The breath of the horses were visible now. Winter had come to the land as the search continued, Gerald had already put down three horses since he started his search and this one would soon follow. He nearly beat one of his men to death when he begged for a chance to rest longer than a few hours.<br/>"Your Queen has been kidnapped by those barbaric mongrels to the north and you want to stop and rest!!"<br/>"But my Lord we've not stopped longer than three hours a day since we started on this lead two months ago."<br/>CRACK! The butt of Gerald's spear found the underside of the soldier's chin knocking him off his horse. Gerald was on the move even before he hit the ground. Now covered in mud and frost the soldier looked up to meet Gerald's boot.<br/>"Your loyalty appears as fickle as the weather! Tell me why I shouldn't use your blood to paint the coming snows red!?"<br/>It took several moments for the soldier to even gurgle out a response as Gerlad continued to beat him.<br/>"My Lord!" cried another soldier, causing Gerald to pause. "This man has proven his loyalty countless times have you forgotten we are your bodyguard?... Were we not chosen because of our loyalty?"<br/><br/>After a few deep breaths "Yes you're right." Pulling the injured soldier to his feet, "Well you'll have your rest now you're of no use to me in such a state. There was a town two days back someone go with him make sure he gets there. Then hurry back to us. everyone else, keep moving."<br/><br/>That was a week ago, the trail and weather have gone cold for now. The horses are dying off from extertion and cold. That's fine, it may be slower but its easier to follow a trail on foot, we just have to find a trail. The open road does give time for reflection though.<br/>That night still haunts me, the Lore Master kept me in the study late with "pressing" matters of state. The old bum, he's supposed to handle the day to day garbage. Trials and troop movements are my purpose anymore. The queen went to bed early claiming dizziness and a foul stomach. I questioned the cook but we had eaten from the same pot basically and I was fine. For half a moment I conisdered perhaps an hier was on the way. But then the old crone showed up with his list of needs for the kingdom. Just because I had done it before doesn't mean i want to do it again. Escpecially when it's his job. I felt an urging during the meeting that I should check on the queen but the old bat persisted. Damn him I should've listened to my gut, and now he's forced to do his job because I'm out here in wild lands.<br/><br/>That sickness had to be a drug she would not have been taken otherwise. We've sparred many times with the outcome being far more enjoyable than this to be sure. No simple orcs and thier allies would've stood a chance if not for a handicap. There were many bodies left in the courtyard the next day, a full half the staff of the castle to be exact. None gave an answer I wanted. The scene of the room still burns bright in my eyes, even our bad fights never left the room like this. Everything was broken in some fashion, orc blood was splattered in many places but no bodies, there was one set of drag marks. Perhaps she was able to kill atleast one, it led to a hidden door, I can count on one hand the number of people that know about it and all of them are dead but the Lore Master, myself and the queen. I followed it to its exit where there were signs of the beasts orcs used as horses along with actual hoof prints which meant the barbarians were with them too. My guard travelled with me several hours into the night following the trail. Sveral I sent on to track them while I returned to get answers at the dawning of the day.<br/><br/>The wind was picking up making it harder to see the road ahead, but there was a glimmer in the distance as we moved toward it it grew and we saw that it was a town. "Make for the town! We'll sit out the storm but as soon as it breaks we move on!" The howling wind made it hard to hear but the soldiers all nodded as we pushed through the building snow.