[hr][hr][h2][b][i][color=Silver][center]Rathe Grey & [color=blue]Chiya![/color]
Location: Askavi Mountains, Fort Helios, Sky Pass[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h2]
[hr]

Rathe had finished with his rights, burying his men and giving them their last farewell. It was a sad and solemn ritual that he took upon himself. Following it he'd have his scribes draft up letters to their respective families and loved ones, giving them closure and letting them know their children, husbands, wives, and lovers died as true heroes and men and women to be proud of. It was at this point, in the Field of the Fallen that a messenger came to him. Waiting for his final moments to pass before addressing the Warden Commander of Fort Helios in the fashion proper to his rank. A crisp snap to attention and a salute made by putting one's hand over their heart, curled into a fist. "Sir, we have found a message on the invaders. It's addressed to you." He said, holding out the piece of paper in question to Rathe.

Rathe reached out to take hold of the parchment, glancing over it as he saw the words for himself. Silently he began to move with a purpose back to the keep. Before long he was assembled in the war room with his Wardens of various fields. The Warden of Blades stood to Rathe's right, a man of many years and many battles, scarred and marred to show his worth. To his left was the Warden of Bows, the ranged master of the fort and easily the greatest shot this side of the world. To the right of the Warden of Blades stood the Warden of Siege, a master engineer who either built or oversaw the construction of all the siege engines in Fort Helios. Then finally to the left of the Warden of Bows was the Warden of the Arcane, a master magister and great teacher and scholar of the fort. And of course Chiya sat on the table next to Rathe, trying to seem confident and regal as all the others in the room had, but in truth it looked for like he had a stick up his hind end, making him look like a statue staring up at the chandeliers. It was more adorable than regal in actuality.

"It's quiet clear what this entails. It's a missive for summons. Yet to round up a Rhilander army? This is worthy of war!" The Warden of Siege spoke out quiet angrily. Even smashing a fist onto the 3D map that made up the table. "We can't be so rash, it's clear that this queen of Hyall has power and that power can be brought to bear against our keep. If they wish to have an audience we should heed it. After all there is no threat conveyed." The Warden of Bows spoke up to say in response, "It's clear that this is nothing more than a show of force. We were made to win, yet still view the power this queen holds. I say we send our delegation to meet her." She concluded, offering a second alternative. Meanwhile the Warden of the Arcane chimed up to add, "We can't just walk into this situation blindly. Why make such a drastic show of delivering a message? It's meant to subjugate and make us be afraid. So I agree we should go, but not to know what this Queen demands. Instead to show that we will not be made afraid by her actions."

Rathe heard the words of his advisors, but through it all he held to his convictions, [color=silver]"No. I will go to Hyall to meet this Heketah. Not because she summoned me, not because we must show her we are unafraid, but because she has commit murder. She sent these invaders against us and by their hand did they kill twelve of the brave men on the walls. That blood is on her hands and she will answer for her crimes."[/color] He started, tensing Harbinger in his right hand as he shifted the weapon to his side, standing up from his chair to accent that silence was to be held in his war room. [color=silver]"I leave the fort in your hands my Wardens, she will be safe until I return."[/color] He concluded collecting up his weapon using it to gesture at the model on the table. The fine tip of his blade touching the territory of Hyall. [color=silver]"It is a trek to her land, but one that will not take a small band very long. We can move fast and keep to the chief roads of Ashkavi for most of the way. I leave tomorrow and I have made my decision."[/color] He finished tapping the bottom of Harbinger on the stone floor like a gavel. The Wardens looks among one another, quiet a bit shocked as this would be the first time in 200 years that Rathe would have left the walls of Fort Helios. He's known as the Eternal Warden for a reason after all. Yet, he didn't seem to be bothered by the idea of leaving his keep.

Chiya broke free from his confident pose and looked back at Rathe with wide eyes. In Kindred he spoke out with jubilation that seemed to almost radiate from his little form, [color=blue]"We're leaving the fort!"[/color] He spoke out with enough glee to match the vigorous wagging of his tail. His whole hind end wagging wildly and blindly as he hopped around on the table. [color=blue]"I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait! Are we going to see the plains? And the forests? And I heard about big bodies of water called oceans! Are we going to an ocean?"[/color] He continued, wildly speaking his mind with no censor.

For Rathe he looked at the hyped pup and with his usual cold and blank face he held out a hand to make a bridge that Chiya happily jumped up to reach his usual position on Rathe's shoulder. Sitting down, but that didn't stop his wagging tail or constant questions. [color=blue]"Have you been to the ocean? I know it's a lot of water. Like a LOT a lot of water and it's not water you can drink, because it has salt. And the salt actually makes you..."[/color] He continued on, seemingly talking without end long into the night.

On the cusp of the next morning, the team was made ready. Rathe and Chiya were to travel with four other guards of Fort Helios as an envoy that would forge a path into Hyall and to meet this Queen Heketah.