Morning came and a light fog had covered the valley. The freezing mist attached itself to the city’s external walls and the statues in the courtyard, coating them with a thin layer of ice.
Draq continued to watch from the Mountain King’s neck. He knew calm peaceful times could change to dreadful encounters in a few heart beats.
Thorik and Emilen had said goodbye to the other Nums during breakfast and were leaving the city and following Ambrosius and Grewen by a few stones throw. The two Nums held hands while listening to the cracking of frozen grass under their feet as they headed around the lake.
Emilen turned around and waved at Avanda, Brimmelle, and Wess as the three loaded their gear into one of the several rowboats that rested at the slippery docks, just outside of the city.
“Uncle Wess, I don’t want to go back without Thorik and Emilen.” Avanda struggled with the idea of splitting up the party.
“I know. Nor do I. But it looks like we missed our chance.”
“Our chance for what?”
“Nothing.” He realized he had been caught in an emotional moment while gawking at Emilen. Wess waved back to her, disappointed that his chance with Emilen had just ended. He turned and prepared the boat for the downstream voyage, following orders from his Fir, whose voice was loud enough to carry across the lake.
Finished loading the boat, Brimmelle realized that Gluic wasn’t around. She had run off ahead to show Ambrosius and Grewen her new stones and nuggets of gold.
Brimmelle yelled for his mother several times before he raced his stocky body from the docks toward her, slipping on the ice and falling twice along the way. At his pace, it took several minutes to pass Thorik and Emilen and reach his mother. He was out of breath. “Mother, we’re leaving.”
“Yes we are, I didn’t think you were coming,” Gluic said to her son before she continued to explain what each of her stones was used for. “These red rubies help energize and motivate you, and this pink crystal removes emotional debris from your heart,” she informed Grewen.
Brimmelle caught his breath enough to speak again. “We’re not going to Woodlen, we’re leaving to go back home to Farbank.”
Gluic stopped and kissed his cheek. “You have a safe trip and button up that shirt. I don’t want my son to catch a cold while I’m not around to help.” She buttoned up his shirt for him while talking.
“No, Mother, you’re coming with us to Farbank.”
“I can’t right now dear, but I’ll meet you when we get done.” She proceeded to catch up to Grewen; leaving Brimmelle confused and frustrated.
“Wess!” Brimmelle yelled back to the docks. “Unload my things. I’m going to Woodlen.” Slumping his shoulders, he began his walk back to the docks, passing Thorik and Emilen again.
“Yes! Here we come,” Avanda sang out from the dock’s edge.
Not overly surprised with the change, Wess unloaded the supplies while the group moved out of visual range. He once again had a chance with Emilen. All he needed was the right opening.
As Wess and Avanda approached the Fir with all of the gear, Brimmelle questioned, “I told you to unload my things. You two are still going back to Farbank.” Avanda looked down, disappointed.
Wess took Brimmelle aside, “I know, but what if Ambrosius is the man we think he is, you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
Brimmelle thought for a moment. “True. But we still have to warn Farbank of the Thrashers and outside the valley is no place for a child.”
“We can send a boat down river with a message. The current should get it caught in the pond, like everything else that floats down the river.” The ‘pond’ was actually an eddy in the river near Farbank that had widened the banks such that debris riding the river often would get caught and circle there for days before continuing downstream. “If it should make it past the pond, it will get caught in the Longfield fishing nets and they will send someone upstream to warn Farbank. And as far as Avanda goes, she’s in no more danger with us than trying to get past thrashers along the river bank.”
Brimmelle sighed as he saw Wess’ reasoning and welcomed the thought of an ally on their journey. “All right. Send the note and let’s hope it finds its mark. We’re going to Woodlen,” he commanded, as though it was his idea.
Avanda’s face lit up as she raced ahead to tell the rest of the party.
Brimmelle followed her while Wess returned to the dock and prepared the boat for its own journey downstream.
As the five leading members approached the bridge, Ambrosius stopped at its mouth while the other four continued over it. Grewen, Gluic, Avanda and Brimmelle stopped halfway across to wait for Ambrosius, who had disappeared from their sight for a minute, only to return again from alongside of the bridge’s entrance.
Thorik and Emilen approached the bridge as Ambrosius rounded the corner to make his way up onto the deck of the bridge. Thorik immediately realized that Ambrosius had swapped out his original metal staff with the antler-crowned hazelwood one that Thorik had made.
Ambrosius glanced over at Thorik and then at his staff. “New beginnings.” With a soft grin, he turned back toward Grewen to move forward onto their destination.
Chapter 19
Frozen Slopes