Legacy

Chapter 27 - Escape through Ice and Stone

They fled through the bitter chill of winter before the world turned into chaos. The flames of the great manor could be seen in the distance shining above the storm wall. But they pressed on – there was no telling what would happen after the night's events. Dawn Marie's world had fallen down around her and that grief had already turned to anger and hatred.

Praxis would need time to organize and send out a search party but there was no question in Kane's mind that the hunters would be hot on their heels until they passed the border into Heidenguard. To get there meant heading towards the Castle and crossing the Armoured Road. The mountains were more treacherous than ever at this time of year and the passage was closed to all traffic. Only the desperate and foolhardy would attempt such a dangerous route, but there was little else to be done now.

Kane and Proteus hiked all night through the bitter cold and wind across barren fields and hills of snow, the frost biting at them till their fingers were red and the damp had thoroughly soaked their clothes. The House of Thane had been warm and the party meant they were dressed well and not for the harsh conditions of the Cold Moon arc. Without safety and warm clothes they would not make it more than another few hours.

Proteus was already feeling the effects of frostbite – as his face moved from numb to burning – when they caught sight of smoke curling from a small, squat house. They quickened their pace to reach the home and Kane banged on the door with all his might, only to have it opened by a terrified looking man. They pushed their way in, the poor man's wife clutching their child for safety.

"I apologize for the inconvenience," Kane said, "but my companion and I are in need of shelter and a place to rest and warm ourselves. We mean you no harm, just a few hours' rest and whatever else you can spare."

"Get out of here; I won't let you near my family." The man picked up a wooden stick and started brandishing it clumsily.

Kane snatched it from the man's hand and threw it away with little effort. "Calm yourself. I give you my word we won't hurt you. We will pay you a crown for your aid. The winter is cold and we have far to go. All we ask for is clothes, food, and a few hours' rest."

"A crown? We don't want any trouble."

"It doesn't matter, in a few hours we will be gone and you will be a rich man. But you are right to be concerned. There are probably people looking for us and so you will remain here until we leave."

The man was torn; he was terrified for the life of his family but a crown could do a lot for them. The great sword Kane carried was hard to ignore and part of him was worried what would happen if he tried to refuse again. At last, though, he relented and went to fetch the warmest clothes the family had. The wife and child stayed well back hidden in the other room. Proteus and Kane sat down to rest by the fire, the warmth rapidly returning to their bodies and banishing the cold of the night. It wasn't long before Proteus was fast asleep while Kane rested but remained alert should the man prove more dangerous then he seemed.

***

Ash slipped through his fingers as Falstis surveyed the remains of the once noble House of Thane, now little more than smouldering timbers and broken stones. The fire had been extremely hot burning all to the ground so that not even the foundations remained. The reports said the fire had burned faster than anyone could react and that fortune had spared the rest of the city for succumbing to the same fate.

The daughter of the former Caladus was still standing in the yard staring at the end to all she had known, her eyes bloodshot, her face streaked with tears. She had recounted venomously what she remembered about the purple harlequin who had carried off the heads of her parents and where the prince was heading. Smiling Jack had been a wild card that had come from nowhere, clearly a dangerous man who needed to be dealt with – but who was he? And what was his connection to the prince? For now those questions would have to wait. The chase was on. Falstis would need to move quickly and rally support to hunt them down before the prince got away.