Chapter 2 - Ride of the Red Wolves

"I'm sorry yo hear that. Our deeds live on though, and us through the stories. That is why we must tell them." He puts an arm around her shoulder. "And what led you from there to the deal for fae gold?" 

Goewyn impatiently waits for the strange new man to arrive at the appointed meeting location. When he finally arrives she gives him a suspicious look over to indicate if he'd been anywhere other than where he claimed. "Took you long enough. Remember my warning, seer. Betray us and I'll kill you. Now come." She puts her back to the town and begins heading back towards their appointed meeting place. "Keep up, old man. I walk quickly." Sometime later Goewyn spots the encampment and calls out a whistle to the sentries. "Get Magan, I have a local who seems to think they can help us approach unseen!"

"That was Kenver's idea..." Theli begins, but stops when they see a sentry hurry up to Magan to inform him of Goewyn's arrival.

Magan holds up his finger to silence the messenger. "One moment please." He turns to let Theli finish her story.

Theli shrugs. "There isn't much more to tell. I was young and stupid and did things that I shouldn't have for a handsome man who promised me the world," she tells Magan with a wistful smile.

He grins back at her. "Now, it seems duty calls. You will have to wait to hear the story of my family." He stands and follows the messenger to find out what Goewyn has learnt. The Saxon stands tall over her, an intimidating form in his armour, but greets the girl with a grin. "Ah, you have returned! I had begun to fear the worst. What have you learnt?"  As Goewyn informs Magan of what she has learnt, he eyes the new comer for several moments before nodding. "We should move towards the stronghold. Set the wagons and our warriors up out of sight beyond a hill and a few of us will scout ahead to form a plan of the best way in."

It takes about an hour to circumvent Fretherne and travel up towards Arlingham. A palisade compound of some kind has been built near the coast where boats can come and go with slaves. This must be the home of the Red Briar.

Magan gives the order to set up camp nearby, just out of sight behind the hills. "Gann, Kara, prepare our warriors. Goewyn and I will take a closer look. But things may begin to move quickly if we are spotted."

Kara smiles, glad to be able to finally help. While the swim had been fun, it was a distraction from their task here, and she had her own as well once they had conquered this small plot of land. "Just remember dear leader, I still have a task within that village I believe. If I remember correctly the Priestess of the Allfather said there was power to explore there. So let us be swift, and show these enemies of Freya what happens when you take without due regard to the gods!" With that she would rally the other warriors with Gann, and prepare them for the coming battle. She knew some, if not most would not make it, but the chance to strike back against those who oppressed them, the chance to help fellows trapped within the same fate they had so bleakly seen the previous days, that would strengthen them to overcome more than they thought. While she did have some words for the men, it was clear she addressed the women this day. "We do not fight sisters because the men do, for there are things they do better than us. Fighting is one. But instead, take knowledge that if a man is not supported, if he is a lone tree in the field, the wind can topple him! We stand with our men, our brothers, husbands, comrades in arms, not because we are equal, but because we strengthen what they lack! Men will rush forward when it is better to creep. Men will shout and holler, when the mouse is best when quiet. Be the mouse. We shall dine with Freya tonight!"

Gann had taken a cue from Magan's early word and went for the heavy armor in the back of the cart. His hand brushes the painstakingly well-crafted metalwork, the dent on the shoulder reminding him of the dull plain that still sojourns his bed lay. He shakes the thought away, and start donning it. When Magan lets the order, Gann stops sharpening his blade and follows Kara as they spread to gather the loafing around men and women who had quickly become accustomed to the peaceful medley of the wetlands. His words lack the fervor or the height of Kara's voice, and his damaged voice instills grave soberness that may as well shake the ceorls rather than rouse them. But he looks honest at the people as he walks among them, looking each of them close and reaching for their shoulder. "You were promised your vengeance. This is it, across those hills. All you have to do is take it. You will do fine to remember your training, the man on your right to listen to, the one to keep your back. Today he is your brother in blood, and you are his only kin. You are stronger that way. You are hand and hand, together." He claps both hands in a pummeling clench. "That way you become the rock, the rock that crushes their skulls and feeds their blood to the ground, and their eyes to the crow, and their bone to the worms. Only when you have brought justice where there cannot be one, you will see yourself reborn a free man not by gift or luck, but his own strong hand." He struggles to keep breath, finding speeches like this one harder than the massacre that he may as well be herding them to.

Caerak bore a humble smile as he observed the commotion in the camp and acted as guide theough the hills. "The earth and wind are friends of mine, though they tend to bicker and squabble like children." As much as possible, the sagely man kept close to either Glöyn or Magan, since they were truly the only connections he had within the motley crowd. His travel attire was fairly simple: A heavy leathern coat, a wooden shield, and a spear. Once, a man approached and asked Caerak about his living in Fretherne, "Friend, I am steward to many things great and small, and as steward, I must sometimes also serve to keep those away that have no place. Such is my role, as with many others, but it is a small role in day-to-day happenings." In time, the stronghold presented itself in the distance. Caerak came close to Magan and spoke carefully, "We must be cautious. I can help you, but there are too many here for me. You, Glöyn, myself, and only a handful of others should make the first approach, then give a signal for the rest to approach."

Magan nods. "That is the plan. We must prevent them barring the way and keep the space for the main force to enter without being taken by arrows and held outside."

Gann spent time with the few battle-hardened to discuss matters privy to a few of them while the others gathered in the carriages. There were concerns raised and Gann felt his speech felt too hard for some, but it was the only way he could be honest with them. He nodded in agreement and went to important matters of arms distribution. On morale, he could do only so much.  As they departed carefully circling the outskirts of Freterne for the location of the slavers, Gann could finally pay attention to the old stranger in a long coat and shield that had joined the group. The man spoke wordly and exuberated confidence and was close to both Magana and Glöyn, and it was enough for Gann to recognize a potentially valuable ally. He rode closer to overhear what wasn't meant for private ears, studying the man's attire and demeanor. Gann only exchanged few looks with Glöyn, enough to confirm her determination. 

Goewyn looks skeptically at this older man, a seer to be sure, but possibly also too a drunkard. "I seek not to offend, seer, but... you do not strike me as the sort that knows how to move quietly. Prove me wrong and I will gladly have you with me, but I will not be filled with arrows because you stumbled upon a log or step on an errant twig." She notices Gann riding nearby and he catches her eyes, to which she inclines her head with a simple, but grim nod.

Eadwyng has been with the rest in silence, so much that the rest has almost forgot she was going with them and some are surprised by her voice. "Today a great battle will be fought, and I will sing about it when we celebrate at night. but until then I am ready to go with you as silent as the flight of an owl." 

Caerak chuckled heartily at Goewyn's doubts, "Not to worry, dear. I would never tread on a branch or log, unless they wanted to be."  The man wear as a satchel strung from his shoulder, and he produces a handful of leaves from within. His expression takes a serious turn, despite the ever-present, fatherly smile, "Watch now, child. I am still sure of my own being, but sometimes it does one good to have help."   With a few sticks gathered from the ground, Caerak builds a small kindling pile and lays his hands over it in a shielding embrace. His voice falls quiet as he speaks gentle encouragements, as though some tiny, shy pet were within the twigs and leaves. With a great inhale and sigh, the kindling sparks and erupts in a tiny conflagration. The leaves from his satchel burn readily, and he seems proud of the result, like father watching his child overreaching before they're ready, "There now, nicely done. Spirit of Fire, take this small gift with my gratitude. You have no use for the smoke, and I would take it for my own means...."  A long pause follows, as though Caerak is listening to some inaudible voice, "Yes, that would be fine. You are always welcome with me. Now then,"  A new smile emerges, full of mischief and knowing, "Let's be off. Smoke will conceal and carry us as light as feathers on a breeze." (Caerak casting Pass Without Trace )

Gann remains on his horse when the group halts, watching closely his ritual while glancing out of instinct at their whereabouts, always alert for movement in the white of his eyes. But when a tiny flame erupts and а smoke forms from the gathering of leaves, he tenses his grip on the reins and his horse misreads the command, sidesteps, and snorts. Among god-chosen wonders become commonplace, and yet each carries а power of its own and with that power, a statement of the worth of the few that speak to the oaks and their old spirits. He knew not the name of the old derwydd for it was common among Magan and Gloyn for now, but he wielded that power and it made him important in the deed ahead. He only needed to know this much.

Goewyn watches the ritual with fascination. "I knew you were a derwyd! You speak with the spirits!" Had she witnessed this only but a few days before this, she likely would have been terrified; however, after witnessing the magics of the seers and the Aesir when Magan was healed... Her eyes had been opened to mysteries of the world around her and she hungered to know more! During her travels, she'd heard stories from the skalds about the spells of the derwydd and how some of them could fly. She thought back to that moment in the battle upon the hill when she had soared with her horse, that invigorating feeling of freedom... 'I must learn how. He must teach me.'

Eadwyng smiles to herself nodding in appreciation to Caerak when he works marvels. 

Kara laughs softly, and says "See, even Freya blesses those who are wise and respect the natural world. We have her favor, but do not forget why we have it friends. We have a mission to stop the evil encroaching these lands, which have enbold men such as these we will face. I am not as good at traveling as you, but please, carry a blessing from Freya with you. We shall met again on the other side of the wall. Once more into the breech."

Skirting Arlingham village to head for the fort on the coast, Goewyn leads Magan, Caerak and Eadwyn west towards the gates. Concealed by the shadows of the druid's magic, they are all but invisible as they crest a hill several hundred feet from the entrance. Two small wooden guard towers appear to flank the entrance to the compound, watching the surrounding area.

"Look out for guards, try to count their number and look for gaps. If we can take the gates silently our companions have more of a chance of getting inside without heavy losses." Magan instructs as he edges forwards towards the towers, looking for a weak spot. "Or we could start fires along the wall at one end and attack from the other."

Focusing on the towers, Eadwyng tries to see how many guards are on them.  "I am not sure if we have enough oil to make that fire distraction with us, but it's a good idea... " 

"I see two guards. Perhaps we can find a weak spot for the main force to break through whilst we take them out and the camp comes to investigate? Or we can try to take them silently, signal the camp and see how much disruption we can cause inside whilst they close" Magan muses, tugging on his beard and looking for a path through to the very edge of the palisade. 

"I should say we wait for the cover of darkness, kill the guards quickly and quietly, then we can do what we wish as we wish."

"A good plan."  Magan nods his approval.  "And the others can advance under cover of darkness too. If we are lucky we can catch them as they sleep."

Caerak nods approvingly. The stronghold had loomed just outside of his home, but he never paid it much mind except where its residents made themselves known. "An attack by night is good. I am no soldier or scout, but I can be of use. Gather what you can here, then we return. I have wiles and wisdom to give further, but it needs time to gather. The spirits give us a blessing that neither blade of grass or laying stone would be disturbed by our passing, but such a gift comes through me. If I were to leave for even a moment, you would be exposed once again."

Keeping low and with one eye on the guard towers, Magan leads the group around the edge of the hill and down towards the river to get a view of the other side. Using the natural shape of the land, they keep themselves from the view of the towers as best they can.

Winding around amidst the dunes of the peninsula, Magan and his team skirt the Red Briar compound, keeping their distance from the guards atop the watch towers. A wide stretch of sandy grassland surrounds the front and sides of the stockade. However, the strip on the far side, between the walls and the river bank, is decorated by a smattering of trees. A wooden pier extends out over the water, clearly intended to receive the slavers' own vessel.

"Another way in perhaps? Still, something to think about at night. I think the front is still my preference. We sneak in, handle the guards, then the others approach and we get what we can while they're sleeping?" Magan confers with the group. He phrases his suggestion as a question though, clearly welcoming other ideas.

"I would like to see what is behind that dock, but I am not a warrior as are you. I trust your plans, Magan, I know nothing of attacking a stronghold. I would have simply infiltrated it as a woman looking for a group of men to protect her, then killed them off one by one in their sleep. Or poisoned them. I do feel if we could use some sort of distraction along the back area it would be good to draw their attention though. Perhaps we could set fire to those trees?"

Magan nods. "It would mean less would be asleep, but more would have their backs turned. Perhaps giving us more time to reach the slaves and free them."

Slipping away from the stronghold under the cover of Caerak's magics, the four scouts return to the caravan of former slaves to relay what they have found.

Magan gathers the people who now follow him. "We attack at nightfall. The camp is guarded and well protected. We will move ahead silently to eliminate those on watch and gain a foothold. Once inside we sow chaos, look for the captives and free them to help us. Start fires, kill the sleeping. Make one feel like 20 in the dark. If you wish to leave now is your last chance."

Magan's gathered following glance at one another and murmur quietly in the wake of his speech. Some appear determined, others uncertain. Time will tell if the last day has been enough to forge this liberated group into an effective warband. The atmosphere is quiet and tense over the course of the afternoon. However, an hour or so before dusk the sentries report three men in white robes approaching the caravan from the south. Their hair is grey and their beards are long.

"Bring them in under guard. Perhaps they come to offer aid. Perhaps Caerek will know who they are." Magan holds himself high and takes a seat on the steps to his wagon, to receive them as a lord should, showing a position of authority and power.

The three men hold their heads high as they are brought before Magan by his followers. Caerak recognises them as the elders of Fretherne's druidic circle. "We see you, Cerdic of Wessex, chosen of Vidarr," the first begins. "Your arrival was foretold," the second continues seamlessly. "Where is Freyasdotter ?" Asks the third.  "This is the first of many steps on your shield maiden's road to waelhalla ."

"Greetings to you elders. It seems you are wise to me, but I am not so informed to know of you. You are welcome in my camp. Kara is here. What do you seek from us?" Magan gives a bow in greeting and respect, rising to acknowledge the elders in his presence. 

"Here in Fretherne, we lead the circle of those learned in the old ways," Magan is told in answer. "Your 'Kara' has much to learn. We are here to guide her down the path."

While Magan, Gloyn, and the derwydd from Freterne scouted ahead, Gann stood by his horse and brushed his side idly to pass the time and give the beast a moment of recognition. While most gathered around and soft songs and voices surrounded him, he was alone with his mind at peace before the storm ahead. Though he used to share the company of the warriors among the free men, since that night he opened up before the camp fewer of them were eager to make his company. Used to be on his own, Gann did not notice.  The word of Magan's return alarmed him and he quickly crossed camp to hear the lowdown. As he expected, they faced a formidable enemy who was lax at ease, unaware but capable of quickly regrouping if the moment of surprise were lost. He read the group of men and their mood, sniffing the fear and uncertainty among some. They needed to keep their tongues behind their teeth for any spread of discourse was poison. Gann joins the group of men to reach the approaching old men, making sure they are given a fair warning and a polite invitation. There's tension in the air among armed men that could give away intent, and he would make sure that their welcome would not give it away. Not that the wise men invited a rough treatment, their strong voices and commanding presence made one who spoke to be quiet and listen. 

"You would take her from here now? I would beg of you to leave her here this night. I have need of her strength."

The druids glance at one another, brows furrowed. "Her time is ripe. What task could be greater than her destiny?"

Kara finally comes forward to met the elders, giving proper respect to each as she comes up. The commotion had finally reached her, and the rumor was it concerned her. She had missed part of the dialogue, and was a bit hesitant but asked "Elders, I understand I must step upon this path... but am I also to not assist this man, known to all as Magan? He fights the righteous  fight against those who spit upon all our traditions." Her tone was pleasant, but her confusion was clear. Had she missed a step somewhere?

"Vidarr's vengeance requires an army. Tonight we take the first steps on that road." Magan bows his head as he answers the question. 

The druids nod knowingly in response to both Kara and Magan. "With the setting of the sun, the wælcyrie's light will shine. Kara will join you on the road to glory, but first she must do battle with that which lies within."

Magan nods his agreement. "As you say, so shall it be. Please, Kara. Learn what our wise elders have to teach you."

Kara looks at the Elders and while she is confused, she nods "Please show me the ways Honored Elders. I wish to bring glory only to Freya and the quest she has set before me."  She has her arms and armour on, having thought a battle was eminent.

"Come,  Freyasdotter, " the first of the druids instructs Kara, gesturing in the direction of the nearby village of Fretherne. "The light can only shine in the dark... you may call me Wulfgar," he tells her as they walk.

Gann has kept silent, but the crevices on his forehead deepen as Kara eagerly follows the elders. Even if she were to returns wiser and gifted with the Aesir's blessing, her departure would put many among the undecided men who watch at unease. If she were to delay, or not return by night... he reminded himself harshly not to question the God-chosen but his own hand only. Gann withdraws to make sure final preparations are done and step in at any vocal raise of discontent. 

Gann founds Eadwyng already among the men, trying to keep the morale up and the blood pumping as the time for the attack approaches. She looks to him, worried, when she sees Kara leaving with the newcomers. Without her the fight will be harder. Was this a clever trick of Magan? She didn'r know, but it seemed risky to her.