𝙳𝚊𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚣: 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙴𝚒𝚗𝚜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕

The paths change as village roads turned to wooded trails become mountain passes. Pointing the way with each bit of terrain they cross, Lorelei leads the soldiers through the woods for the distant mountains farther away.

The snow falls and winds blow, howling through the passes and down valleys. The trek summoning more and more strength from the horses as the drifts of white are getting deeper and deeper.

With the fall of the snow, the fall of the sun has made the mountain side colder. The last of the booze in some of the mens' blood is the only heat they feel.

The horses push through the snow, one or two stumbling and catching themselves. Commander Krow's steed struggles as he leads the group of soldiers through the storm. One sturdy hoof after the other, Cerny climbs the covered trails. His head up, his mane whips, his eyes on what is ahead without yield.

The night moves as little of it is seen in the sky through the blizzard. The men frost bitten, are growing more tired. Farther ahead from the group, Cerny sways as he moves more assuredly through the drifts lulling Lorelei. Her heavy lids lower, her head starting to hang. Gradually, her body sets against Eber's back, her face nestling in the soft fabric of his coat. Glancing back, Eber notes her tiredness as she nuzzles into his back, the men coming up the hill not looking much more awake or alert. Suddenly, what awareness her sleepy mind still has, Lorelei jerks back up right, catching Eber's eye, showing a twinge of

embarrassment that the soldier's shoulder blade was needed for a moment.

A soft tug on Cerny's reins brings the animal to a stop, his eagerness to continue showing in a somewhat antsy stance. "General Krow!" Eber calls over the winds. The man halts, turning his horse enough to look back. "We should rest, wait for the storm to pass so we do not lose ourselves in the blizzard."

Looking around him, the depth of the snow drifts numbing his horse's legs, the bite of the cold air on his older bones, he nods in agreement. "Take care of sentries."

Eber complies. "Kalls!" The soldier rides up. "Take point watch." The soldier nods to the orders given him with a frown, urging his horse on ahead up the path. "Now let us find a place to rest."

A couple of the men having found a carved out hill nestled into the mountain, Eber watches the soldiers make their way into the cave-like cover. While some tie lines between trees for the horses, others unsaddle said horses, hauling the tack and blankets into the dry camp inside where others have started fires, hidden well inside the rock. Krow moves for the mouth of the cave, rubbing at a hip whilst another soldier bothers with the man's tack.

Crouching, Lorelei digs happily at the snow, bearing a few blades of green that Cerny is grateful to see, nickering to her as he munches at them. She stands and watches him eat, patting his thick neck.

"Jorin." The man stops at the call from Eber. "You will take the first watch outside."

"Yes Sir." He wearily makes his way up the hillside to fashion his own little camp for warmth.

Training his attention on Cerny, Eber tugs at the saddle straps, loosening the tack and pulling it from the horse. Watching him, Lorelei pulls the bridal over Cerny's ears while he chews, holding his head low for her to reach his crop. Eber takes the bridal from her and the single rope to the halter around Cerny's head still in her hands, nodding towards the cave. "Go inside." Cerny watches her go, nickering to her the farther she disappears into the mountain. "Do not embarrass yourself," Eber comments to his horse, yanking the blanket from his back. Swinging his head, Cerny nips at Eber's side, a clump of coat and shirt in his mouth. "Ow!" Eber jerks, Cerny returning to the nibbles of frozen grass, blamelessly.