Chapter 20
The Far Raider's Crone sat in the sled patiently. While she sat in the sled she nursed the cut on her left arm. As she bandaged it someone approached her. It was Grim Fork beard.
"What news of survivors?" the Crone asked.
"Not many, only thirty of our original host have been rescued, the rest were either slain or too injured to go any further so they gave themselves to the ice," Grim reported.
The Crone sighed. Thirty souls were rescued and they had originally started with a whole ship of eighty or more. The Crone thought back to the initial battle. It was a slaughter. Although the defenses were prepared as the look out announced another ships approach, the Ice Hunters forces overwhelmed them and made the Far Raiders prisoners of their own ship.
"What do we do now, Crone?" Grim asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Have the Ice Hunters stopped pursuing us yet?" asked the Crone.
"Yes but we have not any provisions to last us," Grim said glumly.
"Then we will hunt but first we must make camp somewhere, they are sure to find us in the open," the Crone said after a moments thought.
Grim nodded and moved off to give the orders. As Grim left she went back to her wound and reminisced back to the escape.
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The doors were rammed on once again but after a few more tries they stopped. The door would be rammed every hour and on every hour Grim and the survivors would be found barring the doors with barrels and bodies if necessary.
The Crone was attending the wounded when the last ram was made on the door. She looked up at the people who had gathered to help bar the door. There were three in total. One of them was leaning against a door. His beard and hair were mattered and sweat was dripping from his forehead. The forked beard and the light cyan markings on his face was a dead give away to who it was. It was Grim Fork Beard. He wiped his brow and tapped the other two of his companions to rest up.
"Rest up you two and save your strength for the next barrage," Grim ordered.
The two men nodded and went to sit at there post near the door. The Crone's ethereal eyes met Grim's and they moved off to a private corner.
"Have you a plan?" Grim asked tiredly.
"I've tried to communicate the hoard," the Crone said.
"What have you learned?" Grim asked quickly with a hint of hope in his voice.
"The Ruin Ship has called as many Hunters, Thanes and as many Maidens as they can spare. They are still trying to get to us. The negotiations with the Selski Runners are almost over, they should be hear within four hours,"
"We may not have four hours on or side, I propose that we think of a way to escape on our own," Grim said as if that was his plan all along.
"I agree but I have failed to come up with a plan that doesn't include our host dwindling to the size of a Durg bird's brain," the Crone said bowing her head in thought.
"May I suggest my plan then?" Grim asked taking out his axe.
The Crone looked at his axe and knew what he was going to suggest but decided to grant his request.
"I propose that we attack head on," Grim said proudly.
The Crone just continued to look blankly at Grim. Obviously he had wanted that in the beginning but the Crone saw too many casualties. Her thoughts of defending instead of attacking had cost her half her crew. Grim waited patiently as he looked for signs of his idea registering in her mind.
"Do you honestly believe that it will work?" The Crone questioned.
"It is better than staying here waiting to be caught," he answered.
The Crone propped a hand under her chin in thought and closed her eyes and became still. Grim waited for a patiently thinking of other plans in case the main one failed and after moments silence the Crone opened her eyes and gave the go ahead.
"I will permit this although I have my doubts that this plan will not benefit us. I have spoken to the other Crones and the Ruin Ship has sent a host to aid us at the base of the mountain of light," the Crone instructed.
Grim remained silent but clapped his knuckles together in salute and moved off to prepare the troops. Then before Grim had moved to far away the Crone called out to him.
"Grim it will not do to arrive at the rendezvous point with three quarters of our host gone. I trust you will not act rashly," the Crone said before helping the injured into position.
Grim had his back to the Crone but he heard every word and resumed his original duty with shadow of doubt forming in his mind that was growing every time he re thought his plan.
"Is it possible that I might fail?" he thought feeling insecure about the responsibility he had put on himself.
He looked around the room and saw a host of about 50 strong warriors at his disposal. As he looked around his eyes fell on the assets and burdens of the host. The injured would be a burden and they would have to be protected during their escape. The Crone would have to be protected at all cost too and would probably be the first one off the ship. After sketching a few plans together he formulated his master plan. The master plan should work effectively if all his assumptions were correct. The master plan was to attack head on and moved from the store room to the wreska supply sleds down below, which had doubled in number as the Ice hunters arrived and settled in.
"There shouldn't be a problem with transport as they hold up to ten people. We will need five though and they are sure to be guarded," he thought thinking ahead.
"Grim are you ready to tell us of the plan?" the Crone asked gathering a crowd.
Grim cleared his throat and spoke of the master plan to the host gathered.
"We will make our way to the wreska sleds and ride hard towards the mountain of light. It should only take us an hours worth of hard riding to get there. The injured need to be taken care of so I will appoint a team to escort them quickly to the sleds as a host lead by me will clear a path. The Crone will also need a few body guards and will need to go first to the rendezvous point," Grim announced.
There was a small mutter of conversation and as soon as it settled he continued.
"I want three of the most skillful warriors here to go with the Crone. They will need to be the swiftest and stealthiest because not only will they need to escort the Crone to safety they will also need to take out the wreska guards below without raising an alarm. Who will volunteer?" Grim asked.
After a moments silence three people slowly stood up.
"I will go," said a fierce looking shield maiden moving to the Crone's side.
"I will also go," said a burly looking sword thane moving to join the Crone.
"And I will also answer the call," said a young boy no older than 14 circlings.
Grim watched him walk to the Crone's side and almost laughed but held bit his tongue. The gathered crowd had much the same reaction with only a few people laughing. The boy looked steadily at the crowd he didn't show a bit of emotion. Grim looked at the assembled team and couldn't help but question the boy.
"You are too young to be much of fighter. Do you know what you are getting yourself into lad?" Grim asked patronizingly.
"I have offered my help and have made up my mind. I only wait for the Crone's decision to accept my help or not, I dare not go against her decision," the boy said bravely looking at the Crone with his expressionless face.
"What is your name boy?" asked the Crone.
"Corin," he answered shortly.
The Crone smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Corin I accept your help," she said so that all could hear.
Grim shrugged and allocated the teams. When everything was set he gathered everyone to give his inspiration speech.
"This is our last chance. Concentrate on what you are assigned to do and if you do give your life then give it to them dearly," Grim said gathering momentum as he spoke.
Everyone cheered and got into position quickly as planned. The three bodyguards moved to the door and formed a circle around the Crone. Just then Grim moved over to the small group and gave a few last words.
"Send up a flare when you are at the rendezvous point," Grim said giving the Crone a small package.
She nodded and placed the package carefully in her long sleeves. Then Grim faced the small troupe.
"Guard her well," he said to the two adults then he looked at Corin and smiled "And you don't get killed before proving your worth," Grim chuckled then ruffling the boys hair before leaving.
"Hey runt; don't get hurt out there," the burly sword thane said patting the boy on the shoulder and laughing.
Corin frowned at the comment but remained silent and unsheathed his bone sais and twirled them idly trying to show his level of skill. The shield maiden followed suit and unsheathed her sword silently but was looking at the boy with a patronizing look. Corin sighed and looked to the Crone as if asking if they could go yet. The Crone noted the look and made eye contact with Grim. He nodded after surveying the host and the Crone nodded at Corin. Corin smiled and pushed the door wide open and took the lead immediately.
"What are yo." the sword thane started as he saw the boy's bravado.
The Crone held a hand up to the sword thane and silenced him.
"If he wants to prove himself then let him do it," she said moving after him.
The Far Raider's Crone sat in the sled patiently. While she sat in the sled she nursed the cut on her left arm. As she bandaged it someone approached her. It was Grim Fork beard.
"What news of survivors?" the Crone asked.
"Not many, only thirty of our original host have been rescued, the rest were either slain or too injured to go any further so they gave themselves to the ice," Grim reported.
The Crone sighed. Thirty souls were rescued and they had originally started with a whole ship of eighty or more. The Crone thought back to the initial battle. It was a slaughter. Although the defenses were prepared as the look out announced another ships approach, the Ice Hunters forces overwhelmed them and made the Far Raiders prisoners of their own ship.
"What do we do now, Crone?" Grim asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Have the Ice Hunters stopped pursuing us yet?" asked the Crone.
"Yes but we have not any provisions to last us," Grim said glumly.
"Then we will hunt but first we must make camp somewhere, they are sure to find us in the open," the Crone said after a moments thought.
Grim nodded and moved off to give the orders. As Grim left she went back to her wound and reminisced back to the escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The doors were rammed on once again but after a few more tries they stopped. The door would be rammed every hour and on every hour Grim and the survivors would be found barring the doors with barrels and bodies if necessary.
The Crone was attending the wounded when the last ram was made on the door. She looked up at the people who had gathered to help bar the door. There were three in total. One of them was leaning against a door. His beard and hair were mattered and sweat was dripping from his forehead. The forked beard and the light cyan markings on his face was a dead give away to who it was. It was Grim Fork Beard. He wiped his brow and tapped the other two of his companions to rest up.
"Rest up you two and save your strength for the next barrage," Grim ordered.
The two men nodded and went to sit at there post near the door. The Crone's ethereal eyes met Grim's and they moved off to a private corner.
"Have you a plan?" Grim asked tiredly.
"I've tried to communicate the hoard," the Crone said.
"What have you learned?" Grim asked quickly with a hint of hope in his voice.
"The Ruin Ship has called as many Hunters, Thanes and as many Maidens as they can spare. They are still trying to get to us. The negotiations with the Selski Runners are almost over, they should be hear within four hours,"
"We may not have four hours on or side, I propose that we think of a way to escape on our own," Grim said as if that was his plan all along.
"I agree but I have failed to come up with a plan that doesn't include our host dwindling to the size of a Durg bird's brain," the Crone said bowing her head in thought.
"May I suggest my plan then?" Grim asked taking out his axe.
The Crone looked at his axe and knew what he was going to suggest but decided to grant his request.
"I propose that we attack head on," Grim said proudly.
The Crone just continued to look blankly at Grim. Obviously he had wanted that in the beginning but the Crone saw too many casualties. Her thoughts of defending instead of attacking had cost her half her crew. Grim waited patiently as he looked for signs of his idea registering in her mind.
"Do you honestly believe that it will work?" The Crone questioned.
"It is better than staying here waiting to be caught," he answered.
The Crone propped a hand under her chin in thought and closed her eyes and became still. Grim waited for a patiently thinking of other plans in case the main one failed and after moments silence the Crone opened her eyes and gave the go ahead.
"I will permit this although I have my doubts that this plan will not benefit us. I have spoken to the other Crones and the Ruin Ship has sent a host to aid us at the base of the mountain of light," the Crone instructed.
Grim remained silent but clapped his knuckles together in salute and moved off to prepare the troops. Then before Grim had moved to far away the Crone called out to him.
"Grim it will not do to arrive at the rendezvous point with three quarters of our host gone. I trust you will not act rashly," the Crone said before helping the injured into position.
Grim had his back to the Crone but he heard every word and resumed his original duty with shadow of doubt forming in his mind that was growing every time he re thought his plan.
"Is it possible that I might fail?" he thought feeling insecure about the responsibility he had put on himself.
He looked around the room and saw a host of about 50 strong warriors at his disposal. As he looked around his eyes fell on the assets and burdens of the host. The injured would be a burden and they would have to be protected during their escape. The Crone would have to be protected at all cost too and would probably be the first one off the ship. After sketching a few plans together he formulated his master plan. The master plan should work effectively if all his assumptions were correct. The master plan was to attack head on and moved from the store room to the wreska supply sleds down below, which had doubled in number as the Ice hunters arrived and settled in.
"There shouldn't be a problem with transport as they hold up to ten people. We will need five though and they are sure to be guarded," he thought thinking ahead.
"Grim are you ready to tell us of the plan?" the Crone asked gathering a crowd.
Grim cleared his throat and spoke of the master plan to the host gathered.
"We will make our way to the wreska sleds and ride hard towards the mountain of light. It should only take us an hours worth of hard riding to get there. The injured need to be taken care of so I will appoint a team to escort them quickly to the sleds as a host lead by me will clear a path. The Crone will also need a few body guards and will need to go first to the rendezvous point," Grim announced.
There was a small mutter of conversation and as soon as it settled he continued.
"I want three of the most skillful warriors here to go with the Crone. They will need to be the swiftest and stealthiest because not only will they need to escort the Crone to safety they will also need to take out the wreska guards below without raising an alarm. Who will volunteer?" Grim asked.
After a moments silence three people slowly stood up.
"I will go," said a fierce looking shield maiden moving to the Crone's side.
"I will also go," said a burly looking sword thane moving to join the Crone.
"And I will also answer the call," said a young boy no older than 14 circlings.
Grim watched him walk to the Crone's side and almost laughed but held bit his tongue. The gathered crowd had much the same reaction with only a few people laughing. The boy looked steadily at the crowd he didn't show a bit of emotion. Grim looked at the assembled team and couldn't help but question the boy.
"You are too young to be much of fighter. Do you know what you are getting yourself into lad?" Grim asked patronizingly.
"I have offered my help and have made up my mind. I only wait for the Crone's decision to accept my help or not, I dare not go against her decision," the boy said bravely looking at the Crone with his expressionless face.
"What is your name boy?" asked the Crone.
"Corin," he answered shortly.
The Crone smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Corin I accept your help," she said so that all could hear.
Grim shrugged and allocated the teams. When everything was set he gathered everyone to give his inspiration speech.
"This is our last chance. Concentrate on what you are assigned to do and if you do give your life then give it to them dearly," Grim said gathering momentum as he spoke.
Everyone cheered and got into position quickly as planned. The three bodyguards moved to the door and formed a circle around the Crone. Just then Grim moved over to the small group and gave a few last words.
"Send up a flare when you are at the rendezvous point," Grim said giving the Crone a small package.
She nodded and placed the package carefully in her long sleeves. Then Grim faced the small troupe.
"Guard her well," he said to the two adults then he looked at Corin and smiled "And you don't get killed before proving your worth," Grim chuckled then ruffling the boys hair before leaving.
"Hey runt; don't get hurt out there," the burly sword thane said patting the boy on the shoulder and laughing.
Corin frowned at the comment but remained silent and unsheathed his bone sais and twirled them idly trying to show his level of skill. The shield maiden followed suit and unsheathed her sword silently but was looking at the boy with a patronizing look. Corin sighed and looked to the Crone as if asking if they could go yet. The Crone noted the look and made eye contact with Grim. He nodded after surveying the host and the Crone nodded at Corin. Corin smiled and pushed the door wide open and took the lead immediately.
"What are yo." the sword thane started as he saw the boy's bravado.
The Crone held a hand up to the sword thane and silenced him.
"If he wants to prove himself then let him do it," she said moving after him.