Greyrawk (Book 2) (23 page)

"See anything?" asked Hobart.

"No movement at all," said Brandalay. "Belderag will need time to ready his soldiers and his battle plans before riding. I'd give him at least one more day. He may have been part of the Dawn Brotherhood, but I don't believe they were expecting the Celaeri this soon. It would be foolish to rush out to battle."

"I wish Kerreth were here," said Hobart. "Loric is too foolhardy sometimes. I guess it's the combination of great swordsmanship and near immortality. He will rush in to battle, his blood hot and stupid. He mutters under his breath about fighting Celaeri and will be heedless once the fighting starts. Besides, he does not have fond memories of living with the Celaeri."

"It is difficult for me to accept how old he is, or any of you for that matter. How old are you, Hobart?"

"I am a little shy of 400 years old. That's just past middle age for my race."

"I never met a Tuor before. Are your skills representative of all Tuors?"

"Mostly. I would think I am a better tracker of people than my brethren. Tuors do hunt for food, but only I have the necessity to track two-legged quarry. Of course, not many of us leave Paglo; we tend to keep to ourselves. We are all brought up to be hunters and we also love to garden. That's one thing I miss, is my garden. I've been with the Talos Company nearly three hundred years - a spec of time for Kerreth, and we have seldom put down roots for more than a few months. Never enough time to properly prepare a garden."

"That wouldn't set right with me," said Brandalay. "I need a place to put down roots; a place of my own. I had it once and Belderag took it away. It's not a good feeling to have nowhere to hang up my sword and till the earth."

"No, it's not. I've been considering leaving the company and returning home. I haven't seen Paglo in sixty years at least. It's time."

"Paglo's your home?"

"Yes. It's in the center of Anavar, near the mountains. It's a beautiful place, full of rolling hills and glades - flowers that seem to bloom all year. Some of the trees flower too and it is easy to lose an afternoon sitting under one."

"Sounds wonderful," said Brandalay. "What I wouldn't give for that."

"My thoughts exactly," muttered the Tuor.

Hobart wandered back toward the camp. Brandalay watched him. A shape to Brandalay's right moved suddenly and he reached for his sword. Alarie Skye laughed.

"I thought you knew I was here."

"I heard nothing. You move silently."

"Are you trying to flatter me?"

"Depends on the consequences," said Brandalay. "It didn't work out for Greyrawk."

Alarie stiffened.

"Is that what you think? That I will bewitch you like my mother bewitched Greyrawk? I thought you trusted me."

"Yes and no. I meant no offense. You are Celaeri and unknown to me. I am attracted to you, Alarie, but I am just a man. Even little Hobart diminishes me lamenting his loss from years in the Talos Company. I am a child here and cannot see my way through the forces I once believed only myth. You overwhelm me and I do not know my path."

"Will you accept my help on your path?"

"I do not know. Can you already see my path?"

"Some of it," said Alarie Skye. "But it is not marked clearly; there are still choices for you to make."

"How do I know the right ones?"

"Tarlac Brandalay, you have lived to middle age among your people and you have faced many dangers, disappointments and renewals without complaint. You are a warrior and a steadfast compatriot. How can you tell me of doubts? You have lived a life devoid of doubts. You are driven and decisive. What is it you are asking?"

"I am shamed again. I am deferring to your greater experience."

"I have walked in the Shadow World for most of my life. Out here, I am no expert. I defer to you."

"Great. Let's attack," said Loric.

Brandalay and Alarie Skye turned to Loric.

"Just kidding. I was eavesdropping earlier and heard what Hobart said."

"We said quite a bit since then," said Brandalay.

"Yes, you did," said Loric, smiling. A large blue hand grabbed his collar.

"Can you be trusted not to act like a fool?" said Elberra. "Leave them alone and come with me." She dragged Loric after her.

"Quite the group," said Brandalay.

"You have Celaeri blood," said Alarie.

"I heard."

"Not much Celaeri blood, but perhaps enough to lengthen your lifespan. Maybe the Talos Company will offer you a position; they seem understaffed for a mercenary force."

"Perhaps they can offer you a position as well. Your brother seems delighted that you are here."

"Yes, Loric always has been supportive, but I am full Celaeri and my fate is tied to that of my people, no matter where I am."

"The Mother Stone?"

"Yes. All Celaeri are linked to it when born and our health reflects its health. That is why we were fading into the Shadow World as the stone weakened."

"If the stone was destroyed would it destroy all Celaeri?"

"Possibly, but no one knows and no Celaeri would risk it, including myself," said Alarie Skye. "Is that what you want us to do?"

"No, of course not."

"But there will come a time when that choice may be the only way to stop my people. You must be able to destroy the stone."

"And kill you."

"And kill me. Loric is the only one with much Celaeri blood that will not be affected. He left us long before we were linked to the stone."

"How were you linked?"

"I was a child, I don't remember and Jerue Adan has never told me why. I don't know if anyone remembers the reason for it other than him. It was so long ago."

"Aren't newborns linked to the Mother Stone?"

"If their parents were linked there is no need to link them again. I have not heard of anyone being linked in recent memory."

"Would Loric know?" asked Brandalay.

"It is difficult to tell what he knows. There are only a dozen Celaeri left older than Loric so his lore could be vast, but he will not discuss Celaeri business with me. He only asks about me personally and will only tell me what he has done lately. He has shut down that part of his mind and will not reopen it."

"From what you say, he could know exactly how to defend Cresida from the Celaeri army and how to defeat them better than anyone save a handful of Celaeri. And he does not offer this information?"

"Brandalay let Kerreth talk to Loric. You are not a match for Loric if he is offended."

"Ah, I shall tactfully agree to let Kerreth handle it and believe that only concern for my welfare prompted your words."

"Then I shall allow to believe so," said Alarie Skye. "But I am concerned about the mist coming down from the hills, it doesn't seem natural."

"The air feels like it did when those creatures attacked in the Black Heath."

"The Hiataneti? Hm, it is similar. Yes, I think you are right."

Brandalay walked to the others and pointed to the mist.

"That is a threat to us. There are creatures within the mist."

"What kind?" asked Elberra.

"Hiataneti," said Alarie Skye.

"Never heard of them," said Dvorak Annis.

"They are the size of a small bear," said Loric. "And they are covered in a hard shell like a crab and several clawed arms. Not easy to kill. They move fast and attack in groups. If you get one by itself you will have your hands full, but they are never by themselves."

"Are they helping the Celaeri?" asked Hobart. "They would cause a lot of terror in Gornst."

"I would guess the Celaeri have some control over them," said Loric. "But they are seldom seen out of the Black Heath and they are wild things. I don't know how intelligent they are and I don't know if the Celaeri have the power to cover the land in mist all the way to Gornst. They may herd them here to guard the Mother Stone."

"Wherever we encounter them, it will be tough going," said Brandalay.

"They do not move silently. If you hear a slow clicking sound, they are near," said Alarie Skye. "The mist follows that canyon down to the base of Adan's Hill."

"It seems to be setting around the base," said Brandalay.

"As I said, they will guard the Mother Stone after the soldiers have marched," said Loric. "It will be difficult to get past them. I hope Kerreth has already rescued Ian. He would have to fly to reach the summit without sounding an alarm."

"You don't think I could get past them?" asked Hobart.

"You might, but if they catch you, you will die."

"Cheery thought," said Hobart.

"Yes. Loric, perhaps you should try to get past them," said Elberra. She smiled sweetly at him.

"I will follow Hobart as I think he should test how wary they are. Tuors can blend into the landscape. They might sense him, but won't see him. I will be there in case he is discovered. In any case, we need to know more of what is going on down there. We can't wait for Kerreth to return."

"Dvorak, can you set a spell around them to help hide them?" asked Elberra.

"I can."

"No, we cannot chance it; Celaeri will sense the magic," said Alarie Skye. "It will draw them here."

"Well, good luck then," said Dvorak Annis.

Loric and Hobart went southeast towards the rear of Greyrawk Mountain where the Celaeri's attention should be less than the road from Gornst. The mists had crept wide over the low hills and trees and Greyrawk Mountain rose out of a sea of white and grey. Hobart moved ahead of Loric who carried his curved sword ready for attack. The Tuor blended with the wispy grasses and shadow. Loric lost sight of Hobart and curved his path eastward. He kept to the edge of the mist until he felt the position was correct, and then moved slowly inward several dozen yards where the mist thickened the light dimmed to shadows swimming in the fog. He waited.

A faint clacking sound came from the left still several yards from him. He saw the dark shape move across his path accompanied by two others. There was no alarm given; the creatures did not detect him. Loric remained still but ready to defend Hobart if needed. More or the creatures came his way and stopped, soon joined by other Hiataneti and Loric now crouched amidst a dozen of the creatures. He felt his knee stiffen. He had forgotten that one of Picker's men had scored a slash just above his kneecap. He should have had seen to it at the camp, now he needed to stretch it out but the creatures' hearing was sharp and a dozen were more than he could handle no matter what he claimed to his friends.

His breathing began to rise in volume as the minutes passed. The clicking noises stopped and he held his breath; the Hiataneti were listening for him. He heard faint sounds of movements and sensed the ones nearest him. He tensed, his hand firm on his sword.

Suddenly, a large clacking noise came from somewhere nearer the base of the hill; a hum of an arrow and the screech of a Hiataneti wounded. En mass, the creatures rushed off to their comrade. Loric saw the small shape hurry his way.

"Go back to the camp," said Hobart. "I can get up the hill unseen. The Hiataneti did not notice me and passed mere feet in front of them. I made it to the top and came back down without being seen. But the Celaeri are arming themselves and look to march soon."

"I'll come with you," said Loric.

"No, you must tell the others if I don't return soon. War will soon cover this land and your sword will be needed. I can do more good here."

"Very well, my friend," said Loric, grinning. "May we meet soon to share a drink."

"So be it," said Hobart. "Brandalay says The Grey Fox has the best ale in Gornst. Not a pretty place but the ale and food are worth it."

Hobart dashed into the fog again and retraced his route to the summit. The tall trees gave way to stunted gnarled trees scattered like the last survivors of war. He climbed tirelessly and silently past a Celaeri standing at the edge of the summit. When Hobart reached the top he moved away from the edge to a pile of stones that once supported the castle. The mist was less on the summit and he saw the pavilions of the Celaeri and the colorful flags and ribbons fluttering in the cool breeze. Most of the Celaeri warriors stood in the center of the cleared area. Hobart noticed two figures shackled to a large stone near a large fire pit. He could tell the color of their hair was darker than Celaeri. Soundlessly, he moved closer.

Celaeri guards stood a few yards from the prisoners watching the activity of the warriors. There was singing and lights flashing about the helms of the Celaeri. Hobart guessed it to be a blessing or ceremony for good fortune in the battle to come. There was open space between his concealed position and the prisoners. He recognized Moria's silhouette and knew better than to be surprised at the development.

It was risky to try crossing the open area in daylight but the mists offered enough shadows to hide his small figure if he chose his spots and staggered his movements.

"Do not turn around," whispered Hobart.

"I know you are there Hobart," said Moria. "I sensed your approach. Did Kerreth send you?"

"No. We haven't seen Kerreth."

"What about Ian?" asked Jaele. "They were together."

"Neither one. We are camped north of here. Hiataneti, armored creatures controlled by the Celaeri, guards the slopes of the mountain. I can get you down the mountain but crossing their patrols will be risky. Loric waits in the mist but the Hiataneti are numerous."

"Well, we don't want to stay here any longer," said Moria. "They will march against Belderag soon. They will keep Jaele alive, but I am useless to them."

"How did you end up here?" asked Hobart.

"While Kerreth rescued Ian, we were captured. I did not hear them come upon us. I can only imagine what Kerreth will say to me. Can you free us?"

"The chains are thick but I have a potion Dvorak gave me that can eat through it although it will not be quick. I will apply it and go back into the bushes until you are free. Do not move until I give the word and try not to touch the liquid on the chains. Bite your lip if you do. The Celaeri guards will certainly hear the chains fall. I will feather any that come near, and then you must run hard to me."