Black Crusade

Chapter Five - Cinders, scales and manners

The morning was bright. Sapphire and Araneas awoke, she came first out the tent to see Carrus was first up.

He turned to the little girl. His helmet was imposing as ever. A dark, formidable figure's shadow stretched over her.

" We bring word from Northwatch, they will give us supplies and a wagon to make it though the Cinderlands." he grunts at the end of his sentence and looks down at Sapphire. She looks up at him, seeing his hooded face, it was dark she could not make out alot; it looked like he was deformed.

She quickly turns away looking to Carrus, she gasps a little in fright. Araneas popped out of the tent. Fixing and fastening his armor unto himself. " That was quick Dun."

He ignores Araneas and stomps away from him. " He was never much of a talker, Dun gro."

Carrus nods at Araneas . Bori and the others were up not that long after. " We should leave soon, there might still be bandit's on our tail." Carrus says stabbing his sword in the ground to support him getting up.

Fairi and Bori were having poached venison. Fairi was the food gatherer of the group, when ever there is food to gather atleast.

" Breakfast first Carrus, not all of us are as indomitable to everything as you are." Araneas says patting Carrus on the shoulder; he then quickly sneaked behind Bori and stole one of the plates of Venison beside him. " This is good!" he said taking a chunk out of it with his teeth. Fairi smiles but Bori had a scowl over his face. " Thats mine, you food thief." he says trying to grab the plate from him. Araneas laughed eating the rest of the venison.

Sapphire found it amusing to see people like hunters are still human and somewhat childish sometimes. Fairi put some more food Bori's plate which calms him down. Carrus was taking apart the tents during breakfast, he's quick and nimble despite having no food; most likely no sleep either. Befor long it was over, the cheerful morning and jolly hunters. They finish packing and are saddled on their horses. Sapphire is to ride with Carrus instead of Araneas.

Sapphire gulps and Carrus helps her on the horse- well picks her up and puts her on it. Araneas looks back to her and waves along with a eloquent happy smile before riding to get the wagon from Northwatch. He took mostly everyone leaving only Bori and Fairi with them.

" We head to the borders of the Cinderlands, it's easier if we move this way." he says moving the reins, the horse puffs and turns. The sky was clear above them but in the distance it was black and grey. The Cinderlands sky was always restless. Bori and Fairi were talking as they follow Carrus on horseback, it was hard to discern what they were saying. Sapphire hugged into Carrus. The cold air was unrelenting even if they were travelling in the woods now. The path was underneath atleast a hundred layers of snow; A stray bit of soot occasionally litters the floor. Even this far away sodding ash.

Carrus was atleast a far bit ahead of the other two. He suddenly stops.

"Why have we stopped Carrus?" Sapphire asks worrying if something was going to ambush them.

" Do you hear that?" he said leaning back to see Bori and Fairi just catch up. "Hear wha-" Fairi says falling silent to the sound of distant drums. They could hear reveling and singing. Curiousity struck them and they pressed towards to sound, it was only a short while away from the road. The drums grew louder and louder. Dum dum dum, dumm, dum, dum. The voices were deep and hearty. They wonder if it could be the norsemen from far far up north. They discover it was not them but something very close...

" Dwarves." Fairi says in a slightly distasteful manner. Bori smiles. " Ill have you know Dwarves are great companions; feisty lot though." he jests reminiscing of thoughts long past.