Chapter 21
“Make no sudden movements,” warned Tillendur quietly as the leader of the Man soldiers approached slowly, his hands empty and held above his head.
“He is injured,” signalled Fiorina silently, her expression neutral, “I think he has quite a tale to tell.”
“We wish no conflict, only to pass to the water in peace.” announced the soldier as he halted, his eye drawn instinctively to Fiorina, wonder blossoming.
“We will not bar your passage, if you come forward in friendship,” replied Tillendur, resisting the urge to rush his questioning forward.
“Then I offer my hand in friendship,” replied the Man, lowering his arms and wincing as a scarlet trickle traced from a gash in his leather armour. “I am Captain Steig.”
“Tillendur, of the House of Thamina,” nodded the Elf, “And an officer in the army of the Guild.”
Captain Steig's eyes widened, but no alarm registered in his expression, only a small smile formed on his lips as he shook Tillendur's hand. “You are a long way north.”
“We have urgent business,” nodded Tillendur, “But call your troops forward, drink and relax, then we may talk for a while, and maybe learn the answers to many questions.”
“Maybe I have some small knowledge of your urgent business, maybe not. But let us set aside all past differences, for my throat burns, and naught but dust flows through my veins, I have great need of cool water.”
And so it was that conflict had been avoided, and Fiorina had been proven correct, the Man had no desire to fight, in fact, they had cause to be happy to meet members of the Guild.
“We have been on a mission in the south, a secret mission for our king,” Steig finally admitted after many hours of cautious discussion.
“You met with King Gygax!” Fiorina stated with certainty in her voice, “Do not attempt to deny Captain... your thoughts are revealed to me as clearly as any spoken word.”
“I do not deny this,” he nodded, “It is long overdue that we sat with our cousins, and brothers and sisters. We have been a people divided for too long.”
“This is as music to my ears,” the Nymph sighed happily, “But I am sure that the news will not sit well with your dark overlord!”
“This is true,” Steig laughed, “And were you not of the Guild, I would not have uttered one word, even if my life depended on confession. He knows nothing for the moment, but a day of great jeopardy approaches quickly, he will see it as betrayal, for Gygax will not submit to his will.”
“You had a Gnome in your company?” Tillendur mentioned passively.
“The keeper,” Steig laughed for a moment before concern clouded his expression, “I know of his importance, and I took him under my protection,” he shook his head sadly before continuing quietly, as if speaking to himself. “But my protection proved lacking, for he was stolen away last night, where he was taken I know not. But our intention is to return back along the path and hunt for him until he is found.”
“And if you should find him before us, what are your intentions? To take him to your Dark Lord?” Feron bristled, not attempting to hide his suspicion.
“Nay Master Feron, we only seek to protect him, and deliver him safely from danger. When we learned of his capture we were in the heart of Kangan's stronghold under the mountains to the south. Our secret business with Gygax completed, we paused to resupply. The city buzzed with rumour that the keeper had been finally found, so we attached ourselves to the scouts that held him.”
He paused for a moment deep in thought before continuing. “They are not attentive guards, and soon he lagged behind on the march, I seized the opportunity quickly and claimed him, much to the dismay of that worm Ruaq. But he did not dare argue openly, they fear us. But I knew that he would form a plan to snatch young Gondell back before reaching the capital. I planned to break away here, and then follow the edge of the desert all the way to the sea. I have friends in Ironhaven, they would have taken him away to safety by boat. But my planning failed. Last night my dearest friend Gradden was murdered, stabbed in the back while he stood watch. My friend killed, and the keeper snatched away from under my nose. We all searched for him of course, but those animals have no discipline, soon all traces of any trail were trampled under Goblin boots, curse them.”
“So you have no idea who took him, or how?” asked Fiorina, cautiously probing his thoughts, hunting for deception, but finding none.
“Suspicions, but no facts,” Steig nodded. “At first it seemed inconceivable to me that one of the Goblin guard could have taken him. Taken him where? I asked myself, the plains are vast and barren, there is nowhere to run, only the road offers safety and guidance. Yet later I began to think, who else could have taken him? There are no people on the plains, only animals and the dark creatures of nightmare, but such monsters carry no blade.”
“It is unwise to talk of monsters,” Feron retorted gruffly, “Not all are such, be careful of your words in this company, be not too quick to judge that which you do not understand.”
Fiorina smiled, so quick to jump to the defence of a friend, yet he is the one of us who doubted most at the beginning.
Steig bowed his head in apology before continuing his retelling. “I decided that the only way for us would be to move forward, we still had some small supply of water, but not sufficient to conduct a thorough search. Marching double time, we headed for the pools, in our minds to refill our water bottles and return, hoping against hope that we could pick up a fresh trail. It is on the road that they turned upon us, almost one hundred of them, and only twenty of us. Crazed from the lack of water they attacked, but deep inside I suspect that Ruaq had already planned similar, he had threatened as much, if not spoken clearly his intentions had been plain. The battle was close, the advantage swinging wildly, at one time I thought that they would overpower us, but in that same moment, their attack stalled, and several deserted, three or four ran onto the plains, darting hither and thither, no decided course in their minds, only the urge to flee. Yet one ran in the opposite direction, and he ran with a purpose, as though his direction were known. This is my suspicion, he took the keeper, and now we must track him.”
“This is a sound deduction,” Jebez spoke for the first time as he stepped from behind Ulaff, “For if you had not already guessed, I am one of the monsters of the plains.” he watched Steig's face flush but held up his hand to stem the apology. “Say nothing, for you were correct, I am a monster, at least in my own reckoning,” he smiled as he patted Feron's shoulder. “But you know nothing of the plains, for those who know where to look there are many places to hide, it is completely conceivable that this Goblin took your keeper, the plains around here are riddled with tunnels and passages, the old mine workings abandoned before the great war. If he knows of these, I guarantee that he is behind the abduction.”
“Then our course is clear.” Tillendur stood and threw his quiver over his shoulder, “We must follow, an early alliance of the Guild and the tribe of Man, if that is acceptable to you, Captain Steig?”
“Wholly acceptable,” the captain nodded, “But I would beg a few more minutes, many of my comrades are injured, I would let them rest a while longer, we have marched far, and fought hard today.”
“As you wish,” Tillendur agreed, glancing nervously at the westering sun, his nimble mind working quickly, and hope failing as he understood that darkness would have fallen before they could reach the site of the battle.
“I would suggest another course of action,” Jebez growled as he melted away to reappear as a sleek and muscular hyena, amidst gasps of amazement from the Man soldiers. “Darkness approaches quickly, but I move swiftly in this form, and my nose is unmatched, I can follow any trail in the darkest of nights. I will leave now. I will find your keeper. No Goblin can match me for speed and aggression. Relax here, tend your wounded and rebuild your strength, you will move with more purpose after a night of rest.”
“You are a Man of honour,” Feron declared p
ulling the Ghul aside, “Now you are sure to feel the burden of which we spoke lightening.”
“Friendship between a Dwarf and a Ghul,” Jebez mused, “Is that so unheard of or impossible?”
“I think not, for that friendship is already forged.” Feron replied, patting his strange friend on his shaggy shoulder.
“It is a relief that Jebez can continue the pursuit,” said Tillendur, “Now we must look to our own safety. I think it unwise to sit on a Goblin road, in plain view.”
“The pools form a line along the edge of the sands,” replied Steig, “Only a few miles to the west lies another, quiet and secluded. And well hidden from the road, there we may rest tonight in safety.”
“Then let us move, while there is still some light,” declared Ulaff as he gathered the horses together, “And set up a camp, for my stomach growls and complains like a drunken Dwarf.”
“I must speak to you,” Fiorina signalled, drawing Tillendur's attention, “I cannot camp with you tonight, I must distance myself.”
“I have seen their eyes upon you.” he nodded.
“It is a strain,” she gasped, “I hear their thoughts, I sense their lust, it is wearying for me, to turn their thoughts aside.”
“I understand my love, you must do as you feel best.” he replied, “But stay close, I worry for your safety in this wild place.”
“I am much safer with the animals and creatures of the night, than I would be if I stayed in camp,” she laughed, “They remind me so much of Krossus and Manus, so strong and powerful... but my love for you is stronger than desire, as is the vow that I have made.”
“Temptation stalks you?” the Elf asked, his concern clear.
“Only fleeting moments,” she whispered, “But I love you, and do not forget, only recently did I turn my back on a life time of seduction and flirtation, I am still adjusting to faithfulness.”
“We both knew this would be hard, for both of us, but I trust you, and I love you... just be safe, and return to me in the morning.”
“I will be watching over you,” she whispered, “As I did that first night on the edge of my forest. Do not worry, my love for you is strong.”
Fiorina sat beside a still pool, the fire in Tillendur's camp a small flicker in the distance. “Solitude, at last,” she sighed contentedly as the deerskin tunic slipped from her fingers into the water, followed swiftly by her breeches. “I must not soak them,” she told herself, “Lest they shrink and become useless, now is the time that I need these things most. I must hide myself from them, for their minds are weak.” She shuddered as she recalled their feelings of lust, and revelled in the fantasies that she had drawn from their minds. “Calm yourself, Nymph,” she snapped, clearing her thoughts, swiftly replacing their desires with images of her true love, “Bathe, and enjoy the darkness,” she instructed as she slipped into the cooling water, feeling the heat and dust of the day float away from her skin. “I will wander in the desert for a while,” she decided as she ducked her head below the surface, “The sands are clean, and cooling, and deserted... there I will be safe from temptations.”
Moonlight cast stark shadows across the dunes, hills and ridges of sand shaped by the constant wind, silver shining on their crests like foam on a rolling wave. “A place of stark beauty,” she acknowledged aloud, before scaling the shifting sands to stand nude and proud on the ridge. Glancing back over her shoulder she caught the distant glow of the fire, the tall palm trees standing black against a faint orange radiance. “I will be happy with him,” she sighed, all thoughts of temptation melting away. “Let me wander for a while, let the desert cleanse my soul,” she whispered, before sliding back down the ridge and strolling along a deep and narrow valley of sand.
Lost in her own thoughts, she wandered, without intention drifting ever closer to the continuation of the road that carved a path through the dunes, the glow of Tillendur's fire a memory behind her.
Whispering stopped her instantly as she strained her hearing, a low sound; furtive.
“I tell you, I saw it.” insisted a low voice, an evil sound, deep and gravelly.
“You saw nothing,” scoffed a second, “Imagination, or the bottom of a beer pot.”
“I haven't touched a drop all day, on my honour,” replied the gravel voice, his tone indignant, “And I did see a light in the distance, someone has lit a fire, I swear it.”
Fiorina reached instinctively for her knife, but found only naked skin. Of all the times to let down my guard, she berated, I was too keen to shed those dreadful clothes, how stupid of me, I'm not at home now.
The quiet voices began again, “So lets assume that you are not drunk for once, I suppose we must investigate, come on lads, lets go and find this elusive fire.”
Lads, Fiorina's mind raced, more than two of them, and Steig assured that they would be safe, Tillendur will have not set a watch. I must find out how many there are.
Cautiously she crept forward, guided by the soft sound of creaking leather and the occasional rattle of scale plate armour. A spear head glinted as the moonlight caught its polished face, slowly a small forest of spear shafts emerged from the darkness, Fiorina counted quickly, there are many, she gasped silently as her count reached twenty and still the quiet column came on. I must warn him, her thoughts screamed as she spun on the sand and raced along the valley. On she sprinted, turning and scaling the steep side of a dune without breaking her pace, praying to catch a glimmer of light as she reached the summit.
“There!” she heard a shout from the Goblins hidden in the darkness, but not far behind, “On the ridge, there is someone on the ridge.” instantly she ducked, crouching low.
“I don't see anyone, but use caution lads, none of our own are supposed to be out here, if there is someone here, they can't be up to any good.”
Fiorina's mind raced, I must avoid the ridge crests, there is too much moonlight, and slithering on her stomach she slid down into the next sandy valley. Speed is my advantage, she nodded as she listened hard for sounds of movement, I must run fast, and only when I have put some distance between myself and them can I risk cutting toward the trees, I just hope that I don't run too far and pass the camp.
Uncertainty filled her mind as she sprinted through the soft sand, at a walk the sensation under her feet had been almost sensual, but at speed her dainty feet dug deep, the sand feeling like thick treacle, sapping her energy and tripping her often.
“Far enough,” she gasped aloud, and turned to the sheer dune face, climbing as fast as the free flowing sand would allow. To her eternal delight a clear warm glow emerged as she reached the top. I'm close, she sighed in relief, and risking a few seconds she paused and scanned the desert around for any sign of the Goblins. They are moving cautiously, she realised with relief, and wasting not one second more, she ran as fast as she could toward the light.
Confusion filled the quiet camp as drowsy minds attempted to process the image of a beautiful, and very naked young woman tearing through the trees and into the firelight, her voice high and urgent.
“To arms, soldiers of Man,” she shouted, “Tillendur, Feron, Ulaff, awaken, the enemy is almost upon us.”
Long seconds passed before wide eyed amazement faded to be replaced by steely determination as weapons were drawn and battle lines set facing the trees.
“Lend me this,” whispered Fiorina as she plucked Tillendur's slender bladed dagger from its sheath on his belt, “And worry not for me my love, I have work to do... but be careful, there are many.”
With her words ringing in his ears Tillendur watched her slip back into the shadows of the trees.
“Now, let the fun begin,” he heard Ulaff's deep voice at his shoulder, “I have felt a deep disappointment since earlier today, when only the Man marched into sight, but perhaps now I can scratch the itch that has been annoying me.” And as he spoke, the first line of Goblins crept blinking into the circle of light.
Fiorina darted from the deep shadows cast by the trees and scrambled
quickly over the first low dune, casting herself into the shadow of the valley behind. Their voices were clear and a mixture of their emotions washed over her as she crouched in the darkness, fear and trepidation she felt in many, doubt in others, and the thrill of battle rage in the front ranks. The difference between Goblins and Man, she thought. In camp she had felt their confusion as she raced naked into their midst, but that had cleared swiftly as minds adjusted and absorbed fact. Not one mind held fear, she realised with swelling pride. But now I must be stealthy and alert, for I am sure that they will send a runner back for reinforcements... and I cannot allow that to happen.
Cautiously she crept forward and smiled as she heard their whispered orders, “Only an enemy would camp far from the road, why would they not continue into the desert? All of our friends would head straight to the barracks.”
“We should send spies forward,” a voice suggested, a new voice, fear edged.
“Maggot,” came the reply, “Spies my hairy arse, scurry back to camp and return with another squad if you have not the stomach for a fight.”
“I have the stomach,” the second voice hissed in surly reply, “And I also have some sense, look before you leap, that is sage advice. But if you wish to walk into the lions den before counting how many are in the pride, then be my guest. Personally, I will take your advice and bring help, but I will instruct them to carry shovels rather than spears, for I fear it will be a burial squad.”
You will never reach your camp, Fiorina shuddered as she thought about the work ahead, but no revulsion did she feel, only a keen sense of anticipation.
The Story Continues
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