The Maiden of Moonfane Forge

The next morning’s subdued daylight saw the soldiers going about their activities with significantly less enthusiasm than they had only the day before. Mora, Oderyk, and Iannitz had arrived at the broken-down carriage around nightfall and learned that Slouk had not been found. Iannitz took the news poorly. In blaming himself for the thief’s escape, he’d performed his lot of the tasks setting up camp in a distracted and fragile fashion, which only served to get in the way of the other soldiers, visibly irritating some. There wasn’t much Vetch could do about it other than tell the young man to pay better attention to his work.

What had most disheartened them all was seeing the bed in the carriage—their first tangible confirmation of Marigold not only having been stolen away, but that it was a heist that had been well planned for. What had at first seemed just a larger than usual livestock raid had solidified into something much bigger and more sinister than anyone could have imagined.

Vetch stood by his saddled gelding, waiting for the last of his people to finish making ready to ride. He still hadn’t named his horse. While not exactly the most enthusiastic mount, he had been steady on the unfamiliar path thus far. The horse was wary, but intelligent and adaptable. He could work with that.

“Captain!”

All the soldiers’s heads turned. Iannitz returned from taking a piss in the woods bearing a flat chunk of wood in his hands. It looked to Vetch at first as if he’d found a shield, but upon closer inspection he recognized it for what it actually was: part of one of the carriage doors. The soldiers gathered around to look down at the object Iannitz displayed.

“Found it right over there in the tall grass,” he hastily explained. “Other pieces, too.”

All of them could see the significance of the object right away, for painted on the carriage door was a family coat of arms.

“So, that’s why they pulled the doors off,” offered Mora. “This could identify them.”

“Something they overlooked,” Oderyk added. “Or didn’t destroy well enough.”

Vetch brushed his hand across the coat of arms to clear dirt away and then tilted his head, staring down at the design. He smiled. Staring up at him was a black castle rampart overtop a gilded field. Above the rampart was a purple flower. Below it, a red heart. But it was the rampart and golden field that Vetch focused on.

“A black castle surrounded by wheat fields,” he said. “So, the horse thief was speaking true, and we’re on the right trail.”

“See? I told you! Didn’t I tell you? I wasn’t lying.”

They all turned to the voice and were surprised to see Slouk leading his horse down the center of the path toward them. He appeared weary and on edge as he approached them, like a wild animal tempted by a tidbit of meat held out to it.

Neschi, Renzo, and Vetch all drew their swords at the same time.

“What trick is this?” Oderyk demanded of the thief.

“No trick!” Slouk squealed, cringing small. “I’m sorry I ran. I was tired of that one hitting me.” His eyes indicated Renzo.

Vetch advanced on him, sword still in hand, making his threat clear. “Then why come back? Did you catch up to your friends and alert them to our presence? Are they coming here now? If they do, they’ll find the fight of their lives.” When he reached Slouk, he grabbed him by the shirt, shoved him down to the ground, and leveled his sword point on his chest. Already, the other soldiers were spreading out on the path and staring up it, some with swords drawn, others with bows readied. Vetch kept Slouk pinned while his eyes scanned the forest, ears primed for any sounds of horses or men.

“I keep telling you, they’re not my friends.” Slouk spoke breathlessly, eyes on the blade leveled at his chest. “No one is out there. I know because I tried to find ‘em.”

“And warn them?” Vetch persisted.

“No, stupid. To ... to get my sister back. I was tired of plodding along with you lot, and getting hit by that one whenever you weren’t looking.”

“He lies,” Renzo gritted. “Never touched him but that one time. And he earned it.”

Vetch shook his head and looked down at Slouk again. “Still doesn’t explain why you came back.” The pitiful young man appeared to wilt then. He had the look of a man who’d not slept in days, and his fear of Vetch’s blade was clear in his wide eyes. Vetch met those eyes with his own and said, “I don’t have to explain to you why no one here trusts you, least of all me. I’m going to put my blade up, but the next time I have to draw it on you, it’ll be more than just a threat. Now, you better start talking. Why’d you come back?”

Slouk took half a dozen breaths through his nose, chest rising and falling as Vetch’s blade eased back from him and was returned to its scabbard. Slouk swallowed and spoke around a dry mouth. “Thought I could catch up to them on my own. Find my sister. Sneak her out and get away. But I couldn’t. They’re long gone. And I ... I couldn’t survive on my own out here. There’s strange things in these woods. So, I came back.” He pointed then at the chunk of carriage door Iannitz had dropped to the ground. “But I told you, didn’t I? I put you on the right track. You should be kinder to me. Everywhere I go, with soldiers its always cruelty.”

Vetch flicked his eyes up at his fellow soldiers, still poised to meet an attack. The woods remained tranquil. A breeze picked its way through the higher branches. Birds called somewhere not far off. Vetch frowned to himself and offered a hand to Slouk. “Okay. Back up on your horse. Moonfane,” he addressed the other soldiers. “We’re wasting time. Mount up and let’s go.”

“You won’t find ‘em. They’re too far ahead of us,” Slouk said. Hesitantly, he gripped Vetch’s hand and let himself be pulled roughly up. Despite his complaints, he did as he was told and got back on his horse. The soldiers did the same.

“Iannitz,” Vetch called. “It’s your lucky day. For falling asleep on watch, you get to carry the carriage door.”

“Sir?” The young soldier queried.

“Mayhap as we get further east, we can find someone who can put a name to that coat of arms. Pack it onto your horse. And stay by Slouk. Watch him, as you hadn’t before.”

“Yessir,” Iannitz replied, chastened. He saluted, accepting punishment that was more symbolic than anything. Vetch knew from experience that, sometimes, being called out in front of the other soldiers made a lesson stick more firmly than the usual doubled duty. There was no gate duty he could order out here, anyhow.

Once Vetch was in his saddle, he caught Renzo’s eye and added, “And, you, Renzo. Stay away from Slouk.”

Renzo only scoffed a breath through his nose and saluted wordlessly

Clenching his teeth, Vetch nudged his horse into a trot and rode up to lead the procession. His soldiers and Slouk fell in line behind him.