Seven very tense warriors lay on their bellies on the crest of the small hill, looking down over the still bare farmland that lead, eventually, to Corus, which glittered in the fresh spring sunlight. The band weren't looking towards Corus, though; their eyes were fixed on something much closer.
"There." Klair breathed. "You can see the marks where they moved through the long grass, and then the branches in the copse, to the left." The trail was feather faint, and Kel admitted to herself she wouldn't have seen it if it hadn't been pointed out to her.
"I'm getting very faint traces of magic." Liach had her eyes on a small, flat highly polished stone nestled in the palm of her hand. "I'm close enough to pick it up now. Some subtle concealment charms, a few speaking spells, and something I've never encountered before…that must be how the Battle Fever is carried…three mages altogether…I think they've stopped, that's a new speaking spell."
"And we know there are six in the group altogether." Evin supplied. "We're as close as we've been to them. I think we need to plan the next move carefully."
"Absolutely." Kel looked over her companions. "We'll leave a lookout here, and the rest of us will fall back and discuss the next move."
"How democratic." Klair muttered, not quite under her breath. Kel saw the venomous look Neal shot her, and was glad Dom was far enough away not to have heard her.
"Right, Klair, you can take the first guard, we'll relieve you in two hours; everyone else back to the horses." Kel took just a tiny amount of pleasure in leaving the woman behind, but even as she was relieved to be free of her for a few hours, she was already worried about what Klair might do or say later. What was the phrase? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, she remember as she unhitched Peachblossom and led the others to a secluded hollow for their discussions.
Wolset tended the kettle on the fire, crouched low over the flickering flames. He was deeply worried. This was more usual than not, but this mission deeply unsettled him; above and beyond the danger and the difficulty, and being landed amongst all these nobles. Sergeant Dom was withdrawn and tense, surely to do with that poisonous ice queen he had apparently had dealings with before. Lady Kel, so focused normally, seemed distracted, as did Sir Neal. All the magic and charms gave him a sore head as well. He hated the creeping and silence, hated the constant invisibility. I'm a soldier, not a spy, he thought harshly, as the water came to the boil. He made the tea, and then forced his mind back to the discussions going on about him. He filled the mugs, and felt relieved that there would be fighting soon: something he could do. Wolset was anxious for something, anything, familiar in this strange sequence of events.
"So…correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the plan so far." Kel took a mug from Wolset, smiling her thanks. "We trail the Scanrans until nightfall, and when they are encamped, we surround them, and pick off the guards in absolute secrecy. This is critical."
Evin nodded grimly, as did Liach and Neal. Dom chewed his lip and said nothing.
"So," Kel continued, "as they usually have two guards, that brings the group down to four, and they should hopefully be asleep and unaware of us. Gods hope they are; if we can take them unawares, we immobilise and silence them. If we lose the element of surprise, we have to kill them. Finally, we recover the Battle Fever."
"We're in two groups; wide group initially takes out the sentries, then will provide cover with bows and ensure the net remains closed and no-one may escape." Evin continued. "Close group goes in to take the main body of the enemy."
"Who's in each group?" Dom asked, voice creaky.
"Neal and I will have to be in the close group." Liach commented. "I can send a sleep spell in front of me, that should make life easier, and together we can hold people in magic."
"She's right; we've been practising the Golden Net." Neal said, a little proudly. "And you'll need me for when we find the Battle Fever."
"Sounds good." Kel said approvingly. "Wolset is a fine archer, so he'll be placed in wide group."
"If it's archers, Klair better go there, too." Evin stated. "That's another skill she's honed over the years."
"Very good." Kel said. That doesn't surprise me at all, and she never let on, devious creature, she thought. "I'll lead wide group myself." She added. Better to keep an eye on certain people.
"So I'll lead the close group." Evin said. "That's me, Liach, Neal and Dom." He stood up and stretched. "I'll go and relieve Klair, fill her in. That alright, Kel?"
"Perfect. Neal and Liach can sort out their magic, and the rest of us can sort out weapons and horses."
With that the little group separated to their tasks. They felt grim with the critical part of the mission so close, but its closeness also brought a sense of relief, that for better or worse, soon the waiting would be over.
Dom and Kel found themselves working side by side as they groomed and tacked up the horses. They were visible at this point; it was very picky to negotiate buckles and straps with you couldn't see the finger working at them.
"Kel…" Dom began hesitantly.
"Hmm?" Kel was untangling Blossoms mane.
"Do you think we'll die in this mission?"
"What makes you ask that?" Kel asked carefully, eyes on her task.
"I've just got a bad feeling; like there's another company hiding behind the hill, or there's something really important we don't know…" he tailed off. "Just a bad feeling," he repeated.
"It does seem straightforward, but if we lose the surprise, it could be a bloody fight. You know anything can happen in battle." Kel finished fastening Blossom's bridle and moved onto Liach's pony, a brown mare called Rosebay. Kel felt at a loss to reassure this man who had supported her so often in the past.
"You're my commander and I trust you Kel; but I'm an experienced soldier and I trust my instincts as well. I'm sure something's going to happen tonight." He ducked under his horse's neck and stood facing Kel. "I can't help but think the worst." He looked her in the eye. "If you were to die this day, is there anything you'll regret? That you did? Or that you didn't do?" He was far too close again. Kel could hear his fast shallow breathing, smell his pine and earth scent, feel the heat from his body.
"I don't regret anything I've done, Dom," she replied quietly. She took his elbows in her hands, just to steady myself, she justified, for my knees are very wobbly.
"Nor do I." He smiled, a nervous flicker of a smile, not his usual broad grin.
But there would be one thing I'd regret not doing, if the Black God comes for me tonight. Luckily," Kel said, not quite believing what she was doing, "I can rectify it easily."
Kel couldn't breathe, but she was decided; she stood on tiptoe, and placed her tender kiss on Dom's lips. She could feel them trembling slightly.
"Now I can die happy," she said, feeling a bit silly but very relieved. Dom looked her in the eye, smiled properly this time.
"I wasn't sure you felt that way, even after the arrow incident, but that's quite conclusive."
"Idiot." Kel felt she could smile properly, too, now. "I've wanted nothing else for goodness knows how long." He reached down, hand on her neck to pull her face closer, and he kissed her back, hard and deep. She hadn't realised how much she had wanted this, had needed this, and as those strong, broad hands slid up and down her back, one then in her hair, one on her hip, she felt over wrought spring of her heart relax. They both forgot the mission, the threat of enemies distant and close, the imminent threat of death, and they lost themselves in that perfect moment, filled with nothing but each other.
Finally! I've got them together...