“As you will,” says Illan as he gives out with a yawn. “I’m for bed however.”
“Good night,” James says as he makes his way over to where Jiron and Delia are sharing a fire.
When he approaches, Jiron hands him a plate of food. “Thought you might be hungry.”
Taking the offered food, he says, “Thank you, I am.” Sitting next to them, he begins eating the beef stew and Delia hands him a quarter loaf of bread to go with it. Nodding to the slingers preparing Orry’s body for tomorrow, he asks, “How are they doing?”
“As well as can be expected,” Delia replies. “I think before yesterday they thought this would be a grand adventure right out of a bard’s tale. Then when the reality of it hit them, especially the death of Orry…” She trails off as her eyes move to settle on the tent where they are preparing Orry’s body for travel.
“They realized this is no game and war is an ugly, horrible experience,” Jiron finishes for her.
“I’m sure they’ll be okay,” adds Delia, “it’s just rough on them right now.”
James sits there in silence for awhile as he finishes his stew. “We’re still leaving in the morning,” he tells them.
“Then you better get some sleep,” Jiron states.
“I will when I’m done with this,” he replies, indicating the last couple bites of food left on his plate. As he chews the last bite, he glances around the camp and finds everyone winding down, many already asleep in their bedrolls. Devin and the others exit a tent carrying a shrouded body and lay it in the bed of a wagon. When Devin glances his way, James nods.
Standing up, he says, “I better get to sleep too.” To Jiron he adds, “Make sure everyone is up before dawn.”
“Sure,” he replies with a catch in his voice.
James turns to find him grinning at him. Remembering the last time he awakened him, he adds, “No water this time.”
“If you say so,” he says, his grin growing slightly wider.
Shaking his head, James makes his way over to his tent and enters. Things inside aren’t in their usual place, testament to the worry and sadness on Devin’s mind. He didn’t come and tidy up as he usually did. Checking his bedroll on the cot, he finds it still damp so he throws it to the side as he thinks unkind things of Jiron.
Lying on just the cot, he uses a pack for a pillow and lets exhaustion claim him.
Early the next morning, the camp is quickly disassembled and packed on the pack horses. The items James brought from The Ranch were reduced by half during the raid on the catapults and the subsequent battles that followed. Still should have enough for all he plans, he hopes.
Brother Willim shows up with the rest of the Hand shortly before they are ready to leave. The brother who was injured during the battle now looks much improved, a night of sleep, not to mention the healing from Miko, has done wonders. Miko is still absent, no one has seen him since the battle. Word has it that he’s still seeing to the injured, James sent Errin to find him and to have him return before they set out.
The Black Hawk standard bearer takes the lead as they move through the city streets. Near the front of the column rolls the wagon carrying Orry’s body, his friends riding along beside. Behind them comes Jiron and his group, then Ceadric with the Black Hawk Raiders.
“I thought we lost many of your men during the battle?” asks James.
Illan glances behind them at the throng of men at the rear and replies, “We did. These are others who have decided to join us.” He glances to James with a grin, “Seems they want to ride for glory.”
“Glory!” scoffs James. “There’s nothing glorified about what we’re doing. They just want revenge.”
“Maybe,” agrees Illan. “But for whatever reason, we can use them.”
James nods his head and continues riding through town.
The streets are lined with many soldiers and civilians who are there to see them off. Every once in a while, a cheer would erupt when they turn a corner and appear to those who are waiting for them.
At the gates they find Errin with a tired looking Miko. Eyes all but closed with heavy bags under them, he sits on his horse as if he’s about to fall off. When he takes notice approaching, he perks up and rides forward with Errin beside him.
“Found him still among the wounded,” she says. “Had to practically drag him away.”
“Save many did you?” James asks his friend.
From behind them, Lord Pytherian replies, “Many? I would have to say there are a hundred or more who owe either their lives to him or the use of a limb.” He glances to those following behind with the Raiders and adds, “I see many of the ones he saved are among your men.”
“We didn’t ask them to come,” James says apologetically.
“It’s alright,” he says quietly. “You can use the help and another hundred or so here won’t really make that much of a difference.”
“Any reports of the enemy?” Illan asks.
“Not so far Black Hawk,” he replies. “From what our scouts are reporting, the forces to the east and west of us are maintaining their positions. They may not yet know of what transpired here.”
“That won’t last for long,” Jiron says as he comes to join them.
“Just remember you promised to build the temple,” reminds James.
“We will, I assure you,” Lord Pytherian states. “Good luck to you.”
“Thank you,” replies James. “You too.”
Getting their horses moving, they ride toward the open gate. When they pass through, the men on the walls give them a cheer.
As they cross the bridge, they take note of the men still working to remove the dead from the field. The soldiers of the Empire are being heaped together in one big pile while the men of Madoc are laid out more carefully. Far away from the banks of the river, two work forces are digging out large holes for the bodies, one for the Empire and horses, and the other for the men from Madoc and the alliance. Already a stone plaque has been commissioned to memorialize the men who are to be laid to rest there.
Taking the road south, Illan sends out riders to scout ahead and to their flanks for any enemy presence. After Lythylla disappears behind them, they locate a copse of trees near the road and take a momentary break while Orry is laid to rest.
Unwilling to allow others to dig his grave, Devin, Nerrin and the others who were closest to him take shovels and find a spot beneath a large tree. James and Illan stand nearby until they have it deep enough, then watch as his body is transferred from the wagon and laid within the earth.
Once they cover him with dirt and place rocks atop the mound to prevent animals from digging him up, Brother Willim comes forth and says a few words. While he speaks of life and how death is but another path, each reflects upon how Orry enriched their lives and how he will be missed.
Those standing nearby remain quiet in respect for the dead until Brother Willim winds to a close. Then with a last goodbye, they remount and resume their journey. One of the newest additions to Black Hawk’s Raiders is given the duty of taking the wagon back to Lythylla.
From the head of the line, Illan glances back at the rest of the recruits and comments quietly to James, “Wonder if any of us are going to survive this?”
“I don’t know,” he replies. He misses Orry as does the others, though he never really had a chance to get to know him well. Few of the recruits have had much personal dealings with him other than Devin. Glancing back at Corbin’s son, he feels saddened for his loss and can see his emotions are barely kept in check.
He spies Scar and Potbelly riding not too far behind him. “Scar!” he hollers. When he has his attention, he asks, “Didn’t you and Potbelly once face a band of thieves all by yourselves?”
“As a matter of fact,” Scar says, “we did. It was several years ago during…” As Scar continues on with his narration, Illan glances to James and asks, “Have you heard this one before?”
Giving him a grin, he shakes his head and says, “No. But knowing those two, I figured they would have a tale of some sort to go along with it. Besides, this will give everyone something to think about other than Orry.”
Nodding, Illan says, “Good thinking.”
“No, no you got it wrong,” Potbelly interjects. “We weren’t hired by the Baron of Falsberg, it was the Duchess of Twyst.”
“That’s right, now that you remind me,” Scar says. “We were on our way through…” For the next hour or so, they regal everyone with their tale of daring do and for a brief time, the death of their friend is forgotten.
