Magician stumbled again. Something fell out of his pocket close to Kianâs hands. He waited until everyone was out of the tent to investigate.
Feeling around blindly, Kian found a jagged piece of metal. Hoping Magician would give him enough time, he diligently began to hack away at the thick rope.
âWe have entertainment,â M-A shouted just outside the tent. âThis man claims he can work magic like the gods and bring back our fire!â
The men jeered. Kian felt their boots on the ground, coming toward the fire pit to view this native and the mysteriously extinguished fire. Magicianâs plan was working. He was enough of a distraction to attract everyone and allow Kian to roam around unfettered.
The Kaligan rope, while thick, was very dry. The fibres snapped and tore, and while much of his skin came away with the rope, Kian was able to free himself before Magician had even begun his show.
Sneaking to the entrance of the tent, he listened until he was sure everyone was busy. Then, staying low under cover of night, he snuck toward the tents that contained the gifts. Kian and Magician had spied the riches this legion was bringing their general and their emperor. Kian had never seen Magician look so smug.
The gold was right in the middle of the procession, behind the supplies tent but before all of the important commandersâ tents. For all that the Kaligan carried large quantities of gold, they had grown used to being alone in a wild landscape, only attacked in the forests where Kianâs people had the advantage. Camping out in the open with scouts on the perimeter, the Kaligan had nothing to fear. Their treasure was left largely unattended, and now Kian would take advantage of that.
He found the tent with gifts of food and thick li-quids in barrels. Some smelled absolutely foul and were stained with bright colours. Others smelled richly of some kind of fruit Kian had never tasted before. The gold was in a box.
In the short time Magician had whispered the plan from across the supply tent, Kian had been panicking too much to think of the finer details.
Now his heart raced wildly as he looked for an object small enough to carry but large enough that Magician would say it was enough. Kian couldnât imagine how many provisions the treasure he looked through could buy for his tribe, but he did know he could not buy his way out of this situation. What the Riada needed was their hope back. And magic.
Finally, he spotted a bulky object wrapped in canvas. He unwrapped it to reveal a golden eagle. It was perfect. He tucked it under his arm and was almost out of the tent when the familiar sound of heavy footsteps forced him to hide next to the entrance.
Kian breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he saw that only one soldier entered, lazily looking around on casual patrol. Kian quickly considered his options. If he waited, the man might not leave quickly enough for him to meet Magician where they had agreed. If he didnât wait, the soldier could raise an alarm and Kian would be caught.
His choice was made for him when he shifted the golden eagle in his arms and it rustled against his cloak. The Kaligan soldier turned around quickly, grabbing for the short sword at his waist. Kian raised the eagle and hit the man hard on the head before he could even think about what he was doing.
A piece of the eagleâs wing clattered to the floor as the man collapsed with a significant dent in his helmet. Had he not been wearing a helmet, the blow would have killed him.
Kianâs hands shook as he stepped over the prone form and ran from the camp into the woods, doing his best to stay hidden. His legs carried him quickly.
Though the bare branches of winter didnât provide a lot of cover, the moonless night meant darkness for Kian. Distant fires, now burning brightly, reflected off the eagle tucked under his arm. Its weight was beginning to hurt him, and Kian set it down in the snow as he watched the
Feeling around blindly, Kian found a jagged piece of metal. Hoping Magician would give him enough time, he diligently began to hack away at the thick rope.
âWe have entertainment,â M-A shouted just outside the tent. âThis man claims he can work magic like the gods and bring back our fire!â
The men jeered. Kian felt their boots on the ground, coming toward the fire pit to view this native and the mysteriously extinguished fire. Magicianâs plan was working. He was enough of a distraction to attract everyone and allow Kian to roam around unfettered.
The Kaligan rope, while thick, was very dry. The fibres snapped and tore, and while much of his skin came away with the rope, Kian was able to free himself before Magician had even begun his show.
Sneaking to the entrance of the tent, he listened until he was sure everyone was busy. Then, staying low under cover of night, he snuck toward the tents that contained the gifts. Kian and Magician had spied the riches this legion was bringing their general and their emperor. Kian had never seen Magician look so smug.
The gold was right in the middle of the procession, behind the supplies tent but before all of the important commandersâ tents. For all that the Kaligan carried large quantities of gold, they had grown used to being alone in a wild landscape, only attacked in the forests where Kianâs people had the advantage. Camping out in the open with scouts on the perimeter, the Kaligan had nothing to fear. Their treasure was left largely unattended, and now Kian would take advantage of that.
He found the tent with gifts of food and thick li-quids in barrels. Some smelled absolutely foul and were stained with bright colours. Others smelled richly of some kind of fruit Kian had never tasted before. The gold was in a box.
In the short time Magician had whispered the plan from across the supply tent, Kian had been panicking too much to think of the finer details.
Now his heart raced wildly as he looked for an object small enough to carry but large enough that Magician would say it was enough. Kian couldnât imagine how many provisions the treasure he looked through could buy for his tribe, but he did know he could not buy his way out of this situation. What the Riada needed was their hope back. And magic.
Finally, he spotted a bulky object wrapped in canvas. He unwrapped it to reveal a golden eagle. It was perfect. He tucked it under his arm and was almost out of the tent when the familiar sound of heavy footsteps forced him to hide next to the entrance.
Kian breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he saw that only one soldier entered, lazily looking around on casual patrol. Kian quickly considered his options. If he waited, the man might not leave quickly enough for him to meet Magician where they had agreed. If he didnât wait, the soldier could raise an alarm and Kian would be caught.
His choice was made for him when he shifted the golden eagle in his arms and it rustled against his cloak. The Kaligan soldier turned around quickly, grabbing for the short sword at his waist. Kian raised the eagle and hit the man hard on the head before he could even think about what he was doing.
A piece of the eagleâs wing clattered to the floor as the man collapsed with a significant dent in his helmet. Had he not been wearing a helmet, the blow would have killed him.
Kianâs hands shook as he stepped over the prone form and ran from the camp into the woods, doing his best to stay hidden. His legs carried him quickly.
Though the bare branches of winter didnât provide a lot of cover, the moonless night meant darkness for Kian. Distant fires, now burning brightly, reflected off the eagle tucked under his arm. Its weight was beginning to hurt him, and Kian set it down in the snow as he watched the
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