Waiting for Spring - Part I

Chapter Twenty-One

The first harvest is here. I visited three out of fifty-five farmyards outside of Conway. Lord Mariel shall be pleased. The first harvest is come early and many moons are yet to pass this summer. On the morrow I shall bring these news yes and mayhap Lord Corronwick or his son will inquire about the summer harvest fayre. Yes, a good year this is.

-Excerpt from Alistair's journal, third steward and reeve to Lord Mariel of Conway, Ward.

Snow whirled around Mira's feet. The weather seemed to oppose her every move and she sighed as she leaned on her spear to support her tired body. Exhaustion came like a wave with every step she took. An overwhelming feeling surged through her. It would be so wonderful to just lie down in the cold snow and sleep forever. Come on Mira, one more step.

Mira did her best to fight the urges, but after a while she sat down on a rock. Small cotton clouds emerged from her lips when she breathed and for a moment she just gave in and closed her eyes. It felt as if she hadn't slept for years. She forced herself to open her eyes a heartbeat later. There was no point in freezing to death now. She had come too far for such follies. I am so sorry April.

Time passed and the redhead spent a moment looking at the ornate dagger in her hand. It was a fine piece of craft, but it had already served its purpose. She threw it in the snow and small white flakes whirled about when it skidded towards a nearby edge. It disappeared over the cliff an instant later. Mira did not know if she would make the journey back. She had used too much of her energy already. She never knew how much of a toll her body would take for casting such powerful spells. Had she only known she might have left the others to fend for themselves. It did not matter now, what was done was done. I am sorry Darnell.

Some time passed before a small and familiar artic fox emerged from behind a couple of trees. It slowly approached Mira, who was still sitting on the rock, with light steps. At first the mage did not notice her pet, put suddenly she felt her consciousness return. She opened her eyes and looked deep into the fox's icy gaze. It came closer and brushed its white pelt against her leg. Mira sighed and pulled her cold hand through its fur.

"I am sorry, little friend," said Mira sincerely. She wished that the pet would understand the words but alas she knew he did not. With a quick movement of her hand she created a ray of light that beamed from her palm and through the fox, which immediately was rendered paralysed. She could feel the life force of the animal slowly transcended through the ray and into her hand. With every surge she felt more and more rested.

A moment later it was over. The fox lay lifeless in the snow and Mira felt a little less exhausted. She wasn't at the brink of collapsing anymore and that was always a good sign. She started to trudge uphill again, leaving large footprints in the snow behind her.

It was almost in the middle of the night when Mira reached the military camp. It was much smaller than she had expected.

A thousand men? Mayhap six hundred, but not more, she thought.

The well-lit camp upon the hillside was severely exposed. Anyone would probably notice it a mile away. It consisted mostly of large tents and small campfires. All around groups of armoured men was sitting near the warm flames, dicing, drinking or eating. By the look of it they did not know what awaited them at the grim dawn at the foot of the mountains.

Mira found the commander's pavilion in the centre of the camp. She approached the first guards she had seen when she came from downhill. They looked surprised to see the mage again. They had probably not expected to meet anyone at all. The two soldiers, dressed in shining blue plates, stared at each other before turning to Mira.