Chapter 5 - The Lighter Side
The march of the Lighthand was swift and focused and they remained in good spirits and on a good pace. It was an oddly peaceful journey as foul weather, bandits, demons, beasts and even the rare Dark Eyes attack normally make travelling in the south a little more than hazardous. Conditions held fair and there was plenty of storytelling and bonding as the troops continued towards Ichthilion, although it was obvious that the losses of recent days did still weigh heavy in the hearts of these stoic warriors, for try as they may to hide it, Kaya could sense the sombreness of their tone and the inflexion of the words they chose. They were understandably in pain and Salec felt its heavy burden seemingly much more than most. Kaya enjoyed hearing the soldiers tell stories about the fallen, and how much of a difference each of them made to the brigade.
The one who past first, named Hornth, was an expert forager and a survivor of a bandit raid on his father's caravan as a child. His father was an apothecary by trade and his mother foraged the herbs and plants needed for his various tinctures and salves, and he in turn was learning how to do both as he grew. His parents were both killed in the attack but a Lighthand patrol happened upon the wreck not long after and found him, barely in his 4th year, and gave him a home and a family. Nearly two decades served but the tempestuous skies, unbound by the Gods, send the wild bolts of death arcing in every direction until they struck true, and Hornth was killed as soon as the wicked snap flashed light through his body. Kaya didn't directly see the first, but the second, she did that as another bolt of a chaotic will destroyed the support of the Firwood it so viciously tore into, and as the wood fractured and eventually gave in an explosion of splinters the severed limb fell hard and fast, crushing the skull of Mejit like a Snapberry. Mejit was a skilled warrior and was a bandit before joining the Lighthand, but not by his own choice. Apparently, he was forced to join the bandits after being sold to them to pay a debt his mother had with their leader. He learnt from them how to kill and fight, and when the time was right, Mejit killed the leader and left the camp. He headed towards the nearest large town, which was Ichthilion, and told the guards of the bandits. They were moved to action and hunted the remaining bandits at the camp with not even a wound suffered among the ranks of the saintly soldiers. Mejit admired them and asked if he could become one of them, and so enlisted with the Lighthand.
Kaya found some comfort in knowing that she too was dealing with a tremendous loss, and she caught herself with her hands in her pack and feeling around for her brother's blanket as she walked a lot more as they talked about their lost comrades. She thought about her mother taking her life and wondered what could drive a mother to do such a thing, knowing at least one of her children yet lived, but as Kaya thought on it, she conceded to herself that there is no way for her to understand what her mother felt in those moments before she decided her path, and she could only try to accept that whatever her reasons were, it was clearly enough for the decision to be made.
They trudged on, trying to keep their spirits up. The terrain had changed dramatically as they headed yet deeper into the south. Following the trail through the forest to the Warriors Rest, then the trade trail along the edge of that same forest, until the farm plains of the villages and craftsmen, the land got noticeably flattered the more you travelled away from the frigid lands to the north, and much warmer. Kaya quickly realised that her fur-lined layers were not needed anymore and tried several different configurations of her clothes until deciding less was more and stripping some of her layers into her pack. as the pathway widened it started changing from hard, trodden mud to loose gravel like surface, then further still, a grey cobblestone path. Kaya surveyed her surroundings and could easily see the outline of the Capitol on the horizon, maybe half a day away.
"You see it, lass?" Salec walked up beside her, as the brigade marched behind.
"Thats the Capitol? Ichthilion?" Kaya questioned.
"Aye," Soren suddenly appeared on her other side, "That's home." Soren and Salec both smiled, and Soren continued, "Safest place in the whole Gods forsaken land of Calanaar."
Kaya looked ahead and tried to focus more on the spectacle in her sights. From this distance, she couldn't see much, save the immensely tall and to Kaya somewhat intimidating constructions of towers, buildings and the very high wall that circled the base of the city. She assumed there were small lodgings and such but they were not visible owing to the monstrous defences.
Kaya suddenly shot Salec a nervous look, "Does everyone there worship Calana?"
Salec looked confused at this line of questioning but nodded, "Aye, well not all but most, the guards, soldiers and Lightbringers all do."
Soren offered, "But honestly its no gonna be a pro'lem lass." he smiled.
"But, that woman, at the Inn... she said I was... you know, what if somewhere there can tell too? Isn't that place full of people like her?"
Salec laughed, "Despite reputation lass, they no be some sorta mad religious fanatics, that's the Dark Eyes ya be thinkin' o' there." He and Soren shared a chuckle being he continued, "As long as you no cause trouble, ya no got a fear."
Kaya relaxed a little, "Will I be allowed to join you guys properly?"
Soren spoke up, "I can't see any reason why we would'nt take ya lass. If boss mans got any sense, 'e'll 'ave ya up quick as I throw a blade."
The three friends giggled as the pace carried them forward steadily, and within half a day they were making it to the outskirts of the city proper. As they approached, Kaya could not help but note the entrance as it was a grand archway, carved from a burnished yellow-tinted stone that she was not familiar with. Easily as tall as any tree, and unmissable even from a great distance, the gate inside the stone arch was nearly as impressive as the imposing rock face itself. Reinforced with a heavy latticework of Hot Steel and made of what looked like solid Firwood trunks, each a few feet in diameter lay side by side and bound with Cold Steel wrappings. There were traders and crafters, merchants and entertainers, wandering around outside but nearby the city. Some it seemed were hawking their wares to the nearby citizens of the Capitol and others were awaiting entrance within the city limits. Others were resting, obviously coming from far away as their clothes were more alien to Kaya than even the Lighthand. Kaya continued to take it all in, studying as much as simply observing the practices on display. Music being played, dances and songs, jokers and jesters, people making and serving food and drink. She thought if this is how rampant the outside is, what on earth is it like once they got inside the walls.
Getting closer to the door revealed a guard station to the side of the main gate and on their approach, citizens parted to allow the Lighthand access, some offered bows, prayers, blessings or just words of faith and praise. Salec moved off towards the guard post as Soren brought the brigade to a halt.
"Just wait here a moment lass, this shouldn't take long," Soren said softly as Kaya observed Salec talking with someone who stood out of her eye-line.
After a few moments, Salec returned and nodded to Soren, who turned and began to shout orders to the troops, "You know the drill. To the garrison for debriefing and maintenance. Welcome home!"
The soldiers all cheered and started to move to the smaller entranceway in the grand door and file through. Soren stood with Kaya, who had no idea where to go or what to do, and felt almost like a stunned Bunf. Soren could sense her discomfort and placed a hand on her shoulder, gesturing for her to enter the gate, "C'mon lass, 'tis your home too now."
She smiled and took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she felt so tiny compared to the scale of this place and the volume of its people. Easily in the hundred yards since entering the Capitol of light, there were more people than she had ever seen in one place in her entire life. More interesting and bizarre smells flooded her mind as she struggled to take in the vast cultural differences on display in such a compact and crowded way. The buildings are mostly made of stone in the same way as the Warriors Rest was, but much larger, grander and more complex here, with more windows and colours everywhere. As she stepped in tandem with Soren he guided her through the throng as best as he could and Salec drifted off towards the garrison muttering words of goodbye as he left, Thunderstrike held proudly over his shoulder. Kaya's thoughts washed with the colours and variation in people's attire as she tried to place the trade by the garb. Several she thought to be merchants or traders of some kind as they were somewhat more lavishly dressed than those around and seemed to be keeping very much to others like them. Slowly drinking in the feast of senses she spied more interesting groups, some easy to identify, farmers, carpenters, smiths and the like tend to have tools, wares and other tell-tale signs as to who they are and what they do, none more so than what she saw next. Scanning across she saw something that at first gave her chills. Two heavily armoured soldiers were entering the main courtyard, and Kaya assumed these to be the legendary Lightbringer Paladins. She studied them closely as she let Soren silently guide her through the crowd, he offered the occasional nod or look to make sure she was following but he figured she'd need a minute to adjust.
Examining the Paladins, she noted their armour was of exquisite quality, made of a metal she did not recognise, it looked like Hot Steel, but not silver. Its colour was more bronze, but it shined in a way bronze work rarely could and was slightly washed out in its tones compared to bronze. Starting at the top, a massive great helm rested on broad and strong shoulders, those too, mounted with huge pauldrons, gleaming with the Hand of Light insignia expertly hand painted onto each left one. On to the torso, strapped again with a solid chest plate made of this odd metal, chiselled to mimic someone who is unrealistically toned and muscular, arms clad in gauntlets and plates, each finger individually wrapped in the golden-hued material, and legs the same. Each Paladin looked like they stood clear of eight feet tall, wore white capes, edged in red, and each carrying a shield almost as tall as the warrior holding it, again seemingly made of this metal, and Kaya could make out the holster of a greatsword over the shoulder of one, and the other was carrying a grand flail in his hand, the head of which was easily a foot wide sphere, spiked all over, on a chain of at least three feet again, connected to a solid looking Firwood handle. Kaya hadn't realised it but she had stopped moving in sheer awe of these unbelievably equipped fighters until she felt Soren give her a jab in the side.
"Hey lass! Back to us, aye." he said with a chuckle. He looked over and saw them, "Ahh, first time seeing the Paladins. Aye, they turn heads, that's fo' sure. Don't be thinkin' they jus' be lookin' good. They fight. They fight well." He stood next to Kaya and gave a solemn, knowing look.
"They… they are… like nothing… nothing I've ever seen." They seemed to glow in the light as they made their patrol through the streets with many of the civilians stopping to offer them blessings and greetings as they walked the paths between them.
Soren laughed again and gave her a sharp tap on her back, "Hey lass, snap outta it, you gotta meet the boss soon."
"Boss?" Kaya said confused but starting to move again, her eyes constantly darting back to the Paladins as they moved out of view continuing their assigned duties. She couldn't shake the look of them, the armour was truly remarkable to her and she wondered what smith could be that talented but Soren kept her moving as it continued to dawn on her that this was going to be her home now.
"Aye, the boss man, their leader." he poked his thumb over his shoulder back towards where the Paladins left sight.
Kaya visibly gulps back a little, "Why?"
"News travels fast among the Lighthand, Salec has already gon' to recommend ya join the Lighthand officially, oath and all." they round a large corner to see what Kaya recognised as a fort of sorts. She gathered that this was the garrison of the Lighthand and followed Soren, eager to meet more of the lower recruits, the Paladins were very imposing as a presence, but more Lighthand, Kaya could handle that.
Soren continued as they moved towards the garrison, "See, Salec is gonna be sayin' he wants ya to be joinin' me an' 'im in command o' the unit. But they don't be doin' that fo' ev'ryone walks in 'ere, so 'fore can be done right, ya gotta talk to boss man" he paused for effect and turned to face Kaya with a dramatic glare to his features, "Commander Velixar himself, 2nd in command only to Terrack Lightbringer. Nothin' to worry 'bout though lass, he jus' wants to get the measure of ya."
Kaya was getting ever more nervous as they entered the garrison fort into a large main hall, with a fittingly large Firwood table, carved to represent what Kaya assumed was a map of lands nearby, several soldiers were huddled around the table, as others greeted Soren on his arrival others were going about duties or just relaxing in their meagre bunks. Salec was stood with a soldier who was grandly dressed but not so grand as the Paladins she saw before, although his armour colouring seemed to be similar.
"Step on up to the table lass, Salec will take ya from 'ere" They nodded to each other as Soren took his leave to pursue his own endeavours.
Kaya stepped forward slowly, observing her surroundings as if she were hunting in new lands. Her hair stood on end and she felt uneasy without escort in this strange place that she was supposed to live in now. She thought on the Lighthand as she watched them, they seem to be content with the warrior's life, obviously not for everyone, but from hunter to warrior is not a simple transition, especially when you know nothing of the customs or traditions of the world you are set to join. All she could do was hope and wish that she did nothing to offend as though only for a short time, she felt accepted by the Lighthand and especially the two brothers who had taken her so gently under their wings, and felt as if she was going to have a chance at a life she could say was worth living, despite her losses, it would be here, with her new family. She pressed on, a little quicker as her general mood improved and she started to settle her nerves and made it to the table where she was greeted by Salec.
"Ah, Kaya there ya be, lass. Commander, this is the recruit I wish to recommend for promotion to Captain alongside myself and Soren." he gestured with both his hands and stepped back, indicating Kaya should step forward and she did.
The Commander was an elderly man, who was absolutely wearing armour made of the same materials as the Paladins, but not as heavy or grand. He stood strong and tall and Kaya knew he was a veteran fighter, his skin was weathered and scarred, he wore a short beard and his hair was cut into a traditional warrior stripe, the sides shaved almost to the skin but a middle section allowed to grow and both were nearly white grey. His eyes were tired but they still held a look that could cut steel to ribbons with a glance.
His voice was softer than she expected but still authoritative, "Kayarona is it?"
She snapped herself to attention, "Aye, Commander."
He held for a moment and smiled, "I'm Commander Velixar. Salec tells me your gifted as a soldier and hunter, thinks you might have leadership potential to." he fell silent for a moment then continued, "Do you agree?"
Kaya stuttered a little, "I… er… I… I don't know… Sir!"
He laughed gently, "Thats a good answer soldier." he gestured that she could relax and carried on his thought, "Many times leaders do not choose to lead, rather leadership is chosen for them, or more likely thrust upon them." he ushered for Kaya to follow him as they walked deeper into the fort. He continued, "Salec also said that you use your bow in a very unusual way."
"Beg pardon Sir, but to me, the way you all use your bows seems pretty unusual."
"I'd wager most of this seems unusual to you." he lifted his hands to encompass the entirety of the fort as it stood before them.
She nodded, "Where I'm from, we had only a few real warriors. There wasn't much call for an army or forts, walls or weapons and armours like yours. We were only a small tribe, hunters mostly, I was going to be one..." she started to choke up, and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself and sound confident she said, "before the village was burned down."
He put a hand on her shoulder and stopped, sensing her apprehension "Look around you Kayarona. Not one among these troops would not understand what you are going through, myself included. You don't have to hide your fears or feeling here." he smiled, and they continued walking.
"Thank you, Sir." she smiled back, "Where are we heading?"
"Showing you to the mess hall and the dorms. You can find food in one and a bed in the other. On the morn, you'll be sworn into the Lighthand proper." They continued through the halls and engaged in casual small talk as he pointed out where various landmarks were, washroom, mess hall and dorms and as they made the approach, he stood to attention and saluted, "Welcome, Captain Kayarona." she did the same and although she tried to appear as stoic as she could, a grin cracked her face as she replied.
"Thank you, Commander."