A darkening sky.
The golden sunlit waters of Lake Regillus simmered and churned as the cold air passed over.
Sadik inhaled and sighed deeply. Drawing his cloak tighter around him, the head of the Janus order braced himself against the strong north wind from his place of observation on the grassy hill. The field was far too open. Solemnly, Sadik rubbed at his closely trimmed beard, thinking of the woods below him. For the last few days he had traveled along the land near Lake Regillus, doing nothing but mapping out the area in the hopes that perhaps he could find a place where his soldiers could have an advantage, or even better, convince Gunmar not to attack there. He found nothing and after receiving the third threat on his head, he gave up on attempting to persuade the Gumm-Gumm leader. Gunmar's blood was up and when his blood was up there was little anyone could do to calm him. He seemed almost desperate to take out the Trollhunter. The lack of control he had over the situation was making him anxious.
So deep in thought was Sadik that he never heard the footsteps of his second in command until Stricklander had already moved up to stand beside him.
"Are you well, Sir?" Walder asked, not unkindly.
"Yes, oğul, " Sadik told him. He looked up. Tall, thin and wrapped in leather that probably did nothing for the cold, his second looked far too young to be leading anyone, much less a division of an army.
"You should be resting, Damascus will be here soon."
"I can never sleep before a battle," Sadik huffed, "how are the others?"
Sticklander shrugged," Finnian can sleep through anything, Ashur is off in the nearest town with one of his human girls, Sigurd went after him to bring him back and to make sure her Father or worse her Brothers don't catch them."
Walder stepped closer to the hills rolling knoll and peered down unhappily at the lake's waters.
"As for the others I don't know, they haven't attempted to desert as of yet so i assume that's in our favor."
Sadik let out a pained laugh.
"Yes, that is favourable news."
Turning to face Walder, Sadik eyed him wearily.
"oğul, do you think they're ready?"
Stricklander looked at him, green irises clouding with worry.
"You're asking me?" He asked unable to hide his concern.
Sadik smiled softly, "one day the determination will be yours to make, Walder, what say you? Are our changelings ready?"
The younger man looked down again focusing on the lake.
"The field Gunmar has chosen is far too open, and we've never engaged Damascus directly, though we've all been trained, most of our changelings have never even seen a fight much less an actual battle...so no sir, we are not ready."
Sadik nodded, Walder had the right of it, dreadful truth that it was.
Stricklander glanced up at the slowly setting sun, though obscured by the passing dark clouds , it still emitted an unnatural light over the top of the hill.
"Not that it matters… we have our orders…"
"We have our orders," Sadik repeated watching as the last rays of the sun disappeared.
In the distance he heard the sound of horns and the baying of horses. Casting a brief look at Walder, he marched over to see that Sigurd and Ashur were racing back along the side of the hill. Seemingly catching sight of them, the two changed course and headed towards Sadik.
"They're here! The Trollhunter and his army, they're here." Ashur laughed out with genuine joy, before blowing obnoxiously into the horn once again.
Sigurd cast an unamused glare at his friend but said nothing, merely bowing his tawny head at them, confirming the news.
Walder stepped forward and yanked the horn from Ashur, who pouted and kneed his horse to circle around them.
"Strickland, you have no sense for battle, how are the others to know their doom awaits them?" Ashur chirped as he cocked his head to the side, black eyes glinting mischievously, "if i have no horn with which to wake them?"
"I'm glad you find this so amusing Medina," Walder snapped angrily.
"That's enough," Sadik ordered, realizing that an argument would break out if he did not intervene.
"Sigurd, notify Gunmar and his generals."
He nodded, and rode off.
Turning to the other two, Sadik pointed to Ashur, "You are to get the others on the North side of the Lake up and ready."
Asher smirked at him and kicked his horse into a gallop.
Stricklander cursed him under his breath watching him go.
"Oğul," Sadik called his attention back and Walder fidgeted with the horn before looking at him,"you are to go to the south, get your division ready, Damascus is to fall tonight no matter the cost."