More than a little bewildered Thad looked for Tuck and found him slapping his wooden practice sword against a stump. Thad called for his friend but Tuck didn’t seem to hear him. Moving around to stand in front of Tuck, Thad said his name again but still his friend didn’t look up. Getting irritated Thad yelled.
As if coming out of a trance Tuck looked up at Thad and smiled. “What is going on?” Thad asked, his voice slightly panicked.
“It’s the pull of the full moon,” Tuck said slightly dazed. “Every creature in nature feels it and celebrates it in their own way; wolves howl, trees bask, deer prance, and elves regale themselves in merriment.”
Looking around Thad couldn’t argue with it. Every elf within sight was either dancing or banging on something. Thad wanted to warn them of the dangers of such a display so deep into enemy lands, but with the effort to even get Tuck’s attention he doubted it would do any good.
Knowing he couldn’t stop it Thad decided to join in. He didn’t know how to dance nor could he hold a beat so Thad did the only thing he had skill with, magic. Calling his staff to his hand Thad raised it high above his head. “Want to give off a little show for our friends?” Thad asked his staff. “Make sure not to overdo it. No reason to draw more attention than we already have.”
I don’t think it’s a great idea but I don’t see what harm it could do.
Blue, green, and red balls of light rose before they split then split again. Soon the entire camp was covered in multicolored festive lights. The thumping and dancing went on late into the night, but it finally started to wind down a few hours before moonset.
As the sun came up over the horizon the next morning Thad was woken without mercy. Without complaint Thad prepared for the day’s march though he felt the weariness of the previous night’s merriment down to his bones.
As tired as he was Thad was happy to see that the feeling of despair had been lifted from the elves. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could have taken the overwhelming feeling of depression. A few hours sleep was more than worth it to have the pressure lightened.
As they marched Thad moved up beside Reeve. The normally cold elf had a noticeably lighter step this morning and Thad could almost swear the elf had the barest hint of a smile on his face. “You seem in a much better mood today,” Thad said teasingly.
Reeve tried to give Thad a cold look but his eyes betrayed his true mood. “No elf can deny the call of the full moon,” He replied gruffly. “I noticed the lights you added to the occasion. I must say it was a nice touch.”
Thad laughed and gave the assassin a warm smile. “I figured if I couldn’t sleep I might as well get in on some of the fun.”
“I hope you enjoyed yourself,” Reeve said. “It will be quite some times before another moon graces the sky.”
“While I enjoyed last night, I don’t think it would be wise to do it again.” Thad tried to keep his voice calm, fearing that the elf might take the statement as an affront to his culture.
To his surprise Reeve looked at Thad and winked. “I agree with you wholeheartedly. If there had been an army nearby last night we would have been slaughtered without a fight. Even knowing this, we elves cannot help ourselves when such a beautiful moon appears in the sky. The moon calls to us, it is like our blood is on fire,” Reeve replied in explanation.
Shortly after the noon break one of the scouts reported suspicious activity along the road. Eight riders were moving off and on the road as if they were searching for something. Thuraman couldn’t feel any of the brotherhood’s swords among the group but their actions told who they were as surely as the swords would have.
Hoping not to draw any unwanted attention the large band of elves moved farther from the road and continued on their way. It seemed that their activities from the night before had not gone unnoticed.
As night settled Thad made an extra pass around the camp inspecting the shields to make sure they were strong. A few of the stones were weaker but they had more than enough strength to last a few more nights before he had to change them out for a new set.
Content that the shields would hold through the night Thad settled down on his own pallet for some much needed sleep. With the commotion the night before and the suspicious men on the road Thad could not shake the feeling that something was amiss. He tried to tell himself that it was only his nerves but so far everything had seemed to go too smoothly. His mind might have been anxious but his body was exhausted and it was not long before sleep took him.
In his dreams Thad once again found himself standing in the murky darkness he had begun to know all too well. Thad looked around for Maria knowing that she would appear as she always had.
Within a few moments Thad spied the young princess. Her armor was replaced by a gown of deep scarlet that matched her flaming hair well. Though she was dressed in her courts best she still wore a thin sword strapped to her side. Maria gave him a questioning look. “The hardness is still in your eyes but at least you don’t look like a lost child anymore,” Maria said harshly.
“It wasn’t that long ago that you were the lost child quivering behind me,” Thad replied sarcastically.
Mara gave him a withering glair then laughed lightly. “That was a lifetime ago Thad,” Maria said sadly. “I have missed your banter, but I don’t remember you having such a witty tongue. Is that something you picked up on the road or have you just hid it from me.”
“I never hid anything for you,” Thad replied, shaking his head. “I just figured I spent enough time bowing before others.”
Maria walked over and raised her hand. For a moment Thad though she was going to slap him but she embraced him instead. “About time you grew a backbone. A woman never really appreciates a man who she can push around all the time.”
Thad went to reply but he was forcefully jerked from the darkness of the dream. Other times it had been a gradual thing but not this time it was as if he was being ripped apart.
Thad woke with a startled scream grasping his chest. As his mind cleared his ears picked up the sound of the high pitched scream from the shields letting them know they had been breached. Thad jumped from his bed his hands seeking his weapons.
Every elf in camp knew what the sound signaled and all of them were drawing swords preparing to fight. From what he could see and the lack of any sound other than the alarm Thad was sure no one had engaged in battle yet.
As soon as his mind was clear Thad went in search for Reeve or Parson. Thad didn’t have to look hard to find Parson near the border of the camp talking to one of his scouts. “Who breached the shield?” Thad asked keeping his voice as low as possible.
“My men have found a handful of Brotherhood scouts in the woods after the sound of the alarm,” Parson said quietly. “My men were able to kill four and capture a fifth. We were just discussing wither to bring him to question or to send him to the next world.”
“We could use some information,” Thad said, after only giving it a moment’s thought.
“As you wish. I will have him brought to you,” Parson replied. “The rest of my men are scouting ahead but no matter what they find, we best be ready to move.”
Thad had to agree with Parson. Staying here when they knew Brotherhood scouts had spotted them would be past reckless. “Have everyone get ready to march. We leave as soon as I finish asking our visitor a few questions.”
Thad returned to his own bedroll and proceeded to gather all his gear. It wouldn’t do to have the rest of the group waiting on him.
Not long after the last of his gear was stowed, Parson and Reeve brought the Brotherhood hostage to him. Thad was surprised that the scout was female and young enough to barely be out of girlhood. Thad tried to push his desire to help the girl out of his mind.
“I won’t tell you anything demon spawn,” the scout shouted, as she was thrown down before Thad.
Taking a deep breath Thad pulled his knife from his boot. “You will tell us, alive or dead, you will tell,” Thad said, placing the blade
against the girl’s throat. “Now how many soldiers do you have fielded and where are they?”
The soldier clenched her jaw and gave him a defiant look. When she remained silent Thad let the blade of his knife run down her arm cutting a shallow line. The soldier grunted as a small trickle of blood started dripping from her fingertips.
Thad could feel his stomach churning. It was one thing to kill someone. It was something else to torture them. He had little practice and even less desire for such a thing.
Thad felt a tap on his shoulder. “May I have a quick word with you?” Reeve asked in a demanding tone.
“I think it would be best if I talked to our friend,” Reeve said as soon as they were a short distance away from the others. “There is no shame to be found here. It is a dark task to cause others pain.” Thad didn’t answer but nodded his head.
Thad didn’t want to watch Reeve question the soldier. When the first scream echoed though the camp Thad’s stomach heaved and his supper from the night before was lost to the ground. Wiping his mouth Thad moved away from the camp and took a seat on the ground placing his head between his legs.
The screams still reached his ears but they didn’t carry the same weight as they had before. With each scream it felt as if someone had struck him in the chest. Thad wasn’t sure how long it had lasted, time seemed to drag on, but when the camp finally grew eerily quiet he knew that the soldier’s torment was at its end.
It was not the first time Thad had seen blood but the sight of it on Reeve's hands that night glistening black in the moonlight haunted Thad. “We’re in luck my friend,” Reeve said, almost joyfully. “We see to have come to Rane at a good time. Most the soldiers have been in Farlan the past few years and their numbers have been stretched thin. They are trying to pull their soldiers together but if we move fast we should be able to reach the capital long before they can send a large force to counter us.”
“That is good to know,” Thad replied, doing his best to keep the few contents left in his stomach in place. “Did you find out how far and which direction it is to the capital?”
Reeve pulled out a folded piece of yellowed parchment. “We are still more than a fortnight away from the capital but now we have a map.”
Thad took the parchment and opened it to find that it was a map of Rane. It was well made and showed many towns throughout the country. Then Thad noticed the small red fingerprint in the northeastern part of the map. It made his stomach jump again but he soon realized that given the distance from the port it was most likely their current position. “What about the soldier?”
Reeve's eyes narrowed and he gave Thad a hard stare. “We can’t leave witnesses behind,” Reeve replied, coldly.
Thad nodded his head as all the blood seemed to rush from his body and a coldness overtook him, making him shiver slightly.
Within a quarter of an hour they were back on the march. Thad noticed more than a few sleepy-eyed elves who walked along in a daze but most were alert looking for possible attackers. Thad looked to the east but still could not see any hint of the rising sun. If only it would rise maybe it could chase some of the chill that had settled in his bones.
Did you think that the only ones you would have to face would be men?
“No but I just didn’t think…,” Thad trailed off his voice weak even to his own ears.
Then you better think harder. They might be called the Brotherhood but I am sure that your blade will have to meet with more than one female along the way, and if you are not prepared for it then you should turn back now.
Thad didn’t reply. In truth he had nothing he could reply with. His staff was right, but could he ever bring himself to kill a woman when he was not in the heat of battle? The question weighed heavily on his heart as he shuffled along.
CHAPTER XV
The group marched on, sleeping only when it was needed. With the map to aid them they were able to stay away from town, though they had ran across a few farms. Their stores of supplies were beginning to run low but thankfully their hunters had found plenty of wild game, but it was scarcely enough to feed the entire group. With little choice they headed for the nearest town on the map.
When they were only a few hours away from the town Parson sent two of his best men to scout out their surroundings. While they waited for the scouts to return the rest settled down to eat what few rations they had left.
Looking around it was easy to see the long journey had taken its toll on many of the elves who had spent the bulk of, if not all of, their life on the isolated island. Every night there seemed to be more arguments and the elves were starting to split away from each other, forming small groups. Thad had voiced his concerns to Parson and Reeve but they assured him it was the natural order. Elves were not a group oriented people and given their preferences most would live out their lives with only a choice few around them.
For the most part the elves kept their distance from him. Most nights not even Parson or Reeve would visit him though Tuck was still a constant companion at his campfire. Thad was not unused to spending his time alone but this was the first time he had been in a large group and still felt alone. He was starting to feel like a leper. Knowing a town was close made Thad’s heart race. He knew that as long as the town was not occupied by the Brotherhood that he and a few elves would go for supplies.
Standing at the edge of the makeshift camp Thad stared off into the distance, looking for any hint for the returning scouts.
I know what you are thinking and it is not a good idea.
Thad let out a heavy sigh. “I just plan to stop by the inn to hear the local gossip,” Thad replied defiantly.
We both know that isn’t the whole truth. I do not understand your need for the company of other humans.
“I don’t think I understand it either,” Thad replied honestly.
Time drug on as Thad waited for the scouts to return. When the two elves came into view Thad nearly leapt for joy. Thad hurried over to where Parson sat, eager to hear the scouts report first hand. The tall elves made good time and Thad was not left waiting.
“The town isn’t very large and it doesn’t seem to host any army from what we could see,” the scout reported.
Parson rubbed his chin with his hand, thinking silently. “Did you circle the town and look for tracks of large forces or groups of people that may have passed through recently?”
“We made a complete circle of the town and could not see any strange or unwarranted tracks. The road into town looked well-worn but it didn’t seem as if it had seen an abundance of recent wear,” the scout replied confidently.
“If you believe it is safe then I shall trust your judgment,” Parson said before turning to Thad. “Unlike our previous visits to town we no longer have the carts, and even the horses can only carry so much,” Parson said, picking his words carefully. “I think this time it would be prudent for all of us to march into town.”
“Don’t you think that is a bit more risk than is warranted?” Thad asked, hoping the hunter would rethink his position.
Parson shook his head and Thad could almost see his chance of visiting an inn for some idle gossip fade away. “Every time we enter a town we let the enemy know where we are, though I doubt they would have a hard time determining our location if they had a tracker worth half his salt. Even so the risks are great and I would like us to gather enough supplies to last as long as possible. Hopefully what we procure today will last until we can reach a good defensible position outside the capital.”
You know he’s right.
Thad wanted to argue but he knew he had no ground to stand on. Cursing inwardly Thad went back to grab his pack as the rest of the group prepared for the short march into town.
Their presence didn’t go unnoticed. As they neared the town it looked as if every person who lived there had come to greet them. Thad looked closely at the gathered force of men women and children and saw no small amount of weapons held nervously in their hands. Thad understood their fear.
Who wouldn’t worry when a small force of over a hundred heavily armed golden skinned giants?
“I think we should have a word with the nice people gathered before we try and force our way,” Thad said to Parson and Reeve who walked beside him.
“Hold,” Reeve yelled as he held up his hand. “That might be a good idea. I don’t mind killing soldiers but I would not enjoy being forced to slaughter people trying to protect their homes.”
Thad, Parson, and Reeve continued forward while the rest of their force hung back, though not so far behind them that they couldn’t reach them in case things turned unpleasant. When they were less than fifty strides from the large mass of townsfolk a plump older man was pushed out in front of the group. The man’s face clearly showed that he wished he was anywhere else other than where he currently stood. “My good sirs… to what do we…owe the honor of your visit,” the pulp man stuttered as beads of sweat poured from his face like a tiny rainstorm.
“We have traveled a long way and we have found ourselves short on provisions,” Thad replied evenly.
Thad could hear mumbling from the townsfolk but it was impossible to tell whether it was for good or ill. The plump man turned back to his fellow townsmen and began talking and after a brief moment he turned back to face them. “We understand your request but… it would be unsettling to have such a large armed force within the town. If you could tell us what all you require… we would be more than happy to have it delivered to you.”
Thad looked at his two companions and they both nodded their heads in consent. “That would be agreeable, but me and my two friends here would like to avail ourselves of the town while we wait on the provisions.”
Thad nearly laughed when the portly man turned back towards the crowd and a fever of whispers and a few no so discreet shouts rose up from the crowd. When he turned back Thad noticed the man’s shirt had turned dark with sweat. “I am sure we can accommodate you,” the man replied shakily.
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