The small search party had been moving at a steady march since well before dawn. Eight rode with lances, four with Orchian longbows, and all had swords at their hips, the soldiers were not in plate, but easier to maneuver leather and mail bearing the colors and sigil of Orchy, as well as the Coleridge house crest. Traveling in a box formation, Cyrus and Gabriel rode with their guard on all sides, though they too were lightly armored with swords on their hips. Of course they had dark green quilted doublets over their ringmail, golden rams embroidered on their chests.
Cyrus rode awkwardly, a map partially folded and partially spread out in front of him as he rode hunched in his saddle, making small notions with his pen, taking notes and crossing off locations already searched. None of the soldiers looked at him, there was an obvious tension in the set of his shoulders and he was mumbling darkly to himself as he worked. As the appointed commander of this small unit, they deferred to him above their Lord-heir, and the pressure on him was mounting with every passing day that they didn't find his sister-in-law.
On the other hand, Gabriel who rode beside him was sitting straight in his saddle, staring ahead with unfocused eyes. It was hard to say what he was thinking, since his expression was unreadable. None that rode with him was sure if that was an improvement over the fury, anguish, or despair that had been the alternating emotions predominant in the heir of Orchy since they'd heard about Valia's disappearance.
Imagine their surprise when a lone rider came up behind them and did not simply pass them by. Cyrus turned cold green eyes on Redly, studying him with suspicion at first, then surprise when it was announced there was a letter for Gabriel. The man certainly hadn't been sent by his father, maybe someone nearby had seen or heard something of value and was reporting in to them? Ansgar if only he were that bloody lucky.
Gabriel had remained impassive at the courier's arrival until the letter was offered up. While his brother had not really noticed some things about their unusual letter-bearer, Gabriel noticed everything and took it all in as he accepted the letter and opened it, not sure what he'd find. As soon as his eyes regarded the first line his hands tightened on the piece of paper in his hands, crinkling it and dangerously close to ripping it as his heart lodged itself into his throat.
The note was agonizingly brief and vague, but it was written in Valia's hand, if a bit shakily. He read it over and over again, more or less forgetting Redly was even there as a practical tidal wave of emotions crashed through him. Overwhelming relief that his wife had been found alive and elation that she was finally going to be coming home to him. There was unspeakable rage for those that had taken her, and the burning need to extract punishment on those that had made her life a nightmare as she had written in her own trembling words. Beneath that still was a quaking fear of what state he would find his once vibrant, beautiful lady to be in.
Cyrus and the other men gave a collective gasp when the courier mentioned Lady Coleridge and Revian would be meeting them somewhere on the East Road around mid-day. After all their weeks of searching things would finally be coming to an end. For better or worse. The dark-haired man turned his eyes to his brother, watching him closely, wondering and not knowing what to expect.
Tears made emerald eyes shimmer slightly, but Gabriel remained amazingly calm as he carefully smoothed the damage he'd caused the small note before tenderly refolding it and placing it inside his coat. Everyone was watching him and he was keenly aware of this fact.
"I suggest, brother, that we don't keep my wife waiting." He managed to speak without his voice faltering much as he wiped his eyes with as much dignity as he could muster.