Hearing reluctant huffs of the horses as they were brought back to the scene, Shir stared over in a horror at the damage that the thing did. The wood was dented in and the large claws marks scrapped layer off. Splinters stuck out into large spikes that Toney had to rip his robe just to get out. The mage grunting as he fell out the carriage, forced onto its side. Gero looked at her with a pale face, sweat dripped from his forehead as he took deep breath in. To her left, Eoviet cradled his arm in what looked to be an agony.
"Did it hurt you?" Shir asked with a new worry. Sheathing her sword to inspect any wounds. Her eyes darted over his arm, it wasn't bleeding, doesn't look broken either.
"It tried to" Gero answered from behind her, "it seemed to have targeted him or something. If I didn't get involved it would have eaten him but my sword shattered when I slashed on its neck" he reported.
"I tried to-" Eoviet took a breath before talking. He could move his arm but when anything touched it the boy would wince. "I tried to use a spell I know, I kept building on it and forgot the physical strain it would have to do that" Eoviet explained.
With a frown, Shir took his arm, ignoring his grunts of pain he made. Pulling the baggy sleeve down, she reveled the bruised and swollen skin. "Rookie move" Toney sounded from behind her, his eyes looked over the aftermath with a frown. "At least you had learned, better to learn now than later" the mage schooled, muttering before casting a spell on his arm. Eoviet grumbled but soon his shoulder relaxed when the pain eased. Shir could feel the warmth that radiated from the spell, it was quite comforting.
"No-one else hurt?" The Princess called out, scanning the scene of workers rounding up all of their horses.
Looking over each worker individually, she noticed that most only had a few scrapes. Shir guessed they got them when their horses bucked them off. "I checked everyone" Jayce reported, "minor injuries, nothing serious". With a small sigh of relief, Shir nodded and turned her gaze back over to Eoviet. Toney now using a spell to cool the swelling, the boy looking more releved from the pain.
"You doing better?" Shir asked, her tone calm and disciplined into her to be unwavering. To show no shake or weakness when she works as a Knight.
"Yes, Princess" Eoviet nodded, his voice more dismissive. Like he wouldn't want her to worry or put her focus on him. Shir nodded slowly, thinking to what he had said earlier. Thinking about how he mentioned on building on a spell he already knew. Smart but leaves one more question.
"Good" making sure that she kept her tone soft, Shir took a breath before bringing up her only concern now. "But you never told me you can cast spells! How? When? Didn't you think it may be worth mentioning when I first took you in?" Shir questioned, more so out of shock than actually angry or disappointed. Eoviet flinched slightly once she raised her voice. Beginning to stuttering as he justified his reasoning.
"I-I didn't think it would be that big of a deal" he took a quick breath to steel his tone, "I thought everyone knew that spell, is all".
Pausing, Toney raised an eyebrow, a disbelief forming in his eyes. Shir to felt her own shock at his words. How can he truly belive that everyone could know a spell? People were not all built to control the elements let alone cast spells and magic. Only those who are born with the natural gift would have a chance at learning the schools of magic. "No" Toney shook his head, slowly trying to overcome his shock and disbelief of his thought process. "Not just anyone can cast spells" Toney huffed, flicking his fingers on Eoviet's nose. The smaller boy muttering his protest as he rubbed his nose, looking at the mage in an annoyance.
"But everyone in my village could" he argued. Casting more shock and disbelief over the groups. Even the workers who had their hands full on calming their horses looked over with a cocked eyebrow. "A whole village!?" Shir thought with more doubt and disbelief, "it's impossible for a whole village to be able to cast spells!".
"Ok- I'll look into that later" Toney declared, "for now I want to know what beast just pounced on us". Gero cleared his throat, he looked unsure to Shir but the guard spoke anyway.
"I have an ides on what it may be but I could be wrong" he began, ensuring that the mage knew it was a guess. Curiosity formed in Shir. Gero may be more of an overthinker but if he was unsure on what beast then it may be something rare. "It had a snake head, large fangs and its body at first looked like plantation. I have only heard of these but I believe it could be a Peluda". Toney thought for a moment, Shir recognised his expression when he is theorising.
"A Peluda? Last I heard they were dying out a few centuries ago" Toney mumbled in a wonder. "Let's see what I can remember, reptilian creatures, hairy or fluffy bodies and said to be strong swimmers" the mage hummed. "I will have to look into it".
"I don't exactly care what it is" the diver sounded as he approached, "in this condition, the carriage would not make it to the volcano". Shir looked it over once more, the door was dented in to the point that she had to kick it open. Looking over the front wheel, she realised that it was barly holding on by a splinter.
"It won't last the seconed we set her upright" Shir corrected, a form forming on her lips. The Princess looked over the horses once more. Almost all of the riding horses were brought back calmed. Only a small handful were still skittish, trying to brake free from their hitching posts. Coming over the hill, Shir could see that Norice was leading all four shires back. The gentle giants now calmed and following without issue. At the sight of the horses, Shir realised that Autumn was not among them.
"Eoviet" she called over to the boy who looked up with a nod.
"Yes?" He gave a more concerned look when Shir gave him an alarmed expression.
"Where's Autumn? Did he bolt?" Shir questioned with a worry. In these hills, a tacked horse can so easily overheat if they kept running in a fright. As great as a war steed Autumn is, he is still a horse. A beautiful creature with a lot of predators. Eoviet shifted his expression to be softer and more apologetic as he walked over to her.
"I'll help you look" he offered with a nod. Even if his arm was still bruised and sore, Eoviet looked determined to help.
"Thank you" Shir then turned her attention to the others, "stay here, water the horses until I get back". With her order, the workers leaded their mounts to the river, letting them drink and graze for a rest. The Princess didn't have time to waist, if that Paluda thing is near by, they could still be in trouble there. Only good thing is that Toney can help defend them all now.
"I think he went this way" Eoviet pointed down the hill, where a small patch of trees rested. "Sorry, I didn't know how to calm him" the boy then apologised. With a small ping of guilt, Shir corrected him. She didn't want him blaming himself for Autumn being a horse.
"No, horses bolt when scared, it's just their nature" patting his shoulder, Shir spoke with a sincere tone. "You can not blame yourself when something is just following their instincts" she then added, her gaze scanning the area as they approached the trees. The thinner branches of birch wood provided a small shade, just between the logs sat a small pond. A small lake that fed the trees and just inside a familiar tail swished as he drank. "Autumn" Shir called out in a relif, her horse whined and trotted over. A drenched nose nuzzled on her hand as she took his rains to lead him.
Once out of the trees, Shir noticed Eoviet giving a look at the horse. His eyes looked over something from his hined leg. "Ur- Princess" he gestured for her to look. Shir followed where he pointed and saw many scratches on her horses flank. Frowning she took a closer look, investigating each one.
"Looks like he scrapped his leg on a tree when running, probably why he stopped in the lake" she guessed. Autumn didn't show a sign of pain when she touched them, they had already stopped bleeding so they should heal on their own.
"Come on, we should regroup" Shir then cocked her head to gesture back to the group. Eoviet nodded and followed quietly, the boy petting the horse on his shoulder as they walked. With a huff, Autumn nuzzled his hand back. "He doesn't like just anyone this quickly" Shir spoke with a giggle in her voice, amused by how easily her horse warmed up to him.
"He's a good horse" Eoviet slumped his shoulder a little awkwardly, walking beside her.
Back with the group, Shir could hear Toney giving out orders. The back half of the old carriage now taken apart. All fourth wheels were salvaged to craft a make shift smaller cart to carry their belongings. "That was fast" the Princess commented, quickly leading her horse to graze with the others. They all had been travelling for half a day, they deserved this rest.
"Easy if you know the right spells" Toney grinned, "good to see that no-one was too hurt from this attack". The mage looked over everyone, his own relief sparkled in his eyes.
"How to get to the volcano? It is still a half a days trip away" Shir wondered, looking at the make shift cart. It can be pulled by a single shire comfortably but that is if no-one is on it.
"We can always ride the shires and as for this" Toney patted the cart, looking proud of himself for being able to make it. "I can just lead the shire pulling it. I know that look, Princess, stop stressing, I have everything under control" Toney booped her nose in a more playful fashion.
"But come on!" Toney called out, "we can reach the end of this road by dusk if we move now. Mount up! Time to get a move on" the mage ordered. Most workers gave a reluctant sigh as they went for their horses.
"You can still ride Autumn" Shir explained to Eoviet. Feeling her own tiredness but at least she gets to ride this time, instead of just sitting around bored.
"You sure?" Eoviet asked, his tone soft and sweet. Something she had rarely heard from a guy, she liked how considerate he is.
"I'm sure, with a busted arm like that you wouldn't be able to ride a shire" she patted his shoulder, pointing out his injury.
Eoviet didn't argue back this time, calling out to Autumn. Her stallion looked up, hesitating before trotting over. With a chuckle, Shir thought, "he's a grate horse, won't be so willing to go to just anyone who calls". Shir approached one of the shires, his larger build made it a little more difficult to mount. Having to jump as she climbed onto his back, the shire walking off before she was able to get on right. "This one needs more trianing" she thought, a little annoying as she heard stray chuckles.
"Alright, let's go" Toney announced, a longer lead rope in hand to guide the shire pulling the cart. Shir found quickly just how much more insisting she would need to do to steer. Her gentle raining didn't register in this stallions mind when she tried to steer right, trying to ride by Tonies side. Instead, she was able to get the horse to walk beside Eoviet and Autumn.
"Trouble there?" Eoviet asked, his softer tone just about heard as he looked up.
"I sometimes forget that not all horses are trianed to audio cues" with a pout, Shir sighed as the larger stallion refused to walk any faster.
Even after the attack, her excitment did not falter. Now with a greater understanding of what they may find thanks to the mystery voice. But also because the volcano had always seemed to be an interesting feel to it. She had always felt that she could find something there and now she was given the chance to find it.