Chapter Three: Escort
Gwen spent the remainder of the night catching up with her long forgotten friend, discussing their adventures and the experiences they had during their time apart. Gwen learned that Kyte, as part of the Heroes of Ascalon, had banded together a team of heroes to save the continents of Tyria, Cantha and Elona. Kyte learned of Gwen's descent into slavery after her capture in Lakeside County, the people she met during her time under the whip and also the people she lost. Gwen also told of her attempted escapes which eventually became successful, and how she taught herself the skills necessary to survive before she encountered the Ebon Vanguard.
"It sounds like we've both been through a lot." Gwen finally said, when the tales of their adventures came to an end.
"That's definitely one way of putting it." said Kyte, putting a hand on his two swords beside him. "You know, these swords are the very same ones I received from Devona the day I saved that family from the bandits. Do you remember?"
"I do." replied Gwen softly. "I also remember the beautiful green grass fields, the lovely, tall trees, and the sound of the rushing river that I used to sit by."
"It was home." said Kyte, smiling.
"Yeah." Gwen said, looking down. They were pleasant memories, but since then her home had been turned to ash, the green fields into barren landscapes, and the rushing rivers were all but dried up.
"Which reminds me, I have something of yours." Kyte said, reaching into one of his bags and pulling out a small flower with beautiful red petals. Gwen remembered it well.
"Red Iris." she whispered, as Kyte placed the delicate flower in her hands. I kept it as a memory of you but after a while… I forgot I had it."
"I can't believe you kept this for so long." Gwen said, shocked but touched. Tears began to well in her eyes once more as she held the flower between her fingers.
"Keep it." he said. "As a memory."
"Thank you." Gwen said, as she reached over to hug her dear friend once more.
"We better get some rest." said Kyte, breaking the embrace. "We can talk more tomorrow. We have a long day ahead of us."
"You are right." Gwen agreed, wiping the wet tears from her face. "Good night." she watched as Kyte gave her a smile, gathered up his armour and carried it to his room. She continued to sit for a while on her own, twirling the red iris flower in her fingertips and embracing the fact that at last, something good had come back into her life.
x x x x
Dawn broke over the horizon as a new day began. Gwen, Kyte, Ogden and Vekk packed supplies and provisions for their journey east towards the Charr Homelands, where they hoped to find Gwen's allies, the Ebon Vanguard.
"Do we know the way?" asked Ogden, as he hooked a staff to his back.
"We have a map." Kyte replied, pointing to one of his bags. "But Gwen seems to know the way as well. We won't get lost."
"Certainly hope not." Vekk added. "Time is something we cannot afford to waste right now."
"Noted." Kyte winked. "Let's go, Gwen is waiting outside." As they exited the fortress, Gwen was awaiting them at the foot of the walkway, where she was sketching something in the snow. As Kyte and the others approached, she spoke up.
"The journey northeast won't be very easy." she began, and referred them to a makeshift map she had drawn in the snow. "The mountains around here are dangerous, and prone to avalanches. To get to Grothmar Wardowns, we'll have to travel through the Norrhart Domains and the Bjora Marches, until we come across Longeye's Ledge."
"Sounds like a bit of a walk." Kyte joked. "What's our estimated travel time?"
"If we keep pushing, I'd say we'll make it there in three, maybe four days?" replied Gwen.
"So be it." nodded Kyte. "Let's go."
The group travelled for several hours, laughing and telling stories and in Vekk and Ogden's case, explaining to Gwen more about their respective races. Kyte also mentioned some of his minor quests and adventures he undertook while he was travelling, such as participating in a festival in Elona, where he had to rally the support of the three Princes, in the process of which he got drunk during a drinking contest with a man named Zilo, which made his proposition to the Princes all that more difficult. By the end of the day, they were halfway through Norrhart Domains, according to Gwen. She marked the exact location they were at on the map.
"If we keep this up, we'll be in the Bjora Marches by noon tomorrow." she said, dropping her pack at her feet. They had found shelter for the night between two trees, situated underneath a large boulder formation. The air was wintery cold, so the four of them huddled closely around a warm fire.
"We'll take shifts for tonight." Gwen said. "You don't want to know what kinds of things come out here at night."
"As if the cold isn't killing us enough as it is." grumbled Ogden, getting up and kicking a small patch of snow.
"Get some rest, Ogden." Kyte chuckled, as the dwarf laid out a blanket to lie on.
"Don't need to tell me twice."
"I'll take first watch." Kyte said, getting to his feet and moving out in front of the fire.
"Then I will take over for you in a couple of hours." Gwen agreed. She moved over to her side of the fire and lay down, a warm blanket over her shivering body. Whatever Captain Langmar was doing, wherever she was, Gwen prayed to Lyssa that she was alright.
A couple of hours passed, and Gwen slowly sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She looked around at two of her party members: the dwarf and the asura were still asleep, quite peacefully. She looked ahead to see Kyte still awake on watch, as close to the fire as possible to keep himself warm. The night remained silent around their campsite, and Gwen figured it was time for her to take over watch.
"Still up?" she joked, crawling over to Kyte and wrapping her blanket around him and herself.
"Of course." he laughed. "Wouldn't be a very good soldier if I fell asleep on the job."
"You can turn in for the night if you like." Gwen said. "Get some rest."
"I think I might stay for a while." replied Kyte, looking up towards the sky. "I've gotten used to late nights, I wouldn't be able to fall asleep for a while. You can go back to sleep if you want."
"No, I'll stay." Gwen said. "If I go back to sleep I won't be able to wake up again later."
"Such a beautiful night." Kyte stated, continuing to look at the sky, which was filled with an array of green lights: an aurora. "Haven't seen one like this in a while."
Gwen looked up at the northern lights and smiled. "Neither have I."
"Who did you leave in charge of the Eye while you are away?" Kyte questioned.
"One of Captain Langmar's Lieutenants, Kieran Thackeray." Gwen replied. "He's good and reliable, he'll take care of the fortress in my absence."
"The archer with the brown hair?" asked Kyte, a smirk appearing on his face. "I think that guy has a thing for you."
Gwen simply chuckled. She had often spoke to Kieran during her time at the Eye of the North, but she hadn't really thought of him in a romantic sense. "No, we're just friends."
"I see." Kyte replied, smiling.
"Oh, and what about you?" Gwen asked, nudging him in the ribs. "Any romances you haven't told me about?"
"I haven't had time for any real relationships." Kyte laughed. "Been too busy fighting off evil I suppose."
"Seriously?" Gwen asked sarcastically. "No one?"
"Well… there was this one time in Cantha." Kyte said, giving in to Gwen. "Her name was Nika. She was an Assassin that assisted my group in uniting the two factions."
"What happened?" Gwen asked, now curious.
"We couldn't be together." Kyte replied. "We were going in two different directions."
"I'm sorry." Gwen could see that this girl had obviously meant a lot to Kyte. She saw sadness in his eyes.
"Don't be." Kyte said, turning to her and giving her a smile. "We all have our own destiny to follow." Gwen simply nodded and smiled back. A moment of silence passed between them when suddenly Kyte put a firm hand on Gwen's shoulder and jumped to his feet.
"Did you hear that?" he asked.
"Hear wha-" Gwen went silent as Kyte covered her mouth with his hands and placed a finger to his lips to shush her. Gwen listened intently as she looked ahead into the black night, but continued to hear nothing.
"It's too quiet." she whispered.
"Exactly." replied Kyte. Then, at the moment, several shadows emerged from the darkness, brandishing a variety of different weapons such as broad swords and axes to daggers and knives. All of them appeared to be human.
"What do we have here?" Gwen heard a voice say. It was male, she knew that much, but the origin of the voice could not be seen. Kyte immediately brandished his twin blades mounted on his back, twirling them in his hands.
"I wouldn't, if I were you." the voice called out again. Behind them, Ogden and Vekk, who were sleeping peacefully a moment ago, were being held at knifepoint, obviously caught unaware of the enemy's presence.
"Don't worry about us." Ogden said, but his words got him a kick to the gut. The dwarf coughed and doubled over in pain.
"Drop the swords, now." the voice said firmly. Gwen finally saw who the speaker was. A man revealed himself in the fire's light. He was tall and muscular, tattoos inked all over his arms and face, and he was dressed in fur, as were the rest of his group. Kyte reluctantly dropped his swords and looked into the enemy's eyes.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Whatever you have." the man replied, picking up one of Kyte's blades and examining it in his hands. "Quite an exquisite blade you have here."
"You're thieves." Gwen spat.
"We prefer the term, Nomads." the man responded, approaching Gwen and stroking her cheek. Gwen slapped his hand away and scowled.
"Don't you touch her." Kyte threatened. The man grinned as he looked Kyte in the eye, before throwing a punch into his gut. The Warrior dropped to the snow, clutching his stomach. Gwen gasped and rushed over, trying to help him up.
"Perhaps you've heard of me." the man announced. "I am Salihm, former leader of the Corsairs. I now roam the snowy plains of the Norrhart Domains, taking whatever I can and whatever I want."
"What's an Elonian doing all the way out here?" Vekk asked.
"That, my little friend, is a good question." Salihm said. Gwen looked up at the thief and scowled. This man intruded on them and demanded their belongings. He was a thug, and Gwen hated thugs. She reached for one of Kyte's fallen blades and swung it around in her hand before grasping Salihm from behind and holding the blade at his throat.
"Let them go!" she cried out, facing the two nomads holding Vekk and Ogden captive. The men hesitated, but a nod from Salihm gave them the order. Vekk and Ogden rushed over to Kyte, who was just getting to his feet.
"Leave us now, and you keep your life." Gwen whispered in the former Corsair's ear. Salihm merely chuckled, and Gwen was taken aback. Suddenly, she felt her body fly forward. She landed on her back, temporarily dazed by what had just happened. Salihm was standing over her, a knife to her throat.
"You will regret holding a blade at my throat, foolish bitch!"
Gwen was completely vulnerable. Kyte's sword that she was holding had slipped through her fingers and was out of reach. Suddenly, another body rammed into Salihm, throwing him to the ground. Gwen looked up to see Kyte crouching over the nomad leader, throwing punch after punch into his enemy's face. Salihm's men moved in to attack but Gwen, Ogden and Vekk were ready this time. Gwen blocked an attack aimed at Kyte and kicked the attacker to the ground while Vekk and Ogden knocked down two more. Salihm had managed to throw Kyte off him and held up a hand to his men.
"Stop, enough!" he cried out. "If this fool wants to fight, let him!" he kicked over one of Kyte's swords and it landed at the Warrior's feet. "You want to protect your woman?"
Gwen looked over to Kyte. Blood was dripping from his bottom lip as he grasped his blade and prepared for combat.
"No one interfere." Salihm ordered, as he drew out a large broadsword. "He is mine."
Gwen watched as the two men circled each other, preparing to block any incoming strike. In the end, it was Salihm who made the first move. He swung his broadsword above his head and brought it down on Kyte's blade. Sparks flew as the two swordsmen battled it out, not giving each other any opportunity to strike a killing blow. Gwen was unsure whether or not to help her friend or not. She could not just sit on the sidelines and watch this battle ensue. Her abilities as a Mesmer could help turn to the tide of the battle…
As if he knew what she was thinking, Ogden placed a hand firmly over Gwen's, to stop her from doing what she was about to do. Gwen looked over at the dwarf and he simply shook his head.
"Kyte has battled the likes of Shiro Tagachi and Abaddon himself." he whispered. "There is no way he will lose this fight." Gwen continued to look on anxiously as the fight went on. She did not know whether she felt reassured or not, but Kyte was not showing any signs of weakening.
Kyte continued to swing his blade in fluid motions, blocking and defending every blow that the former Corsair threw at him. Kyte admitted that he was good, but he had fought better. Having had enough of the swordfight, Kyte picked up his attacking speed. Salihm had no idea what was going on. In a single instant, Kyte had completely changed his style of fighting. Kyte moved his blade like a dance, cutting and weaving as he had done a thousand times before. Salihm did not see it coming. His opponent's blade came down like a ghost, and he was unable to block in time. He screamed in pain and dropped to the ground as his hand rolled away like a stone. Kyte sheathed his sword and grasped Salihm by the neck.
"Leave. Now." the frightened nomad stared wide-eyed, cradling his handless limb in his chest. That fear soon turned into anger, then hate, as he growled orders at his men.
"Kill him!" he shouted. Gwen raised her weapon in preparation for an attack, but before Salihm's men could make a move, an arrow came down from above and struck the leader in the chest. He gasped for air and clutched his chest before slumping over, dead. Three more arrows rained down from above and hit three more nomads, killing them instantly. Panic set in and the rest of the nomads departed, running off into the darkness.
Gwen watched in awe as the thieves disappeared into the night. Kyte gave a huge sigh and dropped to his knees. Gwen rushed over to him and draped a blanket over her friend.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine." he replied, looking into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live." she joked, holding him close.
"I think we've established that it's not safe at night." Ogden grumbled. "The sooner we get to Longeye's Ledge, the better."
"Who shot those arrows?" Vekk asked.
"We did." a voice came from the darkness. Four shadows emerged from the darkness and Gwen recognized them instantly.
"Mullenix!" Gwen cried out. Artificer Mullenix and three Ebon Vanguard soldiers stood before them, armed with bows and blades. "What are you doing here?"
"Lieutenant Thackeray sent us." Mullenix replied. "He refused to let you go another day without an escort. I guess he was right to send us."
"I will thank him when we return." Gwen smiled. "Thank you for your help."
"It's an honour, ma'am." Mullenix said, throwing a fist to his chest and bowing. "We'll be glad to accompany you the rest of the way."
"We're glad to have you." Kyte said, giving a small smile. "Some extra hands could definitely come in handy."
"Get some rest, sir." Mullenix said, nodding to Kyte. "We'll take it from here."
x x x x
Fortunately, Gwen and the group did not encounter any other problems or obstacles on their way to Longeye's Ledge. With Artificer Mullenix's escort the rest of the way, they reached Longeye's Ledge in three days.
"We're here." Gwen said, pointing ahead to a sloping hillside. The snow was beginning to recede and Gwen could see patches of grass around her feet, an indication that they were exiting the Far Shiverpeaks.
"We've managed to get you here safely." Mullenix said. "If you don't mind, we'd better be getting back to the Eye. Lieutenant Thackeray needs our help."
"Of course," Gwen replied. "Thank you for your assistance."
"Always, ma'am." with a salute, he and his escort turned around and headed back south.
"This is the home of Olfun Longeye." Gwen stated. "A norn, and ally of the Vanguard."
"A norn?" Ogden asked. "Perhaps we can ask him about joining our crusade."
"You can try." replied Gwen. "But I'm not entirely sure he'll listen."
"Great." Ogden mumbled sarcastically.
"Where do we go from here?" Kyte asked, as they approached the hillside.
"On the other side of Longeye's Ledge is Grothmar Wardowns." Gwen said, a grim look appearing on her face. "It is where the Ebon Vanguard were last seen. The home of the Charr."