“Thankyou, Your Highness” she gives him a small bow.
Keane and I continue through the village and eat our breakfast in silent contentment, finally making our way to the final and large outer wall that surrounds the full city of Gaumond. We ride through its massive gate and stop just shy of the Great Road.
“We’re early,” he notes, swinging a leg off Ash.
“Will it be the same group?” I ask, hoisting myself down as well and unscrewing Golem’s jar.
“The same,” he nods, “plus a handful more.”
The Prince reaches for his water at the side of his bag just as Golem greets us from behind.
“Good morning, Golem,” I smile, “we’re just outside the main gate of Gaumond and waiting for the rest of the traveling group to arrive before we set off for Fumagalli.”
Golem nods in acknowledgment before turning to Keane with a small bow.
“Golem,” the Prince nods in response, taking a drink from his canteen, “thank you for giving us some privacy last night.”
The tips of Golem’s clay lips move up in a barely-there smile.
Cal, Holis and Mana are the first to arrive outside the gate, the three of them looking like they didn’t get much sleep the night before. Alanna and Desmond arrive next, both of them stoic atop their horses but nodding to us all in greeting. Next comes Barnes and Claymore who are accompanied by three newcomers, all of them human and wearing the standard black uniform of Warrior soldiers in the King’s Army. Last to arrive is Lord Daniel, a surprising addition to the group, that is, until I remember what he can do with his summoning.
“Good Morning, Lady Alexis,” he smiles at me from atop his horse, then bows respectively to Golem at my side.
“Good morning, Lord Daniel,” I return his smile, “I’m happy to see you with us.”
“Happy to be on the road with you as well, Lady,” he gives me a small grin and then turns to Keane, “Highness.”
Keane nods at his Lord before walking to the center of our group with Ash at his side.
“You’ve all been apprised of our travels over the next few days. We will continue on the Great Road north and ride for Fumagalli today. We’ll stay in the village for three nights before setting off for Pyre, then we’ll spend one night camping in the Bulwark Plains before continuing on our way to Red Falls...”
“While the land surrounding the Plains is neutral, I want to remind everyone that you are not to engage with any Leviathan riders should they cross our paths. In the event that we need to, Prince Desmond, Lord Daniel and I will engage with them separately.”
“The plan is to reach Red Falls before the sun sets on the second day in the Plains. Once there, a delegation consisting of Prince McQuoid and other members of his court are expected to greet us at the Fortress…” Keane looks at all of us with a stern nod, “you will be representing the Kingdom of Disce on these travels, as well as the King. I expect your behavior in Pyre to reflect that.”
The group murmurs in agreement with the Prince before saddling up for the long ride ahead. I turn to Golem and find him already stalking away into the shadows of the forest beyond, the magical creature returning to his jar with a vibration against my hip.
“You ready for another few days of traveling, girl?” I reach down to Millie with a few good pats. My gentle mare snorts at the prospect just as the Prince brothers set off down the road.
Our ride on the Great Road north to Fumagalli is slow. The path is completely surrounded by the dense woods of the Black Forest, each tree jutting up to the sky as the sunlight of the late morning barely makes its way through the canopy. That thickness causes it to be darker here, with the whole of the forest giving off a deeply moody feel about it. The deep green of the trees mix with the dark brown of the branches, and because the sunlight is rare to shine through, the air itself feels thicker and allows for a grey fog to surround us at every turn.
Yet, despite the moodiness, the Back Forest is beautiful and alive with animals. I watch as birds soar through the branches above, only to dive back into the moody shadows and remain unseen before popping back out again. Squirrels and rabbits weave along the bottom of the woods and watch us travel in curiosity, while a small family of stags decides to walk at our side, their bodies proud but alert as they leave our group be. I take in all the wildlife and think this forest must be a hunter’s paradise, one filled with ample game that seems to be unbothered by our arrival. It doesn’t surprise me now that Barnett and Heizman had to be called out yesterday to handle one of its rogue beasts, and Cal, who seems to just be getting over his aching head, also tells me that the wolves share the forest with another predator, the mountain cats that migrated thousands of years ago from Pyre.
We ride until the noon apex can be seen from a break in the woods, with Keane announcing that we’ll stop for lunch along a steady stream that lays up ahead. The bank of the stream is cool and gloomy when we arrive, just like everything else, and while I’m dressed in a long sleeve and my thick boots, I know that before nightfall hits I’ll be donning my new cloak for the rest of the trip ahead.
Cal, Holis, Mana, and I spend our lunch sitting under a few large trees near the water and sharing our food. The Prince, Desmond and Lord Daniel are together as well, the three of them walking farther down the bank with their heads bowed and talking softly. At some point in their discussion I see the Prince’s hand wave towards the trees above them. Desmond nods in consideration while Lord Daniel brings a hand up to his beard, also agreeing with whatever Keane is saying.
“Do we know why we’re staying in Fumagalli for so many nights?” I ask our group quietly, “everything I’ve read about the village tells me that its small and quaint, nothing like the larger cities in Warrior.”
Cal shrugs in response and pulls a piece of bread apart, “we’re ahead of schedule and the village is close to the borders of two kingdoms. Seems to be more of a check-in than anything else.”
“For three nights, though?” I say more to myself, watching as both Desmond and Lord Daniel follow the Prince’s hand again as he points to the trees above.
We continue on our slow trek without any hint of sunlight making its way through the thickness of the woods for the rest of the day. The forest becomes steadily darker as our ride moves on, and I can tell we’re moving deeper into the forest when the animals start to quiet down. Their lack of calls creates an eerie stillness that only adds to the overall moody and quiet atmosphere of the forest around us.
Our group stops once more when evening sets in and the forest descends into complete darkness. The air around us becomes chill and damp, the night turning from grey to black as Barnes and the three soldiers all light torches above their mounts. The flames instantly illuminate the long road ahead as we set off again, until eventually, after being on the road all day, the small sounds of life finally greet us from afar. Fumagalli must be just around the bend, and while I smile at the sight of more torches and the smell of homely smoke in the air that confirms that, my grin is quick to drop once we actually come up on the village.
Ancients.
