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side story [The Tale of the Soup-maker]
appendix [a]
gallery [duma] [dale] [dale 2] [beryl] [ugarit] [ugarit 2] [ugarit 3]

Part Ninety-One

It was true that Beryl had sent a bird to the Old Forest, but he not known who would receive his message and had suspected some other. He knew Oromë when he came close, though he could not see. The barrel had been hoisted up to the remaining platform in the branches of the old, partially burned tree. The Healers showed Oromë to Beryl's chamber. The lower walls, made of stone, were intact but stained with smoke. The roof that had sheltered the chamber was gone and replaced with canopy of canvas tied to branches. The curtains were gone, the ash swept away and now layers of fine net hung on every side to protect Beryl's delicate unhealed skin from even the smallest particle or insect.

Beryl lay on a couch which had been brought here after the fire for his use, and the smoothest finely made cotton bedclothes known to Elves had been laid over the couch to further protect his skin from irritation. Another smooth sheet of cloth was draped over Beryl to serve as his only clothing or bandage. The Healers knew that burns healed better uncovered, so long as the one who was burned was kept in a clean environment. Braziers and censors that would have warmed and scented the air were placed outside the chamber rather than within. All that hung within the interior of the chamber were talismans placed by the Clerics. There were many of these, carefully arranged and designed to invoke the power of fourteen different gods known to Elves. On the wooden floor, swept of cinder, a six-pointed star had been drawn within an eight pointed star, drawn within a circle. The circle represented the One Creator the Elves named 'Eru'. The points of the outer star represented those among the gods Elves called 'exalted' or 'most high.' Oromë was one of these. The six points of the inner star represented the remaining gods known to Elves.

As he stepped inside the chamber, still carrying Tsuki in one arm, Oromë peered under the couch to assure himself that there was no symbol or point made within the six-point star. Such a pattern was used by followers of the Fallen One. A circle outside the stars was correct, but an oval or other shape outside the eight-point star would have been also a sign of evil.

Oromë touched the small horn carved from bone hanging on a thread and stepped closer to the couch.

"Lord," Beryl said. The heated air he had breathed during battle had injured his throat, but it had healed somewhat already. The unnatural fire had not contained smoke and Beryl had controlled his breathing in battle as much as he was able, so he was still able to draw a full breath.

"If it is not young Beryl who halted the March with his birth," Oromë said cheerily.

"I was not the only one to do so."

"Yes, but you were the first, and among the last to remain in these lands of that age."

"I probably should have died."

"An Elf should never die, Beryl. We did not sing the First Race into being to die. Gave them the ability to depart their flesh if it falls into a state beyond repair, but not to die. That was Man's Gift. And if you mean 'should have departed your flesh', then I say, it has not yet been determined that you are beyond repair. Your spirit is still strong and your will. You need time, yes, but you will heal. An Elf who is determined can heal nearly any injury. They could not grow a new limb or hold onto their life's blood when arrows have made a sieve of their flesh, but they have remarkable ability to heal. You are intact."

"I wanted to live, to heal, and to see friends again…the healers do not know if I will ever see. They saw the burns sealed my eyes shut, but they do not know if there is deeper damage."

"Hold this rabbit for me." Oromë gave Tsuki over to Beryl. Beryl did not take Tsuki into his bare hands but reached out with the sheet over his arms and cradled the small creature when he felt the weight and pain of it pressing against his flesh, through the cloth. "I did not come only to offer encouragement. I have the water you sent for."

"It contains no magic for me. I only thought it would provide good nourishment while I am healing."

"It will. Can you drink easily? I will bring you a cup."

"I must lift the sheet away to drink. The Healers say I am looking better, so I know I appear rather foul."

Oromë lifted the cloth from Beryl's head and tucked the end behind Tsuki. Beryl did look severely injured. It had been a week now since his battle with the Demon and the blistering had harden and begun to peel away to reveal new pink skin below. The flesh that had been charred had sloughed off and where it had been there was pitting and thin glistening skin struggling to grow. Much of his hair was gone, and what remained was contained in a net, to prevent the strands from irritating skin. The eyes were still sealed shut behind puffy red flesh.

Oromë pulled a drinking horn from inside his cloak and filled it at the barrel. He brought the horn to Beryl then and pressed the edge to his cracked lower lip. "Your injuries are at the stage where a layer of gauze might be fastened over them to help the skin grow smoothly. They might fashion a smooth mask to press against your face to encourage the skin to grow smoothly there also. I will ask the Healers about the treatment."

"The Orc said to pick the crust from the skin as it heals, to leave always the new raw skin. And he said, when the burns had healed further maggots could eat away only the dead to expose the new skin to the air."

"The Orc is correct, but such procedures must be correctly timed to be beneficial. I will consult with your Healers. The Clerics should continue their prayers over you and the other patients. You need your spirits strong to heal. That is as important as the Healer's work."

"I am grateful for their efforts."

"Do not despair, Beryl. You will be well in time. These discussions and preparations with the Orcs will take some time yet and you might be well enough to travel when it is decided whether there will be battle or marches into a new homeland for them."

"Lord, what would you wish? A homeland for Orcs?"

"Beryl, I have seen Orcs slay fell beasts rather than conspire with them…" Oromë paused for several moment, in thought. "It does not matter what I would have. It matters what Elves and Men and Orcs would have…and Dwarves and Halflings too."

"You do not appear to them. The young ones know your name, or some name to cal you, Lord, but they have never seen you."

"That they know."

"And they have not followed you."

"Some follow my way."

"And they have not been trained in hunting or battle by you."

"Yes, but those I trained have trained others, have they not, Beryl?"

"Yes, Lord."

"There is a time, you know, when a father allows a son or daughter to make their own way. The father still loves the child, still watches over the child, but they do not walk alongside the child as a constant guide. They must trust that their teachings are remembered and are guide enough. The child must be free to make choices. That is why, Beryl. Yes, I might appear here or there in some disguise where there is extraordinary need or interest, but in the main all my race trust that the works we set in place long ago are wonders enough to remind our children that they are free, but not alone."

"Father!" a voice called from without. It was Elven and female and Beryl cringed. The voice called again, closer, "Where is my father? Where is Beryl of the Green Elves?"

Oromë scooped Tsuki up from Beryl's arms just as the yellow-haired Elf rushed into the chamber and threw herself on Beryl. "Father! Oh, Father! I am here! We will make you whole again! We rode hard, came as soon as we learned of troubles here. My sister's message came to me along the way. She would never write to me unless…unless something quite serious had happened with you."

"Finloriel," Beryl said.

"You still speak. Tell me, is it true? Was it a Demon of Fire? Did you slay it?"

"Yes. It was. It cost me much, but I did slay it."

"Then the gods cannot abandon you. You slew a Demon. I will join the prayers myself. We will heal you, Father."

Oromë slipped from the chamber and shifted his guise as he did, so that when he pulled back the hood of his cloak, he seemed and Elf. He gave instructions to the Healers and Clerics, including that they should have their patients drink the Old Forest water from the horn he offered and then leave the horn in Beryl's care.

Tilion was waiting with The Grey. Oromë said that he thought it best they slip quietly from the Wood and not attend the feast. They had other work to attend to and they must be done within certain time, measured against the time it took the Elves and Orcs to negotiate the matter of awarded lands and see them granted or not.

Often when the Elves used the pavilion, there was a horseshoe configuration of tables and a large space for entertainers to perform. There were so many guests for this feast that many rings of tables had been placed with a few aisles left open for servers to negotiate and a small central area built up with raised stages for performers, surrounded by musicians. Those who had been chosen to serve or entertain had been fed already and now the great tables were being laid with food as the guest arrived and found seats. Among the servers were those designated hosts to escort guests to the correct places.

Caratathren and Lenaduiniel had labored long in arranging the seating, to give honor to the various Lords and Chieftains and honored guests without seeming to favor any, and without putting those parties which might yet harbor some animosity for each other too close together. Through the day they had had many more arrivals to the Wood, some they had expected and some they had not. It seemed some allies had left distant lands and cities at the first news of Wizard plots and strange stealthy attacks and come expecting to give aid in battle and along the way had learned that the battle was finished and continued on to give an opinion on the rumored alliance with Orcs.

There were Rangers present now, which had set the Orcs on edge, as their treaty with Elves did not extend protection to Rangers. This also meant the Elves were not obligated to stop the Rangers from killing Orcs, and so the Chieftains had commanded Orcs to be cautious and avoid these newcomers.

Scouts had reported sighting smoke by day and points of firelight now it was dark, along the roads north and south of the settlement, indicating that they would have more guests arrive through the next day.

Greenleaf arrived late, wearing trousers and boots beneath his outer robe, along with his companions. The Lord took his seat near his siblings, The Grey, and one Dwarf, who was his close friend and guest. The other Dwarves, the three Brothers Gib, were at another table. Loriol and Lain were seated at another table, close by, but in the next most inner ring. The Orc Chieftains and their entourages were seated at the east, opposite the Elven nobility, and had to walk around the perimeter of the pavilion to find their seats.

There had been some difficulty in placing Dale, but ultimately Lenaduiniel had decided to count Dale and Duma, as his son, among Vale Elves and seated them and Ugarit at the table with Tigh, Lain and their spouses. Alqua and Are had been seated among their kin from the Golden Wood. Various parties of Men had been seated to the north and south, as seemed fitting for the Second Race to be beside the First. The Dwarves, being only a few were put at an inner table near Men. This put the Orcs at tables near Men, with only narrow aisles between them, but Lenaduiniel had seen no better solution.

In general those considered noble or honored in some way were at the outer tables, and did not have to watch their backs against other guests, and their followers and guests were at inner tables. This meant also that all the Chieftains were seated beside each other with Leaders, pets and female companions at other tables before them. The Chieftains did not like being close enough to poison each other, but they saw how the highest ranked Rangers were at the outer tables with lesser officers before them and did not complain.

There was Elven music for entertainment and some courses later dancers and acrobats and jugglers. Dog had witnessed an Elven feast before and kept the other Chieftains informed of what he knew. "Sometimes they have dancing, but perhaps not tonight, the hall is too full."

"Dancing is for pets," Marduk commented.

"Even their nobles dance, if they are Elves."

During the Feast the Grey went to the stage to make a speech and he revealed in quite official manner news of recent events in the Wood and upon the mountain in the former place of sorcery, for not all present had yet heard these details, especially if they were among the recent arrivals. The Grey ended by assuring all in attendance that tomorrow there would be a conference in this same pavilion and all parties with an interest in this treaty regarding Orc lands should send a representative and much would be open to discussion.

There was a great deal of discussion among the tables after The Grey's speech, for he had made it known what had been rumored or suspected before. As the night wore on, the various parties took their leave. There seemed a great deal of political maneuvering in each party's decision to leave and The Grey attempted to analyze the order parties departed and the significance of this.

Dale's body had begun to ache and so he had been escorted back to the guest house by Setsugekka, Tigh and Gwende. Fei had been seated among the Men, at a table inside that of Lord Royalhill and beside that of some of Captain Anto's Men from New Haven, who had rode in with Finloriel. Now the meal was ended, many had left their tables or taken emptied seats to carry on conversation with those they had not been seated near previously.

Anto had brought two of the governing circle of the Witches of the Lowlands with him, Lady South and the one who had been called Birch, who was not the current Lord East. Anto had spoken to Royalhill's Men during the meal and had now introduced himself to the Lord and his wife.

"Do you know Fei Shih?" Royalhill asked of Anto, "we understand he was at the Battle of the Hill with the Lowlanders and you were involved there also."

"I have met the Eastman only briefly, but Lady South and Lord East with me knew him. I have had word that Laurel was escorted to the capitol?"

"Yes. She and the Halfling who was our companion when we last met," Fei said.

"Your command of the language is much improved."

"He even speaks some Elven now. I do not claim to be a master of that language myself, but I know enough to recognize it."

"Always useful to have knowledge of Elven. Many terms enter the Common Speech from Elven, when we have no appropriate term for a thing. 'Orc' comes from Elven."

"Yes," Royalhill said. "What are the Rangers and your people in the west saying of the Orcs?"

"This news of the treaty and promised lands is very new to us and I cannot rightly know what all our people would say, for the news of Orcs that drive others from Mannish towns or gift Dwarves with gems is new also. What we know is that they came out from the mines at the end of Summer and we have only recently pushed the back to the Mines, and it seems a Wizard aided us in that. I would like to hear more of these events The Grey seems to have glossed over."

"That one, named Duma, is a Half-Orc, and I have been told he has befriended Dwarves and certainly we know he did drive other Orcs from my home city, but by his own admission he did it as much for the Orcs, to save them from having their heads on pikes, as for the people of our city."

"But what is most striking is that he made the admission to our brother who is King there," Royalhill said.

"Well, these Half-Orc made by the former White are strange."

"Duma is not one of them. I know Men of your region call those Orcs bred by the Wizard 'Half-Orc' because it seems they were result of breeding with Men, but this Duma is Halfelven."

"Elf and Orc? How did it come to be?"

"They are yet secretive about that. Females are new to them. They had some foul method of breeding I would not speculate on in presence of ladies," Royalhill said, "I only know he is Or and Elf. His father is a Vale Elf named Dale."

"Dale I know. He is a Ranger as well as Elf. He was also at the battle of the Hill, but we saw no Orcish creature among allies."

"Duma came to them later, but is Dale's son. They were together with other Elves when we met them, and with Tsuki."

"Wood Elves we might have distrusted at the time," Royalhill said, "But Tsuki and Beryl were known to us as allies in the war. They would not deceive us."

"But Ugarit," The Lady Royalhill said, "she is the one that surprises me that makes me wonder about the Orcs. She is full-blood Orc, and yet I witnessed her weep with regret over killing. I swear it is true. Can you imagine it? An Orc that shows regret and can cry when it has been forced to include Men and Elves as enemies and is haunted that their shape is similar to her own and unlike fell beasts who are easier to kill? It was like looking at a girl who took up a sword to defend her ranch. I have seen such girls weep that they have spilled blood, even though they have been assured they acted righteously in defense of their home."

"But this Ugarit," Anto began, the name strange on his lips, "I have heard from other here, she traveled with Elves and has been among the Elves of this Wood for some time."

"I understand that is so, but it still makes me wonder if it is only living near Elves for a time that causes such action, or if all Orcs are capable of it."

"Or perhaps only those Orcs of certain breeds or ages," Royalhill said.

"It is not only Ugarit," Fei said. "I knew of Orcs when I lived in the east, and among the Witches I heard many tales of Orcs. The people in the lowlands feared their raids more than river floods. At the battle of the Hill, the Orc Marduk, who is a great Chieftain among them now, had opportunity to spoil and kill a girl. He did not. In fact, one I trust told me that Marduk stopped another Orc from harming the girl. They know, they were there."

"This girl as you call her is my own daughter!" Anto said, "she came home to me with her injured mother cut and frightened for her life."

"Yes, but North survived the battle. She knows. She saw Marduk."

"It is true Lady North supports this story," South said.

"In no stories that I heard before then do Orc pass up a chance to spoil, kill or eat a young girl," Fei said. "One of them did this. He left her with a minor wound to assert his power, but that was itself a controlled act. He had opportunity to take her life and spared it. The Orcs of stories often were serving a Master, such as a dark Wizard. Perhaps no tall are truly foul."

"This Marduk, he is the Chieftain at that table who lost an eye," Anto said, "He is one of the Mannish ones. Can the others be trusted or considered so…tame."

"They are not tame," Fei said, "they are people. A race, such as Men are a race. The wish freedom and a home and have been oppressed and controlled for ages by their masters. I make no claim that all Orcs are good or noble, but, if some may be, even if the rest are not, then they are as good a race as Men, for we know that many who served the Dark Lord of their own will were Men, of our race. Men also can be noble or foul. I have no authority to grant lands. I am a scholar. I listen and watch and I record what I have learned and witnessed. I think some Orc may be good. Decide what you will based on that."

"I do not believe you mean to deceive," Anto said, "but I am not yet convinced. These Orcs here seem strange, dining at a table in an Elven pavilion, wearing clothing, bowing to Elven Ladies. I have come recently from New Haven and there are still many Orc in the Mines and though some have shown strange new behaviors, they seem very unlike these Orcs here."

"We all have much to consider," Royalhill said, "but let me suggest all of us who will enter the discussions do so informed. If you have reports of recent Orc violence, Anto, do share them with the others tomorrow. I have spoke to Elves here since arriving and learned that after Duma's arrival, many Elves went to him and to Ugarit and asked questions of them and even made complaints, but even those who still dislike the Orcs say they learned much about Orcs that was unknown to them and even in this dislike, no longer have hatred for all Orc kind. The Elves say that they never knew the age of Orcs who went into battle."

"They will kill you newly spawned from the earth," Anto said, "not all know of this rising from the earth, but in my region a few have witnessed it and lived to make a report. They come from the earth full grown or nearly so and will kill from this infancy, if we can call it such."

"I believe that may be accurate, but the Eves were disturbed to learn of it, and to Elves it seems a creature cannot be blamed for such instinctual activity or for obeying a master that took the creature at a young age and corrupted it. They seem sad that the Orcs do not even live long enough to know 'right' or 'wrong'. They know only of surviving."

Lady Royalhill said, "Even those Elves who seem loath to grant Orcs lands do seem to be interested in allowing other activity to Orcs, perhaps trading with them, or sending educators to them."

Anto snorted. "They will end up as dinner."

"I see that Duma is coming this way now," Royalhill said, "and Ugarit it appears."

Fei turned to look at them. It was Duma and Ugarit and Tashmetum was walking also, with her small hand in Ugarit's. "They are bringing Tashmetum."

"That is not an Orc Child," Anto said. "I have seen how Orcs come to be."

"The Orcs call this the new way," Fei said, "The old way including this spawning from the pits. Ugarit and Duma both came from pits half grown, but Tashmetum was born. Her mother was one who was killed by the Horse Lords, but rightfully so, as her party of Orcs were upon their lands at the time. Ugarit has adopted her."

"Hello, Fei," Duma said, "Pardon, I wondered if I might speak to Lord Royalhill and to his Lady, if they wish it."

"Yes, Duma, you may," Royalhill said, "This Man is a Ranger, Captain Anto, from New Haven and with him are Lady South and Lord East of the Lowland folk."

"Are you from one of the circles?" Duma asked.

"We are," East said. "Is it true Dale is your father?"

"He is. Do you know him also? I only met Laurel of your people."

"Yes. Poisoning the wine came back upon us in the form of Orc attack, but even though we had made Dale a prisoner, he came to our aid and fought most courageously. He and North were the ones who went down to rescue Willow, Sir." He said this last part to Anto.

"Yes. I have been told. Certainly I have no suspicion of Dale. He is a Ranger." Anto looked at these Orcs. He could see that Duma was somewhat Elven. Orcs seldom had such pale skin, or it was sallow if so light, and they did not have such dark eyes, unless perhaps they were among the Half-Orcs. Also, his features were not entirely Orcish, though the ears seemed so. His clothing seemed surprisingly Mannish, trousers, boots, shirt, short jacket and longer coat. The female was strange. She looked at Anto as he looked at her and he quickly lowered his eyes, and then thought better and fixed his gaze safely on her shoulder. To Anto, Ugarit was not attractive as a woman could be, but she was as a strange animal encountered in the wood. He felt he must look at her and that she was rare and that if he made the wrong move she would be his death.

She spoke and broke the spell. "Captain Anto. Duma and I were not at this battle on the Hill. We were still in the Mines. I was only as big as a girl then. My generation grows quickly. She showed her bare arm and lifted a clawed finger to a particular scar. "I was marked here by Dale because my Chieftain marked a girl at that battle. Marduk-Chieftain's action came back upon him in kind."

"She was…is my daughter."

"I was small and frightened. I have been frightened by Men. She will grow strong, like me, this daughter. She will not cut anyone's daughter."

"Duma, did you wish to say something in particular?" Royalhill asked.

"Forgive me," Duma whispered. He had been looking at Ugarit. He turned from her to the table and bowed. "Yes. I wished to thank you both. We have been confined to our quarters some days now and we were not well when we came down from the mountain. We have not been able to properly thank you before now. It is right to thanks those who give us aid."

"How do you know?" Anto asked.

"Pardon?"

"How do you know if it is right or not to say thanks?"

"Because that is what good people do. I learned by watching and I was taught. Good people ask for help when they cannot do a thing alone. Good people ask for things and do not take. They say thanks when they receive aid or goods."

"And you imitate them? These good people?"

"It is advantageous to be good."

"And you do this? Imitate good people, only because it will get you what you want? To help yourself?"

"He is offending us," Ugarit whispered.

Duma reached out and brought Ugarit behind him. He said the to Anto, "If one I do not know well questions me because others of my race have caused him pain, it is good as well as advantageous to consider his race's culture and his pain and to be very polite to him, Captain, Sir, so that there will be no further pain."

"Advantageous," Anto said.

"And if one I know greets me kindly, there is no threat of trouble or pain to avoid, but I will be polite and considerate to them also, because it is good and without disadvantage. But, if I see that one is in need or pain and I can give aid to them, even if it is a disadvantage to me or costs me something, I should give that aid, even if I do not expect the one in need will be able to repay me, because it is good and right. And if I help such a one and later they help me in return, when I have need, then I think that is good, and it makes us friends, or at least allies of a sort."

"And you do this?"

"Captain, I do not claim I am the most good…I only claim that I am trying to be good. Tsuki was one of the most good people I knew. Even when I was very mean and disobedient and cruel he helped me, even though it upset Dale. Tsuki was good and kind and helped me learn. Beryl also. He was stern but he helped me also. I hope he will be well again." Duma took a jewel from his coat pocket and put it on the table. "My Lady, please accept this. I did keep a few Orcs from your city, but it was advantageous for me to do so. You have twice seen that me and companions of mine were aided when we had need. I would still help you if I could, so do not think it payment. Think it a gift. I came by it, and more, when we slew the Dragons on the mountain. I thank you."

"I will keep it as a gift, but Duma, did you not help everyone in going up the mountain and confronting many fell beasts and a Wizard even though it meant you suffered? That makes twice you have helped me or my people."

"Yes, but, that being true, it was to my advantage to be in that party. If I went, it meant Ugarit could be mine in the eyes of the Orcs."

"Duma," Royalhill said, "sometimes even one who is a mercenary can ask for a payment that seems very small against the good of his deeds, even if it seems a great reward to him, because it is all he has need for. Tsuki was such a mercenary during the war. He helped many, and he was paid, but his payment seemed small to us against his deeds."