strategy meetings, but he could make his own decisions.
"An assembly of Goulix are moving from their estate. They left this morning and appear to be heading northwest. I would bet they are going to the Hoittor Tribe. My scout said they are escorting ore and smith tools."
Everyone got the implication and tried to hold back their excitement. We lacked anyone in the camp that made arms, and while we had some rudimentary forging equipment, every army needed a skilled smith.
"Could it be a trap?" Thayer asked.
"Possibly, but we've never attacked Goulix or Hoittor. We've just been focusing on the smaller tribes. If they knew our camp was here, they would crush us." Alexia smiled while she made light coal marks on the map.
"How many?" Shlara asked.
"Five hundred or so. My scout made a rough deduction and came back quickly to report. It is a three-day ride back here. They work in trios, so the other two are still observing. I should get another update in four days. We will be able to guess their route better at that point." My friends nodded and turned to the map on the table.
We had established a great working relationship when planning the moves of our army. It had been built on trust, accountability, and the understanding that we would make mistakes and learn from them. Within half an hour we solidified a plan for the possible routes that the Goulix caravan might take. I would be positioned with Alexia's forces overlooking a small canyon that the convoy would pass through to reach the Hoittor estate. Thayer, Gorbanni, and Shlara would cover alternate passages in case we were mistaken about Goulix's destination.
"We'll adjust once we get the second report from Alexia's scout," I confirmed after we reached a conclusion. "I will update Malek." I heard his familiar boot steps approaching.
"I am here." His face was white and a frown of pain replaced the normal smile.
"What is wrong?" I asked.
"Entas has died."
Chapter 5-Kaiyer
Entas's passing wasn't as devastating as the death of my brother and father, but the memory still felt like a hole in the chest. I didn't have to carry the pain alone though. Malek, Shlara, Thayer, Alexia, and Gorbanni were surrogate children to the old man. We comforted each other and the troops. Our friendship and love got us through the hardship, and then we had focused on what had really mattered: killing our enemies.
But that ache lay in my distant memories. Perhaps I remembered him because of the loss Jessmei just experienced. Thoughts of her made my heart sink in pain. I wanted to be with her now, to comfort and help her get through this. But we had finally agreed that I should journey back to Nia alone. She was understandably clingy and scared, but I had assured her that I would return to her. Though she was scared, she was not selfish enough to insist I remain with her after the initial shock wore off. Princesses were accustomed to sacrificing their needs for those of their country and family. She had lived her whole life resigned to the fact that she would be married to someone she did not love, or even know, just to pad Nia’s coffers. Losing me when she needed familiarity and comfort came naturally to her and she bore our parting with grace. Her initial passionate and uninhibited displays of agony had subsided and she regressed to the composed, if less cheerful, girl she had been.
I untied myself from the large oak tree in which I slept and checked my surroundings. My lofty bed was about a six-hour jog to the north of the capital of Nia and a two-week run from the village of Merrium, where the princess hid. I had decided to leave the horses with Jessmei and our adopted family for a variety of reasons. I moved faster through the forests on foot, and therefore, avoided the main roads. I also felt that I owed Greta and Rayat for our time at their home. Jessmei agreed and figured that the gift of the steeds, plus my help around the ranch, was fair compensation for our stay.
I opened
"An assembly of Goulix are moving from their estate. They left this morning and appear to be heading northwest. I would bet they are going to the Hoittor Tribe. My scout said they are escorting ore and smith tools."
Everyone got the implication and tried to hold back their excitement. We lacked anyone in the camp that made arms, and while we had some rudimentary forging equipment, every army needed a skilled smith.
"Could it be a trap?" Thayer asked.
"Possibly, but we've never attacked Goulix or Hoittor. We've just been focusing on the smaller tribes. If they knew our camp was here, they would crush us." Alexia smiled while she made light coal marks on the map.
"How many?" Shlara asked.
"Five hundred or so. My scout made a rough deduction and came back quickly to report. It is a three-day ride back here. They work in trios, so the other two are still observing. I should get another update in four days. We will be able to guess their route better at that point." My friends nodded and turned to the map on the table.
We had established a great working relationship when planning the moves of our army. It had been built on trust, accountability, and the understanding that we would make mistakes and learn from them. Within half an hour we solidified a plan for the possible routes that the Goulix caravan might take. I would be positioned with Alexia's forces overlooking a small canyon that the convoy would pass through to reach the Hoittor estate. Thayer, Gorbanni, and Shlara would cover alternate passages in case we were mistaken about Goulix's destination.
"We'll adjust once we get the second report from Alexia's scout," I confirmed after we reached a conclusion. "I will update Malek." I heard his familiar boot steps approaching.
"I am here." His face was white and a frown of pain replaced the normal smile.
"What is wrong?" I asked.
"Entas has died."
Chapter 5-Kaiyer
Entas's passing wasn't as devastating as the death of my brother and father, but the memory still felt like a hole in the chest. I didn't have to carry the pain alone though. Malek, Shlara, Thayer, Alexia, and Gorbanni were surrogate children to the old man. We comforted each other and the troops. Our friendship and love got us through the hardship, and then we had focused on what had really mattered: killing our enemies.
But that ache lay in my distant memories. Perhaps I remembered him because of the loss Jessmei just experienced. Thoughts of her made my heart sink in pain. I wanted to be with her now, to comfort and help her get through this. But we had finally agreed that I should journey back to Nia alone. She was understandably clingy and scared, but I had assured her that I would return to her. Though she was scared, she was not selfish enough to insist I remain with her after the initial shock wore off. Princesses were accustomed to sacrificing their needs for those of their country and family. She had lived her whole life resigned to the fact that she would be married to someone she did not love, or even know, just to pad Nia’s coffers. Losing me when she needed familiarity and comfort came naturally to her and she bore our parting with grace. Her initial passionate and uninhibited displays of agony had subsided and she regressed to the composed, if less cheerful, girl she had been.
I untied myself from the large oak tree in which I slept and checked my surroundings. My lofty bed was about a six-hour jog to the north of the capital of Nia and a two-week run from the village of Merrium, where the princess hid. I had decided to leave the horses with Jessmei and our adopted family for a variety of reasons. I moved faster through the forests on foot, and therefore, avoided the main roads. I also felt that I owed Greta and Rayat for our time at their home. Jessmei agreed and figured that the gift of the steeds, plus my help around the ranch, was fair compensation for our stay.
I opened
Similar Books
