The increasing rumbles hailed to them through the forest from the immediate west.
“Come on then!” Derek pressed the others adamantly. “Erika’s right. We need to find out. I don’t like surprises to begin with, and I like to at least know what I’m facing, especially if some potential trouble is afoot.”
Logan nodded in agreement, before declaring, “I’ll come with you, Derek.”
Mershad and Erika then volunteered in turn, right before Antonio spoke up.
“Shouldn’t a couple of us stay back at the camp?” Antonio inquired, looking nervous. “And I’m not the fastest runner, if you guys need to get back here in a hurry.”
“And neither am I,” Kent then added, with a veneer of clear diffidence.
Logan glanced over at Derek, who was looking more impatient by the second. Logan understood where Kent’s trepidation came from. From talking to Derek, he knew that Kent had already been through quite an ordeal when he had become stranded alone for a brief time in the new world.
“Maybe a few of us should stay here, to keep an eye on our camp,” Logan suggested. He then eyed Janus and Kent. “Maybe you two should say here with Antonio. Leave at least three together.”
“Fine with me,” Kent responded, looking a little relieved at not being compelled to court potential danger right away.
Janus looked a little reluctant to stay behind, a slight frown returning to his face, but finally nodded after a long pause.
“Then we’re decided,” Derek said bluntly. He clapped his hands together sharply, the noise cracking the air loudly in the tense atmosphere. “Come on, let’s get going! Let’s get near to the treeline, and we’ll see what comes next.”
Breaking into a run, Derek took the lead and bolted off for the edge of the forest to the west. Needing no further inspiration, Logan, Erika, and Mershad followed immediately after him, running hard a few steps behind.
Derek outran all three of the others, covering the distance to the forest’s edge rather quickly. He slowed down only when the trees had started to noticeably thin. Finally coming to a complete stop, he then crept forward silently and carefully from a crouched position towards the outermost edge of the trees.
Erika was the next to arrive in the vicinity, followed by Logan, and then Mershad. They each slowed as they neared Derek, stalking up towards him and silently taking a cue from his manifest caution. They each emulated his form as best as they could, Logan and Erika having more success in the endeavor than Mershad, whose efforts at stealthier movement appeared a little awkward.
Derek glanced back occasionally to note their progress, saying nothing, and evidently satisfied at the wary approach that the others were taking. Even so, there was something in Derek’s gaze that caught Logan’s attention, though the man’s face continued to remain impassive as they crept up to his position.
The reason for the strange look within Derek’s eyes became abundantly clear just a few moments later.
Through a break in the trees, Logan beheld the grassy plain beyond. His eyes widened in reflex at the incredible sight that abruptly swamped his eyes. His breath was also snatched away by the unexpected, overwhelming vision erupting boldly before the four shocked observers.
The massive scene spread out upon the plains was simply staggering in scope, difficult to absorb as it bombarded the senses, and almost impossible to believe. Where the open grassland swept out towards the far horizons, there was a gargantuan, moving presence.
Without question, it was the source of the sonorous rumbles, as well as the substantial tremors that continued to course through the ground.
Sprawling out right before their eyes was the passage of a vast army on the march, many thousands in number. Even more astounding, it appeared to be an army from an age that Logan would have thought to be long lost within the mists of time.
It was as if the pages of medieval history had vibrantly come to life within this astounding new world. At his side, Mershad gasped in undeniable awe, as a wave of lightheadedness flowed through Logan. He struggled to make some sense out of what he was seeing, his mind and heart racing. Not a single word was shared among the four observers.
Logan and the others gradually recovered from their momentary trance brought on by the enormous spectacle. Derek was the first to come back to full focus, lowering himself slowly to the ground and beckoning for the others to do likewise.
Once they were all prostrate, they crawled forward on their bellies with Derek until they were close behind the trunks of the trees nearest to the edge of the grassy, windswept expanse. Logan’s form grew rigidly still after he halted, a combination of wonder and fear fixing him firmly in place.
Even if he had the eyes of a hawk, Logan would still have been overwhelmed at the variety of sights, not to mention the sheer size of the column of warriors that meandered far beyond the limits of his vision to the south. He was already resigned to settling in for an extended duration. With the column’s size and rate of march, Logan estimated that it would take a very long time for the entire army to pass by their position. The immensity of the scene wholly enveloped his attention, and he did not so much as cast a glance towards his companions.
Stretching far off to the left, well past the edge of his range of vision, was a continuous stream of warriors. Some mounted, and many others on foot, all were arrayed in an organized, column formation. The fresh daylight glinted in abundance, reflecting off steel all the way down the incredible length of the column.
The bristling expanse of spears in view resembled a new, deadlier version of the rolling grasslands that the army was passing through. Unlike the abundant, swaying grasses all around the column, the tract of upright blades of iron grass was not swayed in the least by the billowing winds.
Leading the extensive column was a vanguard of mounted warriors, iron helms shining brightly underneath a host of fluttering banners and pennons.
The forms of their horses exuded strength, the equines all displaying a sleek, well-cared for appearance as they traveled forward at an easy gait. Many of the horses were garbed in white caparisons, which appeared to have a quilted or padded design to them.
The riders in the vanguard were all clad in what looked to be black woolen habits, fitted with hoods that were currently pulled back. Upon the left breasts of the riders’ habits, on their red banners and pennons, and rendered upon the black facings of the long triangular or almond-shaped shields, slung over their backs via guige straps, was the image of a white, upright spear.
Carrying long lances, the warriors all had swords sheathed in the scabbards at their waists.
Logan watched the vanguard contingent trot by with rapt interest. It was still difficult for him to fully accept that he was really witnessing such a remarkable sight, even as the ground steadily vibrated beneath his body.
The black-garbed mounted force was followed soon after by a great number of marching foot soldiers. The masses of infantry provided a living screen of protection for the extensive baggage train in their midst.
Four-wheeled wagons and two-wheeled carts rumbled forward slowly, some pulled by horses and others by teams of plodding oxen. Wagon drivers used shouts and long switches to spur the brawny creatures forward. Packhorses laden down with all manner of hide pouches, water skins, and other materials trundled along among the wheeled elements of the baggage train.
Many of the marching figures in the looser throng surrounding the carts and wagons carried spears, while others held crossbows or bows. Several were bearing a very unique type of long-hafted axe, guisarmes with lengthy, curved blades.
Two distinct lines of marching figures strode in disciplined order along the forest-side of the baggage train. The men of the inner line were all bearing crossbows, the belt hooks used for loading them jangling downward from their waists.