to the city. Well-guarded by a contingent of Leoran soldiers, the gate kept non-citizens and other rabble from even stepping foot on the road across the lake.
“Halt!” cried the soldiers, thrusting the points of their lances forward at an angle.
Kael pulled on the reigns and stopped his horse.
“Identify yourself,” demanded the soldiers.
“I am a scout for Dacien Gallus, Captain of the Guard of Bastul .”
After a few minutes of careful inspection of his belongings, the guards allowed Kael to pass. The road was over a mile in length and perfectly straight. Kael kicked his steed and sped to a gallop. The air was surprisingly still, and for the first time in weeks, Kael looked around and marveled at the beauty of the landscape. The smooth water reflected the bright sunlight and the golden grasses of the surrounding fields. There was a time when Kael thought more about such things, but the urgency of the situation flooded his mind and he found himself racing for the city walls.
As he closed within a hundred yards of the city walls, a small group of men exited the shadow of the entrance. One man waved his hand and Kael instantly recognized Dacien. Seconds later, Kael dismounted and grasped the hand of his new friend. But the fact that Caius and the other soldier were not present made the situation awkward.
“Where are they?” Dacien asked, turning to lead Kael into the city.
“I found the confirmation that I needed, but we were attacked. Caius was badly injured and the other man didn’t make it. Caius and I made it half of the way here before he was overcome with sickness. I saw him through the worst of it, but I had to leave him in order to reach you in time.”
Dacien looked skeptical but momentarily set it aside for the more obvious issue. “We’ll send someone back for him. In the meantime, come inside and rest and tell me the reason for your urgency; I’ll assume you had a good reason to leave one of my men alone and injured.”
Dacien’s idea of rest wasn’t nearly as luxurious as it sounded. Kael was hoping for a pub, but was instead taken to Dacien’s temporary quarters and given a plate of cheese and some wine. After a few swallows, Kael could feel his muscles relax.
“Alright,” he breathed, exhaustion showing. “We followed the river inland for three days…” Kael said, and continued to recount the happenings of the last few weeks, from the ambush to Caius’ sickness.
“Where did you leave him?”
“Three weeks back, along the route you followed here. You will find him in a shaded valley next to a stream.” Kael reached into his travel bag and pulled out Caius’ cloak. “He also gave me this and said you wouldn’t believe me otherwise.”
The disappointment of Dacien and the others in the room was tangible. It was as if the air was stolen from their lungs at the same moment. Dacien hung his head and when he raised it again, his eyes were holding back tears.
In that moment, Kael understood the significance of the cloak. “He didn’t intend to make it here alive…did he?”
Dacien confirmed Kael’s questions with a shake of his head. After a minute of silence, he straightened his shoulders as if to set aside his grief for another time. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet and deep.
“You said there were hundreds of Syvaku moving on foot?”
“Yes. They were headed north, and based on what happened at Bastul , I believe they intend to attack Leoran .”
“They’ll need more than a few hundred to take this city,” argued another soldier. Kael didn’t recognize him and assumed he was a Leoran citizen.
Dacien looked back to Kael. “We have a few weeks at most. I will call a council with the General tonight and explain these things.”
Kael opened his mouth to speak, but Dacien held up his hand in protest. “I know, but your word won’t be trusted. I’ll tell him myself. Besides, with your hair and less-than-groomed manner of dress, you might be mistaken for a
“Halt!” cried the soldiers, thrusting the points of their lances forward at an angle.
Kael pulled on the reigns and stopped his horse.
“Identify yourself,” demanded the soldiers.
“I am a scout for Dacien Gallus, Captain of the Guard of Bastul .”
After a few minutes of careful inspection of his belongings, the guards allowed Kael to pass. The road was over a mile in length and perfectly straight. Kael kicked his steed and sped to a gallop. The air was surprisingly still, and for the first time in weeks, Kael looked around and marveled at the beauty of the landscape. The smooth water reflected the bright sunlight and the golden grasses of the surrounding fields. There was a time when Kael thought more about such things, but the urgency of the situation flooded his mind and he found himself racing for the city walls.
As he closed within a hundred yards of the city walls, a small group of men exited the shadow of the entrance. One man waved his hand and Kael instantly recognized Dacien. Seconds later, Kael dismounted and grasped the hand of his new friend. But the fact that Caius and the other soldier were not present made the situation awkward.
“Where are they?” Dacien asked, turning to lead Kael into the city.
“I found the confirmation that I needed, but we were attacked. Caius was badly injured and the other man didn’t make it. Caius and I made it half of the way here before he was overcome with sickness. I saw him through the worst of it, but I had to leave him in order to reach you in time.”
Dacien looked skeptical but momentarily set it aside for the more obvious issue. “We’ll send someone back for him. In the meantime, come inside and rest and tell me the reason for your urgency; I’ll assume you had a good reason to leave one of my men alone and injured.”
Dacien’s idea of rest wasn’t nearly as luxurious as it sounded. Kael was hoping for a pub, but was instead taken to Dacien’s temporary quarters and given a plate of cheese and some wine. After a few swallows, Kael could feel his muscles relax.
“Alright,” he breathed, exhaustion showing. “We followed the river inland for three days…” Kael said, and continued to recount the happenings of the last few weeks, from the ambush to Caius’ sickness.
“Where did you leave him?”
“Three weeks back, along the route you followed here. You will find him in a shaded valley next to a stream.” Kael reached into his travel bag and pulled out Caius’ cloak. “He also gave me this and said you wouldn’t believe me otherwise.”
The disappointment of Dacien and the others in the room was tangible. It was as if the air was stolen from their lungs at the same moment. Dacien hung his head and when he raised it again, his eyes were holding back tears.
In that moment, Kael understood the significance of the cloak. “He didn’t intend to make it here alive…did he?”
Dacien confirmed Kael’s questions with a shake of his head. After a minute of silence, he straightened his shoulders as if to set aside his grief for another time. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet and deep.
“You said there were hundreds of Syvaku moving on foot?”
“Yes. They were headed north, and based on what happened at Bastul , I believe they intend to attack Leoran .”
“They’ll need more than a few hundred to take this city,” argued another soldier. Kael didn’t recognize him and assumed he was a Leoran citizen.
Dacien looked back to Kael. “We have a few weeks at most. I will call a council with the General tonight and explain these things.”
Kael opened his mouth to speak, but Dacien held up his hand in protest. “I know, but your word won’t be trusted. I’ll tell him myself. Besides, with your hair and less-than-groomed manner of dress, you might be mistaken for a
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