The battle had gone to plan, the Vulk forces lay splintered groups fleeing into the woods in different directions. It would make mopping them up all the more difficult but with the sunbelchers firmly under he control he could allow the Skyeels freedom of the forest. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't at least a little disappointed. He had spent years hunting these beasts across the realm and when they'd finally clashed in a decisive battle, well it had been almost too easy. The front lines had collapsed after nary a day of fighting, the flanks folded almost immediately after being joined, and the ferocity the enemy had garnered a reputation for seemed more myth than having any teeth to it.
Jhev surveyed the remnants of the fight from his hilltop vantage, he could see companies going through the moor of dead gathering their own or salvaging valuables. Marshall Hevsid was organizing a defensible camp on the high ground, and the Chaplains were reading the passages of Elysium. Not all things had gone smoothly today. He'd lost both of the immortals the Divinities had seen fit to bless him with, Vorcinerex still lived, and there was that minor complication with Minos' demands. How we he supposed to know which child the Divinity wanted, for all he knew the child was lying down there dead. Likely the child fled with the rest of the Vulk cur, he'd be tracked down like the rest of his Kin, then Minos would have his end of the bargain, and with Vorcinerex dead he'd have his.
There was also the small matter of Chaplain Oran, apparently she'd last been seen heading into the woods away from the frontline after leading a charge against the flank. Some of his knights had claimed she'd had the immortal with her, but that was hard to qualify now without the Chaplain here to answer. Perhaps she'd gone seeking the glory of killing Vorcinerex for herself, if so she was likely dead. The Immortal, Alaen the Glorious, no small part of this victory was due to him and the champion Minos had seen fit to send him, Kanis the Stained. He'd have to offer up sacrifices to each doubtlessly, but well worth it. He wondered if Betsol was aware of his treachery, how could she not as queen of the Divinities. Yet he still stood, he still commanded, perhaps the Divinities weren't as omniscience as the Priests would prefer you to believe. Or perhaps she knew, and understood. Minos wasn't her enemy, and the Vulk threatened her people! He'd been right to seek them out for destruction after what they'd done to Frosthaven, his home. Vorcinerex had come to his manor that night, it was that night he'd made his promise it was that night that Minos answered his prayers.
Vorcinerex.He was close . Jhev would not let him escape again, he would not let the gift of mercy extend the life of that monster.
A feeling climbed into his hear then, a dark one that worked against him. This was one of worry, of angst. It wouldn't let him be calm, it wouldn't let him be still. The days victories seemed small to the risk of losing Vorcinerex. So as it had been the past three years, so it would be that night. There would be no rest while Vorcinerex lived.
"Marshall Johanna," said Jhev, "Prepare your fastest Skyreels. We find Vorcinerex while Betsol still shines."
The woman with curling golden hair standing behind him away in a suit of leather nodded curtly, turning on her heals and leaping down the hill in her hurry.
"Marshall Derek, I'll need your finest company of Archers, we're hunting a particular beast we'd be best to avoid getting to close to," said Jhev.
"I'll send up the first then my Lord Marshall," said Derek.
"Very good, and Marshall, I'll need Bogan."
"Bogan, sire?"
"Yes, I may require his... particular blessing."
"Very well sire."
Jhev watched the second Marshall depart him, there were runners for such things of course but Jhev preferred to remind the Marshalls of their station below him. It was well that when he made orders they listened, not questioned, not advised, merely listened. It saved times and time saved lives, the lives of his soldiers who had sparsely few enough of these days. The three years had been a trying ordeal, but if the day ended as he hoped, it would have all been worth it.
***
They skimmed across an ocean of blood. The skyreel's belly grazing the top most flowers of the towering trees. They had left with mere hours left of daylight, the Glory hour bathing them as they set out on their quest.
With Chaplain Oran missing, he'd taken Chaplain Feyor with them. Rounding out their company of 24 a Divine Number. Marshall Johanna was currently steering them, while a few of the archers had their sharp eyes piercing the forest for signs of camp. Bogan sat in the center of the Skyreel near its mast. The slave was a large fellow with scars running up his arms and along his face, his black hair was missing patches where a particular scar struck through. Even to Jhev he was a disconcerting sight, which was why Jhev kept him with the baggage train. Good for digging latrine trenches and hefting supplies for the army, best to unnerve the slaves than the soldiers. Still it did not due to waste the blessings of the Divinities.
Bogan eyed him wearily and Jhev turned his attention to the passing treetops. It wasn't until they passed into a large clearing that he realized just how high up they were and felt his gorge rise. He backed away from the side and was caught by a firm hand. He turned to find Bogan.
"Get your hand off me Slave!" commanded Jhev.
Bogan did just that, shirking away from Jhev and back against the mast.
Jhev dusted his shoulder where the creature had touched him and straightened himself. The uncivility of it, why the Divinities had seen fit to bless such a simpleton was beyond Jhev's comprehension. He imagined they were a merciful sort, why else would they allow such creatures to continue living freely.
"We've found their camp Lord Marshal," said Johanna. "It appears deserted."
"Then send down the scouts," said Jhev.
Two of the Skyreel's sailors were soon strapped into a harness and lowered to the ground where they released themselves and began stalking through the village of tents. The Skyreel hovered over them, floating lazily along the wind stream towards the center of the village where two large tents sat opposite one another. There had been a battle here, a number of Vulk bodies laid discarded, it was the work of an Immortal, one of the two had made it here. No sign of Vorcinerex or the immortal, but they had left a trail. Tents sliced down or broken in a line towards the north west.
A scout entered each of the largest tents, returning to the opening with a sign for clear. Archers hoisted the pair of scouts back to the Skyreel by their re-attached harnesses. Once they'd been raised off the ground the Skyreel began moving again, floating towards the path of broken tents and onward into the forest where a similar path of broken trees was found.
Vorcinerex was close, and they were on his trail.
Would you like to read the next chapter? Here's Chapter 9.
With Chaplain Oran missing, he'd taken Chaplain Feyor with them. Rounding out their company of 24 a Divine Number. Marshall Johanna was currently steering them, while a few of the archers had their sharp eyes piercing the forest for signs of camp. Bogan sat in the center of the Skyreel near its mast. The slave was a large fellow with scars running up his arms and along his face, his black hair was missing patches where a particular scar struck through. Even to Jhev he was a disconcerting sight, which was why Jhev kept him with the baggage train. Good for digging latrine trenches and hefting supplies for the army, best to unnerve the slaves than the soldiers. Still it did not due to waste the blessings of the Divinities.
Bogan eyed him wearily and Jhev turned his attention to the passing treetops. It wasn't until they passed into a large clearing that he realized just how high up they were and felt his gorge rise. He backed away from the side and was caught by a firm hand. He turned to find Bogan.
"Get your hand off me Slave!" commanded Jhev.
Bogan did just that, shirking away from Jhev and back against the mast.
Jhev dusted his shoulder where the creature had touched him and straightened himself. The uncivility of it, why the Divinities had seen fit to bless such a simpleton was beyond Jhev's comprehension. He imagined they were a merciful sort, why else would they allow such creatures to continue living freely.
"We've found their camp Lord Marshal," said Johanna. "It appears deserted."
"Then send down the scouts," said Jhev.
Two of the Skyreel's sailors were soon strapped into a harness and lowered to the ground where they released themselves and began stalking through the village of tents. The Skyreel hovered over them, floating lazily along the wind stream towards the center of the village where two large tents sat opposite one another. There had been a battle here, a number of Vulk bodies laid discarded, it was the work of an Immortal, one of the two had made it here. No sign of Vorcinerex or the immortal, but they had left a trail. Tents sliced down or broken in a line towards the north west.
A scout entered each of the largest tents, returning to the opening with a sign for clear. Archers hoisted the pair of scouts back to the Skyreel by their re-attached harnesses. Once they'd been raised off the ground the Skyreel began moving again, floating towards the path of broken tents and onward into the forest where a similar path of broken trees was found.
Vorcinerex was close, and they were on his trail.
Would you like to read the next chapter? Here's Chapter 9.
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