Two days after their secret gathering, the scholars, Ducerain de Lereyne among them, announced at court that signs were clear as to the coming of a new winter. It would not rival the Calamity in length or strength, but it would still outlast any regular winter. Messengers had also been sent to the capital to inform the imperial court of their findings. Alarant had been informed of the time of the announcement the day before and was there to observe. The court at large were perturbed and nervous, for the Calamity was barely 20 years in the past. The Marquis, however, simply seemed annoyed. None of that showed, however, when the man rose from his seat and called for silence. He would confer with his advisors and the Emperor, in his grace, to plan for the years to come. Soon enough, the hall erupted into a dozen different conversations. The distaste in the Marquis's voice when he mentioned the Emperor did not escape Alarant's notice.
Ristel de Kelsira returned from the capital four days after the announcement. Alarant sent Gardt to meet her and hear what she had to say from the capital. De Kelsira had penned a letter to the Emperor and delivered it personally to one of his retainers that she knew from her youth, hoping that the Marquis's spies in the imperial court would see it as a simple personal message. She had also been present when the messengers sent by the scholars of Calimdar presented their findings to the imperial court. She did not stay to hear the Emperor's response. to the announcement or her own letter. Instead, she had left a way to contact her in the letter, finished her business and returned to Calimdar.
On the same day as de Kelsira's return, Alarant was summoned to the court. The nervous energy of the winter declaration had dissipated somewhat, but when Alarant arrived, there were muted conversations scattered throughout the hall that only ceased when the Marquis signalled for his retainer to step forward.
Jace de Kirgaan stepped onto the speaker's podium and unfurled a scroll. Even standing on the podium, de Kirgaan still did not stand as tall as the Marquis sitting on his throne, elbows on the armrests and hands steeped in front of him. A wax seal pinned a length of red cloth to the paper of the scroll.
"Alarant de Lereyne, your orders, as decreed by the Marquis Martin de Ildan de Suluzzo and read aloud before this court, is to take your regiment to the Amber Plains and bring the peoples of its villages to our walls. To aid in this task, several other regiments have been placed under your command. It is vital to the people of Auriga that this task progresses as far as possible, if not completed outright, before the first snows arrive on the plains." With that, Jace de Kirgaan rolled up the scroll and, stepping down from the podium onto the audience floor, handed the scroll to Alarant.
"What is this?" Alarant demanded and waved the scroll in the Marquis' direction. The wax seal, with the Marquis's symbol subservient to the imperial throne, taunted him.
"It is an order decreed by the Marquis himself. Disobedience is tantamount to treason, de Lereyne." Jace de Kirgaan said, loud enough to carry through the entire hall.
"I wasn't speaking to you, you cur." Alarant said and made to step around de Kirgaan, but the other knight stepped into his path. The two collided with a clatter of metal and raised voices.
"Lords!"
At the Marquis's voice, both Alarant and Jace took one step away from each other. Jace stared daggers at the other knight, but Alarant looked past him to the throne, where the Marquis had stood up.
"Alarant de Lereyne. I know you are aware of the announcement made by the scholars of the coming winter. I saw you in court that day. It is understandable to be worried, frightened even."
The Marquis turned his gaze from Alarant to the court at large. "The Calamity is still fresh in our memories. So much was lost, not just by us and our people, but by all of Auriga. And now a new winter beckons, as if a herald of Calamities to come."
Murmurs broke out through the hall, to be silenced when the Marquis spoke again. "We are a changed people now. We do not feel winter's bite as keenly as we once did. This winter will be a reminder of horrors past, but it will not hinder us. But to the people of Auriga, the commoners on the Amber Plains and beyond, the cold winds still carry danger. It is with the safety and prosperity of these people in mind that I wrote this decree. Within our walls they can be safe from the winds of winter, ready to return home with the first thaw."
The court assembled in the audience hall was silent for a moment. Then Jace de Kirgaan began to clap. One by one, the members of court followed suit, until the audience hall was a cacophany of metal on metal.
Alarant thought back to his meeting with the town on the plains. To his eye, they did not seem like a people that would accept such a request. He waited till the applause died down and stepped forward. De Kirgaan did not hinder him, but kept a close eye. Weapons were not allowed in the hall, or Alarant imagined that de Kirgaan would have a hand on his.
"The villages on the Plains are a proud people, your grace. What if they do not wish for our aid?" Alarant said, careful to keep his voice level.
The Marquis sat back on his throne. "I am sure that they will see reason. If not, you have the full backing of my authority to see that your orders are carried out, Sir de Lereyne." The Marquis' tone left no doubt in Alarant's mind that he cared more for the order's fulfilment than the well-being or agreement of the villagers.
"And if the task proves too much for you, I can assign it to another of my knights."
Jace de Kirgaan began to turn towards the throne.
"There is no need, your grace," Alarant said before de Kirgaan could speak, "I will see the order fulfilled."
The Marquis had returned to his throne. "Very good, Sir de Lereyne. You are to leave as soon as you are able, for I understand that the winter winds are coming for us at all speed. Auriga's grace be with you."
Before Jace could interrupt, Alarant bowed. "With your leave, Marquis, I will assemble my ryders." Alarant rose and left the court, the sound of his boots audible even on the heavy carpet that flowed from the entrance to the throne. The guards at the door had their spears crossed over the door and only lifted them at the Marquis' indication. Alarant did not turn to bow again.
Outside the audience hall he found Gardt. His lieutenant waited a few metres to the side of the door, a hand on his hip where the man's weapon was usually to be found. Alarant found that he was clutching the scroll he had received from the court and lessened his grip. At a gesture, Gardt followed him out of the citadel and onto the street outside, waiting for his captain to speak.
Alarant handed him the scroll, studiously keeping his gaze on the horizon. "We have new orders, expressly from the Marquis." Alarant kept his hands clasped behind his back as Gardt read through the scroll.
"They seem well-intentioned." Gardt ventured after a moment, an element of sarcasm in his voice.
"No doubt the court thinks me a buffoon now, given how I reacted to such 'well-intentioned' orders. However, the Marquis will not accept resistance. I am to use force if necessary, and even if I resist these orders, as he no doubt expects me to do, he will simply assign them to someone else, like de Kirgaan." Alarant said, inwardly grimacing at the prospect.
"De Kirgaan would not wait a single breath before using force." Gardt said and rolled up the scroll.
"Either I force the villagers to come with us to the city, or I allow a brute to torment them. A fine pickle the Marquis has put me in." Alarant mused and accepted the return of the scroll.
Next he turned to his lieutenant. "Gardt, assemble the regiment at the eastern gate. We ride as soon as we are ready. I will go and inform my wife of my departure, and then I will meet you."
The two knights left on their respective mounts without another word. Alarant hurried through the city, only acknowledging acquantainces with the briefest of greetings. He passed by the northern barracks where Lisabelle's regiment was stationed when they were without orders and was informed of where to find her.
Lisabelle de Lereyne stood on the outer wall, halberd in hand and looked out over the plains beyond the city. A desolation had been creeping out of the city for months, slowly killing the plant life under the shadow of the walls. Paired with the blue light that shone from the top of the citadel, the land around the city looked barren. Alarant did not want to consider what the villagers would think in the near future, forced from their homes and taken to this dead place. Again he panged for his life before the Calamity, but he squashed it quickly. There would be time for such sentiments on the road.
"Alarant," Lisabelle started at his approach, "What brings you here?"
Alarant strode up to stand beside her, looking out beyond the walls and wishing he could feel the wind coming in from the plains. "I have been issued an order, expressly by the Marquis himself."
Lisabelle listened intently while studying the other sentries on the wall. Due to their masked bodies, only Alarant could read the careful way she carried herself.
"With the onset of winter, the Marquis is worried about the plight of the people that live beyond our walls in the various villages on the plains. He wishes to see them brought here, that they might ride out the winter within our walls. The enviable task of bringing them here he has given to me, and put several other regiments under my command to achieve it."
Alarant's eyes narrowed and his grip on the parapet in front of him tightened. "I am to use force if they do not come willingly."
"Humans living in this city? Where, how?" Lisabelle said and looked back at him.
Alarant turned away from the plains and looked into the city, with its many brick houses and estates, as well as towers and keeps. The architects of the Old Empire had constructed a city fit for the knights and nobility. In his mind's eye, he could still see the pennants of the various families flying in the wind. "There are many estates and homes as of yet unoccupied, their residents still without bodies. As for food, I do not know. It is quite likely that the Marquis has some other intended purpose for them rather than their survival, one that does not worry about their well-being."
"Could you have refused the order?" Lisabelle said and reached over to squeeze his hand. He accepted it gratefully.
"If I did, the order would simply fall to someone else. That cur Jace de Kirgaan was practically chomping at the bit for it. He would show no restraint or chivalry in the task."
"Not that there is much chivalry to show in this affair." Alarant said grimly.
Alarant turned and embraced his wife. Lisabelle returned the embrace, though he felt her tension. "Make sure the others of our group know of this. I will try and send messengers back if I learn anything about the Marquis' movements or intent." He whispered.
"Be careful, Alarant." Lisabelle said.
"I will disguise them as messengers to Ducerain and the other scholars. The orders mention 'before the first snows' so I am sure that any information about the coming winter would be welcome." Alarant said and stepped back.
"May Mother Auriga speed your return." Lisabelle said, invoking the old blessing.
Alarant descended the wall and rode to the eastern gate where Gardt waited for him, the Lereyne regiment behind him. Every knight stood beside their mount, weapons ready for travel. As per the Marquis' order, they were not alone; three other regiments of ryders stood at the ready, their captains speaking to Gardt in low tones. Alarant had not seen so many knights assembled for one purpose since the march to reclaim the city.
Alarant scanned the three captains before approaching; Zistayre Palisar was one of Alarant's old companions from his own days as a squire. A common man for a captain of knights, but a stout friend all the same. Alarant recognised only one of the others. Sarell Kelkstein was a woman who had been a knight even before the societal upheaval following the Calamity. Dependable, if of low influence in society. Many had thought her example would drive more women to seek a knighthood, and while many women now did, it seemed to be other forces driving this new wave of knights. The final captain was clothed in a blue robe cut in much the same style as the robe that the Marquis used for ceremonies. A stoic mask looked in Alarant's direction as he approached.
"Ah, Alarant. We've been expecting you." Gardt said and took a grateful step back from the trio of captains.
"So it IS you, Alarant." Zistayre said and stepped forward to shake hands with Alarant. "We were told to report here for an expedition, but the order was light on the details."
"One of my men came from the court, said something about villages on the plains." Sarell Kelkstein said and stepped forward to shake hands as well. "Sarell Kelkstein."
Alarant shook. "Good to finally meet you face to face, Lady Kelkstein. I remember hearing of your exploits in the Old Empire."
Sarell Kelkstein nodded again, but said nothing.
The blue-robed knight stepped forward to shake hands as well.
Again Alarant took their hand. "Alarant de Lereyne. I do not believe I know your name, captain."
The man bowed briefly. "Lenann Boradis. I was only made a captain a few years back, under the Marquis' grace."
Lenann Boradis took a step back and took in the assembled regiments and their captains. "I will do my best to serve your order, Commander de Lereyne, and the needs of this expedition."
"I am sure you will, Boradis. You would not have been assigned here if there was no confidence that you would be ready." Alarant decided to keep an eye on Boradis; though he did not sense the brutishness that Jace de Kirgaan revelled in, that man had been made Knight-Captain by the Marquis as well. It did not escape Alarant's notice that whoever had chosen these captains for the expedition had found a selection of captains either with a low influence, or presence, at court or with loyalties to the Marquis. At least one was bound to report to the Marquis afterwards, and even if he managed to persuaude them to his side, their impact would be minimal. Zistayre Palisar's connection to their secret gathering was also a concern.
"Assembled knights, I am glad that you have come," Alarant said, turning about to take in the full number he would be commanding and holding up the scroll handed to him in court, "For we have orders directly from the Marquis himself. We are to travel the Amber Plains in search of settlements and villages. Winter is coming, and it is the Marquis' wish that the people of the plains be offered shelter during this time. We are to escort them from their homes to this city, where they will be housed until the winter has passed."
"What if they do not wish to come?" Sarell Kelkstein said.
"The Marquis made it clear that it is for their own good. They will come with us back to the city, whether they wish to or not." Alarant said, wondering if his distaste for his own words was clear on his face.
"I am sure that once they hear of the Marquis' noble intentions, they will follow us gladly." Lenann Boradis said, a hand over his heart.
Alarant had to keep himself from scoffing. "I understand if some of you feel torn over these orders, but be aware that if you request reassignement, the court will simply find someone else to take your place. The replacement might feel less conflicted than yourself." Alarant looked at Sarell and Zistayre. "Stay on, and work to ensure it does not become as forceful as you fear it will be. That is simply my recommendation."
None of the three captains complained, much to Alarant's gratitude. A marching order was quickly established; Zistayre would lead in front while Sarell would hold the rear. Lenann held his ryders in reserve in the centre alongside Alarant. Thus they left the city at midday, riding for the closest village. As they rode, Alarant had plenty of time to ponder but little time to confer with his lieutenant. He trusted every knight in his own regiment, but the other three regiments were more unknown, and so he kept his more troublesome thoughts and considerations to himself. They encountered several herds of necrophage creatures, but none like the leader Alarant had encountered or the infesting worms from de Brumlen's reports. All of the groups were clearly headed in a direction, and retreated from the attacks of the ryders with little resistance. Perhaps it was the unusual size of the regiment, or perhaps the necrophages also sensed the coming winter and were retreating to their burrows. Alarant had no sure way of knowing.
They encountered the first village a week after their departure from the city. The dying foothills around the city had long since given way to green plains and dense forests. Even though the expedition rode at a steady clip, every once in a while Alarant would spy the glinting amber in the grasses that gave the region its name. Craftsmen still worked the material, even though their new bodies made the work more difficult. Alarant wondered idly if the birds that carried the amber from the forest depths had survived the Calamity. There was much they did not yet know about the effects of that horrible winter.
The village lay at the forest boundary, protected by the dense woodland on one side and a wooden rampart on the other. Workers in the fields cried out and ran for the town at the sight of their vanguard. A bell began ringing inside the town as the regiments halted their advance and the captains gathered to discuss how to proceed.
"I saw no weapons among the farmers, nor any obvious sentries posted in the fields as we arrived." Zistayre Palisar said as Sarell Kelkstein dismounted. The regiment was arrayed in a wide circle around the captains while a few ryders from every regiment were deployed further afield, scouting for necrophage herds.
"We're not here to figth them, Sir Palisar, they won't need weapons against us." Alarant said and looked to Sarell. "Anything to report from the rear?"
The captain shook her head. "Nothing of any consequence. A pack of dogs followed us a while back, but nothing came of it. I suspect the necrophages don't come here, we have not seen any for two days."
Alarant nodded and turned back to the other captains. "So we're safe here, both from the villagers and from the herds. Now we have to convince these villagers to come with us, one way or the other. I'm open to suggestions."
"We surround the village to make our forces clear and then we inform them of the order of the Marquis." Zistayre Palisar said and looked to the rampart that protected the village from their side. "A single regiment would be sufficient, then another can go into the village."
"That would just entice them to fight, or to escape into the woods," Alarant said and followed the man's gaze to the ramparts, "Besides, we cannot know if they even know of the Marquis. The city has not yet made many efforts to contact the settlements on the plains."
"Then let us kill two birds with one stone," Lenann said and took a step to stand in the centre of the circle of captains, "We tell them of the order and of the grace of the Marquis. I am sure that when they learn of his intentions, they will be much more cooperative."
The young knight turned to Alarant and bowed deferentially. "Please, Commander de Lereyne, allow me to lead the talks."
Alarant looked at his captains in turn and pondered for a moment. "I believe we can combine your approaches. Boradis, you will lead the talks and I will assist. Zistayre, you guard outside their walls, but face your men away from the village. We want them to understand we're here to help. Sarell, spread your regiment further afield, bring word if a herd is coming."
The captains saluted and went to their tasks. For their part, Alarant and Boradis left their weapons on their mounts and walked to the gate in the village's rampart. Villagers stood on a platform within the walls and stared out at them. Spears and bows had been brought out, and with weapons in hand the villagers looked less frightened of the knights, even though Alarant knew that their soldiers would be powerless to resist the knights should they choose to use force.
"What do you want?" A man said. He had a plaited black beard and was pointing a longbow, arrow nocked but not taut, over the edge of the rampart. He was not alone on the rampart wall but the other sentries looked to him when he spoke.
Alarant looked to Boradis, and to his credit, the young knight stepped forward towards the speaker rather than look to his commander.
"We come in peace, we mean you no harm. As for what we want, we simply wish to speak with your village." Boradis said, with a welcoming tone despite the metallic echo inherent in their armoured bodies.
The man gestured at Zistayre's encirclement with his drawn bow. "And I suppose you'll accept our decision if we refuse?"
Boradis turned in place and indicated the half-circle of knights that, as Alarant had instructed, faced away from the village, hands on their weapons. Thankfully Sarell kept her knights out of sight. "A precaution, nothing more. Like us, I am sure you have had troubles with the insectoid monsters that roam the plains. They are vile creatures, and it is our charge to safeguard the people of the Amber Plains from them."
Another man had joined the blackbeard on the rampart wall. He looked younger, perhaps because he was beardless, and carried no obvious weapon. He whispered something to the black-bearded man. Alarant saw less fear on the young man's face than he usually encountered on the faces of plainsfolk. His expression was more like awe.
As Alarant wondered what they could be talking about, the two men fell silent. A third man, clearly old by the sound of his voice, called out from inside the walls. "Don't be so uptight, Grandon. Let them in. We couldn't stop them even if we wanted to."
The gates opened with a disgruntled order from the blackbeard and admitted Alarant and Boradis. Only 5 knights followed the two captains inside, similarly unarmed. The village contained within the walls was bustling with activity, sentries and workers running to and fro followed by excited children. The buildings closest to the ramparts had thatched roofs while the closer to the woods they came, the more buildings had been made with layered wooden tiles instead. Two watchtowers stood in the distance, leaning against the forest edge. Alarant suspected that, given a year, the village could easily grow beyond its rampart wall. Soon after entering they were met by the men they had seen on the wall. The blackbeard had stowed his bow away and stood holding a long spear, while the younger man stood behind him, gawking at the visitors and their Dust-golden armour. At the young man's side stood an older man, grey of beard and robe. He rested his hands on a cane of black wood but his back was straight. More villagers surrounded them, but the way they looked at the blackbeard and the greybeard made it clear that they were the leaders of the village.
Greetings and names were exchanged. As they had heard earlier, the blackbeard was called Grandon and was both chief hunter and chief of the militia, such as it was. The greybeard was called Dennis and was the village chief and founder. By his own tale, he had survived the Calamity by living with the mountainfolk for a few years then returned to the plains when milder winds blew. True to his word, Alarant allowed Boradis to lead the talks, and the young knight did not disappoint. Lenann guessed correctly that the village had had its own share of troubles with the necrophage monsters and talked of the many battles between the knights and the insectoid creatures, including a tale of how Alarant de Lereyne had defeated an army of the monsters commanded by a strange creature never before seen. Alarant knew that the tale was embellished, but now was not the time to correct him.
With some geniality established, Boradis launched into tales of the Marquis and his 'generous mercy'. Alarant was, for once, glad for the passive metal mask that was his face. Only then did the young knight present the offer of the 'generous' Marquis, unrolling the scroll from the courts and pretending to read from it, for the wording was not as friendly as Lenann Boradis made it out to be.
"And you are sure this winter is coming?" Dennis said. The young man, named Bovral, was his son and a hunter. Skeptical at first, the blackbeard Grandon had become much more friendly during the tales of battles with the necrophages. According to himself, he too had seen the 4-legged creature that Alarant had defeated, at the head of a herd nearly a full season ago. He was very pleased to hear it when Alarant told him of its death.
"Our finest scholars have found ample evidence. The snows are yet some time away, but it is coming, you can be sure of that." Alarant said.
"At first thaw, we will gladly escort you back to your home, you have our word on that." Boradis added and looked back to the village leaders.
Dennis scratched at his beard and looked about the village. Many of the villagers had returned to their daily tasks, but a few remained to listen in on the immediate future of their home. "It is true that winters are hard here in Kelbrook."
He turned and looked at Alarant and Boradis. "Once the winter is over, could you persuade your Marquis to give us aid in securing Kelbrook for future winters?"
"I will see that he does, on my family name." Alarant said. He could not know the Marquis's plans for these people, but if they survived the winter, he would ensure that they would not need the Marquis's aid for another winter, even if he would have to put the resources of his own house to the task.
Dennis looked to Grandon. "What do you think?"
The hunter looked in the directions of Alarant's knights, though he was clearly deep in thought. "The harvest has been good this year. Tekton finished shoring up all the houses that got damaged last winter. The wicker-walls are ready for the cold winds. The village can survive the winter."
Dennis nodded and turned to Bovral. "And you, lad?"
The young man started and looked between all the speakers. "Uh, I think the huntsmaster has the truth of it."
"I'm not asking Grandon, I'm asking you, Bovral. If you want to be the chief after me, you need to think on your own." Dennis retorted, stamping his cane in the grass. Two amber arrowheads dangled from just below the cane's handle.
Bovral opened his mouth to speak, but fell silent. Dennis and Grandon waited patiently until the young man spoke again. "I agree that we could survive the winter here in Kelbrook, but perhaps it would be easier on all of us if we accepted their offer. Old Jansi complains of frost pains even now, and Lanni just had her second daughter."
Alarant noted the cautious pride on the old man's face as Bovral laid out his reasoning. Oh how Alarant longed to see his daughter again.
Dennis nodded just as he had during Grandon's account, then turned back to Boradis and Alarant. "We will accept your kind offer, gracious sirs." Alarant noted the expression that appeared on Grandon's face, but the hunter made no mention of it.
The knights stayed at the village for two days as Kelbrook prepared itself to leave, hastily making provisions for the journey and strapping as many goods as they could to what pack-animals they had. After some discussion, the knights decided that Boradis would escort the village back to the city and Sarell would range ahead to look for the next village. To keep all regiments informed of their movements, a relay of ryders was set up between them. It lessened their fighting strength but not critically so. The regiments losing track of each other on the Amber Plains would be far more problematic.
After it was decided that Boradis would be their escort, Kelbrook asked to use the ryder's mounts as additional pack animals, to which the young knight-captain agreed, though the packs had to be easily removeable in the event of a battle. The main column escorted Boradis and the villagers for two days towards the city before turning away towards where Sarell had reported finding a settlement.
When they were a day's travel from the settlement, one of the relay ryders arrived at speed, informing the main column that a Necrophage herd had been spotted in the vicinity, sizable enough to be a severe threat to the settlement that Sarell had discovered. Alarant ordered a gallop, and the regiment arrived by daybreak the next day to find a battlefield.
The village had been built on a hill away from the forests, with raised earth in a wide circle around the town as a defensive work, with sharpened wooden logs in places to deter concerted movement. The flying drones of the necrophage herds mocked their defenses and attacked with impunity. Alarant could see arrows and bolts fly out of the settlement to strike at the flying drones, but rarely did they hit their mark, and those that did rarely had much impact.
Down the slope of the hill, a large mass of necrophage creatures were scuttling to and fro. Some were ripping up the crops in the fields while others tried to advance up the defensive earthworks. Were it not for Sarell Kelkstein's ryders, the village would already have been overrun.
The ryders harried the flanks of the herd with scattered charges, having split into smaller groups of three. With lance and sword they attacked any creatures that split away from the herd and charged down from the top of the earthworks to throw them back. Since she had two of her knights serving as relays, Sarell herself was alone, shouting commands from the top of the earthern wall.
"Zistayre," Alarant shouted over the din of the gallop, "Take your regiment to their rear, press them on that front. If they try to escape, harry them but do not take them to battle."
The captain nodded and, with a hornblast, his regiment pivoted to the right and around the battle.
Alarant turned to Gardt. "Send three of our knights into town, tell them we are here to help and to stay indoors."
"Aye sir!" Gardt replied and dropped back into the formation. After a moment, three knights turned left and scaled the earthworks into town.
When Gardt returned to his side, Alarant motioned for him to signal their charge. Gardt nodded and sounded the horn. The sound of it transported Alarant, for a brief moment, back to the battle where they had captured that necrophage leader. Sarell's ryders were well-trained and peeled away as Alarant's charge struck the herd's flank. The armoured knights tore through the lowly ghouls, crushing bone with the mass of their mounts and rending flesh with their spears and swords. The herd's chittering turned from hungry and excited to terrified, and within moments the creatures began to flee from the village. As they routed, a second charge hit home as Zistayre Palisar's regiment attacked. The herd was well and truly broken and it scattered into the woods and the plains, all cohesion gone.
"Lord de Lereyne!" Sarell Kelkstein called out. Her regiment was reforming, her lieutenant in charge of getting the lines back together. "Your arrival was well-timed. The monsters were working up their courage to move into the village, despite my efforts."
Alarant put a hand on her shoulder. "You deserve equal applause, Lady Kelkstein. Without you, they would have overrun the village before we could even have appeared on the horizon. Come, let us talk to the villagers, we have an order to carry out and I am sure they will be relieved to hear that their village is safe."
They left Zistayre in charge of the regiment outside the earthworks as Alarant, Sarell and her lieutenant Dubohm walked towards the clustered huts in the centre. The three knights that Alarant had sent were there, one of them struggling to remain seated on her mount and the other two standing by the corpse of one of the flying creatures used by the necrophages. Its head had been split down the middle by a greatsword, the weapon still embedded in the dead creature. Alarant sent them out to join the rest of the regiment, and when Sarell Kelkstein escorted the villagers back towards the city, the wounded knight joined them.
With Boradis on the track towards the city, Alarant led the talks. The battle with the necrophages proved to be a boon of sorts, for the people of Eldvelle were grateful towards their saviours. One man, his eyes crazed by fear, claimed that the knights had brought the monsters upon the town, for no herd of such size had ever been seen on their stretch of the Plains. Alarant considered that mere coincidence but made no mention of it to the villagers, who considered their fearful fellow to simply be stressed from the attack. The offer of winter sanctuary in the city was well-received, and in less than four hours after Alarant had begun the talks, the entire village was lined up in rows with most of their lives strapped in backpacks. Since Sarell had been the one to deter the first attack, Alarant gave her the task of escorting them to Calimdar. As with Boradis, the main regiment, now consisting of Alarant and Zistayre's 39 knights, escorted her some of the distance before continuing along the Amber Plains for the next village. Alarant's metallic body removed him from the changes in temperature that heralded the approach of the first snow, but Alarant thought he saw signs among the few animals they spotted. They were running out of time, and faster than they had initially thought. One day, as the regiment was halted waiting for the return of some scouts, a flight of birds went by overheard, heading southeast. They were so numerous, it took several minutes for the entire flight to pass. When the scouts returned, they brought a direction Alarant had hoped they would never find; A village with stone walls and well-tended fields, guarded by armed women on the walls. The town of Ariana's Bend was the next they would pass by.
Alarant was glad to see that there were no necrophages battering down the gates of the town this time. The river flowed untroubled, sparkling under the clear-blue sky of an autumn day. Work in the fields was still underway, though clearly going towards the end. There were few workers out, and they were working with large shoulder-satchels, planting thumb-sized seeds or kernels in the ground. A horn sounded at the approach of the knights and a group of militia emerged from the open main gate. At their head was a woman that Alarant remembered well.
"Lyriana, daughter of Joalor. It is good to see you again." Alarant said and dismounted. There was a scowl on the woman's face like last he had seen her, but it was not as hostile. Alarant assumed she was wearing a more formal outfit, for it was decorated with many sashes and ribbons of coloured cloth, as well as a portion of exposed skin up high on her chest. A fur-trimmed cloak hung from her shoulders, possibly Lyriana's concession against the cold winds.
Lyriana looked at him for a moment, and then some of her scowl faded away. "Alarant de Lereyne, if I am not mistaken. My apologies, your people are hard to tell you apart." She replied and stepped forward to shake his hand.
Gardt and Zistayre bowed, to which Lyriana nodded. A basket-hilted sword hung from her waist, one of her hands resting on it. Her guards all held halberds. Their outfits were more practical than that of their captain, though still mostly leather with metal-scale shoulderpads.
"How has the season treated Ariana's Bend?" Alarant asked and looked about the fields. The workers had paused in their work to gawk at the golden-armoured visitors, but as Lyriana followed his gaze, they hurriedly returned to the sowing.
"It has treated us well. The necrophage attack cost us some crops, as did your ryders, though I would wager the monsters cost us the most." She turned and signalled to the guards. Two of them walked a few paces away but stayed with the meeting, while the rest returned to the town. "I convinced the chief to let me train some of the militia and farmers into more permanent sentries. If the necrophages are becoming more active, we'll need them."
Alarant's gaze turned to the walls as he listened. Towers had been built at the four cardinal directions and he also noted the sharp points of siege weaponry dotting the top of the wall.
"I trust your people are aware of the coming winter?" Alarant asked, then turned and signalled to Zistayre. The captain nodded and rode back to his men. Palisar's regiment spread out in a semi-circle around the town, facing outwards and away from the walls. It made an impressive sight, with the waning afternoon sun glinting off their armour.
Lyriana looked at the protective encirclement for a moment, then sighed and rubbed her forehead with thumb and forefinger. "We know of it, but Chief Latega, daughter of Innes, believes steadfastly that it will be a short winter, nothing to worry about."
"You disagree?" Alarant said.
Lyriana was silent for a long moment, the woman captain glancing over the sowed fields as she pondered her words. "It's a feeling in my bones, in my gut. I don't have any evidence, but it feels to me like we're in for a long, hard winter."
The captain pointed behind her with a thumb. "Kalenta, daughter of Anna, is one of the oldest in our town. She survived that ice-season all those decades ago, and if you trust her memory, the signs are all the same."
Alarant nodded. "We call that winter the Calamity, for that is what it was to our people. It nearly destroyed us. This Kalenta must be a resourceful woman to have lived through that."
"And indeed, the scholars of our city claim that this winter will be longer than most. It will not rival the Calamity, but even half of that would still be a brutal season." Alarant added.
"Our walls are strong, the harvest was good and we have a large stock of firewood," Lyriana said with pride, "The winter won't break us."
Alarant indicated the workers in the fields. "And what of this sowing? Is it not a little late for another harvest?"
Lyriana stepped a few paces from the meeting and shouted at one of the workers, after which the worker tossed one of the seeds from their shoulder-satchel. This she showed to Alarant. It was a dark-brown seed or nut the size of Lyriana's balled fist, with a wavy ridge along the centre.
"Frostplums," Lyriana said, "They produce flowers with medicinal properties, and when the flowers wilt, the seeds underground are ready to be re-planted, cooked or eaten. We plant them now because they grow just fine even during winter."
"They're nothing like plums, though." Lyriana added with a smile.
Alarant held the seed as proffered, turning it about in his hand. "I will have to take your word for it, Lyriana, my people have lost the sense of taste, as well as the need for food. Besides, I have never been a farmer."
Lyriana accepted it back. "Normally I would help with the harvest, but with the times as they are, we need fighters as well as farmers." The woman sighed and looked back to the fields.
"Lord de Lereyne, should we not get to the matter at hand?" Zistayre Palisar whispered by his side.
Lyriana's manner made it clear that she had heard the whisper, if not the content. "I did wonder why you and your knights have returned to our town."
"I wish I could say it was a regular patrol, but alas." Alarant said and retrieved the scroll from its case that was slung over his shoulder.
Lyriana listened patiently as Alarant read out the Marquis' decree, avoiding the positive spin that Lenann Boradis had used in Kelbrook. He placed special emphasis that the villages were to be brought in by any means necessary.
"A generous man, your Marquis." Lyriana said cautiously as Alarant finished his speech and placed the scroll back in its case.
"When it suits him," Alarant said and glanced at Zistayre before continuing, "He is a snake in the garden, and he would lead us down a terrible path if left to his own devices."
"I have not heard many tidings from your city. Is he an incompetent leader, then?" Lyriana said. Her gaze had turned from the fields to the semi-circle of knights assembled around Ariana's Bend.
"Far from it," Alarant said, wishing to be honest, "He is a capable administrator and charismatic enough to sway the people to his side, but that is the danger. He sees a different path for our people than the one our Emperor, and I, wish for us to follow. In his view, the creeds and traditions of the Old Empire are as much dust now, with our changed bodies."
"In his view, we should not guard the Amber Plains. We should rule them and take what we wish." Alarant's anger showed in his voice and in his clenched fist around the hilt of his hammer.
"Is that why he is bringing villages into your city? To keep his 'future subjects' under his watchful eye?" Lyriana said. Her guards must have sensed some change in the tone of the conversation for they moved a few steps closer.
"I do not think that is the case, no, but neither can I piece together the why of it just yet." Alarant confessed.
Lyriana smiled again, but it was brief, gone in the blink of an eye. "You are not making a strong case for us to accept your Marquis' offer, Sir Alarant de Lereyne."
"Then I really must try harder," Alarant said and looked Lyriana in the eye, "But I want you to understand that he is a crafty, manipulative man with sinister goals. You have little choice but to accept his 'offer', but I want you to understand that there are hidden motives behind the offer."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, we have little choice? The way I see it, we have no reason to accept it."
"Part of the order is that we are to use force if any village refuses to accept." Alarant said.
Lyriana glanced again at the semi-circle of knights. "And would you? Unleash this regiment of armoured knights on a farming town?"
Alarant had to restrain his anger before he could respond. Not directed at Lyriana, for the woman was merely doing her duty and what was most sensible for her people. His anger was directed at the Marquis for putting him in this position, forcing this order upon him. Was that the Marquis' goal with this? Lure him into making some fatal mistake that would see him lose standing with the people and the Emperor?
"We passed by two other villages on the way here. Kelbrook and Eldvelle. Both were smaller than your town by a significant margin, and less well-prepared for the winter. We convinced both settlements to accept the offer without use of force or coercion. Auriga knows that I am thankful for that."
Alarant met Lyriana's eyes again and, on an impulse, he knelt in front of her. "I beg of you, Captain Lyriana, daughter of Joalor, don't force my hand here."
"Lord?" He heard Gardt say, but for once Alarant chose to ignore his lieutenant.
Lyriana stood with her hands clenched at her side but surprise clear on her face. It took her a moment to compose herself. "Stand up, Lereyne, I am not some noble lady. Even so, you must understand that moving our people is not some simple endeavour. We would have to pack for the journey, secure our children and elderly, dig up the seeding again. And who's to say what will happen to our town if it is unattended during the winter?"
Alarant stood as she spoke. "My regiment is fully prepared to escort the villages back home at first thaw, and to render aid in reestablishing their lives away from the city once winter has passed. And, of course, we will protect the town as you prepare for the journey to our city."
Lyriana sighed and rubbed her eyes again. "Don't put the cart before the horse, de Lereyne, we still have to convince the chief of this."
Alarant left Zistayre in command of the knights outside the town and followed Lyriana and her guards to the town hall with Gardt at his side. The villagers were curious, with some happy to see him again, for at his last visit he had saved the town from a savage raid and had shown a clear interest in their lives. Periko, the girl he had saved in the fields, came running with her parents in tow as Alarant and his escort arrived at the stairs to the town hall. The girl was training to be part of the guards and her parents thanked him again for saving their daughter's life.
The negotiations with the mayor went more smoothly than they had with Lyriana. Chief Latega, daughter of Innes, was a genial woman of advanced years who clearly put a great deal of trust in her captain of the militia. The chief was dressed in a mahogany-coloured robe and decorated with a series of coloured sashes, in a similar arrangement as Lyriana's but with a wider variety. She carried a cane, but it was clear that it was for show, for the woman rarely used it. When Alarant inquired as to a meaning behind the coloured sashes, Lyriana cut in to explain the various healing arts that Chief Latega had learned, each sash denoting a school or method. Chief Latega's concerns with the Marquis' offer was more on the logistical challenge of transporting their people and feeding them during the travel to the city. With such a crowd, the journey would take more than a week, and some of the town's inhabitants were old or frail, and would need much assistance on the road. The amount of food in the town was also a problem; not that there was not enough, on the contrary. The harvest had been good to Ariana's Bend, so their stores were full. Transporting such quantities would tax the town even further on the road. Alarant suggested that his knights could walk and their mounts used to carry the precious supplies, to which Chief Latega gladly accepted.
When the talks were over, Chief Latega asked Alarant whether there were doctors or physicians among their people. Alarant noted an amount of humour in her tone, but replied nontheless. Before the Calamity, their people had had as many trained in the healing arts as any other nation, but the changes brought on by their new forms meant that all of their knowledge was now null and void. It seemed to Alarant that his reply dulled some of the woman's good humour, but nevertheless she made him promise to take her to meet a physician in the city, to which he gladly agreed. Lyriana watched the exchange with a mixture of disbelief and a scowl, shaking her head at the seeming carelessness of her chief.
Chief Latega announced her decision the following day, that Ariana's Bend would accept the escort of Alarant de Lereyne and take shelter in their city for the winter. Some questions were raised, but it was clear to Alarant that the townsfolk trusted their leaders, for before long, the entire town was at work preparing for the journey.
A week went by. Latega and Lyriana and other heads of the village worked together to establish work-teams focusing on different areas of the preparation work, Lyriana working as the go-between for the town and Alarant's regiment. For the first half of the week, Zistayre had his half of the regiment out scouting the valley for necrophage herds, but upon his return, the knights of the regiment dismounted and took what supplies they could carry on their own backs, so that their battle-mounts could be used by the townsfolk to assist in the massive task of transportation. As time went on and plans were solidified, Alarant found himself with more and more free-time in Ariana's Bend, which he used to explore the town, finding landmarks and sites of history throughout. The townsfolk, busy as they were, were only too glad to tell the stories that had formed their town and their people.
On the last day of preparations, as the granaries were being emptied and secured on the mounts provided by the knights, the fine weather was interrupted by dark clouds. Winds had been strong since the morning and the clouds rolled over the distant mountains on those self-same winds. The townsfolk paused in their work and looked up as the clouds covered the plains and the sky over Ariana's Bend and Lyriana and Latega urged everyone to return to their work. Alarant found them a few moments later talking to a bald man in a brown vest. He wore leather satchels slung over both shoulders laden heavy with books, as well as scroll cases on his back.
"It's not going to kick up into a storm, Chief Latega." The man said while leafing through a notebook in his hands. The village heads were standing in a small garden off the road, though only Chief Latega made use of the white-stone bench. On either side of the garden, townsfolk hurried to and fro with sacks and satchels, finishing the preparations for departure.
"That is good, Raggen, that is good." Latega said, both hands resting on her cane.
"What is it then?" Lyriana asked and nodded at Alarant.
The man identified as Raggen turned to Alarant and was silent for a moment. "I believe it may be the first snow you people were talking about."
Raggen's claim was proven an hour later when white flakes began to drift down into the town. There was little wind and it was far too warm still for the flakes to settle, but for the second time that day, work ceased across town for a few moments as everyone took in the sight of snow on what had previously been a day of late spring. It ceased less than an hour later, leaving only meltwater, mud and fading clouds as evidence of its passing. Lyriana and Latega did not need Raggen's assurance that the snow would return in the days to come. The last of the granaries and livestock were loaded onto the wagon-train and mounts, the houses and gates of the town were locked and the last leg of Alarant's expedition was underway.
Of the 43 knights in the regiment, only 12 still had their mounts unburdened by the mass of goods the people of Ariana's Bend were bringing. Besides Alarant and Zistayre and their lieutenants, that left 8 knights capable of scouting. These knights, along with the lieutenants, were split into groups of 2 and sent out in circles around the caravan to look for traces of necrophages or other travelling groups. To their good fortune, of the first they only found tracks heading north towards the mountains. Alarant continued the scouting arrangement, but was quietly certain that the necrophages were hiding away for the winter. They might be callous monsters, but monsters feel the bite of winter as well. The caravan made good time, for the people of Ariana's Bend were hardy and resourceful. When a wheel broke on one of their wagons halfway through the journey, they showed their foresight by having spares prepared ahead of time. Alarant wished that he had known Ariana's Bend before the Calamity, but there were so many things from before that time that he wished for. The clouds of snow haunted their journey, always visible but only occasionally making themselves felt. The knights could not feel the cold or the wind and so Alarant made frequent questions of Lyriana, Latega and other villagers on these matters. Cold winds were coming down from the direction of the mountains, but the air was still like that of spring. The contradiction made Raggen nervous.
The wildlife of the plains, however, was in furious activity. Birds migrated away from the snow in vast flocks and the forests teemed with animals trying to fatten themselves for hibernation. On more than one occasion, the caravan had to fend off creatures trying to get to the food stored on their wagons or ryder-mounts. With this much chaos around them, Alarant was doubly glad that the necrophages were also occupied with hiding away for winter. With so many of his ryders out of their saddles and the caravan strung out over half a mile, defending it from an attack would be difficult. By the end of the following day, the townsfolk of Ariana's Bend could see the city with their own eyes.
Calimdar stood towering over the horizon, white marble and grey stone in tall spires and solid keeps that shone with a blue light at their summit. With the sun waning towards dusk, that blue light seemed to take over from the sun, bathing the world in cold tones. But beneath those strong walls, the land on which the city stood was greying, losing the luster of life. When the effect on the land had first been noticed, many scholars occupied themselves with its study, but to little effect. A cause was clearly there, for it kept spreading from the city boundaries, but those scholars found nothing conclusive. With recent revelations about the Marquis and his dealings, Alarant mused if it was Auriga herself retreating from their presence, not out of fear but of revulsion.
Again it struck him that he was leading the innocent people of Ariana's Bend into this plot that was surely a trap of some sort. But what choice did he have? If he had refused, they would have put someone else to task. Jace de Kirgaan would have reached for his sword at the slighest defiance. Perhaps the Marquis's plot would have been more obvious if they had forced his retainer to come to the front, but Alarant would not have that innocent blood on his conscience.
The city's eastern gates were closed but began to open at the regiment's apporach, the sentries at the gatehouse working the mechanisms to open the vast oaken-and-steel gates. Dust-alloy-reliefs showed ancient scenes of history and battle as the caravan walked through the gate. Alarant left Zistayre and Gardt to answer whatever questions the caravan would inevitably have about the city and went to meet the two knights walking towards them; Unwin Weybridge and Ristel de Kelsira.
Ristel de Kelsira wore a more ornate sash than when Alarant had last seen her, but beyond that the two knights looked like he remembered them. Ristel glanced past him at the caravan of humans then turned back to look him in the eye.
"Welcome home, de Lereyne." Unwin said and reached out to shake his hand.
"It is good to be back," Alarant replied and shook Unwin's hand, "How are things in the city?"
Unwin Weybridge chuckled. "Easy there, Lereyne, you have not even been away for a month. Things change slowly around here."
"If only." Alarant thought and turned to de Kelsira. The heir of House Kelsira shook his hand as well. "There have been some events, Sir de Lereyne, but nothing we need to trouble you with at this moment." Ristel said in a low voice.
She took out a wax-sealed letter and handed it to Alarant. "At your convenience."
Alarant noted the wax-seal bearing the House Kelsira symbol of an eternal wall. He nodded at her and put the letter on his person. "And what of the townsfolk? I trust they have accomodations in the city, but I do not know where."
Unwin turned and beckoned a person forward. "This is Golt Raddlen, a clerk from the citadel. He has been appointed to assist you in housing them."
Golt Raddlen did wear the sash and robes of a clerk, though Alarant noted he had yet to be made senior clerk. He wore several scroll cases on shoulder straps and his armour was immaculate.
"At your service, Lord Alarant de Lereyne." Golt Raddlen said and stepped forward to shake his hand.
"Likewise, Mr Raddlen. The caravan is ready to continue into the city." Alarant replied and shook the clerk's hand.
Golt opened one of the scroll cases and retrieved the scroll as well as a quill from his person. "Splendid, splendid. Lenann Boradis and Sarell Kelkstein have already passed through. Shall we proceed?"
The inner gates opened to admit the caravan into the city proper, Golt Raddlen following along at the front to give directions. Alarant was glad to hear the excited whispers of the townsfolk as they saw the city up close, saw the majesty of the keeps and spires tower over them. The people of the city stopped to watch the caravan as it proceeded along the streets, though few followed it. Alarant supposed that it was the third such caravan of humans to pass through the city within the last few weeks, and thus most of the spectacle had worn off. Their path took them by the cathedral that held his daughter's gathering essence and he was sorely torn to go and look, but restrained himself. There would be time once the people of Ariana's Bend were put in their lodging.
After most of an hour, the caravan arrived at the border of the city district known as the Beloch Palisade. Built on a steep hill within the limits of the western city walls, it was a residential district where the majority of the residents were still recovering from the transformation, and thus the homes stood empty. The elevation gave it a good view of the rest of the city, rivaled only by the spires and keeps. But the hill also separated it from the rest of the city, a fact that Alarant imagined was the primary driver for choosing the Beloch Palisade as lodging. Two shaped ramps served as the only entryways to the district, with a newly-constructed gate at each ramp. Four stalwarts, halberd-armed sentries that normally patrolled the walls, stood guard at each gate, though what they guarded against, Alarant could not say.
They heard signs of life as they ascended the ramp. Not the rustle of armour and hushed voices of the city, but the sounds of children laughing, of human voices talking, and animals. Alarant mused that it had been long years since the city had heard sounds like that. The guards saluted Alarant and Golt Raddlen and then returned to their posts. The gates themselves carried the seal of the city and were already open by the time they arrived.
Wagons and piles of sacks crowded the streets with staff-armed men keeping watch over the belongings of their respective villages. Evidently Kelbrook and Eldvelle had already been given homes in the district but had yet to finish the arrangements. Other men and women walked in and out of the various dwellings, carrying boxes and sacks in and out, cleaning and discussing how to proceed. It was bedlam, a whirlwind of people from around the Amber Plains. Alarant stood to the side and took in the sights and sounds as Golt Raddlen and Chief Latega began the process of dealing out homes and facilities to the people of Ariana's Bend. The Beloch Palisade was as large as the town of Ariana's Bend, but since they would have to share it with the people of Kelbrook and Eldvelle, several families would be sharing the houses in the Palisade. After a while, when Golt Raddlen had disappeared into the rows of houses alongside the town-heads of Ariana's Bend, Alarant took out the letter he had been given by de Kelsira.
It was an invitation to a gathering in the de Kelsira estate in two days' time. At first Alarant thought that was short warning, but then remembered that his own invitation had been for the same day as when they had been handed out. The letter did not mention who else was invited which he considered a prudent move. It was signed by Ristel de Kelsira herself, in the words 'By Your Trust, Ristel de Kelsira of the Second Assembly'. Alarant decided to bring it up with Lisabelle when he saw her again. As soon as the arrangements for the people of Ariana's Bend were complete, he would head for home and arrange for an audience with the Marquis on the morrow to declare the ending of his expedition. When he had asked Weybridge at the gate, the garrison commander said that it had yet to snow on the city itself, though they had seen the grey clouds on the horizon.
He closed the envelope again and placed it on his person, then waited for Golt Raddlen and others to return. Half an hour later, the trio of Golt, Lyriana and Latega walked down one of the wide streets that led from the deeper district to the gates.
"Ah, Lord de Lereyne. We are nearly finished with the deliberations." Golt Raddlen said at his approach.
Alarant nodded at the clerk then turned to Chief Latega. "Can I borrow your captain for a while?"
Latega and Lyriana exchanged surprised looks.