Sons of Ironstorm - Book 3: New Alliance

New Discoveries about Old Things

The elven officer was as good as his word. As soon as his warriors were all accounted for, and the dead Tjor'riin were burning in a funeral pyre that lit the night sky with an orange glow, the commander withdrew his troops through the dense forest, keeping Lawrence and Will close at hand. Still drained by his experience with the feral Sunara, Will had to be helped along by a pair of dark elf warriors that flanked him on either side, lending a hand whenever he showed signs of faltering.

Despite that, and a night so black it was like walking in the belly of a beast, the dark elves swiftly moved through the forest, withdrawing nearly a league from the ruined city before slowing. Lawrence had to strain his considerable night vision to even see the elves around him as they abruptly slowed, leaving him frowning in curiosity.

A heartbeat later his silent question was answered as a soft chirp sounded from somewhere in front of them, an obvious challenge from a hidden sentry. Directly in front of the powerful human, the scarred officer that led them out of the city replied by cupping a hand close to his mouth and making a soft 'whirring' sound with his lips.

The gentle audition couldn't have made it more than a few paces through the dense forest around them, it was so quiet. But it was enough for the sentry, who emitted a similar sound to acknowledgment before the dark elves once more slipped forward along the hidden path they followed through the Gyren's thickness.

Several paces later found them stepping into a well-hidden encampment of low tents and protected fires, scattered amongst the trees with such skill and accomplishment, Lawrence, a well-seasoned campaigner himself, was hard-pressed to make them out from the trees surrounding them. With each step into the camp, a handful of the elves making up the column disappeared, heading for a well-earned rest in their particular tents. Only a length into the hidden camp, Lawrence and Will found themselves virtually alone with the scarred officer and the two elves marking Will's progress on tottering legs.

The officer paused perhaps a turn of the small glass later beside one of the low, hidden tents, this one nearly submerged beneath the spreading boughs of a heavy tamarack.

"You can use this tent, my lord. It belonged to one of the warriors that fell in battle at the ruins this night. Have no worry; each warrior assembles their gear at the beginning of each campaign as if they expect not to return. The warrior who had this tent was already prepared for his death and his equipment has been long removed. You may use it as long as you need."

Lawrence nodded his understanding as he knelt to look into the low tent's darkened interior. The officer was right: the low, sprawling structure, formed from some durable fabric the like the big human hadn't before seen, was quite empty.

After the two elves accompanying him helped Will inside, where the young lord immediately curled up on the bare ground and went to sleep, Lawrence slid in beside him. With a final nod of farewell to the officer and the warriors that helped them, he then pulled the sword he found in the ruins from a makeshift sheath the dark elves had given him and laid it across his knees.

In the darkness, the big human carefully ran his hands over the weapon, examining every physical detail with his fingers and palms. It had long ceased glowing, so he lacked the light to re-examine the weapon with his eyes. But, considering how much he had stared at it during, and shortly following the battle in the ruined city, he doubted he'd find more detail by looking at it once more.

Nor did his lightly moving fingers discover anything new. It was the same plain, utilitarian sword he had uncovered in the square a Watch or so ago, marked only by the line of blunt symbols marching along the heart of the blade. So it was to those symbols Lawrence next turned his attention, letting his fingers subtly trace along each edge etched deep into the wondrous metal the sword was forged from.