Not only had Kayarona, but also three other recruits had joined the unit under Soren, Salec and now, her command. She wondered as she was being fitted for her new gear alongside them, what it was that they saw in her that they believed is for command. How was she so different from the two men and another woman that are being equipped here with her? How was she supposed to command a group of people whose cultures and history she couldn't know? She was learning all the time about the various lands to the south and was fascinated by the traditions they held and customs they observed, but still, she felt very much like an outsider when it came to matters of world events or cultural and religious significance. Although apparent that even Velixar agreed to her promotion for some reason, she felt almost like a fraud when they gave her the red and gold band that symbolizes the rank of Captain. While Kayarona had been apprehensive of changing her gear out for the Lighthand equipment, she had discovered it was more or less just a simple plate chest piece, two pauldrons and gauntlets. She was still able to wear most of her own armour underneath with comfort and was relieved she didn't need to completely lose her old skins. They had also offered her a Firwood Longbow and while she couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship of the weapon she just couldn't bring herself to part with her own short Whitewood bow... not just yet. They did however give her a simple sword as well as a few provisions such as dried meat and bread, and when she left the quartermaster, Soren and Salec were waiting for her.
"Ahhh, lass, you look 'bout ready t' tackle a Zebear!" Salec embraced her tightly in his gigantic frame as they moved towards each other.
His grip was a little much and Kaya coughed, shifting uncomfortably in her weighty plates, "Won't be if you don't let go soon!"
He dropped his friend and smiled sheepishly, placing his hands on his hips, he grinned as his brother stepped forward, tugging and checking the straps of the armour, looking over it carefully for any sign of any sort of imperfections, "How you think the gear, lass?"
She looked over her new plated armour, closing her hand into a fist and observing the movement of each of the plates, "Its a lot heavier than what I'm used to." she smiled, "But at least I can still wear my leathers underneath."
"Ya got a sword to?" Salec asked, and Kaya turned her hip to show the scabbard on her belt and tapped the hilt of her blade, "Excellent, I think the other three are 'bout ready t' move to, Soren?"
His brother's gaze snapped to him immediately, "Sir?"
"Lets get'em ready t' move, we already got our orders. North Corridor patrol."
Soren saluted, "I'll get it done" he turned back to Kayarona, "See you out there, Captain" he saluted again, and with a smile, Kaya returned his gesture before he turned to meet the other three recruits leaving the quartermaster and get them into position for patrol duty.
"Nervous, lass?" Salec questioned as he gestured for them to start following Soren's path he stepped forward slowly carrying his massive hammer over his shoulder as he always did.
Kayarona fell into step beside him, one hand resting on her sword pummel as she spoke, "Not nervous Salec, well not about fighting at least." her gaze wandered towards Salecs own Captain's band and he knew what was troubling his friend.
"Ahhh you fear leadership. Ya know, it's custom fo' a new Captain ta gi'e a speech t' the unit afore ye take command true." he said softly as they reached the edge of the garrison and stepped out into the light of the morn, the sun stung Kaya's eyes for a moment and blinded her senses, and after what she just heard she didn't want to open them, as panic rose within her like a surging tide, overwhelming and unstoppable. She opened them after what felt like forever and when the light died and her senses returned she saw her brigade, standing to attention with Soren standing just off to the left flank. With their armour and weapons refitted and replaced after their last mission, she felt a swell of pride that these men and women would stand with her and for her, "They're all yours... Captain." Salec stepped over to his brother and stood at his side. He nodded at Kaya when he was in position and snapped himself to attention.
Silence fell over the courtyard, and for a moment Kaya could swear she heard no sound at all as her ears rang with the stress of command. Her palms felt sweaty and her breathing went shallow for a moment. She closed her eyes again and this time felt the warmth of the sun torch her eyelids and she recalled the words of the Huntmaster of her village, whom she regarded largely as a father figure in her life, "When you move towards your target, you are the predator. When you run from it, you are prey." She took a deep settling breath, "I am not prey." she thought, and though her knees shook, she opened her eyes and lifted her head to address her unit and spoke clearly, with authority "Soldiers..." she startled herself at the sound of her own voice, "I stand before you, humbled, given the rank of Captain and the responsibility to command... but that means nothing to me." A few murmurs began among the soldiers but Soren waved his hand and they silenced, she continued, "It means nothing... for it changes nothing. I would stand for you all. I would fight for you all. I would bleed for you all. And I would die for you each, one hundred times over again." The recruits cheered, and Soren silenced them again with a sharper and quicker hand wave, "When you found me, I was broken, like so many of you, lost and alone. You took me in and protected me, brought me here to find new purpose and gave me a family again." her eyes began to sting with tears, but she persevered, "I am proud and honoured to stand with every one of you, fight with every one of you, bleed with every one of you," she turned to Soren and Salec, "and love... every... one... of you." The brothers gently rapped their left fists across their chest as a warrior's sign of respect and appreciation for her words. She began, "Lighthand... " she looked at the brothers one more time, smiled, and back to the troops, and finished, "MOVE OUT!" The soldiers gave her one more heartfelt cheer, this time the brothers joined their unit in celebration of their new Captain and Kaya gently jogged to meet them. She was greeted by kind words and congratulations from the recruits as the unit formed ranks to move out on their first patrol under the command of their tri-captains Soren, Salec and Kayarona.
The Lighthand were on the move, and Kaya found that having a role of leadership and responsibility suited her perfectly. The men and women of the Lighthand showed her respect and comradery despite only being among them for less than a full moon, and she in turn enjoyed the independence of thought that came with being in command. With hunting being a largely solo affair, relying on a unit of others was not something that Kaya had ever really had to do, but was thankful and reassured by the familiar face's names and voices in these unfamiliar lands. They moved swiftly along the North Corridor, part of the Great Ring Road that encircles the entire capitol, with the main Corridor Road at each point of the compass. Built around fifty miles from the outer walls of the capitol proper, patrols are regular and staggered in the lands around the capitol, particularly along the Great Ring Road, as it is a common route for most of the denizens, artisans and traders that make the journey through or to the capital and it is not uncommon for bandits to get greedy and creatures from the nearby forests to get curious or hungry. Brigades with newer members are normally given guard or patrol rounds for the first duty after receiving new recruits as it gives both the commander and the green fighters a chance to get more comfortable with their armour, weapons, and indeed, their fellow Lighthand members before they get into anything too demanding, as well as getting the lay of the land surrounding Ichthilion. Dotted along the road were several outposts and guard towers, presumably here for early warning of advancing enemies, as they were lightly defended and only manned by a small handful of Lighthand guards. They waved greetings and pleasantries as they passed, with Soren and Salec stopping at each post to introduce Kaya to the Sargeants manning each and get updates from the day. Nothing of note so far and the noonday sun was becoming scorchingly hot. As they continued on the rounds, they entered the edge of the dense forest between the southern borders and the headway mountains, with only the patrol path as a clear way through the growth. It was noticeably darker and cooler walking the forest path as the shade of the mighty Firwood trees kept the worst of the sun beating energy at bay and the canyon of tree growth forced air to be pushed through creating a settling breeze against the arid burn of noon.
As they began to round the end of the North trail that then link to the West Corridor Road, they turned and started back towards their origin, to complete the patrol route, but not before lunch. Soren called for the cooks to set up camp and the Lighthand started to mill and relax as the cooks prepared the fresh meat brought with them and the herbalists began working on other ingredients for lunch. Before long the brigade was sat down to a hearty and satisfying lunch of Klack breasts with herbs and spices, crushed potatoes and carrots, roasted in a hearth, and a good warm lavender bread. Kaya smelled the bread deeply and had fond memories of Kendricks's bread swimming into her thoughts as she slowed her eating pace. She regarded the group as it was and smiled to herself, watching the warriors take a break and get some good food in the good company she started to feel as though she had a way through her grief and that her loss was understood here. She could be her. She could be free.
"ALERT!! ATTACK!! RAISE ARMS!!!" The sentry screamed as the Lighthand scrambled away from the dreamy mealtime of midday and saw a rain of arrows fall upon them.
"Stand fast! Form up! Defensive ranks!" Soren began shouting and organising the unit as Salec ran to gather stragglers. So far no one had been hit too badly, and shields were raised together, locking a ceiling of protection over the rest of them as they formed up. After a few seconds, the arrows stopped and through a crack in the shields, Kaya saw them, charging out of the treeline with a deafening screeching cry. Head to toe, clad in black fabric, they seem to be incorporeal, floating rather than running, faces wrapped in black cloth as well, only the grey skin and black eyes were visible. Black eyes... "Dark Eyes! Prepare yourselves!" several of the Lighthand had identified the assailants and many were offering prayer to various Gods of the land for protection. Kaya only knew of these warriors by reputation among the Lighthand. The Dark Eyes are said to be ghosts, phantoms, and spectres that no man can fight. They move in dust and smoke, they appear from a shadow, and the eyes of every one of them are blacker than the depths of the Void itself. It is said that none have been killed, for they do not live and cannot die, and if any should attempt to grab or capture them, the skin of the hand that dared to grab them would be burned to ash or frozen to dust... and very few ever escape an encounter with them.
"What the fuckin' 'ell do these assholes want here?" Soren screamed.
"Form up, shield wall!" Salec reorganised his troops and they broke out into a wall to defend against the tide of enemies descending. Within a second they were crashing against the wall, and being repelled by the force of the unit behind them. Several soldiers attacked and cut at the enemy to no real effect. Salec, with a mighty cry, charged Thunderstrike, and leapt over the line, landing the head of his heavy hammer squarely on the head of one of the Dark Eyes, crushing his entire form into the floor followed by a mighty bolt of lightning striking into the ground at the base of the hammers strike. The shockwave knocked back a few of the attackers and they turned to face him, Thunderstrike crackling in his hands as he prepared to face them. Soren vanished from sight almost immediately as the shield wall formed, dashing between his enemies and planting multiple blades in each as he did, none among them could follow him as his shadow seems to move faster than he could and as fast as his flash of steel appeared, he was gone. The wall had begun to break under the battery of this enemy, and the troops started to disperse and fight more freely. Kaya stood, her bow drawn and a handful of arrows ready in her bow hand, she scanned the field of battle as she moved to a more clear space to choose her shots. As she observed the battle, she noted one of the Dark Eyes stood still, no more than 30ft from the edge, almost statuesque in its stillness, its eyes releasing a thick black cloud of vapour as the fabric over its mouth moved in a steady rhythm, "Its a spell." it suddenly became apparent to Kaya how the Dark Eyes had garnered their reputation, there were sorcerers. Kaya stood taller and drew back her bow, taking aim at the motionless figure. She felt her bows flex, reliable as always, and noted the positional change she had to make to accommodate her new plated armour. She heard the metal scratch against itself, and felt her old leathers under her plate shift and compress, the air was heavy with un unnerving mist and the smells of sweat and blood. She blinked slowly and took in a deep slow breath. At the peak of her inhale she loosed her shaft.
The motionless figure snapped its head to face her direction as soon as the arrow cleared her bow and raised its hand. Kaya felt a force she could not identify force her off her feet as if the air itself had decided to knock her down, seeing her arrow fall out of the sky over her limp body. She cried out in pain as the force that held her there seemed to be crushing her to the floor she struggled against it to no avail. She felt a sharp cut on her neck and her head began to pound like a vice was being tightened to her head and squeezed ever closer. Each second made the pain more intense and her vision began to fail and go dark, as she continued to struggle against the magic that kept her bound. More, more... tighter, darker, her muscles contorted in pain and her organs felt as if they were burning inside her, she screamed again. A voice... she had never heard it before...
"Kaya" was not being spoken to her, rather she heard it within her own mind, it was soothing and gentle, and it continued, "Kaya, the light isn't safe, seek those who see the Dark" the force was releasing its grip and the intensity of the pain had begun to die.
Kaya was still weak and tired from the ordeal, she cried out loud, "Who are you? What have you done to me?"
The voice replied, "Not important, I'm a friend and we can hear eachother now thanks to a poison we have dosed you with, there will be time later to talk... for now... escape the Light!"
Kaya was starting to calm down, the wracking she felt had stopped and she was starting to catch her breath. She tried to stand but her arms gave way under her weight as she tried to lift her body and her legs buckled as soon as she flattened her feet and she faded into the darkness of unconsciousness, hearing the voice say one more time "The light is not safe!" as she closed her eyes, looking towards the battle, they were gone, the Dark Eyes were gone.
"Kaya!" "Captain!" "Here, Sir! I've found her."
Soren rushed to his trooper's side and saw Kaya's grey face and out of it, but breathing and alive. Soren visibly sighed at the site of his friend alive, "Stretcher, now let's get 'er back to the infirmary. Gods know what those monsters 'ave don't' her." he spoke to her limp figure as he gently moved his hands under her back and knees and prepared to lift her as the stretcher arrived, "Don't ya worry none Kaya, we'll get 'em... fo' this, and fo' Moria."
Salec arrived on the scene just in time to hear his brother's declaration of revenge, "It'll no bring Moira back, brother to go after 'em half-cocked."
"No such a thing, brother." He reassured, "Jus' wanna get this lass seen to. Any losses?" Soren asked as he noticed no one seemed to be killed.
Salec shook his head as the unit started to carry the stretcher with Kaya on it back towards the capital, "A few wounded only, and her." he waved his hand over Kaya, "But she's strong, lass'll be ok."
"I hope so brother," Soren regarded the battlefield as the unit marched double time to return to safety, "fo' their sake." he threw a knife towards a tree in the direction of the attack from the Dark Eyes and in thudded deep into the wood with a satisfying thump, and screamed, "Right, lets get Captain Kayarona out of this shit show, AYE!"
The troop cheered moving quickly to help their fallen commander as Salec noticed her face getting even paler than he was used to, he worried for his friend and marched with haste as the sun began to fail behind the horizon and the shadows lengthened across the landscape, he hoped it was not an omen of things to come.