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Celedryl headed northward to a stand of oak that would provide them with some measure of shelter from the wind and firewood for a nice warm fire. Walking beside her Farwalker kept turning his head looking back to see whether the two outsiders were following them. Not far from the stand of trees is another of the many streams that intersects the valley. Leaning her bow up against one to the trees, she put her arrow back in her quiver quickly setting her backpack on the ground her new companions walking up behind her.
Opening her pack Celedryl pulled out a pot handing it to Danielle pointing to the small stream gurgling softly just beyond the trees. Danielle graciously took the pot going to the stream to fill it with water. Celedryl hesitantly grabbed the handle of her hunting knife pulling it from the sheath at her waist handing it to Ethan. He looked at the knife in his hand wondering what he is supposed to do with it. With a questioning look, he watched her rummaging through her pack. A little nervous that he is holding the knife but sensing no evil intent from him, Celedryl handed him a piece of flint so he could start a fire. Ethan had seen in history-vids showing primitives using knife blades to create sparks by striking flint with a steel blade so he had a good idea how to start a fire. He quickly gathered some kindling to start a fire when he noticed a fire pit already dug. The girl must uses this campsite often he thought, gathering more kindling. Looking back, he saw that Celedryl had her bow in her hand and with the wolf following; they walked away presumably to hunt for food.
Danielle returned with the pot of water by the time he had a small fire going. She set the pot on the convenient piece of flat mica in the fire pit used for heating and cooking. Ethan looked up noticing she had washed her face and untied her hair letting it hang freely down her back. She noticed him looking at her and gave him a little smile of assurance. He smiled back at her and went to the stream to wash some. He really wished he had a change of clothes thinking he is going to need warmer clothes than he had on now. By the time, he returned to the fire, the girl and her wolf had returned. Thinking he might be able to learn something, he watched her closely spit two cleaned rabbits over the fire, quickly noticing that Farwalker was already eating one of his own.
Covertly glancing at her to companions Celedryl thought, at least I do not have to worry about them staying clean. I wonder what they call themselves. The girl looks as if she could be part of our clan certainly more than I do. That brought on a regretful feeling that made her think about the past so she hurriedly forced the thoughts from her mind. She had more to think about than her mixed breeding that she could not change even if she wanted to. With her hunting knife, she cut pieces of the cooking rabbit throwing it in the boiling water. Reaching into her pack, she took out a small leather bag untie the leather string holding it closed. Reaching into the bag she tossed in small potatoes, onions, garlic cloves, dried bacon, parsley, thyme, bay leaf and other herbs into the pot. Before long, they could smell the cooking rabbit and the boiling stew making their mouths water in anticipation.
They finished their enjoyable meal, cleaned up and soon found themselves sitting by the fire enjoying the beautiful night. Farwalker sat with Celedryl staring out into the night sniffing the breeze blowing toward the camp while both Danielle and Ethan stared into the fire absorbed in their thoughts. Celedryl thought she would try to communicate with her two strange companions.
“I know we do not speak the same language but we can try to learn each other's names. My name is Celedryl,” she said pointing at her chest.
Sharing names in each of their languages brought much needed laughter around the campfire, their attempts to say them correctly very comical. Trying Farwalker’s name, brought on more hilarity at the sounds they were making and trying to emulate. Celedryl was astounded at how fast her two companions took to her language and she theirs. They tried common things around them, hunting knife, backpack, on an on until it got later than they thought. Deciding they had better get some sleep because they had a long walk tomorrow Celedryl laid out her ground fur offering it to her companions and she would sleep on the ground but Ethan refused. Celedryl was not sure what that meant but she would hold that thought for later.
When the morning sun crested the eastern peaks of the mountains Ethan and Danielle felt as if they opened their eyes from a dream into reality not waking on the Intrepid. Ethan went back to where the escape pods landed and keyed in the silent self-destruct code sending a cross polarity high-energy charge through the system reducing the electronics to melted circuits and metal slag. That way they would not fall into enemy hands intact and the destruction would be quiet as opposed to blowing them up and possibly giving away their location. The choice of blowing them up was still available in dire need and could be set on a timer so the occupants could escape the blast and their pursuers would walk into a trap and be killed by the explosion.
When Ethan returned Celedryl could not but help noticed her new companion's gloominess, silently keeping their troubles to themselves. Celedryl wished she had a solution to their troubles but the first thing they need to do is learn the other’s language then they can better understand how to help each other. Once they climbed that giant hurdle, they could look for solutions to help them survive here. In a selfish, but kind way, her curiosity was getting the better of her.
She wanted to know everything she could about them, especially Ethan. He is very attractive to her, he carries himself well, and certainly is a thoughtful person the way he consoled and is very protective of Danielle. Something told her Danielle could take care of herself if the need should arise but she did not seem to mind his attentions. She had deduced that they were not brother and sister them not resembling each other and last night they confirmed it while learning each other’s language. I wonder if they love with each other or maybe they are good friends she wondered. Why had Ethan refused to bed down with Danielle last night was he being chivalrous? She had many unanswered questions nagging at her when the most important question came to her why did she care so much.
They were in no hurry to reach the high valley between the mountains where she lived so they left the camp with Celedryl leading them slowly due west across the valley. From the campsite to her home, it is around eleven leagues. That includes up one side of a mountain through a high pass then down the mountain to the high valley and home. Once they reach the high valley, they have to travel to the center of the valley to her village.
With Celedryl, leading the way they proceeded up the same mountain trail she had used to come to her valley hideaway. Farwalker bounded up the trail sniffing and running like a frisky wolf pup bringing a smile to her face. Celedryl loved the mountains but she knew how dangerous they could be. One misstep and it could be your last. She tried to explain that to her companions but with the language barrier they had, she was not too sure whether they understood.
The trail lazily meandered up the mountain. Stopping at Celedryl‘s favorite spot to look out toward the valley below she could tell by her companion’s expressions that they enjoyed it as much as she. Pausing for a moment enjoying the view, she reluctantly turned away leading them slowly up the narrow winding trail. The going would be slow for a time with many narrow spots and sheer drops of hundreds of feet along the way.
Eventually, they reached an abrupt left turn in the trail where it widened so they could walk side by side. From there they could see a neighboring mountain with a smattering of dwarf fir trees sitting precariously on large outcroppings of granite. These trees are short, stubby like a dwarf, and equally as hardy. They would need to be to survive the harsh winters of these mountains. Mountain goats with their white fur dotted the side of the mountain leaping adroitly from ledge to ledge eating what is left of the sparse mountain grass.
Ahead on the trail and slightly to the left side is a large boulder that had fallen there from a long-ago mountain slide. Stopping abruptly Celedryl put her right arm out to stop her trail mates from proceeding. Celedryl thinking she had heard a noise f
rom behind the boulder that sounded as though steel brushed against it quickly pulled her bow from across her back nocking an arrow ready to let fly if the need arose. The tension was palatable, almost painful from the stress of the moment wondering who or what was behind the boulder. They did not have long to wait when three depraved looking men stepped out from behind the boulder with their hands on the hilts of their daggers.
“Hold up there lass we are travelers like you. No need to get hasty with that bow of yours,” one of the bandits implying he is the leader by his tone and mannerism said with feigned amiability.
Celedryl knew the danger facing then and she hoped her new companions did as well. Quickly glancing at her companions she noted they had shifted on either side of her positioning themselves better to meet the attack that she knew is coming. She hoped her friends were up to it or they were all dead or worse. She surely did not want to know a man for the first time in this state of affairs beset by three of them. She knew that when she lowered her bow they would attack. All three were dressed in leathers and furs with daggers in their belts. Everything about them had an disheveled appearance except their weapons.
She inched her bow downward and as expected, they charged with a yell. Pointing her bow at the lead brigand, she let loose with her arrow. Miraculously he dodged at the last second so it grazed him on the shoulder instead of piercing his heart. Celedryl had counted on being able to take her attacker down swiftly and she knew that it would be impossible for her to triumph in a knife fight against a trained killer. At the last second, a black shadow leaping from the ledge above and to the left struck her attacker in the side knocking him to the ground. Quickly nocking another arrow to defend her companions, she realized they are capable of defending themselves. Returning her attention to the bandit that Farwalker was ripping to shreds she clearly heard him screaming for mercy. Mercy that she would not give him except maybe an arrow in his throat if she could get a clear opening that would not hit her wolf.
Meanwhile, Danielle's leering assailant indolently moved toward her. “I am going to have some fun with you before I kill you,” he jeered continuing forward so overconfident in his ability to kill this weak frightened girl he did not bother removing his dagger from his belt. He did not realize in the least that he would need it and that mistake would cost him his life. Danielle stood there in feigned terror waiting for her attacker to get closer. With a lascivious grin he said, “I am going to take you repeatedly right her on this trail until you die or you enjoy it whichever comes first.”
Her attacker grabbed her shirt with both fists on either side of her body below her shoulders. Moving with the ease of a mountain lion readying to kill, Danielle raised her hands above shoulder height with her fists pointed inward toward her ears quickly bringing her forearms down on the crook of her attacker’s elbows loosening his grip on her shirt bringing her attacker's head forward. Faster than the eye could follow she attacked with a teisho palm heal strike to the chin driving his head backward hard enough snapping his neck, she could hear the snap of his neck as he fell to the ground dead.
The attack is over in seconds but it felt longer to them. Ethan’s attacker lay dead at his feet and Farwalker had finally ripped the throat out of his victim. All three looked at each other in astonishment realizing they had managed to survive an attack unscathed beset by a far superior force. They stripped the corpses of valuables including the daggers and a pouch of gold the leader had. Before they moved on, they decided to throw the bodies down the side of the mountain.
“Ah see we did nae git haur in time," a voice drifted down from the trail above.
“Ah can see 'at ye dunderheid, Ah am th' one who telt ye we would nae make it oan time if we did nae hurry!”
They turned as one to see two dwarfs running down the trail shoving each other all the way. Incredulous to Danielle and Ethan the two dwarfs heading down the trail popped right out of the fairy tale books they had read as children. Celedryl ran to them with her arms outstretched scooping them up in her strong arms hugging them. The look of embarrassment masked their pleasure of seeing her.
“Lit us be lassie fur we hae tae spank yer bahookie liken we did when ye waur jist a wee lassie,” they exclaimed in chorus then all three looked at each other burst out laughing. Ethan and Danielle were taking this in with grins on their faces.
“Uncles you have not spanked me since I turned that snow skunk loose in your hunting shanty ten years ago,” she said laughing so hard tears welled up in her eyes remembering what happened afterward. “You two came running out the door and that little skunk had his tale straight up in the air spraying you for all its worth,” she laughed so hard she started choking. Between, more laughing and coughing Celedryl mirthfully said, “If not for laughing so hard that I was rolling around on the ground in front of your shanty you would have been mystified on who let that skunk in.” The more she laughed her adopted uncles got redder in the face, but that did not stop her from continuing, “You smelled of skunk for a week or more.” Her new friends could not understand all of what she said, but the hilarity of it did not pass them by.
On the other hand, Celedryl s’ uncles did not find any of it as comical as she did, they were as angry as the day it happened. Realizing she may have gone too far when she saw their cross expressions, she quickly regained her composure and introduced her companions to them. With the language barrier being what it is, she tried to introduce her uncles as Hairytoes and Hobnobby. Her uncles had a little difficulty saying the strange names of her companions. It sounded as though they were saying Eatin for Ethan and Danel for Danielle. All of them found the process quite amusing, seeming to assuage her uncle’s tempers.
“Uncles why are you here, not that I am not glad to see you” Celedryl quickly amended.
“We wus following those scoondrels ye an yer friends made befittingly deid,” Hobnobby explained. Hobnobby is average height around four feet tall for a dwarf with stout arms and legs. He had a dwarf-sized battle-ax tucked in his wide leather belt wrapped around his waist. He wore a knee length sleeveless leather jerkin under a sleeveless snow bear fur with matching fur boots on his feet.
“Aye, we wus back followin' th' trail of a big ork huntin' party when we cut across their trail heidin' in thes direction. We decided tae follow them coz we dae nae know what thae were aboot an' why thae would be gaun doon thes trail,” added Hairytoes. Hairytoes is an exact younger version of his brother Hobnobby. He is dressed the same as his brother instead of carrying a heavy looking battle-ax he had a dwarf made sword in a leather scabbard and baldric strapped across his body. The sword named Orcslayer hangs on his right side endowed with imagined power that could cut the orc’s leathery skin with ease. When used in battle against all else, the sword is unusually sharp with no magical abilities. The sword is a dwarf-sized claymore and in the right hands a very dangerous weapon. Strapped across his back is a polished steel buckler that he uses with the sword making for an effective and dangerous combination.
“We wus mair then a wee frightened fur ye lassie ye be usin' thes trail like ye dae. An we wus right, whit we did nae know wus ‘at ye hud some help wi’ ye,” Hobnobby followed quickly.
“Aye we wud hae felt awfu bad if anythin' wud huv happened tae ye lassie,” jumped in Hairytoes.
Celedryl was dumbstruck at how fast they could talk. Quickly so she could get a word in edgewise she asked,” What of the orcs?" Which way were they going when you were tracking them? “She knew that this would start another round of blathering from them but she is concerned that the orcs were this far south of their hunting grounds.
“When we cam foond their trail thae wus heidin' north back tae their huntin' lands. From th’ size of it thaur hud tae be at leest fifty ay them. We hud bin hearin’ rumors of orc movements ‘at wud not be normal fur them sae Brokk sent us tae see whether th’ rumors waur true,” Hairytoes quickly chimed in. Brokk is the clan leader from their village and very concerned that the orcs were ranging too far sout
h and in greater numbers than normal.
“Thae wus comin' frae th' west lassie but when saw th' scoondrels trail heidin' thes way we decided tae follaw them. We can go ower th' pass an' follaw it west tae see whaur it might leid us,” Hobnobby added.
Her village is in the high valley due west of the pass and depending how far the ork trail extended west the orcs could have attacked her village. Struck full force with foreboding at the thought of this Celedryl‘s new friends saw the look of concern on her face wondering why. Only now trying to learn the language did not prepare them for what is transpiring now. Picking up her bow Celedryl started up the mountain trail as quickly as she could while the others hurried after her trying to keep pace.
It took most of the rest of the day to reach the pass. The pass is dotted with an abundance fir across the landscape with a dusting of snow on the ground heralding an early winter with the tops of neighboring mountains covered in snow. The mountains around them were beautiful with fir trees in abundance and mountain sheep jumping from ledge to ledge in search of food. They found a large stand of fir trees on the lee side of the pass to make camp. Working efficiently they had warm food and a fire for the night.
When they woke the following morning, they ate a cold breakfast quickly moving out in a westerly direction when they finished eating. Farwalker was frisky and wanted to play with Celedryl but she is far too eager to get home to her village to play with him. The morning air had a chill to it with another dusting of snow on the ground that fell during the night. The trail meandered over hard rocky ground worn smooth by the wind. Straggly mountain grass struggled desperately to survive poking its way through the rocky ground dotting the landscape in sparse faded green patches. On either side of the trail, thick stands of fir hemmed them in sometimes brushing against them or blocking the trail so they had to work their way around them. It would take much of the day to traverse the pass and down the other side to the entrance of the valley.
The silence was deafening, each understood the urgency choosing to remain silent focusing on getting through the pass as quickly as possible. The going at times was arduous making their way up and down a winding trail through the trees, avoiding beautiful waterfalls and sheer cliffs. If time was not of the essence, they could have taken in the beauty of the mountains and the gorgeous waterfalls enjoying the breathtaking landscape. They hurried on in determined silence and by late afternoon, they started to feel the trail moving steadily downhill. It took the rest of the afternoon to negotiate the mountain trail finally reaching the entrance to the valley Celedryl calls her home.
The first thing they saw upon reaching the entrance of the valley was a majestic view of a large lake surrounded by mountains with an island of dead trees, thickets and briers in the center of the lake. Thrusting from the center of the island like the shaft of a deadly spear thrust deep into the soil killing everything around it a tall black ominous tower detracted from the beauty of the surrounding area sending shivers of dread racing through all that gaze at it.
Smaller mountains covered in northern firs made up a vast forest stretching from the lake northward all the way to the edge of the Northern Wastes and many leagues beyond to the west until reaching the coastline. Pointing across the lake the dwarfs tried to explain to Danielle and Ethan that within those mountains is their home. They explained as best they could with the language barrier that many clans live in the area and not merely dwarfs a smattering of nomadic trolls, and elves roam these mountains. Trading is good and all the clans prospered from the many years of peace they enjoyed. Very grateful for the news the dwarf clans learned about the unexpected movements of the Orcs was from a passing troll.
They set up camp on the edge of Lochhurst Lake the name by which most call the mountain lake but references from the past hint that there are other forgotten names for the lake before its present name. Celedryl’s bow brought down a small mountain deer for supper and breakfast before setting out in the morning. As the evening waned, they sat around the fire continuing to learn each other’s language. Throwing the dwarfs dialect into the mix added even more merriment to the process seeming to help mollify some of the foreboding permeating the camp. Soon with much explaining and hand movements to help them, the newcomers were able to understand what has Celedryl so worried. Ethan asked the dwarfs about the tower and all they could tell him was that it is unoccupied and has been there far longer than anyone alive has today. When Ethan asked them why every time he looked at it he felt fearful and full of anxiety they became evasive and fearful themselves glancing toward the tower in the darkness reluctant to talk about it. To Ethan it seemed that they did not want to talk about the tower. Shying away from the conversation, they rolled up in their blankets for the night.
The sun came up in all its glory over the eastern tips of the mountains bathing the granite tower in sunlight. The black granite absorb the light instead of reflecting it giving it an eerie dark appearance again sending shivers down their spines every time they gazed upon it. The forest around them came alive with the chatter of squirrels and the chirping of many species of birds that call this their home. Some species of birds would be leaving for the warmer southern temperatures anytime now. After a quiet breakfast, they packed the camp and headed in a southeasterly direction.
Following the trail through the fir forest until it started to thin they finally reached the end of the forest and the eastern end of the valley. To reach the opposite end of the valley it would be around two days walking distance or about fourteen leagues. At its widest point it is about nine leagues and the closet points are nearly two leagues wide with Celedryl’s village nearly in the exact center of the valley. The valley floor is mostly of rolling plains, a smattering of hardy red oak trees and knee-high grasses the home of abundant species of wild life and domesticated cattle that her village keeps as a herd. Farwalker loved to run this valley with abandon chasing the Northern Grouse out of the hidden grasses where they made their nests. Many times Celedryl would hunt them using a sling to take them when they flew from their hiding places in the grass.
The sun gleamed hot through the beautiful azure sky making it a little warmer than usual. Walking through the sea of grass carrying their weapons and supplies they were soon sweating freely from the warmth of the sun. With nary a complaint, the dwarfs worked hard to keep pace with their taller friends. As the day progressed, they began to tire stopping to rest and eat the last of the dried meat Celedryl had in her pack enjoying the beautiful day. By late afternoon with the setting of the sun behind the distant mountains, Celedryl felt she should be able to see the welcome glow of the village's cook fires. She noticed the herds scattered wondering where the herding dogs were, and why they were not barking in warning letting the rest of the village know they were there.
“Something is very wrong uncles,” Celedryl said with an anxious tone.
Hobnobby spoke up first, “Ah know lassie ah can feel it tay. Since it is near dark sae it might be better ta bide until mornin before we see tae yer village. Ah say we huv a cold camp, we dinnae want our fire tae be seen if thaur are mair Orcs aboot.”
“Aye lassie Hobby is makin sense fur ance,” Hairytoes said agreeing but earning a stern look from Hobnobby.
Reluctantly they set up a cold camp with nothing to eat. They will need to forage for food tomorrow depending on what they find in the morning. Each of them felt the apprehension that Celedryl is feeling including Farwalker sitting next to her with his head on her leg. She finally laid back with her head on her pack and tried to sleep some. It took all her control not to run off headlong into the night to her village. Dawn brought a shift in wind direction from the northeast to a northwesterly direction bringing cooler air and the instantly recognizable stench of death.