Shadow of Hope 35
Kurn raised his own hand and passed Borlak’s signal back along the line. He then moved his mount a stride ahead of Erellia’s to shield her. Getting the horses into cover would take many seconds, so Kurn accepted exposed shield point on the halted line as everyone prepared and moved as they would. Whether Borlak’s intent was to conceal himself and flank once whatever was advancing had passed his position or whether Borlak intended to himself advance and investigate on foot remained to be seen.
Kurn pulled his shield to arm and his sword to hand. With no immediate danger yet evident, the riding horse he sat upon accepted the halt docilely. He looked forward to try to follow Borlak’s indication and determine the source of the warrior’s alert.
Rôhn, spotting Kurn’s signal, slid off his horse as silently as possible, planting his feet on the ground, and handed the reigns to Haron. He drew his shield and hammer and took cover, awaiting either Borlak or Kurn’s signal.
Marcus observed the actions of his comrades and slid off his horse, getting his shield ready. He took the reins for his horse and the pack horses and handed the longer length with the other ones tied to it, to Haron.
Cheskith could hardly fail to notice the developments, but found himself in something of a quandary. He could dismount in preparation for whatever problems lay ahead, putting himself in a better position to deal with them, but if the need then rose to take flight from some danger, he’d be facing the less than ideal circumstance of getting mounted even as the beast was trying to flee with the rest.
Better to stay put, he decided. If an actual fight started swirling towards him, and it was one that the company chose to stand fast in the face of, then he could get down. His words would be no less effective for being spoken from on high.
Nonetheless, he ensured that his shield was in place and held at ease before him, just in case any shots were fired before the party had a chance to react.
Katarina guided her horse forward, settling herself comfortably behind Kurn and Erellia. “It is an unfortunate soul whose passing goes uncelebrated,” she said.
As Kurn and Erellia turn and looked at the priestess of Trymeya, Katarina raised a hand and pointed into the wood, indicating that which had caught her eye. Both figures looked back at the scene and guided by Borlak’s heading as well, were able to discern the mostly concealed shapes of several bodies wrapped in the undergrowth.
The intermittent brush and angle of perception did not allow the other members of the party to determine what awaited, though all eyes followed Katarina’s gesture toward the advancing Borlak. All eyes save two. Zulian had closed the distance to the rear of the train, but the half-Elf drew up there, her own eyes scanning the opposite side of the trail, seeking the ambushers that would lay in wait there should this prove to be another attack.
The wind abated with an eerie speed, and those watching the mighty Sunar work his way slowly through the sporadic underbrush saw him freeze in his tracks, almost unnaturally so, his thick form locked in a low crouch.
“Bodies!” Kurn called back, no need for stealth. “Ready weapons; ‘ware an ambush!”
“Borlak! Signal!” With no gift of magical sight, Kurn had only his intuition to go on, but he’d been in enough fights to recognize the likely signs of a hostile cleric about, and the spell effects of someone magically suspended from movement. Kurn didn’t expect a reply, but having never worked with the horseman before, he gave the man the benefit of the doubt and the chance to call off what was about to be an escalating situation.
Kurn swung down off his mount to his feet, knowing he was human; if a cleric was about, he was as susceptible to such magicks as anyone. Anyone except a dwarf… whose stout blood and nature may ward such if it came.
“Rohn, by your leave advance towards Borlak. Mind for clerics.” Kurn held his position — he guessed by prior action Zulian would slip off into the wood to flank or move unnoticed if need be, but would hold her position until she thought it best to do otherwise. Kurn could not leave Erellia and the other spellcasters undefended at point, which tactically forced him to hold his own position. If he had planned this, the bodies would be meant to stop the line while the attack came from the sides or rear. If it came to a retreat, some in the party wouldn’t be able to ride hard enough, making the choice to potentially lose someone behind no choice at all.
On his own feet, Kurn surveyed the wood about them, turning even to look past and behind the end of the line, sword and shield readied. He met Zulian’s gaze and nodded, a mutual exchange of wariness at the situation and an understanding that he’d hold the front if she’d hold the rear.
“Erellia; your call,” Kurn yielded without sparing the time to turn to her.