Episode 6: Blood On The Saddle

Calder Didn't Sleep That Night The Fires Had Burned Low But The Smoke Still Lingering Curling Around The Ridge Like A Restless Spirit His Coat Was Stiff With Dried Blood And His Leg Throbbed With Every Heartbeat But He Didn't Sit He Didn't Lie Down He Just Watched The Horizon Waiting For Morning Or For Death Whichever Came First

Rhea Sat Nearby Her Rifle Resting Across Her Knees She Hadn't Spoken In Hours Only Glanced At Him Occasionally She Looked Older Than She Had Yesterday They All Did

Below Them Hollow Ridge Was Nothing But Shadows And Ash The Town They'd Fought To Defend Had Been Gutted Buildings Blackened Streets Littered With Broken Lives And Still Calder Stood Guard

We Bought Time Rhea Finally Said

Not Enough Calder Replied

The Sound Of Hooves Broke The Silence One Of The Riders From The Previous Night Returned Leading A Wounded Horse We Scattered Most Of Vane's Crew The Man Said But A Few Got Away Headed North Fast

Calder Nodded Then They'll Bring Back More

We Can't Hold This Place Again Rhea Said Quietly Not With What We've Got Left

I Know He Looked Out Over The Ridge Past The Ruins Of His Home But We're Not Done Yet

That Afternoon Calder Called A Meeting The Survivors Gathered Maybe Twenty In Total Men And Women Scraped Raw By Battle And Loss Holt Stood With His Son Face Smudged With Soot But Eyes Still Burning

We Need To Move Calder Told Them They'll Be Back And Next Time They'll Burn The Whole Valley

Where Do We Go Someone Asked

To The Iron Canyon Calder Said We Draw Them Out Make Them Fight Us On Our Terms

It's Suicide Holt Muttered

It's War Calder Replied And If We're Lucky We'll Make Them Bleed For Every Inch They Take

No One Argued

By Nightfall They Were Packed Saddles Tight Weapons Checked One By One They Rode Away From The Ruins Of Hollow Ridge Not Looking Back The Trail Ahead Was Bloody And Long But They Rode It Anyway

Because Some Fights Were Worth Riding Into The Fire For

The Wind Howled Across The Canyon Walls As Calder Led The Riders Toward The Iron Pass The Sky Was Bruised With Dusk Clouds Thick Like Smoke Dragging Shadows Over The Ravaged Land No One Spoke Much The Weight Of What Lay Behind And What Waited Ahead Sat Heavy On Their Backs

Holt Rode Beside Him Eyes Narrowed At The Horizon His Son Curled Against His Side Half Asleep In The Saddle You Really Think This Will Work He Asked

No Calder Said But It's All We've Got

The Iron Canyon Was A Place Of Old Bones Carved By Wind And Time A Natural Fortress With Narrow Chokepoints And Endless Echoes The Kind Of Place Where A Dozen Could Stand Against A Hundred If They Had Grit And Fire

Rhea Scouted Ahead Rifle Slung Low Hair Tangled With Ash She Returned Just Before Nightfall Quiet But Alert

Tracks She Said Three Riders Maybe Scouts Vane's Men Most Likely

Then We Move Faster Calder Replied

They Rode Through The Night The Moon A Dull Sliver Above Them Coyotes Howled In The Distance The Smell Of Burnt Wood Still Clung To Their Clothes And Blood Still Laced Their Saddles But Their Eyes Held Something Fiercer Than Fear

By Morning They Reached The Mouth Of The Canyon Red Rock Towering On Either Side Like The Gates Of A Fallen Kingdom Calder Dismounted Tied His Horse And Turned To The Others

This Is Where We Make Our Stand He Said

The Group Began Unpacking What Little They Had Building Makeshift Barricades Setting Traps Digging Into The Earth Like Wolves Preparing A Den For The Storm

Holt Found An Old Outcrop Overlooking The Main Trail He Positioned His Rifle Set His Son Behind Him And Waited

Rhea Watched The Sky Eyes Distant We'll Hear Them Before We See Them She Said The Dust Will Come First Always Does

And It Did

By Midday The Ground Began To Tremble Hooves Pounding Like Drums In The Distance Then The First Plumes Of Dust Appeared On The Horizon Rising Like Smoke From Hell

Calder Drew His Blade The Metal Still Stained With The Ash Of His Home He Took His Place At The Front His Back To The Rock Face His Eyes On The Rising Storm

Let Them Come He Whispered Let Them Try

The Dust Rolled Closer Voices Echoed Through The Canyon Metal Clashing Leather Creaking And Beneath It All The Low Growl Of Vane's War Cry

And Then The Battle Began