Part Ninety-Eight
It was raining and coming on night but Laurel remained above the gate, watching the avenue before the city's main gate for familiar figures. The King, who she was honored to speak with often, and his Rangers had given her their estimations on distance, best speed of Men on foot or riding horses, and typical durations of a trip across the ferry and into the Capitol. She had received communication from Lord Royalhill, who had seen her friends to the ferry, saying they had started across the river and would be riding.
Coming by the route they were, Laurel did not think they would stop anywhere, even if it was raining and dark, but press on to finish the journey. The City was large enough that there were people in and out of the gate at all times of day, but Laurel was certain she would recognize her friends.
Fei would be with them. She had not seen her lifemate since she had carried Kato away for healing and news she had heard had caused worry. She had been assured that though Fei had been one of those to go up the mountain to confront the Sea and his minions that he had no serious injuries. It seemed he had been lucky, for Laurel had spoken no fewer prayers for her friends than her lover and willed no fewer blessings on them, yet Dale, Duma and Beryl had all been injured in some way and Tsuki had never returned.
Dale did not believe Tsuki was gone forever, only gone for a time, as if on a journey and intending to return. When Laurel had wielded the Sun Stone Dale had communicated to her in whispers that Tsuki would return and that he would not be upset if Laurel wished to see him or work with him.
Now, Laurel sensed no active communication but for Setsugekka's presence. She thought it must be that the young priestess often kept the Seeing Stone in hand against the chance an opportunity to communicate presented itself. Dale had worked a way of leaving messages for others to receive after he had released the stone; Laurel did not know yet how it was done. There were no messages waiting, but Laurel sensed Setsugekka was communicating with Dale. Dale held no stone, but Setsugekka seemed to project this activity in such a way that Laurel could perceive the action. There was much about the workings of the seeing stones that they did not yet understand.
Being allowed the Sun Stone had enabled Laurel to know Setsugekka, though she had only glimpsed her before riding west with Kato. The seeing stones carried no language barrier and so Laurel understood Setsugekka had a surprising sense of humor and was often amused by what Duma or Dale was doing, be it keeping an Orc for a butler or refusing to sit for tea because their wife might get jealous.
"Dale says not to worry if Fei and Beryl have not yet arrived. Even
fool witches know when to take shelter from the rain."
Laurel laughed. It had been raining the night she met Tsuki, Dale and
Kato in the Barrows and she had tried to find shelter. Perhaps Fei and
the others had decided to take shelter somewhere after all. Laurel decided
she should do the same. They would find her. She had already given Fei
the name of the Inn they were at and several other places she might be
found many times over.
Laurel thanked Setsugekka and then went down from the wall to the street and walked close to the buildings where there were eaves and awnings to shelter her as she climbed the sloping road to the higher parts of the city.
Anto was in charge of the party including Beryl and Fei and, though he had great respect of females, his respect sometimes took the form of overprotection. They had reached the west bank of the Great River in good time and stopped to have a meal and exchange news at a public house there, frequented by Rangers and traveling merchants. He had hesitated to lead the party out into the rain, out of consideration for Finloriel and South. The rain did not let up and it began to darken, and Anto then agreed they should make for the Capital, rather than have to seek rooms for the night outside.
It was well past dark when they came to the Main gate, but they were admitted quickly, being Anto was known to the local Rangers and the guard had been instructed a party of their description would arrive and included those the King and his Queen might be interested to see.
Anto and his Men reported elsewhere, but Fei, Beryl, Finloriel, South, East, Sam and his Southmen all went to the Inn where Kato and Laurel had been staying. Laurel had know the number of guests some days in advance and Kato had arranged rooms to be reserved with their Innkeeper. Both were in the common room having some local wine, made from grapes grown in the southern parts of the kingdom. They had supper on order and had hoped their friends would join them before it was too late for a meal.
Kato spared a moment to alert the Innkeeper that these were the guests he had spoken of and then hoped from the bench to run to greet Beryl. The Elf stopped to embrace him, but then quickly made way for Sam, who had been very concerned for his little Master. He also embraced Kato and asked if he was truly healed. "I have a scar," Kato said, "do you want to see?"
Beryl laughed. "Perhaps later, Little One!" It made Finloriel very happy, as she had perceived her father to be rather depressed since his battle with the Demon, though he had made obvious efforts to show others cheer and to seem merry. This laughter sounded genuine to Finloriel's ears.
Laurel greeted Fei also in an embrace. His clothing was still damp and she released him immediately to insist he remove his cloak and sit at the hearth. "They have fine herbalists here that make regular trips into the country to gather, I will make a potion. I do not want to see you sick again, as after we trekked through those wetlands."
Fei bowed and smiled and went to the fire. They had all been somewhat sick or injured after coming out of the river and wetlands. Tsuki and Laurel had cared for him then. Every day he thought of Tsuki. Many times, someone would mention a past event which had included Tsuki, and then awkward silence would follow.
Laurel hung Fei's cloak for him at the hooks on the wall and then went to speak to the two who were of her people. South's period as an initiate had overlapped Laurel's, and she had been Olive, and East, who had been Birch before, had begun his training some time after them. South and East were now part of the Circle that governed other Circles and served their people with The Lady. Laurel had been asked to leave. They had no banished her from the lowlands, but completing the training and then being rejected by the circle had seemed as painful. It suddenly did not seem so painful. Laurel realized she had grown past that pain some time ago, without giving it notice. She was proud of South and East for their accomplishments.
"Blessed Be. It is good to see you both. I would be glad to hear any news over dinner."
"We should also be glad to hear from you. We understand you had some unusual experiences since we last saw you in New Haven."
"We should like to speak to you in private also," East said quietly.
South nodded her agreement.
"Well enough," Laurel agreed. South and East were eager to talk to Laurel about Elves without any Elves hearing, as before going into the Silver Wood with Anto, they had known very few of the First Race.
Beryl came to Laurel while she still stood with the other Witches and said he and Finloriel were going to go wash and then rejoin them for dinner.
South and East saw that the two Elves were leaving the room and quickly assaulted Laurel with barrage of questions and observations about Elves. Did she know that they so greatly misunderstood the gender of the Moon and Sun deities and was it not strange how they ate or that they lived in trees, they asked. "Are Beryl and Finloriel average among Elves?" East asked, "She wears trousers, but they are not as Men's trousers and her coats are cut as if very short frocks."
"I do not know Finloriel well, but she wore such outfits both times I have seen her," Laurel said, "they seem female clothing made with divisions for the legs. It must not seem so strange to Elves, as their males wear robes that seem as dresses to Men when they are not traveling or at work. I know another Elf female that wore pants, but those were cut as if to fit males and worn as disguise."
"I thought perhaps she wore them because she was an Elf who rides,"
South suggested. "I have heard it is usual for Elves to ride horses,
and so there are no traditional Elvish riding clothes."
"Lenaduiniel rode in divided skirts, but they were gowns of Mannish
make she purchased for travel and not made by Elves. We might ask Finloriel."
"Is it proper?" East asked.
"I will ask her in private and if it is not proper, she will tell me. That has worked well with Elves before. They understand Men find their customs foreign, as they must our customs."
"I some ways, it was good to be among Elves," East said.
"They bless their food before eating, as we do, and other Men think it strange. And they love things that are natural and respect their spirit, as we do."
"Yes, many Elves I have met I have come to respect and like," Laurel said. She saw the maid was bringing food to the table. The Southmen were already seated with Kato at a table and telling him of the Solstice Battle they had been involved in. Laurel knew some had termed the war with the Rómendar as such.
South, East and Laurel sat at another table, as enough Southmen had arrived to crowd one. When Beryl and Finloriel returned they sat at the same table with Laurel. Beryl was seated such that he could see Kato across both tables and laughed at a gesture Kato quickly made.
Laurel wished to ask Beryl about his recovery, but thought it unwise to ask at a meal or in public. Conversation during the meal remained impersonal, but not casual, in that they spoke of such serious matters as battle, politics, Orcs and enemies in the east. They spoke also of the journey ahead.
"I believe the best time the capitol of the Horse Lords from here is a fortnight with the horses we have. A small army with forced rides and the best horses could only make the distance in slightly less time. It will likely two weeks to New Haven, so I give us a month to get there."
Beryl was most knowledgeable about horses, so Laurel trusted his opinion on the matter.
"A month?" Beryl called to the other table, but he did not raise his voice very loudly.
"My Men think we can take a week off that time," Kato said.
"They are great horsemen of the South," Beryl agreed, "but along the road we will go and in winter and with the horses we have I think we must allow for a month. The days are yet short and there will not be light for longer rides."
"He is correct," Sam admitted, "I was calculating only the distance from the map. Your Beryl knows more of riding through this country without wagons of goods for sale than I."
"Do you suppose Duma and those others will be able to meet us by then?" Kato called. He had also been appraised of all their plans.
Beryl gave it some further thought, though he had already discussed the matter with Dale and Duma, and also with Laurel in the past. "There are no Men in their party, or any but Elves or Orcs for that matter, excepting Setsugekka who has a horse and Dale to look after her. Most will not ride, but being Orcs and Elves, they may choose to travel into the night if it is not too cold and find their way by starlight, and they can cover near as much ground as horses in a day if they wish to. I think they could come to the entrance of the Mines in under a month, but what happens within will make the difference."
"And their ability to hunt or forage," East added.
"True," Beryl agreed.
"The Elves of the Wood did spare as many provisions as they were able, but with the battle and so many guests, their own stores were low," Sam reminded Kato. The Elves will be fine, as they have arranged with allies to replenish what they could give, but they did not have much ready to give."
"But if they chose, if they were forced, Elves or Orcs could live on little. Did they not have some cleverly made cakes for the journey or dried meat?" Kato asked. He knew much about food that traveled now.
"It will make some difference, Lord East is right about that, but how much is not something we may know. I do suspect it depends on the mood of Orcs. My understanding is that they are able to survive with little food, but they quickly become disgruntled with having to do so, where Elves love good food, but will sacrifice without complaint if they believe in a cause. In any case, I expect to have to wait some time in New Haven before we see sign of them, though…" Beryl was silent a moment to think. "Laurel, when you next communicate with Setsugekka, please ask her to speak with Duma and with Dernder who is in command of the Elven Swords there and say that when they come to the Mines they should have some messenger run straight through to bring some message or sign of their arrival, so that we will know for certain they have arrived and further delay is caused by their negotiation. They will not have a Stone to communicate at that point."
Setsugekka received the message that Laurel sent and promised that she would inform Dale soon. He was busy at the time Laurel made contact.
There were some 500 Orcs following Marduk and the other four Chieftains with him, and 100 Elven Swords to escort them as well as the 20 or so Rómendar that had surrendered to them, and 15 others traveling with them; moving a party of this size took much greater organization than moving a dozen or less, and that was the limit of Dale's experience. Dernder had led Elves in battle before, but not often on marches. The Grey, being a Wizard, was one Elves would look to for guidance, but his own experience had been mainly studying plants and animals and advising small parties of Rangers. And though there were Orcs who were older than Marduk, those that were had not been leaders or Chieftains in the past or else had not lead other Orcs on marches. But for Dog and Dale, who they were not counting as within their group, the other Chieftains were younger than Marduk and could not remember the war when many Orcs had marched together. Marduk was the one out of over 600 with the most experience leading large camps over long distances.
In the first day it had become obvious there was lack of leadership. There were arguments between Orcs and between Elves and between Orcs and Elves over when they should stop for rest. Once they had stopped, new arguments broke out over who should cook and whether there should be rations and where bodies could sleep and if there was water or privacy enough for washing.
Dale was little help, as his response to such chaos was often to go his own way rather than assert authority or take a side. When he felt something was worth arguing it would be a serious matter or because he enjoyed interacting with the one he argued against. He did not think the making of camp serious enough to argue and wandered off to look for something to eat.
Several Orcs had come near death due to arguments, but Marduk had dropped his swords, stepped in and beat Orcs with his fists until they stopped their arguments. Marduk had then taken command, ordering that the camp be laid out in a large rectangular formation with clear aisles for moving from one end to the other and removed from the road, with guards posted on the perimeter and small number of cook fires clear of the bedding or tents, where food was prepared for many.
Marduk remembered how the Wizard had trained his Orcs to march and make camp on the way to battle. He had only been a ladder maker then, and not even a leader, but he had been trained, and he had even climbed the ladders during the siege, and survived. He told them what to do, even the Elves.
The Elves did not take very well to being given orders by an Orc, but
after Loriol, who was a captain under Dernder, spoke to him and to the
other Elves, they were convinced to cooperate and a there was a truce
between Elves and Orcs again.
Dale returned to the camp after it was organized. The Elven Swords had
departed the wood with simple sailcloth tents, but shelters were rather
more random in other quarters of the camp. There were some tents, and
some had broken through the crispy ice layers in the old snow and built
dug hollows or formed wind breaks of packed snow. Some had small tarps,
rather than tents made with closed flaps pitched with two sloping sides
against rain or snow, while others made theirs into one-sided windbreaks
held with short poles and stakes. Some were sleeping on bedding without
other shelter, though these had cleared snow from the ground.
Dale walked over the top of the snow, as Elves were able, and found the horses standing in the snow near a series of tarp shelters and a pale domed structure. Setsugekka and his three Orcs were not there, but much of their gear and his was beneath one of the tarps. Tigh was crouched just the other side of the dome and looked up as Dale came between the shelters.
"Where are my Clan?" Dale asked him, "I found meat for them."
Tigh glanced at the assortment of dead creatures Dale had brought strung on a length of twine, birds and rodents and things that should have been asleep for winter.
"While you were gone, Marduk-Chieftain organized the camp in this Wizard-trained fashion. It seems not unlike descriptions of Mannish military camps. He called for cooks to gather in few places and work together to make food for many. Setsugekka knew how to work the Wizard devices for cooking and backing and went to volunteer. Your Orc Jareth went with her. He said she should not go alone into the quarter of camp claimed by another Clan."
Dale shrugged. She had been offering services, and they had a sort of understood truce already, so there should have been no need for the girl to have a chaperone, precious though she was. "Is this yours?" he asked of the domed tent.
Tigh gave a nod. "We knew some weeks ago we might move on, so Lain, Lathe and I made this. It relies on some poles and pegs, but is mainly supported by rope."
"But the cloth. We used to make this. It is beaten from wood. I remember the sound of making it."
Tigh nodded again. "This was recovered from the woods after the Rómendar retreated. It would seem they knew the making of it as Vale Elves did. Some have made their shelters or garments of the cloth."
"I have been thinking it looked the same, so this is not your work, but theirs."
"Yes. We shall see if it holds up over the journey. It has not been tested in all weather conditions."
"The snow itself can be made into shelters, and if there is no snow, a simple shelter is all that is needed for survival, and warm layers around the body."
"I wish a little better than survival for Lathe."
Dale did not speak of the child. Elves would usually not take a child along on such a journey, unless they had been called to a march by a god or were of the wandering sort, and then they would take the child along and be fiercely protective. It was probably best not to speak of Lathe unless his adopted family mentioned him first or the child was present. Dale hoped the child had enough food. "The Elves are cooking separately?"
"Of course."
"Would any of this meat be use to you?"
"Perhaps the birds, but I am not certain. The rest is strange food, Dale."
"I will ask them."
Dale found the Elves tasked with cooking for their number, which included the Swords plus nine others in the camp. It seemed everyone else was eating what Orcs cooked, which would have seemed quite disturbing to Dale not long ago, but he was certain these Orcs had no people over their fires. He offered meat to the Elves and after questions about how the animals had been killed and how long ago it had been, the cooks accepted the birds with quick words of thanks. The rest Dale delivered to the second cooking area, where Setsugekka was working alongside lowly ranked Orcs and some Rómendar to prepare food for over 500.
The Orcs Marduk had gathered for entry into the Silver Wood and its defense had come from many Clans, and had included rogues, and through battle and schemes the make up of the Clans had changed, and those remaining had inherited the supplies carried by all the fallen Orcs and retained much of their own, so that they were not short on any gear or equipment Orcs would find useful. They were only short of food. Orcs on a march were accustomed to soups and stews that stretched a small amount of meat to feed many and there were Orcs in the trade of soup making as there were ladder makers or brewers.
A few of the Orcs knew of Wizard methods for cooking, but here the Orcs had attempted to make fires with brush and kindling they had found. They were just outside the Wood then, and had not dared fell trees there but had collected some dead wood and carried it. Most Orcs had few personal belongings and so much of what they carried on their backs benefited a Clan and its Chieftain. A smart Chieftain made certain the Orcs understood the gear would be used to provide for them as well, if they carried it.
Nergal-Chieftain's Clan had been charged with hunting and already some meat had been found. Nergal's Clan was now the smallest of those allied here, as Gibil-Chieftain's Clan had grown when they took in the remainder of Jareth's former Clan. Nergal had less than 80 Orcs, but the number included some remaining Easterners and a large proportion of cross-breed Easterner-Westerner Orcs. They knew this land along the road close to the Dark Lord's former realm.
The soupmakers accepted Dale's meat and promised to add the meat and juice to the soup. Dale reserved a snake he had dug from its burrow and crouched near Setsugekka to skin it. He did not want to eat the soup with blood in it. He noted she was cooking in some smaller pots, so it seemed the Wizard and she were not actually eating what the Orcs cooked. The Grey and Jareth were both hovering nearby, watching each other.
Dale had noticed that The Grey walked alongside Setsugekka's horse and spoke to her whenever Dale was not beside her. He felt suspicious, but kept from acting, because he believed this Wizard could be trusted enough to allow him to speak to the Priestess.
The next two days went similarly to the first of the journey. By day they moved, with only Dale, Duma, Setsugekka and Ugarit riding at all, and they often walked alongside the horses. They might eat some preserved foods or way bread as they moved, but they did not stop to make meals but once a day, when they also took rest. Marduk saw to the orderly set up of the camp, which included breaking up arguments each night.
They had begun sending out hunters, foragers and scouts during the day, so that they did not have to look for food after camp was made.
At the camp, food would be prepared and eaten and then the Orcs rested. The Elves washed and said prayers before they rested. There had been some argument over washing, because the Elves, though they had shared a bathing pavilion with Orcs in the Wood, were often anxious about their privacy, or lack of it. It was winter and they were not near running water and so washing involved filtering of melting snow and cloths and basins or water tossed on coals within a tent to make steam. Both processes involved nude or barely dressed Elves gathered inside tents and they were often wary about the positioning of flaps and orientation of tents that would allow any who were not Elves to look in on them.
There were always other arguments. An Orc might complain that an Elf treated them like a prisoner being led to a dungeon or an Elf would complain that the scent of the Orcs meal made them sick.
Marduk and Lenaduiniel used their influence to settle arguments between Elves and Orcs, but now the Orcs had the word of many they were to receive land, some were suspicious of Lenaduiniel, especially as she now was accompanied by Annavala near everywhere she went and often by other Rómendar, who had been allowed to carry weapons since leaving the Wood.
The Rómendar being allowed to carry weapons had even upset Elves, but Lenaduiniel had insisted that though Marduk might be in charge of many Orcs and Dernder the Elven Swords, the Rómendar were specifically her prisoners who had surrendered themselves to her custody and as she was escorting them to her fathers kingdom, she could allow them to do as she willed. They had shown they were skilled at hunting and foraging as any of the other teams of Elves or Orcs that went out.
When Setsugekka received Laurel's message to instruct Duma to send someone through the mines to give a sign they had arrived, Duma and Dale were in an argument.
Perhaps it was that sheltering many in small tents and lean-tos each night had caused some to become more easily frustrated with each other, or the prospect of actually reaching the Mines. It seemed to all that there was more tension and argument in the camp than there had been within the Silver Wood.
Duma wanted Dale to go into the Mines with them, if he had to go, and Dale yet refused. He was unable thus far to give a reason for his decision that satisfied Duma. Dale was irritable as it was. He had felt rather differently within the Wood, but now he was moving again, and Tsuki was not with him. He did not have Beryl or Laurel's expert knowledge of herbs and healing. He did not have Fei's particular sense of humor to cheer him.
He wanted to be someone who could be content and merry and get on with Duma, but it irritated Dale how Duma and Ugarit were so close. To him it seemed they were always touching. It had annoyed him that it had not seemed to disturb Duma when he came upon Dale and Tsuki, but it annoyed him that he was disturbed to come upon Duma and Ugarit.
It was no simple matter of pitching separate shelters, as they already had. Everyone was just so close within the camp. The reason the Elves were paranoid Orcs were watching them bathe was the same Dale was feeling irritated. Orcs had no sense of private space. Even if a Chieftain sometimes took a shelter for himself, it was not out of need for privacy, but only out of want for the shelter itself; the privacy the walls might provide was coincidental.
They were not technically in the Wood anymore, and so there was no reason Orcs, even if they be neither male or female, could not engage in breeding activity. There was little chance the cold ground would make an efficient breeding pit, but the activity was done because it could be done and it was the way of Orcs.
It offended the Elves greatly to be at their prayers in the evening and to witness the sounds, or even sights of Orc breeding. Dale had seen such things many times and tried to ignore it, but then he would become upset again when Duma and Ugarit sat nearby talking about how good it was that the Orcs of these Clans understood how to make the most strong, smart males and females.
It was late when Setsugekka delivered her message to Duma. She told him what Laurel had said and that it was Beryl's suggestion.
"Dale, did you hear? If you and Setsugekka came with us, we would have a stone, and Lenaduiniel would still take the Earth Stone where she went, with the others."
"I am trying to sleep," Dale said.
Duma clacked his barbell against his teeth. They knew Dale had not been sleeping. Sometimes, during the middle of the day, he seemed half asleep and spoke as if Tsuki was near, but he did not really sleep in the nights.
Duma did not like Dale's answers. Dale used to tell him what to do and get mad at Tsuki for helping him too much and insist Duma take lessons. Now they did not have Beryl to give him lessons in Elven language and Lore and Lenaduiniel was often busy. She had told him he was good enough to improve on his own. She had said she did not need to teach him anymore. Duma did not like how this made him feel. He had Ugarit with him, but she was different. She did not feel wiser or older. The truth was, Duma was years older than Ugarit and as intelligent as she was, he had knowledge in areas she did not and had much experience that she did not and she had submitted to him.
Duma was hers in that he was the male she was bound to. Ugarit might use the word mate. Otherwise, Ugarit was Duma's. They had fought to come to this realization, but Duma was the leader and she the follower, and this was what Ugarit had wanted from the start. She had wanted Duma to prove how he could make a female willing, to prove that he was stronger, and then to use his strength to protect her. She had waited for him to claim her, and brought the claim out of him with argument. She was his, not as a thing to use, but as a person he was responsible for. She was his to keep and protect.
Dale thought Ugarit seemed changed and love struck. He thought her a little weaker than he had previously thought. Ugarit saw how Dale looked at her, but she did not care. Duma had proven his right to have and keep her in her eyes, that was all that mattered to her.
Being this was so, Duma was feeling lost, because even though Ugarit saw him as a fit mate and protector, he still saw himself as weak, ignorant and in need of protection compared to some others, like Dale, or Lenaduiniel, or Beryl. He felt abandoned and tested and uncertain all the time and the feeling seemed to increase as they journeyed closer to the mines.
Dale could see Duma was upset, but in his own irritability, was finding it challenging to find words to make Duma understand. Within the first week of the journey they had already begun spending time apart as much as possible. Dale often was with Tigh or with Gwindor and Duma, though often with Lain, or with Alqua and Are as well, if Ugarit was with them, spent time visiting other Orcs.
Duma seemed to have a gift for bartering and could often find what one wanted by going to others they would not talk to themselves and so often was intermediary and thanked by both parties when they got what they needed. Ugarit wondered if he had learned it from Kato, but Gwindor pointed out that Dale had done much the same during his training. Even those who had gossiped about Dale had been willing to make trades with him, because he could get what they needed more easily than they could.
As they were continuing north, their friends to the west were departing the capitol after a full day of rest. Beryl had been given an audience with the King and Queen in that time, but little new had come of it. Mostly they had wished to hear his account of what had happened on the mountain. The Queen had returned Beryl's brooch, which had been delivered to her and also spoke to him of Elves and Wizards in their mutual acquaintance and news she had learned of them, but this news was nothing Beryl felt he need pass along to others in his party.
Their party was smaller than that Dale traveled with, as Sam had not brought the full number of Southmen loyal to Kato and Anto's Ranger escort was relatively small. They were just over thirty in number. They were without the services of a Wizard, but they had many who knew herblore, and who could hunt and forage, including a group of experienced Rangers who were trained to survive in the wild. They did not even have need of such services along most of the way, as they took the road this time, not being hunted by Orcs, and went through towns and villages along the way.
Their way was much more pleasant, than Dale's.