Kingdoms of Caelum; Autumn of the War Queen

Chapter 17

They had walked the whole day, higher and higher up into the mountains, and a bitter cold had gradually fallen around them. It was almost like a frozen blanket had fallen upon their faces, suffocating, and it burned the lungs with every breath. Katla had never felt a cold like it and she began to fear her decision to follow Bane up towards the DarkElfKingdom. Bane, however, had not failed in displaying the stubbornness she had come to know, and had kept at least twenty paces in front of her at all times. He had, of course, acknowledged that she had followed him, but refused to speak to her. After hours of grunting and cursing to himself, he had finally accepted the fact that she had become his unwanted travelling companion, and that in itself was a victory for Katla. He rolled his eyes as she sang another tuneless verse to an old childhood rhyme behind him, and then began to whistle the chorus. By the Six Kings, she may be small and naive but she was as strong willed as he was, and Bane couldn't decide if he was annoyed by this or impressed.

Time went by slowly and the pathway had begun to get steeper and the air thinner. Katla's singing had ebbed into quiet humming with the burning cold beginning to take hold of her body in constant shivering spasms. But no matter if she put her hands under her armpits or vigorously rubbed them, she could not keep warm. She had even taken to wearing her one archery glove permanently to help and, although they had not seen the sun at all through the thick white clouds and mist that surrounded them, she could tell it was evening. Darkness would soon be upon them. The track spiralled further up with steep turns and drops all around but however hard the path had been, the beauty of the snow covered valleys around them made up for it. Katla couldn't help feeling a sense of quiet awe as she looked upon glistening pure white snow that must have lain upon the mountains untouched for years; she had honestly never seen anything more beautiful. Interrupting her humming and thoughts as they marched up a particularly steep incline, Bane's hand suddenly shot out.

"Silence", he hissed quietly.

Katla was several feet behind him. She stopped her noise instantly and stood grounded to the spot. In a small, swift movement Bane took his hand towards his sword. The hairs on Katla's skin began to rise for a different reason as the coldness was forgotten about. She reached slowly for her ivory weapon sensing danger. There was silence for a long time, but as long as Bane did not move up ahead, neither did she. Her hearing became more acute in the time that they stood. A drip, drip sound of some melting snow hitting rocks nearby suddenly sounded as loud as a stone mason's hammering; in the distant valley an eagle cried; and then there was something else, something unnerving vibrating on the air. Before she saw anything, a foul smell dissolved in her nostrils and her own heart began to beat furiously. She pulled an arrow from her quiver, and then in a moment of confusion, a loud blood curdling scream broke the silence up ahead and two creatures leapt from the rocks above Bane. They were half breeds; a grotesque cross between human and Dark Elf. They lived in exile across the Vale of Pelyn, not accepted by either elves or by humans, and they were notorious thieves and murderers. They hit the pathway with incredible agility - as good as any acrobat. The first jumped at Bane instantly, a silver dagger in his hand. With a clash and shock of body to body, Bane was quick to draw his sword. Bulky in his chain-mail he took good swings, but the half breeds were quicker, lighter, weaving around him menacingly. In the short space of time, they had weighed up their prey, and turned to meet Bane with charge. The second one, taller with deep purple skin and an eye patch, drew two curved blades from a leather sheath. In scissor like movements he swung, fast and dangerous. Bane deflected both the curved blades and the dagger; metal on metal clinked loudly, echoing on the breeze. Katla was frozen to the spot watching the violent dance. She aimed her bow to the first and then the second; nervous to fire in case she hit Bane. For several minutes the furious fight continued with as much force and pace as when it started. Bane's face was contorted with determination, eyes bright and intent, with no glimmer of fear in them as he weaved from side to side, avoiding the blades. He was a beast of a man, but sometimes that didn't help him when faced with two agile, fearless fighters like this. As the curved blades came whistling down at him, he made no attempt to try and stop them, only deflecting, so they flew harmlessly past his body. With the dagger, it was easier to fight; using all his force to push it away as the steel clanged on impact. Eventually, however, Katla could see Bane was beginning to tire as the half breeds jumped liked hares around him. Suddenly, the smaller of the two took an opportunity as Bane stumbled. He didn't hesitate, and dug his dagger into one of Bane's giant thighs. Bane roared out like an animal as the sharp pain brought blood running down his skin, and his anger climaxed. With all his strength, Bane brought his sword crashing down onto the half breed's neck, decapitating him instantly in a deep red, feather of froth that exploded from the wound. The head had begun to scream, but it never finished as it bounced mutely against the rocks and down towards Katla. In the moment it had taken for the second one to register fear and terror at the fatal blow of his comrade, Katla had seized the brief pause. She fired. The arrow flew up straight and intentional through the air and directly into his good eye. He stumbled backwards silently as blood pumped furiously, before falling into a patch of snow, changing the colour from white to red. Katla stood stunned. Her eyes flickered from the decapitated head which had come to rest with wide vacant eyes near her feet, and then to the half breed she had just killed. Bane shook her out of her daze as his sword clattered to the ground and he staggered across the path with a trail of thick blood pouring down his leg.

"Bane!" she shrieked, running to his side, throwing her bow down.

"Pick up your weapon!" he barked, "There may be others the further we climb."

"You cannot go on, look at you."

Bane's voice was laced with fury, "I am fine."

"Your stubbornness will kill you. Let me see to your wound", pleaded Katla, but Bane ignored her and moved several steps away. His pride rose above his senses but didn't last long as he stumbled again, legs falling weak under him.

"By the Six Kings let me help you!" she cried angrily.

A flash of fury crossed his face, but then he grunted admitting defeat as he collapsed onto the frozen pathway. Katla stood and watched as his eyes searched the vacant mountains and then the darkening sky. After a short while they came to rest upon her face and he inhaled as if internally tormented.

"I can stop the bleeding for a while but I can't go on" he said, tearing the axe sheath off his back. The axe clattered to the floor behind him and he began to rip the leather handles into long strips.

"What should I do?" Katla asked quietly watching him tie the material around his wound.

"You must find Lofaid. He will aid me."

"How long before I reach Fortis?" she asked, her heart thundering with anticipation and nerves.

"It will be deep into the night by the time you reach the steel bridge."

Katla considered for a moment and nodded, she turned to pick up her bow but Bane suddenly shot forwards and grabbed her arm in a grip consumed with warning.

"Fortis is dangerous. Talk to no other, and when you meet Lofaid, be quick in mentioning my name. Lofaid is one of the most dangerous Dark Elves in Fortis and will not hesitate to kill you."

The hairs on her body stood on edge and she felt fear reach her blood. She didn't break Bane's gaze.

"I understand."

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