Chapter 15

Year 163 – Summer – Quartus Mensis – 40th day

Velika road, Velika Forest, northern Vale

The wind was stronger than usual. Between the leaves of the titanic trees, the sunlight pierced through, reaching an ant. It was coming from a long day of labour, carrying its last piece of leaf for the day. The entrance to its city was not far away. The ant thought about the praise it would get from the queen when the world it knew turned into a nightmare. The sky slowly turned black as if the light was fading away. The wind disappeared from its surroundings as the sky fell down. The ant called for help while running faster than ever to reach the safety of its home. Its friends showed up at the entrance when they froze out of fear of the disaster. A part of the sky was about to reach the ground. The ant was crushed under the weight of what it thought to be the sky. As the other ants looked up to witness their doom, they saw a giant with some kind of flying demon on his shoulder. The foot of the man then rose up to keep his pace as the feet of his soldiers were crushing the ant again and again.

Atilos – “I think it’s here.”

Close by, the soldiers under Roberht were already chopping down trees to build the fort.

A man behind Atilos – “Well, unless everyone got the wrong destination and ended up in the same area . . . I suppose you’re right.”

Atilos – “But I can’t see Mundric. I don’t like it.”

The large man leading the construction was feeding his dogs when they started yapping. He turned around and caught sight of the only man he truly hated.

Atilos – “Roberht! My good friend!”

Roberht – “I can’t wait to see you die on the field.”

Atilos – “It goes both ways. Where’s Mundric?”

Roberht – “He’s scouting the area. He should be back soon. If you want to be more useful than a disease, you should start chopping wood.”

Atilos – “Oh, such sweet, caring thoughts.”

Atilos signalled a few gestures to his bird before sending him to watch the surrounding area as he and his men joined Roberht’s footmen. After a while, Mundric and his group came back to join them in the almost finished fortified camp.

Atilos – “Mundric, do you mind if we alternate our scouting?”

Mundric – “No, I’ll be glad; there’s way too much ground to cover.”

Atilos – “Good, my men are not used to cutting that much wood.”

Roberht – “Not like we’re going to miss you.”

Atilos – “I’m glad you take it that way!”

Mundric – “Please, could we make an effort not to kill each other before the end of our task?”

Roberht – “It all depends on him.”

Atilos – “I knew one day you’d admit my superior ability to make decisions.”

Roberht – “Your ass must be jealous of your mouth for the amount of shit that comes through.”

Mundric – “If I hear one more word from either of you tonight, I’ll send a bird to Egmond telling him to abort the mission.”

Roberht – “You wouldn’t dare.”

Atilos – “He’s already a general; he’s not gaining anything from this mission.”

Roberht – “Alright, let’s tolerate one another for tonight.”

Atilos – “Sounds like a good plan.”