Now back on the road we rushed the rest of the way back home with very little excitement along the way. The bridge toll for a whole army, even a small one, really turned out to be something else. There were not tax exceptions for people going to war after all. The sum had me swallow but I didn't begrudge the trolls their earnings. They and their work where very much one of the things that held our kingdom together. The people in Caer'agal, including the young Riz'agal who shouldered the responsibility of running the place in his father's absence, had wide eyes as we came through. We didn't even stop at their place this time though as we still had enough sunlight to cover part of the distance back home to Caer'zoth. I only stayed with them long enough, while the army kept marching, to set up some deals for provisions.

I bought a considerable part of their surplus to be delivered in several shipments, not directly to the army but to Caer'zoth which would serve as our staging ground and supply base in the days and possibly weeks to come. I parted with yet more coin to seal the deal. I had to increase my pace beyond the usual to catch up to the column afterwards as well. Despite the exhaustion of the forced march in general and my even higher pace especially I was in high spirits. The same was true for many others as well. My people were glad to be back home. They were probably looking forward to see how their loved ones had fared in their absence. The mercenaries on the other hand knew that they would get a chance to properly rest for a while once we reached my domain.

Tortho even surprised me by letting me know at the campfire at last, that some of his scouts had already been within range of sight of our home before they withdrew for the night to positions closer to our camp along the road. They had come across some of the remains of our battles against the invaders as well. Or at least that was my best guess upon hearing the descriptions. It might have been signs of Eld'tide, Khuzan and their mothers mopping up some last stragglers, which would be just as well. There had been no signs of enemies and at least according to the scouts Caer'zoth looked like it was recovering from the recent hardships well enough. I trusted their words on the matter but I would be able to see it for myself as well soon enough anyway.

I slept surprisingly well, considering that we were camping at the roadside, and I might have been even in more of a hurry the next morning. I was itching to get back home even if I probably wouldn't be staying there for long. I could barely sit still long enough for our morning meal. Once we were finally underway the last leg of our trip back home didn't take us long. We came into sight of the walls of Caer'zoth before noon and set up camp in one of the spots the humans besieging the village had used. I could still see the burnt ground where we had torched their supply tent during our dusk raid. Some of the mercenaries must have noticed as well. Especially Tortho raised an eyebrow. I told him the short version of the story and he just nodded and made some adjustments regarding the perimeter guard in the direction we had attacked from.

Some of the people had been a little unease as they caught sight of our approach. There had been more than a few armed men and women gathering on the wall at first. I could hear an alarm being raised as well. I didn't mind. Quite to the opposite really. Better they were a bit too careful rather than sorry. I moved to the front of the column and then even a little further ahead. Someone on the wall must have recognized me. I could tell by the way everyone's stance relaxed. There was even a cheer from the wall, as we came closer. Once the soldiers were busy setting up the camp I headed for the gate, to meet up with my friends and Uzzana, who had assumed overall command during my absence. I hugged everyone and was hugged in return. Once Kaele joined me there was even more hugging. It put a big smile on my lips.

Once the greetings were out of the way I took a moment to properly seize up my friends. Something was different about them and when I finally realized what it was I smiled even wider. It was the ribbons Eld'tide was wearing in her hair. Something she usually wouldn't do. They were of a bright orange with golden embroidery, the colors of a recently married woman. I felt a little silly for not having taken proper note of them earlier. I felt even sillier for having missed that Khuzan was wearing matching ribbons. I pulled them in another heartfelt hug. “That looks good on the two of you. Congratulations.”

Khuzan blushed a little and Eld'tide smiled but was clearly a little embarrassed as well. Uzzana in turn snorted in amusement. She was clearly in high spirits as well. “Took them long enough to tie the knots.” The weapon master ruffled their hair as she moved past them to get a better look at the army I had brought from a position at my side. “That is quite the sight. I doubt you hired them just to look good though.”

“Right. The plan is to find out where and how the damn ghoul and his army crossed the mountains and repay them in kind.” I paused briefly before elaborating a little more. “We will cross the mountains and move south in the lands to their east until we can flank the enemy main army at the gap. Might as well do a little pillaging and burning along the way to put some fear into their hearts, depending on how things develop. Did you find any clues about what way they used while we were away?”

She nodded. “We mopped up some more stragglers, my lady. We followed a few of them up north a little bit before bringing them down. Can't say we found the mountain pass or whatever they used but they certainly left a trail you can't possibly miss on their way down here.” She furrowed her brows. “You will have to take care though. If I were them I wouldn't leave such a mountain pass unguarded.”

At this moment I saw the captains approach us, together with Zul'gar and the last of the pack animals still loaded with strong chests. Eld'tide harrumphed at the sight. “Somehow I expected you to return with a lot more coin than that.” The mischievous smile on her face told me that she wasn't serious though.

I waved Zul'gar through the gate. “Take the coin to the mansion and have it properly stored.” Then I turned to face my gorgon friend. “Well, mercenaries don't work for free. Not any worth hiring anyway.” That earned me a laugh from Tora'pheer as she and the others came close. “You wouldn't believe how much such an army eats either. Not to mention the toll the trolls charge at the bridges.” By now no one saw reason anymore to hold back. Me neither. I joined the laughter of my friends and the mercenary captains.

Once we calmed down Uzzana ushered through the gate as well and towards mother's … no, my mansion. Eld'tide put an arm on mine. “I'll go and get mother then we can share what information we have gathered about our enemies.” With these words she rushed away in the direction of the village temple.

I took that chance to look around a little. I could still see signs of battle damage but village started looking better already. There were signs of reconstruction among the houses that had been damaged. Mostly it had been roofs touched by fire that had needed fixing. I could smell freshly cut wood and as we passed one house I could see people cut slate to size for new shingles. Once they were done Caer'zoth would be as good as new or maybe even better. It eased my heart further to see people doing well. The wounds their souls suffered would take some more time to heal, maybe years or decades even, but they were on a good way.

Yath'zur, my giant sapper, seemed to come to a similar conclusion. “Your people are doing well. There was only little damage to the wall and it has been fixed already. And soon their homesteads will be whole and hale again as well.”

“Mhm.” I nodded. “Maybe you and yours can help their efforts a little further along in the next few days, while the scouts and rangers move ahead to find and secure the path we will be taking across the mountains.”

As the giant nodded Arngard, the dark skinned human mercenary officer spoke up. “What is up with the burnt hill? That wasn't the besieging army, was it?”

Of course he would be curious. The same was probably true for some of the others as well. They didn't know all the details of our story yet after all, thus I decided to tell them. “That is Kor'za's pyre.” I earned some incredulous looks with that remark, just as expected. “She was a friend who fought alongside us. One of the elven headhunters got her. We built her a grand pyre at the very top of the hill and then we lured a good part of the enemy army up there into the forest. Pine mostly and other trees rich in sap and essential oils. Once they were in deep enough Kaele and my friend Eld'tide, the one that just left for the temple, lit it up behind them. It worked like a charm.”

Kaele decided to add a little more detail. “Only a few of them made it to the top where she was waiting for them at the actual pyre. That's where she faced down the damn ghoul king that led these scum. And it worked so well that she barely made it out of there alive.” She shook her head. “When Khuzan came running down the hillside with you slung over his shoulders, kicking up a cloud of ash, and burning his feet on the still hot ground, I at first thought that you actually were dead.”

I could hear the pain in her voice and put a hand on her shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, it was a close brush with death but I would do it again if I had to.” I turned to the others as we reached the mansion. “Come in. We can talk more once we washed our feet and had a little something to eat. There are arrangements to be made and plans to be forged.”