It was on the third crowing of the rooster that Orwick's eyelids finally cracked open, though with considerable effort. He groggily turned towards the window to see the first traces of bluish-black dawn. Blinking once or twice, he glanced down and noticed he had forgotten to change from the day prior. He rose quickly, cursing silently to himself. It was fortunate that he had taken the time to ready his belongings ahead of time, even if his meticulousness had carried the process well into the night. Taking only the time needed to tie up his hair and splash some water on his face, Orwick made his way out of the barracks and to Rivengarde's Eastern Gate.
Aside from a handful of bakers and fishmongers wandering the streets to prepare their goods for the morning sales, the streets of Rivengarde were still asleep. It was an easy task for Orwick to navigate out of the city, especially considering that the stable master had agreed to meet him at the gate with his horse. He shivered slightly at the crispness of the morning, adjusting his scarf tighter around his neck. Blowing into his cupped hands, he could see the slight traces of his breath in the air.
A swift blow cuffed him on the back of the head.
"You've some nerve standin' us up like one of your cheap dates!"
Orwick rubbed the spot where he had been struck. He didn't even need to turn around.
"Grant me some mercy, would you Nat?" He whined. "I was up half the noct in the stables. Haven't been sent on such a long journey since my transfer to Rivengarde."
Nathaniel and Alwyn came abreast of him on either side.
"It only took me a couple hours time." Nathaniel shrugged. Orwick shook his head in annoyance.
"I've much more to pack than yourself. I swear they've given us the smallest saddlebags money can buy." He grumbled.
Alwyn raised an eyebrow in Nathaniel's direction. "What did I tell you?"
"Did I miss much?" Orwick asked.
"A might tamer than the usual debauchery I'd say," replied Alwyn, adjusting his sword belt in his stride, "Harris was there."
"Seems I didn't miss much then." Orwick snickered.
"Lawrence also made an appearance."
Orwick shot Alwyn a surprised glance. "You'd sooner run into the High Solarch in a brothel."
"It's the truth. Between those two carousers and Barney sleepin' half the noct, we had a damn rowdy go of the place." Nathaniel chuckled.
"Could be worse," said Orwick, "Big man coulda pissed himself at the table like the last time we were all together."
The buildings spaced themselves out the further the trio marched down the Eastern road, as if they'd finally had room to breathe. Two-story townhouses of craftsmen and traders shrunk to single-floor cottages for the humble laborers of the capital. Before long, the stone archway of the Eastern Gate was in sight, the guards nodding their heads at their approach. Orwick took a deep breath as he stepped through the threshold and onto the bridge that separated the crown of Regganor from the rest of the world. Vast expanses of lush, hilly fields stretched along the horizon, their farthest reaches only now being blessed by the morning light.
Though he had been outside the city walls nearly every day in the training field, Orwick never failed to find it a refreshing change from the stench of the city. He had adapted to life in Rivengarde fairly quickly - faster than Alwyn had, at the least - but he had grown up in the country the same as his companion. Their fellow knights were assembled in a semicircle at the far end of the bridge, accompanied by stablemaster Taylor and a number of his grooms.
"Last chance to take off that scarf, lest you want to duke it out with Zachariah first thing this morning." Nathaniel whispered, his eyes lit up with amusement at the prospect of such a fight.
"This was a gift from Lise," Orwick hissed back, "whatever he thinks of it he can blow out his backside."
Alwyn stifled a laugh.
"Blessed morning to you gentlemen," greeted Sir Heinrich, "fortunate that you all made it in one piece."
Alwyn took Esper's reins from Master Taylor with a courteous nod. She nuzzled her snout into his hand as he replied.
"To you as well, Sir Heinrich. Have you any word from the Commander?"
"He is like to arrive shortly."
Master Taylor handed off the last of the horses before bidding farewell, returning within the city walls with his men.
"Never thought I'd see the day that Sir Barney beats the sun out of bed." Jested Nathaniel as they joined the circle. The corpulent knight was abashed.
"You offend me, Sir!" His jowls quivered with his exaggeration. "I'll have you know I was among the very first to arrive!"
"Why is it that I find that hard to believe?" Questioned Orwick.
"You can ask Lawrence! He personally saw to it that I was here."
Sir Lawrence, in return, pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"Besides, you're one to talk, standin' us all up last noct like some sort of…sort of…"
"Cheap date?" Nathaniel offered.
"Precisely!" Barney threw up his hands.
"Careful now," Orwick stepped up to face Barney within the circle, "that's your Captain you're addressing."
Barney posed himself in a hasty mock salute, letting loose a bawdy laugh in the process that sent the rest of the company - save a couple - to chuckling. Zachariah scrutinized Orwick and scowled. Orwick met his eyes and was about to speak, when Sir Derich stepped forward with a monotone announcement:
"Three riders. They have arrived."
Though nobody could see or hear anything yet, none of the knights questioned Sir Derich. All went silent as the Knights of the Drakes Tongue turned expectantly towards the city gates. In a few moments, Commander Greenwood appeared on horseback, leading the two guests in his entourage who would serve as the guides for the journey ahead. Though he was not accompanying the knights, the Commander wore his own set of ornate armor for the occasion, his own sword strapped abreast. Orwick was shocked to see that Sir Nemian was commanding his own horse without any apparent struggle in the saddle, though he was still blanketed from head to toe in his muted cloak.
Greenwood dismounted to greet his men, returning the salute and setting them at ease, while Miss. Erisane and Sir Nemian remained on their own mounts. Alwyn and Orwick stepped forward to their Commander. Greenwood's eyes passed over Alwyn in the usual agonizingly scrutinous fashion that revealed nothing of what he was thinking, before switching his gaze to Orwick. After a few moments, he spoke.
"I trust you've all readied yourselves, then?"
"Yes, Sir." They spoke in unison.
"Mounts in order? Enough provisions for the journey ahead?"
"Yes, Sir." The duo repeated.
Commander Greenwood nodded approvingly. His face, usually a staunch mask of neutrality, betrayed the weariness its owner had been under to Orwick. His forehead was creased with wrinkles barely covered by the chopped black hair that had just begun to fade into gray. A ring of dark circles were visible just beneath his eyes that served as a testament to the Commander's recent lack of sleep. Greenwood stepped to Alwyn and Orwick in turn, grasping each of them firmly by the forearm in a firm shake.
"In this, you are each doing a great service to your country, your King, and to me."
He emphasized the final word with gratitude that took Orwick aback. It was a rare thing to catch the Commander in such an informal state.
"Sir Alwyn, lead your party as far north as Ragnar's Road will take you to where the river forks at Hollowhearth - Sir Nemian will guide you from there. Orwick, lead the Lady Erisane and your men through the plainlands. It is likely you'll have to pass through the Ashen Marsh before reaching your destination."
Orwick shuddered at the prospect, memories of waterlogged boots from previous journeys came to mind.
"Aye Sir, it will be done."
"I will leave the rest to you, may the Goddess light your way. In honor we rise!"
Greenwood began the salute, and the company followed suit.
"With courage we fall!"
He released them from the salute. "Do what they ask of you, and guard them with your lives."
Greenwood turned away from the crowd and threw himself over his mount. With a final nod to the members of his Order, he spurred his horse back towards the city walls. Sir Nemian and Miss. Erisane cantered forward as the knights split into two equally sized groups.
"It is an honor to be accompanied by warriors of such esteem. I thank you for your service."
It was the first time any of them had heard Miss Erisane talk, and her honeyed words flowed over them like melted butter. It was a moment before Orwick realized she had spoken to him, and his words caught in his throat as he managed a response.
"The honor is all ours, my lady." He knelt as he took her hand into his instinctively. She smiled warmly at him from the saddle.
Orwick caught Nathaniel rolling his good eye, and rose quickly to his feet.
Sir Nemian idly clicked the reins of his horse, almost imperceptibly guiding it behind the ranks of men that were to aid him. Alwyn addressed the elder knight as he passed.
"Sir Nemian, we are looking forward to serving you and being of any assistance that we may. Our arms are yours."
There was a snicker Alwyn could only guess was from Harris, though he did not see it. Sir Nemian, hunched as he was and face shrouded in the hood of his cloak, gave hardly any indication of noticing that he had been spoken to, save for the slightest nodding of his head. His horse continued lazily plodding forward.
At last, it came time to part ways.
Nathaniel shook one of Barney's massive paws, and took Jonah in a hard headlock, promising twice the ale on the day they were to return. Heinrich and Lawrence parted formally, wishing one another safe travels. Derich politely wished everyone well, while Zachariah mounted quickly for a man of his size and without sparing a word. Harris bade farewell with showy bravado. Lastly, Orwick and Orwick met one another's eyes as the last to bid farewell and climb their mounts.
"If you find yourself in Willowgate, give my folks my regards. Your mother and Lise as well, if you see them." Alwyn began.
"I'll see to it." Orwick replied. "You see that you don't lose any limbs to the frost. I'd feel guilty kicking the shit out of a cripple in the training yard on your return."
"It'd be humiliating for you to see how badly you'd still lose that fight." Alwyn smiled warmly.
Simultaneously, the two embraced.
"Be safe out there, brother." Orwick murmured, clapping his friend hard on the back.
"Always." Alwyn assured as they separated.
"Oh would you two pillow-biters get on with it! I'd like to be on the northern road 'fore sundown!" Nathaniel barked. "Come along now, Captain."
Nathaniel clicked his horse into a trot away from Rivengarde, and Alwyn was forced to follow as he swung himself onto Esper's back. Orwick watched for a moment as the six figures rode further and further up the northern road before taking formal command of his own party and starting in the opposite direction.
Setting off at an even pace, he did not look back until Rivengarde was long out of sight.