Chapter 5

Below a war raged. Rebels from the outer provinces of Iceholme launched a campaign of independence from their sorcerous masters, and despite initial setbacks, they won as many battles as they lost. However, the Lich-King took matters into his own hands in the form of Cymra the Black, and she began her own campaign of terror. The rebel leaders sought assistance from out kingdom, and hired one Aerick Se'trask, commander of the Ghost Wood Mercenaries. Even the addition of battle hardened mercenaries did little to halt the bloodshed of the one called 'Soul Killer'. The leaders of the rebellion came to a decision, get the innocents out of harms way, and get them to a safer place.

Aerick knelt on the rocky ledge and watched the ragtag refugee army file past. In the distance he could see the tell-tale flashes of magick as the doomed rebels fought a reguard action to save their families. The remainder of his company acted as guard for the refugees. As the last of the survivors past, he waited along with several of his closest companions.

"The rebels have been broken." Kamwyn spoke. The Sun Elf priest shifted uncomfortably as he knew what was coming. Aerick smiled grimly and loosed his composite longbow and drew a rather special arrow. It was the last of a rather special set of arrows, designed to penetrate any magickal defenses and slay the target instantly. Of the bow, it was a masterpiece, carved from a single branch from one of the sacred Yew trees harvested by the Guardian herself.

"Get the men moving Kamwyn... I'll be along presently."

"The Gileadians won't like the border violation."

"I know, but they will just have to deal with it. The southern trade route is our best chance of reaching the ports of Iilead." Aerick could feel the dark blot of the Iceholme armies approach. "Go, I'll catch up."

Kamwyn nodded and disappeared into the foliage. Aerick waited for an hour before the vanguard of the horde came into view, Cymra Soul Killer at their lead. He pulled the drawstring back fully and held it. He took deep breaths, the last holding it, releasing it simultaneously with the string. The bow silently launched the arrow, however, the arrow screamed as it ate up the distance between it and its target. The force of the impact launched the woman from her mount, the arrow fletching brushed against the space between her breasts. Aerick smiled grimly and rose, slowly moving back, and then stopping completely. Purple lightning lashed out from the woman, draining the life from those nearer to her as she fought the magick of the arrow. Nearly half her forces lay in a desiccated heap before she rose from the ground, laughing insanely. The remainder of her army lay in disarray behind her. Aerick ducked into the woods and made his way quickly to the refugee column.

"What in the name of all the Gods and Goddesses happened back there?" Kamwyn shivered. "I felt a great loss of life back there."

"Apparently Makiri found himself a new General. One that can't be killed."

Kamwyn shuddered and pulled his cloak tighter about him. "And the army?"

"In total disarray. She killed half of them just to save her life."

"Sir!" One of the scouts appeared. "The Southern Trade Road has been blocked off by Gilead troops."

"Damn." Aerick ran his hand through his hair. "Any way around them?"

"No sir." The scout caught his breath. "They had skirmishers in the woods."

"Any losses?"

"No sir, although one of our scouts has sustained minor injuries."

"Have some of the scouts flank to the west."

"But the border..."

"The border is just a line on the map. We'll make camp as close to the border as we dare." He looked at the thousand plus group of women and children that huddled in the small canyon. "And get them out of that canyon, one landslide and no more refugees."

The group made camp close to the Imperial border. The mountains to the south were nearly a stone's throw away, which marked the boundary between the Empire and Iceholme. Crossing the into the mountains wasn't likely to get one into trouble, but crossing into the mountains to the point where one saw the land beyond, that was trouble. It was well known that dragons made their homes in the rugged terrain of the mountains, and while everything seemed relatively quiet, Aerick posted a round the clock watch on both fronts to make sure that there were no surprises. Aerick met with his commanders over the map of the area in one of the side tents of the encampment. He looked to each officer in turn.

"We need to get the refugees to the southern port of Tanis in Iilead. As you can see, the main Southern Trade Road runs close enough to the border of Gilead that they feel they can lock it off to keep us from using it. There are, however, several small trails and passes that lead to, and cross over the border to Imperial territory."

"What do we know of the Empire, will they not be sympathetic to the plight of the refugees?" One of the officers asked.

"Normally I would say yes, but things have been rather tense along their northern border with Iceholme. Where we are now brings us under the jurisdiction of the Duchess of the Northern Prefectures. I trust no one here wants to be Dragon fodder?"

No one laughed.

"If we can get further south, we will be moving into the range of the Duchess of the Eastern Prefectures, who might be more reasonable."

"Sir, if I may," The head scout inquired. "Why has the Kingdom of Gilead closed their borders to us?"

Aerick glanced at his Sun Elf friend. "Kamwyn?"

The Sun Elf stirred from his stool. "The Kingdom of Gilead is made up of a loose confederation of Sun Elf tribes, with many Centaurs and other Fae races occupying the Great Forest in the west of the Kingdom. They will not condone any actions that would jeopardize their neutrality at this point. They won't get involved in a war with Iceholme. They might feel more merciful if the Empire was openly engaged in the conflict, but right now they are sealing their borders and keeping everyone out."

"Make no mistake," Aerick spoke. "Our task is to get the women and children to safety. Once we make it to Tanis, ships from the Island Republics will take our passengers to the outer islands. Permission for immigration has already been arranged."

"I will make appropriate offerings to the Gods my friend." Kamwyn spoke.

"DRAGON!"

Aerick and the others emerged from the tent to see a dragon soaring in the distance. It seemed to linger over the mountains, drifting. Many of the refugees started to panic, looking for a place to hide. It roared, the sound reverberated across the mountains as it slowly disappeared from view.

"They know we are here." Kamwyn spoke. "This could be good and bad."

"How so?"

"Well, they will be watching us from now on. Unfortunately they will not interfere unless they too are threatened, or we stray too far from our course."

"As soon as everyone's rested, let's get moving again." Aerick ordered. "We'll follow as close to the border as we dare."

Night fell quickly in the north. The refugees moved south, following the mountains. Aerick moved the group closer to the mountains, using the foothills as cover to move and to hide their numbers from prying eyes. He watched the night carefully, one eye on the sky, the other behind them. Kamwyn stood with him.

"There is something out there." Kamwyn whispered.

"You sense something?"

"Yes and no. I do have a bad feeling, and these are mainly hunting grounds for the orc races. And the orks are often allied with Iceholme."

"Sir! There is a large force approaching from the north and east."

"Iceholme?"

"Yes, and a large force of orcs."

"Damn." Aerick looked at the scout. "Relay orders to move the refugees further into the mountains, and keep an eye on the two armies."

"Are you contemplating crossing the border?"

"If I have to make a slight border violation to get these people to safety then I will do it." Then to the scout. "Any sign of Imperial forces?"

"If they are out there sir, they are keeping quiet. I would guess that they have a few Moon Elves on watch."

Kamwyn frowned at the mention of the Moon Elves. Relations between the Sun and Moon elf tribes have always been... less than cordial, which is no surprise since both Elvish societies are polar opposites, with the Sun elves taking an extreme patriarchal view whereas the Moon elves were strictly matriarchal. Kamwyn had been traveling with Aerick since he left his homeland and peoples behind, and knew the reasons behind the young half-elf's leaving.

"Let everyone eat one hot meal and rest for an hour, then get them moving." Aerick ordered. "I want twenty volunteers to act as rearguard."

He waited quietly for the refugees to eat and rest, his twenty guard stood nearby with weapons at the ready. The scouts reported the armies no more than four hours distant, and it would be a hard running battle for the group.

"Kamwyn, lead them to safety." Aerick strung his bow.

"You cannot do this." The Sun Elf spoke. "You have a responsibility-"

"I have a responsibility to safeguard everyone here. Stay on the Imperial side of the border, but do not venture more than a league into their territory. Once you have passed beyond the Iceholme border you should be safe, but keep them moving."

The elf nodded slowly.

"Take care of them." Aerick said, motioning for the other warriors to move out. "I will see you on Cathay."

Arrows filled the air as thick as flies. Aerick led his rearguard action against the orks first. It was only a few hundred, but they were unused to the light forest that rested on the southern border of Iceholme. Their snow white fur gave them away, and made perfect targets for the arrows of Aerick's rangers. They led the orks north, along the border with the Empire, traveling closer to the dark army of Iceholme. Yet for every ten or twenty orks slain, he lost one of his own warriors. Down to ten warriors left, the surviving orks came into contact with the force led by Cymra the Black. It was a slaughter. The warlord of the north cared little for anyone or anything but herself. He pulled back his meager forces to watch the carnage, and curled his lip in disgust. Her army was back to its original size, for the dead had risen to join her in her unholy crusade. Aerick and his men withdrew to the border. The rocky hills providing cover and protection for his forces.

"If we run across any Imperial forces, surrender immediately." Aerick warned. "They will not give any quarter to those they feel are threatening their lands."