Twenty days. That was the time we spent in this place. They worked without rest and, during that period, they felled a great many trees. Several caravans even arrived escorted by guards from the army itself to transport such an enormous amount of wood.
There was a lot of noise and activity in the camp; it seemed this would be the last day here. I suppose that's why everyone was in a hurry, packing their things so they could depart.
Serin had sent me to look for Claire. She wasn't on guard duty and, consequently, was up on the cliff practicing her fencing. Climbing up there was quite complicated with all the snow that had fallen during the week.
I drove my foot into the snow and moved forward carefully, digging my boot in so I wouldn't slip. Each step required twice the effort. The slope wasn't very high, but with the accumulated snow it became treacherous. More than once my foot slid back a few centimeters before I regained my balance.
I let out a breath and kept climbing without hurry. I didn't want to reach the top panting as if I had climbed a mountain.
I kept climbing.
When I finally reached the top of the cliff, I could see her. Claire moved with absolute concentration, as if the cold didn't exist. Her steps left shallow marks in the snow, light and controlled. The sword traced arcs before her, quick thrusts, measured turns.
Thanks to old Edric's teachings, she had improved considerably since the day she arrived. Though I could say the same about all of us, with the exception of Rowan, who was a damn monster in combat from birth. I shook my head instinctively.
For a moment I stood there watching her without saying anything.
It was strange. Down below everything was noise: axes, orders, carts, men shouting. Up here there was only the wind… and the sound of her sword.
I took another step and the snow crunched under my boot.
Claire stopped instantly and turned around quickly.
"How long have you been there" she asked
"I just got here… Serin is looking for you, apparently we're already getting ready to head back home" I replied bluntly.
"Does it have to be now?"
"He said when you're done, if you want."
Claire lowered the sword and rested it on her shoulder as she exhaled, forming a small white cloud in front of her face.
"Then a few more minutes," upon hearing her answer I looked around for a place to sit. A moment later I leaned against a fallen tree covered in snow.
She rotated her wrist and made a couple of additional movements, slower this time, as if correcting something. The snow crunched softly beneath her boots with each shift in position.
"How much are you practicing?" I asked "We're almost leaving."
"Precisely because of that," she rolled her eyes.
She finally stopped and drove the tip of the sword into the snow.
"If I return without having improved at all in twenty days, it would have been a waste of time, the old man would scold me, you should too." She clarified at the end in an accusatory tone.
I raised my hands jokingly "Hey, hey, I practiced almost every day in my free time, it's not like I had much to do here. Besides…", I lowered my arms, "I was looking for solutions to my other problem…".
Claire nodded and lowered her gaze; we both shared a similar problem.
"Anyway, before you find something new to perfect, we'd better go down. If Serin sent me to get you, it means he wants to say something now, not in ten minutes."
Claire sheathed her sword and began walking toward the edge, "Alright, let's go."
We went down more carefully than I had climbed up. Claire descended first, placing each step firmly. I followed, trying not to slip on the slope.
When we reached the bottom, the camp was quieter than usual. The axes and orders were no longer heard; only scattered voices and the creaking of carts being arranged.
Claire looked around, "This doesn't seem urgent," she murmured.
We found him near the main carts, reviewing some lists beside two men in armor whom I assumed were from the army. When he saw us approach, he nodded slightly.
"Good. You're both here."
Claire crossed her arms, "What happened?"
Serin rolled up the parchment he had in his hand.
"We're done here. At dawn tomorrow we return, although we'll leave a small settlement that will be under the direct orders of the capital."
There was a brief silence.
"The last caravans left this morning, tonight rest. I want everything ready before the sun rises."
Claire nodded without asking questions.
"Anything else?" I asked.
"No. That's all. You can go, kids." He smiled slightly and turned to continue talking with the soldiers.
When we had walked a bit away she spoke again, "Tsk. Couldn't he just have told you and had you tell me up there?"
I turned my head to look at her and raised an eyebrow, "Do you think I'm your carrier pigeon or what?"
She looked at me sideways, but before she could respond I spoke, "There was apparently a meeting with all the guards a while ago, but… I fell asleep and didn't attend, so he must have sent me to get you to tell us both."
"Sleeping? Look at the time, it's already past noon," she replied, scolding me.
"Are you my mother or what, it was cold and I wasn't on guard today, what's the problem?" I crossed my arms and looked away.
A moment later Claire let out a small giggle, which infected me and I ended up laughing too.
Walking between the tents as the camp gradually lost the bustle of the afternoon. Some already had their things packed; others dismantled stakes and rolled up canvas with mechanical movements. The smell of smoke floated in the air, mixed with the cold.
"At least tomorrow we won't have to hear axes at dawn," I commented.
"You'll trade it for the rattling of carts for hours," Claire replied.
"True…", my expression fell.
We continued to our sector where our tents were. I bent down to enter and began checking my few belongings. I didn't have much to organize: the cloak, the equipment, the sword, a couple of other things. Twenty days could seem long, but not enough to completely undo the sense of impermanence.
When I stepped out again, I ran into Rowan, who looked at me and then asked, "Where were you?"
"He went to look for the young lady who likes to practice on top of cliffs," I looked in Claire's direction.
She responded with a grimace, "It's quieter up there," then after sitting beside the campfire she took the flint and began starting the fire, "Are you happy to be going back?"
I thought for a second and answered sarcastically, "Yes, of course, especially the strict schedules and being yelled at for falling asleep."
Rowan let out a laugh, "That last one won't change, the old man is stricter than Serin, there's a reason he's his teacher."
I lay back on one of the logs and looked at the sky while thinking, I hope the trip back is peaceful. Outside, the last cart finished being arranged and the sound of the camp faded to distant murmurs and the wind brushing against the canvas of my tent.
It was our last night there.
And, for the first time in several days, there was nothing left to do.