Altira check over her saddle bags once again. Everything was in it's place, just as it had been the last seven time she checked over her saddle bags. The group would be leaving soon, likely within the hour. Six armed guards, two mages, and a knight. Oh and two hand maids. It was a bit much if you asked her. Including her, that was twelve people, it would be impossible for the travel to be discrete. Two weeks of travel, two weeks of adjusting, then a wedding to a stranger. She wasn't looking forward to it.
"How far do you think we could get before they catch us, Rap?" Her horse looked at her, his eyes seemed to display some dejectedness, 'as if I could be caught.' the eyes said. Rapscallion nuzzled against her, sniffing for apple. She pat the side of his head, "Sorry bud, haven't got any for you." Typically, she would ride in a carriage, but her lord husband lived two weeks away by horseback, In Adela of all places! So she chose to ride her beloved horse, one great trek to her new life would be made with a friend.
"You look about ready for the gallows." Came a somewhat jovial voice behind her. Startled, she turned to see two of her brothers, David and Neil. How all of her brothers could move so silently was beyond her. Se looked at the two of them through narrows eyes.
"That is about how I feel, if I'm honest." Her eyes narrowed further "What, now exchange of coin this time?"
Neil shrugged, "Serious matters are not for better. We actually came to wish you the best, and to give you a few bridal gif-"
"You are going to be there, Gods blood. I can't be married in the sight not a single familiar face!" She started, panic rising in her chest. Why wouldn't her family be coming?!
David held up a hand to calm her, "We are all going to be there, Amaya isn't certain she can be, with how close she is, but I know for a fact that she is making Dimitri go in her stead. Even Ceri and her husband will be there." Ceri was the oldest sister, she'd been wed while Altira was still very young. She didn't come around often. "But, as I was saying, we wanted to give you your Bridal gifts, that way you can have them when you go meet your lord husband for the first time."
Neil held up a case of some sort, opening the two clasps and revealing a crossbow. But not just any crossbow. "This is from Amaya, Juniper, and Myself." It was made of some crystal structure, colored a light shade of purple, very similar to the shade of her eyes. Altira lifted it from the case, it was surprisingly light. small enough to be accurately aimed and held by one hand, it even braced itself against her forearm. "Go ahead and cock it." Nodding, though a bit speechless, she reached out to take the singular bolt from the case, it was also made of crystal. Niel pulled away from her. "Just cock it, nix the bolt and pull back on the priming arm."
Altira gave him a queer look, but obliged, pulling back on the priming arm until the string notched itself into the armed position. and to her amazement, the bolt was sitting in the track. She glanced over and saw the empty slot in the case were the bolt had been. "Wha- how?!"
"That is a question better answered by Amaya, but as far as I know, pulling back the priming arm activates a bit of magic that summons the bolt to the track. It's far beyond me. However, Juniper grew the crystals that made it, some sort of amethyst quartz, and I designed it and applied a hex so it can't be broken or used by anyone other than you or your blood. And, best part is, with a little tweaking, it can be hidden in a pocket or drawer or even this little carrying case." He held up a cylindrical case, about a foot in length and not even 6 inches in diameter. He quickly showed her how to store it in the travel case. The Case even had a clip for her riding belt of her saddle latch. Neil had thought of everything.
David cleared his throat and held up another case. It was long and thin. Inside were two swords, long and single edged. There were falchion, the official weapon of House Zamt'ris. "You know." Altira said, "With my family giving me weapons, I almost suspect that my husband may be of poor moral character." She lifted the swords from their slots in the case and tested the balance. It was phenomenal, better than her own swords! These swords were an extension of her arm, better fit and any before it.
While she examined the swords, he explained. "They are forged from star stones. I bought them from University on Arca. Actual stones fallen from the heavens. Michael forged the metal in them himself, and Martin enchanted them as so they can't be used against you. And they are terribly strong swords, I tested them against my own swords."
David unsheathed on of his swords, or what was left of it, about six inches up the blade, it was cleanly cut. "Sheared though folded steel, and not a nick on them. Those swords are a fine thing, and they will fit in your current scabbards." He tossed aside his broken blade and pulled the swords from her scabbards, which rested at her belt. Altira took the opportunity to replace them with her new swords before throwing her arms around her brother's necks.
"I love you both, so much."
------
That was a week and a half ago, they were now in the final stint of the journey. Another few days traveling through this damned forest and they would arrive a lord poncington's estate. That wasn't actually his name, but Altira didn't care. The going was actually much slower over the last two days. The knight's horse had broken an ankle and fallen on him. The poor man had broken his leg in the happening. The Grizzled old man was starting to show the effects of bone break fever but that didn't stop them. He took one of her maids horses, and the two maids doubled up. Still, the old knight set the pace and kept things going, accepting only the menstruation of one of the mages.
It happened as they were looking for a place to make camp for the night. Arrows tore form the trees and claimed the lives of four of the guards and one of the mages before they could even be shocked that they were dead. The two maids screamed while the knight shouted. "Off with you! Run Milady!" And run she did. She spurred into rapscallion and the horse took off, sprinting like it were all he was meant for. The other mage went after her as well but was quickly cut down by another arrow.
As Altira started to lose the ability to ear the carnage behind her, three horsemen burst from the trees. Altira steered Rapscallion around them and pushed onwards, working the crossbow from its travel case, she drove the horse with her knees and primed the bow. Rapscallion was fast, staying ahead of the three other rides and even gaining some distance. After there was about 100 feet between them, she turned in the saddle and loosed the bolt at the closest bandit. It collided with him and the man was dead before he hit the ground. "Keep it up Rapscallion!" she yelled, priming the bow again as they rounded a turn trail.