Part Thirty-five
The largest building they came to was a stable, and the second largest the inn, and seeing this they knew they were certainly within the territory of the Horse Lords. There were other buildings, like cottages, but some were used for business as well as housing.
Kato, Tsuki and Beryl went into the inn, called Helm's Way, to make arrangements for rooms. Bari went after them to make separate arrangements for his family. They were greeted by a matronly woman as others in the common room glanced up from their luncheon to see who had arrived. A number of the other guests seemed Men of the Highlands, or rather a surprising number. The majority were local folk. There were some dwarves also, and these nodded to Bari and seemed preparing to approach him, as soon as they finished with their mugs.
It seemed a little strange to Beryl to see the Highlanders, though he understood they now had a peace with their neighbors to the southeast. During the war they had been among the armies that drove the peasantry to take shelter at this fortress in the roots of the mountains and had attacked the fortress itself. Along with the Orcs they had been defeated; Beryl remembered them being spared, unlike the Orcs that were caught, and conscripted into service disposing of the fallen.
The presence of Dwarves was not very surprising. It was advertised as a place Dwarevs should visit and a particular Dwarf who had fought with the Horse Lords in defense of the fortress had been given the adjacent caverns to govern as Lord.
As Kato was craning his neck to explain the number in their party and to inquire what rooms were available, some Dwarves came from their table to the doorway and greeted Bari. "Bari Son of Gib at your service," he said with a small bow. The Dwarves said the food at the inn was good but that Dwarves were welcome to come through the fortress to stay near the caves in proper stone structures. The Lord was not here, they said, but he would return and they knew he would always welcome other Dwarves.
The Dwarves moved past Beryl with sidelong glances to his belt and sword and moved from the inn. They beheld Gwindor standing outside, awaiting those inside to give them word that the others were at the stable.
"Greenleaf, what evil has befallen you that you are back so soon and without the Lord of the Caves?"
Gwindor turned, sweeping stray locks of hair over his shoulder and looked down at the dwarves. He frowned.
"Forgive us, we mistook you for another..."
"Not that all Elves look alike to us..."
"Of course not. 'Greenleaf' did you say? That is the Mannish pronunciation of my brother's proper Sylvan name."
"Ah, they we cannot be blamed for mistaking you, as you are his own brother, though we did not know The Elf to have siblings."
Gwindor snorted softly. "I am Gwindor a Ranger and Elf of the Greenwood. If Elvish is difficult for you, the Mannish pronuciation of my name would be 'Wind.' Are you well acquainted with my brother, Dwarves? Do you expect him here?"
"WE know only that he left with the Lord and that we would be surprised to see them here so shortly after departing. We know Greenleaf well enough to inquire with him the whereabouts of the Lord. The Elf is often leading him off to some wood or other."
Gwindor frowned even as he nodded his understanding. "I may leave before my brother returns. I did not come looking for him, but if we should be close, I should like to take the opportunity to meet with him. Is there anyone in the area that could keep a message for him?"
"Perhaps the innkeeper."
Gwindor nodded again. "He is often here, my brother?"
"Who knows what 'often' means to Elves but Elves."
Gwindor frowned and then saw Kato leading the others from the inn. He announced to the Dwarves that his companions had returned and bid them good day. "You obtained rooms?" Gwindor asked Kato.
"Two. Your party plus Laurel and Fei and then our party plus Beryl and Duma."
"The others should return soon, they are tending to the animals."
"I wonder what horses Dale is playing matchmaker for today."
Gwindor shook his head as the others came from the stable, carrying much luggage. Kato informed the newcomers of the arrangements he had made and Bari said that he and his brothers would join them for a meal before seeking the other Dwarves. Kato then led the way into the common room. Beryl and Tsuki stopped to take some luggage from the others, but still several of them were burdened.
Dale entered the inn last, the baggage he carried making his passage through the doorway difficult. The stove struck the doorframe and the jolt knocked loose a charm from over the threashold. Dale was struck in the head by the falling iron horseshoe.
He staggered, dropped several bags, and ran his hand over his head, drawing back his hood in the process. Then, as if in delayed reaction, Dale cried out in pain and cursed in some Goblin dialect. Fei, being near, dropped his luggage to aid Dale.
The activity drew the attention of those still at their lunch. Heedless of the stares, Dale called out, "Elves do not fear iron, but a strike to the head will hurt us as much as any Man! Why in the name of the Dark One would you hang such an implement above an oft traveled doorway?"
At this, the innkeeper's business instinct came upon her and she went to Dale. "Forgive me, Master Elf, it is only a charm of good luck! It has never fallen before!" She called to some lads to carry the baggage for their guests.
Dale only held his head and groaned as Fei supported his weight.
The guests in the common room were not so quick to seek forgiveness for their actions. The murmur of rumor rose within the wooden-walled room.
"Most foul-ssemign for an Elf."
"Not known many Elves, I can say, but I have seen Orc devices firsthand and that one carries several."
"Look at the others with him...less merry Elves than tales would tell. Easterlings. A Halfling."
"There are no tales o fEvil Halflings."
When the party returned from the back of the building, where they had washed their hands an dfaces, the rumors were still being passed and nowothers had come from outside to see the new arrivals for themselves. The three Dwarevs were spared, as Bari had been seen making separate arrangements with the innkeeper and they had most recently been inquiring about work for entertainers while the others had gone to wash.
When the serving maid came to their table with their food and drink, Gwindor asker her if she knew of his brother. The girl said that when The Elf visited, many locals referred to him as 'The Elf' as if he were the only one, he did take meals at this inn and sometimes was seen in the evenings enjoying a pipe and stories with Men and dwarves.
"He smokes?" Lenaduiniel asked loudly. All the room could hear.
"There is nothing wrong with enjoying a refreshing pipe full of leaf," Kato said.
Lenaduiniel sighed and then apologized for her unladylike tone, and said the food looked excellent.
"We have served Elves before, My Lady," the Maid said.
"Perhaps if there were pipes which were more delicate or lovely in appearance then females would smoke," Kato mused.
"Anything to sell more leaf," Dale groaned.
"Not...anything."
"Remind me to describe what I saw in the tomes of Dart art about the innards of those who often enjoyed their pipes," Tsuki said flatly.
"I would be interested to hear...well after lunch is finished and well before dinner." Laurel said.
They ate, and around them rumors continued. The locals were well known for enjoying tales. They had told tales of Halflings and Treeherds when other Men had forgotten them entirely. The Highlanders visiting the area did not have such ancient lore, but they had many superstitions based on lost lore and they knew how to recognize a witch of their neighboring lowlands as well as the locals knew the signs of a Wizard.
To the locals, though they revered 'wise women' the word 'witch' had evil connotation, but this was the word in the Common Speech the Highlanders always used for the women of the lowlands who led their people. To the locals, the term suggested one who was in league with the Dark Lord or his most dread minions. Dale's riding up on a large dark horse cloaked in black did not bode well for Laurel's reputation.
"What of these Elves? That one in green seems one of their Lords, and that one female seems noble."
"One of them said he was the brother of The Elf, Greenleaf."
"Greenleaf is decent of course, but then that one is a Prince, if Elves of the wood follow such conventions of rank as Men."
"What are nobles of the Wood doing so far south and with Easterlings, Wizards and Witches?"
"No good. That Wood is a dark place where men become lost. The Elves there take prisoners, but do not let any leave."
"That is said of all Elves."
"I heard there are great spiders in the Wood. Elves keep them as pets."
"Those two there seem unlike Wood Elves. Perhaps they are Dark Elves of lore, those who always remained in the east."
"Perhaps some plot from the east. The Dark Lord is defeated and we hear the Warlords of the east are negotiating peace with the High King. The Elves of the west are all departing on their ships..."
"And why is that? Do they know of some great danger and wish to abandon these lands?"
"As I was saying, it seems a time for someone to seize power in the east. That land is strange to us and our kings, and their nobles do not seem unified. The Sylvan Elves are not departing and some say they are as good as the Dark ones. What if these Wizards and Dark Elves mean to seize power now?"
One laughed. "They would have to destroy all the Orcs to hold the land any better than our kingdoms. There are too many Orcs running free of their masters since the war."
At another table, Dale picked at his food, while his companions were almost finished with their meal. Laurel asked if he felt well. "Don't feel like eating," Dale said.
"Perhaps the blow to your head was more serious than we believed," Tsuki suggested, "I will take you outside. WE can bathe later. I think you will feel best outdoors. I wonder if there is anything like a stream."
"There is a stream that runs out from the fort, it is along the section of wall, left from the ramp and keep," Beryl said.
Tsuki said he would look for it. Soon the others were also leaving. The Dwarves went to seek others of their kind. Gwindor, Galadhiel, and Lenaduiniel went up to their room to bathe. Beryl and Kato went outside for a walk. Laurel and Fei then went upstairs, leaving Duma alone at the table in the common room.
When Dale and Tsuki returned later, the innkeeper hurried to them andushered them into the kitchen, where they would not so easily be overheard. The maid that had served them was there also, and the cook.
"I do not want trouble," the woman said, "SO you go upstairs and talk to that friend of yours."
"Friend?" Dale asked.
"The one with the...foreign looking jewelry on his face."
"What did he do?"
"He paid this one to go to his room..."
Dale choked and then found ability to speak and addressed the maid, "Did he hurt you? I am very sorry if he mistook you for...you must understand...he has had a most unusual upbringing. He is younger than he seems. Please tell me what he did so that I can know if there is any happy remedy to this situation."
"He did not hurt her," the innkeeper broke in.
"No?" Then what is the trouble? You are certain he did nothing improper?"
The maid laughed giddily.
"Improper perhaps," the innkeeper said. "If my girls take money for their favors, it is well with me. They lost their husbands and fathers in the war and need to support themselves. But I want no trouble. I do not wish to be accused of letting a girl rob a simpleton, or we will all be out on the street selling ourselves!"
"I don't understand."
The innkeeper gave a nod to the maid and the girl brought forth from a pocket a large rounded-smooth sapphire.
"Sir, that strange friend of yours took no pleasure for himself that I am familiar with and gave this to her. I want no trouble."
"You have none," Dale said slowly. "That one has likely never been with a female of any sort. Keep the jewel. He must have thought you worth it."
The maid smiled.
"But it is mad. Or...is he wealthy?"
"Good day, Madame," Dale sighed and walked from the kitchen, with Tsuki close behind. "I am going to torture Duma," Dale hissed as they climbed the stairs.
"The girl is unharmed. He could have done worse. Perhaps he deserves as much as any Man...or male to seek lovers for himself. He maay be young in Elven reckoning, but not for an Orc."
"How much can he know about it? Or...is what he knows preparation for interaction with normal folk?"
"Dale."
Dale frowned as he reached the door to their room. He felt he may as well ask the same of himself. Tsuki knew it better than he did. Duma was not the only one who had a strange upbringing. Even Tsuki was not spared from this categorization.
"I do not feel qualified to scold him in this."
"I do not have the right to do it, and so I suppose Duma is not to be scolded."
Dale opened the door. Duma was in the metal tub, bathing. He drew his knife from his side as the door opened. He lowered it when he saw Dale. "You had company," Dale told Duma, "I would know it from the smell of the room, even if the innkeeper and the maid had not accosted me as I returned to the common room."
Duma grinned and then his expression shifted to a frown. "If I were at fault, they would not have spoken to you. A gang of Men would have dragged me outside and put my head on a pike by now."
"He seems familiar with local custom," Tsuki noted.
Dale held up a hand to quiet Tsuki. "You let her see you."
"The innkeeper did not seem to know," Tsuki said, not caring at the moment that Dale did not wish for his commentary.
"You paid for her silence?"
"No. She would have left with no payment I think...but I thought it proper to give her something for everything she allowed. That is proper?"
"What did you do exactly? The innkeeper thought you a simpleton, said you made that girl fairly happy and could not possibly have found any pleasure in it yourself. Seemed strange to her to pay someone for receiving pleasure, but it's a small settlement. Perhaps there is a lot that woman does not understand about interaction..."
Duma grinned as he lifted the his right hand and lifted the first two fingers. He spread the fingers then and wriggled his tongue from his mouth andbetween the fingers.
Dale groaned.
"What does that mean?" Tsuki asked.
"You did spend time barracked with other soldiers?" Dale asked him.
"Yes," Tsuki whispered, but he still did not understand what act that gesture might indicate.
Dale sighed and looked to Duma. "That was it?"
"I suppose I tried kissing as well..."
"You gave the girl oral pleasures and a jewel worthy of a dowry and took nothing? You are a simpleton!"
"She saw me, and she let me do it, before I gave her the jewel. I just wanted to do what I never was allowed before. I took just what I wanted. I already knew what pleasures a male body!"
Dale winced at how cold Duma's tone had become. It made him think back to the time he had lived with Orcs and been lower than a pet and all of the sexual interaction had been involuntary. Dale did not like to think about it. "I-I suppose you would know. I did not mean you were wrong to be with that girl. It is good to please others. So far as I understand, you were very good to her and that is as it should be. I only meant that it was such a large value, that sapphire. You should spend your assets more carefully. A gold coin probably would have been enough to bed the girl."
"Two would have been kinder. She is fairly young and I suppose she is attractive. She probably does support herself."
"I did not mean to cheat the girl," Dale groaned, glancing to Tsuki. "What do I know about whores?" He operated on a barter system, much as he hated to admit that he had, plainly speaking, whored himself. He really hated to admit it; he had not done so before. "Duma has no steady income. He should be more careful."
"It was the smaller one," Duma said. "I cut the stone. I still have the larger portion to polish."
"Perhaps the Brothers Gibson will give him good reference and some business will come to Duma. We have been on the road well over a month now. We need to do more trading if possible."
"What do you care? You have not reached the bottom of your first purse, and Duma does still have most of his treasures. Oh, I am sorry. I do not mean to be so short with you. We have done well thus far. Things will go well enough."
Tsuki nodded. "I think we will next make for the capitol of this kingdom, along the road."
"Yes," Dale said casually, "Duma can scribe that in some rocks for his friends to find."
In his bath, Duma went still.
"Fei saw you this last time, but I already suspected something like it. Tell them we are going to the capitol. See if they feel like facing the horse-boys that defeated them at this very fort during the war."
"I know little of battle," Duma whispered, "But might not a city be easier to breach than a fortress built into a mountain?"
"Well, they lack a Wizard to resupply them and Marduk's small army has no line of supply back to any Orc stronghold at present to get truly wicked devices and weapons. They could not take the capitol, and they would not try, if they are smart."
"I know the King of this region. He was a Captain during the war and fought here. I did not fight in his command. I rode with others from further east and met him after the battle here."
"Know him well?"
"Not as a friend, but he would likely know of me. There were not many riders of similar appearance."
"I know the Elf-king and several Elf-Lords, but I do not expect any would be overly joyed to find me at their door."
"I have wondered, why do they call Gwindor's father king and other Elves of equal or greater nobility Lord?" Tsuki asked.
Dale laughed. "He is a Lord and noble by his birth among the Grey, but to the Sylvan Elves native to the Wood he is King. Other very noble Elves have lived among the Sylvan Elves and refused titles, but the Elf-King did not refuse. I think it is simply because he liked the sound of the title. He is not King of all Elves, certainly."
"I wondered, but did not wish to ask his own children."
"I think that king would act joyful if I showed up at his door, but he would truly be nervous. My appearance unsettled them, even though I defended their realm against the Dark Lord's forces," Dale said, mainly for Duma's benefit.
"I have heard about that region from Orcs. The northern mountain Orcs say there was once a great kingdom of Orcs in a mountain there, but the Wizards and Dark Lord called many Orcs to serve them...now the mines are the strongest hold of Orcs."
"They likely are. It is common knowledge even among other races that many different clans of Orcs took refuge there after the fall of their masters. Do they know? The Orcs in the mines. Do they understand about the females? That it means some are also completely male? Do they truly grasp how and why the old method works?"
"They do not understand. I am male and they made me a pet."
"But Marduk understands."
"Yes," Duma admitted as he got out of the bath and wrapped himself in a blanket. "The Orcs in the mines breed the old way, except for a few Chieftains who kept the females to themselves. Marduk made the females couple with his strongest Orcs, but before that, other Chieftains hid and horded the females and few of them carried children."
"He's a smart one."
"We are all becoming more alike, at first we did not understand the slang of various bands and clans, but we learned the words others made. Sometimes they were useful words. We are becoming more alike in body as well. Many of the new Orcs, they are like the Westerners, but not exactly like them."
"offspring are alike in some ways to each of their parents," Tsuki said.
"Yes, but to Orcs, this is new," Duma told him. "An Orc thinks of themselves as spawn of a clan, not of two older Orcs. I know that Dale is my father, but before, I did not even understand that I was partly Elven."
"The newer Orcs are smart and adaptable," Dale said.
"Yes," Duma agreed.
"What does Marduk want of you?"
"To find out your plan and to defeat our enemies."
"And if you learn my plans and find I am not your enemy?"
Duma thought about that question a while. "Then I shall be expected to help defeat those who are our enemies."
"And if you do this? What do you get in return?"
"There was no specific promise of payment until recently."
"Well, Marduk expected you to be loyal to him because he was Chieftain and he had given you some trinkets, but he must have realized that in placing you with me he was enforcing my own claims to your loyalty. Naturally he has since negotiated some price to encourage you to give him information."
"If I succeed Marduk will give Ugarit to me," Duma whispered.
Dale smiled and then laughed. "Afull-blooded Orc female? Do you want her?"
"I do not know," Duma replaied honestly, "I do not know her very well and I do not know what I would do if I had her."
"I'll tell you my plan," Dale said as he fell onto his bed. He laughed softly. "I plan to complete my mission and go home and to leave the Orcs alone, if they will do the same for me."
"And what is your mission?"
"To guard a messenger."
"I think it is Kato. I have not reported this as yet. Kato is nice to me, and I think Marduk would send a message for me to kill Kato without even knowing the message he carries. Without knowing the message, we can not be certain killing Kato will protect the Orcs. Do you know the message?"
"Nope!"
"Do you know who the message will be delivered to?"
"Nope!"
"Then I can learn no more from you?"
"Correct."
Duma nodded. "The location of the one Kato goes to. I think Tsuki knows the location as well as Kato. He said the White knew, and how could he know if the White was correct unless he knew the destination?"
"We both attempted bluffs," Tsuki spoke up from the floor where he had been attempting meditation.
"Bluffs?"
"The White said the place with confidence though he did not know it for certain to judge from my reaction if his guess was correct. I pretended that I knew but was trying not to admit the location, and judged that the White was likely too smart and powerful to be wrong in his guess. Speaking the incorrect destination with such confidence could only have reduced the possibilities by one. It was most logical to guess the place he suspected and watch me. Thus, I do not know for certain, I only know the place the wisest Wizard remaining suspects we are going."
Duma thought as he dressed. Then, when Dale was resting and Tsuki was deeper into his spiritual meditation, Duma asked, "Does your mission have anything to do with Blue Wizards?"
Dale grit his teeth to keep from making an obvious response, but Duma was able to read the tension in him as a response, even so. Tsuki responded in a forced-calm voice, "You know of the Blue Wizards?"
"Are they involved?" Duma asked, thinking he must have come upon something significant.
"I told you I know nothing more."
"You might suspect," Duma said plainly.
"Duma, do the Orcs believe our journey is related to the activity of the Blue Wizards?"
Duma thought it would not hurt to share this information. He was truly not sure how to choose of which side he should be on now and if sharing information brought more information to him, he might please both sides. He was pleasing none very much now, so he saw no risk. "They do not know, but they have suspicion. The Northerners came to us with some information. They are the ones who first suspected a plot against us, involving the Blue Wizards."
"Marduk has asked me if our journey was commanded by Elves and Wizards. I think he said something about suspecting a weapon was being brought to the south."
Tsuki nodded, as he had heard Dale's reports of meeting Marduk before. "We do not know if the Blue Wizards are behind our orders, because we do not actually know their origin. We are Rangers and received orders from our Commander, but he also receives orders from other powers and we are not told such details."
"Rangers receive orders from your King."
"Duma," Dale said quietly, "Tell us everything you know. The truth is, I have had some reservations about this mission from the start, but I am a Ranger and will follow my orders until I know a good reason why I shouldn't. Rangers are loyal to the High King, yet our goals are not to hunt Orcs, but to keep the peace and protect all peoples. Still, If Orcs are to attack us, then we must defend ourselves. If the fighting can be avoided by some means…"
"The Northerners reported to us that two Wizards were at some ruins of an ancient capitol of Men in the north and that they had called for many Orcs to serve them, toward the end of the war, or just afterward. The Orcs there knew that something was being…not made perhaps, but the learning of making it…"
"In development?"
Duma nodded to Tsuki. "The Wizards were developing something there and many Orcs that served them got sick. Sick and died. The Orcs that were not yet dead and knew of the danger left that place and came to us. There were Elves coming and going from that place, they said, and they tracked messengers to Ranger forts. They attacked Rangers in the north…with more than the usual purpose…because they wanted to prevent whatever was being developed from being made."
"Why did you not tell us this before?"
"Why Did Marduk not ask me about it more specifically?"
Duma frowned. "One assumes the enemy knows they are the enemy. Perhaps you carry some other message, but if your messenger is bringing news of something that can make Orcs sick, then you are our enemies."
"I don't understand. Why would Wizards try to make Orcs sick?"
"We do not know that the sickness was the planned end result. You are the greater detractor of Wizardry, so I would have thought you would understand, but I have seen more Wizardry. There can be mistakes, side-effects, or unforeseen results. The Wizards may have been working on anything. It must not necessarily be a weapon of any kind or even designed to effect Orcs. It may simply be something that is hazardous to create."
"I knew I hated Wizards."
"If it is not a weapon…? Why would the Wizards…?"
"Wizards are always like that, the ones that deal with Orcs, anyway," Dale sighed. "Orcs were created by Wizardry. It would be no surprise to me if their masters did view them as expendable. A Wizard would not care if some of his servants died in furthering his knowledge and power."
"A good Wizard would. The former White certainly lent the order a bad reputation in recent years, but Wizards do not as an Order create or employ Orcs, nor do they carelessly lead others into peril. Peril is always considered very carefully and values weighed…"
"Well, something was important enough for the Blues to carelessly risk losing some slaves in the process. What surprises me more is that they let enough get out sick but alive to tell other Orcs. That doesn't seem logical."
"It does not seem very Wizard-like."
"Then, I still know nothing for certain. It may be a weapon, it may not. You may be involved, or you may not!"
"I am not the one who put you in this place," Dale said lightly.
"Brought you into the world…I could take responsibility for
that, but making you choose sides and complete a mission…that is
Marduk, and yourself. Scribe some notes to him, explain the whole confusing
issue. I'll still lead him through a gauntlet of horse-boys if he means
to follow. I'll carry out my own mission, until I learn reason not to."