'So in the end,' said Elstan as he saddled his horse, 'you're not coming with us after all.'
In the castle courtyard stood he and Kjaran, preparing their horses for departure. Around them echoed the clang of a blacksmith's hammer, sparks flying in all directions, carts delivering materials for work, and people busy with their duties within the stronghold.
'That's right,' said Kjaran, stroking his horse as it snorted softly. 'After a short discussion, the king decided it would be better for me to stay here. The kings are present, and with Vesper absent, it wouldn't be responsible to leave them without at least one captain from the first three divisions to watch over Their Majesties.'
'I agree with that,' said Elstan.
The weather above Tlum was murky; the sky painted in shades of gray. The days were changing quickly, and the air was growing colder, so Elstan wore a thicker uniform lined with a thin layer of fur. Through the castle gate came familiar faces: Desimir, Osgar, Ujiyoshi, and Ervin, along with Captain Caerwyn. Each of their steps splashed mud that clung to their boots.
'But you have them,' said Kjaran, placing his hand on Elstan's shoulder. 'So I wouldn't worry.'
'Good morning, my fine captains,' said Caerwyn, to which the two replied in kind.
'So, why are we here so early?' asked Desimir sleepily, while Ervin and Ujiyoshi yawned and Osgar stretched.
'Today you're going on your first mission,' answered Elstan, which immediately lifted everyone's spirits.
'Our first mission, finally!' said Desimir.
'Where are we going, when, why?' Ervin bombarded them with questions.
'Easy, easy,' Kjaran interrupted. 'First, get changed into your Luganorian scout uniforms.'
'They're waiting for you in the changing room just behind the castle. We'll wait for you here,' explained Elstan.
'Understood, Captain!' the four shouted in unison. The courtyard was crowded, and not everyone appreciated loud voices that early in the morning, so the young men earned a few annoyed glances. As they went to change, the captains talked in the courtyard.
'I can't remember the last time the Darni crossed the border,' said Kjaran.
'I think it was about three years ago—they've kept their distance for quite some time,' replied Elstan.
'Exactly. The last time I crossed the border myself to deal with the issue, I worked with another captain. I can't recall his name, but he was a good, cooperative man.' said Caerwyn.
'Yes, I think that's the current captain of the 5th Division. But back then, they didn't have the help of mercenaries. Makes you wonder what they're planning now,' Elstan added thoughtfully.
'To be honest, the situation in Tolan is quite similar to yours—perhaps even more severe,' sighed Caerwyn.
'Tell us, Captain,' prompted Kjaran.
'You see, they've always been a threat, but a few years ago—after that last attack—a young man appeared. At first we thought it was just a story, but it seems it was true.'
'What kind of young man?' asked Elstan, while the forge's sparks flew and the rattle of hammers and carts made the conversation harder to follow.
'Apparently, the Darni began calling him their prince.'
'Prince?' thought Kjaran.
'It's said he gathered the Darni from all parts of the kingdom and became their leader.'
'Interesting. Gathering all the Darni of Tolan is no small feat,' said Elstan.
'Indeed, Captain Nualami. But nothing has happened for three years now, so we assumed they were just rumors. I believe this mission will reveal the truth.'
At that moment, the young men returned in their uniforms: brown leather boots rising above the ankles, dark gray trousers of thick fabric tucked into the boots, leather belts with buckles shaped like shields. Over their torsos, they wore chainmail armor, and beneath it, ash-colored linen shirts with crimson trim around the neck. The chainmail was light and flexible, worn even by the captains as a form of light armor. It was made of tightly linked metal rings, reaching the waist while leaving the shoulders and arms free. The final touch to their uniform was a gray cloak lined with crimson on the inside.
'Now you look like real young knights—or scouts, to be more precise,' praised Kjaran as they headed toward the Tlum gate.
The young men marched proudly through the city, followed by three captains leading three horses.
'I remember my first mission too,' thought Elstan calmly, watching them, lost in memory.
Outside the city waited the cavalry division—thirty riders wearing the same uniforms as the young knights. The captain of the cavalry stood out with silver embroidery along the edges of his shirt. All proper division members bore silver thread on their shoulder straps. Alongside them stood twenty knights each from the 4th and 5th divisions of the kingdom, clad in the distinctive armor of Luganor's royal divisions: blackened leather cuirasses edged with bronze that caught the light like fire, dark gray trousers tucked into black boots, and leather belts adorned with the emblem of a winged sword. At their sides hung long, finely forged steel blades. Black gloves reinforced with metal plates across the knuckles gripped their weapons firmly. Their two-layered cloaks—crimson within, dark gray without—fluttered in the wind as they stood facing away, silent yet commanding, proud yet noble. The morning sun broke through the clouds, casting its rays upon them. The young men could only watch in awe.
'Good morning, Captain Nualami,' said Captain Andor Leoma of the cavalry division.
He was a tall, bald man in his late forties, his face marked by many scars—the most prominent running across his left eye. Broad-shouldered and slightly stout, he carried himself with the weight of experience and authority. When he stood before Elstan, he was half a head taller.
'Good morning to you as well, Captain Andor,' said Elstan, shaking his hand.
'Well, we'll be leaving soon, so mount your horses,' said Captain Leoma.
At that, Ervin and Desimir exchanged uneasy glances—neither of them knew how to ride.
'Don't worry, boys,' reassured Elstan. 'One of you will ride with me, and the other with Captain Caerwyn.'
Elstan had taught Osgar to ride since he was a child. He mounted easily, as did Ujiyoshi.
'I didn't know you could ride, Naitu,' said Desimir, seated in front of Captain Caerwyn on his horse.
'My older brother taught me back in my homeland,' he replied, spurring the horse forward to take his place in formation.
At the tip of the wedge-shaped formation rode Captains Leoma, Nualami, and Slanei. Behind them was the cavalry division, and at the rear marched the other units. The clouds soon hid the sun; wind swept across the plains, and drizzle began to fall. Captain Leoma started into a light trot, the rest following behind. The earth trembled under the pounding hooves, mud flying in arcs as they galloped thunderously toward the border—where only trouble awaited them.
From the castle gate, Kjaran watched them until they disappeared from view. He then gestured to the guard to close the gate and turned back toward the city.
'So, their first mission,' said Nuro, arriving from his morning walk. 'Think they'll be all right?'
'Yes, I'm sure they'll be fine. Come, let's see how far our strategists have come,' replied Kjaran as the two headed toward Landan's chambers.
'We should be fine if we follow this route,' concluded Gerde. Kjaran and Nuro entered the room. Landan's quarters were far tidier than yesterday. He and Gerde stood over a map, while Master Elvin sat observing.
'Ah, I see atleast someone from Ganalor is helping with the plan,' said Kjaran as Nuro entered behind him, closing the door.
'Ah, Captain Kjaran,' said Landan, smiling. 'Good to see you. Yes, Captain Gerde has been a great help.'
'Indeed,' added Elvin. 'He clarified the exact routes of Ganalor's merchant and scouting ships, which should prove useful.'
'Thank you for your help, Captain,' said Kjaran once more.
'Thanks to King Jin, we know that Ganalor still operates normally. The common folk don't yet know what's happening—they only know that the king has gone to visit Luganor. So the trade routes remain open,' said Landan.
'If we take that into account, we should have our plan ready in a few days,' said Elvin, sipping his tea.
'No need to rush, masters,' added Kjaran. 'Elstan has gone on an urgent mission.'
'Yes, we've heard there's trouble near the border—but this time, it seems more serious,' said Gerde.
'Not to mention it's a hundred kilometers to the border—it'll take them about a day and a half of riding,' added Landan.
'And with this weather, I'd say they'll reach it by tomorrow morning,' said Nuro.
'If all goes well, it should be a simple containment mission.'
'And if not?' asked Nuro.
'Even then, I'm sure Elstan will manage. He has Captain Caerwyn and seventy soldiers with him. That's all he needs,' finished Kjaran.
The rain continued to drizzle, and the wind blew sideways, making riding difficult. They had been on the road nearly a full day, stopping briefly by rivers so the horses could rest and drink.
'My backside's completely numb,' thought Desimir.
'I feel like my spine's going to fall off,' thought Ervin. It was, after all, their first time riding.
The formation was steady as Leoma approached Elstan.
'Well, what do you think, Captain?' he asked, rain dripping down his cloak.
'I think that's enough for today. The pace was good—we covered more than expected.'
'I agree. We're nearing the Oak Forest. I'll send word that we'll camp there. It'll give us natural shelter from the weather—if that's all right with you?' said Leoma.
'Yes, that sounds good,' replied Elstan. They rode toward the forest.
Night fell. The moon was hidden behind clouds. Dry leaves drifted from the branches, carried by the whistling wind. The soldiers raised their tents and lit fires—the only light in the darkness of the oak woods. Most men slept, except for those on watch or those who simply couldn't. Among the latter sat Captain Nualami, warming his hands by the fire, his swords resting beside him in their sheaths. The flames crackled and bent in the wind, twisting one way, then the other.
'Fire,' Elstan thought to himself, 'is easy to manipulate… reminds me of people.'
Muddy, muffled steps approached through the dark. A figure blocked the wind for a moment—Captain Leoma sat down beside him.
'Can't sleep either, Captain?' he asked.
'I suppose you wanted company, Andor,' said Elstan.
'I stopped seeking company long ago, my friend,' Leoma said, as the fire popped loudly from a new log Elstan had thrown in.
'I suppose you're the same. After years of service—in war, in missions—after losing so many comrades, a man learns not to seek connection. Wouldn't you agree?'
'I can't say I disagree,' replied Elstan.
'And yet, you chose to bring four inexperienced boys on this mission. None of us know what awaits at the border—or even before it. These missions aren't for children eager to see the world. You should've—'
'I know very well,' interrupted Elstan quietly. 'That's precisely why I brought them.'
Andor looked at him—not confused, but curious.
'The sooner they see the real world, the sooner they'll understand what's expected of them—and what awaits them. You and I, we're veterans now. We can't keep doing this forever.'
'True,' Leoma chuckled. 'My wife keeps telling me I'm getting fatter.' He patted his stomach.
'Exactly. And of course, there are young captains like Kjaran and Nuro—but even they'll need help, just as they help us. I want to help these boys—to show them what lies ahead.'
'There will always be wars, won't there?' said Leoma. 'Whether we like it or not. There were wars before us, and there will be after us. Don't you think it's a bit of a tired story?'
'Ha, perhaps. Maybe I'm just a bad man trying to force the young to go through what I did. But they'll face something serious someday—I'm sure of it,' said Elstan, standing up.
'If I can help them, prepare them for what's to come—if with my help they can protect what they hold dear, and do what they believe is right—then I can be the worst man in the world.'
'You've really grown since fifteen years ago, Elstan,' said Captain Leoma, looking up at him.
The fire crackled softly. The rain had stopped, and droplets now fell from soaked branches. The moon slowly emerged.
'We should get some rest before dawn. Good night, Captain Andor.'
'Good night, Captain Elstan.'
They both went to sleep while the wind still howled, scattering tiny embers from the campfires across the oak forest.
Morning came. The rain from yesterday had left the woods soaked and muddy. The soldiers and scouts finished their breakfast as Elstan explained the plan.
'All right, within the next few hours we'll reach Ogrvol—the nearest town on the border with Tolan, and the place where the enemy was last seen. As we approach, I want everyone on full alert. The enemy likely knows we're coming and has the advantage. We may walk into an ambush—but stay calm, follow orders, and everything will be fine. Finish eating—we move out in five minutes.'
The men all raised their hands in signal: 'Understood, Captain!'
Meanwhile, Kjaran and Nuro were having breakfast in the barracks with the troops. Gerde sat with them.
'So, what do you think? How are they doing?' asked Nuro, taking a huge bite of sausage and bread, followed by a piece of tomato.
'They should be nearing Ogrvol soon. I'm pretty sure that's their destination. It's the closest to Tlum, and there's a forest nearby where they could've spent the night,' said Kjaran.
'Sounds like exactly the kind of move Captain Nualami would make,' added Gerde, slicing his sausage.
'Still, they'll need to be careful,' said Kjaran. 'They can handle the Darni—but mercenaries are never easy.'
'Captain,' said Andor, riding beside Elstan.
'Yes, I see it,' replied Elstan, as smoke began to rise from several spots ahead—Ogrvol was in sight.
'Form the extended wedge,' shouted Elstan, his voice carried down the line. The order spread quickly among the riders. The formation stretched, each rear horseman taking position between the two ahead, creating a broad arrowhead—strong and piercing.
'Move into a light trot. Stay together,' ordered Elstan. The entire formation slowed. They approached Ogrvol cautiously.
It was a town without walls, more like an oversized village thriving from trade with Tolan due to its favorable position. Elstan split the formation—sending twenty riders down each flank while he led forty through the main path. Before entering, he ordered everyone to dismount for better maneuverability.
They moved quietly through the muddy streets. No one was around. The smell of smoke hung thick in the damp air. Elstan noticed something in the mud and crouched. He touched the ground—red stained his fingers. He brought it to his nose.
'Blood,' he said. 'Fresh blood.'
'Split into groups of five and search the town—but stay alert. Captain Leoma, you're with me. Desimir, Ujiyoshi—you too. Captain Caerwyn, take Osgar and Ervin. Follow this blood trail—we'll cover the sides.'
The soldiers searched nearby houses. Elstan's group followed the trail, which led toward the main square. The closer they got, the more blood they saw. Several bodies lay lifeless along the path.
'This is horrible,' thought Desimir as the stench of blood and entrails filled the air. Each step grew heavier until they reached the square—where a man hung crucified, his insides spilling out.
'Water…' he rasped weakly.
Desimir reached for his flask, but Elstan stopped him with a nod—"No, there's no saving him."
'I know… but at least let me end his suffering,' said Desimir quietly.
'Fine—but be careful. Something's not right here. I can't sense any natural energy nearby.'
They approached slowly. As they reached the dying man, he whispered his final words—
'They're here.'
'This is—' began Ujiyoshi, turning—just as a spear pierced through Captain Leoma's stomach right in front of Elstan.