Chapter 6: Belief and Purpose
Chapter 6: Belief and Purpose
Late at night, Lothar lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Tomorrow, after they restock supplies at the manor—provisions, water, feed for three packhorses and a warhorse—they will set out again.
Their route will take them eastward, following the line of the Alps, through the Austrian frontier territories, and finally to Venice, where they will board a ship.
Crossing the Alps to reach Italy only seems like the shorter path.
In reality, the mountains are filled with sheer cliffs and treacherous terrain. Even the lower-altitude paths pose the risk of slipping into deep ravines with a single misstep.
Otherwise, Hannibal and Caesar’s crossings of the Alps would not have been hailed as miracles in military history.
"Rest is vital for a warrior," a flat, emotionless voice suddenly spoke.
It was Banu.
She sat in the adjoining room, on a felt bed covered with a thin blanket, her eyes closed, seemingly meditating.