Chapter 2: Reunions

Her family banner flying high, rather than the dawn it was the afternoon sky it was lost in, Lomathien let herself relax. She was glad to be free of the around she wearing most of the last day. Even the simple padded jacket was more than she wanted. Even then she knew she should be wearing more armour, there was definitely something out there. She wasn’t sure of what, but there had been a definite attack here. Recent, by the damage on the walls. It would repair itself over time, but the blunt nature of them was alarming.

She traced the patrols around the walls, the archers around her relaxed and bows unstrung. Others soldiers patrolled the lower walls, which were almost entirely hidden in the shadows of the foliage. She heard the soldiers around her straighten, their armour moving suddenly.

’Captain,’ they said, Lomathien needing no explanation as to who it was.

’Remember this view Anilas?’ Lomathien asked, turning to face one of her former tutors and the current captain of her guard.

’I’ve missed it the last the two hundred years,’ he replied. ’The fields, the city at night, the lighthouse reflecting off the lakes.’

’The summer storms that would wreak havoc on the farmers, ripping trees from the ground,’ Lomathien continued. ’I remember spending days inside, waiting for them to blow over.’

’Complaining every moment, demanding to know when you could go out for another lesson, or why you couldn’t practise your archery.’

’The terrible trio would come in smelling to high heaven, then camp in front of the fireplace to dry off, or they’d end up getting my clothes or bed wet too.’

They both remained silent for a moment.

’Has it really been that long?’ Lomathien asked. ’ I swear I can remember the exact places of things, flowers, trees. Where you taught me to shoot a bow from horseback.’

’You’re not the only one, I rode by it myself,’ Anilas replied. ’Even Isondir had to take a moment, every so often.’

’I wish I was there,’ Lomathien said. ’I also wish I brought my winter cloak up. I can feel this wind picking up.’

’It’s going to be a loud night, I can promise you that.’

’We’ll all be able to sleep through it, I’m sure,’ Lomathien replied, starting down the stairs. She collected her cloak, pulling it tight around her, needing a moment to stop it tangling with her sword. ’Did you hear what Nerith found?’

’What did she find? Some old books, an accounting book or two?’

’That and more. She found a history, the construction of this watch tower. She’s most interested in the section on the entrance and gate.’

’I still think you promised too much in payment.’

’It was the only way. You remember how masterful my grandmother was.’

’I saw what her ire on a few occasions,’ Anilas replied. ’I just worry that she may cause us more trouble.’

’I’m sure she will prove you wrong,’ Lomathien continued. ’And we don’t know if the protections on the castle are still standing. We’ll need her help there.’

’I know, they were a help during the retreat.’

’You will have to tell me more about that, we may need more soldiers to hold the town and castle.’

’You may be right, you could have given it another month.’

’And we’d have faced the rains, slowing us down even further,’ Lomathien countered. ’I lived here enough to know they can come in fast and make the roads a bog. Did the engineers complete their search yet?’

’They did, the tower is more than stable, so is the wall. Both needs repairs, but they’re strong and stable.’

’That’s a relief, the walls will hold the weather at bay, give us time for the rest of the company to arrive,’ Lomathien said. ’Has Faradion appeared again?’

’He’s brought dinner with him, it should be cooking now,’ Anilas replied, both smelling it. Laughter echoed from the kitchen, the fire large and the smell of roasting meat pulling in everyone who was awake or hungry, most being both. Casks of beer and wine had been opened and were being drunk liberally.

Remethiel nearly ran into Anilas, nothing spilling from the two mugs she was holding. She passed one to Lomathien.

’I got yours before the wine ran out,’ she said. ’There’s still a few casks.’

’Good, thank you,’ Lomathien said, a plate passed to her by one of her company. Anilas was served just as quickly. She looked around, lanterns hung to provide light, with heavy cloth used to cover the windows. Someone had the idea to weigh the impromptu curtains with wood, branches on a whole.

Remethiel sat by her after a second, more than a few soldiers asking for a song. She refused, her tiredness obvious to all. She ate slowly, as did many who had seen near two days without any sleep. More than a few nearly fell asleep into their meals, many heading off to sleep. Lomathien was not the first or the last to do so. She was sure that Anilas had made sure that a simple cot had been sent up to her room, which she was thankful to find. She managed to get her sword and belt off, before falling into the cot.

-

The smell of smoke woke her quickly, needing a moment to remember she slept in her arming jacket and where she was. She waited a moment, sure it was just leaves, branches, nothing for her to worry about. There was a light cough, the almost perfect pitch meant it could only be Remethiel.

’Come in,’ Lomathien called out, for the moment glad she slept in her armour.

’Morning, I saved some breakfast, it’s not much,’ Remethiel said, presenting a battered wooden plate. She waited a moment before sitting on the cot. ’I’d save the apple for the horses, they’re bitter.’

Lomathien nodded, the bread toasted, with some of last night’s roast and smoked cheese. With the rest of the company arrived today, they’d have more bread, some beer and some wine. Most importantly they’ve have enough preserved to last them until they were able to get the lighthouse under their control. That would mean they could fish or have ships bring them supplies. Something they would have which would make winter that much easier to survive.

’Anilas said the patrols haven’t found anything as well, it’s really quiet out there,’ Remethiel continued. ’They’ve set up a bath tent as well, so if you want to wash....’

Lomathien smiled in reply, waiting to finish her mouthful of cold meat. ’That would be good. I think we all could do with it.’

’My hair has gone brown and yours isn’t much better, never mind some of the armour,’ Remethiel added. ’What did they do, sleep in it?’

’There’s a hill not too far away,’ Lomathien said. She continued when she saw Remethiel’s confused expression. ’Half fill a barrel with dry sand oil the armour. When you roll it downhill a few times, it’s gone.’

’You’ve done that?’

’More than once, it works wonders.’

’Can I tell the soldiers?’

’Go ahead, but they’ll need a barrel first,’ Lomathien said. ’You left my armour with my saddle?’

’I did, they’re good and ready to go,’ Remethiel replied.

’Can you find Anilas and tell him I will be out on patrol today, as well find Calamaethor for me,’ Lomathien said. There was a lot she wanted to try and do today and was thankful so many of her House soldiers were able to come with her. She hoped that the rest of her force would get here today. Morning would be better, afternoon was more than likely.

Barely having the time to get her sword and check it, Calamaethor knocked on the doorframe.

’Come in,’ Lomathien said, Remethiel disappearing quickly. ’What I need you to do is see if you can clear the road and clearing the tower.’

’Captain Anilas already started on that,’ Calamaethor replied. ’He’s going to try and send a patrol out to the old harbour.’

’Pass on my best, I will be back at the end of the day,’ Lomathien replied, making her way down to their improvised armoury. She managed the mail hauberk with her no problems, the weight familiar and comfortable. She adjusted the shoulders and sleeves, both sitting right after a moment. The brigandine was next, further compressing the mail and making it that much lighter on her body. Like the others around her, she tightened the sleeves before the gauntlets. Sword belt followed, taking more weight off her shoulders, the fold over her waist practised and effortless. Her helm was the last thing she pulled on, one of the other soldiers helping her with the strap, the visor was locked open. She saw a dozen horses saddled and ready, more than a few pawing at the ground. She also the many fires, still burning strong and would be for a while longer. The patrol all stood at attention, long spears held straight and shields still over their shoulders.

’Sergeant, we’re going to make a loop on the path for our reinforcements are clear and passable,’ Lomathien started. ’We don’t know what’s out there, I intend to make sure it’s only us.’

’Mi’lady,’ the sergeant replied, also giving a nod. ’When are we expecting the reinforcements?’

’This afternoon at the latest,’ Lomathien replied.

The sergeant nodded in reply. ’We’re ready to go when you are.’

’We leave now,’ Lomathien said, stepping towards the horses. She was passed a shield and spear, not needing more than a moment before her patrol was ready. She barely touched the horses said before it was off at a canter, the patrol catching up quickly.

Like the day before, the plains were crisp and clean, the summer grasses well and truly having started to fade. They were golden in the morning light and showed no sign of anything passing through them. Still near knee height on the horses it was easy going at first. Taking breaks to let the horses recover, Lomathien often couldn’t help but smile. Being back home and out on the plains, memories of hunting, long rides and nights spent under the stars. Spring was the best time to camp here, though you’d have to be careful of your food, the mountain foxes still present and more than quick enough to steal food left unattended.

Midday gave both riders and mounts a break, lunch taken by a river, the horses taking the chance to drink and feed on the grasses. Riders lucky enough to have the remains of dinner and fresh fruit collected on the way. Lomathien, as with half of the other riders saved an apple for their horses, both creatures appreciating the treat. Setting on, they started to turn towards the roads that lead towards the watch tower. Both were well overgrown and lost to the passage of time and earth.

’Which way Mi’lady?’ the sergeant asked.

’Swing to the west and then back north towards the watch tower,’ Lomathien replied after a moment. She had hoped to find banners, a call of a horn to announce that they were spotted by the reinforcements. Her company wasn’t large, but it was large enough for her to get a good start to continue next year, in the spring. She wished the negotiations, politicking she had to do. Most of which was not in her favour.

Another rest was taken by a stream, Lomathien, like the others as thirsty as their horses. Despite the solid craftsmanship, the direct sun had warmed it up and that was only amplified by her arming jacket. All of them turned on the sound of a horn, elven by the clear pitch and sound. She was one of the first mounted, all of them charging towards the sound. Thankfully it was close, a dozen wagons and a small guard force where under attack, the line of infantry the first thing they could see.

’Stay close, and don’t charge from the rear until I do,’ Lomathien commanded, sure the archers were in the front line. She turned her horse quickly without using the reins. The angry snort that followed showed her horses ire with her command, but it was followed. The patrol likewise did the same, riding hard to meet the convoy on the road. Another horn call reached their ears, Lomathien glad she was not on their previous path, the archers firing their first volley into the attacking horde.

As they closed, the archers only could get two volleys off, which still left more bodies than she could easily count on the ground. The archers fell back through the spearman, shields and spears brought into a tight line. If there was a line behind them, they would hold the flanks, if they were from her own House. She saw this before she was in a position to charge, needing to cross another stream before. She slowed her horse for a moment, waiting for a line to form before she charged into the creatures, now sure they were not brigands but orcs. She focused on one, the bow in its hand far more curved than any elven bow. The distance closed quickly, the creature aiming at a swordsman, the shock from the impact nearly breaking her spear. Her mount barrelled into another orc, sending it to the ground hard, the horse stomping on it four, five times. Her spear darted out, her riders starting to cut through the rear ranks alongside her. More of the orcs fell to their blades, the line of spearman now pushing forward, swordsman keep their flanks safe. Attacked on two fronts, the orcs started to scatter, Lomathien throwing her spear after one of them. She drew her sword, its length not enough to trouble her, striking down another of the creatures as it tried to run by her, then another, trying to pull her from the saddle.

’Archers, loose,’ Lomathien shouted, the elves holding their positions, the scattered shower of arrows not striking many of the creatures. Lomathien wheeled around, two of her patrol wounded and dismounted, their horses bloodied but still standing. The rest were untouched, swords and spears darkened with blood. The same was true of the infantry, knives and swords darkened. She rode close, looking for a sergeant, captain.

’Loma, why is it when there’s trouble you’re always running into it?’ Varanien called out, from the middle of the pack of infantry. They moved apart, Lomathien caught between smiling and complaining.

’Vara, why is it that where I go, I always find you in trouble?’ Lomathien replied, settling on smiling. She cleaned her sword on a cloth passed to her by one of her riders before sheathing it. Dismounting effortlessly she walked over to her friend, giving her a quick hug in greeting. ’I told you to wait for my message.’

’You spent all of two seasons just putting things together,’ Varanien said. ’Did you find the watch tower intact?’

’Stunningly intact, but let’s finish this then, I hope you brought supplies,’ Lomathien said, looking over, making sure none of the other soldiers were wounded.

’Plenty,’ Varanien replied, climbing back onto the wagon. Setting off, Lomathien took the lead, spotting riders coming towards them. They slowed as they approached, also having heard the horn. Thankfully they were from her own company, the party of thirty more than enough security. As before, they took a break at a stream, the horses cycled and given a chance to have a drink. Some of the soldiers were more than happy to take off their armour and wash themselves, check their bruises and wounds. A few had cuts, but they were closed and rebound. The same was done with the horses, none of them severely wounded.

The sky had gone from bright blue to red, orange before they arrived back at the watch tower, the road wide enough for the wagons to pass through one at a time. The yard had been cleared and had more than enough room for the wagons. Lomathien dismounted, with the rest of her force now here, it was actually feeling crowded. A few tents had been pitched outside, large enough for ten.

Calamaethor found her in the crowd, taking the reins from her hand.

’They arrived not that long ago, Captain Anilas has been busy seeing to the supplies,’ Calamaethor started. It was clear he’d spent most of the day working. ’He’s also set up an armoury as well.’

’That’s good news,’ Lomathien replied. Remethiel appearing quickly.

’I saw you arrive, are you all okay? I heard you got attacked,’ she started, before looking at Calamaethor. When he didn’t offer any complaint she looked confused.

’I’m fine, we’ve lost no-one, but could you please see to Varanien, she’s decided to join us,’ Lomathien replied. Remethiel looked at the wagons, seeing Varanien directing her own staff.

’Yes, of course, sorry,’ Remethiel said. She tugged on her tunic, bright red over a green shirt. She offered a formal bow, Varanien disappearing quickly.

’We’re still short some engineers,’ Calamaethor continued, guess Lomathien’s next question.

Lomathien was frustrated for a moment. She hoped to be properly set up in the next week. This delay would be something that would just leave her more to do before the weather turned. Her thoughts turned to how she might be able to use that to her benefit, if it wasn’t going to be an early one.

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