if summer was a sound | Glowfic Constellation

The storm kills the shamans and centigors, and the summoned spirit-monsters fall apart not long after. The Ice Witch and her two Maidens take charge of everyone still cleaning up the first brayherd, and when the storm rolled over them (attenuated but still present) they started to fall apart. Archers picked off the few wargors trying to rally them, and most of the herd broke and fled.

The pulk was exhausted, and her ladyship the Ice Witch didn't push them to pursue. So they make an enormous camp to wait for the standing army. Graves are dug for the loyal sons (and occasional daughters) of Kislev - they'll be buried together on the outskirts of the holy site they died protecting, with some bones taken home to bury in their family graves. Pyres are made for the beasts, to purify them with Dazh's fire (started with lightning from the witch, who practices the Father's Lore of Storms and so can invite the purity of Tor as well).

And they drink and carouse - celebrating their survival, and toasting the memories of those who died. As one does.

from-the-land

Which Teo is doing himself - they only lost one from their eight, so more the celebration than the memorial. He will probably have to worry about awkward questions about his luck from his comrades, but not tonight.

Right?

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Pardon me, are you the rota from Kyrnoka?", asks a woman in white, who slipped in from the shadows a moment ago.

from-the-land

Oh, dear, there's going to be questions from someone else.

Fortunately, he doesn't drink much, for a Kislevite. He's practically sober.*

"That's us, my lady witch," he says, "I'm Teodor Kamarev, rota-master and son of the ataman."

(*terms and conditions apply, may not be valid south of the Talabec)

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Come speak with me at my fire, will you?"

from-the-land

"As my lady commands," he says, and scans her coat for signs of rank, seeing that she does indeed have one. Boyarin, probably, and she's a full Ice Witch rather than an Ice Maiden if he remembers right.

"How soon?"

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Now would be convenient."

from-the-land

He is in trouble. "Then give me a moment to trade my kvas for my heavier coat."

of-the-ice-and-snow

She nods, and doesn't speak again until they're walking. She doesn't act like she's shepherding someone to their probable execution, but Ice Witches are said to be very unemotional, maybe she wouldn't.

As they approach a smaller fire with three tents around it, putting off less heat than most, she asks, "Have you met a witch before?"

from-the-land

"Not an Ice Witch, my lady. Hags, yes, three counting the one with the pulk this week."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Oh? The one nearest your village, I assume, and who is the third?"

from-the-land

"Baba Sonya from Kyrnoka, and... on her advice, Baba Ostankya."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Don't give me bullshit, Kamarev."

from-the-land

"On my honor, I met her and lived. It was perhaps foolish to make the trip, but I did."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"You seem to believe that," she says absently, "Why?"

from-the-land

"A... dangerous personal matter, now resolved."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Hmm," she says, and gestures for him to take a seat. The fire is cold, and only the two Storm Maidens are present.

"Enough of that. I spoke to some boyars, and they said that the rout on the left flank began when a unit of lancers suddenly broke and fled. And when I asked several rotas, they said that the rota was yours. That you ordered them to break and run."

from-the-land

"Yes, that happened. And yes, I did."

of-the-ice-and-snow