Blaekerian: An Epic Fantasy Novel (In Progress)

A Hike

Fort Chyyne was still a ways off. The company had made a lot of progress and was nearing the valley from which the fortress could be seen. Just another half hour.

Vyra had been down this path before. She could remember being small and wandering in these woods with Rune and Bendo. They had many adventures in these woods. They had faced dragons, saved cities from destruction, and made friends with monsters. The constant crunch of leaf, branch and bush was a solid reminder that those times were gone.

The troops marched with efficiency and grace, even though it had been a continuous trek since dawn. Looking above and through branches, Vyra saw that the sun had risen overhead. It was just before noon. Almost there.

To her left she saw Orin, eyeing her questioningly. She softened her eyes and nodded. He returned the gesture.

She needed him to be calm for the battle to come. Although that was difficult when she couldn't bring her own beating chest under control.

To her right were Hirnam and Ghena, the always at the ready guards of hers were breathing heavily and muttering back and forth to each other. Every once in a while a laugh would erupt from one of them. They were good guards, not always the most professional though.

That role was taken by the stubborn oaf who strode ahead of her little party. Tolwyn walked tall and with purpose, his head constantly moving back and forth, studying the soldiers as if he thought he could keep everyone in line with a simple stare.

It was getting warmer with the rise of the suns. Her armor wasn't helping either. It weighed her down so much it felt like her feet sunk into the dirt every time she took another stride. She was relieved that they were still in the woods though, it managed to block out a good portion of the dual suns rays. However they didn't do anything about the humidity.

She wiped her forehead for what must have been the twentieth time and sighed. She longed for a mount. Although Vyra had never been the most able rider or even liked it, she would've taken one now over the swelter.

She shook her head suddenly and looked up. Now wasn't the time for complaining though. Now was the time to set an example.

The path that the company followed was a simple dirt path leading through the trees. We're making the road much wider now though, more broad to fit the hundreds of troops following along its route. She remembered this way being easier as a kid, and the rising terrain less burdensome.

"Having trouble Admiral?"

Vyra looked up from the ground where her eyes had unconsciously drifted. Tolwyn had drifted back and side by side with her, evidently forcing Orin to move further off.

"Only trouble I'm having right now is your presence."

He grimaced. His armor was the same shining silver as the rest of the troops, with the flame of Blaekeria on his chest. His shield bore the white flame on the left and on the other was a blue fox head.

"Your house?" she gestured to the shield.

He nodded. "The blue fox of House Jhiral." The fox was plainly painted, a colored silhouette. "I'm sorry Admiral but I don't believe I've ever seen your sigil."

"I don't have one," she said. "I haven't been given the honor of the N'Daryion house sigil." It didn't bother her much anymore. If she was her younger self, she would have still been bitter and resentful. But not anymore. She had made peace with that.

"The only sigil I need," she continued, "Is the white flame of Blaekeria."

Tolwyn smiled. "That one is certainly good enough for most soldiers."