Chapter Fifteen

True to his work, Lieutenant Wellsworth kept the group at a pace that I could follow without tiring. As we went, the knights started talking among themselves. Through them, I gathered a good bit of information about what was happening.

Apparently, the barbarians that live in the wastelands beyond the Craggy Mountains have made their way over the ridge to the south and are attacking. This usually happens in the winter, with them pillaging for food and then going on their way without causing too much damage. This was different though. They had invaded the fortresses that lie outside of any farming town. At first, they thought they may have been going after the army rations kept inside the castle-like structures. However, after an attack, they noticed that none of the supplies had been taken. Instead, the barbarians invaded and slaughtered almost all of the knights that guarded it. 

The Emporer grew concerned about their actions and decided to send a squadron to keep an eye on that border. When that squadron was found dead two weeks later, he took immediate action and issued a consription. We were going to war with the barbarians.

"You fool! This isn't a war, just a small skirmish with those damned beasts over the mountains." The younger, more foolhardy knight shoved the shoulder of the one who called this a war. "With General Bludborne, we're sure to have this wrapped up by late spring!"

The other knights laughed at his brash claim. Lieutenant Wellsworth, who led at the head of the pack, kept silent on the matter. One of the older ones did respond to the young one's comment. "Boy, it's good to be optimistic, but you should always take battle seriously. Every time you draw your blade, you are at war. Making light of the situation is how many fine young men sign their own death warrants."

His words sobered everyone. The laughing and jeers stopped for a period as we continued. After an hour or so, the knights started talking again, this time about a new topic. 

"Do you think the General is as ruthless in person as they say he is," The youngest of them asked. The boy couldn't have been more than nineteen. His fear of the one he served under was apparent. 

One of the others laughed. A hulking man who was larger than any bear I'd ever seen, who everyone called Husk, roared with laughter.

"Listen here, you frightened little kitten," he says to the younger knight. "Our general is indeed a frightful man, severe to boot. But he is the strongest person on the whole continent and is rivaled by none. You should be honored to serve under him!" Husk slapped his companion on the back with enough force to startle his horse. 

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it. The boy's face was just so funny. Letting it slip was a mistake though. Until now, I had been a shadow and they had almost forgotten I was here. Now all the attention was on me. I groaned internally. Damnit.

The other knights looked at me like a parasite that had intruded on their journey. Husk, however, grinned from ear to ear. "So you can laugh!" A deep laugh rolled through his barrel chest. "Hey Lieutenant, did you hear that? You owe me a pint!" This drew a chorus of laughter from the rest of the nights and the tension in the air eased. I looked to Wellsworth to catch him turning away from the situation. If I didn't know any better though, I'd have thought I saw him smiling.

Husk slowed his horse to fall behind the group, coming level to where I walked. "So tell me, little healer, why is it that your face is as sour as an unripe blackberry?" His grin told me that he wasn't trying to insult me, but I was caught off guard by his question. 

"What do you mean," I ask him. 

He shrugged, the grin never leaving his face. "Well, every time I look at you, your face is puckered like someone had made you suck on an unripe piece of fruit. Is it permanently stuck that way?"

I can only stare at him, baffled. What was this oaf asking me? It's true, I rarely had cause to smile, but why was it any business of his how my face looked? I want to be offended by his pestering, but his demeanor throws me off. No one had ever spoken to me so casually before, even before I was cast out of society. 

Husk sighs. Pulling off his helmet and placing it on his hip, he shakes out his curly, chocolate-brown hair. He looks down at me with eyes the color of honey, filled with genuine amusement. "Come now, we will be traveling together for quite some time. We should be friends, hm? Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Daniel Huskerfield. Though everyone you'll come across will know me as Husk. Now, what's your name, little healer?" He smiles wide, dimples framing his perfectly white, if somewhat crooked teeth.

Well, I'd be a fool to forsake an ally, at least. I doubt I can truly be his friend, especially once he learns about my fate. But I can at least have someone to rely on until that day comes.

I simply say, "My name is Amelia."

Husk contemplates my response for a moment, scratching his chin. "Ameilia, huh? And how did you come to be a healer?"

I go to give him a short, curt answer, but I'm cut off before the words can leave my lips.

"Everyone, halt! We camp here for tonight." Lieutenant Wellsworth bellows to his company. I look up and see that the sun has dipped low into the sky and we've reached a small open area that's sandwiched between the edge of the Forsaken forest and the dirt path we'd been following all day. With the sun setting, it's taken the small bit of warmth there was with it. 

All of the knights were well trained and it showed in how quickly they dismounted their steads and set up a camp. They divided into groups, some setting up the fire and starting dinner, others setting up a few tents for them to share. All of them stayed busy, even the jovial Husk. 

I looked around and realized that everyone was pulling their supplies from their own rucksacks. Looking down at the one Wellsworth had handed me, I realized that I'd have to fend completely for myself. With a shrug, I started to set into the woods to gather herbs for medicine and something to eat for the night. I was about to step foot past the boundary of brush, a firm hand gripped my shoulder and pulled me back. 

"Where do you think you're going?" Wellsworth's low rumbled through the air as his grip on my arm tightened.

Looking up at him with a bored expression, I said, "I'm going to go gather supplies. I told you I'd gather what I needed, didn't I?"

He raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow at me, his scar crinkling as he grimaced. "In the Forsaken Forest? You will be eaten alive by monsters."

I couldn't help but sigh a small laugh at his comment. He had no idea what lied in wait in these woods. "There is no creature in these woods that is any worse than a human." With that comment, I pulled my arm from his grasp and slipped into the shadows of the thickly grown trees. He stood at the border and stared after me for a moment before abruptly turning away.