Snippet #2393381

Chiara moved silently through the underbrush of the forest, a few paces ahead of her prince, as she had been instructed. it was long, tedious work. Having to constantly check the forest shrubbery for traps, all of her senses constantly alert to the slightest unnatural sound, was exhausting, and it put her in an irritable mood. Especially when Ulmo insisted on repeating something that she was sure was becoming something of a mantra.

"We should be back there, fighting those icy, bastard children. Instead, here we are, crawling like animals through this forest."

Chi grunted softly, pushing a branch out of their path with a strength that it didn't appear that she physically possessed. She agreed with him. She would give anything to be out there with her Father, her sword in hand, cutting down the scum that was the Ice people. Such a cold, heartless race. She scowled at the thought of them and continued the trek, and then they left the hooded protection of the forest.

Atop the hill , they had a good view of the landscape before them. Rolling hills, and a baking hot sun, just the way she liked things. She sighed, exhaling her irritation and looked up gratefully to the wide expanse of sky. She had quickly grown bored of the greenery around them as they traveled through the wooded lands.

Ahead, the tower loomed, both promising and menacing. She'd heard only stories of its previous use, but as far as she and her prince were aware, it would be empty and waiting for them. She glanced at the young man that stood arrogantly beside her and grinned as she wiped a dirty hand across her brow.

She quickly followed Ulmo at his shouted command, taking her place and continuing to check the forest area as they moved through it until they reached the foundations of the tower itself. Once there, something was wrong. Firstly, the most obvious - a horse. A large stallion, that barely glanced at their approach. Chiara was instantly alert.

"Wait...Quiet" She muttered, holding a hand up to emphasize and signal the need for silence. She glanced back at the prince and moved slowly and without any sound across the grassy ground, examining the dirt.

Tracks...Here, they'd come from this direction. It was the horses shod hoof marks in the soft ground. And just ahead...the human that had led the creature. Chiara frowned, but couldn't tell if it was male or female. But as she was just about to give up, and return with her findings back to the Prince, she saw something different. A different set of tracks. Definitely female. Young. perhaps around her own age. She frowned.

This strange female was obviously affluent, if she had her own horse. Chiara looked back at the animal, then froze as she noticed something as it gleamed in the failing sunlight. From her position before, she hadn't been able to see, but now it was clear. Printed into the steel of the stallion's bridle was an emblem, and it was the emblem of the Royal House of Ice. At that realization, Chiara cursed and withdrew back to her prince, drawing Ustrina as she did.

She spoke in a hushed tone. How much noise had they made coming here? "My Prince. They're from the Ice lands. One female and a companion. They arrived maybe...half an hour ago. They don't appear to be heavily armed, but they're in the tower" She paused, glanced up at the structure, then back at the male, knowing she had no right to instruct the royal Prince on how to react to the situation.

"What should we do?"