Chapter 28: Battle-ready

The Stripe of Snow; East Coast of Vagamor; South of the Realm

Orvyn's POV

Ruffus scrambled off to get Margaret what she requested. She sat where she once knelt, meditating, lids closed. Her lips muttered inaudible sounds that none could decipher. Not even my keen hearing could catch a whiff.

She'd better be true. I can't afford to be fooled and disgraced before my men.

I went out to ready the boys, telling them about the protection spell. As expected, they had their reservations.

"We can't trust her, My Lord," one said, standing beside his horse. "She should be put to death according to the law!"

"I'll be damned if I let her lay her fucking filthy hands on me," another chimed, a large pickaxe crossed over his round shoulder. "A witch is a witch, there are no good one. Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"She should not live to see the next light of day. She may be a spy sent from Kazamir to weaken us." Another honed, wearing a crusader's iron mask, shield in hand.

"I have my torch with me,