Songs of Battle

Chapter 13: Crossing of Paths

With the soldiers all laden with the weapon, the army forged onwards. The rain hadn't let up, still causing Caspian irritation. The perpetual wetness had caused a rash to break out between the Ice Prince's legs due to the constant rubbing. He was marching with his legs spread farther than normal, which was causing laughter among the warriors. He forced himself to march normally. It hurt, of course it did, but Caspian was too cross to really care.

On they went, tearing up the miles. The rain was unrelenting; a steady rain that greyed the land. "Nanuk, why don't the others chafe?" Caspian felt her amusement through their bond.

"My Prince, each of them have felt the rubbing that comes with wetness between the legs, whether it was from sweat or water," Nanuk laughed. Caspian considered it. "It IS possible," he said grudgingly. Nanuk laughed, a snort so loud he heard it from her division to his left.

Night fell, tangible even in the wet weather. Caspian called for a halt; ready to rest his hurting legs. Nanuk padded up to him, plopping herself down with a human-like sigh.

"I would've healed my legs with magic, but I can't let the brothers see me in pain," Caspian told her, leaning his head against Nanuk's foreleg. "You cannot let your pride compromise your readiness and ability to fight," Nanuk chided. Caspian masticated the wolf's words, then nodded.

"You're right," Caspian said. Drawing up power, he infused the magic words with his energy, "Cneasaigh." He felt the tender skin mend together. Caspian felt immensely relieved.

"I feel better, Nanuk," he admitted. Nanuk inclined her head in an 'I-told-you-so" manner. Caspian dug about in his haversack, bringing out another bundle wolf jerky. He carried his food over to where the generals were sitting around the fire.

Phillip Frost looked up, beaming. "Look who finally decoded to forsake his frozen ways! Welcome to the warmth buddy!" he laughed. Caspian chuckled; since their stopping, his mood had improved.

"I don't think I'll be leaving the cold just yet. I'm getting myself accustomed to the heat that will come with O'ranel Fay," Caspian said.

"Wise choice," Rimestone said, gnawing on a particularly hard piece of jerky. "I've been doing it as well."

All was quiet for a while, the only sounds the crackling of the fire, the sizzling of rain against the burning logs, and the low buzz of talk from the army. Lance broke the silence, "Caspian, may I ask you something?" The Ice Prince nodded, turning his head toward his brother. "We all know how you got hour scar, but I don't believe that we have ever heard your account of the ordeal. Would you entertain and enlighten us with the tale?" the Prince of Earth asked.

Caspian thought that it would be a great idea to relax and rise the spirits of the generals; the story was riveted with action and suspense. "I would. Are you ready?" I in response, the small assembly leaned forward and their mounts some ways away perked their ears.

"I was fourteen years old when I was allowed to ascend to the throne of the Ice Realm. It was week before my fifteenth birthday, the coming of age for a child of elemental lineage.

"That was when we received word of the vuxta over-running of our mountain stronghold above the Valley of Frozen Tears. I was headstrong and rash, and instead of choosing the safer ways of proceeding, I gathered my troops and charged into battle on a younger Nanuk.

"The battle was fierce. I felt the orange blood of the vuxta spatter against my sword, a much less battered Frostbite. My heart pumping as fast as my legs and arms, the exhilaration of my first fight had made me even more foolish.

"I found that my forces had been cornered underneath the carving of Frozen Tears. Though we were fighting gamely, one of our strongest strongholds was going to be overcome. I knew what I had to do, although it might had costed me my life.

"I sought out the famous Randerian, the leader of the white vuxta. I assumed if I could kill him, I would turn the tide of the battle. We clashed blades.

"Even then, when we were both younger, we were a fair match, if we were both callow in the ways of war. Driven by my desire to win my first real battle, for the Ice Realm as well as myself, I managed to disarm him and kick him to the ground. As I loomed over Randerian to deal the death blow, I faltered.

"The look on his face, that of total defeat and acceptance of his fate struck me to the core; that could have been me! During that time, the bastard managed to get a hold of his weapon again."

Caspian's listeners were leaned forward even more, totally captured by the Ice Prince's story telling. "Go on, what happened next," Link urged. Caspian smirked, then continued...

"Randerian swung that cruel weapon towards my head, meant to impale me through the eyes. I went to the right, the forked, claw-like blades sailed over my left shoulder a hair's breadth from my face.

"I had forgotten that it was on a chain... The beast wrenched it backwards, It caught on my left shoulder blade (I was only wearing a mail shirt; my armour had yet to be forged) and ripped over my shoulder. It rounded over the crook between my neck and shoulder, right over the collar bone, and across the heart.

I fell to the ground, a searing pain racing through my body. The training I had received since I was a year old did nothing to prepare me for that hurt. I screamed, and with me, Randerian screamed. But while my scream was a vocalization of my pain, the vuxta's was a scream of victory.

He then collected my blood with a goblet; I think he meant to drink it and gain a part of my powers, but I know not if he did.

"And ever since then, I have made a vow that the next time we cross blades, I shall rend him as he had me, and then kill him."

That was the end of Caspian's tale. The listeners all sat back. "Wow," Jack said, his eyes wide, "and to think all of that happened to him when he was my age!" The rest of them nodded in agreement. Caspian yawned, "I am glad that you all took interest in that part of my life. But, as we all, I must be off to sleep."

Caspian left the fire side, to go back to Nanuk. "I enjoyed your story little one, though I do not like how you left out that I wounded Randerian in the leg, giving him his signature twisted knee," she growled. "Many apologies. I did not wish for them to bother you with questions," Caspian said to her. Nanuk nodded, offering her foreleg for Caspian to lay his head. The Ice Prince accepted. Soon, he fell fast asleep.

* * *

Caspian awoke to the rain pouring down in buckets. He wiped his eyes and prepared to march, this time riding on Nanuk's back. He hoisted himself into the saddle. "Ready Nanuk?" he asked, patting her broad, furry neck. "I pity the fool of trifles with me this day!" she growled in his mind. Caspian nodded fiercely, "Good!"

Caspian roused the army, eating an apple while conversing lightly with his brothers. "Perhaps one of the Princes should scout ahead. It would do the warriors well to know that their leaders do not just march idly while they go and risk finding an enemy force larger than they can even hope to defeat," Zero suggested. This idea mulled around in the brothers' thoughts before Caspian and Rimestone volunteered to go out with a scouting part of Earth Division warriors riding their battle stags. The leader of the patrol, Axle Rockjaw, was leading the patrol on a large cougar. Caspian nodded and off they went.

After about an hour of traveling on the featureless plains filled with coarse grass, Nanuk tripped over a rock sticking up from the ground. "We are closer to O'ranel Fay," said Caspian gravely. An unsettled murmur went through the scouts. Nanuk suddenly tensed up.

"I smell blood; vuxta blood!" she growled. Caspian narrowed his eyes, drawing Frostbite. "Nanuk smells vuxta blood. Be on your guard," Caspian said.

A snarl bubbled in the white wolf's throat, her lips lifting over her teeth as she spied s form walking straight toward the party. Rockjaw ordered for the limping figure to be surrounded until ordered otherwise. They sped toward the figure.

Nanuk snarled savagely, springing forward to bring Caspian up to see the vuxta. "I would know that limp anywhere!"

Caspian gasped as he looked down at his bleeding mortal enemy.

"RANDERIAN!"