Chapter 3; The Lake Houses

A day off in her prediction, the weather had turned to a summer storm. While quiet, the rain kept many in their tents, the lucky in the tower. With the tower cleaner than it had be in centuries, it was definitely a place she still couldn’t call home again. Despite the rain coming at night, it held overnight and continued well into the morning. The lanterns had stayed lit well into the morning as well, the sky dark enough to say more was on the way, if not worse and harder. Her thoughts turned to the plan, which she wanted to discuss with Anilas. Now with most of her forces here, she could start expanding. She heard a knock on the doorframe, Anilas replying quickly.

’Come in,’ he called out, heard easily over the rain.

’I see you have furniture,’ Lomathien commented, the desk large enough, seats simple but comfortable.

’It’s good to be able to sit down and not on the floor,’ Anilas replied. ’And I can catch up on some lessons with Calamaethor.’

’Then perhaps we should find him and bring him into this, I’m hoping we can work out a better plan for the lighthouse and lake houses, we need the port if we’re to stay through winter,’ Lomathien said.

’Then let the lesson start,’ Anilas replied. ’I’ve asked him to come up, this is his first real campaign.’

’Captain?’ Calamaethor asked, from the door. ’Mi’lady?’

’Come in, please,’ Anilas replied. ’We want your thoughts on what’s going on. If you have questions, ask.’

’I’ll do the best I can,’ Calamaethor replied.

’We’re going to secure the lake houses, before we move onto the lighthouse,’ Lomathien started. She saw Calamaethor’s expression, there was a question coming.

’If I may,’ Calamaethor said, needing a moment before he continued. ’We need to keep a way to keep supplies coming?’

’Indeed,’ Anilas said.

’The port here is our best bet,’ Lomathien said. ’We need to keep the road between the watch tower and port clear. If we’re to stay on through winter.’

’Wouldn’t we go back for winter?’ Calamaethor asked.

’Not if my plan works,’ Lomathien said. ’We know that orcs have moved in, they will need to eat and drink. It’s hard on these plains without any food you’ve put away. We can drive them out as they forage.’

’We don’t have supplies to last,’ Calamaethor said. ’I’m sure of it.’

’As am I,’ Anilas added. ’Good question.’

’Thank you Captain,’ Calamaethor replied, the small smile something that he couldn’t hide.

’You’re right, which is why we need to move fast towards the port and lighthouse. If the lighthouse is intact like the watch tower, we can store some supplies there, but we’ll need a boat to get them.’

’True, it keeps the supplies safe,’ Anilas replied, clearly in thought. ’How would we signal the lighthouse?’

’Here, I promise you, it’s possible to see pennants from the lighthouse. We establish an order or colour, it’s sent. It’s also one our enemy can’t read,’ Lomathien said. ’We would need to keep enough supplies here and at the lake houses, port to defend them.’

’We have enough time to build a reserve,’ Anilas commented. ’I’m no sailor, but if we can get the lighthouse, we should be able to. Wasn’t it once a hospital too?’

’It was, again, my grandmother,’ Lomathien replied. ’Your thoughts?’

’It could work,’ Calamaethor said slowly. ’We don’t have much time to make it work.’

’Precisely, I think we’d need to get a ship by the end of the week, at the latest,’ Lomathien continued. ’We need to send some riders back to get a ship ready and the supplies as well.’

’I can send them today,’ Anilas said. ’The weather is not ideal, but the ground should still be hard enough.’

’Will I be leading them?’ Calamaethor asked.

’No, I will write a letter, they should accept my seal,’ Lomathien replied. ’If I may use some of your supplies?’

’They’re at your disposal,’ Anilas said, offering a slight bow. Lomathien returned it.

’May I be dismissed?’ Calamaethor asked.

’You are, take the day for yourself,’ Lomathien replied. Calamaethor smiled and offered a bow in reply. She waited a moment before looking at Anilas. He presented her the small writing tray, ink and sand filled. It didn’t take long, nor would it require much to get the extra soldiers or the supplies for them. She was the Lady of Autumn and she would use her title to get what she needed.

As she wrote, she caught the odd expressions from Anilas.

’Speak your mind, dear teacher,’ she said, rubbing her wrist, using a cloth to wipe ink from her hand.

’You said that it was hard to convince others of this,’ Anilas said.

’It was much harder than I thought it would have been,’ Lomathien said, sighing deeply. ’Summer was worried about the Great Forest, nothing but the Great Forest and the orcs there. Winter was convinced that our forces would be spread too thin and this flank was basically secure. I was just a silly young girl who wants to go home.’

’Spring?’ Anilas asked, taking a seat. He continued to eat the remains of his breakfast. He sipped from a wooden goblet, battered from years of use.

’Spring was interested, but they were focused on building the force up through this autumn and winter. They have a point,’ Lomathien replied, now casting sand over her message.

’How so?’

’If we had the time, we could come in before the storm season hits, now a few weeks at worst and we would have the supplies ready to go, all of the soldiers we need and some time to train them to deal with our green and unfriendly occupiers.’

’You have an argument against?’ Anilas asked.

’I am starting to feel like I’m talking to Isondir,’ Lomathien asked.

’This is perhaps the only thing we agree on,’ Anilas replied.

Lomathien gave him a puzzled look, before continuing. ’My thought is that if we give them to time to dig in and build their own stockpiles, they are that much harder to remove. When I heard some of them were spotted ten miles from here, I know if you give them even a season, they become much harder to dig out. I’m sure the creatures we killed yesterday were stunted, next to some I’ve seen.’

’I won’t argue with you,’ Anilas replied. ’They are hard to dig out when they have the time to fortify.’

’Nor, despite the claims, are they particularly stupid,’ Lomathien replied. She looked out of the room, Isondir passing by. She called out, her family chronicler entering. It was clear the weather was getting him, his expression rarely were warm, but this was something far beyond that.

’Mi’lady, Captain,’ he said.

’Anilas, could you see this sent?’ Lomathien asked. He nodded his reply. ’I had a question about the old lighthouse. I hoped you could help me find who built.’

’I can tell you they were built at the same time,’ he started, Lomathien offering her arm to help him walk. He offered her a small thanks, both of them heading towards a warmer room and hopefully some answers.

-

Varanien was silent for a long time, before looking at Lomathien. She offered a small bow.

’Let me offer you an apology, this is a stunning view,’ Varanien said. ’And a good place for breakfast.’

’No need to apologise, one of Autumns secrets,’ Lomathien replied. ’And I’m glad I have company.’

’And your songstress is masterful too, pass on my compliments,’ Varanien said. ’It’s a wonder you’ve not brought her to Court.’

’Me at Court?’ Lomathien asked, knowing the answer.

’Yes, your version of proper dress often involves swords,’ Varanien replied.

Remethiel turned up, two trays in her hand, she made another trip, this time with wooden mugs, in her words the last of the best wine.

’So, what’s the plan for today?’ Varanien asked. More smoked cheese, bread and meats. Fruits and nuts rounded it out.

’The first of the lake houses is within a day return trip, I was going to scout them with a patrol,’ Lomathien replied. ’A patrol said it was clear, so you’re welcome to come with us.’

’Getting out would be nice, I think we had a house out here.’

’Spring having a house, here?’

’With those wild flowers and the rest of it? How could we not?’

Lomathien’s reply was to nod. ’You should have seen the forests in autumn. Almost all of the trees have leaves that go orange, red, the leaves pile so high you could hide a horse in them. The foxes come down from the mountains too.’

’Those I remember,’ Varanien said. ’It would be good to see them again.’

’Nearly autumn, you just might,’ Lomathien replied. ’Early starts when in the lands of autumn.’

’If you insist,’ Varanien said, offering a mock complaint.

’You do have armour?’

’Armour?’ Varanien asked.

’We’ll see how one of my arming jackets fits, you’re going to need it,’ Lomathien replied, both ready quickly. Thankfully despite the differences in their size, the fit was good enough. She was given a sword, which seemed odd on her. A party of near two dozen set out, all armed, armoured and mounted. Lomathien was offered a spear, her refusal matched by Varanien. They stood out against the clean and clear heavy armour of the other riders. They had brigandines, worked to show the red folded leaf sigil of the House of Autumn. Mail was bright and clean, not a single trace of rust or dust on them. Each of their spears, was more akin to a lance, flying pennants. These were also of the House of Autumn.

Despite the rain of the last day and night, the riders had no problem with the mud or ground. Hard enough for them to make good speed. The rivers and streams were higher, but nowhere near enough to cause them problems.

Near midday was when the group reached the first of the old manors. Unlike the watch tower, these showed the years that had passed. Only outer walls remained, any fine carving lone gone. Two riders had gone ahead, scouting. Roads were well and truly overgrown and ornate gardens lost to the wilderness. Dozens, if not hundreds of different flowers and plants had spread.

’Can you see that bright purple flower, star shaped?’ Varanien asked, point it out to Lomathien.

’It’s a shame it didn’t, the stained glass, that window in the hall was amazing,’ Lomathien replied.

’It like I should be able to name who lived here,’ Varanien replied. Lomathien smiled, not need to speak. Both of them spent a moment trying to remember, before the two missing riders returned.

’Mi’lady, you need to see this,’ one rider said, pointing with his lance.

Lomathien took off, a snort in complaint from her horse the only sound. They didn’t need to go far to find the burned out camp, totems, piles of the dead that had been half burned at best. The lack of smell meant it was still fresh, within the last few days.

As with her riders, Lomathien drew her sword, Varanien struggling with her, despite it being for one hand. Lomathien rode closer to the piles of bodies, now seeing they were all missing their heads.

’Sergeant, did you find the heads?’ Lomathien called out. He shook his head in reply.

’We’ve found no trace of them yet,’ he replied.

Lomathien rode out ahead, Varanien staying close. ’Stay close Vara.’

’I wouldn’t do anything else,’ Varanien replied quickly. She was clearly nervous, her horse barely calmer than its rider. It was snorting loudly, pawing at the ground.

’Do you think they’re close?’

’I don’t know,’ Lomathien replied softly, the smell of burnt bodies blocking out everything else. ’Recent is the only thing I can be sure of. Not last night, we would have seen it.’

’This morning?’ Varanien asked, nervously.

’Perhaps, I wouldn’t be surprised,’ Lomathien replied, again, speaking softly. ’Day before, at best.’

Reaching a large court yard, the group split, four going in each direction, the rest staying with Lomathien. Varanien dismounted, moving towards what could have been a tree. Only when she cut away some of the dense brush, did it reveal a fountain. It would take a lot of work to see it flow again, but it seemed to survive better than the buildings around it.

’I can remember here,’ Varanien replied. ’Catching my brother swimming in it.’

’Another time, Vara, we might not be alone,’ Lomathien said, wheeling around, always staying on the move, sword held low. ’Do you remember the docks?’

’Hardly, but weren’t they up to the road?’ Varanien replied, looking in that direction.

’Hopefully, we’ll need the dock,’ Lomathien replied. All of the riders returned, reporting that they had not found the heads or any sign of who took them. There was no more sign of what had happened, but there was always one thing that could be seen. The lighthouse tower was visible. More than tall enough to be seen, it was obvious against the horizon.

’Do you see smoke?’ Varanien asked, directed at everyone. Most didn’t, but enough did, for Lomathien’s interest and concerns.

’Sergeant, we move through the docks, then we ride for the watchtower,’ Lomathien said, wheeling her horse around. ’Keep your eyes and ears open.’ She sheathed her sword, before riding, passing more of the ruined manors and homes. All of them large and all once held great gardens. As before, they had gone wild. Spread and intermixed, it was impossible to tell where one ended and another started. Fences had holes, all of the iron ripped out, very few pieces of it remained. Every sign that these were once great homes had been stripped of them.

Just as the homes were devastated, so were the docks. Sections had fallen into the river, once deep enough to hold ocean going vessels. Silt had also built up, bring the back closer to height of the docks. Some places, it was possible to cross the river and barely get your boots wet. Stopping for a moment, Lomathien studied the area ahead. From the deep bank of reeds, it seemed the silt had built up enough to leave a path towards the lighthouse. There was also a clear path through them, towards the lighthouse. It was an easy bow shot from the outer walls, but here on the ruined docks, they were safe from everything except a heavy ballista.

Now the smoke was obvious, the smell as well. The walls of the lighthouse as was the lighthouse, were still standing, hung with crude banners. The markings were indistinct at best, the crude work washed out by the rain. They were easily the size of a tent, each marked and unreadable. The wind changed, carrying the smell right towards the group, Varanien throwing up suddenly and loudly.

Silent, though just as revolted by the smell from the orcs, Lomathien kept her composure and stomach, as did all of her guard. They’d seen worse, smelt worse in the years they had fighting together.

’Mi’lady, the top of the tower,’ one soldier. Lomathien followed the direction he pointed in, rows of heads on spears around the top of the top of the lighthouse. It could have been some form of hoarding or just to intimidate. Either way it would be ripped down and burned the moment she retook it.

’Are they usual so uncivilised?’ Varanien asked.

’More so,’ Lomathien replied. ’Let’s leave before we get spotted.’

’I can’t stand the smell,’ Varanien added.

Lomathien remained silent, the group crossing the river quickly, making their way back. Lanterns moved on the walls, even appearing through the windows. The rest of the night would be given to a plan. She would need plenty of shields for it to work though.