It had taken Siuil a full week to reach Ascalon from Nolani, straight through the worst of the Charr territory. One bonus had been the break to take an imprint of the Nolani monument for Symon. Then he and Akruan had moved on. Siuil sighed in relief and rested his hammer on his foot when Ascalon finally came into view. "Finally," said Siuil.
Akruan snorted, "We'll celebrate when we get there."
Siuil picked up his hammer and they ran to the gates, and through them when Siuil showed the guard his Vanguard insignia. What they found was by far not what they expected. People ran from tent to tent, casting furtive and nervous glances everywhere. Siuil looked over at Akruan, who only shrugged. A guard came over to them, and Siuil noted with some surprise that he wore the insignia of Adelburn's Royal Guard. "You!" called the woman.
Siuil turned, casting a glance at Akruan who kept back slightly, prepared at the slightest hint of danger to teleport them to Sardelac. "Yes, Guardswoman?" asked Siuil.
"Whom do you serve?" she asked clearly.
Not sure how to answer, he answered plainly, "Ascalon."
She relaxed visibly. "Then welcome, soldier, but I'm afraid that your leave won't be a peaceful one. Report to Warmaster Grast as soon as possible."
"What's going on?" asked Akruan, before she walked away.
She turned, and her expression grew grave. "The…" she paused. "Rurik has chosen to leave Ascalon behind him and the King has disowned him, but many are following the… Rurik… on this fool's mission and leaving their homes. I am relieved to find that some of the Vanguard have kept their senses and stayed where they belong—with us."
With that the Guard left, and Siuil pulled Akruan close, "Rurik is no longer Prince?"
"It would certainly seem so…" said Akruan. "But when did this happen?"
Terryann and Kristal were just heading back with a small group of Deldrimor dwarves as escort. Upon reaching the Ascalon foothills they were surprised to see the caravan of refugees as they crested the hill. "This is grave," said one dwarf, Ignis Stormhammer. "They come already, lass."
"So I see," said Kristal, and then she saw the guard with them.
Rurik led them and he greeted them, "Ah, my friends, I see you made contact with the sons of Deldrimor."
"We have, your Highness," answered Kristal. "I am confused…"
Rurik took her arm, and whispered, "I will explain later…" he then cleared his throat and turned to the dwarves. "I thank you for your quick action."
"When we heard of your plight, we knew that it was in our hearts to aid you," answered Ignis. "Welcome to the Shiverpeak, but I fear… your path will not be easy."
Rurik looked from one to the other, and Kristal answered, "Let's get everyone to Yak's Bend and set up camp there. I will explain when we get there, your Highness…"
Rurik stared out the flap at the gathered refugees grimly, "Have we jumped from the proverbial fry pan into the fire?"
"My lord," said Ignis. "To be frank, the Stone Summit is still dwarves. You do not fight the endless Charr; you fight half a broken nation with a full nation at your side to aid you. But, we know that this is just long enough to get your people across the mountain passes and into Kryta."
Rurik turned to them, "But we would owe you our debt of gratitude in letting us pass, and indeed, helping us pass. I am sure that I could spare some of my men and women in the Vanguard to aid you with what we can."
"And that would be much appreciated, Prince Rurik. Most appreciated," answered Ignis, satisfied with the answer. "Now, that business has been taken care of, let us celebrate your safe arrival among the sons of Deldrimor."
Rurik took a pint of ale with them, and then Kristal took over. He followed Terryann into the night air. "I sent your father to bring me my ward, and she was with my father in Rin," he shook his head, remembering his father's ringing voice as he cast him from Ascalon. "But, at least she is safe, and here. Rosa will see Kryta."
"I'm glad that worked out, your Highness," Terryann smiled. "I see this Rosa is bringing a smile to your face."
"It's amazing, really," laughed Rurik softly. "Althea… oh… I still miss her and no one could replace her. But Rosa is a different woman. Shy, quiet, supporting. A silent strength that still speaks volumes and echoes across the mountains. And pretty. Again, Rosa is different from Althea…"
Terryann sighed, seeing a darker mood descend on the Prince. "Rosa must be very special, then," said Terryann. "I will see that she makes it across the mountains, Rurik."
"Oh, so will I," said Rurik. "I am sorry to speak of this…"
"Don't be. If it helps to talk about it, then please, don't let me stop you," said Terryann quietly. "You know, my mother was a lot like Althea. My sister a bit more like Rosa, only her silences were due to other things than shyness. Selena just saw too much, knew too much, as if she was never sure of how to explain things and so she kept her silence."
Rurik smiled then, "Althea was a tall woman, almost as tall as I am and lithe, strong in stature. Rosa is tiny, fragile. So different and yet so much the same. I'm not making any sense… and only now do I realize that my ward is far more than that now. Now that I breathe in the cold clear air do my own eyes clear and I see what is in front of me. I am no longer a Prince of Ascalon, I am simply Rurik. Upon reaching Lion's Arch I intend on it being Rurik and Rosa of where ever we shall be."
Terryann smiled and watched as the Prince moved among the refugees, celebrating even as they mourned. She closed her eyes and leaned back, and then Illaesa growled… then the sound quickly changed to that of a half whimper, half purr that was vocalized. It was the sound of two Melandru's Stalkers recognizing each other. "Greetings, fellow Ranger…" she said, not opening her eyes.
"Now, is that any way to greet your elders?" the man said and Terryann's eyes flew open and she stared at the man in open-mouthed shock.
He held out his arms for a hug. He stood with no mark, no injury, on him or the massive cat that followed him and now played with her cat. His strong arms swept her up into a massive embrace and, once seeing that he was alive, feeling the strength of the muscles beneath his armor, and smelling the leather mixed with sweat she hugged him back. "Aunt Kristal!" she called in excitement. "Aunt Kristal! Come out here!"
She hugged him again, nearly crushing him with her strength. Kristal came out, and her hands flew to her mouth. Then one slowly reached out to touch him. Seeing he was real, Kristal breathed, "Terrence… you're alive…"
Rurik, again, had been called to the La Rune tent and he did so with great expediency. Thinking that perhaps one of them had fallen ill, or that Siuil had reached Yak's Bend with news from Ascalon city, he swept in to see the tall, but familiar, ranger within. He blinked in surprise, as did Terrence. Then Terrence knelt, "My Prince, it is an honor."
Looking from the kneeling man to Kristal, he asked, "Who is this man?"
"This is my husband," answered Kristal. "Prince Rurik, this is Terrence La Rune, Siuil's elder brother."
Rurik gasped in surprise. "But… you died… or at least, Siuil thinks you're dead."
Terrence looked up in surprise, first at the familiarity that Rurik knew Siuil, and then also that the Prince would know that much of the La Runes. "Forgive my forwardness, but I am confused."
Rurik laughed and grasped the man by the elbows, helping him up, "Oh get up. Any friend of Siuil is also my friend, if you would have me as such. And I am no longer Prince, as you well know. I have no claim to the throne."
"I didn't know," said Terrence in surprise. "I saw people heading here and aided some stragglers into camp. Then one wanted me to carve an epitaph for her husband who fell in the Foothills. His ghost, however, told me that I should head this way and not back to Ascalon like I was going to."
Stretching to relieve the aching in his back, and stifling a yawn, Rurik crossed his arms in thought. "Well, then, I will try to explain what I can. Since the Searing, we have been pushed back past the Great Northern Wall. I tried to explain to my father that we could survive the winter in Ascalon and we would do well to leave before we all starved to death."
"Ah, Rurik, you're a bit ahead of yourself," said Terryann.
"True enough," Rurik sat down in what had been Siuil's chair. "Sit down, this might take some time. First, many things have happened in the three years since the Searing. Many have died, and many more will die. The Charr relentlessly march southward. We have tried holding them back, and sometimes won, but it was not until Surmia that I realized that even if we did win, what would we have? Dead lands that will take generations to recover, and still the Charr would be at our doorstep. And so, after retaking Rin after narrowly escaping Nolani, I told my father what I felt… and he disowned me. He will not leave Ascalon to the Charr. And so I told all that would come that I would lead them to Kryta and to a new life in green lands."
Terrence considered this, and then turned to Kristal and Terryann, "You believe this?"
"Uncle Terrence, you have seen what Ascalon has become, have you not?" asked Terryann, and seeing him about to interject, she held up one hand. "Yes, the land slowly recovers, but as Rurik pointed out, that will take generations, and longer if we continue to fight on the plains. It needs to recover, but it won't if we do not leave it a chance to recover from the wars."
"I agree with that," said Terrence. "But what of those left behind?"
"I will leave sentries along our route to guide them through the passes if they choose to follow later," said Rurik. "I will not leave them to die. I swear it."
Terrence leaned back, "And where is Siuil and Selena?"
Rurik laughed shortly, "I sent Siuil back to Ascalon to retrieve my ward. I did not realize that my father had brought her with him to Rin. And so she is with me but it is not my place to tell you of Selena."
Looking from Rurik to Terryann who looked down at the ground, then to Kristal, he at first drew the wrong conclusion. "She stayed behind?" Kristal shook her head at her husband's venture.
"No, Uncle Terry…" said Terryann. "She's dead. She died when the catacombs collapsed on her, as we thought you were also crushed."
Terrence closed his eyes and shook his head, "Oh dear Gods, how is Siuil taking this?"
"With a vengeance," said Rurik. "He called a blood oath on all Charr Fire Callers."
"Good," said Terrence.
"Now, about how you survived this," pointed out Rurik. "I have explained myself, I do think it is fair if you give me the same courtesy. Not to mention that I am sure your family is curious."
Terrence smiled, "A funny story that…"
He saw Lynn Matheri's back for a few seconds, and then the ground shook. Jumping back as he saw the rock shift above him, he saw Lynn turn to grab him, then have to jump back himself to avoid being crushed. Terrence fell to one knee until the shaking stopped. Once the world finally was still again, he opened his eyes and climbed to his feet.
Terrence sighed when he saw that where Lynn had been was now a sheer wall of granite. "Great… won't be getting out that way…" he turned to regard Cambe who shook herself off. "Yeah, I'm sure I don't look any better."
The cat grunted and Terrence lit his torch and lifted it, surveying the damage. Laughing, he pointed behind them. "Well, we can't go back the way we came, but look at this… one tunnel collapses and another takes its place," he licked a finger and held it up, as her nose twitched. "Fresh air, some where this tunnel will take us to the surface. Well… no point in staying here."
With that he and the cat began to climb up the rocks and then, while it didn't affect her any; he had to hunch over to walk through the now lowered ceiling. They walked long enough that his torch went out, he lit another, once it went out, he called her back. "Well, that was one day of walking," he said, sitting down with a sigh, drinking from his water skin. "This appears to be another area of granite. Let's rest. Wake me if anything happens."
Terrence slept with the cat against his side. It was a sleep of exhaustion for both of them, but still, her instincts and his trained senses kept a watch. An indeterminate amount of time later, and they both woke. Terrence massaged the kinks out of his neck and stood up as well he could, lit his third and last torch, and they set off again. Hours later, the torch began to sputter. Terrence said, "Well, Cambe, we may be in trouble here."
The cat grunted again, scratched at her nose. "Yes, I know you can smell your way out of here, but I can't see in the dark, and neither can you."
Cambe rubbed up against his leg and he added a piece of cloth to the torch to stretch out its life. Still, not ten minutes later, it went out. Cambe's eyes reflected the poor light, and it was then that Terrence realized that there was light filtering in from somewhere. "Cambe, do you know where that light is coming from?"
She rubbed against him and, taking a bit of her fur in his fingers, he allowed her to lead him out, as now she could see where he could not. What little light there was allowed her eyes to see. Barely, he was sure, but it was far more than he could. They walked like this for what seemed like hours as he used his bow like a blind man used a cane… only for the ceiling. He did not want to bump his head on any stray ledges that he could not see. Finally he began to see little details close up, then as the light grew brighter he could then lead himself. The tunnel ended suddenly, but it went up straight like a well. He sighed, then unwrapped his grappling hook and threw it up, catching it on a ledge. The large cat whimpered, knowing what was coming next.
Using another length of rope Terrence carefully looped it around her to make a sort of harness, then tied a length to his waist. When he climbed out, he would lift her from the hole. The surface was a physical shock. He knew he should know where he was but the blasted rock and scorched earth was alien to him and robbed him of his usual ability to tell where he was. He reached down and began to pull up on the cat. "Okay, Cambe, I'm going to need your help here. You can climb and I'll use the rope so that you won't have to fully support your weight, but I do need some of your weight."
He didn't hear a response and he pulled up on the rope. The cat managed to climb out of the hold with his aid and he untied her, healing her magically of any rub burns. She licked his face and he said as he looked around. "Now… where in the Rift are we?" he wondered.
Terrence rested for a bit, then when the sun went down to the west and the light was cast on the mountains a certain way he gasped in sudden recognition. Turning to look in the valley, he said, "Down there… by those ruins? That's the Nolani Academy… what has happened here?"
The cat yowled in mourning. Before Terrence had tamed her these had been her hunting grounds. Now nothing wandered its surface. He petted her head, equally in shock. Where there had been plains were now a mountain chain. Grendich was not far from here and perhaps was accessible. "We make for Grendich," said Terrence. "And hope for the best."
Rurik leaned back. "How fortunate for you, and us, that you found your way here."
Suddenly, Captain Greywind stuck his head in the tent, "Your Highness, Siuil La Rune, Akruan Soulblesser and Devona have returned. They found a few more stragglers. Siuil is talking to Ignis right now… do you want me to send him here once he has finished?"
"No, I'll go to him," Rurik turned to Terrence. "Stay here for now, spend time with your wife. She has missed you dearly. Terryann, come with me. You and I can give your father the joyous news of your Uncle's return."
Terrence turned to Kristal once they left, and Kristal was in his arms immediately. "I missed you."
He held her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. "You have no idea how much I missed you, Kristal. And Xiyra. I didn't think I would make it back alive and at some point I could only hope that if I didn't, that you would be happy until I saw you again in the Mists. But I was not sure how, given how barren Ascalon had become. I hoped that, if I did not return, that you would go back to Kryta where it is green."
She stopped him, kissing him deeply, and then pulling back with a sigh. She simply stay there in his arms. "Either way, we go to Kryta together," she said. "Now, where you and your family has given me a home, allow me and mind you give you a home."
Siuil walked towards his tent, and was surprised to see Rurik exit with Terryann. Stopping for a moment, he wondered at this, especially considering the wide smiles on both their faces. "Ah, Siuil!" Rurik greeted by clasping the older man at the elbows. "How wonderful to see you. I have good news."
Akruan lifted brow, and exchanged a look with Siuil, who answered, "Indeed?"
"Father… you'll never believe this!" she exclaimed and for a moment, he wondered how much of the marriage conversation she had actually paid attention to.
But that was soon wiped from his mind as another man stepped from the tent, his fingers entangled in Kristal's. He looked from the smiling Rurik, to Terryann's bright eyes and knew suddenly he was not seeing things. "Terrence?" asked Siuil, walking by them, putting one hand in gratitude on Rurik's shoulder before moving past him. "You still live?"
"I do, brother, I do," said Terrence, opening his arms after disentangling his fingers from Kristal's.
Siuil lifted his brother in a bear hug, and they were both laughing. "My God, Terry, I didn't think I'd ever see you again on the face of Tyria," Siuil wiped tears of joy from his eyes. "But I don't understand how this is possible."
Terrence motioned for him to join him by the large bonfire on which the dwarves had put one of their hogs on spit. He explained the same as he had done for the Prince, only embellishing it more for his brother's sake. By then, people had gathered for the celebration of reaching the Shiverpeak to find new allies. The feast was now fully under way as they sat around the massive bonfire. Rurik snorted at the addition of some of the element of danger in Terrence's tale, but only said, "I find it very amusing to see that brothers always try to make them seem more in each other's eyes."
They sat a while longer, listening to some of the bards and the Mesmers that tried to lift the people's spirits in song and entertainment. Laughter and children's cries rang out around the bonfire.
Putting an arm around Kristal after she had taken her turn at singing and sat down again, Terrence said, "Your Highness, I didn't think I'd find my brother in your company. If I did I would have done a little more…"
Rurik waved it off, but said, "You did remind of something however."
He stood up and lifted his arms. "Can I have your attention please!" his clear voice rang out.
Immediately people stilled and Greywind brought him a crate to stand on. Once Rurik stood on it and had a vantage point, he continued, "We have come very far, and I commend your strength. I commend your faith and only hope that I can continue to live up to what you expect of me. But there are others that have also done great deeds that remain unsung. You all know Devona, of Cynn, Mhenlo… Aidan for guiding us… and of course the Sons of Deldrimor who aid us now. But there are others. Two women who risked their very lives to come here alone before any of us to seek out the dwarves…" he motioned for Kristal and Terryann to stand near him. "These two woman risked everything to tell the dwarves we were coming and it is due to them that we can even rest here this night."
Everyone cheered. And then Rurik quieted them, "I cannot give them Ascalon's highest accolade, but I can give them something else," he motioned Devona to bring him the items wrapped in silk. "Ladies, I can not give you title. But I can give you the means to survive, the means to fight. Lady Kristal La Rune, I give you this flute. Play it and remember what you have done for us and know I honor you. Lady Terryann La Rune, so much in your father's image, and also of your Uncle's, this bow will bring your enemies to their knees. Use it well."
"I will," both women said together then bowed and sat back down.
The prince was not done, however. "There is one more. One man has guarded by back in the harshest of missions, has risked his life for all of you… and carried out my will in ways I never thought any man could," he motioned to Siuil. "Siuil La Rune, were it in my power, I would give you the rank and title of Lord, and give you land. In fact, even before the Searing we had too few men like you. When your wife died in circumstances very similar to how my betrothed was killed, we suddenly also shared a bond. As member of my Vanguard, you acted in ways so heroic that I swore I saw my father in you. It is my honor if you would continue to act so, as we all know, my father has disowned me. It would be my honor if you considered me your son, brother, and friend, in his stead. Will you have me?"
Siuil stood there in shock. Finally he answered, "You do the honor to me, Rurik. Yes. I am honored and will have you as son, brother and friend."
It was almost as if a pall had descended on them all. Placing Siuil in such a role made it so that if Rurik fell, Siuil would lead the Ascalon refugees in his stead. Rurik nodded and Devona brought a package wrapped in silk forward again. She was smiling, and Siuil wasn't sure if he liked the way she was. Rurik took the silk wrapped package and with a flourish unwrapped it. "As such, it seemed fitting that you possess one of these. They are rare now that the hands that made them no longer live," said Rurik as he handed the sword over to Siuil, putting his hand on it and covering it with his own.
Siuil stared into the live flame of the sword. The hilt was fashioned to look like a dragon with its mouth open, the flame blade its breath. The Fiery Dragon Swords were so rare now as those who had made them no longer lived and took the knowledge with them. Being given one was a tremendous honor only given to those the King considered heroes. To have one was considered a statement in Ascalon; I have risked all for the sake of my people. Rurik removed his hand and then said, "Now we have reason to celebrate! Three cheers for the heroes of Ascalon!"
When the cheering died down again the music and dancing started up again.
The next day the new heroes and the old had a meeting up by the entrance of the Yak's Bend arena. Devona sat by Siuil. Terrence smiled as Devona still sat as close as she could to the older man. It was amusing, really, as still Siuil seemed oblivious to the woman's attention in that manner. Eventually he was sure that Siuil would come around. It was simply a matter of when. "The Stone Summit have moved in on the road to Borlis Pass," said Terryann. "There is a way around, but even that has been clogged by them."
"And worse," said Siuil. "There is a renegade Necromancer by the name of Verata that I will have to take care of shortly."
"Very well," said Devona. "Siuil and I will take care of Verata and come around on the flank of the Stone Summit. We will need one more, however."
"I'll go," said Terrence. "I can keep them suppressed with my arrows."
"Good, that will give us some back up," said Devona. "Now, I need a strike group to go straight up the path, how they will expect to come, to keep them from suspecting anything from behind."
"I'll do that," said Cynn. "Who else is coming with me?"
"I will," said Terryann.
"As will I," said Akara.
"If Cynn is going, they are going to need me," pointed out Mhenlo. "But that's still only four."
"Take Little Thom and Stefan," said Siuil.
Cynn snorted, her dislike for the cowardice of Little Thom when he deserted rather infamous. Siuil was quick to point out, "You'll need warriors with heavy armor. Stefan can pull up any slack that will happen if Little Thom should run."
"Fine," said Cynn. "But if he turns tail, don't be surprised if all you find is a crispy ash on the ground. Because that's all I leave of him."
"Good enough," said Devona. "Now, here, there is a bridge. We will need someone to secure it so that they don't run on us."
"Send Alesia, Claude, Orion and Dunham," suggested Terryann. "Of course, they will still need a few warriors…"
Rurik walked up. "I will go with Alesia's group," he said. "As will Rormak."
Siuil leaned back, "Rurik… I'm not sure if that's such a good idea."
"I will not sit around here and let everyone else fight my battles. No, I can handle securing a bridge," Rurik waved him off. "Now, that's settled. Let's get to it."
They checked their weapons, and by a back way the two flank groups left so that the main group could hold up their end of the subterfuge. Cynn ran into the main group and as they made to attack her, Rurik ran to the bridge, and Devona ran past him to the other end of the pass. Siuil kept up, hammer on his shoulder. Given the fact that the group was surrounded, the Stone Summit fell quickly.
Rurik smiled as they walked into the first part of Borlis Pass. "We make a fine Vanguard, do we not?"
Devona laughed. "You should have seen the looks on those dwarves faces when we came in on them on all three sides. You could have knocked their captain over with a feather!"
Siuil patted his brother on the shoulder, "Just like old times, eh?"