The coordinates alone were often insufficient, and it was best to open passages only to places one had already been to, otherwise one could end up underground or high in the air. Fortunately, the spell contained restrictions ensuring that the passage could not be activated if it was not possible to exit safely on the other side.
Bleist did not need to look around. From the inner gate, he could see the unit waiting for them. Another surprise today – larger than in the orders Rex had given him. Ten Guardsmen with equipment similar to that of the corporal were waiting near the gate leading to Alexandria, three of them on besses, very likely from Bleist's breeding stock, five on Karsun does – beautiful deer-like beasts with grey-silver coats and graphite antlers and hooves. Their appearance was very deceptive; despite their resemblance to deer, they were carnivorous, and their flattened horns were as sharp as swords. The remaining two rode bikorns - dark-coloured monsters resembling Shire horses, but much stronger and faster than them. A characteristic feature of these mounts were their blood-red eyes and two horns growing from their foreheads in such a way that when the bikorn charged, they were parallel to the ground. Like the Karsun does, the bikorns had a taste for bloody meals, preferably those they had caught and torn apart themselves.
In addition, six heavily armoured men in the colours of the Ruby Guard were waiting near the portal. They were all equipped with runic plate armour, shields, spears, broadswords and pistols. All six rode tarian, beasts resembling bulls with heads covered in thick, natural armour, menacing horns and strong beaks capable of easily crushing a helmeted skull. An interesting feature of these creatures were their eight-toed paws, which provided them with good stability in difficult terrain. They were clearly waiting with the unit that Darius had been given command of.
Bleist and Rex headed towards the Guards. Earl did not even have time to speak, as one of the heavily armed men rode up to him and saluted.
‘Colonel, in accordance with the
