Chương 24: Chapter 23 - The Frostwarden

Elias paused for a moment listening for any change or sign that the firewatch was alerted before holding a finger to his lips and waving Astra forward. As he turned towards the cage Eli realized he wasn't completely unseen as a few of the captives were awake and stared at him in shock, at least until he brought a finger to his lips, then pointed at his eyes and again in the direction of the firewatch.

Taking the hint, they turned back to the bonfire with expressions of feigned disinterest, while Eli noticed Mira was still watching him out of the corner of her eye. Damn, and I thought she was intimidating before. Eli watched her warily as he was better able to make out her features from a closer distance, and while only the upper portion of her torso was visible from his angle, with the exception of a breast wrap, the sight was clear and unobstructed.

Mira's face was clear and well formed with a stern beauty, but from the chin down he could finally make out a fairly unique detail at this distance that he hadn't noticed prior. In addition to the well muscled form he would expect from a personal guard sworn into the service of a noblewoman, she was absolutely covered in fine, almost whisper thin scars crossing all over her body. I know the old saying is a roadmap of scars, but this lady is the whole atlas. Eli momentarily stared, eyes wide at the stunning display.

Mira's body told the tale of a thousand battles, of a proud warrior, unbowed even in chains. Eli caught her lips quivering into a faint smirk out of the corner of his eye, as he realized she had caught him staring. A thrill ran through him, a shiver coursing down his spine, and Eli knew the sensation for what it was, an instinctual recognition of a predator, a being wild and strong that no chains could ever hold for long.

So, of course, he tossed her a jaunty wink before stalking forward to joining Astra at the back of the cage. Astra tapped his shoulder and pointed up. Realizing that she wouldn't quite be able to reach the collar on her own, Eli crouched with his back against the wagon and laced his fingers to give her a boost. As Astra reached up, she popped out the key, and stepped into his hands, Eli surprised himself with an errant thought.

She's a lot lighter than I expected with all that armor, and as Astra leaned a knee against his shoulder to work on the collar a blush crept up his face as a second thought occurred. Even after a half dozen battles and running a damn half marathon she still smells fantastic, sunshine and wildflowers, almost like a summer meadow in full bloom. Eli shook it off and tried to clear his mind, but as soon as Astra turned the key, and Eli heard the collar drop to the wagon floor with a thud, all his stray thoughts ceased.

An enormous pressure pressed down on Eli from all sides as if he was plunged to the bottom of the ocean in the blink of an eye, followed by a deep bone-chilling cold as a spine tingled presence reared behind him, Eli reflexively tensed as if he was suddenly standing in the shadow of a titan pressing down upon reality with the weight of a mountain. Before he could even begin to gasp for breath, a series of incomprehensible noises echoed behind Eli nearly simultaneously.

A snap, a series of thuds, a ripple of cracks like a forest worth of branches snapping all at once, a rapid series of crunching sounds like gravel ground beneath a tire, followed by a series of grunts, and a tinkling of crystal chimes. Then the pressure receded, the cold fled as the humid air of the forest returned, and only the tinkling sound remained as a rush of tiny pieces of frozen metal no larger than the nail on his pinky finger softly rained down on Eli as if he was part of the world's strangest hail storm.

Astra hopped down before letting out a tired sigh of relief as she patted Eli's shoulder." See, I told you Mira would handle it." As she made eye contact with Eli, Astra let out another one of her delightfully girlish giggles that were so at odds with her fierce appearance, as she caught the confusion on his face. Giving him a warm grin Astra urged." Go on, take a look, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." Eli gave her a confused expression before shrugging.

He crept around the wagon to peer beyond the far side only to stumble backwards and bolting upright while gaping in shock. The bandit camp was covered in a layer of deep frost that gently misted into the cool night air, but while the magic was startling on its own, the real surprise was that every single bandit in the camp had been frozen solid and then decapitated, with some of their heads still gently rocking on the ground before settling into their final position.

Astra let out a hearty laugh at his expression as Eli's head whipped back to the wagon, which apparently was no longer caged. The captives were standing up while brushing the frozen shards that were all that remained of the cage bars and the restraints from their clothing as the raven haired woman stood, gracefully strode to the edge of the wagon, and hopped lightly to the ground before gazing at the pair before her, placing her hands on her hips. Enjoying the story?

Show your support by reading it on the official site. Mira favored Astra with a warm smile as she bowed her head slightly in her direction." Well, Lady Emberholdt you are fashionably late as always, I hope you didn't run into any trouble on the way here. Come, let me look at you." Mira opened her arms beckoning her forward as Astra rushed into her embrace with a stifled sob. Mira embraced her gently as she spoke softly, soothingly."

I am glad to see you again as well, but there is a time and a place for such things." Astra cleared her throat and stepped back from Mira's arms, coming to attention, drawing her blade, and saluting." Of course Master. Initiate Astra Emberholdt reporting upon successful completion of her mission!" Mira boomed out a laugh before fixing Astra with a stern expression." That's my star pupil! Now how many did you kill?"

Astra sheathed her sword with a flourish before clicking her heels, and dropping into parade rest while nearly imperceptibly wavering on her feet" Eleven kills and one assist, the war party is responsible for a total of seventeen prior to your assistance Ma'am." Mira's expression softened, " You did well my lady. Very well indeed."

As Mira turned her gaze in Eli's direction, he could feel the faintest whiff of that overwhelming power from before, as if an avalanche of cold to dwarf the tallest mountain rested behind those white irises, glowing with a faint blue tint. A smile crept across Mira's face as she caught the fond and faintly amused look Eli gave Astra as she tried to surreptitiously dry her eyes, only to just rub wet soot everywhere." It seems you have made a friend, why don't you introduce us?"

A shiver crawled down Elias's spine as the full force of Mira's gaze bore down upon him, as if the exhaustion from before returned tenfold. Eli grunted, squaring his shoulders, they were safe, so nothing else mattered. Elias glanced at Astra before turning back to Mira, Astra is probably the most ridiculously transparent person I've ever met. If she considers Mira family, it would be wild to think I can't trust her. Shrugging off the pressure from Mira, Eli extended his hand." I'm Eli, nice to meet you."

Mira raked her gaze across his form before raising a brow with a small smile, and clasping his arm in a firm grip, as Astra giggled again Mira's other brow rose, her smile grew just a little more." A pleasure to meet you I'm sure." Astra smacked their hands with an exasperated sigh." No, no, no, you're both the worst at this. Let us do this right." Astra clasped her hands and waved at Mira with a grand gesture." Behold!""

Miralda Blackhall the last daughter of a storied clan, the Frostwarden, the last Scion of the Ancient house of Serytyhn, Lady of a Thousand winters, the Mistress of Silent Death, and the Last light of the North!" Mira rolled her eyes at Astra and struck an elegant pose before executing a flawless curtsy that was greatly at odds with her appearance given she was wearing only a breastwrap, a tattered and bloodstained pair of linen shorts coming to her midthigh, and a layer of dust.

Mira rose, looked at Eli with a deadpan expression and droned out a sarcastic, " I bid you a fine welcome, good Ser." Astra cleared her throat and turned to favor Elias with an equally grandiose gesture." Behold!"" Elias Mercer, first of his name, Breachborn, Pathfinder of the Shattered Veil, Survivor of the Burning Sky, Godstouched, Slayer of Beasts and Bandits, and the Harbinger of Another World!" Eli was quick to understand the assignment and struck a stoic pose followed by an exaggerated courtly bow."

Charmed to make your acquaintance Lady Blackhall, a pleasure indeed." I guess some of those titles are 'technically' true. Mira's eyebrow trembled at a few of the titles, and Eli gathered that she realized Astra was probably a little more serious than her whimsy portrayed. Whatever her opinion Mira kept it to herself, only frowning slightly as Astra wobbled a bit on her feet and Eli braced her.

Eli decided to err on the side of caution and chivalry towards his new companion as he nodded towards Astra before addressing Mira." Lady Blackhall, it has been a very long night both for myself and your ward. We've traveled far and courted death more than a few times tonight. Perhaps relaying our stories can wait for another time after we've gotten some rest." Mira glanced back at Astra before giving Eli a quick nod and turning to begin barking orders at the remaining soldiers to begin clearing the camp.

Exhaustion crashed down on Eli as the adrenaline fled his system at Mira's departure. Deciding enough was enough, he shuffled over to a wagon wheel, and collapsed onto the ground leaning back against the wheel. Breathing a gusty sigh of exhaustion, he looked up to the bits of ringlight faintly peering through the dense canopy above with a weary but satisfied expression. I made it. I haven't reached civilization yet, and most of the people I've met so far have been bandits that I had to kill.

But hey, I've made at least one friend. Eli closed his eyes and breathed deep, a soft breeze drifted through the camp, swirling around Eli before departing. Cherry blossoms. Huh, just like my last memory of Earth. Eli grunted, cracking one eye open as a weight fell across his lap, Eli looked down to find Astra flopped on the ground, her head nestled on top of the leather armor covering his thigh while clutching her greatsword to her chest in a deathgrip with both arms.

She was clearly fighting against exhaustion as her eyelids were slowly drooping as she fought gamely to keep them open. She rolled onto her back her soot darkened hair spilling free of the leather tie as it spread across his lap, and with a grunt of her own she wrenched her eyes back open and fixed Eli with a sharp glare and a faint smile." We made it."

"You never lost faith did you, my counterpoint?" Eli smiled down at her, " Not for a second." Her eyes slowly fluttered closed before opening one last time, " Together?" Eli laid a hand over hers as it clasped the hilt of her blade, " Always." Her eyes drifted closed, a soft smile on her lips in satisfaction at his answer, Eli's head drooped slowly only moments later, as he drifted off with a smile on his lips as well.