Dacia's War: Part 30 - Rain and Snow

Lady Al-Uzza was awakened as the first edges of gloaming limned the horizon. She was mildly annoyed but then remembered that it was better to awaken early to surprise a possible miscreant than arrive at Acidavia in the middle of a coup. Iona moved about the chamber silently. As she adjusted her bundle of goods and considered the supplies given by Lady Sindal, Iona was calculating the chances the weather was going to get ugly.

Unlike the desert born priestess, the acolyte recognized the sharpness she scented in the air. "My Lady," Iona said quietly to Al-Uzza as she sat up. Al-Uzza looked over. "The air has a bite to it. It is more than the mountain's usual quality. It would be wise to wear the garments that your Sister provided us. Al-Uzza squinted in the gloom and realized that Iona was already dressed in what looked suspiciously like man's array. Though Al-Uzza had a blanket wrapped around her, she could feel something of the chill that the younger woman spoke of.

"It will pass, as it always does when the shield of Ashur rises above the horizon," Al-Uzza muttered. Iona did not move or comment. She simply stood at Al-Uzza's bed head and waited. With a groan, Al-Uzza shook her head and grudgingly swung her feet over the edge of the bed. "What are the lands of your birth, maid?" Al-Uzza asked, wondering just what Iona knew that she didn't of the lands they were in. Iona gestured towards the shuttered window. "Mountain born?" Al-Uzza said and Iona nodded. With a shake of the head, Al-Uzza restrained the urge to mutter something unpleasant and decided that humoring the mountain people may be the best way to cozen her way into getting what she wanted.

Iona helped Al-Uzza with the unfamiliar leg wrappings and the strange breeches. Where Iona's garments ranged from white to a tawny color, Al-Uzza's was a deep blue that was nearly indigo. If she had the light, Al-Uzza would have noticed the leg wrappings were embroidered with prayers just as the swaddling bands of children were embroidered, though the embroidery was the same color of the rest of the fabric. A heavy coat that was like a gown was worn over the two layers of long tunics that had been provided for her. Iona's garments were closer to the body and allowed greater freedom of movement. Prim Al-Uzza wasn't pleased with it because she felt it revealed too much for the male gaze but she recognized that the warrior-nun who had been sent as her assistant was as much in need of freedom of motion as any other warrior.

At least, Al-Uzza thought, Iona's hair was not bared to be profaned with the lustful gazes of lesser creatures. The two women were dressed in the traditional traveling garb of the north. Their heads were covered with fur lined hoods, with linen gauze wound beneath against the scalp to wick away sweat and help keep them warm. Embroidered coats, mittens, and leg wrappings covered them well to ward off the cold. Thick stockings in heavy boots with expensively carved wooden soles protected their feet. Al-Uzza found herself uncomfortable as she started to move around the room. "This is too much," she stated abruptly, moving to take off the hood.

There was a knock at the door. "My Lady," spoke a gravely voice that made Al-Uzza's teeth grate, "The party is ready to leave at dawn. We await you." Althos had been an irritant to Al-Uzza for the entire journey but he had been also very useful. Al-Uzza disliked the warrior-monk but had to admit they were entering a situation where a battle seasoned warrior like him would be necessary. It was said that he was at the battle of the Black Sands and had acquitted himself with proper honor as per his order. Al-Uzza assumed this meant that he slaughtered a good number of the enemies of the empire. She did her best to ignore Althos's conversations with the company of guards that had been sent with her. She disliked men and found their company tiresome. All their focus seemed to be upon proving their prowess and potency in all areas they could. Al-Uzza felt that men were like children in need of a stern hand to guide them. And she had no patience for children.

Caught up in her bitter contemplation, Al-Uzza found herself less annoyed with the fur of the hood brushing against her face. Allowing some of that sharpness to seep into her tone, Al-Uzza said, "We must first break our fast." Iona coughed softly. On the other side of the door, Al-Uzza was sure that Althos was giving the carved wood his best glare.

"My Lady had said that haste was necessary," Althos replied in what almost sounded like a rebuke, "Was I in error to assemble the company to ride at dawn? Shall we leave at midday and camp along the road in the night?" Al-Uzza ground her teeth. She stalked to the door and opened it to find Althos dressed in heavy garb as well. She was mildly annoyed that his head was covered with a knitted cap, for some petty part of her had hoped his bald head would be chilled in the day's ride and ache as hers had for his sake.

Al-Uzza looked over at Iona and discovered that her secretary was fully ready to begin her journey. Al-Uzza's hope of lingering just a little longer over something savory and satisfying with the exotic herbs of the mountains in it disappeared as the reality of the situation reasserted itself. With a sigh, she walked out into the corridor and found that the aged Erlion was waiting at Althos's side. "A message in the mirror?" she asked. Erlion nodded. "Where is Lady Sindal and Governor Decebal?"

"They await you in the chamber," Erlion said, "I was instructed to inform you about the message in the mirror." Al-Uzza made an impatient gesture as Erlion began to walk towards the great hall and the corridor to the chamber of the sand mirror. She gave a sigh of exasperation as Erlion spoke about how the night's watch was only the signs of the movement of Althos's presumed snake. "Just earlier," Erlion said as they crossed the great hall, "The movements of the snake went still. It lies as though coiled and awaiting to strike. Then it twisted violently. After this, a series of signs were drawn in the mirror that I do not recognize."

Al-Uzza ground her teeth. What use was a sand mirror and one to read it if they could not read the mirror, she mentally grumbled. When they reached the chamber of the sand mirror, Decebal was waiting outside of it with a parchment scroll in hand. Al-Uzza saw that he looked solemn and perhaps disturbed. Al-Uzza walked into the sand mirror chamber and found Sindal waiting beside the mirror. Al-Uzza noted that sand was on the floor. She knew that sand from the mirror should always remain in the bowl and that it didn't leave it unless the bowl was disturbed or something disturbed the bowl it was attuned to.

"Lady Al-Uzza, perhaps your experience as a librarian and as our Serene Highness's secretary may allow you to read the mirror. These are signs that we have not seen before," Sindal said. Al-Uzza frowned at the mention of her past positions but put the perceived insult aside to look into the mirror. As she looked in it, her blood went cold. It was a series of glyphs from the ancient texts. It was unknown to most of the priestly orders except for the librarians and the silent sisters of Julara. It read that someone was killing the priestesses of Julara within the city and was a warning for the brothers militant of Ashur's wrath to come in disguise. After a few moments, the sand moved as though a hand wiped the mirror clean. Dawn threatened on the horizon.

"We must leave immediately," Al-Uzza said with a tone of uncharacteristic urgency and concern. She looked over at Althos. "You are war-leader of this party but you must be as one of the mercenaries," she continued before turning to Iona, "What ever weapons you require must be provided, there is a murderer in Acidavia who is killing preistesses and servants of our Lady." The collective silence in the room annoyed Al-Uzza. The word that someone would dare to do such a profane act was scandalous at the very least.

"Go," Al-Uzza snapped tarly at Iona, "Fetch the tools of your trade if you don't have them now." Inoa gave a sharp nod, turned on her heel, and walked out of the chamber. Sindal opened her mouth to say something when Al-Uzza fixed her with a stern look. "We are in deep water, Sister Sindal," Al-Uzza said firmly, "Someone must send a message to the Empress of this. If it is happening within Acidavia, it is happening farther north. It is the only explanation why we have sisters missing."

Al-Uzza recalled Sorenan's report to the empress of slaughters in the north in the wilder lands. Though Al-Uzza hadn't a battle master's gift of experience or strategy craft, she put the facts together quickly. "You must turn away the refugees until I send you a message that it is safe for them to come within your city. There may be malcontents among them or people sympathetic to the people beyond the empire."

Althos watched Al-Uzza with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. He had thought she was going to be as useful as any administrative official on a long walk, complaining about the weather and such. While she had been to this point, Althos was pleasantly surprised that she was competent in figuring out plans for how to handle a problem on the fly. Althos followed Al-Uzza and Sindal into the corridor beyond the antechamber. A weary Erlion sat down on his stool and watched them leave.

Decebal held out the scroll to Al-Uzza. Althos overheard him explaining that the terrain was not as kind as the map made it seem and that the weather on the higher elevations was fickle. As the party walked into the great hall, Decebal explained that the risk of raiders had been greater since the troubles had begun in the far northern parts of the region and he wasn't sure what the risk of the party being attacked was. A palanquin was to be provided for Al-Uzza and Iona until they reached the first way point along the route. After this, horses bred for mountain travel were to be provided for them. Althos watched how Al-Uzza single mindedly marched towards the corridor that lead out to the great square of the city. He suspected that she was ignoring Decebal and such did his bet to put to memory what he could over hear of the governor's words.

Al-Uzza reaches the steps down to the square and finds a group of approximately thirty warriors awaiting them. She also found a quartet of burly servants waiting with the palanquin. Along with the warriors, there were pack animals with supplies for the journey. Al-Uzza looked over at Sindal. "Speed is at the essence," she said, "These beasts will slow us down." Sindal shook her head. As the first patter of rainfall began, Al-Uzza looked up at the sky from where the portico sheltered her. "Our Lady blesses our work this day," the librarian turned priestess said. Sindal wasn't as sure that the rain was a sign of Julara's blessing as much of coming snow.

"Sister Al-Uzza, you are of the low lands. Your journeys are quicker because the mountains are not your enemy. Take the beasts with you. They will serve you well in the coming days." Al-Uzza wasn't sure how she felt about the cross between a factual and a pleading tone in Sindal's voice. With a slight sigh of frustration she nodded.

The party looked up at the priestesses on the portico. "Go, Sister," Sindal said, "I shall speak the blessing of travel over you." Al-Uzza nodded and went to the palanquin. One of the large men opened the wooden door. As she stepped in, she found Iona waiting for her. The servant shut the door and Al-Uzza could hear Sindal's prayer for their safe travel through the door, albeit muffled. Thick blankets sat folded on each of the two seats within the palanquin. Iona sat with one across her lap. Al-Uzza followed Iona's example and settled her own on her legs. With a rocking motion, the palanquin was lifted and set upon the bearer's shoulders. The mercenaries and soldiers of the empire surrounded them as a few servants lead the beasts of burden behind them.

A cold and driving rain pattered on the roof of the palanquin. Al-Uzza was thankful for the shelter it provided as she unrolled the scroll that Decebal had given her. She handed it to Iona. "Tell me, mountain girl, where are we on this?" Iona pointed at a dot on the map and did some calculations in her head as she considered the possible routes they were taking to Acidavia. She moved her finger to a position slightly farther away. Despite the blankets over their legs and the shelter of the palaquin, Al-Uzza and Iona could feel things getting colder. "The first way station?" Al-Uzza asked, as the bearers set the palanquin down again. The first time, they had all paused at sunrise to break their fast. Hardtack and watered wine was unpleasant to Al-Uzza but she was more concerned with the idea that the library at Acidavia was being compromised. It was a library that she was familiar with, one of the largest ones in the north of the empire. Priceless books and scrolls resided there. She had no doubts that the persons killing priestesses and acolytes would have no hesitation to burn it to the ground.

A knock sounded on the door of the palanquin. Al-Uzza slid aside the small wooden door that covered an eyeslit. She saw Althos waiting with something white upon him. She was confused. Still, when Althos said that they had finally reached the point where the priestess and her secretary had to give up the palanquin, Al-Uzza didn't mind much. Her legs were somewhat cramped from sitting for so long and she desired to breathe air that didn't feel quite so stale. When she stepped out of the palanquin into the snow, she was entirely confused. She had thought that with the silence that the weather had cleared. The rain that was present at midday when they had stopped for a meal was far lighter but colder than she had expected. The silence that came not long afterwards to the desert woman meant that the skies had cleared.

Iona stepped out of the palanquin after Al-Uzza and looked at the snow with an expression of annoyance. It had been several hours and there was now several inches of the white fluffy stuff on the ground. She looked up the mountain and wondered how much deeper the snow was. If they were luck, this was the first real snow fall and the paths would be clear. Sturdy horses were provided for Al-Uzza and Iona. The leader of the mercenaries considered the few other horses provided. Deciding with Althos that it was better to use them to lead the pack animals up the hill and as alternate mounts for the women, he walked along side them. Althos walked at Al-Uzza's left, discreetly taking the bridle of the horse in hand to guide it over the terrain. To her right, rode Iona and then the leader of the mercenary party was beside her.

The quiet conversations around them became even more hushed as the terrain became more challenging and the sun began to sink lower in the sky. Althos proposed they stop and set up camp before it got colder and while they still had the sun. Al-Uzza listened to his experience and agreed. She and Iona watched as the party of soldiers set up a camp with brisk efficiency that belied their experience with such things. Althos had the soldiers that were send with them at the center of the encampment about the pavilion set up for Al-Uzza and Iona. After a short time, a few blazing fires were going and people huddled around them for warmth and to cook their evening meal. Within the pavilion, a pair of braziers were burning to heat the space. Al-Uzza and Iona found the sparse accommodations of the pavilion to be only slightly more of an improvement over the palanquin. Al-Uzza gave Althos a glare as he stepped into the pavilion.

"This is not your place, monk," she said in a snippish tone.

"My place is the guard you. Thus, I am here at the door." Al-Uzza huffed with annoyance. Iona fixed them a small meal of dried fruit, dried meat, and yet more hardtack. Al-Uzza restrained the urge to mutter about her fare. She reminded herself that the comforts of civilization awaited them a little farther up the road. When it was time for her to retire for the night, she found Althos and Iona discussing something. Iona made a few emphatic gestures as she whispered at him. Althos's gravelly voice was slightly louder as he said, "We are going to take turns keeping watch. That's the end of the discussion. I trust my men with your lives but I don't trust them. Bravos for hire can be turned with the promise of enough coin or prestige."