They all looked at Tato because of his accent and stood speechless for a moment. Elkin grew tired of waiting for the adventurers to speak and then said: "The answer to your question, young Sir, is rather complicated and has to do with this young lad lying behind us. We are merely rescuing him." Tato said: "I see kind Sir." Finally, fast Rollvag regained his usual composure.
"Hail and well met! The fighting abilities of you and your friend are impressive -- not to mention your timing. Welcome and please make yourself comfortable in our hospitality -- as little as it may be."
Tato answered directly. "Why thank you Sir. It will be my pleasure, and I am quite used to life in the woods -- and the lore thereof makes a little become very much more!"
"Well spoken!," said Longsilver.
Rollvag continued: "This is Longsilver, a fighting elf and our musician."
"How do you do!" said Longsilver with a bow.
"This is Cher, a fighting maiden and humwe."
"Pleased to meet you!" said Cher without a curtsy.
"This is Kuros, a young wizard and an intellectual fellow."
"Hail!" said Kuros as he beat his chest with his fist once.
"This is Tara, a healer and a mild mannered companion."
"Hello!" said Tara with a curtsy.
"This is Byc, a huntsman and sturdy gnome."
"Many thanks." said Byc with a wave.
"This is Elkin- an elf that rescued us from the clutches of Baldor. Elkin nodded once, but kept silent.
Tato said "Quite a feat!"
"And I am Rollvag, noble freeman and fellow adventurer."
"Hail and well met, all of you!" said Tato finally.
Just then, Longsilver put his hand on his ribs and grimaced with pain. This stopped any further introductions. Kuros turned to Longsilver full of concern and asked "Longsilver! Are you all right?" Longsilver answered "My ribs hurt slightly, but otherwise I'm fine." Next, it was Byc's turn to say:
"Well gentlemen, concerning these lizards, maybe you'll believe me next time!"
"I certainly will respect your ability," said Rollvag.
Tato exclaimed, "I have never seen such creatures before!"
Elkin said "They are Tzaenog, from the Swamps of Mist."
Cher said: "I suggest that we immediately drag these beasties down wind and let Tara take their hides for armor and trade."
"What a great idea!" said Tara.
Elkin said: "I can hold this light for a little while longer, at least until the work is completed."
It took the strength of Cher, Tara, Rollvag, and Tato to drag each lizard away from the encampment. Tara showed them how to use the swords, the shrike and some arrow points to cut the tough hides. They took them up, stretched and tied them on some of the poles that they had cut earlier, and finally set them at the fire's edge to dry. At that point, Rollvag secured the goats and Elkin gave the diamond back to Kuros.
They moved to a corner of the encampment upwind of the lizard smell. As the group prepared to finally sit down, Tato had made his decision and asked them: "Can I join your little group? What I mean to say is that my esquire has told me to stay at our cabin, and I rather think that he means to discipline me and have me leave apprenticeship, even though I am already a master apprentice. I have been raised here in Trader's Nest and the surrounding Sparkle Valley, and I have many woodsmanship skills that could be of use to you."
"Yes, of course!" said Rollvag.
"Sure!" said Kuros and Tara together.
"Why not!" said Byc.
"Fine!" said Cher.
"It would be a relief to have another woodsman around!" said Longsilver.
"It seems that we are all in agreement." stated Elkin gravely. Remember, Tato, that the adventurer's life is not always easy, but the rewards are great to those who persevere; Come, let us enjoy the fire and eat a meal!" They ate venison jerky, nuts, turnip roots, and clear water from Sparkle Stream mixed with berries. Everyone ate their fill, except for Kip, who looked distant and unhappy, as if he was pained by something. The others, after they had finished, sat around and looked at him, waiting for him to say something. Finally, Rollvag had enough of the silence and blurted out: "Well, don't just sit there, Sir! We have pulled you through sickness and peril, so you had better start explaining yourself to us!" "Yes," said Tato, much more gently, "Why are the Drogs after you?"
An awkward moment followed the questions as Kip bowed his head. A proud and despairing voice uttered from Kip's lips: "The answer to that question is simply: `Drogs hate goodness.'"
Kuros, who was a bit more constructive in his interrogation, said "What do you call yourself?"
"I am called Kip."
Kuros continued: "And what were you among the Drog- since that is obviously where you came from?"
"I was the good Prince of Kanoli, a central mountain tribe."
Rollvag, who reflected on his treatment as a slave, said "And what is good to a Drog?"
Kip seemed unperturbed and said: "My tribe believed in such things as an honest day's pay for an honest day's work, the value of a man's word, in a trial by peers, and we did not allow slavery in our kingdom."
Kuros questioned him some more: "Why do you use the past tense, Kip?"
"My kingdom is no more. The other tribes killed my family, captured our tower, and took captive any of my people that they had not slain. They destroyed the last remaining voice of reason in Baldor."
Kuros pressed on: "How did you get here?"
"I escaped via a cave beneath the fortress, after being pursued by a humwe. Then I climbed, walked, and slid my way over the mountains. I got sick and weary, I lay down, and then I awoke here. Now I suppose that I am your prisoner..."
"Why do you say that, Kip?," continued Kuros.
"Well, you are obviously Patrol Officers of the North Holdings," Kip said as he pointed at Tato's Forester Pin.
Cher and Rollvag began to laugh, but Kuros silenced them with a wave and said: "If we are Patrol Officers, what would you say to us?"
Kip pondered this and said: "Promise me that if you are able -- you will one day return Kanoli to me. Beyond that, I don't know."
Kuros grit his teeth and chewed out the following: "Well then, Kip, to whom do you owe your loyalty?"
"To you. I am at your service. I owe you a life debt for saving me both from the Tzaenog and exposure to the elements. I have nothing to go back for, nor any loyalty to Baldor anymore."
Kuros got visibly excited. "I see," he said, "If we believe you and you're telling the truth, then you could be of great aid to us..."
"I can never repay you in fact...," said Kip.
"But," interrupted Kuros, "if you're running from them because of thievery and you're lying to us, you could then turn us over to them..." Kuros then waited to see if Kip took the bait...
Kip merely shook his head and sadly stated: "They killed my family. I owe them nothing and have every right to yearn to restore peace and goodness on the coast of the Azure..."
Kuros pondered this as Elkin said: "Those are wise words." Finally, Kuros asked: "Will you take an oath?"
"Yes!"
"Do you swear that you have told us the truth?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to swear fealty to our adventurous band for as long as it remains active or until we have decided to leave you with the proper authorities, and that loyalty shall remain binding even if you must defend us with your life?"
"I do."
Then Kuros motioned for Byc to follow him. They both got up and had a chat, but just within ear shot. As you can imagine, their conversation went something like this:
"Well Byc, is he telling the truth?"
"Yes, Kuros, and he must be very strong to endure all he's suffered."
Rollvag had enough for the second time that evening:
"All right Kip, Strip! We've got to find out what you have that Drogs want -- other than revenge."
Elkin interceded on Kip's behalf.
"Stop! That won't be necessary. I know how they are tracking him: by smell. No, don't worry, the odor will dissipate. However, just to be on the safe side; Kip, take these clothes. Cher, take everything of Kip's and hang it on the top branch of that tree over there, and yes Kip, that includes your Royalty Pendant.
Kip was shocked: "How did you know?"
"Never mind," answered Elkin, "but if you really want rescue, then you must do what we tell you to do." Kip blinked and handed the pendant to Cher.
Elkin continued as everyone listened respectively. "Let me ask you this: Where will you head?" Everyone answered at once:
"To the Post!," said Cher and Tara.
"To the village!," said Rollvag and Kuros.
"Anywhere!," said Tato, Byc and Longsilver.
Elkin just smiled as Kuros said: "Well, well, why don't we just take the North Ridge Trail to the village; and stop at the Post on the way by; since part of us want to explore and part of us want to return to civilization."
"Fine!," said everyone else.
Then Elkin spoke again: "Since we are going on the North Ridge Trail, we will at first head south and then go to a nearby stream; where Longsilver and Tato must use every trick they know to hide our trail. Then Tato must use his efereet to fly us one at a time several kai north of here."
"But what about the goats?," asked Rollvag.
"We'll tie them together end to end with straw and send them up into the mountains to make a trail of their own. Don't worry, the straw will eventually break and the goats will split up -- further confusing our enemy." Before Rollvag could say any more, Elkin said "And we'll find more goats waiting for us at the Post."
Rollvag was amazed. Kuros was shocked. Tato was the least effected and said "Neat!" Cher said, "What about Browny?," as she pointed at the big shadow lurking just outside the firelight.
Elkin merely grinned more profusely and said: "I expect that he'll meet us in the Arbor hills." There followed more surprised looks as Elkin continued: "There is more that I must say. Tato has expressed interest in forming an army to go to the coast and fight the Drogs.
"Perhaps it is time that I explained what you are all up against. To begin with, the coast of Baldor is eighteen hundred kai long and seventeen tribes inhabit it. All of the tribes are harsh and unyielding. They have a fierce code of honor, yet they pretend to obey it and then later disobey it for personal gain. For example, they fight in rag-tag groups that try to out maneuver each other -- each trying for the greatest fame in battle. They will even fight amongst themselves to gain their "bahdah" or personal honor.
What I am telling you is that you can not simply march west alone and unprepared and expect to defeat the enemy." Elkin closed his eyes as if in prayer. "Oh brazen tribes, how long will you struggle against good and just ways! How long will your acts go unnoticed?... One day Baldor will be reconquered, but who will unite the armies of Arveta, who will tell them of the injustices done in Baldor, that they will open their eyes and pick up their arms!..."
The adventurers lowered their heads and contemplated Elkin's words. Byc was the first to speak after the oration: "I guess we had better get some sleep; who will take the first watch?"
Longsilver and Tato volunteered. The fire continued to burn brightly, the wind whispered through the tree branches, and the weary band settled down for the night.
When they awoke, they found that each of them had a square breast plate of lizard leather and that Tara, who had the last watch, sat quietly observing their surprised faces. The second thing that they noticed was that Kip had red hair and a dark complexion! Elkin said "Hold your peace! I have merely disguised him." There was no time to waste, and they did as Elkin had told them, while Cher flew ahead of them to scout out the area by the stream...
The short, knotty mountain pines stood clumped together along the grey trail. Cher flew hurriedly. She skimmed slightly above the tree tops and looked ahead and side to side. She stopped periodically to see if anyone had spotted her. The map had said that there was a North West Post ahead, but she knew that all she had to do was follow the trail and it would eventually lead to it. The trail was nothing more than an old logging road, and wagon wheels had worn a track in it. In some places, the wheels had scored ruts in the very rocks! "Judging by the height of the grass in the center," thought Cher, "this road hasn't been used in a long time."
The sky was bright blue with small puffy cumulus clouds. The air was crisp and clear and delightful to breath.
Soon the road began to wind up a mountain again. In fact, it began to loop towards a high rocky outcropping at the edge of a plateau. That's when she spotted it. At the outcropping's highest western edge she saw this.
It was a small eighty yarn diameter, twenty yarn high bastion with a palisade and a rocky inclined escarpment. It also had two smoke stacks. There was one odd thing about it however: the arrow slits were constructed to allow archers to shoot up as well as out! Cher pondered all this as she flew around the post in a circle and watched for enemy observers. Satisfied that no one was present, she dove down to the top of the bastion, braked quickly, and landed lightly on the cement roof. She had an uneasy feeling as the stone palisade surrounded her.
In the center was a stone trap door. Cher bounded over to it, stood behind the hinge, and opened it slowly with her great strength. She saw that a ladder descended down to the floor below, and that there wasn't much light. Nothing assailed her, so she took out her axe and wooden shield and walked down gingerly. The first thing she noticed was a crisp evergreen scent. Then, when she had reached the fifth step, she saw an oil lantern hanging from the ceiling. Carefully, she laid her shield on top of the stairs and lit the lamp. This is what she saw:
There were twelve double bunk cots, eight chairs, one desk, one blackboard, one drawing table, one stove, one huge cabinet with two drums and a horn sitting on its top, one complete blacksmith working area, and many utensils hanging on the wall next to the stove. Then she saw it: a bright and shiny round metal shield hanging on the wall. Overjoyed, she jumped of the ladder, landed softly on the concrete floor, ran over to it and grabbed it brazenly. Cher found that the shield was made of some lightweight but strong and durable metal, and it fit her arm perfectly.
Emblazoned on the shield was a gold four pointed star with wings. Happily, she ran back up the stairs, blew out the lantern, shut the trap door, and flew back to the other adventurers to tell them what she had found!
When she spotted them on the trail, they all looked tired of hiking. Tato, of course, spotted Cher slightly after she saw the group; and he waved at her with a smile on his face. Tato then alerted the other hikers to her presence. Cher was positively beaming. She alighted in front of them and started talking: "Greetings, Men of the March. The place we are headed for is perfect for our needs! It has..."
"Well that's terrific!," interrupted Rollvag.
"What's it like?," asked Longsilver at the same time.
"One at a time!," chided Byc.
"It's a round bastion," continued Cher, "Well fortified, a little small and unused perhaps, but it has a blacksmith's furnace!"
"A furnace!" said Tato excitedly.
"I am not surprised." said Elkin. "Cher should be able to make some weapons with it." he added.
The hikers headed for the Post, while Cher scouted ahead of them. Elkin spoke hurriedly to them on their way there: "Technically, this valley is part of an unclaimed territory that you could own together, although the North Holding would require a written check before it would recognize that fact. The point is, don't damage the post because many people use it; including weary travelers like ourselves..."
As they walked carefully up the escarpment, the majestic plateau came into view. It looked as if part of the mountain had been sheared off. The plateau had plentiful, although short leafed, green grass on it. Many herd animals grazed there, including goats, deer, and antelope. They noticed that a small army could easily defend it, because the edges of the plateau formed a steep bluff on three sides, except where the road came up. Yet there was plenty of room to retreat to the Northwest into the mountains.
The bastion, of course, looked out of place at the edge of all the scenery, but it was supposed to be a lookout point anyway. Cher landed on top of the Post as they reached it.
"Hey, Cher!" called Rollvag, "Does this thing have any doors?"
"Only this stone trap door on top," answered Cher. "Well then," said Kuros, "How are we gonna get inside, and what if we get trapped inside?"
Just then, Tara exclaimed: "It's an aviator post!"
"Don't worry," said Elkin, "There are two other ways out."
Then Cher and Tato's effereet lifted them up to the top of the bastion, along with their equipment and weapons. Everyone climbed down inside noisily, where they discovered warm air and cozy surroundings.
Kuros looked around and said: "All right, where's that exi... Whoa! this must be it..." Everyone saw a stone trap door in the floor... (END STORYLINE)
This is what you see. What will you do? (Q1)
Note one: Trip to village temporarily postponed. Tato draws the enclosed rough sketch of Trader's Nest on the blackboard. He says: "My adopted family owns the Trading Post. What are you looking for?" (Q2)
You may now improve one characteristic. Which? (Q3)
THE STOLEN ONES
- Yes, they came from across the wide Azure,
From mountain, forest and glacier.
Made prisoners, yes, beneath Baldor stones;
As slaves the chains did batter.
Oh stolen ones,
The lonely ones,
Taken from across the water.
Oh stolen ones,
Enslaven ones,
Must escape the stones of Baldor.
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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