Tortho had been true to his word. It helped that he and Quu'za got along splendidly as well. The harpy warrior had been quite surprised though at the size of the army I had brought. That lasted only for a moment or two though until the captain of the scouts shared my idea about leading the army through the hills on a path that seeks out some obstacles on purpose. She started sharing her knowledge of the terrain with enthusiasm that had me smiling. Some of the other harpies had chimed in every once in a while as well and before long the elf had determined a general course that would see us through the hills. He split the dozen harpies into smaller groups as well which he attached to the scouts he would have range ahead and around our main column.

It was quite a relief to know that things were taken care of. It gave me some ease of mind I really needed. The captains and sergeants saw to it that the camp was set up properly as well without any issues. A watch was set up although it wasn't strictly necessary just outside the walls of Caer'zha. It would be for the better though that everyone got into the habit of taking things serious early on. We weren't on a friendly little camping trip after all. Everyone who could turned in for the night early. It seemed that news spread about our plan to cross the hills instead of following the road. The seasoned soldiers knew that they would need every bit of rest they could get and their less experienced comrades followed their example. I slipped into the small tent I shared with Kaele early as well to catch some sleep.

I really needed that sleep as well. Not because moving at a brisk pace in armor was tiring. I had done that once already when crossing the hills in the other direction. What I felt was more some kind of mental fatigue. Maybe it was the responsibilities now resting upon my shoulders? Or was it just the events at the capital finally catching up to me now that I was only running and not scrambling to get things done? I couldn't tell for sure. If it was the former I would have to get used to it. If it was the latter it would probably pass within a few days anyway. Either way I needed that sleep and thankfully it was not haunted by any dreams. Or at least it wasn't haunted by any dreams I could remember upon waking. Just as well.

Still I felt a heavy weight upon my chest as I woke in the morning. At first I was wondering if I might be coming down with something but as I finally woke up for good and blinked my eyes a few times I realized that my sister's familiar had decided to curl up atop of me some time in the night. My left eye twitched slightly as I turned my head sideways to shoot a look at the peacefully sleeping Kaele as she snoozed ever so slightly. I turned my head to look back at the cat. “Now what am I going to do about you, huh?” One of its ears twitched slightly as I whispered. In the end I decided to prod the feline lightly. My finger never even got close, as a paw shot out to intercept it, with extended claws. “Gah! Is that any way to treat your pillow?”

The little creature opened one of its eyes halfway, as if it wanted to imply, that pillows had no right to give it any backtalk. Then it rose and stretched. The feeling of its bare paws against my skin had me fighting to hold in my laughter. Then the little terror started kneading, with her claws out! Oh, you … Now I was awake for good. My hands shot out at speed comparable to that of my tormentor to snatch her up and lift her off of my exposed midriff. She made a protesting noise, a noise I couldn't quite categorize, but I wasn't going to have any of it. I put her down again as quickly as I had picked her up though. I didn't want to risk anything. She did still have her claws out after all. I put her down on Kaele's cot and she just curled up again, against her mistress, not without giving me a rather pointed stare. My sister seemed not to notice any of what happened and just kept on sleeping.

I let her sleep as I got up silently. I would have to wake her before long but not right now. Silently I washed up, if you could call it that, with only a little water and a wet cloth at hand, and slipped back into my armor. That was a bit harder to do, without waking Kaele but I managed. Once I was done I headed out. Our tent was a pretty small and plain one. None of the others were like the gaudy tents the mercenaries had used at the market either but our still was a bit on the small side when compared to some of the others. I didn't mind. The camp was slowly coming awake as well. Apparently we had plenty of early risers. Some were already busy making breakfast for the rest. I joined Zul'gar and some of the others who had accompanied me so far for a bowl of plain, mashed ashroot.

As I finished it, Tortho and Quu'za approached us. I greeted them with a small wave. “Are you heading out already?” I could see some of the mercenaries already breaking down camp around us. They all worked already like a well oiled machine although they still kept to their own companies for the better part, or to those they already had worked with in the past. Before they could answer, Kaele joined us as well, still looking a little sleepy. The cat was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she was getting herself some breakfast as well. Not here though. Just as well. The mash wouldn't really have been to her taste, not without some meat or at least some seasonings anyway.

Our harpy friend and the mercenary answered my question with a nod. It was Quu'za who elaborated a little on it in the end. “We will need a little head start to properly screen the marching column. We need some time to check out the obstacles we have decided upon as well.” She winked at me and the mercenary at her side flashed us a smile as well. “Don't want to take out half of the army before we get anywhere on accident after all.”

I saw the off with another wave before returning to our tent. I quickly broke it down and stowed it on one of the pack animals again. As I did that I got to watch the cat return with its breakfast as well. Turns out she had opted to catch herself something fresh instead of scrounging at the other cooking fires. I opted not to watch too closely as she started picking apart the bird she had caught. “Well, at least one of us got some meat for her morning meal.” I left it at that comment and pretended I hadn't heard the noise she made in reply, it had almost sounded like a laugh, as I finished packing.

Just in time as well as I could already see some of the officers and their sergeants approach me. I moved a little, so we could all gather in a decent circle around one of the now extinguished cooking fires. I cleared my throat to make sure I had everyone's attention. “Same marching order as yesterday. Captain, Arngard?” The dark skinned human, one of the few in my mercenary banner, snapped to attention as I addressed him. “You have the head of the column today as Tortho has moved out with the scouts already.” That was the only big change in that regard.

“We will cut through the hills today instead of following the road.” Most of them must have heard rumors already. There was still some murmuring anyway. “Our campaign will take us into and possibly through mountainous terrain. I want everyone getting used to it while we still have time. We will not pick the easiest path through the hills either. We do that on purpose. We will face obstacles and we will overcome them. We will maintain our pace from yesterday as well. I want to be through the hills and back on the road in three days at most. Any questions?” There was much shaking of heads. No questions then. “Good. Keep an eye out for problems. Move out!”

That got everyone moving. It didn't take long for the column to form up on marching order. And even as it formed up it started heading out from the camp site with one of Quu'za's harpies at the side of captain Arngard, relaying information about the path we would take. I left them to it for now. Instead of heading to the front I walked to the back of the column to make sure everyone got underway without problems. Thus I was the last to leave the campsite, I probably would come to sorely miss it in the days ahead of us, and as I did I was seen off with a wave from one of the gate guards of Caer'zha. It was the forgeborn who had greeted us here upon our visit just a few days ago. Her shift must have been about to end now in the early morning hours. I returned her greeting and got moving in earnest as well. I started moving past my men and women again to head to the front once more. It didn't take me long to forget about the chill of early morning as I essentially ran circles around an army moving along at a brisk pace. Time flew like this and we were just out of the plains around Caer'zha as we reached our first obstacle.