Darkness fell in the winter forest. Mist lying beyond the small band of Eorlings, among the trees low. Régnwald slowed the company to a halt. He instructed, "We shall camp here in the woods for the night. Let a fire be built and a guard posted." As the order was sealed with a firm nod, he dismounted his horse and his feet found the ground, leaving a hard song of clinking battered war-nets as he paced onward. Régnwald finally took off his helmet, and he would be at least equally fast to shed the iron-welded gauntlets he was wearing. The armored Eorling was fatigued, but it was a good fatigue. They had covered some ground today, and it felt good to be in motion again, to be active instead of having to linger in the hut, confined in a bed all day long, waiting his doom. Yet, before he was able to sit down and have some food at the campfire with his comrades, there was one unspoken rule to follow, first, a rule that was essential to the kingdom of Riddermark, an ancient law: 'Take care of your horse, first. Take off his burden, feed him and let him rest, and he will thank you with strength, courage and heart.' Nobody ever second-guessed that law, and Régnwald wasn't about to, either. The leader of sword-armed men, who were wrongly made wulf's-heads, removed the saddle and blanket from his steed's back and laid them to the side. placed a hand on the steed's neck, letting it rest there while the other finally removed the bridle. He looked back to where the rest were lighting the fire. Bending to pick up a small bundle of old straw from near the blanket, he cast a sidelong glance, his face and nose red with chafing cold, hair unruly wild and greasy.
In the white canvas of snow trudged a horse and rider, with each step the horse sinking down into the snow with it's rider encouraging it with soft words of comfort. His cloak was pulled tightly around his face, his hood low and his red beard white with frost. He was moving towards the forest, with urgency, though the snow hindered him. The rider dismounted as they came near the border of the woods, breathing heavily to warm himself up. He took the reins of the horse in his fur and leather covered hands, before he made his way into the densely packed trees. Smoke caught his keen eyes, and he turned, heading that way instead of the direction he left them a few days ago. A bird's call sounded, as a signal to his approach, as the hooded rider approached the figures through the woods. He pushed his hood back, revealing the wild red hair and beard that could only belong to Hund. His face was hard and stern, no sign of joy upon it.
Even as Régnwald gazed his ears caught sounds in the wood-lands beyond. He stiffened. His comrades behind him bustled with calls of alarm, and the telling jingle of weapons becoming lose in their scabbards. Drawing the iron sword, Régnwald crashed through the trees to meet the approaching figure. His eyes widened for once as the horseman revealed a scarlet head. "Langhund?!" Hondscioh said the name of the rider. "Where ya been half-blooded bastard?" "Langhund." Régnwald sounded confused, gulping heavily once, he breathed. Lowering his sword, he would advance forth with long strides. The hair was long, straw in hue and tangled as the shrugs he often found himself clambering through. He planted the blade in the snow, gazing sideways before he looked up to meet his gaze "...lucky to be way beyond my sword." He eyed him, with a gaze no less stern. "I at first thought you were an orc spy." Letting his head drop for a moment, he firmed his jaw, finally lifting up his bearded chin "What happened?"
Langhund moved his way into the camp, not yet unsaddling his horse, moving towards the fire. On his way past he gave Hondscioh a shoulder against his in a half-jest way of telling him to shut up. He sat down on the log, looked at the flames for a long moment as he breathed in. "The signs were right. The unborn babe died within Diorwyn's stomach." He took a long deep breath, his eyes cold and his lips straight.
It was clear from Régnwald's stony face he did not approve of this information. He held his breath then let it out in an audible gust of relief. Now pulling the sword from the heavy snow, it found home in its baldric. Régnwald paced near the small fire, swerving a half-curious look out of pale, hazel green eyes to him. Hondscioh asked without any sign of emotion "Is that why ya left?" "I'm sorry for your loss." Régnwald spoke, patting a heavy hand on his shoulder. "You needn't ride back to find us. You are not oathed for this deed." He eyed Langhund in solemnity and silence.
"Ja, that is why.", he answered Hondscioh first, before he looked up towards Régnwald. "I am wanted in Forlaw as well, and I was told to deliver a message to you. A way for us to save our names perhaps." He rose up from the log, pulling his heavy cloak about him some more.
Régnwald gazed upon him, furrowing his brow as his eyes glistened with some curiosity; though not in wonder. His fingers subconsciously worked the collar of the heavy leather cloak with the cape of wolf-fur over his shoulders, tightening it around his neck, and despite this, he shivered. "There's only one way to save the names unspoken." He casted his gaze about Yrmenlaf, Aeschere and Hondscioh. "And I know that lies within the claws of death, in the fort of our ancestrial foe. If there's anything you wish to tell me in favor of this deed, Langhund, now would be the time." He grew quiet though eyes glistened with hunger for information as his words sank.
Hund took in a breath, enjoying the feeling of the cold air going down his throat before he repeated, word for word what he was told. "Battle is brewing, soon in Balewood. If he wants and can, let him bring his men there. Bivac there till the Reeve's men arrive and let him fullfill his oaths to Forlaw by fighting against the orcs. Be wary, they are many and patrol in considerate number. From Yrminas, the scout. Those words come from Faerhild also. There is either that, or that whilst the Reeves men distract the enemy from the front, we move behind and enter whilst they are distracted with the fighting up front." Langhund's gaze then looked up towards Régnwald with a raised brow, wondering what he thought of the plans.
Régnwald grimaced his face, heralding some disbelief in the wayworn Eorling's scarred and bearded features. Hondscioh spat "Reeve's sending men? Who on earth changed his mind?" Régnwald remained thoughtful, it could be read from his look that the words of the half-blood rider's words were feeding his wolfish and deep enthusiasm. "How is she? And the others." The moment passed "If the Reeve wants to send an army as in truth, then someone, or something must have opened his eyes. But we can't expect them to help us, as the standing of our names are nomore protected by their laws..." A bitter sigh escaped him.
"Faerhild changed the mind of them it seems, and she is doing well when I last saw her. Though that was not long after my woman smashed washing basin over my head. She is not doing so well, after I accidently told her brother that she was once pregnant. Among of other things..", he muttered and for the first a faint grin appeared. "I know exactly where the battle will be taking place. They will help, especially if we play a key role in the battle."
"What makes you certain--" Questioning words were uttered in some disbelief. He replied, stifling his natural and somewhat unenthusiastic reaction. The Eorling turned his gaze broodingly ahead, his thoughts clearly on Langhund's words. His eyes glistened like iron as he eyed him "There'll be a battle? Yes, there will." He paused, clearing his throat "But you can't fully know of its whereabouts unless the riders of Forlaw target their fort. These are orcs, Langhund. And in a place like Balewood, so unsafe for horses, they'd be hunted down..."
"I heard of the plan from Long-Limbs, Yrminas. The Reeve's men will march into the Balewood and where there is a fork in the road, that is where there will be the battle. One path leads to the fort, ja? The other to a supply place or some such. Cut off the two, and the fort will be undersupplied. Then they will march against the fort, and we come in from the back along the winding path."
Régnwald watched him a beat as the red bearded man recounted the plans he was informed with. Eyes hardened, "Are you sure? Can we trust these words?" He casted his eyes about "The man named Yrminas, I owe him a life..." He sat thoughtfully in his hauberk. "We'll not withdraw from our plan, the fort is where the winds shall lead us to. If Langhund is rightly informed, then it might be our chance, but we can't know for certain. We don't know the numbers, who leads them. We know all we need is something to distract them. But it may turn into a suicide for the riders too. 'Tis the worst and what I fear." He let his eyes wander around his armoured comrades one by one. "The éored may meet their doom at the gates without their true captain."
"Then we will have to get to their true captain whilst they hold the orcs attention.", Langhund nodded grimly, returning to go and sit besides the fire to warm himself up. He sighed again, and fell silent. He did not seem happy, his usual self buried like the grass buried under the snow.
"We will." Régnwald firmed his jaw, eyeing him a beat, and innermost thoughts engulfed him. The tired and worried expression in his dark green eyes spoke louder than words. As the moment passed, he straightened, now the sword once more thrusted in the ground, "If it's true, we'll be aware and ready as they arrive," he spoke firmly "...for bare is brotherless back."
"If you want, I can convey more messages. Though Langhund is a wanted man, they do not know the name of Wildehyse." He looked up towards Régnwald, brow raised.
"There's no need, friend. A sword to swing would be enough. Spies of our enemies are watching us everywhere." He casted his eyes around the trees surrounding rheir camp grimly. "There's something else we have to focus, and that lies beyond us, not behind."
"Sword-work is near. I can almost taste it now." Hondscioh commented as he ate his food.
"I'll be needing a sword then. They took mine from me upon entry to Forlaw.", he nodded slowly, looking around for any spare weapons.
Régnwald followed the man's gaze, but the answer came from Hondscioh "You can take my bow, here." He extended ash-wood craft to him.
Hund smiled as a bow was offered, taking it and testing the string. "Thank you." He smiled with a nod, setting the bow across his lap.
Hondscioh struggled to offer the same smile as sarcasm was the air surrounding him. "Thought ye broke some ice with your fat hairy dunlending arse and drowned in freezing waters."
Langhund simply smirked, looking over towards Hondscioh. "You think you can get rid of me so easily? Hah! It takes more than the weather to keep Langhund Wildehyse from his goals!"
As the two laughed, Régnwald sat, subconsciously leaning and giving his weight to his sword, blade buried in the snow.
