Killing Chivalry

Chapter 29 - Firerock Fortress

The dawn was gray and colder. They packed up their things and slung the bundles of animal skins across their shoulders again. Koeska helped tie hers, since her fingers were cold and she fumbled without her mittens. He wouldn't let her wear them, because Shul didn't wear mittens.

His face was hard. He looked dangerous with the pile of furs on and the stubble of a beard, not at all like the noble knight she'd come to know.

"My lady, when we get near the fortress we're going to pretend we belong there. We'll walk right in and get where we need to go and try not to talk to anyone along the way."

She nodded. "Got it."

He glanced down the trail ahead of them. "You may see things that will startle you, disgust you, scare you. You have to ignore it all. If you react to any of it, you'll give us away."

"Ok... what kind of things?"

"Things you'll wish you hadn't seen. Just stay close behind me and don't draw any attention to us. We need to find the princess and get out."

"What about fighting Devlin?"

"If we can avoid that, we will."

"But," she narrowed her eyes, "wasn't defeating him the reason we're invading his castle?"

He looked down at her and she saw the fierce determination she'd noticed already, but his eyes also flashed with something more like fear. "Plans have changed. It's too dangerous to face him now. We will rescue the princess and get her to safety."

Watching him turn back to the trail and start walking, she sighed. She tugged her pack higher onto her shoulders and followed. He was trying to get out without a fight because of her. She could figure out that much.

What would that mean? Would Devlin come after them? Would he send hunters out to kill them? He'd probably be really pissed off they'd stolen his bait. She could only hope the knight knew what he was doing. She plodded along after him, kicking snow with her shoes. It'd be easier to fight Shul someplace warmer anyway, so let them give chase.

She caught glimpses of the fortress through the fog all morning. It squatted on top of the mountain peak, dark and ugly. As the sun burned the fog away, she could see part of it was roughly hewn stone blocks, and the rest was carved directly from the sides of the mountain.

They chewed jerky for lunch as they climbed, and Koeska didn't let them linger anywhere for more than a few minutes to rest. Sometime in the early afternoon they squeezed through a pair of boulders and the base of the fortress rose in front of them. There was a jagged road that wound its way up the side of the mountain, broken by natural ledges. The biggest ledges were covered in buildings and tents, but even the smallest ones had groups of figures gathered together. A few figures even walked up and down the narrow path. It all looked tiny from their vantage point on the trail.

"I don't suppose there's an elevator."

He glanced back at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Nevermind."

He shrugged off his pack and the cloak, switching them so the cloak covered the bulky pack and made him look like he was slouched and deformed. Then he pulled the hood as far over his head as he could, hiding his features. It was a simple, yet effective transformation.

Airyn followed his lead and he studied her for a few moments, tugging here and there on her cloak to settle it better. He was frowning and shaking his head.

"You're way too short for a Shul."

Raising her eyebrow, Airyn gave him her best Oh really? look, then realized it probably wasn't as intimidating when her face was mostly covered. "Well, Mr. Knight, this was your idea."