Chapter 10
*
Rolan sighed. He had just finished talking to Destus, and contact with the Companion's mind had saddened him. Destus and his Chosen were in despair, unable to escape. Rolan wished he could have told them about Cassa, but giving them hope which could so easily be false would do more harm than good.
One thing they had learned; As the first 'demons' to be caught in this war, Leena and Destus were having a cerimonial send-off. A Voice of VKandis was being sent over from the capital, Sunhame. This would take a few days.
Rolan hoped that Casa and Camber could be there in time.
*
Cassa and Camber approached the camp on silent feet. Even in Karsite territory, there would be some form of sentry. Cassa fingered the bow she held. That sentry would have a surprise.
Still feeling the effects of their previous whirlwind ride, Camber had taken five days to find this camp, climbing through A tiny, unnamed pass that only a goat or a Companion could get through. They'd looped back and found the road that led from White Foal pass - having to avoid soldier's camps on the way - and had at last found the bandit's rough camping spot.
Now the pair circled the camp, silently as ghosts, in their search for the sentry. The moon shone done, giving them some light, but they saw noone awake.
Suddenly, a low snarl echoed in the silence. A dark form - clearly not human, but unlike any animal Cassa had ever seen - leapt from the cover of some bushes. Camber reared, kicking out with her fore hooves, and even Cassa, the perfect rider, was so frozen with shock and fear that she toppled to the ground.
That at least awoke her from her paralytic state. Cassa jumped to her feet, shooting into the darkness that was their attacker, thanking the Gods that she had kept hold of the bow in spite of her fall.
:Won't work,: Camber told her, dodging the thing's claws. :It's a demon - find the summoner!:
Not bothering to ask how the Companion knew, Cassa put another arrow to the string, and turned to face the group of tents. The battle between Companion and demon was taking place in near silence, and noone should have awoken.
There - someone pushing aside his tent flap. Cassa smiled as her guess was proved right.
So the beast woke up his master, hmm? Well, little good it would do him.
Cassa drew and released - the arrow flew true, and with a gurgling sigh, the demon summoner collapsed. The demon, too, dissapeared, and Camber dropped to the ground breathing heavily.
:Are you hurt?: Cassa asked her anxiously.
:Fine,: she was assured. :You'll have to find them; I'm a mite conspiscious.: With a terse nod, Cassa entered the sleeping camp.
Leena was lying near a huge pile of wood. Cassa shuddered, knowing what it was for. She took her dagger, and began to cut the ropes that bound Leena's feet and hands together, behind her back. Leena awoke and began to thrash feebly.
Cassa rolled Leena onto her back. Leena's eyes widened in astonishment at seeing a familiar face. Cassa lifted a finger to her lips, and Leena nodded. Cassa untied the gag, and helped Leena to her feet.
Leena was unsteady, and Cassa held her up as they walked back to Camber. Leena was left holding onto Camber's neck as Cassa reentered to search for Destus.
Destus was lying on the ground, tied to a tree, all four legs firmly hobbled together. His bridle, too, was bound to the tree. The elaborate tack all Companions wore was missing. As she walked closer, Cassa could see that the bridle was not the original, either. It was rawhide leather, and it had a bit - something no Companion would stand. Behind her growing indignition, a part of Cassa's mind idly wondered how badly damaged the hand of the bridler was.
Cassa shook Destus awake, wondering why he was sleeping on the ground rather than on his feet. Her answer came when she found a broken off arrow buried deep in Destus' left shoulder. He wouldn't have been able to yank it out with his teeth, and noone had tended it. It must have been agonizing.
Cassa cut the ropes and the bridle which bound Destus. She then pulled out the arrow, trying to be gentle. Destus staggered to his feet, and buried his nose in her chest in greeting. He followed Cassa as she exited the camp.
A short distance from the as-yet unaware bandits, the two Heralds and the two Companions conferred as to the best method of escape.
:I don't know if I could carry you,: Destus admitted anxiously. :Not and gallop, too.:
:And I'm not strong enough to carry double.: Camber was smaller than Destus, and more delicately built.
"And I don't think I could ride barback at the moment, in any case." Leena told them. Looking as the bloodstains on her whites, Cassa could understand this.
Cassa thought. Surely Leena was quite a bit heavier than she was. Cassa was built on thin, willowy lines, but Cassa was sturdy and well muscled from years of training with Weaponsmaster Odo.
"Destus," Cassa asked hesitantly. "Do you think you could carry me?"
*
Now they were well on their way, moving at a fast canter.
:I could get used to this!: Destus enthused.
:I couldn't,: Camber grumbled. :I definitely Chose the lighter Herald.:
"Hey!" objected Leena. Cassa laughed. In spite of the fact that they were still in enemy territory, spirits were much lighter than they had been for a while. Cassa had used her foresight, and they would apparently reach Valdemar without obstacle. Things were starting to look like a happy ending!
*
The End!
*
Author's Note: Over at last! Hurray! And don't say that I didn't finish the story, 'cos I did. They're all injured/exhausted and don't fight at White Foal Pass. Anyone who's read Brightly Burning knows what happened there, so I won't tell you.
I am going on holiday for ages, so there won't be any more stories or updates until I get back, sometime in January. And then I'll start writing Black Herald, so I will return!
Thanks for reading, if you liked it, please review! If you want to tell me the name of a story you're writing, I promise to read it and review it when I have time.
Thanks, from Lia.
*
Rolan sighed. He had just finished talking to Destus, and contact with the Companion's mind had saddened him. Destus and his Chosen were in despair, unable to escape. Rolan wished he could have told them about Cassa, but giving them hope which could so easily be false would do more harm than good.
One thing they had learned; As the first 'demons' to be caught in this war, Leena and Destus were having a cerimonial send-off. A Voice of VKandis was being sent over from the capital, Sunhame. This would take a few days.
Rolan hoped that Casa and Camber could be there in time.
*
Cassa and Camber approached the camp on silent feet. Even in Karsite territory, there would be some form of sentry. Cassa fingered the bow she held. That sentry would have a surprise.
Still feeling the effects of their previous whirlwind ride, Camber had taken five days to find this camp, climbing through A tiny, unnamed pass that only a goat or a Companion could get through. They'd looped back and found the road that led from White Foal pass - having to avoid soldier's camps on the way - and had at last found the bandit's rough camping spot.
Now the pair circled the camp, silently as ghosts, in their search for the sentry. The moon shone done, giving them some light, but they saw noone awake.
Suddenly, a low snarl echoed in the silence. A dark form - clearly not human, but unlike any animal Cassa had ever seen - leapt from the cover of some bushes. Camber reared, kicking out with her fore hooves, and even Cassa, the perfect rider, was so frozen with shock and fear that she toppled to the ground.
That at least awoke her from her paralytic state. Cassa jumped to her feet, shooting into the darkness that was their attacker, thanking the Gods that she had kept hold of the bow in spite of her fall.
:Won't work,: Camber told her, dodging the thing's claws. :It's a demon - find the summoner!:
Not bothering to ask how the Companion knew, Cassa put another arrow to the string, and turned to face the group of tents. The battle between Companion and demon was taking place in near silence, and noone should have awoken.
There - someone pushing aside his tent flap. Cassa smiled as her guess was proved right.
So the beast woke up his master, hmm? Well, little good it would do him.
Cassa drew and released - the arrow flew true, and with a gurgling sigh, the demon summoner collapsed. The demon, too, dissapeared, and Camber dropped to the ground breathing heavily.
:Are you hurt?: Cassa asked her anxiously.
:Fine,: she was assured. :You'll have to find them; I'm a mite conspiscious.: With a terse nod, Cassa entered the sleeping camp.
Leena was lying near a huge pile of wood. Cassa shuddered, knowing what it was for. She took her dagger, and began to cut the ropes that bound Leena's feet and hands together, behind her back. Leena awoke and began to thrash feebly.
Cassa rolled Leena onto her back. Leena's eyes widened in astonishment at seeing a familiar face. Cassa lifted a finger to her lips, and Leena nodded. Cassa untied the gag, and helped Leena to her feet.
Leena was unsteady, and Cassa held her up as they walked back to Camber. Leena was left holding onto Camber's neck as Cassa reentered to search for Destus.
Destus was lying on the ground, tied to a tree, all four legs firmly hobbled together. His bridle, too, was bound to the tree. The elaborate tack all Companions wore was missing. As she walked closer, Cassa could see that the bridle was not the original, either. It was rawhide leather, and it had a bit - something no Companion would stand. Behind her growing indignition, a part of Cassa's mind idly wondered how badly damaged the hand of the bridler was.
Cassa shook Destus awake, wondering why he was sleeping on the ground rather than on his feet. Her answer came when she found a broken off arrow buried deep in Destus' left shoulder. He wouldn't have been able to yank it out with his teeth, and noone had tended it. It must have been agonizing.
Cassa cut the ropes and the bridle which bound Destus. She then pulled out the arrow, trying to be gentle. Destus staggered to his feet, and buried his nose in her chest in greeting. He followed Cassa as she exited the camp.
A short distance from the as-yet unaware bandits, the two Heralds and the two Companions conferred as to the best method of escape.
:I don't know if I could carry you,: Destus admitted anxiously. :Not and gallop, too.:
:And I'm not strong enough to carry double.: Camber was smaller than Destus, and more delicately built.
"And I don't think I could ride barback at the moment, in any case." Leena told them. Looking as the bloodstains on her whites, Cassa could understand this.
Cassa thought. Surely Leena was quite a bit heavier than she was. Cassa was built on thin, willowy lines, but Cassa was sturdy and well muscled from years of training with Weaponsmaster Odo.
"Destus," Cassa asked hesitantly. "Do you think you could carry me?"
*
Now they were well on their way, moving at a fast canter.
:I could get used to this!: Destus enthused.
:I couldn't,: Camber grumbled. :I definitely Chose the lighter Herald.:
"Hey!" objected Leena. Cassa laughed. In spite of the fact that they were still in enemy territory, spirits were much lighter than they had been for a while. Cassa had used her foresight, and they would apparently reach Valdemar without obstacle. Things were starting to look like a happy ending!
*
The End!
*
Author's Note: Over at last! Hurray! And don't say that I didn't finish the story, 'cos I did. They're all injured/exhausted and don't fight at White Foal Pass. Anyone who's read Brightly Burning knows what happened there, so I won't tell you.
I am going on holiday for ages, so there won't be any more stories or updates until I get back, sometime in January. And then I'll start writing Black Herald, so I will return!
Thanks for reading, if you liked it, please review! If you want to tell me the name of a story you're writing, I promise to read it and review it when I have time.
Thanks, from Lia.