Part Twenty-seven
They came to the site Fei had earlier scouted and found larch trees and some low shrubs at the bottom of a cliff that was but a step in the rise from river valleys to mist-shrouded mountaintops. A minor stream that brought melt and rainwater down from the mountains fell over the cliff in a cold fall of water that kept the surrounding flora well watered. The stream below the cliff was too shallow and cool for bathing, but the flow was sufficient that horses could drink and water could be collected in skins and pots for warming.
Horses were unloaded and tethered together and let to roam over the heather, and the next matter of business became warming water. Dead wood and small kindling was gathered, a fire was started and water was gathered. As the containers were sitting over or near the fire, a few traps were strung from trees to make some privacy for their large party, while bathing. There was one area for the three females, another for most of the males, and a third, closest to the stream, for Dale and Duma.
Everyone kept their weapons near while washing. Water was shared out and various soaps and grooming implements were taken from packs. In general, the party went about their washing quickly and warily, knowing they might not have a long reprieve before the Orcs were following again and they should use their time well. Washing was no necessary for survival, but where Dale and Duma were concerned, perhaps it was necessary for sanity, and so the others washed as well, so that they would all start again on some equal footing.
Dale had trouble getting Duma to undress and wash. It was soon clear that the half-Orc was not going to wash on his own, so, Dale, never having cared for a child or sick person that could not wash themselves, was forced to make an inexperienced attempt with Duma. He did not intend to hurt him, but Duma proved quite strong and Dale knew they would both end up bruised from struggling over filthy garments and pots of water.
The others, even the females, who were farther away, could hear the sloshing and struggling. They could hear Dale's threats, and then the slap of flesh when he struck Duma. "Bite me again and I slap you again!" Dale growled.
The other males were separated from Dale only by a tarp and the all felt some concern or pity for him. They also knew Dale would probably be more upset if they appeared to offer help. Most did not want to see Duma unclothed, but they would have gone to help Dale if they thought Dale would appreciate the help.
"He is mortal, isn't he?" Gwindor whispered to Beryl as they each washed their hair. "Duma could not be...like an Elf?"
"Mortal," Beryl whispered back. He thought Dale could have heard them normally, but the splashing drown out their whispers. "Even if Dale had made him in love, I am not certain such a young Elf would have been capable of the spiritual works involved. Dale is barely old enough to explore and share, and probably not old enough for marriage and...he must have been much younger then. How old could Duma be?"
Gwindor and Tsuki both knew of much of Dale's past and guessed Duma must be around nine years old, if Dale had made him with other Orcs and had not known Duma had been spawned. Gwindor was slightly surprised that Tsuki had heard Beryl's whispered question.
Beryl smiled at Tsuki, keeping his gaze politely level with Tsuki's eyes. "Twenty-five is much too young for an Elf to have a child. Dale should be too young now." Beryl did not mean Dale's body had matured at an exceptional rate, but that parenthood was a burden and responsibility he would not wish on so young an Elf.
"Do Elves marry at an advanced age?" Fei asked, turning to glance over his shoulder. He chose to wash with his back turned to the others. Fei then explained that in his homeland, children were promised to marriage by their parents very young in some circumstances and sometimes the ceremonies were conducted while the couple were still children. In some cases women gave birth in their teen ages.
"Among Men of various regions I have traveled, it is acceptable for a bride to be young," Tsuki said. "We do not wish to burden the women, but we are not immortal, and it seems that there are some complications in bearing children as women grow older, so it is thought wise for a women to bear her children at a young age. Young brides are not alone, but often have mothers, aunts and grandmothers still living to help them."
"Elves are immortal and it would be rare for an elf of either gender to take a spouse before they had 150 years, though they might be capable of having children before that time. Once they reach this suitable age, many Elves do settle with a spouse soon, though marriage between two older Elves is not rare. It is customary to have several children soon after marriage and then to have no more. Though Elves may be able, the drive to have children greatly decreases after that initial period in which children are conceived. Truthfully, it takes a lot out of one to create immortal children."
The others believed Beryl spoke from experience. "I should think that the world would be overrun with Elves if they were immortal and eternally interested in breeding," Kato laughed.
"Our ways are quite highly evolved," Beryl said.
Gwindor said, "My father's children are spread over 500 years."
"Not exceptionally long for Elves, I doubt an average Elf could conceive more than that in a millennium and that after the three an Elf would be any longer driven to conceive children. Sometimes if there is a war, you will even see quite old Elves conceiving new children, but that is one of our excellent defense mechanisms, that in times of danger we seek new life. My immortal children were always few and their days of conception separated by millennia."
"Can we do anything for Dale?" Kato asked.
"I would, but I do not know that I am able," Tsuki admitted. His hands clenched around his soap and cloth as he spoke, for he did not like that admission.
"I do not know what so say," said Gwindor, "He is father to a nine-year-old...whatever Duma may be..."
"Yrchelen," Beryl whispered.
"Ah...I imagine nine years is many for an Orc, but exceptionally young for an Elf," Kato said.
"How shall we know how to treat him?" Gwindor asked, "Do you suppose he is very bright?"
"I suggest wariness," Tsuki said, then reached out and lifted Kato's chin to make him look to higher parts of the others' bodies. "Nine years is a long time for an Orc to gain knowledge and skill, and he has survived in their society all this time. An Elf at nine may be small and found beside a parent, but they are quite bright. In either case, Duma will not be found unintelligent."
Kato laughed.
Beryl ignored the exchange between Tsuki and Kato, though he had seen it. "Like a young bride among the race of Men, Dale needs the support of family. We are all fond of him, but as my house is closest to the Vale Elves by blood and I am the only one here who has children, I will offer Dale assistance. For now, this first struggle must be Dale's. Duma must know that Dale is to be trusted and respected, even if he chooses to learn this the hard way."
Elsewhere, the females were having their own whispered conversation as they washed. They did not avoid looking at each other, they just seemed as if they were appraising each other with a mind to value themselves rather than seek gratification for any physical urge. Laurel and Lenaduiniel were then in the process of telling Galadhiel she should take the special infusion of herbs, which they both took to control their cycle and prevent conception. Galadhiel insisted that this was a very unnatural thing and that there was no reason for it, especially for an Elf, and that it was insulting to suggest a female Elf would have need of such things, as they did not give themselves to males unless they were devoted and espoused.
"It is not only the ones you would give yourselves to that you have to worry about," Laurel said, with a rather unsettling grin.
Lenaduiniel lifted a cup of water to rinse her hair and shared a conspiratorial smile and nod with Laurel. Lenaduiniel was 600 years old and, though not ancient for an Elf, had observed and learned much of Men and their women. She knew already that Laurel and Fei shared in very intimate physical union and were unmarried, and personally approved of Laurel's actions. Women did not live long, and they should be able to choose their mates and lovers. So often those who were noble had their marriages arranged.
Elves did not so often arrange marriage for political reasons, but Leanduiniel thought one day her father was going to come upon the idea that a wedding was a very good excuse for celebration and pressure Lenaduiniel to choose a husband.
"In times of war or on long journeys through foreign kingdoms it is a most wise precaution," Lenaduiniel told Galadhiel, "You do not know in such times what creatures may violate you and allow you to live...or what may be following your scent. I kept it from my brother, but you were easy to track in coming down that trade road, because you did not always have time to go to water when dressing or relieving yourself. Burial of used rags only helps if you have the time to bury them deeply. And being on the run constantly...well...you must have been a beacon to the Orcs and I can only assume my brother is the most foolish male in the world to not have known you for female."
Laurel frowned, thinking Lenaduiniel's statement a little harsh.
"She blames me for Gib's death."
"No," Lenaduiniel sighed, "It is true most female Elves would prefer the most natural way, and though my brother was a fool, Gib knew you for female. Even knowing they might be able to track you, just by scenting the air, he would not have left you. It did not matter that you had a mission. He was the champion of our kind. Female or not, you did have a mission, so it is not your fault you were there. It is simply tragic."
"Yes...I suppose these potions are useful, but they could not stop the cycle completely or prevent what Orcs can do."
"Actually, with this potion, you do not pass blood until you stop taking it, so it is useful on long journeys. Of course, nature is to be respected, and you should not take it for more than a few months, without allowing time in between. And as for what Orcs might do, there are potions and tools for that as well."
"Not that I plan on letting any male I do not desire get so close that I would need those things," Lenaduiniel said.
"You should drink the infusion in the morning," Laurel said to Galadhiel, "And Lena's idea about the garters seems wise."
"Orcs could track us simply by the scent of flowers in our hair. They are disgusting creatures, but possessed of very keen senses," Galadhiel said.
"They will find Beryl and Gwindor first," Lenaduiniel said laughing, "My hair-wash contains only the ingredients necessary for cleaning. For scent I add materials from the area I travel through."
"I had not thought of that," Galadhiel admitted.
"Sylvan Elves know of it."
Laurel grinned. "It is a shame the Rangers only take males."
"There is a female Ranger right here," Lenaduiniel said, "Though, I do not see why she still binds her breasts."
"Why do you disguise yourself?" Leaurel asked.
"I did not wish to stay at home and sew a banner."
Lenaduiniel laughed. "I do not mind such things as baking and sewing, but I can do that well enough while keeping a watch on silly young male elves and Men."
"Beryl is most sensible among them," Galadhiel said.
"Androgynous in his old age," Lenaduiniel decided.
"Galadh, you answered why you began to disguise yourself, but now why you do now, when we all know."
"Gwindor looks at me most strangely."
Lenaduiniel and Laurel both laughed. Lenaduiniel leaned closer to Galadhiel and whispered, "He asked you to share when he thought you male, did he not?"
Galadhiel confessed with a nod.
Laurel smiled, understanding well enough that Lenaduiniel's brother was at the very least intrigued by their cross-dressing companion.
Near the stream, as others were finishing with their washing and getting dressed, Dale was still wrestling with Duma. "If you do not stay still, I can rinse you with truly cold water!" Dale shouted.
Duma, silent, but naked and soapy, wriggled away and then crawled across the mud his bath had made.
"No! You are getting all dirty again! Oh, that's it!" Dale was determined not to allow this behavior and grabbed Duma by his wet hair and pulled him toward the waterfall. Duma scratched at his arm, but Dale ignored the pain and continued on his way. He pushed Duma into the cold water falling off the mountain.
Duma screamed. It was not a pleasant sound, but it did sound like something Elven, even if it was only the sound an Elf would make in extreme torture.
The screams brought Beryl to the waterfall, dressed now, with half combed hair. He came upon Dale half dressed and laughing, while Duma stood shivering in the stream. To Beryl, Duma seemed nearly like an Elf when undressed, except for some scars on the left side of his chest and back and the adjacent shoulder and arm, some Orcish metal jewelry piercing his body, and his ears. They stood our from the head, rather than lay neatly against it as Elf ears; Duma's ears were pointed at the tip and the skin that fell loosely from the underside was decorated with metal rings that drew further attention to his ears.
Beryl was not certain Duma was full-grown. He was as tall as Dale and seemed to have at least reached puberty, but he was very thin and grievously lacking in muscle tone by Orc standards. "Let us get him warm and into some clothing," Beryl suggested calmly.
Dale stopped laughing and wiped his eyes. "He can make sounds when he wants to."
Beryl ignored the comment. "Did you choose clothing for him?"
Dale walked back to the place Duma had been washing and pointed to a bundle made of a blanket. "I told him he could use all these things, and have his own back if I found none dangerous or offensive."
"Duma, come here. I will show you how to wear these things. Then you will dress yourself in fresh clothing and wash your soiled garments just as the rest of us do."
Duma hissed, "Green-cloak."
Dale lifted his head. He had never heard Duma speak.
Beryl was a little surprised, but he expressed no emotion.
"It must be their name for you," Dale said as he watched Duma.
"Yes. I have even ventured into the mines now and then…" Beryl looked to his side where his sword hung at its usual place on the right side of his belt. He lifted it with his right hand, which was not the hand he usually drew with and exposed a section of the blade. It did not glow.
"But that one is enchanted," Dale breathed.
Beryl gave a nod and drew the sword in his left hand. He took the blade in his right and offered the sword to Duma with both hands. "Do you want to try it?"
Duma looked skeptically at the Elven sword. He cocked his head as if this would help him see. They had stepped away from the fire and Duma could see by the silver light of night the two Elves, the duller metal of the blade, the inlaid letters that glimmered at night, and green jewels and tape on the hilt of the sword. Green-cloak's sword did not glow. That meant, Duma was not an Orc.
Duma grabbed the sword by the hilt. The blade angled down as Beryl released it. The sword was heavier that Duma had expected. He crouched beside the stream with the sword across his knees and traced the inlaid lettering with his fingers. Duma did not know this script, but the metal that glowed in moonlight interested him.
"He seems more interested in the jewels than the sword," Dale said.
Beryl smiled.
"I was not even trying to make a lewd joke that time."
"I will let you hold the sword while I help you dress and groom, Duma, but you must do as I say or I will take it away and dress you by force."
"Yes, go with Beryl to dress and take your medicine."
Duma seemed to pout, but rose and walked toward Beryl, the sword cradled in his arms.
The others had all dressed and were sitting near the fire, combing and drying hair as pots of water began to boil for their meal, when Beryl brought Duma to them. He was wearing a pair of Dale's black leather pants, which seemed too wide for his body, a white shirt and a grey jacket. "Look at the leaves on that tree," Galadhiel said, but mostly the others noticed the sword, that Duma carried it and that it did not glow.
"Laurel, Duma is ready for his medicine," Beryl said. "Sit," he told Duma, "I will comb out your hair. In the future, you will keep it combed and neat."
"I can make him a comb, if he does not have one," Tsuki offered.
"Perhaps you and Kato could take Dale some water for his bath and look for suitable wood."
Gwindor and Kato were assigned as cooks and fire tenders for the meal and Kato took some of the pots of water from the fire, promising to return to help Gwindor when he was able. Kato and Tsuki had been traveling with Dale longest and that was why Beryl had suggested they go to Dale.
He was standing over the stream, naked, and scrubbing his skin vigorously. Tsuki and Kato could see him, but not so well as Dale could see them, as it was fully night by this time.
"I will help Dale. See if you can straighten up some of this."
Kato looked down at the muddied ground where various containers of hair-wash and empty pots and other grooming implements were strewn. Kato found Laurel's small lantern among the spilled items and set about finding his matches to light it.
"Warm water will wash better," Tsuki called out to Dale.
Dale hid himself as much as he could with arms and hair and walked from the stream. He could see Kato coming back from the other side of the tarp with a lantern. Kato only glanced up before going to tidy the mess Dale and Duma had made.
"I just want to sleep," Dale whispered to Tsuki. Kato still had not learned more than a few words of Elven.
"You may. Beryl is minding Duma. You get cleaned up and then you can go under a tree and sleep." Only one tree was very old and the others seemed its children and were more slender. The larches provided little cover in the branches, so Tsuki thought Dale would feel safe enough sleeping in the needles they shed. "You can be the one without a watch tonight."
"I don't…"
"No one here is a burden. We all do our part. We will even discover what skills Duma has."
"He has a lot of sharp tools."
Tsuki turned toward Kato and Dale stood at his back and watched Kato over Tsuki's shoulder. They were not certain if Kato was answering them or just announcing his observation, but the seeming coincidence made them wonder how much Elven Kato had learned.
"Dwarven tools?" Dale wondered as Kato held some up in the light.
"Some seem Dwarven jeweler tools with extended handles attached. Gib had tools like some of those."
"I think some of the others are for working with stone," Dale said. "Some Orcs are skilled at tunneling, though generally not as concerned with the tunnels looking attractive or skillfully made as Dwarves may be. Orcs know metals and stones when they find them. They use them for make weapons, or occasionally cauldrons for stewing and tanning and containing molten metal."
"There are a lot of rocks in his bag," Kato said.
Only then did Dale or Tsuki realize that other than cleaning Kato had taken it upon himself to search through Duma's belongings. It did not seem out of character.
"Maybe this is dried meat?"
"If it looks like Orc food, I will burn it with those old clothes," Dale said, "But if it seems a tool or useful item, leave it for him. Does he seem to have a weapon?"
"Is this a weapon?"
"Black volcanic glass!" Tsuki said, "very sharp. Makes good blades and scrying mirrors. I would like to have some of that."
"I found no other weapon on him," Dale said, "It seems more a tool. In any case, let him keep it. I will clean the tools…"
"Wash and rest," Tsuki said firmly, "we all need you to continue to do your part for the mission. If you strain or infect your wound and do not take food and rest when it is available, then you will become a burden. We can clean up here, and make sure Duma has no offensive dirty things."
"All right, but I should be the one to return the bag."
Dale agreed with a nod and took the water and toiletries that had been picked up to wash a short distance away.
Kato and Tsuki both looked over Duma's belongings then. They removed only a small quantity of Orc food and decided the small flask contained only some sort of distilled or brewed beverage and that Duma might keep it. They found a quantity of rings that seemed the sort citizens of Newhaven had given out on ring day, and some that seemed substantial and jeweled. They found some Dwarf-stamped coins as well.
"Do you think he was in the city?" Kato asked.
"Dale suspected that some Orcs were in the city, and I suppose it is possible, but Duma apparently was the slave of that Orc Chieftain and I do not think he came out of the mines before. I think only that one Marduk had been tracking Dale and survived the Battle of the Hill. The Rangers hunted down the chieftains there. The rings could have as easily been brought into the mines by other Orcs. And these other objects seem Dwarven, and could have been found in the mines, as Dwarves originally built them and fought battles with the Orcs over their possession."
Tsuki and Kato finished cleaning up and brought the two piles of things to be given to Duma and things to be burned closer to Dale. He was dressing then and promised to come behind them to have something to eat before he went to sleep.
Tsuki and Kato took down the tarps, washed their hands in the stream and then returned to the fire. Galadhiel was helping Gwindor in preparing a soup. Laurel and Lenaduiniel were also near the fire, discussing potions. Duma crouched quite close to the flames, with Beryl's sword across his legs, watching the others. Beryl had combed his hair, worked a beneficial oil into it and removed at least a hand's width from the ends with a pair of shears, because the hair was so matted and brittle.
Duma looked much changed. His hair was not so fine as Elf hair, but an attractive shade of brown, clean, fresh scented, and glinted with russet highlights where touched by firelight. He was dressed in combination of Elven and Mannish clothing. Though Dale had suffered bites on his fingers for it and used up all of Tsuki's tooth polish, he had even brought Duma's teeth from a crusty dark yellow to the shade and luminescence of pearls, and that was better than some Men had. Dale had even gone so far as to grind Duma's claws against a whetstone in attempt to remove the ragged edges. Yet, despite the cosmetic changes, there was no mistaking Duma's orchishness.
He was gaunt and fanged and his ears looked like those of no other creature. He had steel rings through his ears and one in a nostril and some device piercing his tongue that clacked against his teeth when he was amused or agitated.
They had seen Duma agitated, when Beryl had pulled too hard at his hair in combing it. Duma hissed and clacked, though he remained docile enough for Beryl to continue his work. Most of the others understood he had been an Orc most often on the receiving end of a whip.
As Tsuki and Kato returned Duma had just dared grasp Lenaduiniel's hand over the fire, apparently interested in the ring Gib had given her. In a second Lenaduiniel's dagger was pointed at Duma's throat. "I told you that I would defend myself with this," Lenaduiniel said firmly, "If you wish to see something, you must ask. It is not right to grab a lady's hand, for Elves or for Orcs. You must treat females at least as well as those of your own gender."
Duma released Lenaduiniel's hand and said something. Only Dale spoke any Goblin and he had not returned, so the others did not know that Duma recognized the metal.
Dale came to the circle about the fire soon afterward, carrying Duma's bag, which itself had been washed. "Was he good?" Dale asked.
"Mostly," Beryl reported.
"Return the sword now," Dale said, "and I will give you your bag." It was a little more full now, holding Duma's various tools and trinkets as well as a blanket, some spare underclothing and some supplies Dale had spared so that Duma might wash himself. Beryl added the abused comb and small bottle of oil, as Tsuki would undoubtedly give the one he was making to Dale.
Duma handed Beryl his sword and took the bag, but remained crouched near the fire. Dale thought that unusual, as Orcs knew how to use fire, but did not like its brightness, but then he thought Duma was not entirely an Orc.
Over supper, the party discussed strategy for the night. It was decided that putting out the fire and concealing themselves would not make them any more safe from the Orcs; it was unlikely locals would attack them and animals would be wary of the fire. They cleaned up the cooking gear and brought out bedrolls, to sleep near the fire. Again they would watch two at a time, and those who were on watch would make sure the fire stayed lit, but low.
If enemies did come, they would be together and have light to see by in the night and weapons around them. The packs were arranged only to cut the wind and not as a barrier against attack. They agreed that in the event of an attack, some would pack the horses while others attempted to hold a line and cover them, and they would try to flee, rather than defend this camp through the night. As a precaution, the horses were brought from grazing into the shelter of the trees and tethered to branches.
Most of the party, even including Duma, stayed near the fire to sleep. Kato showed Duma how to put a bed of grass or needles on the ground, fold his blanket double, remove his jacket and boots, and lay inside the blanket to sleep. Dale went away from the fire and made his bed beneath the oldest tree.
Tsuki and Laurel took the first watch. When deciding who should take various shifts, they often did not make assignments, but each found their own partner and volunteered for a shift. Occasionally there was a shift no one preferred, and then they would agree that the next time they rested another team would take their turn during that time, so that the same people were not always on a shift they did not choose.
Tsuki and Dale did like to keep the same watch, but on an occasion when one was excused Tsuki most often made Laurel his second choice of partner. Laurel also liked Tsuki to be her partner. Even though they were not a party of ten, Tsuki, Dale, Kato, Laurel and Fei still chose to work with each other before joining the others.
They were fond enough of the others. There were still times when Gwindor was very close with Tsuki or Dale. The two younger Rangers also trusted Lenaduiniel very much and enjoyed her company. Beryl had a way of making himself valuable to all. Though the four males in their original party did not yet trust Galadhiel greatly, Laurel was growing fond of her.
Kato and Fei would take the second shift, and then Gwindor and Galadhiel and lastly Beryl and Lenaduiniel. For now, Dale and Duma both were excused, but the party had discussed whether they should have three on some shifts in the future or reduce the hours on watch and give everyone a turn. They had decided to leave the matter until the next camp.
The first watch went well. Tsuki and Laurel did a protection spell, kept the fire burning low and listened and watched for signs of danger from outside the camp. When they woke Kato and Fei, Laurel told them that things had gone well and that it was possible Duma would want to get up in the night, because of the medicine he had taken and that they should not be alarmed if he did.
Tsuki took his blankets away from the fire and went to find Dale. He was not surprised that dale was awake, but glad that Dale was resting his body. "Who are you?" Dale asked.
"I think I shall be Tsuki the Ranger, your partner, who is interested in keeping us both alive and well."
"That is the only one I can bear to see tonight."
"Try to sleep. I promise I will watch a while longer and wake you if I feel tired."
"Keep your promise." Dale did his best not to worry about anything and just to sleep, but he could only sleep lightly.
Kato and Fei noticed nothing unusual on their watch and returned to sleep after they had woken Gwindor and Galadhiel. Gwindor and Galadhiel kept watch, also doing their duty to keep the fire burning low and remaining alert. They saw Duma get up from his bed and leave the circle of the fire's light, but they did not think this unusual and believed he needed to relieve himself.
Later, when Duma had not returned and they heard the horses neighing loudly, they became alarmed and drew their swords as they went to the horses; Galadhiel paused only to light one of the party's three lanterns from the fire. Dale was sleeping lightly, as was Tsuki and they also heard the cries of the horses and got up. Shortly after, Beryl followed.
By the lantern's light, they were all able to see the same thing. One
of the horses, the one Kato had ridden, was lying on the ground and Duma
was lapping blood from a wound he had made in its neck.