Messenger (466AV)

Trygvar watched across the empty stone courtyard, awaiting Vigdis’ arrival. She had been gone for several hours now and he was getting worried. A cold wind blew across the motionless stone and he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders. A flitting movement across the courtyard caused him to pull back behind the collapsed wall that concealed him. He watched for another minute before a shadow detached itself from the far doorway. Clutching his hand axe close to himself, he prepared to strike. His tension disappeared as he recognised Vigdis’ gait moving cautiously towards his position. He stepped out towards her, making the agreed whistle. Not even a second had passed from the last whistle note when he heard a different sound, a much more deadly sound. The arrow struck Vigdis in her lower back, causing her to stumble forwards. Trygvar was able to muffle her cry as he caught her, pulling her behind his wall. Her eyes were wide and blood ran from the corner of her mouth as she clutched at him. She pressed a bloodied piece of paper into his hand. Tears ran down from her eyes as she told him to go. They both knew she couldn’t make it now, there was miles of treacherous snow blanketed ground to cover. He pressed his lips to her eyes and bid her farewell, they would meet one day in the crucible. Gathering his courage before it left him, he sprang towards the exit door and off into the night. Behind him he heard the cries of the Escari as the building came to life. It was too late, he was off into the night.
The next morning Trygvar stumbled into the Resistance encampment just South of Valkyrie Point. With tear filled eyes and shaking hands he handed the piece of paper to Berit, the head of the cell. Slowly she pried the blood soaked piece of paper open and read the one word written there.

Vandria