Part Forty-five
They were three days into the flatlands, but not quite as far as they might have been had they not traveled slowly the first day and covered half as much distance as usual. The three days had put them roughly sixty miles downriver from the point the waters were joined with those of its northern tributary. They had passed through or close to fishing outposts of simple wooden structures as well as the fences, ditches, and watering holes, for ranched cattle and horses, dug out by Men and fed by the river. According to Kato's collection of maps, and Tsuki's recollection, they should come into the river delta region with another full day's ride.
The significance of this was that where the delta region spread marked, in the south, the border between the kingdoms of the Horse-Lords and their southern allies. This border would not make a difference, directly, to their company's travels, but it would make a difference in the actions of the Orcs.
The Orcs would be faced with limited options, most of which should have seemed hazardous to them. If they continued east, they would not only find themselves cut off from their quarry by an ever widening network of waterways, but they would be crossing into the domain of he who was called High King, The King would not tolerate Orcs entering the fertile northern farmlands of his kingdom and he had many veteran Rangers as well as cities and large towns from which to draw troops. The High King had also fought at the rocky fortress of his allies, and in the mines, and on the fields before his capitol. The Orcs knew him and feared him, as all Men respected him.
Tsuki, Gwindor, and Dale, all being veterans of war and knowing something of Orcs, agreed that Marduk's Orcs would make their strike north soon. They might yet hold out on the south bank of the river for a few more days, but then there would have been time for messengers to reach their destinations and Men to be marshaled, outfitted, and sent hunting Orcs. It seemed most likely they would attempt to cross the river before the delta spread. That meant some attack or ambush would come within the next two days' riding.
While they spoke of the situation and planned for the possibility of attack, their party of nine was camped on the north side of the river, near a stand of willows with long bare branches hanging over the water. There were several fishing huts across the river, but no sign of habitation there, nor any settlement in the north, within a Man's view. The Elves said they could see smoke and dust that indicated Mannish settlement and movement of horses in several locations to the north.
Gwindor pointed out that they also had to decide what path through or along the delta they would take. Beryl had promised to meet them before they came to the Great River, into which the delta emptied, however, there had been no mention of where along the river they would cross.
The matter was left to thought, as they decided supper was a higher priority. Dale volunteered to fetch water and gathered the pots and skins to be filled. He went down to the water alone, hopping lightly over the willow roots exposed along the banks of clay. For nearly three whole days, Dale had watched everyone's waterskins. When the opportunity came, he emptied the old water into his waterskin and refilled others from the river. Whether the others knew of this, he did not care, but he did not offer information or explanation.
Three days he had been drinking the water from that cursed river. Two days before that he had drank the water, eaten of meals cooked in it, and bathed several times in its cool waters. Nearly five days. He had taken into himself more of that supposedly cursed water than anyone else in the party. Dale felt no different.
It was all gone now. He had finished the last of it during their ride and now even his skin was being refilled from the river. The waters were joined, and so some of the properties of the one must be in the other, but Dale understood enough of nature to know that whatever substance effected change must be quite diluted. Dale did not care if that substance turned out to be nothing but Treeherd piss, he wanted some, if it would change him and fade his scars.
Five days. He could still feel all the scars.
Kato had grown taller, his eyes had suddenly shifted toward green and his hair curled softly, particularly at his neck. Duma had not changed in color, but his skin and eyes appeared much more Elven than before, and he had grown. He was even taller than Dale now, and though he was still slender of built, he could in no way be described as gaunt or weakly. And even if the others did not believe it, Dale knew Tsuki had changed.
If anyone else but Dale was suspicious on account of that, they did not speak of it. Tsuki was the one who had concluded that the properties in the water, though not 'magical' such as he would describe, caused one to grow closer to their prime of life. No one but Tsuki had seemed to become younger. Kato and Duma had actually seemed to become older and more fully grown. Laurel was slightly older than Tsuki, and so if Tsuki had been affected, so should she have been, assuming they were of the same race and that the water could reverse age as well as advance it. Dale could perceive no change in Laurel or Fei Shih. The fact that Fei was unchanged disproved the theory that eastmen might age differently than Men in the west.
Perhaps these properties did not work on Elves. Galadhiel, Leanduiniel and Gwindor were all much older than Dale, and appeared unchanged. Or, it took a larger quantity or a purer concentration to affect them. Dale did not know, but he was saddened all the same.
He wanted his scars gone and regretted his doubts on the matter. The scars were so ugly and though he would never forget his past, it would be nice not to have to be reminded of it every living day of his life.
Within the camp, Laurel and Kato were wondering where Dale was with the water they needed to work the steamer. The others were performing chores of their own; Duma and Lenaduiniel were waiting for water so they might heat it and use it to do some laundering of clothes and bedding. Fei also needed some water to mix with his dried inks, so that he might continue his writing.
"We should go after him," Gwindor suggested to Tsuki as they were making an inventory of arrows, spare heads, shafts and feathers.
Tsuki looked toward the river, but did not answer immediately. Dale had kept himself distant from Tsuki over the past several days and Tsuki was not really in a mood to go to Dale and beg that he speak to him or sleep near him or do any of the things Dale previously did without request. Tsuki was well aware that Dale had been hoarding the Old Forest water and was likely troubled and wishing to fade his scars, but this had not yet kept Tsuki from being disappointed by Dale's behavior.
"He does not mean to insult you," Gwindor whispered.
Tsuki shrugged. Dale had been quite friendly with Gwindor in recent days. Not so friendly that the Elves shared themselves with each other as they had even before Tsuki met them, but enough that Tsuki knew it was he Dale withdrew from and not the group in general. Gwindor had not shared with Dale or Tsuki in a long while, and that was what made Tsuki suspect he had become devoted to Galadhiel. Well, that and the fact that the two often walked out of range of Elven hearing and seemed to talk and laugh together.
"He could be in trouble."
"There would be more noise," Tsuki said, but he stood, assured himself that his swords hung properly, and walked toward the river. Gwindor followed, and they found the filled pots and skins neatly arranged near the horsepath. Gwindor sighted Dale first, finding his cloaked figure up in a tree, seemingly asleep.
It angered Tsuki that Dale was not only disappointing him, but neglecting chores that benefited the group. He gathered up slightly less than half the water containers and then struggled back to the campsite. Gwindor watched Dale for a minute more, then gathered the remaining containers and delivered them to the camp.
"Someone should go talk to him," Gwindor said, thinking that Tsuki should go.
Tsuki ignored the comment. "We could use more feathers and arrowheads. Lenaduiniel has made plenty of arrow shafts."
"I will go talk to Dale," Duma offered.
"Just make him understand he does have an assignment to complete," Gwindor suggested firmly.
"He did not take his bow," Lenaduiniel said, pointing out Dale's luggage. "He only took his sword, but a sword is no good against enemies attacking from across a river."
"He keeps throwing knives inside his shirt," Tsuki said.
Duma stood and clacked the bar in his tongue against his teeth. Dale was the one Marduk wanted to capture, interrogate, and kill. It was unwise for Dale to also be their watcher, though it was the sort of thing that Orcs would consider reckless and very brave, and what Men or Elves might consider noble and selfless.
Duma thought it stupid. Dale might be quick enough and clever enough to escape an ambush and run to warn the others, but considering that he had some goal and mission apart from avoiding the Orcs, it was more important Dale survive to defend the group on their journey, and thus foolish to risk his life when it could be helped. "I will take Dale his bow and quiver," Duma said. He removed his coat, strapped his own quiver two his back, then took up Dale's hip quiver from Tsuki's worksite and the two bows from the piled luggage.
Dale knew when Duma approached, though he did not move from the bough he rested in. He could hear the slight creak and hiss of leather as he moved and he could scent Duma easily, he smelled of leather, faintly of oil and smoke, and like a creature neither fully Elf nor Orc. Dale really thought they would have sent Tsuki.
It was also a little surprising that Duma climbed into the tree. He was half Vale Elf and his Orcish half was Northerner, so Dale should have expected him to be agile and possessed of balance enough for the task, but he was still surprised that an Orc would climb a tree. "If you do not start acting smart then I will have to challenge you for the position of Chieftain or we will both be mocked and laughed at much more than we may be feared or hunted."
"You could not take me."
"Yes, but I would have to make the challenge, and then what would you be? The poorest excuse for an Orc Chieftain, one who can't keep followers, slays those of his own bloodline while others are growing stronger, and can't even take advantage of having a Wizard willing to kneel, crawl or lay on the ground just for you to take your pleasure."
Dale cackled. "I'm an Elf."
"You are not. Fine if those others encourage you to keeping saying it, but you are not an Elf. You were an Elf. Dumuzi is legendary among Northerners and was said to be cruel and relentless, even among Orcs; his Clan killed nearly a whole Clan of Elves, but he is mostly legendary because he did what only Wizards had done before. He twisted another being into an Orc. He made an Orc without breeding his Orcs. And all his legendary strength, smartness, and cruelty could not enable him to win against you in combat. You slew the old Chieftain and all those had been loyal to him and your own spawn survived. It does not matter if you planned it, it matters that you utterly defeated an Orc who was legendary and carry his whip. Other Orcs fear you, curse your name, and use it as a threat to sway followers. You are Death-Shadow and Marduk fears you, and Marduk is a smart, strong Orc. Our Clan may be small, but we are strong, we are smart, and we can seduce Elves, Men and Wizards into allying with us. We have the kind of power that all Orcs want to have, but if you want to sit in a tree and weep about having scars like an Elf-child, go on. We'll both die soon and Marduk will be legendary for wiping out our Clan. Personally, much as I am unattracted to males, I wish you would just go fuck your Wizard some more and ride about on that Dark Lord's own mount laughing at things. I stand a better chance of surviving that way. I mean to seek and defeat the enemies of the Orcs, but Marduk is not said to be patient and I think he would just kill us both if he saw a good opportunity and was not convinced he had a fair chance of gaining information from us. And, if he does not have me killed, then I might eventually end up in a fight over that girl and it would really help me if our Clan appeared very menacing, because some of those Orcs are much bigger than me and letting them have her when their Chieftain has made a gift of her would not help my reputation any."
Dale laughed, and when he was able to stop, he raised his head to look at Duma and said, "Sometimes I thought you just a funny looking Elf, but you're an Orc after all."
"Of course I am an Orc. I am somewhat Elven, just as you are, but I do not think that changes the fact that we are also Orcs. I do not think it is enough for Orcs to be strong and smart. We must also be highly adaptable and able to deal with the other races. I have learned that traveling with you. It does bother the other races that so many masterless Orcs roam the land. Something will be done. We must make certain that whatever is done, we survive. The strong, smart thing to do is to learn to deal with the other races. Personally, I believed they know some things that are good to learn and know. I am going to learn as much about Elves, Men, Dwarves and even little Halflings as I can. I hope it will help me to survive."
"You understand then that, in dealings with others, what they perceive to be true matters more than the truth? I think that is Lenaduiniel's influence."
"The Lady is very smart and has skills which make her an advantageous person to know, but when you cloak yourself in black and act contrary to your feelings, that is also as effective in swaying others as her diplomacy. Beryl is very skilled in controlling what is seen and known of him. I hope we do meet him again. The other Orcs fear him, and he could teach us many useful things."
"But...you like them, right? You do not really just think of them as useful?"
Duma hesitated and then answered, "Yes. I feel good in their company. They are useful, but also entertaining and interesting and worthy of protection. I would have to argue against harming, spoiling or killing them. I do not really care for spoiling and killing, anyway, but I would miss them, if others killed them, so it is better to help them defend themselves and hope they will do the same for me."
"Maybe if you a entertaining and useful enough I will come to your defense."
Duma smiled. "I am your spawn and your Orc. You can defend me or leave me to fight for myself as you choose, but if I survive and am not satisfied with your treatment, I might challenge your leadership one day."
Dale laughed. "You will need a lot more training."
"I hope to live long enough to have it. I brought your quiver and bow. It is rather stupid of you to risk yourself here."
"Reckless of you to not remain in the camp so that one of our Clan survives if I should be attacked."
"Yes, but smart. If we had made Tsuki come, then you would have had a very different argument with him and surely drawn the Orcs upon you and perhaps been too distracted by him to notice before their arrows were upon you. And, they might have seen that you can take it as well as Tsuki, and even if they understand the equality on some level, it is better they not see you in such a submissive position. They are confused enough by Dog's stories."
"And your coming here will not draw them upon us?"
"It might, but actually, their finding me may buy us time. Otherwise, they will be forced to attack soon and Marduk's Orcs will not want to hear that they are relying on me to bring information then, they will want to fight..."
"Then what could you tell them?"
"I am not certain. They must be convinced that they have some other option available that will be preferable to attacking us now. They must have an option which seems advantageous to Orcs."
"And you will give them this option?"
"If it does not mean lying to them."
Dale nodded. "You are my Orc; go tell them that it may seem advantageous to attack within the next two days, before we come to the Delta and while Green-cloak is away, but that if the do, they will have Men upon them again, because the timing is also right for the Men on both sides of the river to have had time to hear messages of their last battle and set out after them."
"And should I suggest an alternative to attacking now?"
"Tell them we mean to cross the Great River. It is a risk to give them the information, as it is true. This way, they can avoid the Men and their horses and make straight for the River. They probably have enough Easterners surviving among their number to know some old way of crossing that may not be known to Elves and Men. If they are smart, they will plan to find us on or near the river. It is advantageous to them to avoid the large parties of Men, and advantageous to us to wait until Beryl has returned."
"And it is true?"
"I do not really believe in lying. Arranging the truth to my advantage, yes, but not lying."
"I will tell them."
"Be smart, Duma. Marduk may see it as advantageous to continue to use you as his spy, but the others may not see the worth of his plan."
"What will you do?"
Dale stretched his arms overhead. "I think I shall go take advantage of the Wizard."
"That seems a smart idea. I envy you on account of the pleasure involved."
"If you are a good Orc, maybe some maid will decide to offer herself for the spoiling."
Duma blushed. Dale laughed. "The idea of willing virgins appeals to you, I gather. Don't know if that means you're an Orc or not, but it would seem to indicate you are male."
"Very much so."
"Yanno, it would not be wrong if you were interested in males. I mean, it wasn't personal. Strong Orcs just use weaker ones when they want to..."
"I think I know what you are trying to say, but you do not have to say it," Duma hissed, "the fact that I seem to find women attractive is not a reaction against past treatment. And just for you to understand, it was very personal and not like normal Orc behavior. There were a lot of ways he could have done it. You know. He near always did it so he could see my face on him. Always looking at my face, and my eyes. And then he'd just stand back and watch me and tell me I had to spill. I knew I looked different. I knew he did it because I looked different. I just did not know it had anything to do with Elves. But, it has nothing to do with what I choose now. It is past. I ate his heart with you. I am strong now and not weak. You understand. You were Dumuzi's pet and you do not look like an Orc, but he made you an Orc, and then you killed him. You understand perfectly."
"I do. I understand perfectly."
"Do not cry like some Elf and feel sorry that I wasn't spared! An Orc is always proud of his scars, no matter how he came by them, because he survived them. You remember that! Surviving is something of which to be proud. The worse your past was, the more proud you should be to have survived. It does not matter that once you suffered. It matters that you are still alive and are stronger, and will become stronger still. You are an Orc, so you do not have to be sad about your scars any more, even if they never fade."
"Yes, yes, I know you must be correct."
"I am smart. Now, if you please, go see if your Wizard is not willing to let you fuck him. I do not think it is wrong if you do desire males, even if you did not like what Dumuzi did."
Dale cackled a laugh. "Oh, just for you to understand, I learned to like it all...and that is horrifying to Elves when they realize it. I just decided I didn't want to be submissive anymore."
"Death-Shadow," Duma whispered.
"Yes! You understand."
"Then why...?"
"Because after the Elves found me, they twisted me back a bit, into something nearly Elven, and I realized, there are more ways to feeling that sharp spark of pleasure or...freedom...or control than always being either submissive or dominant. That is what Dog has realized, isn't it? He understands about equal sharing, and that is horrifying to Orcs, because it is very Elven, and it means, no matter how strong or weak, you can give and take pleasure, if you want to. If you see that one, ask him about it. Maybe he'll work for us without even knowing. Give Orcs meat and a body to fuck and they aren't half as dangerous as when starved and frustrated by their masters."
"Meat. That is a good idea. I should bring them meat."
"A deer. They would like that. I could call one to its death. They would accept the bargain and send one out to pacify the Orcs, so that the rest may be spared, if we can promise the kill will be clean and swift."
"You can do that?"
"Yes. They may not send out a very young one."
"Convince them the individual must be tender to properly pacify Orcs."
"Orcs will eat anything if hungry enough," Dale said, "I will try. You stay up here and wait. I think you will dine in another camp. I will call out the deer and then go find Tsuki."
"You can really call out animals to provide meat? I would fear challenging you as Chieftain if there were any other Orcs in our Clan."
"You should fear anyway." Dale dropped from the tree without a sound.
Duma waited in the willow, bow and arrow drawn. He could hear Dale singing somewhere, but he could not see him. Duma waited and tried not to breath or make any sound. He had not hunted often, and never such a large animal, unless one counted the horse that had been tethered and unable to escape.
The deer, which happened to be a doe, came from the north side of the river and upstream from Duma's position. Duma aimed for her heart and loosed the arrow. The arrow's path was true, but the deer shifted in the short time between the loosing of the bowstring and the sinking of the arrowhead into flesh and bone. She was injured, but alive.
Duma already had a second arrow drawn and he loosed it at the doe. He did not know what would happen if the death was not made quick as promised, but he imagined wild animals forever haunting and stalking him.
The second arrow found its mark and the deer fell into the water. Duma put his bow to his shoulder and jumped down. He took a second to regain his footing on the water-polished rocks along the river bottom and then moved to catch the doe as the water washed her toward him.
"She is dying, but still alive," Dale whispered, though Duma could not see him. "Snap her neck. A mercy in exchange for the life she is surrendering to you."
The doe looked at Duma. One day I will just stop eating meat, he thought; he really did not enjoy killing anything. Duma knew how it was done. He had witnessed an Orc snapping the neck of its pet once. He took the animal's head in his hands and quickly forced the neck to twist.
The deer was dead then, and Duma dragged the carcass to the south bank.
Dale could see Orcs moving from his hiding place behind a tree. Many Northerners had excellent camouflage in treed areas, but they became visible when moving. Dale had already suspected they were this close, but he did not like it. The likely had arrived here ahead of Dale's party and killed the inhabitants of the fishing huts. It seemed their camp must be behind the huts.
Dale turned and walked toward camp at the same moment as Orc scouts approached Duma. "I brought meat. Let me see Marduk," Duma said. Dale continued walking. He would not always be able to protect Duma, and so this time, Duma would have to survive on his own; he had done it well enough in the past.
The others were gathering for supper when Dale arrived. He walked to Tsuki and stopped beside him. "Get all your weapons and some Wizard supplies."
"Where is Duma? Did Orcs find you?"
"Duma is dining in another camp. He was well last I saw him. The Orcs would seem to have a camp hidden behind those huts we sighted, so they are quite close to us now."
"We should all make ready our weapons," Gwindor suggested.
"Come, Tsuki," Dale said, "I want you to do a spell."
Tsuki looked up and glared at Dale. He was still not happy with Dale and it improved his mood none that Dale had come and barked orders to him.
Dale sighed. "I am sorry is I offended my friend, Tsuki, or any others with my behavior," he announced, just loud enough for all to hear. Dale looked expectantly at Tsuki then.
"After I eat."
"Now. Tsuki, it is not only for me that I ask. Duma has gone to try to buy us more time and it would help him and me if you would just do what I say now and be angry with me later."
"What kind of spell?"
"I do not really care. Something with drumming and fire and strange incantations, and blood if possible."
"You want the Orcs to see. It is a sort of diversion then?"
"Not a diversion exactly, like, a show of strength."
Tsuki rose and went to gather his things. He took with him all his weaponry and his bundle of Wizardry supplies. The roll of wool fabric had grown too small for the amount of supplies Tsuki traveled with since his travels through Wizendale and the capitol, where he had visited Master Novern's shop, so now there was another pouch tied to the older bundle.
Dale chose a clearing near the river and within sight of the fishing huts. When they arrived there, Tsuki drew a circle with the bottom end of his staff; it was a ceremonial gesture, as the autumn grass was green enough to spring back over most of the circle.
Tsuki checked the sky and then instructed Dale to sit within his marked circle, facing west. Dale was an Elf, and Tsuki knew west was the direction they faced when in ceremony as well as in orienting maps. Tsuki then sat opposite Dale, facing east. Had he been alone, it would have been north, but Tsuki's former master had often changed ceremony on account of his guests and with success.
Tsuki drew his longer sword from its scabbard and lay it before Dale's knees. His staff went to his right, his cup in front of his own knees, and Old Rabbit to the left.
"We should have fire," Dale suggested.
"Hush. Please, Dale. I am trying to think on the spell I might cast." Tsuki glanced at the darkening sky again, to be certain of the position and phase of the moon. "Are you my friend?" he asked.
"Yes."
"My partner? The one who will watch my back? Fight beside me? See our mission completed with me?"
"Yes, Tsuki. I did not mean to offend you. I was feeling bad and neglected my real duty, but…"
"There is no need to become defensive or explain now," Tsuki said softly, "I did not truly doubt, but questioned you with reason. I had to be certain of your conviction in order to decide how to work the spell. I also wish to continue our partnership. We have worked well together in the past."
"Yes."
"A spell of banishment to rid us both of ill feelings toward each other. A spell to make things right between us, again. I cannot force the feelings away, no matter how much power I hold, unless you also would will them gone."
"I will it so."
"Then lay your sword there, alongside mine."
Dale grinned darkly. "Are you sure of that?"
"Yes, and also, remove your clothing."
Dale contemplated the sword before him and then lay his aside it, with the tip of the sword pointed south, opposite that of Tsuki's sword. "You are still speaking of spellcasting."
"Of course," Tsuki said, but he smirked. "It is to symbolize your trust in me, to show you trust me to remain with you even when you are vulnerable. I will do the same."
Ddale shrugged off his cloak then loosed the laces of his doublet and shirt. It was only Tsuki, a few brave animals and some Orcs spies within view. Dale remembered Duma saying that he should be proud of his scars. He was not certain he fully believed that Duma was correct, but he knew it was the philosophy that would keep him most sane.
Tsuki stripped to his waist and then looked over his gathered supplies. "Here, on your left, put your whip near my staff. I think, for you, it is the equivalent tool and symbol."
Dale took the coiled whip from his belt and placed it atop the carven larch staff.
"And here, near Old Rabbit, you should place something that for you signifies that which is physical, earthy, of the body, or perhaps a symbol of wealth."
"I could just put my purse there."
"That would work."
"Coins are metal, and metal comes from the earth, and you buy material possessions with money."
"Yes, it is appropriate. Your sword there will be your will, your intellect and knowledge."
"I have a lot of knowledge about swords."
"Yes. You are an Elf, so if will also be air and breath."
"If you say so."
"Think on the objects as you must, the important thing is that you understand each will represent a part of you, and a part of the world. You see, for me, the Wizard staff is my power and the focus of my spirit, my fire, if you will, but for you, the whip."
Dale nodded.
"This we will share. The cup signifies emotions, and bad feelings are what we must deal with, so it is appropriate we both work with this same cup. Also, the cup is water, love, and blood."
"Blood."
"You will also need a knife and one arrow. And you can use some of this paper and charcoal." As Dale drew a knife and arrow, Tsuki poured wine from a jar into the ceremonial cup. He added then some herbs and set the cup before his knees again. He used some dry grass as tinder and flint and knife to make a spark and lit the chunks of charcoal in his brazier.
Dale placed his knife and arrow near the paper Tsuki had offered.
"Now," Tsuki said as he put his drum on his knees, "think of all the bad things about me. Every insult to you, every moment of physical pain, even ill feeling, every wound to your spirit, any and all of it that I caused, think of it now. Gather them together in your mind as I drum. Hold them in mind until I tell you what to do with them."
"Should I…I mean, what if it wasn't something you did, but I felt pain anyway…like if I worried over you?"
"That too. If your thoughts and feelings and actions towards me caused you pain as well, include them. Everything between us that is bad, summon it now. Even if it is caused by a person or force beyond you and I and our control, recall it now."
Tsuki began drumming, and summoned into mind everything bad about knowing
Dale.