With no further words I steered Phalon away from the King's group and headed northward to Smirnaz to oversee that very commitment as the caravan headed for Toll.
It was early in the morning of the second day of my ride north that I saw the banners of a people on the march. The people of Smirnaz were leaving their ancestral lands. From the size of the caravan of people it looked as if everyone was coming.
I rode toward the column of refugees, closely watched over by elements of the army. Cheers broke out from soldier and commoner alike as I drew close enough to be recognized.
I rode through the ranks of civilians and soldiers to the tune of shouted praise. I was a hero to these people. The rest of the world was in dark times, but for Smirnaz, times of late had been the best it had ever experienced as a nation.
They were willingly forsaking all that now, because of how much they trusted me to not lead them astray. The pressure to not let them down was enormous, but one I accepted.
The morning sky was stained with smoke and distant fire. I rode on, concern mounting within me. It took a while to get past the seemingly endless droves of people, yet I saw more approaching across the smoke-filled plain in the distance. Were they enemy or friend?
I rode onward, assuming the latter, and was rewarded with the appearance of Thanuel and others of my trusted friends. Thanuel and I embraced briefly.
I gestured to the burning horizon, "Surely the enemy has not advanced so quickly?"
"No, but they're not far. I didn't feel that you would want to leave them with anything so I burnt the entire kingdom. I'm sorry, but it would appear that you are King over very little now."
"You thought right Thanuel and I am yet King over much! Leave the Smirnaz army to guard the civilians. I want you to take my men and provide support for the caravan I brought from the West. They should have just entered Toll to the south. Both caravans will meet up in the Wastelands as we journey to the Forests of Darkor."
Thanuel saluted and headed off with the others at his back, while I made my way to the front of the people of my nation. They'd put their trust in me and forsaken all, now I would do the same and not ride off to my own family further south.
*****
The sands blew about as the wind howled. I walked among the dunes at night, all the while keeping a close eye for Evanik dogs.