FE: The Sharlan Curse

Chapter 11: Storming Fort Rayne

     As the black mountains of northern Sharla appeared on the horizon, the sky grew gray and the air cold.  A frigid wind blew across the rigged land.  Snowflakes began to drift down from the gloomy clouds overhead.
     "Truthfully, I've missed this biting weather."  Miles smiles as his cape flutters about in the wind.  "Southern Sharla is tolerable, but I've always been a man of the cold myself."
     "I'm glad you like it."  Alyssa whines, her body shivering.  "I remember now why I don't come up here very often."
     "If you're cold, then please take my cape."  Miles offers.  "I'll live, I'd hate to see anyone here get sick."
     "You can't be a king if you're froze stiff.  I'll be fine."
     "It wouldn't be any good for you freeze up too, just know my offer still stands Lyssa."
     Alyssa shakes her head.  Vivian however nudges close to Miles, tugging at his back.  He nods and unties his cape, handing it to her.  Standing tall, Miles looks out towards the fort with a sigh.
     "I can't make out the exact number, but all four bastions along the fort's front are teeming with soldiers.  I'd imagine we'd be pin cushions if we were to just approach directly.  Perhaps if we could sneak in..."
     "You know, sneaking into places is kind of a specialty of mine."  A figure dressed in a billowing black cowl appears, a smirk on his face.  It would seem that he had followed the group from the shadows.  "Though usually I'm sneaking out rather than in."
     Miles turns and scowls.  "Grier?  You know, I was beginning to wonder when you'd turn up.  I suppose you only turn up when things are convenient, hm?"
     "But of course."  Grier chuckles.  "So tell me, just where is it you're wanting to go?  Believe it or not, I actually know a way around the fort, if that's what you're after."
     "Really?"  Reed seemed skeptical.  "I've never heard of nobody climbin' through those mountains and living to tell the tale, but you know, maybe we should leave it to the animals.  A human might not make it, but it should be no trouble for a snake."
     "Charmed," Grier says, his voice dripping with a sarcastic gratitude.  "A backwater yokel like yourself must know plenty about snakes, isn't that right?  Unless you have a better suggestion, you best sit back and let the grown-ups do the talking, all right?"
     "'Grown-up?'  How old do you think I am?"  Reed's freckled face reddens with anger.  "I oughta--"
     "Enough."  Miles interjects with a sigh.  "This isn't the time nor the place for squabbles.  Reed makes a valid point, going through these mountains would be horrible detour for us to make, we've burnt enough time as is.  Grier, I want you to get us inside the fort."
     Everyone looks at Miles with surprise.  Grier smiles, but then shrugs his shoulders.  "I don't know if I can do that Your Highness, if any of those soldiers were to lay a finger on your blond head I'd be out of a paycheck."
     "You won't get anything if you don't do as I say."
     "Very well, but may I ask why?"
     "The quickest way to get from here to Chantelle is straight, and in order to do that we'll have to pass through the fort.  Besides, we might as well.  If we can eliminate the soldiers here, then the remainder of our trek should be fairly smooth."
     "If you insist."  Grier says, pulling up his hood.  "I'll be back momentarily."
     Grier disappears into the snowy slopes, darting silently through the ivory mounds towards the fort.  After about an hour, he returns, his face red from the chill.  He looked irritated.
     "I hate to say it, but there's not a way in.  I spent an hour rooting around in the snow to find nothing."  Grier sighs angrily.  "Damn thing's too fortified.  Not a single crack in the walls, nothing.  Either we can just go through the front door, or we could scale the base of the mountain."
     "And why would we--?"  Miles stops to ponder, examining the mountain face.  "Ah, I see.  Seeing as how the fort is built into the mountain side, we could scale the rocks and onto the lower rampart there.  Not only would that allow us to take out those archers, but it would allow Alyssa and Reed to have the advantage of higher ground while the rest of us fight the soldiers on the bottom floor."  He smiles.  "I suppose if there's one thing that I can commend you for Grier, it's your cunning."
     Grier laughs.  "That's not quite what I had in mind, but I guess there's a reason you're the leader huh?"
     "I guess so."  Miles turns his attention to the group.  "Are you all ready?  This won't be easy, I can already tell you that.  I won't give the orders until everyone's accounted for."
     "Ready and raring!"  Vivian smiles eagerly, Miles's tattered blue cape wrapped about her shoulders.  "We've been at this for ages now, let's cross this last stepping stone and beat the curse!"
     "Well put."  Olivier says.  "We stand at the ready Your Highness, just give us the word."
     "Hey Olivier, how are you going to get in?"  Vivian asks.  "Won't it be hard to climb the mountain on a horse?"
     Olivier laughs.  "Aubin and I have made it this far haven't we?  This'll be nothing compared to our days of yore."
     "I'm right curious to see how a horse can climb."  Reed says.  "But I'm more than ready to let my arrows fly.  Let's go already!"
     "Lady Alyssa?"
     Alyssa sighs and readies her tome.  "I've no objections, let's just make this quick.  Olivier, Miles, lead the way."
     Miles nods.  "Right then, for the people of Sharla, we march!"
     Leading the way, Miles heads towards the mountain, Olivier and Grier following suit.  Weapons at the ready, Alyssa, Vivian, and Reed eagerly march behind.