Catching the Wind

Heading Back

The beast shook his head and Hagthoria hobbled over to it. Nikolas helped her up on the animal as she grunted in slight protest. Once firmly seated upon the beast, the horse turned around to face him. 

"Do tell the lad we shall return, until then, keep close watch. I will, with certainty, try my best not to allow the old hag to stop for a drink or three." Listening to the horse speak, Nikolas nodded his head in agreement. 

"Tis be a bit longer fur ours return, best be keepin ye's eyes on the succubus, I nay be trustin er. Keepin er's away frum the mens until we be returnin Nikolas, be best." The witch gave this warning, making Nikolas chuckle.

With a quick nod and smile, he slapped the wizard on his hind end and they took off. 

Turning to go check on Ally, Nikolas met Caspian and Barreth coming out of the tent. Looking at Caspian, he asked how she was doing. 

"Her head felt cool as I let the wash sit for a moment, sir, I think she will be fine. I covered her well with some furs in tent, I don’t need them anyway Cap’n." Caspian responded, feeling sorry for the woman. He knew what it was like feeling out of place and couldn't imagine what she just went through. 

"Thanks lad, go find Chastin, have him work on teaching ye basic arms and defense. High time ye learned." Saying this as pulled his sword out and handed it to the boy, a look of surprise crossed Caspians face and he nodded excitedly at Nikolas.

"Gotten him excited Cap'n, I believe the boy has been waiting on this day." Barreth pointed out while him and Nikolas watched Caspin head away. 

"Aye, I believe so. After his experience with them fools, he should be made to face them man to man. We'll teach him to be the best if there ever was one." Turning back to Barreth as he said this, Nikolas cocked his eyebrow at his Lieutenant. 

"Visitin our guest, were ye?" Asking this, Nikolas already knew the answer. 

"Of course, Cap, can't let ye keep all the fun to yerself. Be's about time I seen a woman in yer bed, and a beauty at that. How long ye plan on keepin her there?" Barreth responded.

Entering the tent earlier, Barreth had taken note of her fair skin framed by deep auburn hair. Her lips alone were enough to make him intrigued. He had been with many women, but this is the first time he felt something other than just lust.  

"Nigh too long, she should be back at it in a day or two, poor lass. Come upon those scouts, should have kept their hides alive and stripped them of their flesh and tied them to a tree for the wolves. Alas, they dead anyway. I's can only hope the old witch makes haste. Night is here and we will be seeing the Queens army in bit over a fortnight. Have ye had word from Cutterson?" Nikolas asked as they both sat next to fire on cut logs. The warmth was welcomed as night was arriving and a small chill took the air. 

"Nay, non for two days. Has me bit worried as to what trouble he may have gotten himself into. He only stayed behind because of his family, being a second advisor to the King puts him on the enemies plate I reckon. I will give it another day before I find out what be happening. I wonder what the King is cooking up as we speak? I be certain he pissed and fit throwing about losing a handful of scouts. Care less he do, for his people. We were nothing but chattel to him." Sounding sullen, Barreth shook his head. 

The both shared some silence thinking back on their service with the King. If it wasn't for Nikolas, more than 3 quarters of the army would be dead from hunger, disease, or poor fittings during previous battles.

King Barkarius cared nothing for his army, as long as he could sit on the thrown and have a life taking what he wants, he ignored those that made it happened. He sacrificed countless men in his pursuit of Caspian's parents only to lose their dead bodies as well. Nikolas still hasn't found where the dragons' bodies had disappeared to, and this thought also crossed his mind as he watched Caspian spar with some soldiers. 

Breaking his inner thoughts, two soldiers arrived at the camp on top of horses. One man got down swiftly and handed his reigns to Caspian who had stopped his sparring when they approached. Walking over to Nikolas and Barreth, the soldier spoke in a rush.

"We found em Captain, took a half days ride south from err, but not in vain. We spotted em bout 100 yards out and turned back. Bout 15, South of err. Hand full horses as well. They be just making camp by what's we noticed. What should we do?" The soldier relaying this to them was excited. They had discovered a scout's camp. 

Barreth looked at the soldier and walked over smiling and excited himself. Placing his hand on his comrade's shoulder patting it and giving it a squeeze affectionately, he turned to Nikolas waiting for the command. 

"Let's wait. Give em a night's time to get settled. We will head out before dawn, give them a bit of welcome to the area. We will take the lad with us. Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" A grin formed in a wicked manner on his face. Nikolas needed a bit of change from the current happenings in the camp, so telling Barreth and the handful of men, who gathered, gave Nikolas the light hearted feeling he'd been needing. 

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Earlier that morning, at the castle, King Barkarius entered the throne room in a fit of rage. Pacing  back in forth in front of his throne, he threw furious glances at the advisors and handful of soldiers waiting patiently for him. Stopping in front of his throne, he suddenly faces them.  

 “How long ago?” the King directs the question at the soldier kneeled below him at the foot of carpeted marble steps.  

“4 days prior me Lord, we attempted to stop em, but they must have had help. We managed a few shots off at em, but they were well prepared, tis almost the entire army gone, me Lord! Only a few of us loyal to ye stayed back. They managed to get the young lad out, not soundin any alarm at first. The guards responsible have been delt with. I's will see to it personally, any others who’d played a hand in this will be taken care of as well.” The soldier delivering the news snuck fearful glances at the King.   

The King had started pacing again, anger radiating from his being, as the soldier was speaking and abruptly stopped, guiding his hand along the throne. Lost in thought for just a moment, he suddenly grabbed a decorative candle bra standing aside his throne, and flung it at the kneeling soldier. Missing the soldier, it went clanging across the floor.  

“4 days. 4 days and nay a single word was sent to me what was happening in MY CASTLE!” The Kings temper pushed his anger in to a yell that could be heard even across the court yard.