V.

Three months of travelling exhausted most of the convoy’s resources and forced them to often camp for days to hunt for nourishment.

Petyr told the convey that there was a town only a few days away from their position, they passed it on the way to the warrior’s village and could tell where they were from the change of climate, from cold woods to more rural, green landscape.

The warmer weather was a desired change for the men when the cold was beginning to have its toll on their health and sanity. The weather also managed to affect the young guardsmen who was plagued with poison that almost consumed his entire body, taking most of his memories and emotions with it as the poison spread.

Markus studied the guardsmen body in hopes of being able to treat his affliction, but was only able to suppress the spread of the poison with heat and a concoction made to put the subject into a feverish state in hopes of sweating out the poison in their body.

At this point, the guardsmen was only able to speak gibberish and his body was covered in something looking like the early stages of frost bite. Petyr, Zoran and three other guardsmen told the warriors stories of the horrors they experienced in their lands.

“The monsters, the beasts come when the tide goes down and march on our lands in numbers. At first it was only rumors of small villages being attacked at nighttime and it was disregarded as pirates who arrived from the sea, only after reports of seeing it first hand lead to scholars finding out that the beasts came during times when the tide was low and when the moon was in certain cycles.” Told Petyr as the convoy was sitting around the fire.

Petyr continued, “it wasn’t until our nation’s capital, the largest city on the Coast, was breached by hundreds of the beasts who broke through our walls and killed many. Our guards were no match for their strength and the poison that coated their claws. They carried an aura that was colder than even the lands you hail from.”

“What did these beasts look like?” Asked Markus.

“They were raven and large, about twice the size of the average man. They have blades that look like they came sprouting from their fingertips.” Replied Petyr.

“They fit the description of the demons are ancestors fought, but there’s no telling what these beasts are until we see them first hand.” Said Brokenbjorn.

As tough as the men were, they couldn’t help but be afraid in their souls from the thought of these beasts. The sick guardsmen was coughing dry and murmuring something from within the cart, the men knew he hasn’t long for this world.

“There’s a village not far from here that he passed, maybe a half days ride if we leave at dawn.” Said Zoran, point South East from where they were towards the mountains in the horizon.

Brokenbjorn stood up from his seat by the fire and walked towards the bed rolls on the dirt near the carts, “We will leave at dawn and get help for your friend, plus we need more provisions if we hope to last any longer ourselves,” and then knelt beside his bed roll “I suggest you all get a good night’s sleep.”

And thus the warriors retreated into their slumber for the harsh day ahead of them.

Next Chapter: Chapter 6