Setna struck the pole with relative ease and quickly exclaimed with jubilance. The boy had attentive skills and could gauge his strength better than most his age. The Syndarean showed the abilities of a young warrior clearly to Tirian, even if he didn’t know it yet. Serna was the next traveler to attempt the toss, lobbing the metallic object with two hands exactly like a girl would. However, the horseshoe wrapped perfectly around the pole. Tirian smiled to himself as Setna congratulated his twin sister without hesitation. Their bond, and the love those two shared was something surely anyone could appreciate. Slowly, however, the night began to wind down and the travelers one by one set out for their own evening to themselves. Everyone in the caravan was either injured or incredibly worn from the day, and in some cases both. Tirian was neither tired nor injured, so the choice for watch came down to him or the desert elf Elrithos.
“I’ll take watch again, rest easy fellow travelers.”
Tirian would walk a circle around the camp rather than staying stationary in a tree, allowing him to better watch the camp site if he were to do it alone. The hours drug on for eternity, Tirian taking in each and every detail he could around the camp. A certain detail stood out to the soldier, and that was Serna. That pained face of hers reminded him of something he’d dealt with in the past. That built up magic sitting dormant and patient, waiting for the perfect moment to erupt and take over the body. Tirian would wait one more day to decide whether or not to force that magic out. If she refused then the magic would kill her and that wouldn’t be something the warrior wanted on his mind, not an innocent girl just traveling. Tirian readjusted the flower he’d received from the Syndarean girl, which had rested upon his right ear.
The morning sunrise came slow and steady over the horizon, a distinct red glow casting out over the land before Tirian’s blue eyes. The watchman returned to the campsite and woke the slumbering Dwarf, this time quietly to allow the others more rest. Time continued to tick on indiscriminately, waiting for no one and the others began to wake. Breakfast was simple and short with just enough nutrients to supply the group with the energy necessary to make it to next checkpoint. Just as the group had finished, the caravan depart once more in silence, comfortable silence however.
“May the gods bless our travels today.”
The red-haired warrior spoke aloud, not exactly directing his words towards a single person but more so to the group as whole. Tirian then took a seat in the rear most cart once more to allow his mind and body to rest peacefully. The first day without one of those gruesome nightmares plaguing every inch if his being. After some time had passed the warrior woke revived and energized, his eyes immediately taking in the twins, more specifically Serna. His worries were slowly becoming more apparent and true, that question he’d ask the previous day was starting to become more important as the time passed on. Before he could bring the troubles to the Syndarean twins Aaerynn suddenly rushed off without a word, blazing past Rudolf and into the immediate distance. Tirian scoffed under his breath for a moment as he hopped off the cart. The soldier joined Rudolf at the front of the pack with a very displeased face.
“It may be none of my business Rudolf, but someone needs to make it clear to Aaerynn that this is a group effort and everyone is held accountable for their actions. Running off like that just after we were attacked by bandits isn’t the smartest thing to do.”
Tirian kept his words and tone low so that only he and Rudolf could hear. It hadn’t been long before the caravan and carts entered the clearing that had been burnt to the ground. Tirian quickly drew his blade, the metal cutting through the air with a melodic whistle as it came to a stop on his right side. The smell of burnt bodies quickly hit Tirian in the stomach causing him to slide into high alert. Bodies scattered the ground cut, chewed and burned in the most merciless and mindless way. Whoever, or whatever had done his was not efficient in their ways. This was not thought out perhaps spur of the moment and it certainly wasn't something that was trained.
“Orcs.”
Tirian answered the question with a simple word as he sheathed the blade of his empire. It made sense, orcs attacked without warrant and reason aiming to only eat and kill. Tirian gripped his hands tightly into fists at the sight of burnt trees, elves who had passed on into the next realm. Tirian himself had elven blood running through his veins, this went from an attack to a very personal attack. He now knew why Aaerynn rushed ahead so fiercely. The soldier stepped forward ending his strides next to the wood elf with an angry gaze into the distance. Tirian could also see for the first time a hint of care and distress enter her beautiful eyes. The soldier found himself placing a gentle hand upon the wood elf's shoulder for consolation.
“Where there’s orcs there surely are trolls. I’m sorry Aaerynn, if only we were faster.”