Chapter 66: The Road to Caelhart
The carriage wheels creaked softly in the frost, breath from the horses steaming in the cold morning air. Snow dusted the courtyard cobblestones, and the banners of House Thornehart hung still and solemn.
Lucen adjusted the strap of his powder horn. The arquebus hung snugly across his back, alongside his Crimson Lord Mk IV.
Harlik and Mark, two members of Thornefang, were here to accompany him
Robert had to come since he was also instrumental in the creation of the arquebus. There was also the head blacksmith, Oswin, and Holz, the head carpenter.
From the martial ranks, Knight-Commander Thalos would be leading the vanguard, with several Ironhold knights in tow. Among them was Garrett, now wielding his own Crimson Lord Mk IV, forged under Lucen’s exact specifications.
And at the center of it all stood Duke Vardon Thornehart, waiting for everyone to get ready before entering the carriage.
While everyone was preparing for their trip to Caelhart, Lucen noticed Vahn was there alongside Cael.
"Have you come to see me off again, my little bro?" Lucen patted Cael’s head, and the young five-year-old stared directly into Lucen’s eyes and spoke.
"Can I come with you?"
Lucen froze. The crunch of snow beneath boots, the murmurs of knights, all of it vanished. All he could hear was the quiet, honest voice of his little brother echoing in his ears.
Cael had spoken. Not just grunted, not nodded, not blinked in that way he did to say a thousand silent things. He spoke.