Iron Blooded

Twenty Five: Red not Black

The tracks led us deeper into the bog where the trails were thin and the horses had to high step to avoid sinking into the mud.

The tracks were deep but every so often the trail would come up short in the water's edge, only to resume several yards ahead.

"I think we have to consider that this beast, whatever it is, can travel on both water and land."

I gestured to the imprint in the mud. "Look at the area between the claws. The feet looked webbed."

Hade lifted his spear, poking at the water with the blade. A swarm of flies burst up and startled him. Kato laughed.

"Everything in this place is out to get us," he grumbled.

"I fear you may be right, Will," Said Lord Dacon. His eyes scanned the line of the water.

"Ser Robert believes, as do I, that the monster we're hunting is a fiend."

"A fiend?" I feigned ignorance.

Lord Dacon swatted a fly away from his open visor.

"Fiends are rare creatures as they aren't known to mate as heavily as many other monster breeds. They are mostly independent unless they are mating - in which class it is advisable to steer clear. They are also cunning."

He glanced up the trail.

"In fact, There is a very good chance that it's already aware of our presence."

Draxus glanced at me as the party moved forward. He moved in close, matching his stride with mine.

"What are you up to Blackbriar?" He growled, one brow arched. "And don't lie to me."

I glanced around at him.

"Just trust me," I said. "And follow my lead. Something is up, and I aim to find out what."

The giant nodded and I signaled silently at my men to halt. The movement went mostly unnoticed by the riders ahead.

"My Lord Dacon," I called. The Count's Son glanced around, seeming to realize I was no longer walking alongside his horse.

"My Lord we shouldn't delay," said Ser Robert, shooting me an angry look. "If we want to return to the main body before sundown we must find the beast within the hour."

Dacon glanced from his Knight to me and, upon seeing my expression, his brows drew together.

"My Lord," I said. "What do you know of Fiends and their hunting patterns?"

"Hunting patterns?" he mused. "Well, I know they aren't nocturnal and prefer their prey alive before consumption. They also tend to favor attacking live prey rather than scavenging carcasses. Why do you ask?"

Draxus and I exchanged a look.

"I think that there is a chance this trail has been laid deliberately. I think the Fiend may be luring us deeper into its territory."

"Nonsense," Ser Robert "The Monster sign is fresh, even a seasoned tracker would know as much."

"That's true," I said. "But have you considered the possibility that there might be more than one Fiend?"

There was an uncomfortable pause. Ser Robert made a derisive snort. His horse danced in place, eager to be moving again.

"Tell me, Will of Blackbriar," Said the Knight, his voice dripping with sneer. "Just how many hunts have you led."

"None."

A few of his men chuckled.

"So what is it that makes you think you're qualified to question the methods of my men? My squad has been tracking this threat since before we entered the bog, believe me when I say that we do not require the input of a scrawny youth with no hair on his chin."

Draxus stepped forward but I threw out a hand to catch him in the chest.

"Is this how you let your men speak to a friend, My Lord?" he asked Dacon.

Lord Dacon gave me an appraising look.

"I believe Will is more than capable of handling himself." Said the Lord. Ser Robert glanced at him in surprise but then his face hardened.

Draxus reluctantly stepped back. I nodded my thanks and squared my shoulders.

"If you must know, Ser Robert I do not believe I am more qualified than you or you men. But I have noticed what you've failed to realize."

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I paused long enough for the Knight to smirk.

"And what might that be?"

"That the footprints we are tracking have changed not once, but twice. There are two different sets here, one smaller and with four toes, the other much larger and deeper, but with three."

That wiped the smirk from his face. The Knight shifted in his saddle and exchanged a look with one of his men. He didn't seem to notice as my own squad shifted around us, idling near the water's edge.

Dacon was frowning, gazing between Ser Robert and me.

Kato loitered by the back of the group, yawning loudly as he stretched his neck. He gave me a subtle nod and I turned my attention back to the Knight.

"Tell me Ser Robert," I said. "When did you realize that the Fiend we are tracking is mating?"

I saw the moment Ser Robert's face registered understanding, saw his hand twitch for the hilt of his sword before dropping back to his saddle.

"What is it you mean, boy?"

I stepped forward.

"Why is it, that when Lord Dacon was ambushed and dragged into the tunnels that your men didn't go after him? Your lord, who you are bound by oath to serve until your death. And you left him to die?"

Ser Robert's mouth turned down at the corners.

"Have You gone mad?" he asked flatly. "I will hear no more of this pointless slander. My Lord,"

He turned to Dacon, but the Count's Son had gone completely still, his face turning calculated.

"It was you who suggested this hunt, Ser Robert," he said. "I was led to believe your men had thoroughly scouted the area and yet Will and his men spot what you could not in a matter of hours?"

"The boy is lying."

Dacon shook his head.

"No, I don't think so."

He rested a hand on his sword. And leveled his fierce gaze on the Knight.

"How much did they pay you?" His voice was cold, all trace of the boyish Count's Son had slipped away, to be replaced by something hard and calculated.

"My Lord, you cannot-"

"I asked you a question man, and I will not ask again." Said the Count. His voice was calm but his eyes held steel that booked no argument.

Ser Robert spat on the ground, his face twisting.

"More than enough," he snarled. "More than your father ever paid in the years I've served him. Putting my neck on the line to follow some welp into battle? And for what?"

The six riders behind him were stone-faced and unmoving. So, they had been in on it too. I hadn't counted on that.

Dacon smiled, but there was no humor in it.

"I should have realized," he said. "Rumor came to me that Evander was killed in the field and I thought it strange. He was a warrior of some renown, and I was told the body was never recovered."

Draxus made a sound in his throat.

"You believe his own men were hired off to kill him?"

Dacon shrugged, plate rattling.

"I don't know. Truthfully I'd suspected foul play from the beginning though… not from my own men."

Ser Robert drew his sword.

"It was never personal, Dacon. Some of us just wanted a life away from this place. Away from death, and the constant threat of violence. Sure, you can make a name for yourself with a combat class. But no one ever talks about what comes after. Is a man truly meant to serve until his death?"

"No."

Ser Robert and Dacon looked around at me as if they had momentarily forgotten why I was there.

"I pondered this question myself for days after the death of my friend. I wanted to know what it all meant… what the point of it was. Because life as a soldier can feel fucking bleak some days. But there is a point to it, at least there should be."

Ser Robert spat again.

"And what is your glorious answer," he asked, sneering.

"To change things," I said simply. "Right now humanity fights just to survive so that those on the inside of the borders can live peaceful lives, untouched by war. But what if some of us want to do more than just survive? What if we aim to change things - to end the cycle of suffering and madness? Like the God King promised too in all the stories."

"You blaspheme," snarled Ser Robert.

"Maybe. You can hang me for it later."

At my signal the men who had been surrounding Ser Robert's mounted knights stepped forward, bristling their spears in a half moon. Ser Robert shouted in alarm, trying to draw his sword but his horse reared in panic, and he was thrown from the saddle.

One of his men managed to draw his sword and twist in the saddle, chopping down at Jorgen who bore down on him with a spear. From beside him, Hade stepped forward and speared him in his unprotected armpit.

The man fell sideways out of the saddle. The remaining five wheeled their mounts, panic in their eyes. Another horse reared and the rider dropped his weapon as he held onto the saddle. My men brought him down in seconds.

The others broke and fled, spurring their mounts as they cantered down the path and deeper into the bog. Ser Robbard watched them go, cursing as his own riderless mount bolted into trees.

He had fallen badly, and it was clear that one of his arms was broken. He tried to rise from the muddy ground but I kicked him in the chest, putting the point of sword at his neck. Even in defeat, he was condescending as ever.

"You'll learn soon enough," he said. "This war is no place for idealists."

"I'm a cynic," I said and then struck him in the temple with the pummel of my sword. He fell back to the mud, dazed.

"Bind him," I said to Hade. The soldier nodded and stepped forward with two others to restrain the Knight.

"My Lord," I bowed to Dacon who was still sitting in his saddle, his face somewhere between grief and anger.

"What would you have me do? I could kill him now."

Dacon shook his head as if he were waking from a dream. He glanced around at the bog and then at the prone figure of Ser Robert.

"The man practically raised me," he said. "When my father was too busy or to uninterested to train me Ser Robert always volunteered. Hell, he used to bounce me on his knee around the cookfire."

He made a whistful sound.

"You have to wonder if was all an act. If he truly despised me and my entire household the whole time. Part of me wants to know if it was all an act. Part of me is afraid to know the answer."

He blinked and shook his head.

"Without mounted men, there is no point in continuing the hunt. I expect Ser Robert's men were planning to turn tail and run the second we encountered the pair of fiends."

"It's likely," said Draxus grimly. "Would have left nothing but corpses behind."

Dacon nodded.

"Tie him to the back of my horse. We'll return to camp where he'll be put on trial for treason against his lord. Then and only then, will we deal with the Fiend infestation."

He looked at me then and I saw a weary gratefulness in his eyes.

"This is the second time you've saved my life, Blackbriar. I dare say I owe you."

I smiled.

"I'm counting on it, my Lord."

The Count's son laughed but it faded quickly.

The unconscious Knight was stripped of his armor and bound tightly behind the Lord's saddle. The horses had bolted and so we were left to slog back at our own pace.

Jorgen wandered up beside me. He had his spear held out in front of him, wiping the blood from the blade with a cloth that came away red. His face was pale.

"I've never killed a man before," he whispered. "Monster's yes, but.." he swallowed. "It doesn't feel the same."

I put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know. It's not easy and I don't think it's supposed to be. We're soldiers but we aren't mindless pawns. We make our own decisions on who to follow - that includes you. All of you."

I raised my voice to be heard by my men. Kato and Draxus turned to look. Hade exchanged glances with the others and then nodded to Jorgen. The young farmer's hand turned back to me. His face was serious.

"We're with you Sarge," he said.