The Awakening of the Ancients

III. Hexe Hail

The first thing I did once Ehiiri had left her tent was rifle through her potion trunk. I may not have been an alchemist, but any Sorc knew damn well a potion's appearance and usefulness. Filching a few was only smart. It took some hunting to find a good stick of metal---it ended up being a pair of oddly shaped tongs---to jiggle thru the lock without bending, but I managed to pry the lid open eventually. I made sure there was no damage. She couldn't be too mad at me if her belongings were still in good condition. Only a few vials missing.

When I had the vials in hand, I hesitated. I debated hiding them somewhere in case my person was searched again. But what if I never got the chance to run back to the hiding spot before we left? What if I got caught while doing so? I couldn't dig through something in the camp or run to an obscure corner inconspicuously.

I settled on stuffing the vials in my hip pockets. If someone searched me, I could pry the trunk open again. If I was no longer allowed near it, well, I'd managed so far without potions anyway. The only effort wasted on my part would be ten minutes of trying to twist a makeshift key into a lock.

Unsure if I was expected to join anyone outside, and quite content to avoid the wind, I settled back on my seat and rested my head atop my arms on the table for a nap.

When I awoke, I was unsure if it was early morning or early evening. I panicked for a moment, wondering if the giants might have left me behind. I stood, patted my pockets to check the vials were still there and, satisfied, I went to the flap.

A full moon greeted me, bathing the snow in an unearthly white blue glow. Everything looked so serene.

Then I saw the watchtower guard shift and remembered the precariousness of my situation. I was to be kept in this camp, for tonight at minimum if not longer, I knew, until I was forcibly shipped back to Tariht.

I looked around for my jailer. It took several tries before I found a tent that sounded like it was hosting a very rowdy party. The giants and Ehiiri's off-duty guards were having a grand old time. I didn't peek in, but I assumed Ehiiri was in there, keeping them under control. She hadn't been in her tent, that much was certain. Guess she thought I wouldn't try to sneak out. Or saw me asleep...

I glanced at the guards at the gate.

Or thought her security was enough...

It probably was. One whistle as I attempted to escape, and I was sure Ehiiri would be on my tail in no time.

I'd barely taken two steps toward the gate when I heard a horn sound. I didn't even touch the damn thing yet!

But it appeared my non-escape attempt wasn't what had triggered the alarm.

Ehiiri and her guards, followed by the giants, rushed out of the tent. The giants found me and asked if I was all right and where I had been while Ehiiri hurried up the stairs of the watchtower. She looked out over the wall and her face made my blood turn to ice.

"Seal the gate!"

I ran to it as the two guards posted outside rush in. I waited until they locked it before darting forward to peer through the gap. I could barely make out a black cloud whipping over a snowbank in the distance. It was gone in the next moment.

I eyed the tower. I jogged over and tested the first few steps to see if anyone would stop me. When no one did, I darted up the steps two at a time to stand next to Ehiiri, passing the watchman as he made his way down to help the rest of the guard.

My mouth fell open.

Between the trees darted a swarm of billowing black cloaks. They glided over the snow as effortlessly as ghosts. There had to be at least a hundred of them, moving fluidly in a giant wave around the camp. A black mist followed in their wake, swallowing the moon's reflection off the pristine whiteness.