Initially the group held their weapons at the ready, just out of form and appearance rather than any ill will towards the obviously Imperial newcomers. But they lowered their arms out of sheer incredulity of their greetings. Cyrdic had to admit he was confused as well. They couldn't have been soldiers or military from the Count's army. No official messenger would forget the name of the one they came to find, much less one of the commanders. 

"I am Cyrdic Becker," the Ostlander said, stepping forward and sheathing his Runic sword. "I don't mean to offend but we don't have time to talk. The Norscans-" 

"Yes yes, they have your woman." Dietrichia Von Grimmelhausen said. "We are here to make sure you're to make it to her, and that we head northwards. Believe me, herr Becker, you'll need our help." 

Cyrdic looked at her and could not comprehend this turn of events. Yantz looked at her too, though he looked as if he had expected every word. He sighed, and leaned forward in his saddle. "I'm 'fraid we have our orders from the Imperial colleges of magic back in Altdorf. We were tasked with finding you and a fraulien Camilla, and to make it to Praag before the spring turns. The Nords a few miles back were kind enough to let us know the situation here." 

"The army survived?" Cyrdic asked, though his mind whirled with possibilities. The colleges of magic? That woman looked as if she had something more to her than just an air of superiority, but he still would not have guessed that. It didn't sit well with him instinctively. Ostland was a superstitious province, and though he had fought alongside battlemagers, he had never gotten used to it. But he saw the emblem upon her breast, the sign of the Golden Order.

"Aye, and the Count wants a word from you. It doesn't look like he'll be getting it anytime soon." Yantz finished, and he dismounted his horse. 

"We have a sick man," Cyrdic said, bemused at the situation but as always, never forgetting his duty. He saw the haughty, shapely woman hold her hand out as Yantz took it and helped her off her own horse. She hadn't even bothered to look at him as he spoke. "can he use your horse?" 

"He can use mine." Yantz said, trying not to look at the disapproving glance of Dietrichia. 

The group, with their two new members set sail not an hour later. Yantz helped the woman into the back of the longboat, clearing a space for her to sit. Her eyes fell upon Skaldi more than once, though it wasn't with any sort of normal interest. The Dwarf had told Cyrdic that Gold Wizards tended to try and coerce secrets of metal from the Dawi whenever they could, but the Dwarfs kept their secrets hidden. Even a Dwarf cook and soldier might know a few aspects of minerals that normal men did not. 

Cyrdic ordered them to take shifts in turns. Six men rowed while two slept, and the woman had guaranteed that she could keep most of the chill off of them as they set sail further north. Cyrdic had never been much of a sailor, but he had fought in Nordland long enough to know when to open and drop sails, and he set it up as Skaldi kept his eye on the horizon. Around the group, a shimmering golden field enveloped the longboat, and though chill had set in, the northern wind seemed to miss the boat entirely for now. Cyrdic did not regret allowing them to join with them...yet. 

Whatever it took to get Camilla back. 
[@Penny]