Shadow and Memory

Part 1

Wulfric sniffed at the air, and watched the various figures milling about the settlement. There were about thirty of them all told, unless there were more elsewhere in the caves he couldn't see. All in all it was a fairly average number for this kind of operation, there were countless mercenary groups in the Vadenland, constantly vying for power and influence, members leaving the less influential ones to seek fortunes with bigger and stronger groups, while the large companies often fragmented into several smaller ones when the leadership decided to strike out on their own.

Some were professionals, some were scum, some were even religious fanatics. This group looked to be on the rather low end, with mismatched personal armor, and weapons that seemed an eclectic mix of whatever the individual members had brought with them to the group. Still, they had been enough to capture the pair of them in the first place, so he couldn't afford to be sloppy. Again he wondered how they had been ambushed, how these mercenaries had known what route they would have been taking, to have been able to ambush them like this. But answers on that, if he ever found them, would have to wait.

Wulfric's eyes narrowed as he tried to find a path through the camp to his destination. The low light would help him here, and the mercenaries were relaxed, not on alert. He could see a tunnel that led off from the far end, up along the wall of the vast sinkhole cavern, where he could smell fresh air and plant life. That would be the entrance then, they would probably have a guard there at least, best to stay away from that then.

Wulfric skulked out into the main encampment, hugging the wall, keeping low. His broad ears twitched and flicked, eyes flashing in the gloom, cutting through the darkness better than the men he snuck past. Their night vision was never as good as his, and ruined by the lanterns and fires they huddled around, the bright light making the darkness even deeper by contrast. He moved cautiously, patiently, creeping along low, picking each step with care and focus. If one of them moved near him he would hunker down, sitting in perfect stillness before he moved on, all the while very grateful none of them possessed a wolf's sense of smell.

The last stretch was the easiest, the open area leading towards the leader's cabin was mostly unlit, only the singular lantern by the door illuminating the path. He stole up to the side of the cabin and sniffed the air again. Under the smell of the old wood he could make out the familiar scent of the lady he was meant to protect. He hesitated then, deciding what he should do next. He needed both Lady Carol and his weapon, taking either was likely to raise the alarm. If he went after this mercenary captain and his axe first the fight would rouse the mercenaries to battle, and possibly cut him off from Carol. If he rescued her first, then they would probably rush after him to try to secure their prize, bringing the captain with them. That seemed like the best approach then, rescue her, draw out the captain, seize his weapon and escape.

Wulfric took a deep breath, it was risky, especially with her in tow, but he was consoled by the knowledge that none of the mercenaries would dare harm her, or they would invoke the wrath of both their employer and her family. Kidnappings of Vaden nobility had a kind of accepted tradition to them, to injure or even kill the victim would start a vendetta a mere kidnapping would not. So they were unlikely to use their full force and risk injuring Carol.

His concerns mollified somewhat by that reasoning, Wulfric leaned out of cover and quickly dialed down the lantern hanging by the door, the flame guttering and dying. For a breathless moment he waited, watching the camp, but if anyone noticed one lantern going out, then they didn't care, probably assuming it had simply run out of fuel.

Wulfric let out a shaky breath and stole around before the little cabin, trying the handle, not surprised to find it locked. No matter, he drew a leather wallet of picks from an inner pocket and worked at it for a bit. He was no master thief, but this lock wasn't very difficult, and it wasn't long before it yielded with a soft click, letting him steal inside. He closed the door behind him, golden eyes flashing in the low light.