“…and of course, its perfect for children’s parties"
A plan had been formed.
Torious pushed himself to a stand, craning his vision over the boulder they all crouched behind. His eyes traced over the length of the wall, then across the right hand snow ridge till his eyes fell to his own feet. Moments later, he had clawed his way up the small cliff face. Making sure the wall couldn’t see him, he looked back down at his assorted companions. They stared back up at him. Torious felt a strange feeling of majesty, but knocked that feeling on the head as he concentrated on the scouting task at hand.
- - - - - - - - - -
Milo wriggled a little closer, his body pressed flat into the snow as he melted into the cover of the jagged crest of rock. His frozen fingers felt slow and unresponsive. Milo imagined them to be yellow and black inside his bearskin gloves. He clutched his crossbow tight to his chest, wary that the wide sleek bow was too large to be fully hidden behind the rocks.
Milo was close enough to the wall that he could make out snatches of the guards conversation when the wind died a little, which wasn’t often. He strained to see back to the grey blotch of the boulder in the distance, mentally following back his route and secretly applauding himself on getting this far without being seen.
- - - - - - - - - -
Thalin stamped his feet again in an attempt to shake the creep of cold up his legs, and made a final check on the villagers. They stood huddled beneath a glazed overhang, tufts of hair and the occasional face poking from beneath the mass of cloaks and bodies. The mage nodded to Errilinth. Her wood-carved features cracked into a wide smile for the townsfolk, her hands soothed thoughts and quelled cries before they started. Thalin frowned and resolved to uncover this woman’s subtle arcane powers once he could have a proper talk to her.
Mikka was stood next to Vaerana, the tiefling displaying a little funnel-shaped device, which turned the snow into multicoloured bubbles. Thalin approached.
“…and of course, its perfect for children’s parties. They love this stuff,” crooned Mikka, his salesperson voice having zero affect on the stoic Vaerana.
“Why would there be snow at a child’s party?” asked Vaerana.
“Why of course, they are young Vaasan children! And their greatest joy is snow!" chimed Mikka, "and bubbles.”
“Well yes, but…”
Vaerana’s retort was cut short by the baying of a horn. Thalin sprung forward and peered over the boulder. The gates of the wall were opening. The horn continued to blare and the gate heaved. Inside Thalin could see a small yard leading to a second exit gate. A detachment of six red-cloaked knights wheeled in the small space, then bolted towards the gates. Their crimson platemail glared suddenly brilliant in the sun, reminding Thalin of a newly cut wound. They broke into a gallop as they thundered towards the hidden companions. The lead horseman unfurled a banner that snapped and hissed in the biting wind. A burning head on a blood red background. Panic writhed in Thalin's chest as he realised that there was no time to hide.....
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
