Bastian breathed out a slow breath, trying to dampen the excitement that uncurled in his gut. “You can’t, not for me. It’s too dangerous and—”
“Those bastards attacked Lord George,” Bette reminded him. She pulled out some cloth-wrapped packages and set them on the table. “They’re loose in the forest, and it’s not safe for travelers.”
“How do you know they’re the same ones?” Bastian asked, finally putting away the breakfast he had pulled out and grabbing some plates instead. He set them on the table, lifting an eyebrow when Bette gestured for one more plate.
“They’re all the bloody same, the beasts,” Garrett mumbled as he threw Bastian a bread roll. Bastian caught it and set it down on his plate.
“We don’t know, but either way, remnant are there in the castle, and it’s too bloody close to the major road. We can’t be lettin’ them run around like they own the place, can we?”
She eased herself into a chair, absentmindedly rubbing at her now-healed shoulder. Her gesture made Bastian reach for his own again, the last tattered ribbons of his dream brushing against his mind.
Bette frowned, but didn’t say anything. Another sharp knock made Bastian forget it altogether.
“Who is it now?” he asked, not expecting an answer. When he pulled open the door, Francis met him with a timid smile.
“Good morning, Bastian. I hope we’re not too early?” Francis held out a plate with a fat lump of ham on it.
“Some warning would have been nice,” Bastian admitted. “But I won’t say no to a slice of that.”
“You didn’t know?” Francis asked as he came in. “Garrett, you said he invited us!”
“I didn’t say it, exactly,” Garrett said, words muffled through a mouthful of bread. “I just let ya think I did.”
“Oh, ye prick.” Bette swatted him on the shoulder. “Poor Bastian, were ye even out of bed?”
Bastian shook his head, reaching for the slab of butter. “Still dreaming. Scared the shit out of me when this idiot came pounding on the door. I thought we’d been attacked.”
“We were!” Garrett protested. “A few days ago, anyway.”
“Ye wee shite. Pass me that ham.” Bette held her knife out. “And slice it for me, too.”
“Oh, aye, yer highness.” Garrett sliced a thick chunk of ham for Bette and another for himself. “Treatin’ me like yer bloody slave.”
“As if ye’d change it,” Bette scoffed.
Garrett shrugged. “Ye know I wouldn’t, but that’s no reason ta take so much bloody joy in bossin’ me around!”
“As fun as this is,” Francis said, “if you’re planning to ride out in an hour, we should discuss the plan.”
“An hour?” Bastian yelped.
“Aye. Did ye think we’d give ‘em time to scare anyone else?” Garrett asked. “I’ve got me men assemblin’ now.”
“How many are you taking?” Francis asked. “And who will be left on guard?”
“I’m staying back,” Bette said. “Mathias is bein’ a shit about it and says I’m not ta go exerting meself fer another day yet.”
“I’ve got Sharne, Jakob, Mathias, and Mack,” Garrett said. “Though I’ll wager it’ll be a one-way trip fer young Jakob. Fair itchin’ to see his lass, he is.”
“I hope he’s not itchin’,” Bette pointed out. “Or she might catch it off him.”
Bastian choked on a bite of food, coughing and spluttering until Garrett gently suggested it was Adeline that gave him the itch in the first place.
Red-faced and unable to breathe, Bastian’s chest trembled in a silent laughter as Francis thumped him on the back.
“I would suggest you don’t mention that to Jakob,” Francis said calmly. Bastian caught the shadow of a suppressed smile tugging at his lips.
“Aye, fair enough,” Garrett agreed. “But on to our plan. We’ll get Mathias ta scout the area, then we’ll run in and thump their heads.”
“That’s not a plan!” Bette exclaimed.
“It is, too!” Garrett protested.
“Thump their heads is not a plan. Ye need more than that! What if there’s a whole horde of them? Or you can’t find them? Or,” she dropped her voice, eyes wide. “What if they’re really a band of monsters disguised as remnant!”
“Stop yer bloody rot, woman, ye’ll have the town talkin’ of monsters and remnant and hiding in their beds all bloody day!”
“He’s got a point,” Francis said. “People are already afraid right now. We don’t want to be spreading any more rumors.”
“Bloody fools,” Bette muttered under her breath. “But not as fool as a man without a plan.”
“We’ll make one up when we get there,” Garrett promised. “If there are too many for us to fight, we’ll come home and grab a few more bodies.”
“And the horses?” Bette asked.
Garrett opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “I know! We’ll get Mathias ta ask them ta wait somewhere!”
Bette shook her head. “Ye just thought of that, didn’t ye?”
“Aye!” Garrett said, proudly.
Bette shook her head. “Some days I wonder what goes on in yer wee head.”
Garrett winked. “I bet ye can guess.”
“I don’t want to know,” Bastian broke in. “Garrett, can I come?”
“Where?” Garrett asked, startled. “To fight the remnant?”
Bastian nodded. “I’ll stay out of the way, I swear.”
Garrett shot Bette a glance, and she shrugged. “Lad has ta go out there one day. Best let him face the nasty buggers now.”
“Alright, then,” Garrett said. “But see if ye can convince yer girlfriend ta come, too.”
“She’s not my girlfriend!” Bastian yelped. “Why do people keep saying that?”
Bette winked. “Ye’ll find out sooner ‘r later.”
Bastian dropped his head, focusing on the food on his plate. Somehow, his appetite had been replaced by the gnawing rumble of nerves. “I should get dressed, then?” he said tentatively, still half-expecting Garrett to tell him to stay home.
“Aye. Get yer ass into some clothes, and meet us at the gates.” Garrett took a large bite out of a blueberry muffin, spilling crumbs down his shirt. The rearick rolled his eyes as Bette fussed, trying to brush them off. “Yer just puttin’ them in me lap, lass. Leave it—I’ll shake off when I stand up.”
“Not on my floor, you don’t!” Bastian called down.
He quickly undressed, pulling on some sturdy leather pants and a linen shirt. He slipped a stiff leather tunic over it, the only armor he owned. As he laced up the sides, pulling it firmly together, his fingers trembled.
He didn’t relish the thought of seeing another remnant. When he had decided not to return to the Temple with Julianne, a wash of relief had soaked him through when he had realized that would mean no journey back through the Madlands. Now, it seemed, the remnant had moved into his territory.
Beneath his fear, he couldn’t help but feel grateful towards Bette and Garrett. Despite their claims, there was no real reason to drag a troop of fighters that deep into the woods. He knew they were doing it for him and for his school.
“Not that Garrett isn’t a prick,” he mumbled, grinning.
Once he had added thick socks and sturdy boots to his attire, Bastian danced downstairs. Garrett was still eating, while Bette stretched back in her seat, watching him. “Yer like a starving pig,” she remarked as he shoveled another whole muffin into his mouth.
Garrett tried to reply, but a crumb caught in this throat. His face turned purple, and his eyes watered as he swallowed, an overstated action that made the rearick wince. Heaving a breath that ended in a flurry of coughing, Garrett waved to Bastian.
“I’ll be… down… in bit…” the rearick spluttered, before laughing into another hacking cough.
“I’ll see you there.” Bastian grinned, and darted out the door.
He made his way to the hall, where people were already up a
nd beginning to move about. Jakob and Mathias were outside, saddling horses. A large pack sat next to Jakob’s horse.
“Morning,” Bastian called. “Have you guys seen Tansy?”
“Inside,” Jakob said.
“You’d better be bringing her along,” Mathias called after Bastain. “Or she’ll have your balls!”
Bastian shook his head, then tiptoed through a few sleeping members of Madam Seher’s troop. One end of the hall was set up with tables and behind one, standing with a hand on an out-thrust hip and sporting a pair of fluffy ears, Tansy stood.
Bastian crept past the snoring bodies.
“And he didn’t even tell me,” Tansy said to Madam Seher, her back to Bastian.
Seher’s eyes glittered, but didn’t leave Tansy’s face. “Perhaps he had good reason,” she suggested gently.
“Good reason? The man couldn’t fight off a swamp rat. I saved his life! And now, he’s off hunting remnant while I sit around waiting for him,” Tansy snapped.
“You’re not exactly sitting around,” Bastian said over her shoulder.
Tansy spun around, whipping out a knife that hovered a finger’s width away from Bastian’s eyeball. When she recognized him, she gave the knife a casual flip and it disappeared.
“And what do you want?” she asked in a lofty voice.
“Well,” Bastian said patiently. “A couple of rearick woke me up this morning. Apparently, they’re leading a raid on the remnant we found at the ruins.”
Tansy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You only found out this morning?”
Bastian nodded. “Though, everyone else seems to believe Garrett told me first. I asked if I could come, and he said yes.”
“He said you could go?” Her nostrils flared.
“Yes,” Bastian said. “And where I go, you go, right?”
She regarded him, pouting, then nodded once.
“So? Are you going to get ready or what?”
Flashing a grin, Tansy threw her arms around Bastian’s neck. “I never doubted you for a second!” she cried, despite all evidence to the contrary. She dashed over to a small pile of neatly stacked belongings in one corner of the hall.
A few minutes later she was ready, an ornate leather corset and matching leg guards strapped on, and weapons dropped into every pocket or strap she could reach.
She spun to face Bastian when she was done. “Are you still standing there?” she asked. “Hurry up! We’ll be late!”
She danced off out of the hall, leaving Bastian to follow behind. The gates of Tahn were already open for the morning and a group clustered around them, listening to Garrett shout instructions.
“And we’re not going to engage the bastards if there’s too many!” he yelled, scowling. “Ye hear?”
“Define ‘too many’, Sarge,” Sharne said dryly.
Garrett’s eyes twinkled. “About as many as would cause us certain death… plus ten.”
The team in front of Garrett saluted, then turned back to their horses.
“Took yer sweet ass time, mystic,” Garrett grumbled. “Hope ye weren’t suckin’ face behind a barn somewhere.”
Bastian gulped, but as an apology to Tansy reached his lips, the girl beside him scoffed.
“You just wish it was you, rearick,” she said with a laugh. “Now, stop teasing. If Bastian’s face gets any redder, it’ll start to glow—and we don’t want a shining beacon to warn the remnant we’re coming, now, do we?”
“Aye, that’s a fair point,” Garrett said with a wide grin. “Now, get yer horses and let’s go!” He waved his hand, gesturing at two small mares that were saddled and ready.
Tansy vaulted onto hers in a single jump. Bastian sighed, and clumsily clambered onto his. No matter the days he had spent in the saddle since leaving the temple, he always felt gangly and awkward on horseback.
“Ride out!” Garrett called.
He led the way, Mathias and Jakob riding abreast behind him. Sharne and Mack rode next, and Tansy and Bastian brought up the rear.
“He really thinks we can handle that many remnant?” Bastian asked, nerves digging into his gut.
Tansy shrugged. “If we kill three each, that’s twenty-one dead—though, I’d wager Garrett alone could take down five, at least, and the physical mage could kill even more than that.”
Bastian snorted. “You think I could take down a remnant? On my own?”
Tansy lifted her head. “You won’t be alone, mystic. Stay by me, and I’ll make sure you come home in one piece.”
Once clear of the town, the horses launched into a trot, then settled into a canter. The trees passed by in a flash, and all too soon, the forest loomed overhead.
“There it is!” Garrett called, pointing at the snarled, burnt metal pole. He reigned in his horse and ambled up, muttering, “The bastards.”
“What is it?” Bastian called, picking his way through the others.
The Iron Tree had been smooth and pale when he had seen it last. Now, it was black, painted with some kind of flaking, crusted substance. Bastian reached out and pressed a finger to the tacky surface.
“Blood,” Garrett said.
Bastian snatched his hand back and wiped it on his shirt, forcing down a sudden nausea.
“A warning?” Sharne asked.
“Aye.” Garrett looked up, eyes shining over a wide smile. “They don’t know what’s comin’ fer ‘em.”
He casually turned his horse down the path to the ruins, and they followed single-file down the narrow trail.
Bastian kept his eyes up, darting from tree to tree and from trees to ground. He flicked his eyes ahead to Tansy and saw her hands resting lightly on two short swords.
“How are you doing that?” he called in a low voice.
“Doing what?” she asked, twisting to look back at him.
“You’re riding with no hands. Hell, now you’re doing it backwards!”
She grimaced. “It’s all in the knees. Though, it would be easier with no saddle.”
She turned back, leaving Bastian to shake his head in wonder. The girl seemed to be capable of anything.
They reached the ruins, and Bastian sniffed, then blanched. “I smell blood,” he said.
“Aye,” Garrett grumbled. “Looks like they left us a wee gift.
In the middle of the ruins a group of animal bones was piled up, clumps of fur and tendons still attached. Flies buzzed noisily, and Bastian swatted one away, clenching his teeth to keep his breakfast down.
“The horses should wait back at the Iron Tree,” Mathias said. “They are feeling afraid. I don’t know that I’ll be able to calm them enough to make them useful.”
Garrett dismounted. “Very well. Send them off. We can’t fight with them in the forest, anyway. Sharne, Jakob, scout the immediate area. Mack, ye can go with Sharne. She’ll keep ye out of trouble.”
The two fighters slipped down from their horses and darted into the trees without a sound.
“Ye see anythin’?” Garrett asked Mathias.
The druid stopped fiddling with the strap on one of the horses, and his eyes lit up, shining green in the dim morning light.
“Nothing nearby,” he said. “Let me send Percival a little farther out.”
The druid paused. Then, he sucked in a sharp breath. “Looks like we might have gotten more than we bargained for, rearick.”
“What is it?” Garrett asked urgently.
“There’s a horde of them. I see them clustered across the river. A fire—no, two. Rubbish, a dead boar. Garrett, I think I can see buildings. They’ve set up a permanent group.” The horse danced back. Mathias’s eyes cleared, and he shook his head, reaching out to sooth the beast.
“Bullshit,” Garrett spat. “Remnant don’t group, not like that. They’re roaming hordes. Like ants!”
“Ants have colonies,” Mathias said.
“Ach, like fucking bears then.”
“They don’t roam. Garrett, have you ever seen a bear?” Mathias asked, unable to
keep his face straight.
“Are you laughing at me, ye donkey’s dick?” Garrett snapped, hands on his hips.
“Me? Laughing? Not at all.” Mathias’s lips twitched again, and he casually rubbed his mouth to hide it.
“Ahh, go fuck yerself. They’re across the river, ye say?”
Mathias nodded. “We’ll be able to see them, but I wouldn’t advise getting too close.”
“Right, then.” Garrett hooked his thumbs in his belt and leaned back. “We’ll go take a peek and see what the bastards are up to, then decide if we need more men.”
“Garrett, we need more men,” Mathias said flatly.
Tansy shot a worried glance at Bastian. He gave her a brave grin, despite his worry.
“Aye,” the rearick said. “But we’ll need to know how many, and if we can bring in equipment to help.”
Mathias bowed his head. “Very well. But I’m serious, rearick—there’s a lot of them. I’ve never seen anything like it, even in the Madlands.”
Garrett chewed his whiskers, the first sign that his confidence was waning. Still, he didn’t change his orders.
Jakob, Mack, and Sharne returned. “No sign of anything nasty in the trees,” Sharne assured him.
Garrett nodded. “The moldy pricks are across the river,” Garrett said. “We’ll go to the bank, see if we can’t find out what they’re up to.”
“You think they’re a risk, Sarge?” Sharne asked. “Because you sound like you did that time you had to tell Bette you got drunk and threw up in her helmet.”
“It wasn’t the drink!” Garrett protested. “It was me dinner, and that’s that!”
“Sure, Sarge,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But you were still shaking in your boots when she found out, and you had that exact look on your face, too.” She thrust a finger at him.
“Shut yer face, woman,” Garrett grumbled. “We’re just bein’ careful, is all. The ant-speaker here says there might be a few more than we thought.”
“Plus ten?” Mack asked with a grin.
“Aye,” Garrett said, face serious.
Mack raised an eyebrow.
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