Luther awoke to the sound of voices. It took him a moment to remember where he was, in the inn in Ralpor. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep, but there was light pouring in the small window at the far end of the room.
He rolled out of his bed, yawning as he did so. Wolfgang and Barstag looked over at him, breaking off their conversation. He had been asleep when they had returned the night before, so they hadn’t had a chance to discuss what they had learned. The fourth bed was empty, the belongings gone.
“Look who is finally awake,” Wolfgang said, grinning.
Luther smiled tiredly at them. He sat at the edge of his bed and took a long drink of water. “So, what did you learn? Or did you just get drunk, Wolf?”
Wolfgang laughed. “I can manage to do both”
“We were just discussing what we heard last night,” Barstag said. “It seems we heard pretty similar things. It looks like Skadi is gathering an army in Snawkon, which I gather is further west of here along the coast. The army includes our friends from Vittor.” Luther nodded. “No one said why she has gathered this army. I heard she took the land from slavers. They say all the elves were once slaves, and Skadi led a revolution against their oppressors. The humans who weren’t slavers quickly joined her.”
Luther pulled on his boots. “I heard similar stories. I was also told that Skadi is a mysterious figure. It seems no one but her inner council ever sees her. And they say she has some powers, but no one can agree what they are.”
“Intriguing. I had not heard that.”
“So what’s our plan now?” Wolfgang asked.
Luther had thought about that a lot before he had drifted off to sleep, but he was still unsure. “I think we need to learn more about this army. Once we do, we can return to Ardaric and tell him what we have learned. That only leaves the question of how we find out more.”
Barstag nodded. “I was thinking the same. And I believe the only way we will learn more about this army is by capturing someone who knows more.”
Luther laughed, but stopped when he realised that Barstag wasn’t joking. “Barstag, you can’t be serious? You realise there are only three of us?”
“Yes, but we are three good warriors. Each one of us is worth four ordinary soldiers. And they are not expecting an attack. They think they are safe here, the land subdued. It will be a quick operation; we find someone high up, catch them while they are vulnerable, and force information out of them. Like we did in Vittor.”
“You do remember that we almost died in Vittor?”
“Almost, but we didn’t. This’ll go better.”
“And how do you plan on finding this person?”
“You are a smart man Luther. I’m sure you will think of something.”
Luther sighed. “We’re actually doing this?”
Barstag nodded. “Unless you can think of something better, this is our plan.”
“All right. But we should do it soon. I don’t want to be here longer than necessary.”
“Agreed. I will go into the city, see if there are any ships that are leaving to go south. If not, we will have to ride back, but a ship would be best. You two find someone. We meet back here tonight, and then we shall discuss our plan to capture the person you find.” Barstag picked up his greatsword and placed it on his back. He grabbed his sack and grinned at them. “Good luck, and don’t die.”
Luther looked at Wolfgang as Barstag left the room. He sighed deeply and rubbed the tiredness from his face. He stretched his arm and stood up. It was going to be a long day, he knew already.
They descended the steps into the main room of the inn, Luther chewing on an apple. Wolfgang had already eaten with Barstag before he rose. They found Hillar, the man who had shown them to their room, lounging at one of the tables, a piece of meat in his hands. He didn’t notice them until they were almost on top of him.
The small man jumped to his feet. “How can I help you?”
Luther thought for a moment before he spoke. “Where do you know near here that we could join the army?”
Hillar looked nervously between them. Luther knew they were intimidating, himself with his axe and Wolfgang with his double swords. Hillar looked down at his feet and thought about the question. “Hmm. There is an army camp near here. You might try there, but I don’t think they are accepting recruits. You’ll probably have to go to Snawkon.”
“Where can we find the camp?”
“It’s to the northwest of the city. Follow the road and you’ll find it. But as I said, I don’t know how much luck you will have at joining the army there.”
“Thank you. We’ll be back later.” Hillar watched them leave.
They brought their horses out of the stables, tying their sacks onto the animals. They mounted up and left the inn behind. Luther led them back towards the city of Deisa, passing a few other travellers. It was still early in the morning, and snow lay thick on the road and on the plains at their sides.
Luther rode his horse around the edge of the city, glancing up at the walls. They were almost empty, only a handful soldiers patrolling. Barstag was right; they were not prepared for an attack. But Luther was afraid that mightn’t matter. He couldn’t help but look at the elven soldiers that made up part of the patrols. The ones he passed in the streets seemed strange; the ones in armour seemed terrifying. As good as four regular soldiers, Barstag had said. But how many elves?
Soon, they saw a camp. It was obviously a temporary thing, only a wooden fence running around the outside. Tents filled the inside, snow on their roofs. Banners flew from the walls, a black banner with a white dragon roaring in the centre. Throughout the camp, squares had been cleared of snow, and soldiers trained inside them. The soldiers consisted of both humans and elves, preparing for war.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Luther and Wolfgang found a cluster of trees on a hill looking down onto the camp. They tied up their horses and watched the people below. They spent the rest of the day watching the camp, searching for anyone who seemed important. There was a couple who stood out to Luther, elves and men whose armour and weapons were better than those of the common soldier. Luther studied each of them as they moved about the camp, trying to find the best place to capture any of them.
As the sun moved towards the horizon, Luther noticed a small gang, including some of the officers, leaving the camp, heading for the lights of Deisa in the distance. He waited with Wolfgang, long after they were supposed to return to Barstag. Eventually, the gang returned from the city, their torches the only sign of them in the now dark night. Luther smiled, and mounted his horse to return to the inn.
Barstag waited for them at the inn. He told them of a ship that was leaving for Challter, just to the north of the Kroanian Empire, a few days hence. He had already paid for their passage, and for the inn room for a few more nights. Luther told Barstag of the camp, and of his plan.
They all returned to watch the camp the next day. That night, the same thing happened with some soldiers leaving for Deisa, less than ten in total Luther estimated. A few hours later, they returned to the camp, and Luther led the way back to the inn.
The following day, they were ready. Everything had been discussed, and the plan was finalised. They reclaimed their position among the trees, and waited for nightfall. Again, a gang of soldiers left for Deisa. After they had gone, Barstag led them down from the hill. At the side of the road, they took up positions, out of sight of the camp and the city.
“Are we all clear on the plan?” Luther asked.
“Indeed,” Barstag said, his greatsword drawn in his hand. Luther could just make him out in the moonlight. “And remember, the ship leaves just after dawn. It will not wait. Once we have the information, split up and meet at the docks.”
There was a long scrape as Wolfgang ran a whetstone across one of his swords. “I’m ready.”
They waited in silence. Luther hefted his axe in his hand, anxious. He hated waiting. The sooner this was done, the better. He didn’t want to stay in this land for much longer.
Finally, he saw lights approaching. Soon he could make out the riders, three wearing the finer clothes of officers. He breathed deeply. This would be their only chance. It could not go wrong.
Luther stepped out from behind a boulder as the first horse trotted past. His axe was swinging immediately, crashing into the soldier’s chest and sending her flying off the horse. Luther moved on quickly, not wishing to give them time to react. He caught a hastily drawn blade with the shaft of his axe, swiftly killing the rider who wielded it.
Wolfgang and Barstag also moved in, striking for the nearest soldiers. Barstag smashed an officer in the face with the side of his blade, knocking them off their horse. Luther ducked underneath an elven officer’s swing, using the shaft of his axe to drag the elf off the horse. He kicked the soldier to the ground and wheeled around.
The fight was over quickly. One of the officers was dead, the other two injured and on the ground. All the soldiers were dead, aside from one Luther could see fleeing away on foot. He cursed silently. They had to act quickly, before others came to get them.
Barstag was already advancing on the first officer. Luther stomped out one of the only torches that was still lighting. Might as well force the reinforcements to search before finding them. He approached Barstag.
“Tell me, what is your army planning to do?” Barstag said, pressing his sword to the human’s chest. “Tell me, and I might let you live.”
They spit at Barstag, their mouth full of blood. “I will say nothing to you!”
“Are you sure? Final chance?”
“Go kill yourself!”
Barstag nodded. With a quick swipe, he beheaded the soldier. He moved over to the other officer, the elf. “How about you? Do you want to say anything?”
The elf laughed. “You don’t understand how much pain you will be in!”
“Pain we will be in? I think you misunderstand the situation.”
“Go ahead! Kill me! It will do you no good. Already our army prepares to sail south, where we will wipe you out! You can run, but we will find you. You will learn the true power of the elven race! Kroanians, Lorrics, Prollans, all of you! The era of elves has begun!”
“Barstag, we have to go,” Luther said.
Barstag nodded. “We have what we want. They are planning to go south.” Barstag looked down at the elf. “Thank you for your cooperation.” He drove his sword through the elf’s chest. He turned to Wolfgang and Luther. “Run.”
Luther placed his axe onto his back and began running. He knew the plan. He found his horse tied onto the tree he had left it and mounted. He took a long route back to Deisa, far away from the others. He feared his horse would leave prints in the snow, but there was little he could do about that.
He reached Deisa as the sky was beginning to lighten. He abandoned his horse at the city gate, hoping to blend in more on foot. The streets were almost empty, the sun just coming over the horizon. Luther felt self-conscious about his axe, as if it was a massive target on his back. He felt like everyone he passed on the street was watching.
Luther arrived at the docks. There were dozens of ships along the pier, ranging from small two person boats to the huge ships of the army. Some were battered and broken, others shiny new, and all were different. The docks were busy compared to the rest of the city.
Barstag was waiting for Luther when he arrived. Luther grinned, glad to see that at least he was not alone. “Where’s Wolfgang?” Luther asked.
Barstag shook his head. “He’s not here yet. But he has time. No need to worry.”
Luther nodded, worrying anyway. “Which one’s ours?”
“That one,” Barstag said. He pointed at a large merchant ship. Crates were being loaded onto it, their contents unknown. “It cost us most of our remaining gold.”
“As long as it takes us close to home.”
The longer they waited, the more nervous Luther got. He feared any of the things that could have befallen Wolfgang. There was too much unknown. Anything could have happened to him.
A man came from the merchant ship, warning them that it would be leaving soon. Luther still held out hope that Wolfgang would arrive. Then, word spread through the docks like fire, word of the attack on soldiers outside. And word that a southern barbarian had been captured.
Luther turned to Barstag, the colour draining from his face. “They’ve got Wolfgang.”
“We don’t know that it is Wolfgang,” Barstag said.
“It’s Wolfgang. We have to save him.” Luther began turning away.
Barstag grabbed his arm. “We cannot go, Luther. Be sensible. If we leave, we will miss the ship. There may not be another one for weeks, and it will be too late by then.”
Luther wrenched his arm free, anger flowing through his veins. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You want us to abandon him?”
“Luther, listen to me. Ulrik must be warned. Skadi is preparing for an invasion, and she is powerful. Yes, we beat that group of soldiers. But now they are ready, and freeing Wolfgang will not be as easy.”
“He is our friend, Barstag! I will not leave him.”
A voice called down from the ship, telling them it was time to leave. “Luther, this is more important than friendship. This is war, and we must warn them. Wolfgang is good, he can survive long enough for us to convince Ulrik to raise an army and strike back.”
“I will go save him myself if you will not help!” Luther turned away.
“Is that what Wolfgang would want?” Barstag asked. Luther turned back. “For you to throw your life away in a battle you cannot win? Do not make me lose two brothers today, Luther!” Luther walked back towards the ship, his heart heavy, knowing despite what Barstag said he would never see Wolfgang again.