News spread quick through Boreas though it wasn't a shock. Notus has fallen. Boreas stood alone. The last remaining country of the continent of Frost Elk.
Notus had been fighting the empire tirelessly for over 20 years. Its cities were ashes now. Its soldiers buried in not foreign soil. And yet Boreas stood, cold and proud, as it watched its horizon darken.
Captain Finley Corval stood atop the eastern wall the wind biting his face. Below he watched as people started to gather in groups, readying for the emergency evacuation to the Sickle Fish Continent. The Captain he seen enough wars to know that the Empire would soon turn its eyes north.
Behind him the soldiers prepared for war. Victory was a dead mans dream now, that died when Notus fell. The soldiers only had one last mission, delay the enemies to allow the Black Wolves to get them to safety. The last of house Raleigh must survive.
Finley looked towards the city at the soldiers running around preparing, his gaze drifted towards the centre of all the chaos. Three kids sat on a wool blanket carefully laid over the frost bitten stone. A girl of twelve, thin but kind kept one arm wrapped around a smaller figure next to her. A younger girl who couldn't be no more than five leaned against her, her tiny hands laying around with the loose stands of the older girls jumper. Small curved horns peaked from her pink hair catching the starry light. the boy was standing and staring around at the soldiers no fear in his golden eyes but a sort of sadness.
The soldiers pretended not to stare, but Finley could see the way their eyes flickered with sadness, fear and respect. The Empire had hunted these three kids for years. after all these kids were the last surviving members of the Raleigh Clan. The Empire wanted their genetics , their blood but as soldiers of Boreas they had sworn an oath to protect the Raleigh's until their dying breath.
The boy caught Finley's gaze. His body seemed to straighten as he stared Finley dead in the eyes with no sign of flinching.
One of the soldiers broke the deadlock as he whispered something into Finley's ear. Finley reluctantly turned around and walked away. Finley had been serving in the army for years he led the Black Wolves a small elite group who would follow the direct orders of the Raleigh Patriarch. Now among the remaining soldiers he ranked only below the commander.
The canvas flap of the command tent snapped in the wind as Finley pushed it aside. Warm lamplight spilled over him, a stark contrast to the icy winds outside. The air inside was thick with the smell of ink and steel.
Thane his second in command was already sitting at the table were a middle aged man was staring at a map. Commander Selke didn't look up right away. She finished marking a line on the map a retreat path that curved through the Frozen Bear Mountain before lifting her gaze.
"Captain Corval please sit" she said gesturing to the only other empty seat.
Finley sat silently as he awaited her next words.
"Have you seen the kids" her words were casual but Finley could feel the underlying tension He slowly nodded.
"A transport convoy leaves at dawn. You'll escort the children through the northern pass past the wolf tooth caves where the Fang Clan will help you. From there, a sky-skiff will take them across to Sickle Fish continent and will be escorted by Mad Dog of Zeroth"
"That pass is collapsing. Part of the ridge fell last week"
"We know but we can't let them follow the other refugees it would be too much of an easy target. Its the only path left."
Silence settled over the tent heavy and inevitable.
"We're not asking you to win Fin. You just need to get them out all three of them. Alive"
Thane lets out a small breath leaving a trail of mist in the air. "Why them they have killed and capture lots of Raleigh members why them specifically."
Selke leans back slightly. "The girls are dragon kin the younger one is of pure blood and may well be the last pure blood alive. It the Empire captures them, they'll use her."
"And the boy?"
"According to him he is nothing special he like the others has the blood of Fenrir running through his veins like all the other Raleigh's but he also has the blood of the ancient titans as well"
"When do we move" Finley asked
"Tomorrow first light" Selke said. "Get some rest, Captain"
Thane and Finley stood up. As Finley turned to leave "Selke, if the empire reaches Boreas before we clear the pass..."
Selke looked up meeting his eye. "Then Boreas falls. But promise me Finley the children must no die"
Finley stepped back into the cold night, the wind biting his face. Just a distance away from him, the kids huddled around a small campfire.
His job was to get them through the continent, he vowed that he will not fail