//------------------------------// // Respite // Story: A Song of Storms: Shattered Skies // by Sigur024 //------------------------------// The Auxillia walked. That was all they had done for so many days. Slowly trudging eastwards, hiding in hedgerows and following goat tracks. Theod lead the way as best as he was able, but they were lost. They had their goal in reaching the griffon lands but where they would actually arrive was out of Theod’s control. Cirra was almost totally unknown to him and the even Canii amongst the survivors had little actual knowledge of the country. It was not easy land to cross unnoticed. It was well cultivated, dotted with large farms and villages. The hedge-lined roads and groves of trees gave cover from the air at least. The Auxillia were much weakened. Theod could see it in the shuffling feet, their hunched shoulders, their downcast eyes. Every days march was punishing for them after the effects of the poison. Theod could not deny, he felt it as well. A gnawing weakness that clawed at his bones and sapped the warmth from him when he tried to sleep at night. Aella moved up beside him, bumping his shoulder with her wing to get his attention. “We need to stop for the night.” She whispered, glancing back at the strung out line of griffons that trailed along the path. Theod nodded silently, and pointed to a thicket of tall bushes a short way off. “There will do.” He said, too exhausted himself to search for a good place to rest. The Auxillia shuffled on and into the cover of the thicket. It would keep the wind out at least, but the plentiful firewood lying about amongst the leaflitter was useless to them. It was too risky to make a fire and draw attention to themselves. The griffons settled in as best they could, forming into small groups. Though they spoke no words Theod could see the kinship amongst them. The simple comfort of being with someone they trusted amongst the horror and pain of recent days. He longed for that comfort himself, but Theod could not let any weakness show. He had to be the rock on which all rested. If he weakened, if they lost their faith in him, they would all surely die. “Theod.” Gretus grunted, making Theod jump.“Two have fallen ill. We need warmth and food tonight if they are to be able to move tomorrow,” the grey tercel said, ignoring Theods reaction. Theod sighed and ran a talon through his plumage. “I will see to it. Go with Tapfer and set the watch for the night.” Pushing his way out of the thicket Theod scanned the skies, spotting a smudge of smoke against the clear blue. He headed in that direction. There would be a charcoal burner, maybe a village. Something he could steal. Crossing two hedgerows the tercel found himself in the midst of a forest of blankets and clothes. The grass underfoot was neatly trimmed and smoothed flat and cords tied to stout posts ran in ordered lines from one side of the field to the other. Each of these lines was loaded down with laundry drying in the warm afternoon air. Theod smiled. A few missing blankets would surely not be noticed for a while. A shadow fell across the sheet to the tercels left, and he froze. He heard a soft voice singing in Cirran. The sound of hooves pressing down on green grass. A mare. The tercel began to back away slowly, resolve suddenly failing. The shadow stood upon its hindlegs, reaching up. Before Theod could react the mare pulled out the peg that held the blanket, leaving the griffon exposed. She spat out the peg as she dropped to the ground again and her eyes fell upon Theod. They widened, a sharp breath filling her lungs. She was tall and thin, pink in colour from the tip of her mane to her fetlocks. No mark or scar tarnished her. She had lived an easy life, a peaceful life. If he was fast enough he could be on her before she screamed, tear her throat out with his talons or beak. Theod tensed ready to pounce, heart pounding. He couldn't. Her eyes looked so much like those of the slaves. Sudden, animal fear. He had spilled so much innocent blood; any more and he might drown in it. Theod closed his eyes and waited for the scream. It did not come. Theod kept his eyes clenched shut, hearing the hoofsteps of the mare draw close to him. She tapped him with a hoof upon his shoulder. “Are you… alright?” She asked in Cirran. The griffon opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of the pegasus. She cocked her head to the side and gave a kindly smile. “Are you lost?” “Uh - no, I-” Theod began, stumbling over his Cirran. “Oh! I remember you!” The mare said, suddenly excited. “You were with the Auxillia a few days ago!” Theod did not reply, and the pegasus continued. “My father and I stood by the road to watch you pass, it made him so happy to hear about how you saved Viridis. Please, come speak to him, I’m sure he will be overjoyed!” The mare gave him a playful shove and pranced off towards a house in the distance. Theod followed slowly. He was not sure from where this luck had come, but he was glad for it. The house was not like the grand villas of the estates he had seen, nor was it a square utilitarian block like a military barracks. It appeared to have been built, then rebuilt many times, with all manner of stones and bricks. A stallion sat upon a simple chair in the sun outside the building The stallion was older than any Theod had yet seen. His face was deeply lined, his eyes partially clouded by cataracts. His coat, once blue, was now shot through with grey and the plumage of his wings looked ragged, if well groomed. He cocked his head as the mare opened their gate and ushered Theod in. “Garland-” he began in a voice that sounded like falling gravel. “Where in Cirra did you find that? Surely no-one here is rich enough.” The mare trotted over to the stallion and rested a hoof upon his shoulder. “No father, he is not a slave. He is one of the Auxillia!” The stallion frowned at Garland, then pulled himself from his chair and walked over to the griffon. He peered up at Theod with his failing eyes. His lips moved silently as he thought, then his wrinkled face split into a wide smile. “Ah yes! “Fine work you and yours did. Fine work!” The stallion chortled, pausing to give a wheezing cough. “Cirra owes you a debt, hybrid. I am Marble, served in the fifteenth legion way back when.” Theod dipped his head in a half-bow to the wizened pegasus. “We… did what we had to.” “Are there more of you?” the mare asked. “Surely you can't be out here on your own.” Theod opted for truth. They were discovered anyway. “A fair number, over in that thicket. We are settling down for the evening.” “The trees? No, no, that won’t do.” The Marble grumbled. Can’t have you sleeping rough, gods know I did enough of that back in the day. You will stay in the barn. Fresh hay and a roof is much better.” Theod bowed his head again. “Your kindness is much appreciated.” Marble threw back his head and laughed. “So polite too! Gods above they must have worked hard on you. Garland, go talk to Lilly and Anvil, see what grain they can spare for bread.” Garland nodded dutifully and trotted off around the cottage. Marble squinted at Theod and frowned. “Well? Go get the others!” - - - “You realise they could just be lying to us. Getting ready to betray us.” Tapfer snapped. “Hell, they could lock the door and burn the barn down around us.” The Auxillia murmured their agreement. The whole affair did not sit well with them. Theod could hardly blame them. “I think we can trust them, at least for tonight.” Theod said, talons raised to try and placate the tercel. “You want us to just walk right back into the arms of those- those murderers!” Tapfer shouted, teeth bared. “Think for a moment would you?” Theod snapped. “They saw me and me alone. They did not panic, and they were not at all nervous. They must not know that we were ordered murdered.” “Surely they know about the war.” Aella said. Theod sighed and ran his talons through his plumage. “They may. But they may well think we are on our way to fight for Cirra. We can't spend another night out in the cold, or without food. We should accept this for the blessing that it is and move on as early as we can in the morning.” The Auxillia seemed uncertain, nervous glances exchanged but none willing to speak up. “Theod is right” Gretus rumbled. “We need this. If we say no, they may suspect something.” Theod dipped his head to Gretus, grateful for the support. He turned back to the mass of griffons “You have all followed me this far. Please, trust my judgement.” He said to the Auxillia at large Begrudgingly the griffons accepted. Most seemed nervous about the idea. Tapfer was fuming but unwilling to part with the group. “If we die from this I will piss in your mead in Valhalla.” He grumbled, thankfully quietly enough that none of the others could hear. Garland met them at the cottage. The mare was almost vibrating with excitement. Theod could tell she was full of a million questions. He had seen small foals much the same when townsponies gathered around their caravan before. “Most of my Legionaries cannot speak Cirran. Aella and I can though.” Theod announced. Better to keep them seperate from the excitable pegasus just in case. The mare seemed to deflate for a moment, but perked up again. “Well, we’ve got the oven warmed up. Let's get you set up in the barn!” Garland lead the way around the cottage and towards an equally long-lived barn, thatched roof thick with moss and walls patched with whatever came to hoof. Marble stood in the doorway with a pitchfork in his hooves, turfing hay out across the floor. He waved them in and the Auxillia gratefully took up spots on the floor. A few moments after the Auxillia had settled a small group of other pegasi appeared at the door, carrying with them jugs of small beer, loaves of doughy bread and some cheese which they passed out amongst the griffons. The Auxillia gratefully dug into the simple meal with as much relish as they had the feast days before. Hunger overruled any suspicions they might have held. They kept silent throughout the meal. Few words had been exchanged in a long time. Marble squinted at the assembled griffons, scrunching up his face. “They seem in poor spirits.” “They are tired.” Theod replied. Marble snorted. “Bah, I know nerves when I see them.” Theod felt his heart flutter at that. Tapfer tensed where he sat, pausing mid-bite. The stallion shook his head sadly. “I’ve been to war. Seen what it's like. You’ve all seen combat and know whats coming. Only fresh colts out of training are eager for it. I don't blame you.” He rested a hoof on Theod’s arm, unable to reach the griffons shoulder. “It's not an easy thing, to go to war. I don't think fighting is in anyone's nature. Best to just get it done with and go home, lest you miss the sweeter things in life.” The aged stallion trailed off at that, glancing over to where Garland chatted excitedly with Aella, the hen plaiting her mane. There was comfort in that simple thing, it seemed. A quiet conversation, a full belly, a warm place to sleep. Perhaps, if they were lucky, the Auxillia would be able to return to those simple things. A life beyond war. “There is wisdom in that,” Theod said finally. - - - Tapfer woke Theod, shaking him hard. “Get up!” he hissed. “The Legion is here!” Theod’s mind was clouded by sleep for a moment before Tapfers words sank in. Fear hit him with a wave of adrenalin and he scrambled to his feet and over to the door of the barn. He peered through the crack and saw Marble standing outside his cottage speaking with another pegasus. A pegasus in legion armour. “Get everyone up. We have to leave right now.” Theod said to Tapfer, not looking away. He rubbed his sleep-blurred eyes and looked again. The yard on the other side of the cottage was full of Cirran legionaries. They had shed their packs and stood around in loose groups, chatting. The barn had only one exit, and it was in full view of the pegasi. There was no way they could outrun them in their current state. The Auxillia were up now, silent and terrified. All eyes were on Theod, and the sensation made his skin itch when it mixed with the horror brewing in his belly. A crack sounded through the barn and Theod whirled around, nerves set singing with terror. There was a pair of pink hooves protruding from a hole in the wall at the back of the barn. Theod pushed his way through the Griffons and leaned down to see Garland looking back at him. “Help me open this up!” she hissed. “You’re… helping us?” Theod asked. “Yes and hurry up! I heard the legionaries talking, it won't be long till they ask my father if he’s seen any griffons. He won't betray the legion, not ever, so you have to go now!” the pony whispered, shoving at the boards on either side of the hole to try and open it wider. “What did they say?” Aella said, grabbing at a board and heaving at it to widen the hole. “They were talking about an order to kill any griffon they find, all of them. Said something about parties being sent out to find villages in the borderlands and make sure every single one was dead.” Garland said, pulling back from the widening hole and letting the griffons work. Theod felt his stomach turn at that. Had the Cirrans truly decided to kill everything they came across? Surely not, for they had loyal servants among the tribes as often as they had sworn enemies. The hole was now large enough for a griffon to squeeze through. Theod motioned for Aella to take the lead. “Go, I will be the last one through.” The hen nodded, disappearing through the hole, followed quickly by other griffons as they crowded around. Theod extricated himself from the mass and ran to the door. He peered through the crack. The Cirrans were moving towards the barn. The whole unit moved in a loose group, helmets donned and weapons drawn but clearly not expecting a fight by their lack of formation. Perhaps they thought Marble was deceiving them. Glancing back at the slowly thinning crowd at the far end of the barn, Theod realised they would not be through fast enough. The tercel rushed over to one of the stalls along the wall and dragged out the broken chest of drawers within, dropping it in front of the doors to the barn. He repeated the process a few more times. Grabbing bits of lumber, tools and sparse furniture and piling them against the doors to barricade them. Just as he laid the last piece the door shook, a Cirran on the other side trying to push it open. Theod returned to the crack between the doors and met the eye of one of the pegasi who recoiled and shouted in alarm. Theod looked back over his shoulder. Almost all the survivors were through. They only needed a few more seconds. The door shook as pegasi tried to force it down, and Theod pressed his back to the ricketty timbers, praying that they would hold. Five griffons remained inside the barn. Four. Three. The creaking of the door quieted and Theod plainly heard a barking voice from the other side. “They are in there. Windshear! Goldhoof! Fetch fire and burn this thing down!” the Centurion outside bellowed. Theod pulled himself away from the door and rushed over to the hole, shoving the last Griffon through. He took a moment to check they had everyone. The barn was empty save for leftovers of their meal the previous evening sat in a bundle in the middle of the floor. He scooped these up and jammed himself through the hole in the barn wall, cutting himself on sharp splinters as he squeezed through. Garland waited on the other side, and checking behind Theod, she shoved a box in front of the hole to cover it over. “Follow the path down to the gulley, then keep underneath the thorns. They won't be able to see you there.” Garland whispered, pointing a hoof down a narrow goat track. “The others are already there. Go!” “What about your father? When they realise we are not in there-” Theod stopped himself before he could say any more. Garland chewed her lip nervously. “He’ll be fine, I’m sure of it. Now go!” Theod gave a silent nod of thanks and fled down towards the gulley. He spared a glance back to Garland as he ran. She sat on her haunches, looking up at the plume of smoke rising from her father's barn. She wept, perhaps from the shock of the morning, or the betrayal she had committed by letting the griffons go free. The tercel turned and ran.