Kailor: Don't be afraid to friend me on Facebook people! Reviews are appreciated! Anything else?
Naruto: I have new socks.
Rikku: What's that got to do with anything?
Su: Five bucks he says nothing.
Kailor: Ten he says everything.
Nuriko: Twenty Kailor's right.
Naruto: Uh, everything! Duh!
Su: Dammit!
Kailor: YES! Wait... 0.0 Dammit!
Nuriko: Thank you, thank you.
In a flurry of snow, the four Crows landed hard, surprising the group. Asuna was already on her feet and rushing to Setsuna's side.
"What's going on?"
"There's a caravan on the ice bridge heading toward us. Armed." Vaiden answered, his wings wrapped tightly around himself.
Asuna looked at Setsuna. "What do we do?"
"We need to find out who they are. We don't want to fight if we don't have to," Setsuna rattled off, without thinking.
"Can we get close enough to see who they are?"
"Kaede can." Setsuna said with confidence. The tall woman joined them immediately. "Who else?"
"I can." Akashi joined them. "I was a guard in Mania who specialized in infiltration and extraction."
"Good. Then you two go. Find out who they are and what they're doing." Setsuna pulled her wings in, relieved that it was without discomfort. "The rest of you, kill the fire and get ready for anything."
Kaede and Akashi quickly conferred then moved to the supply horses. They returned dressed all in white, and left, blending into the landscape. The fire was doused and the camp erupted in frenzied movement.
"So much for not being much of a leader."
Setsuna turned to find Chisame there, holding out a tan tunic and pants. Flushing, Setsuna accepted them. "I'm not. I just-we don't have time-"
"Yeah, yeah, Captain. Just get dressed." Chisame sauntered away.
The tunic and pants she had brought turned out to be padded heavily inside. They were good for the cold, easy to move in, and would offer some protection from attack. Setsuna whistled for Heart and the stallion raced over, dodging between the moving group members as they scrambled to prepare. Most of them already wore padded armor like Setsuna's, but others were strapping on additional armor and weaponry. A few feet away, Akira adorned herself with a metal breastplate that had a shark fin etched into its surface and Haruna produced a chain mace from her satchel and a heavy wooden shield from one of the supply horses. Behind them Chao was slipping on her Razor Arms.
Setsuna pulled on her padded armor and dug for her daggers, assuming someone had put them in her bags. Sure enough, they were in the second bag she tried. She strapped the belt around her waist, setting her daggers correctly behind each hip.
Konoka appeared beside her. She wore armor much like Setsuna, thick and padded. In her hand was a weapon that closely resembled a sledge hammer, but the shaft was steel and the head was smaller, both ends sharpened to points.
"What is that?" Setsuna gaped.
"My weapon?" Konoka raised an eyebrow, as if this were obviously the only weapon in the world she would use. "It's a hammer. Like to hit stuff with?"
"I just didn't expect you to have a weapon." Setsuna admitted, shrugging apologetically. "I heard you have no battle experience."
"Well, from what I've learned, neither do you." Konoka quipped. "Besides fighting our way out of the castle have you ever been in actual battle?"
"No."
"Then we're on equal footing. I've trained my whole life just like you." She noticed Setsuna's wide eyes. "You think they just let a princess run around without some way of protecting herself? I'm good with a slingshot because it's the only weapon I can inconspicuously carry in my princess outfits, but war hammers are my favorite." She hefted the one in her hand, spinning it in a blur of metal. "This one was made for me. Daddy's fourteenth birthday present to me." With a grin she bounced away, leaving Setsuna stunned.
This princess was just full of surprises!
"Catch!"
Setsuna turned and barely caught the plated gauntlets Asuna tossed her. "What're these?"
"Swordsmen like us depend on speed and skill," Asuna was tightening a matching pair of gauntlets around her wrists. "So shields are too bulky and hindering. These are our shields."
Setsuna nodded appreciatively and laced hers on.
Asakura and Chisame appeared at her side. Asakura cheerfully clapped a fist to her chest in salute. Setsuna fought the urge to punch her in the arm.
"All ready to move out, my hero," Asakura chirped. "Just give the word."
"Ah, well...let's go." Setsuna said.
"Alright, folks! We're moving out!" Asuna gathered the troops, heading off to get them all marching.
Asakura saluted again, grinning knowingly. This time Chisame also raised a fist to her heart before turning away to join the group. Setsuna wanted to slap herself for liking the move. Instead she caught Rakan's eye and motioned him forward. As the group trotted past she caught Kotaro's arm.
"Stay close to the three princesses. If things go wrong you two get them out of here no matter what you have to do." Kotaro's little chest puffed out and he nodded seriously, immediately turning to find Konoka, Ayaka, and Asuna. Rakan pounded a shovel sized fist to his chest and followed the boy.
Setsuna turned and walked right into Heart's flank. He neighed and tossed his mane in something that sounded suspiciously like a horsey laugh. With a glare at her steed, she swung up onto his back. Thanking their long ride across the plains for teaching her how to ride, she spurred him forward, past the group. Using her higher vantage point, she scanned ahead for their returning scouts. Vaiden and Ashlyn fell into step on either side of Heart. Vaiden held his bow with an arrow nocked and ready to be drawn. Ashlyn carried the chain they'd removed from her collar on her rescue from Fort Kinsten. Unlike Setsuna and Vaiden, she wore a full metal chest plate, arm guards, and shin guards. The ensemble made her look even smaller than normal and Setsuna had to choke her laugh back. Ashlyn was the first person she'd ever met who was older than her but shorter. I think that makes you my favorite sibling, Setsuna thought, holding her mirth in check.
Finally two small parts of the white scene ahead of her moved. Kaede and Akashi appeared from the drifting snow, both panting. Heart halted without her input and faced the two scouts. Setsuna dropped from his back.
"Setsuna," Kaede greeted briefly. "It is a slave caravan. Most of the slaves look to be Ahrimani but a few are Kirahn. The men running the caravan are Puhvalian. There's twice as many of them as there is of us. The slaves number fifteen adults and two children."
"We get the impression that there were more," Akashi scowled. "They are all chained together in a line and some of the spots are empty along it."
Setsuna bit her lip to keep from cursing. Slaves like her and Collie had been lucky to have the masters they did. Kirah did not allow slaves, Ahriman was supposedly in the process of eradicating slavery, and Mania had a two slave limit as well as multiple ways to be freed from your bond. Puhvalia was the only country that fully allowed slavery and she had heard once that this acceptance had only started after the previous royalty had died.
Been killed, her mind corrected, darkening her already stormy mood.
"I thought there was a law against taking people from other countries into slavery."
"There is," Kaede confirmed. "In Kirah it is punishable by death to enslave anyone. These slave caravans have started to get more frequent over the years though. We've recovered some of our people who were taken by force but the Rani's advisors have been turning their heads and ignoring it. They don't want to piss off Puhvalia or whoever else these people work for because the Rani's apparently 'not ready'." Her lip curled and one eye opened, glittering with anger. "The Council has gained too much power. The Rani's family needs to step up."
Setsuna nodded. "I see that. For now, though, we have to handle this caravan." She crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side, deciding quickly. "I have to help them."
"I thought you would say that," Kaede grinned, raising her fist to her breast in salute. Setsuna suddenly realized this must be something they had all decided to do together. Feeling her cheeks run red, she knew it was going to be something she had to get used to. Turning away she pulled her cloak from her bag, needing its warmth wrapped around her for what she was about to do. The group had halted and were waiting for word of what was going on. With her cloak wrapped tightly around her she stepped forward to address her friends.
She relayed what Kaede had reported. They listened silently. Finally Setsuna got to her point. She hopped onto Heart's back.
"I grew up a slave and I was one of the lucky ones. I admit I have a personal agenda for wanting to engage these people. So I want to leave it to you if you will join me or not. Nobody will hold it against you." With that simple speech, she pulled her cloak tighter and tucked her knees into Heart's strong shoulders. The stallion tossed his mane and stomped the ground, as if urging an answer from the quiet crowd.
"Well, I'm going where you go, my hero. If only because you look so damn sexy on that horse." Asakura seperated herself from the pack and joined her. Her mare trotted up behind her, whinnying to Heart. The stallion ignored her. Setsuna gave Asakura a relieved smile.
"I can't let my bodyguard go alone," Konoka stepped up, offering Setsuna that sweet private smile that set her blood on fire.
"I'm definitely in," Asuna marched purposefully to the forefront. "So is Ayaka."
"I can make my own decisions!" Ayaka griped, but she joined Setsuna's group. She touched Setsuna's leg as she passed and whispered, "I would have joined you of my own accord anyways."
Vaiden silently moved forward, cocking his head to the side. She cocked hers, nodding to him. Magden shrugged and followed his brother. Ashlyn made her way forward, swinging her chain and whistling happily. Kiona appeared from the back of the crowd, a large crossbow hefted over her shoulder.
"This is stupid," Eva sighed, but she also moved to Setsuna's side. Kotaro and Kaede joined her. Negi was right behind them. Rakan and Akashi glanced at each other then stepped forward together. Haruna and Chao linked arms and skipped across the invisible line everyone was crossing. Setsuna laughed.
Akira slapped a fist to her chest plate and moved to Kiona's side.
Chisame, standing alone, looked at the group of them. She had a bundle of spears stuck in the snow and was leaning lightly against them. Slowly she shook her head. Then she yanked her spears from the snow and stepped forward, looking straight up into Setsuna's face. "You look a hell of a lot like a leader now." She raised her fist to her heart and winked.
Setsuna took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. Every one of her companions stood behind her, ready to fight for her. Chisame was right. She FELT a hell of a lot like a leader. Even the supply horses were pressing forward and Killik sat up on his haunches, his long tail wagging back and forth, throwing snow. Closing her eyes, she gathered her composure. It would probably ruin the whole thing if she started crying now.
"All right. Rakan, lead the way to the ice bridge. Asuna, I want you to stay to the back with Killik. He'll be our secret weapon. Kotaro, scout just ahead of us and as soon as you see the caravan send word back. When we get the signal from Kotaro, Asuna, release the tents from Killik's back and stay with him until I whistle. Vaiden, I'll approach them alone first. You wait for my signal then start firing. I want to make sure we get the first strike but I also want to warn the slaves what's coming. The rest of you, hold up your weapons."
They did as instructed. She glanced around and quickly drew a sketch in her mind of where she wanted everyone.
"Chisame, Kiona, and Asakura-Asakura, can you even use that sling?"
"Want me to peg you with a rock real quick?"
"I'm fine, thanks. You three stay back behind the group with Vaiden. Everyone else get into them and through them as quickly as possible, leaving them open to attacks from those of us who stay back." She raised an eyebrow. "Those of you who stay back? Try not to hit us."
"I can't promise anything," Asakura said.
"What about those of us who fight with magic?" Negi asked, raising his hand. Good question.
"Stay back or charge in. Whichever you choose," she said.
"Oh good," Haruna sighed, swinging her chain mace. "I thought I wasn't going to get to use this bad boy!"
"Remember everyone: these mountains throw back any sound higher than a single voice. We're about a mile from where voices begin jumping," Rakan indicated a large outcropping from the face of the mountain. "As soon as we pass that rock we're gonna be listening to everything we say forty times over."
"Then I want silence." Setsuna glanced around for acceptance. "Anything that needs to be said will be whispered and only if it's life and death. I don't want these people to know we're coming."
Rakan took the lead and Heart kept pace with him, the others falling into line. Setsuna motioned Kaede and Vaiden to her side. "Kaede, who usually buys slaves?"
"Wealthy nobles, mostly." Her fox eyes opened and she appraised Setsuna. "You have a plan."
"I want to pretend I'm interested in buying a few of them so I can get close enough to warn them."
"I'll get you the outfit you wore as Cora. Don't give your name. Traveling nobles like to keep things anonymous."
"I can do that. Vaiden." Her brother raised an eyebrow. "When I touch my shoe, start firing."
"Unless they attack you before that." He chuckled.
"Well yeah. Definitely start firing if they attack before that."
Kaede fell back to the supply horses and Konoka took her place. "How're you feeling?"
"Nervous."
"Me too. But you've got my back and from the way Rakan and Kotaro have been sticking to me, I assume they do too."
"I asked them to keep you safe."
"Ordered them, you mean. You're the leader." Konoka smiled. "You can say you ordered them to. It's okay. We're all following you by our own free will."
Setsuna sighed. That just made it worse. These people were trusting her. What if she screwed up?
Kaede ran up, clutching the indigo outift Setsuna had worn. Slipping off Heart's back, she handed her cloak to Konoka while she pulled the tunic and pants on over her padded armor. The princess immediately flipped the cloak over her shoulders and bundled into it, only her eyes still visible.
The ninja woman rolled her eyes at the princess then looked at Heart. "We're going to have to have him saddled up. Nobles don't make a habit of riding around bareback." She smiled. "Messes up their clothes."
Setsuna grimaced. Saddles hurt.
A few minutes later Asuna had sent one of their extra saddles from Killik's back with Haruna to Setsuna. Setsuna held Heart's mane tightly as the Puhvalian mage saddled him. Heart didn't like it one bit.
Rakan suddenly held up a hand, silencing the few whispers that were threading through the group. The outcropping was just ahead.
They marched on, exchanging nervous glances and fighting the snow that was growing heavier with each step. Nearly an hour later the snow beneath their feet turned to ice.
The air swirled with thick flakes of snow, obscuring their vision. They marched single-file, silent. Then Kotaro appeared through the mist of white.
He opened his mouth and she put a finger to her lips, cautioning him to stay quiet. "They're just ahead," he whispered.
"Get by the princesses." He tapped a fist to his chest and disappeared into the group.
She traded a nervous glance with Vaiden then swung up into the saddle. Waving a hand back and forth behind her, she motioned for everyone to spread out into lines. Rakan took up position in front of Heart, a double-headed battle ax the same height as Setsuna on his shoulder. Vaiden carefully moved himself to the extreme inside of the ice bridge, where the mountain rose above them.
Then the snow ahead darkened, and grew darker, and then became shapes moving towards them. When the lead man of the caravan saw them, he held up a hand to halt his people. Setsuna repeated the gesture, tugging Heart to a stop.
The man moved forward alone. Setsuna folded the reins and laid them across Heart's shoulders. She slid to the ground and moved to meet the man. Rakan dropped back into the group. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Vaiden slowly making his way closer to the caravan. She stepped farther towards the edge of the bridge, drawing the caravans' eyes to her so Vaiden could get close enough to be able to see her signal.
When the man was a few feet away he stopped. Setsuna halted. He was a good two foot taller, and three foot thicker. Nearly Rakan's size, he was more fat than muscle. She quickly decided speed was going to be her best bet.
He pulled a heavy mace from his belt. Setsuna tensed, but he simply threw it to the snow a few feet away. Then he raised his arms and turned in a slow circle, showing her he had no other weapons. She drew her daggers and tossed them beside the mace, silently reveling in the fact that her sword was still there, ready. She turned in a circle.
Like her friends, his caravan was completely silent, standing at attention. All of them were focused on the leaders meeting. She fought the impulse to glance at Vaiden.
The man hooked his thumbs in his belt. "Didn't think we'd be meeting anybody up this way." His voice was low and hoarse, nearly a whisper.
"I could say the same," she replied just loud enough for him to hear.
"It's a uh...a hard travel over this bridge." He eyed her up and down.
"It's harder to pay cross-country tolls these days, isn't it?" she quipped. "Or do you just enjoy the view?"
"View. I've got no problem paying tolls. Or at least, I won't soon. I have a very...lucrative...business."
She suddenly realized this was a game of words where neither of them were going to say anything that really meant anything but also meant everything. She couldn't help but smile. This was fun. "This...business...you speak of, sir...would it be of interest to me?"
"Possibly."
She turned and purposely glanced at her group. When she turned back he was eyeing her again, looking intrigued. She licked her dry lips. "Let's say I'm interested. What have you got for me...?" She raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"You can call me Errik. And you are?" He challenged. She loved challenges.
"You can call me beautiful, but that's not my name." She strode past him confidently, holding her breath. His chuckle was a little too loud and it rang in her ears and over the bridge, slowly fading. He cut himself off quickly and fell into step beside her.
"Anyways, I've got a fine selection of uh...supplies. You can take a look around and see if any of them are to your liking, Beautiful."
"I shall." She stepped past him and he waved a hand. The slaves knelt as one.
His men were nearly as big as he was, all armed and watchful. As she approached the line of slaves her heart clenched. They were all different sizes and shapes but each one was dirty and shivering violently. They wore no shoes, no cloaks, no pants. Each one was dressed in a raggedy gown with no sleeves and no sign of ever being washed. Their eyes were on the ground and their shaking grew as she approached. The chains rattled just loud enough to send echoes down into the valley leaving a continuous sound that she intended to take advantage of. She glanced at Errik. He was leaned into another man, whispering. She bent to look into the face of the first slave in line. She was a woman not much older than Setsuna and she kept her eyes locked on her knees. Setsuna bent in close, pretending to study the woman's shoulders.
"Don't panic. I'm here to help you." The woman's head snapped up and her bright blue eyes were wide. "Head down." Setsuna hissed. The woman dropped her head again, shaking harder than before. "Carefully, quietly...pass it down the line. Tell everyone to stay down and when the arrows start flying push back towards the mountain." She pushed back to her feet and carefully strolled along. The woman leaned a shoulder into the man beside her and Setsuna barely saw her lips move. She moved to the center of the line where two children were kneeling beside each other, cuddled close.
One was brunette and his big brown eyes fixed on her face. He looked scared but he kept eye contact, his little jaw set. Curled into his side and shaking harder than any of the others was a little black haired girl. Her face was buried into the boy's chest. Setsuna took a deep breath to keep from attacking immediately and ruining the plan.
Setsuna stopped in front of them and she saw the tall thin man beside them tense up. He slid closer to the children. She made to kneel beside him but suddenly Errik was there. She straightened up, silently cursing. She hoped someone took care of them. There was no longer any time to warn them herself.
"See anything you like, Beautiful?" Errik asked, standing much too close for comfort. His hot breath brushed her neck and she resisted the urge to shudder.
"These two are quite cute. What are you asking?"
"Package deal?"
"Yes."
"Forty Goulas." He stepped closer, and she felt his body push against hers. "For fifty I can throw in a special treat from myself." His seductive whisper made her skin crawl and she bit her tongue. Not yet...
"I believe I have fifty. Let me get my coin." She stepped away from him a little too quickly and marched back towards her people. She glanced to the side and could not see Vaiden. Snow crunched behind her.
"Wait," Errik said, when he caught up. "Are you sure you want those two?" He sounded suspicious suddenly. She licked her dry lips. "They're barely going to make the trip over the mountain much less if you're bringing them back the way we came. What do you need them for?" The word game was over. He knew something was up.
"Uh," she stalled. "I have a home in Mania and it needs younger service. I'm just going to Kirah to visit a friend."
"A friend?"
She eased her foot up, stretching her fingers to reach her shoe. Errik took a step closer.
Her fingers brushed the sole of her shoe.
Then his head snapped back and the whistle of an arrow echoed into the canyon below. Setsuna hit the snow. One of Errik's men yelled. She heard Rakan shout.
The world exploded with sound.
