Chapter Thirty-One
THE MORNING’S CLOUDS dissipate as we leave the gates of Hecalon behind us.
We stopped briefly by the market so the quartermaster could purchase enough supplies for us to make the journey and back as there is no guarantee we would be able to resupply.
Cloaks were also purchased as the season was starting to change and the northern region is colder in general.
There are a few small villages we could divert to and likely would on the way back; if there is a return journey.
But a successful mercenary is a prepared one.
The road finally reaches the bottom of the valley that Hecalon is nestled in. A series of switchbacks climb out and over the hillside. The scar forming on my cheek itches in our exertion, still healing. A rustling in the brush under a clump of trees startles the cohort into attention.
“Spears out!” Andra’s bellowed command receives a quick shuffle of feet and the clatter of weapons as the companions move into a defensive formation, bristling with spears in all directions. Helia strides outside of the pincushion we made, hand outstretched in peace.
“Belay that order! Stand down!” Spears withdraw and blades move to low guards, yet no one stands fully at ease.
Commander’s orders or not, everyone is ready for the unknown.
Five strangers emerge from the underbrush wearing simple tunics and small packs for travel, hands outstretched peacefully.
Recognition hits as one steps forward from under the trees’ shade and pulls back his hood.
Helia moves forward and greets Lyras. He bows, his eyes flickering between the two of us, the manifestations of his faith. Helia nods slightly, casting an eye on the people behind her; more priests of Lunos.
“Well met Lyras. I thought you were meeting us closer to the wildlands.”
Lyras nods in agreement while wearing an apologetic face.
“Aye, that was the plan. But after discussing with the others, we felt it would be safer to travel with you, all things considered.” I see the slight tensing in Helia’s shoulders at the change in plans; she’s not one to like unexpected surprises.
“All right. We will march quickly; I hope you can all keep up.” Rounding back to the cohort, Helia gives new commands to aid and protect the priests on our travel. No one balks at the commands, though the questions on Andra’s face are plain as day.
Surprisingly, they manage to keep pace hiking up the switchbacks, though we’ll see if they have the stamina for the weeks ahead.
It is two weeks to reach the wildlands that surround Askepollo.
Apparently, the northern lands were lost long ago when the temple city fell to ruin.
Once we reach that wilderness border, it will take another week of traveling to reach Askepollo.
An hour after the priests joined us, we crest the top of the valley where Helia planned to camp our first night.
I take a moment to look back down on Hecalon, Solon falling to the far side and casting an orange glow, setting the green fields ablaze in the dusk.
Flickers of wind sift through the grasses and the fields, giving the fiery hue life; dancing like tongues of fire.
A hand softly touches my shoulder. I don’t need to turn in order to know who it belongs to.
The sounds of setting camp whisper in the background as Helia and I take in the view, our breath steaming in the coming night.
The fields of flame fade to purple as Solon falls out of sight, the blanket of darkness gaining purchase.
***
The Spears welcome the scions of Lunos amicably, sharing food and space.
Despite Andra’s initial surprise, she executes her duty, setting watch schedules and assigns a few guards for the newcomers.
I sit by one of our fires, luckily not on cook duty tonight despite my enjoyment for it.
No cooking gives me time to talk with Helia, who’s sitting across from the fire from me.
She catches my eye across the flicker of flames seeing me watching the priests as they keep to themselves, cloaked and hooded.
“Something’s on your mind.” I nod and Helia cocks her head to the side.
“More than one thing.” I snort, unable to stop the small smile from appearing on my face.
Helia grins along with me, lighting up her face more than the fire between us, and shifts to a lounging position.
The light from the fire casts a warm glow across her body, her curves and the cuts of muscle.
One arm lounges on a raised knee, quiet confidence oozing outward.
“You seemed bothered by them meeting us here.” Helia shrugs at my statement.
“That’s not a question.” Helia smiles mischievously, before explaining.
“I had originally planned on them meeting us at the edge of the wildlands. This is safer for them, but I wanted to split our enemy’s focus.
The priests are helpful for the ritual ahead, but not required.
Well, Lyras is important.” Her face darkens, a shadow of a wince.
Quick as a flicker of flame, it’s gone. I should have thought of that answer, regardless of the cold calculation.
Helia’s words stir something else in my mind.
“Speaking of this ritual, you never really explained why we need to reach Askepollo instead of performing it in Hecalon.” Helia nods thoughtfully and looks around, wary of being overheard, before answering.
“No, I haven’t. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure except I know it is the ancient seat of Lunos.
Her power will be greater there; as will yours.
I assume that’s a part of it.” Helia’s tone goes as quiet as doldrums at sea.
Is she contemplating her own future? An unknown abyss at the end of the path.
I scoot around the fire and sit beside my commander.
The bustle of camp fades into the background and I slip a hand on top of hers and squeeze.
“Helia.” My voice is quiet as I speak her name. “Do you know what the ritual actually is? You’ve alluded to sacrifice and having no purpose after.” I squeeze her hand again, giving us both courage. “Are you the sacrifice Helia?”
She doesn’t answer me. She stares deeply into the meandering flames, seeing something no one else can. Finally, a stony nod, jaw tight and muscles clenching. I have my answer.
Before either of us can say any more, Olena approaches bringing two bowls of stew, with only an arched eyebrow directed at our hands. Frankly, I could care less about decorum at the moment. She hands a bowl to each of us with an unreadable look, waiting expectantly.
Helia and I exchange glances, my eyes flicker toward her bowl, deferring to my commander.
With an awkward smile Helia scoops some stew with a piece of flatbread and takes a bite.
Chewing with no reaction, I shrug and follow suit, immediately choking on the food.
Charcoal sludge coats my tongue as I struggle to down some water from a skin.
Laughter erupts from the two women watching my plight, though Helia’s is tinged with the somber revelation a moment ago.
“I forgot how horrible your cooking is Olena. I thought you would have picked up a few things from Itho.” I watch in horror as Helia scoops another bite, Olena laughing as she walks off, though not before throwing me a look that says we’re going to talk.
“How in all the gods’ names are you eating that?” Helia continues to laugh around her third bite, drawing it out to enjoy the look on my face. Wiping the back of her hand across her smile, Helia gestures where Olena had been.
“When anyone joins us, we start them on cook duty and keep them there for a while. They meet and interact with everyone immediately; helps with any initial awkwardness. Olena’s cooking never improved though, so after two weeks we pulled her from that duty.”
“Two weeks?! You ate that for two weeks?” Helia chuckles, her mirth regaining a modicum of truth.
A small smile creeps onto my face despite the disgust at imagining eating burnt sludge for that long.
“Wait, if you knew how it would taste, why did you eat it? Why even let Olena cook again?” Helia’s temporary joy settles as she raises an eyebrow.
“Well, we should strive to improve ourselves, even if just to try. But to your question about eating her food, I’m their commander, their leader.
Sometimes, you need to be the one leading the charge into the enemy lines and sometimes, you need to eat a disgusting bowl of stew.
” Helia pushes herself off the ground and strides out into the camp to do her nightly rounds, pointedly ignoring our conversation from before.
I lay out my bedroll next to the fire and slowly drift off to sleep, Helia’s words turning in my head.
She’s used to leading from the front, no risk nor sacrifice too great. Yet now, I’ve created doubt and fear. There must be a way.
***
The familiar pulse of water tickles the edge of my consciousness.
Sure enough, I open my eyes to the lake—my mind’s lake I suppose.
Or is this place an extension of Lunos’s power?
Dusting off the sand, I rise, water gently washing my feet.
There’s too much I don’t know. I am a field of wheat in a windstorm, caught up in a battle of divine proportions. Perhaps I can get some answers tonight.
I look up into the inky blackness of the night sky and see a sliver of the moon.
I take in the surrounding and unease begins to worm its gnarled fingers into me.
Fallen pines dot the forest tree line, with many others decaying or dropping their needles.
The sand of the lake is no longer radiant and reflective of the now sparse moonlight.
Only the water itself is seemingly untouched.