Part Thirty-four
Kato and Beryl were also returning to the house at the time Tsuki and Dale were. Dale asked if they had acquired all the things on their list. Kato said they had all the most necessary things and had even ventured out of the Vale into the settlement of Wizendale, as the Rangers did not have much to spare for trade.
When they came into the house, the ladies, Gwindor, Duma, and Fei were all in the front room, engaged in various pastimes. Duma was attempting to cut one of his rocks into geometrically advantageous pieces.
"Is there anyone here who has a reason they cannot leave the Vale right now?" Dale called out.
"Problem?" Gwindor asked, looking to the door behind them.
"Ladies? Any problem with traveling again right now?" Dale asked.
Laurel answered for them and said they were as fit to travel as any male.
"Then I vote we leave now," Dale said, "and if I am outvoted, I still mean to leave."
"We are prepared to go," Lenaduiniel said, "But may we know why? Is there news from the Wizard?"
"I have some news, but that is not why we should leave, I think," Tsuki told her. "I vote to leave."
Dale began to pack his belongings and make ready his gear.
"I have no reason not to leave, and so I vote we go," Beryl said. "Are there any who would vote otherwise?"
There were none, and so all their things were made ready, the stove was put out, and the rooms were made tidy. They departed for the stables then. Nightmare and Moon-shadow were found in the same stall. Nothing was said about this, but Tsuki suspected Dale immediately and glared at him.
Dale knew that he would be forgiven and smiled. He knew Nightmare would be happy and that his horse deserved the favor.
The horses were all fitted with their gear and loaded with packs. Kato rode again with Beryl and Dale made Duma ride behind him.
At the gate, they announced their intention to leave, and as there were no orders against it, the guards there opened the gate and allowed the company to pass.
They followed the river near-directly south, until it intersected with the road, and there Gwindor was the first to call for a halt to hear Dale's explanation, and others followed suit.
"There were Orcs there, and I did not know for certain how much they knew of our plans, so I thought it best to leave."
"Within the Vale? Did you alert the Rangers? We should have remained to aid them!"
Dale glanced coolly toward Galadhiel, who was again dressed as a female, beneath her cloak. "I alerted one who truly holds sway in the Wizard's Vale," Dale told her. "Our work there was complete and we have a mission of our own. It was important we leave. Most likely, the Orcs will hunt for us when they realize we are gone; leaving is the best way we might aid the Men in the Vale."
"And what of the Wizard?" Laurel asked.
"I spoke with him at length," Tsuki said. "Some of it was personal, significant to me alone and not to our party, however, I did note a few things that I might share. For one, he allowed me to take some papers that belong to the former White, who was my master, and they tell much about Orcs. Also, he seemed to know our destination, though I am certain he did not know our purpose."
"That's significant," Dale said.
"Yes," Kato said, "It all sounds very intriguing. But it does not change that fact that we are employed to reach our destination. If the Orcs are sure to hunt us again, I vote we move on."
"I believe the road is the most direct way...for now," Tsuki said.
"Yes. That seems clear from the maps," Kato agreed. They were not more specific; Kato had always been guarded about the details of their goal and Tsuki had spoken with Dale enough on the way to the house to know Dale suspected Duma may have told the Orcs what he knew of their party.
"Let us ride on," Beryl said.
They rode, ten carried by eight horses and traveling by road, which here was clearly defined by wheel ruts and hoofprints in the bare earth. Elsewhere, the land was good for grazing, with many grasses, but with few trees, though there was a great wood to the northeast, which wood was sometimes taken from when needed. There were outcroppings of rock to be found, but generally the ground was good for riding, and the road not so much necessary as an evolution of the easiest paths between settlements.
The party agreed to travel through day and night at least for the first day, to put more distance between them and the Orcs, which would pursue. The next settlement of any kind was at an old fortress, which had played a significant role in the war not several years before and, if signposts were to be believed, was an excellent pilgrimage site for Dwarves.
"I do not wish to go inside, if we should come to it," Beryl said, "It was a hard and gory night of battle there during the war and I saw so many Men die. The victory there came at a high price; we could have used more Elves, but there were only two, and I disguised myself so that no other tales tell of more than one."
"That was our brother!" Lenaduiniel said, "I think I should like to see the site, even if it is not a happy visit." She turned to her elder brother. "Gwindor, we may even find him there."
Gwindor shrugged.
"We receive messages from our brother sometimes, but I have not seen him of late. He does often travel this region we are coming into, so perhaps we shall find him."
Gwindor was not certain he wanted to see his younger brother. He knew that his brother had done noble things during the war, but he also blamed him for not joining the defense of their home, and he was certain the war had changed them both. It would be an awkward meeting, to say the least, and Gwindor also feared their sister would be disappointed. But then, perhaps their little brother had survived the war with his spirit intact and did not know despair.
They continued, following the road southeast and a couple days later sighted the fortress, which signposts now identified in several languages as containing the entrance to spectacular natural underground caverns known since ancient times.
In their days on the road, they had seen no sign of Orcs. Duma had been quiet, choosing not to speak again and keeping mainly to himself. When they rested, he occupied himself with his rocks and trying to learn to read Elven script. Sometimes he scribed messages on rocks, but there was little to pass on, as Dale suspected him of betrayal and now made certain no information regarding their journey was mentioned in Duma's presence.
Duma did not know how Dale knew he had gone to the Orcs, but he understood that Dale knew.
Dale and Tsuki looked over the papers the White had allowed Tsuki. Dale agreed that the information about the Orcs was accurate so far as he knew. In fact, he learned some things from reading that he had only suspected or heard in secondhand accounts. Yet, there was something missing. There were no mentions of female Orcs. It was not certain if the White had burned these pages or whether his former superior had never realized the results of his work.
"The White would not say anything specific, but I asked some leading questions, he answered cryptically that the gods will bring to justice those who meddle in their domain."
"A god-fearing Wizard?"
"They are all meant to respect what higher spirits there may be."
"So, he is saying, only one blinded by pride believes they can harness nature."
"Yes, in breeding the androgyny from the Orcs to make them stronger and smarter, he bred into them the ability to conceive females as well as males and thus gave them a chance to prove their worth alongside other races. If these new Orcs become entirely dominant, they may breed more slowly, but they may prove more dangerous enemies. We shall see how they treat their females and their young."
"Do you think it was mistake? There must be so many pages missing."
"We might think that he was a complete fool and unaware of the possibility, or we might think that he understood it was to be an age of Men and set the Orcs on their way to becoming more Mannish. We will not know for certain, but I know that one was no fool. He grew in arrogance and it became his downfall, from all accounts I have heard, but he was not unintelligent."
As they rode the remainder of the way to the fortress, Dale pointed out some holes in the ground. "Do you recognize what they are?" he asked Tsuki, who was close.
"I am a poor Ranger. I cannot say what manner of burrow this is."
"They are overgrown, but look, they are not burrows, they were dug out from the inside. Orcs were spawned here. Since the last battles here, from the amount of grass upon them."
"Then going into battle they performed some breeding ritual along the way?" Tsuki asked.
"Yes. Not so different that the way a Man might take leave of his wife before riding after his Lord to battle, I imagine."
"They would want to insure that their breed lived on if the battle did not go their way."
Dale nodded. "The pits are old and Men populate this area. The Orcs spawned here have already been slain or made their way to join their kind."
"That is their instinct," Tsuki said, knowing from the papers as well as from recent experiences with Dale and Duma.
They made camp on a ridge within site of the ancient fortress when they came near to it, rather than press on during the evening. They wanted any living below to be able to spot their camp and be prepared to meet travelers the nest day. Before they had voted, nearly half had wanted to continue, saying that those below expected pilgrims coming to see the caves or fortress. Beryl had made it clear that whatever others did, he would not rush upon those living below.
As the others knew Beryl had actually fought in defense of this fortress and had bad experiences there, they then voted for making camp on the ridge, even if only to give him time to adjust to the idea of seeing the place of battle again.
It was not a very defensible location, but they had as clear a view of approachers as any would of them. And as it happened, they spotted some torches moving toward them after dark.
Duma gathered up the rocks he was working and moved to the other side of their camp, where Fei was working to prepared supper. He had the burner and stove set up and there was frying strips of meat from a game hen they had shot with some foraged roots and sliced nuts in his wok. The others were farther from the ridge, sitting about a small fire, tending to their gear and their various work.
"Dwarves," Dale hissed. Most of their party understood that though Dwarves were overall god folk, like Men, some were wicked. They would not know if these Dwarves were the sort that had fought beside Men and Elves in defense of lands East of the Great River, those who kept to themselves, or those who profited selling mined metals and fuels that may have found their way to the enemy war machine, until they met them.
Whatever the case, Dwarves, even good ones, were known for tolerating Men and Halflings, but not so much for tolerating Elves or Orcs. This put their mixed company on edge, either because they were Elven or Orcish themselves or because they were associated with those who were.
Beryl drew up his hood and the other Elves followed suit. Duma disliked the green cloak but had his ears hidden by his scarf, for all the good it would do. His attire would likely seem strange to Dwarves.
The low torches came closer and then stopped before their light could accurately identify their bearers. "Challenge them," Gwindor whispered to Tsuki.
Beryl held up a hand to halt Tsuki. He knew that Tsuki had lived in the west a long time, but he had been raised in the east and there was some amount of an accent to his speech that he could not cover. Beryl, however, was possessed of an excellent Elven vocal range and an ability to disguise his voice, which helped him greatly on the stage.
It was Beryl that called out to the Dwarves in a Mannish timbre and local accent. "Who goes there? Be you Dwarves or Halflings? Or do you carry your torches low to deceive us?"
"We are Dwarves!" A voice bellowed. "And who be you?"
"We are Rangers escorting some merchants along the road. Honest Dwarves such as yourself are welcome to join our camp, if you do not mind the company."
The Dwarves came forward, leading a single pack pony, and the light of their torches in this closer distance revealed only three young, bearded faces and rather rich-looking white clothing. They seemed armed with rather small axes, for Dwarves.
As soon as they came near the fire, the Dwarves knew they were in strange company. They were certain they would lose if battle were given, but they did not like the look of these Rangers. There were many Elves among them, for even Dwarves knew the make of an Elven cloak from that of a Mannish garment, and these were mainly green and grey, which long had been Elvish colors. Also, the two Men seemed to be from the east and these dwarves had heard that such Men had fought their kin during the war.
"Ah, it is good we have met such interesting company. And Rangers you say? We should be well protected tonight. There seem many merry folk among you, surely you would enjoy a song. Our ale casks are dry, or we would offer drink to companions as well."
"And our food stores low, or we would share, but you seem to have ample provisions and we are willing to sing for our supper."
"Do not assume Dwarven songs are not to your liking," said the third, "Perhaps you do not know us, but in other regions you would count yourself lucky to welcome the Brothers Gibson into your camp, as we are minstrels of some renown."
There was silence for several stretching seconds and then Dale said slowly, "Three brothers, sons of Gib, who enjoy drink and sing."
"Tell us when you left your home and what news there is of your family," Gwindor said, "For if Gib Son of Gib is kin to you, then you may count yourselves unlucky to have joined this camp."
"Gib is our younger brother, named after our father, and we have had no news of him since he traveled east from our home to join the Rangers. Has he disgraced our name or made enemies among you?"
"In contrary, Brothers, Gib brought only honor to your name and made friends of many among us," Lenaduiniel said. She stood, withdrew her hood and then curtseyed to the Dwarves. "I am Lenaduiniel, Daughter of the Elf-king, and it grieves me that I should break such news at our first meeting...Gib Son of Gib's days in this world came to an end in a battle with Orcs near the ancient mines while on Ranger business shortly before the equinox. I was a close acquaintance of his and with him in his last moments. He held out until reinforcements arrived and so insured the mission would be continued. In fact, I travel with these others in his stead, though he is still missed."
"I do not suppose one of you has any ale to offer?"
"I would share gladly if I had any," said Tsuki.
"Good for drowning sorrow...temporarily," Dale added.
Tsuki glanced toward Dale as if to say that the 'temporarily' surprised him, but in truth Dale had consumed no great amount of alcohol since the start of their journey, even though they had both anticipated otherwise at that time.
The three Dwarves seated themselves near the fire, seemingly dazed, not showing grief such as the others could recognize, but not showing any lack of grief either.
Duma put his tools and stones away in his pouch, removed his flask, rose, and walked back toward the fire. He offered the flask to one of the Dwarves; it was the one who had spoken most, though they all looked similar to the others' eyes. "It will make you feel better," Duma said. "There is not much left."
The Dwarf looked up at the gaunt and slouched figure in black leather garments, at the facial piercings, the make of the flask, and at the knife and flail hung on Duma's belt.
"It does not taste very good, yet it is true it will make you feel better."
The Dwarf took a swig from the flask. The liquid tasted foul and burned his throat, but the warmth it put in his body was immediate. He laughed.
Duma smiled, though it seemed a somewhat menacing gesture to the Dwarves, even as one passed the flask to the next. "Do you like gems?"
All the three Dwarves laughed.
"I have never met any Dwarves before, but I have made use of many Dwarven things in my life and made no payment in return that benefited Dwarves. I will give you something, a token payment only, and you should accept it on behalf of your race, as such." Duma reached into his pouch and withdrew a large diamond cut and polished into a many-faceted oval. He offered it in his hand to the Dwarves and they stared transfixed at the stone and the firelight refracted and reflected by all its surfaces. "It was found in mines won from Dwarves and cut and polished with tools loaned to me, which once belonged to a Dwarf who wished to be a master jeweler, and with skill learned from Dwarven texts. Gems cannot return life, but this is all that is in my power which might make you feel better."
"And why should you in particular want to make us feel better?" One Dwarf asked.
"I have found many Dwarven things useful and good and have never yet heard a Dwarf song. It does not seem the lady's news put you in the mood to sing...though a dirge would interest me as much as a drinking song."
"You are a strange one! It is disturbing to hear such news and we should like to know a few details of our brothers demise, but it is perhaps more shocking to meet an Orc who wishes to make payment for all the fine Dwarf-made things of which he has made use! Most would be too happy to take over our mines and dolven cities and to make use of our axes and knives and collect a price in blood for the service of doing so. A token you say? It is more than most families in our poor mountains to the west have to pass to their sons. Give us your name so that we may tell our family whereby we acquired this stone. I am Bari Son of Gib, and these are my brothers, Robi and Mori."
"Duma Yrchelen Mapleseed at your service," Duma said with a bow.
Robi took the diamond and turned it in the firelight. "At your service, Duma Mapleseed. I thought Orcs could craft only implements or torture and weaponry."
"I am not only an Orc."
"It is skillfully cut, I think," Mori said, "though I am not a master lapidary."
"Still, a Dwarf knows stone, gems included," Robi continued, "and this seems marvelously cut. It is not only beyond the skill of Orcs, but of most Elves today."
"We see them on their marches west," Bari said, "for the most part only the Sylvan Elves remain in these lands, and they were never known as great smiths or jewelers."
"We smith weapons keen enough to slay Dwarves," Galadhiel said quickly. She was only a thousand years old and her people had more common ancestors with Sylvan Elves than with legendary Elven smiths, but she was raised to think of her people as noble for having traveled farther west in ancient days. Certainly she was not raised to take insults from members of the Third Race.
"There will be none of that," Tsuki said flatly. He tried then to make his tone more friendly. "These are Gib's brothers; we are well met. Did not Gib fight alongside you and protect you?"
"Aye, he did. It was a defensive response," Galadhiel said coolly. "Gib Son of Gib faced many days of constant marching and running and gauntlet of Orc attacks. He was a capable and honorable companion."
Tsuki nodded. "As I said, well met. I am Tsuki Eru, a Ranger out of Stone Keep, where I trained with your brother. Gwindor of the Wood Elves and Dale Maple were also our companions there." Tsuki pointed others out as he made the introductions. "You have heard the names of Duma and Lenaduiniel. These are Galadiel of the Grey Elves, Beryl Greencloak, Caerig Winnan of the Halflings, also known as Kato, Laurel Poe Redwitch, and Long Fei Shih, a scholar."
"A most interesting fellowship," Bari said, "You must tell us how you came to travel together, but first we should like to kow of our brother. What came of his body?"
"We did not leave him to Orcs," Gwindor said, "Beryl, Galadiel, Lenaduiniel and I were those with him and we bore his body with us to the settlement of Newhaven and made a grave on its outskirts."
"No tomb?" Mori remarked.
"There was no time to send for a Dwarven mason," Beryl added, "I am afraid the nature of his wounds demanded speedy disposal. We did line the grave with stones and pile more stone above."
"That is much more decent. We thank you," Bari said.
"A Dwarf should be lain in stone," Mori said.
When the matter of Gib's burial was settled and the Orc liquor was finished the company of thirteen ate supper together and exchanged news and stories as they shared the meal. The Brothers Gibson had come along the same roads that Kato had led his party on, without coming across any Orcs, but this was no surprise to any of that party, as they had long suspected the Orcs were after them in particular.
Now there were no decoys, as several suspected that Galadhiel knew Kato was the one carrying the true message, whatever it might be. Still, such things were not mentioned openly. Since leaving the Wizard's vale everyone had seemed more secretive.
Partly it was the suspicion that Duma would or had betrayed them, but it was not entirely such. Everyone was feeling strained and on guard, realizing that they did not even know the purpose of their own mission, but that many others were interested in it, including The White, and Marduk's clan.
The Dwarves could see that they were not the only ones burdened with bad news. The others seemed down to them, perhaps weary from their travels more than beds and meals could repair. They sang a song about those who survive for the others, in return for the company, news and supper.
In turn, Beryl sang a song that he knew. Later, Dale sang also, but his song was invented as he sang.
They set watches again that night, allowing one of the three Dwarves to keep one watch with two other members of the party.
Morning came and Kato woke those who were yet asleep, as he had last been on watch with Beryl and Robi. The group broke their fast with cakes from their stores, which Beryl had made.
As they rode through morning to the fortress set into the roots of the mountains to the south, Dale sang the song the Dwarves had sung the night before, though very softly. Tsuki was riding to Dale's left and could not make out the words or tune clearly, but at Dale's other side Kato began to sing the chorus loudly, "Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive," just as Dale reached the same place in the song, and so Tsuki suspected that leaf-shaped ears might actually give one greater sense of hearing.
"That song has been stuck in my head all night and day," Dale complained. "I barely slept."
"A normal night for you," Tsuki reminded him.
"Neither of you are helping." Dale called to Beryl, who sat on his horse behind Kato. "See anything?"
"Oh, you like our song!" Bari called from below, where he was now striding between Nightmare and Beryl's mount.
Dale groaned.
Kato laughed. "It is a most excellent song, Bari Son of Gib. Dale cannot stop singing it."
"The repeated chorus is…easy to remember and sing," Tsuki noted.
"We have many other fine songs written if you would like to hear them."
"Perhaps Duma."
"Young Master Mapleseed is a most strange Goblin."
"He is, but what many may not realize is that most Orcs one happens to encounter are warriors and hunters, unless they should happen into one of their caves. Duma is quite old for an Orc, but has little battle experience, because he is the sort they keep back in the cave crafting things. The really clever ones are often those hiding out of sight and supplying the warriors with weapons, liquor, and bread."
"Goblins are quite handy when it comes to making weapons and implements of torture," Bari said.
"Ladders, siege engines, battering rams, cross bows, catapults, armor, all manner of melee weapons," Beryl listed. "If a Wizard is behind them, perhaps even black powder."
"It does seem perverted to take what might make lovely fireworks and use it to blast holes in walls," Kato said.
"Let us not talk of it," Beryl said. "I shall despair and go west!"
Kato laughed. "Not you! You shall never depart while you still have so much to share!"
Beryl laughed softly. "Right you are, Little One. I would be at once bored and haggled over if I were to go into undying lands. No. I shall not depart while there are still any good folk here, good trees, clean water, and the stars can still be seen."
"And songs to learn and sing!"
"Yes," Beryl agreed. "Even if they be only Dwarven songs, I might remain only to sing my own renditions."
Bari snorted at the jest and dropped back to find his brothers. Beryl
and Dale then looked again toward the fortress, and now they could see
the great ramp leading to its gate, and the path through the defensive
earthworks to that ramp, and the newly constructed buildings along the
dirt road. They were constructed both of wood and stone, but in these
buildings, the stones were roughly dressed, though the wood was ornately
carved; horse heads were the most popular motif.