Chapter fifteen: A long journey to Counquan
Skye rose at sunrise, yawned deeply and looked up at the reddened clouds; the sun shone through these clouds creating a red tinted light, which was shining upon Skye and the rest of his men. Gunnar arose soon after. “Good morning, Ser, beautiful sunrise isn't it?” the Commander-Captain commented blandly, evidently still annoyed by the lumber-men of Erylyn. “Yes, it sure is. Good sleep Gunnar?” Skye wondered curiously. “Hmmm, I suppose so. It's a wonder that those men of Neryl's didn't come back and try and create trouble, or maybe they just noticed how many men we have.” Skye rolled his eyes. “No backbone, that's the trouble with these so-called loyal soldiers. Fools like Neryl inflict fear into these men and it makes them cowardly.”
Gunnar snorted. “Maybe you have a point; I don't ever feel afraid of his Leniency and I'd never back down from a fight, but you know that otherwise I wouldn't be here right now.” Skye nodded in agreement. “Every man who has joined to help us is no coward, for we may go to our deaths. Who knows how many men Altran has, it could be twenty thousand and we have four thousand Mage-Lancers, and a regiment of Lancer Elites, numbering one and a half thousand. Oh and Mage-Lancer High Command, Low Command and me.” The other shook his head. “We must all be crazy, or just plain stupid to go into battle against those odds, yet with you here I don't feel so crazy.”
Skye laughed; “that may be true, however I am but one Mage and I sure feel crazy to even think about winning a battle like such.” They were abruptly interrupted by Mage-Commander Hylyr, who wore a look of determination on his face. “Ser, we must leave as soon as possible. We need to get to Counquan and start preparing.” Skye exchanged looks with Gunnar. “Gunnar, can you wake all the men up? We need to eat and then make haste at once” Skye asked nonchalantly. “Yes, Ser.” Gunnar then walked through the trees and disappeared into the clearing, where the men were camped. Hylyr grinned and opened his carry-pack, withdrawing some of the Kelodian dried fruit and some of the dried meat. Skye did the same and they both enjoyed a not-very hearty breakfast with Gerdamh and Gunnar, who had returned while the men were also eating their rations.
Skye rose at sunrise, yawned deeply and looked up at the reddened clouds; the sun shone through these clouds creating a red tinted light, which was shining upon Skye and the rest of his men. Gunnar arose soon after. “Good morning, Ser, beautiful sunrise isn't it?” the Commander-Captain commented blandly, evidently still annoyed by the lumber-men of Erylyn. “Yes, it sure is. Good sleep Gunnar?” Skye wondered curiously. “Hmmm, I suppose so. It's a wonder that those men of Neryl's didn't come back and try and create trouble, or maybe they just noticed how many men we have.” Skye rolled his eyes. “No backbone, that's the trouble with these so-called loyal soldiers. Fools like Neryl inflict fear into these men and it makes them cowardly.”
Gunnar snorted. “Maybe you have a point; I don't ever feel afraid of his Leniency and I'd never back down from a fight, but you know that otherwise I wouldn't be here right now.” Skye nodded in agreement. “Every man who has joined to help us is no coward, for we may go to our deaths. Who knows how many men Altran has, it could be twenty thousand and we have four thousand Mage-Lancers, and a regiment of Lancer Elites, numbering one and a half thousand. Oh and Mage-Lancer High Command, Low Command and me.” The other shook his head. “We must all be crazy, or just plain stupid to go into battle against those odds, yet with you here I don't feel so crazy.”
Skye laughed; “that may be true, however I am but one Mage and I sure feel crazy to even think about winning a battle like such.” They were abruptly interrupted by Mage-Commander Hylyr, who wore a look of determination on his face. “Ser, we must leave as soon as possible. We need to get to Counquan and start preparing.” Skye exchanged looks with Gunnar. “Gunnar, can you wake all the men up? We need to eat and then make haste at once” Skye asked nonchalantly. “Yes, Ser.” Gunnar then walked through the trees and disappeared into the clearing, where the men were camped. Hylyr grinned and opened his carry-pack, withdrawing some of the Kelodian dried fruit and some of the dried meat. Skye did the same and they both enjoyed a not-very hearty breakfast with Gerdamh and Gunnar, who had returned while the men were also eating their rations.
