Chapter 28: Forging Alliances
Borak, Pyra and four guards rode their horses hard toward the border of Swadia in the West to Yalen,several Fire Nation soldiers riding the Horned Lizards hot on their heels.
"Come on just a bit farther and we'll be safe!" Shouted Borak as he led the group.
"My Lord I don't like the idea of leaving the King even on his orders." Shouted one of the guards.
"I believe the feeling is mutual, we've all left someone behind to do the King's will." Borak shouted back.
As they came to the border several Swadian soldiers were waiting for them crossbows, at the ready. As Marius and the party passed them the Swadians closed ranks and fired volleys at the Fire Nation soldiers each bolt hitting its mark and killing both the Lizard, and the riders.
Borak brought his horse to a stop and dismounted and patted his mount on the neck.
"Good work Basval now rest for a while." Whispered Borak in his horse's ear.
"Lord Borak I am captain Titus of the Border Guard, what the hell are those and what is happening in the Highland Kingdom?" Asked Titus with a troubled look on his face.
"We have been invaded by Fire summoners from across the Great Sea. As for the horned lizards I believe they call them Komodo Rhinos. Borak said as he caught his breath.
"Fire summoners?" Asked one of the other Border Guards.
"They are men of the Fire Nation." Pyra said sternly. "They have the ability to manipulate fire and use it in combat, now we really must be going."
Borak remounted Basval and they continued their ride to Yalen where they rested for the night, and the next day they crossed the mountains, and arrived in Praven early in the afternoon.
They waited for three days before they were summoned before they were granted audience with Queen Isolla of Suno who had taken power via revolution against King Harlaus many years ago.
Borak kneeled on one knee before Isolla and bowed his head along with two of the guard who accompanied him.
"You may rise and tell me of why you have come, but be quick for I have other matters to attend to." Isolla said coldly.
"King Movan Beltasus of the Highland Kingdom requests your aid in retaking his country from the Fire Nation." Borak said after rising to his feet.
"Though I do not recognise your King as a King, I still have great respect for him he has forged a Kingdom for Himself, and rules it fairly. However My armies are busy fighting inclusions from the Nords in the North neither side gaining or losing ground."
"Why not call for a truce?" Borak asked the Fire Nation pose a greater threat to all the Kingdoms, from what I have heard of them they will not strop with conquering just one Kingdom when there are five More left still unconquered." Borak said as convincing as he could.
"This is true, though I do not see adding my armies bodies to the already large casualties they have inflicted upon your homeland will do to help the rest of our continent." Isolla retorted.
"The one advantage we have is superior numbers If we get the other Kingdoms to assist we will be able to push out their incursion." Borak said. "They lay across the Great Sea supplies takes weeks to reach our continent as well as more fighting men we have the advantage of supplies being readily available for a campaign without having to travel across an unpredictable ocean."
"I have heard enough I will send word to you at a later date where will you go next?" Isolla asked
"North to the Nords to ask for their aid." Borak said.
"I will send word to you then you have given us much to consider." Isolla said.
Borak bowed and left the throne room his guard traveling behind. When he reached the inn where they were staying he found Pyra talking to a large group of men who wore chainmail, and were armed to the teeth.
"Come we need to get a move on." Borak said as he approached.
"Ah Borak this is Bizal he is in charge of these Hired Blades I have been chatting them up and they are down on their luck in the gold area." Pyra said as she took a drink out of a tankard on the table.
Borak sighed. "How much do they want?" Borak asked lifting a large bag of coins that was attached to his belt.
"Two hundred, and a night with this beauty." Said one of the men as he looked at Pyra.
"I'll give you three hundred, but without my friend." Borak said defensively.
"Throw in a round of drinks and you have a deal." Said Bizal frowning at the man who was looking at Pyra . "Marcel is to drunk to know what he is saying. I apologize on his behalf."
"Any more stunts like that Marcel and I will have your head." Pyra said fiercely pulling a dagger from her belt and pointing it at Marcel's face. "Am I clear?"
The other mercenaries at the table scooted away from their comrade
"Aye perfectly clear miss I apologize." Marcel said quivering.
"If you are done fooling around Pyra we have business to attend to, Basil we leave with the Dawn so make ready." Borak said.
As Pyra and Borak left they ordered the round of drinks, and as they went to their room they heard Basil and his men cheering and toasting their new employers.
"You should be more careful Pyra." Borak said sternly.
"You sound like my father, I can take care of myself." Pyra said jovially. "Soon we will have the allies we need, then you can go back to sheathing your short sword in your prince."
"Yes, but I promised your father to keep you safe from those Fire Nuts." Borak said still stern.
"Why do you think I keep the dagger?" Pyra asked with a smile."
"To cut off their balls if they try anything." Borak said.
"Well yes, or to leave a nasty scar on them before I escape." Pyra said pulling out the dagger and began stabbing it into the table repeatedly.
"In Britonia they used to call me Pyra Scourge of men, a name I earned when those Britons tried." Pyra said fondly of the memory. "I even left a scar on a Briton War Chief once.
"I get the point, but I think you should have something a bit bigger than that dagger." Borak said.
Borak pulled one of his own swords and sheath from his belt and put it on the table.
"Do you know how to use one of these." Borak asked.
"Of course, I might look young, but I have handled a sword before." Pyra said as she attached the scabbard to her belt.
That night Borak slept on the floor while Pyra slept in the bed, early the next morning they found Basil and his Hired Blades passed out on the table of the tavern. Pyra smiled and pulled her new sword from its scabbard and slammed it into the table the blades point driving into the table. Pyra quickly pulled it out and watched as Basil and his men drew swords and axes and knocked over the table looking for whoever had awoken them from their slumber.
"Rise and shine we're moving out." Pyra said jovially as she put her sword back in the scabbard.
"Ah what a fine sight." Said Marcel rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "The Fiery lass."
"None of that mate I've got a bigger blade." Pyra said patting her sword.
"Do you even know how to use it?" Marcel said with a smile. "I could give you some lessons if you'd like."
Pyra pulled her sword from her scabbard and spun it in her hand and pointed it at Marcel's face.
"Point taken lass, point taken." Marcel said looking at the sword nervously.
"Good now saddle your horses we have a long ride ahead of us." Borak said smiling at Pyra. "Pyra leave your boyfriend alone, we have places to be."
Pyra glared at Borak. "He is not my boyfriend Borak." Pyra said defensively.
Marcel smiled widely as Pyra began to put her sword in its scabbard.
"Well I am willing if she is." Marcel said with a goofy grin on his face.
Pyra acted like she was going to pull the sword again, and Marcel put his hands up.
"Easy, It was a joke." Marcel said.
"Marcel shut the fuck up that's an order." Basil commanded.
Marcel chuckled to himself and as the sun began to rise they left Praven behind and rode for the Border of the Nords.