CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

FRIENDS, TO THE NORTH

Through the lands of Ferro marches a great army of 50 000 strong. Many sorts lie in the mix. Seasoned soldiers with years of experience, mercenaries with a lust for coin and fame, and the young eager to prove themselves; eager to battle.

A lone horseman clad in silver-green armor rides further; stopping, he dismounts and takes off his helmet. He looks at the great beyond with respect.

“General Iro,” another horseman approaches.

“Have you ever been to the North?” General Iro asks, deep in thought.

“No, sir,” the horseman responds.

“It is a harsh land. Harsh lands breed harsh times, and harsh times breed harsh people. Harsh people breed cruelty and in such a cruel place only the strongest and cruelest can survive,” General Iro says, looking beyond the invisible line. The line cannot be seen, but he knows it is there, he can feel it there; the one spot that separates beast and man.

“We are ready and strong, General Iro. Victory shall be ours,” the horseman adds, pridefully and sincerely.

“Do you know why they call it the Withering Lands?” General Iro asks.

“No, sir,” the horseman responds.

“It is because the Great North is a place where life withers away. Few dare to enter and even fewer return.

"Those that return do not return whole. Not whole,” General Iro says, equipping his helmet and mounting his steed. He rides back to a lone carriage amongst the armored horseman and foot soldiers.

“Princess Valima! From this point on, I suggest you remain alert at all times. I hope your guard shall be vigilant,” General Iro says, looking at her company. At the driving seat sits Tyr with Ulric on his left and Melione on the right. Ulric gazes on the ground with a focused look, firmly gripping his crossbow; Melione looks in the distance with a faint smile on her face. This is her way.

Noname gazes out the window as she looks around.

“Lunch of worms! Lunch of worms!” Noname blurts out with traditional right eye twitches; she goes back in. Inside Shaphas, Big Pete, Little Pete, Harry, and the silent spear-wielding woman accompany her.

General Iro raises his hand and with a simple wave, the great army marches.

“Haw did we get drawn incha dis mess?” Harry asks, rhetorically.

The day before in the city of Union.

Noname sits alone at the dining hall playing with her dagger in visible boredom as Sara stands by her side; she throws the dagger in the air, catching it as it falls. The reason for the cuts on her palm becomes clear. Usually, at this time she would attend a tedious lesson by Master Abacus, but not this time. The lessons have stopped for a reason unknown to her and even if she found them boring; she got used to them.

The lack of tediousness is tedious, Noname thinks.

“Princess Valima,” Lord Belmon says, approaching.

“Huh?” Noname responds playfully, throwing the dagger in the air.

“There is a certain issue we must discuss. Because of the siege of the Northmen and the death of many key figures, it has been decided that we shall launch a counter-attack. War is here!” Lord Belmon says.

“Okay?” Noname uninterestedly responds throwing the dagger again; Lord Belmon grabs it in the air.

“I would like you to go with them. You are to observe the battles and learn from it. This will be a valuable experience as you grow and eventually take up the throne,” Lord Belmon says in a pretense of a request.

“Why would I do dat?” Noname asks as though a Belom told a joke.

“You must do this! We must uphold certain criteria. Even if you are the heir, you must work for your right. Wouldn’t your friends also enjoy the perks of friendship with the future Queen? I’ve almost forgotten that they tried to steal from one of the city treasuries. An offense worthy of a death sentence,” Lord Belmon says.

“Fine,” Noname grunts as her right eye twitches and her finger flips.

“Good! There is nothing to worry about. You shall not take part in the battle and I shall assign a personal guard for you,” Lord Belmon says.

“No!” Noname yells.

“No? I thought we reached an understanding?” Lord Belmon says, focusing his stare at her.

“I will get who I want,” Noname says with determination.

“I believe that will suffice,” Lord Belmon responds a bit surprised.

“Can I promise them money?” Noname asks.

“You can do whatever you want. Also, I have to comment that the way you talk has significantly improved,” Lord Belmon says nodding his head in approval; he returns her dagger.

“Blah,” Noname blurts out.

“Very well, do this today, and tomorrow you begin your journey,” Lord Belmon says walking away.

“Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” Noname blurts out with right eye twitches.

Lord Belmon stops for a second after hearing the outburst but continues his way.

“Sara?” Noname asks.

“Yes, Princess?” Sara asks.

“Can you get those people I’ve mentioned?” Noname asks.

“I can,” Sara responds, bowing.

“Good! Here take dis,” Noname says, throwing a bag of coins.

“My lady, what is this?” Sara asks.

“Ya sister died for me. I’ve stolen dis for ya. After ya get da people, ya can take a rest and nat work anymore,” Noname says.

“I don’t know what to say? I would still like to serve you but...” Sara says, looking with sadness.

“Take ya time and when ya think bout’ it do whattcha wanna do,” Noname says.

Sara gently bows as she makes her way out.

The last of the misfits gather as Tyr and Shaphas enter the room in the company of Sara; she bows to Noname for perhaps the last time before leaving.

“Hello! My name is Melione,” Melione says at the two upcoming arrivals.

“I know,” Tyr says scratching his head.

“I will keep it short! I gotta go to da stupid war and I need people to come with me. Ya want to join me?” Noname says.

“What?” Tyr says in surprise.

“Is it going to be fun?” Melione asks.

“I go where the Moon commands,” Ulric adds.

“What?” Tyr asks in confusion turning to Ulric.

“There is an evil that must be purged for Aion,” Shaphas adds, nodding.

“Why ya wanna go, Noname?” Harry asks.

“No choice,” Noname quickly responds.

“I understand,” Harry says as nodding.

“We always stay together,” Little Pete adds; Big Pete nods.

“What bout’ the rest of ya? I can give ya lots of money,” Noname says, diverting her gaze at the rest.

“My only purpose is to purge the world for Aion. I shall join you on this quest,” Shaphas says, nodding.

“What about this? What does the Moon say?” Ulric asks, turning to Melione.

“There,” Melione says, pointing at the north.

“The champion of the Moon hears and obeys. We shall join you,” Ulric says.

The silent-spear-wielding woman makes a hand sign for money as she rubs her fingers together; Noname smiles and nods as the silent woman nods back.

“Good! We have us, the burn-man, the silent, the crazy, and the moon-man. What bout’ ya death-man?” Noname says looking at Tyr.

“I’m afraid he will...” Shaphas speaks as he gets cut off.

“I will join,” Tyr adds to the surprise of others.

“This can be nothing less than a miracle of Aion,” Shaphas says as he laughs.

Tyr remembers the words of the Northmen chieftain, he remembers his past and the feeling of belonging.

Why am I risking my life again, Try thinks? He hates it but he hates to be without it even more. Such a contradiction.

I am truly ridiculous, Tyr concludes.

“Give me lots of money if we return. I want to drink myself to death,” Tyr adds.

“Ya will get all da money ya can drink death-man,” Noname says.