West, Always West

[Marle Daviau]

Ilia was always cold, and this day was no exception. Men wore their large parkas as they marched through the snow and ice covered roads that connected the Ilian villages together. The formation wasn't much of one at the moment, since the blatant freezing temperatures made everyone shuffle more than move properly, but that was mostly due to the wind.

Marle's hair whipped and swung from side to side infront and behind her, long dyed brown hair flailing with every whim that the squall pushed in it's ever changing direction. Since having left Edessa, the military column was now two days out of the town, and had already hit their first village with few reinforcements, 12 men, hardly remarkable, but it was a village, so she didn't expect much. Ilia was spread thin.

Marle was thankful for one thing though, and that was for Mavick. The troops she had led into Sacae were with her, but she didn't actually know anyone who wasn't her subordinate. In a way, Mavick was, now, but in a different manner, he was Richter's consul, among many other things.

The young female knight's armor was freezing, and she was glad for the thick padding between her and it, in most places, it was hard to walk through the snow with it, and she was afraid to do too much incase her skin touched the metal, lest it would freeze to it. With a grumble, Marle tightened her scarf around her neck, and hid her mouth under it for extra warmth. They were a few hours out from the neighboring town,a little further north, was her village, but it was out of the way.

[Mavick]

Mavick, even under his many layers of robes and the large parka over him, could feel the bite of Illian cold. And the rest of them were wearing armor. How did these people live like this? Mavick buried his face deeper into his scarf and let out a warm breath. He really stuck out like a sore thumb, a small little hooded man clad in thick purple robes.

What made him stick out even more was the fact that, despite all odds, he barely seemed to be troubled by the deep snow. One would think that, due to his short stature and weak physique, he would have just as much of a problem as everyone else. But the main thing that seemed to slow him down was the pony walking behind him. He'd been asked about it the first day out, but all he'd done in response was smile and say "It's a mage thing." Even so, he had his problems.

"Maybe I should have studied Anima magic." Mavick commented to Marle, rubbing his gloves together. "I'm sorry, but I'll never understand how you Illians can live in this sort of cold." Sure enough, Mavick was having a hard time of it in this weather. These Illians were used to the bitter cold. He wasn't.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle just laughed at the obvious comment. Having studied Anima definitely would have been better for this climate. The way he said it sounded rather matter-of-factly, and she couldn't tell if it was a joke or not, but she took it as one at face value. It was funny afterall.

"Definitely would have helped, wouldn't have needed as much flint stones then."

With a nod, and an apparent grin from behind her scarf, she looked at the young man leading his pony through the small storm they were all marching through. No doubt there was men complaining, but that was alright, they were Ilianers afterall. Turning back to face the road ahead of her, Marle continued to flex her fingers, to keep the blood running in them.

"Its different when you grow up, and only know of cold. its like you southlanders, I don't know how you can stand the heat."

In the back of her head, she knew that it really wasn't all that hot, naturally, in Lycia, but for her, anything over freezing was a warm day. She lived quite a bit more north than most.

"In some places further north, this is a good day."

[Mavick]

Mavick grimaced behind his own scarf. "I'm glad to have been born in Lycia." he replied. The tactician then grew silent, a thousand thoughts running through his mind.

"...I don't like this." he said at last. "The vagueness of these orders are disturbing. Considering most of Lycia is utterly war torn, I think it's safe to say that it's not a Lycian shipment... And most bandits aren't that well organized... And is it common in Illia for one to write orders without signing his name? Even if he is of the highest standing?" Mavick asked. "I don't like this one bit."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle just gave a small smile as she inwardly laughed, not bothering to make a remark to Mavick about his choices. However, when he brought up the seal-less parchment that had been her orders, she couldn't give him an exact answer, really, her of all people wouldn't know.

"Its strange, I agree. but I wouldn't know. I've not had my command for very long. I'm still getting used to how things are done. I am still new, and only had two assignments so far, one was...well, I don't want to talk about it, and the other was to retrieve Richter. Before that, I was journeying around to better increase my skill."

Marle flashed a look over her shoulder, unflinching as a gust of cold air blew through her ranks.

"But I agree, its strange, and I'll be keeping my guard up."

[Mavick]

Mavick nodded. "Alright." They then fell back into an awkward silence. "...Not to offend, but you look like you have a bit of difficulty moving around in that heavy armor." Mavick pointed out. "Have you ever considered getting a horse? It would certainly make moving around much easier. Quicker, too." he suggested.

[Marle Daviau]

It was half true, what he said about her armor. Though the weight of it had begun to set in, and she was rather used to it. Looking back at Mavick's pony, she couldn't help but give a small frown at the beast, and with a sigh, she shook her head.

"I've thought about that as well, but as you can see, I'm not really equipped with much Calvary, and maintaining horses in an army in such desolate lands is difficult, since food to procure them is rare here, unlike in your grass filled lands where they would be more at home."

That was straying a bit from the point, best to return to it now.

"...but I have thought of it, and I'm not sure if anyone can part with a Sturdy, strong horse to carry me, and my armor along with it, though, from the size of some men, and them riding horses, it could be possible it wouldn't be bothered by the weight of my armor."

Smirking, she just rolled her shoulders in a shrug, and started to hum, before seeing the smoke of chimneys off in the distance over a steadily rising hill.

"A man's, or a woman's feet, have worked for ages, and I trust mine to carry me just as fine as any horse's, this way, it keeps me strong. As a Knight, I have to always be strong."

In more ways than one...

[Mavick]

Again, the silence fell over them. Mavick felt slightly uncomfortable. When it had been Richter and Clair, they never seemed to have a moment not to talk, though it was rarely for pleasantries. Now, it seemed there was absolutely nothing to speak about.

"You know, they say that a powerful Elder Mage lives somewhere in this land." Mavick commented. "She's called the Hermit on the Mountain. From what I've heard, she appears to be but a harmless old woman, but her knowledge of the dark arts goes unsurpassed. I would give anything for a chance to meet that woman, if it ever came."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle seemed to tense a bit as Mavick mentioned the old woman who excelled in dark arts. That hit a small nerve for her, being a phobic of that specific kind of magic. She tried her best to let it not be seen, but it didn't work fully. Her hands tightened into fists as a slight bit of anxiety wafted over her. Shaking her head, she gave a small smile back to Mavick, an uneasy one.

"Funny, I would give anything not to run into her, should it ever happen."

Marle felt she should explain why, but maybe he would ask himself, if not, that would be fine for her. Marle looked on ahead to those spaced out plumes of smoke that she knew was the village ahead, but the closer they got, the more strange it looked, the village wasn't that big, but there was more burning than should be necessary.

Stopping, Marle turned, and looked down the ranks.

"I need three scouts up front!"

She called down the line, and her order was carried down by company leaders until it reached the pegasi near the back, and three white horses rose up, and flew over the rest, setting down next to her. They one was older, and the two others who flanked the pegasus knight were, seemingly fresh, one actually looked like Clair when she just got accepted into their ranks. With a casual salute by the veteran, and quick ones by the other two, Marle relayed her orders.

"I need the three of you to scout ahead towards the village, relay to them that the forces from Edessa are coming...and check around the area before you do so."

The commander of the three gave a flat, but interested stare in the knights direction, as the two girls looked at each other.

"Three pegasi seem a lot for such a task, perhaps I should just send one?"

Marle in turn declined that offer with a subtle shake of her head.

"No, just do as you've been commanded. Call it me being cautious, is all."

The lead shrugged her shoulders, and took off with the other two following. Marle gave the signal to keep marching however, she could not be bothered to delay.

[Mavick]

Mavick looked at Marle, and noted the tension in her face and body. She seemed awfully apprehensive towards Elder Magic. Of course, that really was no surprise, but her reaction was a little more radical than the usual ones. He'd have to ask her about it later.

Mavick frowned, feeling the same suspicions as Marle. That seemed like an awful lot of smoke, especially for an area that didn't have very much wood to go around. This didn't feel right. "Maybe it's just the after effect of a little boy playing with fire." he suggested weakly, but he didn't believe a word of it himself.

[Marle Daviau]

No expression painted Marle's face now, as she watched off towards where the pegasi were flying. Her demeanor was still tense, but for a much different moment, she could hear the faint whisper of optimism from Mavick, but she turned her head only a little, not enough to actually look at the boy. With a shake of her head, she spoke, belying her actual answer. This kind of smoke, she had seen before.

"Let us hope it is in innocence."

Marle's voice sounded softer, more concerned now, as she moved a little faster, a form of rushed march which was at double the pace as before. The wind had died down considerably now to a light breeze, and her blood was pumping faster, she could feel it in her extremities.

-

It didn't take long for one of the young squires to fly back, the one who looked like Clair, and she seemed a touch rattled, eyes wide with shock, and had stopped just at a rise to where the village would come into view. Trotting the winged horse to Marle and Mavick, she got down, and seemed to sputter.

"There's...there's um.."

Marle breathed breathily as she got to the squire, who seemed stuck in position of making a salute, but near petrified. What was above that crest?

"What did you see Squire?"

That rose no response, only eyes darting to meet hers. There was fear in those eyes, that was clear, but the girl only tightened her grip on the reins of the Pegasus she was tending to. With a curse at the girl's lack of response, Marle charged up that hill with all the speed she could muster. Something happened, she could tell by the other two still in the sky circling the village below.

Marle was quick in her armor, a fair good sprinter, but it cost her a bit of stamina as she got to the rise, and peered down at the billowing smoke. Much was still aflame, but many of the buildings had become ash. Marle's eyes went wide as well, as a gust of wind brought up the stench of death, and searing skin. She could see no one just yet at this distance, but it was clear what was there. There was death here, and that was the only thing certain.

[Mavick]

Mavick needed little urging to clamor onto his pony and urge it on after Marle. He was afraid of what he was going to find over that hill, but he knew that he had to go. Part of him naively prayed that it was nothing, but so far prayer had done him little good.

Reaching the top of the hill, Mavick studied Marle's face, then reluctantly looked down towards the village to see his fears become reality. All the burning. All the death. It was just like Ostia. "...Lance-Captain." he said at last, tearing his eyes from the scene. "We need to ready the troops. There will be a battle soon."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle heard the smaller young man, but he sounded so far away. This was terrible, and if her hands weren't balled into fists, she knew her hands would begin to shake. it was hard to make out at this distance, but she could see bodies, literally everywhere. Though Mavick had suggested to form up the men, she gave a slight nod to her agreement, but she descended down the slope towards the town, she had to investigate.

The scouts above still circling signaled that they saw no one, well, no one alive, she assumed. She could see the squire above vomit clearly, and that almost brought her to the brink as well, the smell was so bad. Decomposition and blood ran high here, but this happened not long ago for sure, perhaps only a few hours ago. The army she led would begin to ready themselves outside the town, incase of an attack that would spring.

As Marle waded into the town, she could see half burned buildings, and ones untouched at random, though most were charred to the ground. Grabbing for her steel lance, she kept it warily ready, and as she neared a burnt down settlement, she prodded through the ash and crisp lumber which had not burnt fully. It didn't take long for a mostly charred skull to appear, and later, two smaller ones close by. There were other soldiers, looking through the debris of what was left, bodies strewn through the narrow streets.

Marle then came to another building, mostly intact, hardly touched, by on it's door, a woman was pinned, wrists and feet nailed to it. By the amount of blood that was on the door, she had bled out...it looked to be a painfully long death for someone so humble in upbringing. What startled her the most, was that her eyes were still open, eyelids removed, to always look starring tight at her as it appeared her head was kept back. Someone went to much work to keep her like this...perhaps they enjoyed it? That though sickened her, and felt her stomach turn. It took a lot of focus to not throw up infront of her own soldiers.

"...Search for survivors..."

The words sounded so silent as they caught in her throat, but the nearest soldier called the order back, as Marle proceeded to open the door, but as she did, the smell of death was so strong she immediately closed it, and backed away, coughing as that horrid smell tainted her nostrils.

[Garnet]

Garnet had tracked his way north and east now, after the reports of troops of Illian zealots for one purpose: He hated the Prophet's guts. Furthermore, he wanted to cause difficulty and pain to the Etrurian Dictator's designs. Tracking reports of a large cluster of zealots may not seem like the best idea to most, but the way the red-headed self-appointed hero saw it, you had to be close enough to get burned to feel the heat of the flames. Perhaps that's too poetic for someone like him though. It meant that he had to be there, if he was going to be of use.

The northern country had not been friendly to him. The swordsman wasn't shy to woodscraft, having had to live in the field for days at a time in the past, but Illia took the cake for harsh. He was glad that his heavy coat blocked out the wind so well. He just wished that it had a bit more- alot more insulation.

At last, the mercenary had come to some civilzation, but it hadn't been any more welcoming than the wilderness. Flames still burned on the occasional wreck of a house, and a few bodies were giving their final breaths as the hero entered the ghost town. It was worse than anything he'd ever seen before, and his eyes were watering from a feeling in his sick stomach as much as from the smoke. Silently, he moved through the wreckage. There were fresh tracks there, but they were too scuffed up for him to get much from.

There wasn't much sense to taking straight off after a group so large. He'd need to wait till night, so he could approach without being shown up on the white snow. As disturbing as the job was, Garnet had started gathering up the less brutalized bodies and bringing them to one of the still standing buildings and laying them in order as best he could.. These people didn't belong left out in the open wilderness for the elements and the beasts....

Not many hours later, he'd spotted something from the sky, and ducked into the open door of a building.

Pegasus knights? Are they passing through, or.... It soon became apparent that they were circling the location, and probably acting as a scouting party. Garnet tried to decide what the best option would be. Illians would be the people he wanted to warn, or speak to, but meeting an army while they investigated a site like this wasn't necessarily the brightest move he could make.... He definitely didn't want to get caught though. Calmly, and with his hands held slightly at his sides, he stepped out of the shelter of the house. The weight from the shield and blade on his back, and the slimsword at his hip caused his feet to crunch loudly through the snow.

"Hello! Illians!... I'm not here to fight."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle had gone on to look around for survivors, leaving that disturbing looking fixture of the woman on the door behind. There was so much blood on the backed snow, if it all melted, it would have been a river possibly. So many had died, hopefully, she thought, the villagers had defended themselves, and taken down some of the attackers...some must have fought back. However, she first heard the crunching of footsteps ahead of her, and a man dressed in red appeared, making her eyes go wide. She had already begun to raise her lance, and reach for her shield, before he announced he was not here to fight, a curious thing, that.

"Good choice, you wouldn't have lived long had you done just that."

It really was not the time, and definitely not the place for a joke, but it really was truth. With a curse, she walked up to the man, already, two of her lieutenants were coming with swords drawn, and flanking her sides. As she approached him, she stopped, just out of his sword's range, but not out of her own. Green eyes cautiously looking over the bearded man before her, and slowly, she lowered her weapon.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"