Chapter 7: Ishtarian Countryside

  Julien

  To say that he was mad was an understatement. His father Darius Reed Ishtar used him, his own son as bait for the elves. He was nearly shaking with rage. The only thing that seems to bring his mind back into focus was the questions he had. Why? It was a simple question but one he couldn’t answer. Why was his father doing this? What good could this possibly accomplish? And what message was his father trying to send? To whom? All these questions swirled around inside his head overwhelming his anger and just making feel… cold.

  They made quick timing marching out of the noble quarter and down into the market quarter. As they began to pass people getting up for their day, most making their way to the well or opening shops, he decided to try to distract himself with the scenery and bustle of a city coming to life as dawn's light began to crest the walls. The street lamps had long since been extinguished and though there was plenty of light due to the overcast sky there were also many shadows. Julien noticed the guards were being extra vigilant, scanning the alleys and the people passing by. He highly doubted any of the thieves would be around with the heavy guard presence.

  They passed by all kinds of people cloaks pulled tight due to the chilly air, but they didn't stop they moved through the gates between the main districts without any problems the guards standing aside. With three walls it took longer than he thought it would but then they were in front of the main gate.

  The guard in front stepped forward removed his helmet once again and spoke to his counterpart from the gate house. Julien couldn’t hear what they were saying and he wasn’t really that interested in finding out.

  Julien looked up at the massive fifty foot wall that stretched to the left and right out of sight. The thick grey stone blocks had morning moisture clinging to them and he marveled at just how massive they were.

  But then they were waved through and they finally marched out of the city into the Ishtarian countryside beyond. The land instantly opened up to empty fields directly surrounding the city off to his right a small corner election of houses could be seen in the distance, a village? Yeah that had to be it.

  The road they were on widened and turned from cobblestones to packed earth. In the distance ahead of them a dark smudge could be seen. It took Julien a moment to realize what he was seeing. A forest, it had to be massive to be seen from so far away. And in the middle of the smug a small bump, a hill? The top was barren of trees causing it to stick out even from such a distance.

  Julien felt a shoulder bump him and he looked over to see Altaya grinning from ear to ear. Only after seeing her own expression did he realize he too was grinning stupidly. They kept moving for another half glass before the young guard from before halted the column and moved them to the side of the road. They stood at attention in their rows until the young man waved his hand signaling for them to relax. All the soldiers immediately slumped, some even sank to the ground to sit, slipping packs from their backs.

  Julien chose to remain standing feeling like the young captain had more to say to them.

  “Alright time for introductions! I am knight captain Eryk and I’ll be in charge of this little expedition.” He smiled looking a little embarrassed. “Well we can’t really can it an expedition. But needless to say we will be doing a prolonged patrol to the top of the hill over there,” this last part he said pointing with his thumb over his shoulder at the barren hill in the distance.

  Julien frowned he didn’t think that a normal patrol would go through such dense woods. He wondered the reasoning behind such a path.

  “Now normally we would stay on the road but rumors of bandits being sighted in the woods near the hill have made it to the Guard captain and he has asked us to scout it out while we are on patrol.” He had to try really hard not to scoff at the obvious fabrication. Then again when he looked to the side he saw Aramin nodding his head as if that made sense. Maybe it was because he was now aware of the Knight captains plan.

  It made sense tactically it was an area away from the road enough to drag out any attackers and yet close enough that they could feasibly send for back up if necessary. Just as he managed to push down his borderline rage at the thought of his own father using him as bait he realized the other guards had been standing back up and rearranging their gear.

  “We will be staying the night in the forest at the base of the hill so I hope you all packed properly. Now we need to get going it may not look it but the journey there will take us most of the day.” With that Captain Eryk knelt and began rearranging his pack straps. Julien quickly did the same turning to help Altaya briefly as she struggled with a buckle. Then they were all up and moving again.

  It was almost three glasses later before the darkness in the clouds became even more pronounced casting deep shadows over the golden fields on either side of him. They picked up the pace into a jog. Julien’s breath became ragged as sweat poured from his hairline into his eyes stinging it. Unlike the soldiers they hadn’t been given armor but his uniform what thick, it didn’t take it long to begin weighing him down. He didn’t talk much to the others, he really couldn’t find the breath the sword at his side became particularly infuriating as it kept smacking into his leg as he jogged.

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  He knew though that this was a test, as almost everything with the military was. The guards wanted to see what they were capable of. So, he kept going, pushing harder. He wasn’t quite sure when it had happened then, when a coolness washed over his face and it took him a moment to realize it was rain. Some time later they entered the trees veering off the road to a small overgrown track.

  The tree were thick, their trunks a mottle of brown and green. Julien sniffs the air and citric orange smell carried to him. A low mist hugged the ground as they made their way through the underbrush. He briefly looked to his friends and saw Carlouse and Katrina lagging behind, he didn’t really have the breath to speak but he nudged Altaya when she turned to look at him he could see the exhaustion in her eyes as well.

  He motioned with his head and see looked to see Carlouse, practically dragging Katrina along. She in turn nudged Aramin who after some gesturing seemed to understand. He slowed down, and took took some of Katrina’s weight from Carlouse switching places with him. Katrina didn’t complain they had done this before on long runs at the Academy. She just tiredly nodded her thanks to Aramin who only grunted in response.

  Almost half a glass later Julien was staring up at the tall barren hill of grey stone as it got closer and closer. They took another break many of the guards falling to the ground and Julien was no exception. His chest hurt at he heaved for breath. He hadn’t run like that in months since his last fitness course had ended.

  Things changed after that, no one said anything but Julien could tell the tension of the whole group changed. For one his squad was moved to the middle of the formation, and they slowed down significantly. Their spears while not pointed at anything were held more firmly than before.

  He couldn’t explain how he knew but trouble was coming. He once again nudged Altaya and got an annoyed look from her in response.

  “The guards have tensed up,” he explained. He knew she wouldn’t need anymore than that to get his meaning. She had been trained as his guard her whole life after all. She gripped her sword hilt and moved subtly until she was just slightly in front of him.

  “We are not expecting any trouble are we Captain,” Altaya called out. The guards didn’t react but the captain stiffened before turning in their direction.

  “We are in what’s commonly known as the Beast forest. Even if it only technically the outskirts it would be a very foolish thing to do to let our guard down in here,” he responded his expression was almost apologetic. That was something Julien thought should’ve been shared with them. Beasts were a problem no matter where you lived but entering a forest known for being infested with them seemed a bit stupid to him. Altaya just nodded her understanding but now her guard was clearly up as well. She moved closer to him and her hand never left her hilt. His squad were alert now too. Their eyes up and scanning the forest around them.

  They spent most of the rest of the day like this trudging through the trees the hill looming in the front getting bigger and bigger until finally the trees began to thin out the. Almost like they were crossing a district line the tree stopped. A wide field of dark green grass filled the area near the steep hill in front of him. But as he looked up he realized that even that grass stopped near the top becoming formless grey stone.

  They halted not long after that the Captain, Eryk once again taking off his helm and turning to them.

  “Well done getting this far with any luck nothing will happen and we can leave in the morning but for now let’s make camp the sun is already going down.” Julien looked up and realized he was telling the truth at some point the rain had stopped, but he hadn’t really noticed the rain in the forest. Could it be because of the overgrowth and the canopy of leaves overhead? Yeah that had to be it.

  Needless to say the clouds had moved on and now a golden red glow had settled on everything around them. He hadn’t been so distracted, first by the run, then by the tense nature of the remainder of their journey.

  “Let make camp and get ready to settle in for the night,” Eryk ordered. But before any of them could moved an ear shattering roar blasted out from the forest behind them.

  And just like that nearly fifty weapons were brought to bear on the forest around them. Julien’s sword was out and in his hand almost before he registered the danger. He was thankful for the Academy training then.

  Another roar answered the first from the other side of them and without direction ten of the guardsmen turned pointing their spears at the direction behind them.

  Julien could see the grim look in the eyes of the guards around him. The Captain Eryk put his helm back on and stabbed his spear into the ground before drawing his sword. Julien knew the man was preparing close encounter fight.

  Julien turned to his friends and they had pulled in towards him their own swords out. Grim determined expressions were what he saw looking back at him. Even Carlouse who most of the time would much rather be reading a book than wielding a blade held his sword expertly at the ready. This is what they had been trained for after all.

  In the next moment their training was tested a furry creature bigger than a wagon burst from the tree-line, six powerful legs churning the earth as it charged into the clearing. It had a flat broad head and powerfully built body. It arms each thicker than Julien’s whole body rippled with muscles. Its yellow eyes boar into them with such fury he could feel could sweat running down his back. It opened its mouth and row after row of sharpened yellow teeth could be seen from even where he stood. It belted out a roar of challenge not stopping in its charge in the slightest.

  “Ursine!” The captain bellowed as he moved to meet it his sword held high.