The Shards Of Darkness

Shards of Darkness Chapter 7

Vixen POV 

I tied up Gear's fractured leg in a simple bind and ordered him to lay down and rest for a few hours.

"But Vixen," he protested, "What about Shadowshard?"

My eyes hardened like amber at the mere mention of his name. I replied curtly, 

"Don't you fret, Gear. I'll give him a good chat about today's events. Now rest. I'll be back in an hour or so. If your leg begins to throb, there's a mixture of mint and eucalyptus leaves in that bowl by the bedside table. They've been magically enhanced as an active and instant painkiller. The guards will protect you whilst I'm away. Whatever you do, I forbid you to leave your bed or the tent for any reason. Is that understood?"

 Gear nodded. 

"Agreed it is then." I said. "I'll be back before you realize I'm gone. Oh, and take this. It's a dog whistle, but it's specially tuned so that only I can hear it. Blow only in dire need. Here." 

I handed him a small orange camp whistle. Gear took it and blew softly into it and an insane ear-piercing noise rattled my cranium.

"Ahh! It works just fine, Gear. Please don't blow into it anymore... anyways, I'm off. Cheerio, Geario!"

Gear blushed lightly and had a forlorn smile on his face, worry etched faintly in his brow. "Tchuss, Vixen."

I exited the tent and the guards stood abruptly to attention, my sudden presence stirring their alertness. 

"Oi!," I barked. "You two. What do they call you?" 

The guards, black foxes the pair of them, saluted smartly and said one at a time,

"I'm Occulus." and 

 "I'm called Cosmos, Lord."

I nodded cheerfully to each of them. 

"I've a special assignment for you lads... Erm lad and gal, it would seem." 

Now realizing the one on the left, the one who said their name was Cosmos, was a female. They both leaned in earnestly.

 "Aye Lord?"

I smiled to them and said, 

"I need you both to watch over Master Gear. He's in need of bedrest whilst I'm away. Make sure two things are assured. One, he cannot leave the tent for any reason. You are to seal the entrance and exit. Use firm but not brute force on him if necessary. Two, should you run into Shadowshard, allow him no entrance to the tent. Master Gear and Shadowshard are to be separated at all times. Are we clear?" 

The pair looked slightly dismayed, but Cosmos nudged her partner with a loose footpaw. She spoke for them both. 

"Aye, Lord. We'll see to it he is protected and away from trouble, sire. You can rely on us!"

 I growled approvingly.

 "Excellent." 

I turned to leave, but then turned back and leaned in, gripping their spear shafts tightly. 

"Should you fail, I think banishment and or execution is in order. Understood?" 

They both trembled in visible shock at how quickly I had become so serious.

"Very well," I said, satisfied to believe they got my message clearly. "Don't let Shadowshard out of your sight at all times. There's a good fox." 

 I gently patted their quivering heads and turned away once again to begin my quest for the search of knowledge.

Cosmos and Occulus turned to each other and Occulus whispered, 

"Blimey, mate. Ain't the Chieftain actin' a bit... I dunno, odd since the little one returned? I mean we just captured him and it's like his bloodlust is over."

 Cosmos snorted and said in reply, 

"Aye, dear brother. But let us not forget. We haven't a choice but to do what he commands. I shouldn't like to think of the fate of our long-lost brother, though never forgotten. You remember him, don't you Occulus? He was lost to the last savage Hunt because he tried to desert as well. I shouldn't like to think of what will become of us next."

 Occulus shuddered, clearly remembering vividly.

 "Agreed, sister. But we're not but two common sentries. What are we against a Wardog? Besides, it shouldn't be too hard to imagine what will happen to us if we fail. He told us, plus you was there when our brother had the hounds of hell released on him. 'Twas 'is fault anyway. Shouldn't have deserted." 

Cosmos rammed her spear butt into her brother's ribs sharply. 

"Dont be so daft and never question the Packmaster. Wardogs are not Warchiefs or Packmasters last I checked." 

Occulus groaned as he rubbed his side,

"That may be so, sister, but all it takes is enough lust and one more promotion. Aye, Shadowshard may not be Packmaster, but I daresay he's power hungry to want to rule the Pack in his own way. Won't he jus' a common soldier the other day? An' now look at him, a Wardog. But enough talk of such things so far in the future. We ain't Seers after all, eh?"

 Cosmos nodded, unable to disagree. 

As I headed towards Shadowshard's regiment I noticed how far away it was from the main camp. Shadowshard's regiment was a solitary group, choosing to camp on the edge of the main encampment, acting and serving as a first defense border patrol in case of an invasion. However, we weren't in any sort of feudal system, with any other group. Come to think of it, ever since we arrived in these meadowed woodlands, not a single outside forced had dared opposed us. We probably killed them ages ago and I simply couldn't recall. Curious.

I walked slowly up to the perimeter of the small regiment's base. The regiment had set up their own boundary defenses, encircling the entire base with sharped wooden stakes and a trench that seemed unnecessary, but who was I to judge? There was a sentry every twenty or so feet, keeping their keen eyes open for intruders. 

I reached the main entrance and two sentries, folves, of course, blocked the path with spears."Who are you?" one commanded roughly. I took off my hooded travelling cloak and they saw it was me and let me through. I went to the main campfire ring, casting a shadow and making the flames go cold momentarily. The surrounding folves went quiet and I gave a silent nod before moving on to the big tent, that of which I assumed was Shadowshard's since it was the only tent. 

I stopped by another guard and asked, "Where's Shadowshard?" The guard replied, "He just went back to your camp, sir. Just missed him. Believe he was muttering something about finding that brat that just came back." I went cold with fear and anger. He was going to attack Gear and he had baited me into trying to look for him here, only to double back. I had to return as quickly as possible. I dashed back the way I had come, hoping and praying I'd be able to cut off his route before things got ugly real quickly. I had to stop Shadowshard!