Page 9 of Fate

“I’m sorry.” Paltry sentiment, but an offer of peace for my naivety. Andra got under my skin and Olena paid the price. She shrugs, and gestures out to the camp.

“My story is one of many.” Olena stands and dusts herself off. “Be loyal, and you’ll be fine.” She heads off to her bedroll as I stare into the remnants of my dinner; as cold as the pit in my stomach.

***

The next day, we break camp once Helia rejoins us, the merchants waiting on the road below. She explains the job to the band, some taking it as a sign from the gods that we got another job so soon. I refused to look at Andra, or Olena for that matter.

Marching down the hillside toward the caravan, I look over our charges. Five wagons packed tightly with thick canvas wrapped around every good. Each wagon has a pair of horses and a team of three drivers. A few are dressed in nicer cloth, brighter colors, and several accessories; clearly the leaders of the expedition. The others have simple attire; plain tunics, simple leather belts.

Helia greets one of the men with a wave and signals us into formation around the wagons. We waste no time breaking off into groups and surrounding the caravan. I join with Olena and her group, giving me a small nod. A small measure of confidence sparks inside me that last night might not be as lingering as I thought.

The journey south to Nolphi will take us about three weeks or more, given the number of wagons and people. Most of the way would be along traveled roads, but there’s a section of the route that crosses through a forest, which is where we expect trouble. At least, that’s what the Archon told Helia.

On the first night, Bellius and Andra resume our training. Bellius continues to teach me the spear, earning less critique and more praise. Oddly, he also starts teaching me basic strategy.

“You may one day find yourself in a position where you need to lead, Skion. At least this way, I know you’ll not make a total ass of yourself. Everyone learns the basics; it’ll remain to be seen if you’re capable of more.” And so, I learn about how to hold off a calvary charge, how to make a strategic retreat, and what formations to use in different situations, among other things.

Andra’s training is a stark contrast to Bellius’s again. She stops trying to train me with a blade since I apparently am an “incompetent thick-skulled bumpkin”. Instead, we do something she calls body exercise. “If you can’t learn to use a sword, I can at least whip you into shape.” I decide to ignore the sadistic gleam in her eye whenever it’s her night for training. We never speak about the night outside of Ionos, though an uneasy peace forms over time.

Helia stops by occasionally to check in on how I am adjusting, but we spend little time together outside of that, much to my dismay. There’s something about being in her presence; a doe protected by a fierce stag. A feeling I’ve never had; a feeling I want.

Most nights, I stumble back to my bedroll where Olena saves me some dinner. I grow accustomed to her calming voice on the march and the coarse jokes she shares with the wagon team. Most of all though, I enjoy hearing the tales of how members joined the band.

Bellius was a captain of the guard in Hecalon, a capital city on the eastern edge of Thetan, but there was an incident involving a politician. No one knows exactly what happened according to Olena, but it was enough that Bellius had to disappear faster than a shadow at midday. Seems he found his way to the capital and joined the company.

Andra was a ship rat; a young deckhand on a trading ship out of Ionos. One day, pirates raided the ship and killed most of the crew. Andra was not as lucky as they were. After the pirates were done with her, they cast her overboard, a twisted offering to Corr, the goddess of the sea. She survived, and joined the first mercenary band she could, which just happened to be the Spears. Helia tried to dissuade Andra, but vengeance has a ravenous hunger. Olena was there when Andra took revenge. The sea wept that day, blood sullying its pure depths; Corr at least must have been satisfied.

As for Helia, she had joined the band close to four years back and helped increase their fame and fortune by taking on dangerous contracts. Her station quickly increased to commander in recognition and her legend only grew; a warrior woman, bringing death to any that stood in her way. Before the band though, is only whispers.

Some of the mercs believe that Pellax, the leader of the Band of Spears, prayed to the pantheons for fame and fortune and received Helia in return. Others say that she came from across the sea, a veteran of wars and seeker of fortune. Still others believe Helia to be an Aspect of Stratas, the god of war. Whatever the truth of Helia’s past, she is a beloved leader and everyone follows her without question, despite only being three years my senior.

Yet, there’s a measure of solitude to her. A feeling of being there, but aloof. I watch the smiles of a leader, but they never reach her eyes. I hear the jokes, sounding hollow to my ears. A loneliness that no one sees. The band is blind to it, but they clearly revere Helia, and based on how I feel around her, I get it. She has a charismatic pull I felt the moment she took her helmet off back in Athos.

After two weeks of travel, we close in on the forest before Nolphi. It’ll take us a few days to cross and then a handful more to reach the city. Tonight is training with Andra as usual, still focusing on body conditioning. My tunic lay discarded to the side, sweat beading across my bare skin despite the creeping chill of the night. A low whistle behind me breaks my concentration long enough for Andra to smack the top of my head for getting distracted.

The owner of the whistle laughs, immediately revealing it to be Helia. “Looks like Andra has whipped you into shape, Skion. Not bad at all!”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. I wasn’t out of shape before joining the companions, but several weeks of marching and training are starting to show; my body is leaning out.

“Yeah, but he still barely knows how to hold a blade.” Andra scoffs while picking up her own clothes from the ground. Scars dance across her body, each one a tale of struggle and survival. Helia grunts in reply before looking back to me.

“Come with me. I’ve got an assignment for you.”

I ignore Andra’s furrowed brow as I grab my clothes. Jogging to catch up to Helia, I throw on my tunic loosely, eager to let the night air cool me down. Reaching my commander, I fall in step behind her, failing to ignore the fluid movement of her back muscles. All too soon, we reach the officers area of the camp and Helia turns to me.

“As you know, we’re about to head into the Nolphi forest. If we’re going to be attacked, it will be there.” I nod, remembering the debrief from Archon Gaius. “I’ll cut right to it. You grew up in the countryside and rough terrain; I want you to join the scouts and lead a pairing.” A pairing. That’s a scouting formation, if I remember Bellius’s lecture. But, leading one?

“You want me to what?! I-I was just a farmer!” Helia silences me with a look, her green eyes snapping my mouth shut.

“Bellius tells me you’re taking to strategy and I remember what I saw in Athos. With no training, you showed situational awareness and bravery. That is exactly what I need in a scout.”

I shake my head. “That was just instinct. I wasn’t thinking at all.”

“Exactly. You have the instincts. Now, you will hone them.” Her tone has the finality of a sunset.

Shoulders hunched, I stand defeated, accepting this new responsibility. The sound of gravel brings our attention around to see a group of five companions all saluting, Olena among them.

“Good timing. Scouts, Skion will be joining you and leading a pairing. Who is willing to follow him?” Helia looks expectantly across the small group.