side. Its dark stone masonry was at odds with the grey stone town and it's large oak doors were adorned with a large bold coat of arms displaying a boar skull and some form of deamonkin skull facing each other, each pierced through by arrows. Klane climbed the dark stone steps and pushed open the oak doors, feeling the warmth of the fires inside billow out between the oak invitingly.
***
"I'm looking for five soldiers from Castle Holm. Four men and a young blond woman."
"No-one of that description staying here. I promise."
Grey released the scruff of the innkeeper and dropped him back to the ground. The innkeeper was a short balding man who had clearly lived a life of drink and food. His large belly bobbed as his feet landed unceremoniously on the stone floor. The soldiers all had their weapons drawn and held the drunken patrons at bay.
"Where the fuck are they?"
"Sir, they must still be on the road to Holm."
"That son of a bitch Isvar must have made them march through the night."
"Do you think he knows something?"
"Don't be stupid Ryan. He's probably just testing them again for thrills. MOVE OUT"
The soldier in unison about faced and marched back out the doors of the Golden Horse inn. The light of the sun had just begun to pierce the cool darkness of pre-dawn.
"Sir if we don't hurry, the morning guard will be on them before we get the chance."
"Fucking move then!"
With that the soldiers broke out at a jog along the road to Castle Holm in search of their prey that had seemingly got away.