The dawn came with a cold groan as many men stumbled to the yard. Here and there some would find a spot to regurgitate the previous night's meal in as much discretion as they could manage. Red eyed, they gathered their gear.
Abner stood out among them, despite his natural withered appearance, his chipper movements and confident stride marked him above the rest. He walked his baggage over to the stables, a smile broad on his face, and loaded them upon his horse. The whole way, men parted from him, some avoiding such a cheering personality, most simply found his face enough reason.
The dirt ground of the stable had frozen overnight, and a thin layer of frost hung over the world, slowly receding as the red sun crept higher in the eastern sky between the mountains. The cold filled his nostrils, biting away any scent of the world around. Placing the last pouch onto the steed, he slapped its warm neck, observing this morning to be particularly not ideal for travel.
"Well, what are you going to do?" He spoke softly to the animal, stroking its neck. "Never been one blessed with taking my own sweet time. And neither are you. Should have realized that by now, you silly old thing."
"First time visiting in over six months, and sneaking out already?" Magnus stood in the stable entrance, hand resting on his sword. Abner smiled at him and pulled his cape closer about himself.
"Hardly a social visit, if I do say so myself. Besides, too many people taking up space here as it is. Who would miss one sickly Magi?" The older man stepped forward, a ponderous look on his face.
"I, for one, appreciate your company. And I know the queen is always in need of your counsel."
"Is that why she is asking that I be sent away?" Though Abner smiled through the words, Magnus knew him too well for that.
"Resentment isn't becoming of you. You must remember, she is hardly more than a child. She just wants to feel like perhaps there won't be another war." Abner walked over to the railing of the stable and looked out its long opening into the yard. Magnus joined him. They watched the men slowly gathering into one place, forming rank and file as Uriah marched about barking orders to them.
"It isn't resentment towards her, Magnus. I don't fault Eliza for behaving as any young woman would in her position." He let out a soft laugh. "No doubt my counsel to her husband put her more than a bit on edge." The older man joined his laughter.
"Oh, you have no idea. She practically begged him to not ride beyond the outer wall, after you left the meeting. She might care for people like you and I, Abner. However, when compared to her husband, she would gladly throw us to the wolves."
"Well, too bad she didn't send Uriah in my place." He laughed again, but Magnus did not join this time.
"I wouldn't be so fast to push an ally like Uriah aside just yet."
"And why shouldn't I? He's a stuffy old sellsword who thinks he knows our business better than our own king."
"Or better than you?" Magnus let the statement hang for a moment. "You've done us a great service since coming here, Abner, no one is denying that. We are always in your debt. However, we need new champions. Ones who can lead these men where they never could have led themselves." He looked over at the Magi. "Let other men take the reins this time, my friend." The two stood in silence while Abner pondered the words.
"And the pale man?" He asked the older man. "What do you think of him?"
"To be fully honest with you, I think I am more worried about how we will deal with the two thousand refugees waiting for our king at the mountain pass."
"One in the same, I suppose."
"And may I ask, what more information could you get from this prisoner than you already have?" Abner glanced sideways at Magnus, a sly smile cornering his mouth.
"Perhaps I play some things closer to the chest, Magnus." He stood up and walked back over to the horse, checking his wares once more. The older man looked at him, a curious frustration playing on his face.
"Well, then he knows something about our enemy. Tell us, what is it?" Abner did not turn to look at him.
"My friend, this prisoner does not know anything more than we already might assume about our known enemy." Magnus started at the chosen words.
"Known enemy? Do all Magi speak so cryptically?"
"Well, some do. However, mostly just myself."
"Tell me what you mean. These are no times for games." Abner sighed, and walked over to his horse, taking some nearby straw to feed it. The animal munched away as the Magi looked thoughtfully at it. Then, after a few moments, his eyes drifted to the horse a few stalls down. He gave it a nod.
"Did you know that warhorse he came riding in on is from Windgrad?" Magnus nodded, turning fully around and leaning his back against the railing. "Of course you do. Sorry, a stupid question. Have you ever been there? To Windgrad's central city? It sits on the Southern coast of Tovoran, atop high cliffs overlooking the ocean. My, Magnus, it is something to behold."
"I have seen it once." Magnus nodded, pursing his lips. "Many years ago. Not up close, of course. I was on a ship sailing to Greyrock. Managed to catch a glimpse of it in the setting sun. Almost thought it was just another piece of the black cliffside until I saw the red banners flying."
"Magnificent, wasn't it?" Another nod from the older man. Abner smiled and then looked off into the distance. "I only went there once. A week before my order sent me north, as a matter of fact. You saw it from a distance, Magnus. I tell you, to be there, it is something else entirely. Their palace, and its walls, black as night, but still glittering in the light." He shook his head. "Towers that go beyond the clouds and design of the buildings themselves seem to be made as if formed from wax. Like something carved out of night itself."
"Anything like the mountain pass walls?"
"When I look at those walls, Magnus, I can tell you beyond a doubt that man carved those out. Chip by chip, with his own two hands. I tell you, my friend, this place is something more. Perhaps most will not see it, but my people did." He looked back over to the older man. "We send students to each region to study, you see. Pick up knowledge of culture, politics, and history." He said the last word with reverence. "Did you know that the oldest of the carvings in Tovoran are to be found there? Deep within their palace's bowels."
"Yes, I am."
"Did you know that, as far as my people can tell, the palace is older than any civilization in Tovoran? Even older than the mountain pass itself?" Magnus blinked at the statement, confusion brewing in his mind at the implications of it. Abner gave a dark chuckle. "Certainly makes one wonder how old the land we are standing on right now is. Perhaps even, what all about it we don't know."
"Abner," All humor and good nature left Magnus's tone. He stood tall, and looked at the Magi from under a furrowed brow. "Is there some new threat from the south you are not telling us about? If so, I would have to inform Barak."
"Ha! If you inform him of a new threat, do you think it would actually change the course of things? You are spread thin enough as is, and as of this moment, no one is coming to your aid." He let out a long sigh. "No, no my friend I am afraid this one is out of Barak's hands." He sniffed, and patted the horse on the neck once more. "But don't worry, Magnus, my good friend. I am not leaving you without hope. As long as you make sure our prisoner makes it to Willow's Nest." He dug into a pouch and held out what he had retrieved. Magnus saw it to be a black ribbon rimmed with a golden pattern. "Give this to him before he leaves. Tell him to show it to my sister when he arrives." Magnus took it. The fabric appeared old, fraying along the bottom. Abner then turned and mounted his horse. "Tell him that I will have everything waiting for him for his arrival."
"I will." The sound of Uriah barking out orders drowned out Magnus's response, and he turned to look at the captain with notable disdain. Turning back to Abner, he gestured over his shoulder.
"Wish it was him going in your stead."
"Ha! Yes, well, my work requires a basic knowledge of charm." They both laughed, a tired low happiness for just a moment. Then the heavy look came back to Magnus's face.
"Still, I will miss having the watchful eye of Abner over the north." The Magi moved the horse out of the stall and over next to the man, ready to ride from the stable's entrance.
"Give me some credit, my friend. Who is to say I am not leaving one of my eyes behind?"
"How do you mean?" Abner only smiled.
"Tell Eliza that I hope to see her one day soon."
The horse rode from the stables at a jolly trot. As it passed through the gates, Magnus watched his friend travel across the bridge and through the town's main road before turning left and out of sight. Thus, Abner left the western castle of Northguard, and would never again return.