Border Patrol

The breeze was still cool and less than pleasant, even in this height of summer, for the two riders that rode steadily across the open fields back towards the House Vadirska in the distance. It was still high morning on those fields some miles north of the actual dark castle, so the winds were still cool indeed as they blew faintly across the very green fields. Despite the extreme north of Savarica, and the icy cold that surrounded it on all sides of northern wasteland, the land itself was strangely green and fertile in spite of the cool atmosphere. A combination of its large amount of water flowing in and around it, very low altitude compared to the mountains that loomed on all sides, and the tough flora that flourished throughout its landscape worked together to make it livable to men, and other races. Very livable, in fact. In the distance, both riders could see the glinting blue river far off to the north.
"A fair harvest is coming, it looks like." One of them spoke, from under his heavy hood of fur and leather as his breath gave off smoke in the cold. Both of them, like any smart human being, even in the height of summer wore heavy furred cloaks and thick tunics of leather. The land of Savarica was rather cool indeed in the summer...in the winter it was as icy as the white wilderness around it, in the mountains.
The other rider, who had thrown back his hood for a while to survey the farming field they rode past, glared and shivered. His light blonde hair blew into his face in the cool wind, and he reached up and pushed it back hurriedly. His sky-blue eyes seemed made of a light crystal, light and friendly. He was hardly the most handsome young soldier ever made by God's own Hand, despite the good-natured look of any other young recruit he had.
A strange symbol stood out on his forehead, however, though otherwise he was entirely normal and human to all appearances. An odd rune, a circle and ring with two swirling arcs reaching out on either side, was emblazoned onto his forehead as though with a hot iron, like a seal or sign. However, though it showed only a little under his unkempt hair, it soon disappeared entirely as he reached for his hood.
"Let's hope it will be." He said at length, shivering and pulling his hood back over his forehead and face again hurriedly. It was far too cold, even for their summers. Both of the young patrolmen were eager to return to the barracks of House Vadirska, and report to Huscarl Aaron. After which a warm, red fire and a meal would be awaiting them.
The other rider, whose young face was also mostly hidden in his heavy hood, rubbed his gloved hands together frantically as though somehow that might make them warm. "Ach, this wretched cold...in midsummer! Some curse from the mountains, I'll warrant..."
The other, golden haired rider chuckled at his companion. "Fearing warlock attacks, are we Jyonahal?"
The darker, more slender faced comrade snorted and pulled his cloak tighter. Both of them were merely bundles of fur and armor upon their heavy mounts. "Or worse!" He muttered, "I wouldn't be surprised if it was some workings of that blasted house Davardi Count's!"
This got a laugh from both of them. They turned a bend in the road, coming out onto a more used traveling highway, that would take them straight to the House Castle if they rode on it for a little longer. Already the golden haired youth thought he could see the dark spire of the Countess's own tower in the distance.
"Besides, I'm sure Aaron is eagerly awaiting our report." Jyonahal grinned under his hood, and both chuckled again.
"Oh I'm sure...sitting by a fire enjoying a nice hot meal while us, his patrolmen melt next to him, dripping on the floor..."
"'Jyonahal, Gaeljwen! Didn't I tell you to NOT drip in the Countess's court chambers?!'"

Both of the young carl squires, Gaeljwen and Jyonahal, quickly made their way back towards the House they served, and when its dark spires and walls rose up in the distance both sped up their pace.
House Vadirska, the seat of power for the ruling count family and now Countess India herself, sat on a high overlooking cliff that surveyed half her lands before her. Set on a higher cliff shelf where the forested slopes cleared and gave way to castle stone, it looked out over the flattened plains and farmer's fields for miles around in all directions, even the far Lake Norgista glittering in the distance where the larger towns sat on its backs. Fields and forests, hills and glades all dotted the landscape that the large stronghold of House Vadirska had sat on for ages.
The two riders rode up the road cut into the rough cliff face, still half covered in ice, and made their way up to the high cliff edge far above, weaving back and forth on the gray and silver rocks to the main gate above, set into the black stone of the threshold.

It was Gaeljwen who pulled back his hood and shouted up at the gate as they reached it, the black, stone doors standing strongly in their path into the massive keep.
"HAIL! PATROL GUARD!"
Since they had been long expected back, the gates swung open easily without further ado, the shouts and sounds of the chains pulling above in the gatehouse. The chill wind blew at their backs, forcing both to pull cloaks tighter, as they rode in onto the stone threshold.
Gaeljwen shivered as they reached the open courtyard, and the gates swung shut with a massive clang behind them. Buzzing with activity, pages and horsemen, guards and castle servants went on about their business in the courtyard, even more busy than usual since the marshaling would take place that day. The shouts of men and clanking of armor and weapons filled their ears, as both of them dismounted onto the stone landing before the inner castle's double doors.
Like any castle in Savarica, House Vadirska was most like a small city in itself than a fortress of war. Both soldiers and civilians were constantly coming, going and living within the dark stone walls, where Countess India alone ruled supreme.