The forest and the Basin had tested us, but it hadn’t broken us.
For five days, we had fought the “Gore-Hounds”—hulking, mindless beasts of muscle and bone that charged our shield lines with blind fury. We bled, we bruised, but the Iron Guard held. Not a single man had fallen. To the contrary we even finished off all of our pursuers as we left the frozen and snowy land of the duchy of Astrea.
As we broke through the treeline and saw the golden wheat fields of Oakhaven in the Hesk Barony, the men let out a collective, exhausted cheer.
“Civilization,” Sir Joric breathed, wiping black demon blood from his visor. He looked at me, a wide grin splitting his soot-stained face. “We did it, Kael. We got her through the deep woods.”
I nodded, though the tight knot in my stomach refused to unravel. I had died in a timeline before this one, yes, but that had been to a massive, pale beast. I thought I knew what the enemy looked like. I thought the worst was behind us.
The village of Oakhaven looked like a painting.
Smoke drifted lazily from stone chimneys, and the smell of roasted pork and fresh bread hung heavy in the crisp northern air. when we approach the heavy wooden door of the village were open to welcome us.
As we rode into the square, the villagers gathered. They didn’t run from our battered, blood-soaked column; they rushed forward with pitchers of water and clean linen.
“Praise the Light, it’s the Iron Guard!” an older man with a silver beard called out, stepping to the front of the crowd. He bowed deeply. “I am Tomas, the Elder of Oakhaven. We heard the howling in the woods for nights. We feared the worst.”
“The beasts have been culled, Elder,” I said, my voice hoarse. I stayed in my saddle, my eyes scanning the rooftops. “But the roads are still unsafe. We need provisions and a secure place to rest for the night.”
“Of course, Captain!” Tomas smiled warmly. “The Great Inn is yours. We have a feast already prepared for the Harvest Festival. Please, unburden yourselves. Your war is outside these walls.”
I looked at my men. They were swaying in their saddles, their armor heavy and dented. Even the young squire, Leo, looked like he might collapse if a stiff wind hit him.
“Dismount.” I ordered. “But keep your blades close. Two men on the horses at all times.”
As I climbed down from my mount, I glance at a wooden structure in small alley were it seemed there was a commotion.
A sign could be seen. The bakery I made a mental note of it.
Joric clapped my shoulder as he slid from his horse. “Relax, Kael. We’re among our own people now. Let them take care of us for one night.”
I wrote a letter and gave it to the village chief so He could have a man deliver it to the Citadel. ‘‘Rest assure you will be rewarded for it as It is letter of the highest importance!’’
