XXV. Hello Uncertainty

Vance shielded his eyes against the harsh sunlight reflected off the fresh snow. He tightened the old fur he had scavenged and adjusted his ruck before continuing the slow trek back to town. Winter had come down hard on Sorn, and despite the sun being out in force, the air was frigid, and a layer of frost had formed on his scarf from his breath. He glanced over his shoulder towards the west, and wondered if Rémann and his retinue of knights had made it safely to Marquez. While he understood their desire for haste, he still felt a twinge of bitterness for how they so callously abandoned him and the travelers. While the knights of individual nations were not held to the same levels of charity and chivalry as those in The Order, it was still a major tenant to protect the weak.

He quickened his pace as he trudged his way atop the thigh high snow in ill-fitting snowshoes, the abandoned homes and farms that lined the road caused a sense of dread in him. He and Francoise, or Ransom as he preferred, had done their best to bury most of the bodies they found while scavenging supplies, but they certainly did not get all of them. Fortunately, the cold and snow kept the smell down.

Ahead at the old gatehouse, Zuri hammered away as he patched the holes in the gate. Someone or something had previously beaten it in, but oddly enough, they had done so from inside of the city.

“How’s it coming along?” he asked breathlessly.

Zuri looked down at him from his ladder and climbed down to meet him. He too wore an ill-fitting parka and a pair of mismatched gloves.

“Your friends are gone.”

Vance dumped his sack onto the pavement and mopped his brow with his scarf. “Probably out foraging again. How’s the gate coming?”

Zuri shook his head. “Naw man, they’re gone. They took my fucking oxen too.”

“Are you kidding me with this?”

“Rémann warned us about them.”

Vance angrily threw off his glove and ran his hand through his damp hair. “Does Leila know yet?”

Zuri shrugged. “She will. While they left the caravan, they raided it pretty thoroughly.”

“Gods damn it.” He held his hand over his hand and scanned the blinding fields of snow. “Alright, take this stuff to the house. I’m going after them.”

“On foot?” Zuri asked incredulously. “They likely have a couple hours on us, you won’t catch them. Just tell Leila and take your scolding like a man.”

Vance scanned the horizon, squinting against the snow glare as Zuri approached with a thermos. He took the thermos and unscrewed the cap, taking a long drink of the warm liquid before handing it back.

“They couldn’t have gotten very far…”

“They’ve gotten far enough.” Zuri countered and took a sip from the thermos.

Vance shook his head. “Not with the snow this deep and not with those ornery cows of yours.”

“Ox.”

“Whatever.” Vance paused to check his sword and rewrap his scarf. “I’m going after them.”

“That’s stupid. You’re being stupid.”

Vance laughed, causing Zuri to furrow his brow further.

“There’s no point in traipsing off into the wilderness and getting yourself killed.” Zuri persisted.

“Maybe you’re right…”

“Of course I am. Those two were trouble from the start, when the Dusk born pick them off my ox will find their way back.”

Vance pointed towards the sacks of goods and slowly turned to go back into the fields.

“Take that to Leila, I’m heading back out.”

“Hey! Dumbass, I thought we agreed to let it be?”

“Don’t worry; I’m just going for more supplies. We’re gonna be stuck here for a while and I want to make sure we have enough before the weather turns.”

“We can just canvas the city again, why the hell do you need to keep going out there?”

Vance placed his hand to his heart. “I’m touched you are so concerned.”

“Stop fucking around!”

“I’m looking for another horse alright? I found some stables and fresh dung not too far from here. If I can find a couple, we can get the hell out of here, at least to the border.”

Zuri rolled his eyes and begrudgingly took up the sacks of supplies. “Just don’t take all damn day. I don’t want to have to come looking for your ass.”

* * *

After an hour and a half of trudging through the snow, there was still no sign of the wild horses that might not have been there to begin with. Admittedly, he likely had not traveled very far; he still felt there should have been some sort of sign. There was the occasional barn with easy access to hay and grain, but no sign of the horses that should be huddled under the eaves.

He took a break at one such barn, and searched it for any traces of livestock with mounting frustration. While it was possible that the fleeing townsfolk took their animals with them, there still should have been a significant number that were left behind. There were not many carcasses laying around either, ruling out the Dusk born having eaten them.

The barns and stables were devoid of any useful materials, and he cursed himself for the wasted effort. Rusted farming tools, rotted rope and linen tarps, harnesses for plow animals, nothing that could be eaten or burned for heat.

He made one final, lazy lap around the barn before going back, and paused upon finding fresh scat. He knelt down to take a closer look, surprised to find bear tracks nearby. He stood back up and glanced around, the pile was still steaming, meaning the owner was nearby. Quickly and quietly, he made his way around the barn back towards the road, only to come face to face with the source of the tracks.

What he had assumed to be a normal bear was in fact a creature of dusk, though like none he had heard about in fairy tales or legends as a child. While it was in fact a bear, it had the torso of a bear atop the body of another, like some sort of bear centaur, a beartaur.

He slowly raised one hand as he put his other on his sword. The bear snorted and pawed at the snow with its lower front paw. Vance slowly drew his sword as he backed away, speaking in a soft and soothing tone. The monster snarled again and bluff charged, causing Vance to fall over backwards into the snow. He quickly scrambled to his feet and aimed his sword at the creature, now in full aggressive stance.

The creature charged again and swatted at him with its upper arms. Vance swung with a loud shout, digging his blade into the creature’s flesh, which only served to anger it further. The bear monster charged again and swatted at him, its massive paws and claws easily rent his mail and parka, knocking him to the ground. Before he could get up, the creature was on him, savagely mauling him before closing its gaping maw about his throat.

* * *

Leila stood sentinel in a third story window overlooking a main thoroughfare, her brother sat at the dining table behind her, fidgeting with his crossbow. The sun had set, leaving the golden moon Aurum to cast its brilliant yet eerie glow across the snow-filled lanes of Auld Ferrons. The occasional shadow danced across the barren streets as some small creature or another darted from one hiding spot to the next.

Between them, not a word was spoken, as untouched dinner hung in a cauldron over embers and ash. Her face was placid, belying the turmoil within as her mind raced with various scenarios that could account for the absence of the newest member of their troupe.

“He’s not coming back, is he?” she said under her breath.

Without a word, Zuri gathered up his bow and a mostly empty quiver of bolts and made his way towards the door. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, debating whether she should stop him or not, ultimately deciding on the former.

“Zuri…”

Her brother paused at the door, his bow slung over his shoulder, his hand on the knob. After several moments of pregnant silence, he slowly turned the knob and opened the door.

“Zuri!”

He slowly turned around and cast his golden gaze upon his sister, whose face was contorted in sorrow as stinging tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Rekindle the fire so that we can eat.”

The two locked eyes for several moments that held an eternity, speaking all that needed to be said without a single word. Reluctantly, Zuri set his bow down upon the table and dragged himself towards the fireplace to relight the fire. Leila watched him for several moments before turning back to the barren lane below.