Next stop would be the Islands. She'd arranged with the Wyrmskinner clan, with whom she'd been staying, to provide her transport to Lifberg. From there she'd descend the mountain to the coast and arrange for further transport from there.
She'd packed her meager belongings and was walking down to the lifter when four familiar looking raiders stopped her.
She was quite surprised when rather than fearful avoidance they met her gaze and each took a knee respectfully.
"High Queen, my brothers and I seek your forgiveness for our behavior on the mountainside."
She considered her possible moves carefully. "You can show your repentance by answering the Call to Arms and fighting for Gasca."
"That's why we came your highness. We wanted to make it up to you personally."
She hoped they didn't mean that the way she thought they did.
"Please your highness, let us fight beside you. We would be honored if you'd let us serve as your bodyguards."
It was unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome.
"What are your names?"
"I'm Barett, this is my brother Alec and my cousins Jod and Johd. We're the sons of the notorious Gibbet brothers. We've got our own supplies and equipment, we can walk fast and run for days. It would be an honor to give our lives for you."
They made a convincing case for themselves; and it would be nice to have dedicated guards in her travels. What's more, Ishylde had mentioned the Gibbet brothers. They'd been the most succesful non-guild criminals in the empire before the war, if even a lick of that skill, persistence, and luck had rubbed off on these four she'd be set for a lifetime.
"Load up. My mark is the howling wolf, consider it yours also."
"May I share that honor mistress?"
Ishylde had her pack and Wyrm-rib bow strapped to her back.
"I promise not to get in the way, and I'm use to cooking and cleaning up after others."
She was a fair enough archer, and she had the naieve passion of one who has never killed. It seemed a shame to spoil so innocent a soul with war, but it would be safer to have her close and safe than here on her own.
"Do you swear to do as I order you, no matter the cost; to serve Gasca and bleed for it as I have; and to be loyal to your Empire so long as you live?"
Her eager response was dulled only by her inability to comprehend the magnitude of her decision.
Alicea departed for Lifberg in good comapny. But she took no joy in their loyalty, for she knew the battles ahead would put them all to the test.
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