Chapter 38.1

The cold of sudden snow was biting in Eirwen's face. Ironic how she had yet to suffer any injury in combat here, but the weather got its dues instead. She looked over her people, they too without injuries. The healers they had brought were happy they had nothing to do.

She enhanced her vision and looked around, an easier act than throwing her senses far and wide. No signs of anything lying in wait nearby, while the refugees on the main road were progressing at a decent pace. On the other side of the road, she saw the signs of where Red's group was making its way through the woods. They had gone without combat this day. The past few days, she had run into more scouts than him, yet she had refused to switch sides with him.

There were over a hundred travellers today, several villages combined with part of the town they had stayed at the night before. News had spread that Frost Giants were attacking villages now, enough for people to begin evacuating by themselves. They mostly went unhindered, their numbers discouraging wolf packs, while the giants held back as expected. That didn't stop Eirwen from hunting them down, clearing the area of any scouts they discovered. Only a few remote ones remained untouched, those far enough away to only be able to report bloodshed.

The walls of Bealach na Caisteal were coming into sight as Eirwen and Red led their troops back to the main road. The first thing she noticed was several banners flying there. Red sent her a questioning thought, relying on her senses at so large a distance. She focused and saw enough to form a theory. "I think it's Ó Doirinne. Comtesse Dubheasa her reinforcements must have arrived slightly ahead of schedule." She hoped they hadn't pushed too hard. The mountains were a threat to those who rushed.

Coming closer, the banners became easier to see. Yes, Ó Doirinne, though with Iceheart and Verglas coats to accompany their own House's, rather than Flameheart. Perfect. If any giants saw those, it hopefully would spread the right message.

Militia members greeted them at the various barricades being erected by the roadside, ways to prevent giants from getting too close to the town without a fight. She could see jawlines tense as they took in the sight of the refugees. Understanding full well both the drain this would have on their resources, and how dire affairs had to be that so many were fleeing their homes.

The gates were open, though ready to be barred at a moment's notice. Entering, Eirwen did see several knights accompany the people manning the gates. And down the road she saw a small group of knights on horseback galloping their way. Leading them, she was shocked to see Dubheasa herself. The woman dismounted in a single smooth motion, then knelt before Eirwen. "All hail the Duchess!"

""Hail!"" Eirwen nodded and got out of the way, letting the refugees enter town. Militia members came up and escorted them while briefing their leaders with all relevant information.

"Comtesse, it is good to see you. Did you have a safe journey?" She left the question about why personally and this fast unasked. She saw and sensed no injuries, so either healers had done their job well, or all was well.

"All went well. We dealt with a single aggressive pack of wolves, and my scouts took out a few giants. They had some experience, so they handled the situation just fine. You look healthy, your Grace. I am glad to see that."

Eirwen nodded. She had to admit it was true. Being able to fight, to protect people, had done wonders for her spirits. She had gone without nightmares for a while now, and even Red only had had three in the past eight days. "Thank you. Come with me, I would like a more detailed report."

They mounted again. From on top of her horse, Dubheasa looked Red in the eyes. "Weapon master. You too look well." Eirwen could tell the Comtesse was joyful about that. Clearly she had worried about the two of them.

He nodded at her. "Please call me Red. And yes, despite all the hunting, all is well. The mountain air has done wonders for me. How long has it been since your arrival here, and are you resting well?"

"Somewhat over an hour ago. Yes, my troops are resting. The knights let their own horses pull the carriages, so they exhausted themselves and their horses." She turned herself towards Eirwen, as if to mainly report to her. "Three dozen knights, two dozen scouts, and all the supplies we could muster. We had prepared for being able to reinforce the border, so we rode out within the hour of receiving your message."

Impressive. And good to know that the territories were aiding each other. "How long do you think it will take before further reinforcements arrive? Will you receive any?"

Dubheasa shook her head. "Not me, an unmounted army without experience will take too long to get up the mountains. I ordered them to reinforce the border instead, so that more cavalry can be spared. But I know House Carraig has relocated all their cavalry to Leathad Den Ghrian, since the border with Verglas is safe. Still, our own cavalry is amongst the best. I imagine it will take Aoife another day and a half before she arrives, and similar for the border."

Red nodded along, her numbers within his calculations. She had almost forgotten just how much he knew about his people, able to predict how well they could perform when they put their heart into it. His. Apparently she still considered them his, despite everything. Most likely so did they. But he had surrendered to Eirwen and she was gaining their loyalty by her own hand all the same. It was just that his presence helped.

She pondered the timeline. "I hope she'll be in time, but I fear it won't. Rest well, Dubheasa. If we're reasonably lucky, we can expect combat tomorrow around noon. I doubt they'll rush for a nighttime raid, but I expect they'll try to lure us out tomorrow, which will require more time than just a siege."

She could see the cold set in, Dubheasa's face and eyes hardening. It was easy to forget, but almost every noble and their children had seen combat during the war. Dubheasa too was already an experienced veteran, forced to bleed in her mother's name so that her sister could focus on commanding from a distance. It would be useful to have her at their side.

"Understood, your Grace. So you're still expecting a Frost Giant attack, then. How exactly do you think they'll try to lure us out?" As they spoke, the tavern that served as Eirwen's base came within sights.

"Cruelty. They enjoy watching suffering. I'm expecting an escalation of that, a desperate rush of refugees that they will only try to kill when they arrive at our doorstep. We've prepared for that scenario. That's also why I told you to fly your banners. I need them to feel rushed and fall into our trap."

As they dismounted, there was a bit of a wicked grin on Dubheasa's face, one that momentarily reminded Eirwen of the Comtesse's sister. She kind of understood the sentiment. At last this was an enemy one could enjoy killing. After a war of chivalry, where both sides had done their best to prevent needless bloodshed, this kind of fight was a relief.

Warden Blacktree greeted them. He was next to Dubheasa's carriages, orchestrating the division of the supplies. With all the refugees, the extra food would serve them well. He had his daughter with him today, who looked a bit uncomfortable in the presence of Dubheasa. The ones that had fled, and the one that now led. An interesting contrast.

They had dinner together, alongside various local group leaders. A simple meal, fitting the current food shortage, but filling enough. They discussed the current supplies, injuries, scout reports, and more. The map of the territory served well to help illustrate what they discussed.

Night fell as they conversed, and soon, they received the first reports of fire in the west. As they had feared, and ahead of schedule. The giants were preparing tomorrow's events.

Everyone looked at Eirwen, waiting for her orders. Something that she never had expected when she came to the mountains. Even a week ago, they still had looked a lot at Red. But now, somehow, it was her who was their leader. It was a welcome act. Not that she intended to take full control, but perhaps it would be the beginning of a new age for the mountains.

She nodded at them all. "You all have prepared well the past days. Get your rest. Tomorrow, we will be at war."