The breath of the chocobos and their riders steamed in the cold morning air. Rising up it vanished into the gray sky above, which cast down a gloomy light upon the outskirts of Kefkaburg. It was a quiet morning save the crunching of the morning frost beneath the feet of the birdlike mounts as the patrol moved purposefully towards the North Gate of the city. Atop the walls of the city, magenta armored sentries stood next to their equally magenta banners which sat just as still as their sentient counterparts in the windless skies. No movement came from above, no demands to turn back. The Vectorians wanted the patrol to be there it seemed. Wanted the riders precisely where they were. A single gesture from the foremost rider brought the patrol to a halt just within range of arrow fire, yet still the magenta figures looked down impassively from above. The lead rider, clad in heavy armor of bright red and blue, swung down from the saddle both hitting the ground heavily and eliciting a quiet 'wark' of relief from the chocobo. As he looked up to the gate a small gasp escaped him, echoing through his helm far louder than he had intended.
It was exactly what it had appeared to be according to scout reports, but worse. A man woman, three children, even what had probably been the family pet had been strung up by their necks and left for the crows Espers by the look of them, a Vectorian favorite. Removing his helm in reverence the patrol leader, a youthful looking elf with a copper mane of hair, motioned for the other riders to approach.
'Soran, Julie. Stay behind and keep the crows off of them. Bradin, Tohl. You will accompany me into the plains to look for something to build a ladder with. We're not going to leave them up there. Nils, I want you to ride back to the Blockade as though the Dragon Queen herself were on your heels. Tell them what we've seen.'
The elf stared above the bodies to where the Vectorian sentries still stood as magenta rocks sprouting from the top of the walls.
'yabraguoph'
His eyes suddenly jumped into focus as though someone had placed an invisible telescope to his eyes. Blinking he looked up again, both anger and dread filling his very soul at what he saw.
They were smiling.
