5.Death of Chaos
L
TAMRA SLOWED HER mount well back from the edge of the trees and waited for Justen. The older man in gray drew up his pony beside her as perhaps two squads of horse troops rode down the road and passed from sight, the hoofs of their mounts clipping on the old stones.
Behind the cavalry-led van followed a column of figures, also clad in a grayish cyan, marching southward on the old straight road. A single cyan banner with a hawk's claw clutching a sheaf of golden grain fluttered intermittently in the light but cold breeze.
The hills to the west beyond the road bore traces of white near their crests.
The dark-haired older man patted Rosefoot on the neck as he and Tamra studied the passing soldiers.
"...had a girl and she was mine...
...had a fire and a cot...
...had a horse and he was fine...
now a blade is all I've got!"
“Colaris's forces heading out to invade Hydlen from the north?” she asked.
“Probably.” He nodded. “But they'll have to take the Hydolar Road, and that runs through Certis. The Viscount might have some objection.”
The soldiers in the column carried what appeared to be thick staffs, resting them against their shoulders as they marched southward.
She squinted, and her eyes seemed to focus into the distance. After a moment, she shivered, and she looked at Justen. “Rifles? They can't be carrying rifles, can they? That's what they feel like, with all that iron... but Berfir has a white wizard.”
“They're rifles,” affirmed Justen with a sigh.
“How?”
Justen paused before answering, his voice low. “Try to sense what is in their belts.”
After a long silence, Tamra straightened in her saddle. “Little metal-steel-canisters.” She swallowed. “Will the steel shield them from chaos?”
Justen nodded. “Miniature shells, rockets... for their guns. No more powder flasks.”
“Why...why now?”
Justen shrugged, his eyes still on the long column of soldiers.
“Is this because of Lerris?” Tamra's whisper was sharp.
He responded with a sad shake of the head. “This started long before Lerris.” As Tamra's mouth opened, he added, “Long before. But someone has rediscovered what was thought to be safely hidden. Nothing stays hidden forever.” He took a slow deep breath.
Behind the soldiers came heavy, creaking wagons, each pulled by a four-horse team.
Tamra and Justen waited and watched, watched and waited.