Part Fifty-Two
"What has happened to this tree?" Galadhiel exclaimed. She stood near the river, fully dressed in snug male garments, with sword belted and her mount's lead in hand, ready to scout for the party. The tree was the same that Dale and Tsuki had lain beneath the day before, but Galadhiel did not suppose either of them had damaged it. Strips of bark were removed from the tree and littered the ground beneath and slices and gouges had been made in the wood.
The others looked toward the tree, except for Duma, who continued loading his gear onto his horse. Some looked more or less briefly than others. Beryl only glanced toward the tree before answering. "Some young buck had need to work the velvet from his antlers and came in the night to this tree."
"There are no strips of velvet," Galadhiel said flatly.
"It does not matter," Dale said, looking sidewise at Duma. "Better the tree than something else."
"Yes," Beryl agreed, "It is unfortunate the tree is scarred, but I am certain the tree yields willingly to creatures in such need and does not expect rites."
"It is the wrong season for bucks to strip the velvet from newly grown antlers. They should already have been charging at each other, won mates, and conceived offspring to be born in spring, by this time of the year," Gwindor said knowledgeably.
Beryl rolled his eyes. "This was buck was late to bloom."
Duma mounted his horse and called out to the others. "May we leave now? I can scout. I volunteer to do it. You can trust me, and perhaps Galadhiel tires of riding forward alone."
"I am content with the task," Galadhiel said, "but one who is Yrchelen should have keen enough senses to serve. I am willing to take another task, if the votes agree."
"Certainly we trust Duma," Kato said, "Do we need to vote? We can leave very soon. I just want to go down and make certain I have not forgotten anything."
Kato went down into the cave as the others discussed switching positions. Most often Tsuki and Lenaduiniel watched the rear, Dale a flank midline and Gwindor the opposite flank toward the front of the line. This left Galadhiel scouting ahead, Kato navigating, Fei and Laurel lending their eyes to the others from the middle of the line and Beryl sometimes wandering off to forage. Since Duma asked for a new position, the others decided to switch most of the other positions, just to experience something new.
Ugarit was in her chamber, when Kato came down with his Wizard-made lantern. "Miss Ugarit, I came to say goodbye."
"May your legs carry you faster than whips can lash, Halfling," Ugarit said, but Kato did not understand the Goblin dialect she spoke, though he supposed it to be some manner of Orcish farewell.
Kato moved into Ugarit's chamber, though she had previously made it clear he was not to enter. He bowed over Tashmetum and kissed her forehead. "I thought I would have a changeling to raise, but a merchant who wishes repeat business keeps his word. You will stay with Miss Ugarit now. Farewell, Violet. I hope if we are to meet again you remember who provided you with cereal and do not eat me. If you ever turn up on my doorstep, I promise I shall have many fine foods to feed you."
"Do not put your mouth on my baby's skin as if you mean to taste her."
Kato straightened and then made a polite bow to Ugarit. He extended his hand. Ugarit looked at Kato's hand, and at the absence of the littlest finger, for a long moment before she put her hand in his. Kato kissed Ugarit's fingers then released her hand. "Duma is a fool by his own admission, but I think he must be a lovable fool. If I were in his place, I would not have resisted your charms...except that I have promised my current lover I would have no others." Kato sighed. "Sometimes I think I have made a deal with the Dark Lord himself, but you did not hear that from me. Well, Ta! Set the raft adrift if you do not mean to use it."
Kato walked merrily from the cave, leaving Ugarit puzzled. She did not realize that Kato's words meant that he had overheard her conversation with Duma the night before until he was nearly to the hole. It took a few more seconds to understand that Kato had seen her naked and that the Halfling had just insinuated that he would have taken her if not for being owned by some other.
When Kato came up from the cave, Dale and Duma were arguing over whether it was acceptable for Duma to name his horse Snaga, but they both stopped when they heard Ugarit shouting from within the cave.
"I think she is sad to see me go," Kato said, "Let us depart before she tries to come after us."
Dale shrugged. "I have no problem with that. I trust she is capable of caring for herself. She is a skilled tracker and probably still loyal to Marduk, and so it is better the surviving Orcs are deprived of her and she is not among us to betray us."
Duma did not believe she would have betrayed them, but he said nothing to Dale on the matter. He gave a brief nod to Kato and then rode from the camp.
They rode on, considering the party whole at ten, upon nine horses. Dale and Tsuki rode either side of Brethil; Dale joked with Beryl as much as Tsuki consulted Kato regarding the maps he was reading and how accurately them might depict the river delta region. Behind them, Lenaduiniel, Laurel and Fei rode near each other, taking turns in watching their flanks, as their horses moved over the riverside terrain. Gwindor and Galadhiel rode upon their horses at the rear, and sometimes dismounted to walk, as they had enough Elven pride to feel regret about using the horses so often.
Their travel was without dramatic incident for some days, as they moved into the delta. Many things continued as they had since the present company had come together. There were chores to assign in pitching and striking camp and positions to take during their rides, and when they had any time within a camp, each continued with their training or craft, often for the benefit of the group. As they had had determined to stay away from settlements since leaving the King's city, and had been waylaid in Ebbettsfield against their will, they now had to share in finding sources of food and supplies as much as they had shared expenses when in settlements. Now, where Kato, as the messenger they protected as well as the Merchant in whose employ they pretended to be, had taken upon himself the greatest share of financial responsibility, it was those who were rich in woodlore, herblore, and hunting skills who supported the others, including Kato.
Rather than make camp over a longer time, some of the party would go about the tasks of gathering food and supplies while they moved. Often Lenaduiniel rode up to replace Dale and Gwindor and Galadhiel would move somewhat closer to Fei, while Dale, Beryl and Laurel would abandon their horses and go a field.
As they came farther into the delta,1 the ground became less rocky and there were cold streams, riverlets, wetlands and marsh to navigate through or around. The season was cold, but not so cold as to freeze mud or ice over small streams, and in many years it would never grow so cold.
Dale proved to be an excellent fowler, and Beryl claimed that Vale Elves, historically, lived by fishing and fowling as much as by the fruit and seeds of the trees they tended. In summer, Beryl said, even Elves would have been tempted to find the birds pests, there would be so many. Laurel's people lived in lowlands between two rivers. They had few permanent settlements as much of the territory they claimed as descendants of the ancient kingdom that shared its borders was floodplain and anything not built on stilts or high ground was likely to be swept into the rivers. Laurel quickly adapted to the wetlands, tied up her skirts and found many edible or medicinal plants. In drier terrain, Beryl was a great asset to them by foraging, but here he took a role of supervision, and walked lightly, as only Elves can upon, the marshy ground, the ends of his cloak folded over one arm, and directed Dale and Laurel to work.
Dale was little like an Elf in mind, or some would say so, but he was absolutely an Elf in body. He could run across wetland, where Laurel had to wade. Some of the others were concerned for her, too often walking in the cold water, they said. Their travel stirred amphibious creatures that had been sleeping in the mud and at times the horses had become spooked, though Laurel had no difficulty in body or mind with snatching the creatures from the muck and inquiring with Dale if they were useful or edible. At times, Dale might stoop to lift a creature and inquire whether it could be used in a spell.
Beryl was more an asset now in aiding Duma to find a path the horses could follow. The further east they traveled the less solid ground they found to camp, or to walk the horses over. Many times during their eastward journey they were forced to stop on what purchase they could find while Duma and Beryl came to consult maps with Kato and Tsuki, or while Dale and Duma ran over mud or matted reeds to find a place to camp.
Duma was very like an Orc in nature, but he was also very like an Elf, and found, to his own surprise, that as climbing trees had come easily, he did not often have to wade. Duma did not have perfect Elven sense of balance or lightness of foot, but he could stand where Laurel sank, despite being somewhat larger than the woman.
They discontinued the practice of putting two on watch while the rest slept, instead five, would sleep while the others huddled about a watch fire. When they next stopped for rest, those who had watched the last time slept, while those who had slept watched. It was agreed this was safer and took up less space. When trees were found, they slept in the branches. The Elves strung hammocks of tarp and rope for those who did not trust the tree itself to support them.
When they came upon trees by day Lenaduiniel climbed to spy into the distance for them. She would have tree-walked to the river if she could, but though the trees they discovered were ancient and wide, they were farther between than in her homeland.
Though they did not lack for food, the journey was not easy. Some were wondering whether it was a mistake to begin on this path rather than to go south to the road. In truth, they were not in the heart of the delta at all, but not wishing to cross north from the delta where they would be in Odin's domain again, and not wishing to change their mind entirely about approaching from the unexpected direction, they could only stay within the northern parts of the delta. Coming into the parting of the waters as they flowed into the Great River, they had entered the kingdom of he who was called High King. If they went much further south they would come to farms and settlements of this kingdom, and they had determined also not to bring their ill luck on others by heading toward settled areas.
There had been no sign of the Orcs. Gwindor asked Duma outright if he had seen any trail, when they were about the fire one night. Lenaduiniel, Dale and Tsuki were with them also, though Dale and Tsuki were more focused on holding frogs on sticks to roast than on watching.
"There has been no trace of their passing. I have looked."
Gwindor nodded, accepting Duma's answer. He had not really believed Duma would hide such findings, but there had been a slight doubt in his mind.
"They may have gone further south," Dale spoke up, "This area is not familiar to me. I am familiar with both sides of the Great River, but only in the north. Still, I think the Orcs must know a way to cross below the falls, as there was certainly traffic between east and west during the war."
"Is it not strange, to be so close...and to feel no dread?" Tsuki asked. "Not so long ago, the Dark Lord ruled in the east and his power was far-reaching. We should not have been out of reach of his minions. I remember keeping post on the river island and also standing in the ruins of Eldsbridge. I like all Men there, was determined to defy His Darkness and had some slight hope of victory, but I was afraid. We were all afraid."
Duma shrugged. "I think they devise some machine or device to ferry across. Orcs in general do not swim."
Dale chewed at a frog leg and then spoke. "Tsuki, how ya think we should cross? The way Beryl was talking before, he made it sound as if we might just find a boat, but we dare not go north to find river merchants, and going too far south to cross the river kinda defeats the purpose of going north to approach undetected."
"It is a question of taking the horses or not," Tsuki said, "We should be able to build some craft to get us across, but the river is fast and wide here, it is soon after the falls and all these rivers and streams we have been crossing add to the river's flow. I believe it is too much for the horses. They will not be able to swim across. If we believe we will need the horses across the river, then we must find someone with a large vessel."
"It's not a matter of needing the horses on the other side," Dale thought aloud, "it's a matter of not trusting anyone on this side to return them safely to us later."
"Would any of you know how to construct a raft or boat?" Gwindor asked.
"Our home is quite near a river, but there are mainly barrels upon it and no boats," Lenaduiniel said.
"If you should want to barrel roll across the Great River, my sister is a champion, but we are no seafaring Elves."
"I saw competitions when I was in the Green Wood," Dale told Lenaduiniel, but you were not at home then. They said never place a wager against an Elf in barrel rolling, unless the challenger is likewise an Elf."
"There were once seafaring Elves," Gwindor said solemnly, "but now all the journeys we undertake in boats seem to lead to departing for the west."
Lenaduiniel nodded, thinking that their brother had the sea longing.
"Let us worry when we come to the river. Tomorrow," Tsuki said, "I am certain if we find materials enough that I can devise a worthy craft."
They set out the next day in a hazy dawn, east, toward the Great River. Duma did well in finding a path over the delta. Listening, he whispered for a halt. It was beginning to drizzle and hair, cloaks and, coats were beaded with water.
"I hear running water above the sound of the streams, we come close to the river," Dale whispered.
Duma made a rapid gesture to Dale and Dale fell silent and sniffed the air.
There was near silence as the others wondered if Duma had discovered Marduk's presence nearby.
"Men," Beryl said, answering the unspoken query. He needed not sniff the air to know the presence. Elven senses were keen, but it was also said they possessed not only the five Men might sharpen.
"There may be some village, where we might find a boat," Kato said merrily, and a bit loudly in the quiet fog.
The horses whinnied.
Duma made more gestures of his hands, clearly, the others realized, a plea for silence.
"We are being watched," Dale whispered. "Prepare to draw your weapons."
There was no preparing; the Elves were able to distinguish figures approaching through the mist and drew out their weapons immediately. That signaled the others to do the same.
"Corsairs," Beryl whispered, "these are no village fishermen."
"Who goes there?" a voice called out from the fog. It was a Man who spoke, and from the sound of his words, one from lands far to the south.
"We seek passage across the river, no questions asked," Kato called out. If these were the sort of Men Beryl suggested, they would understand riches and need for secrecy. Kato only hoped he made their case well enough to seem acceptable passengers but not so well that they seemed likely targets.
There was deep laughter from the mist. "No questions asked? Do you have troubles with the King's Men?"
"Let us just say it is something alike to that."
"That is the heart of it then. It will cost you, that is if you can convince a Captain with a large enough vessel to carry those horses. Stolen, are they?"
"It is no concern of yours. Will you allow us to pass so that we may seek this Captain? Or shall we cut our way through?"
"Go, but you will find you are not the only ones carrying weapons, or willing to use them."
The outlaws did not inhabit a village so much as a secret smugglers' harbor built up with boat wreckage, sailcloth and rope lashing. It was very much a smaller and less legitimate Newhaven, which was to say everyone was doing something criminal, as opposed to only most of the people.
Those who had come out to confront the newcomers drew away only slightly as they came to the hub of the small harbor. Various small craft, rafts and rowboats, were lashed to posts driven into the riverbed and goods were loaded and unloaded from walks constructed of lashed lengths of wood, which led toward a pair of ancient trees, which supported platforms and armed Men upon them, and an area of mounded earth above the mud and water, where many reed shacks and tents were pitched.
There was nothing alike to an inn. Most only visited the port between voyages and these would return to the larger vessels anchored in the river to sleep, or else leave to make camp elsewhere, where they would not be linked to the secret harbor. There were stalls, or more loosely defined areas, where food and drink could be had for a price. Everything could be had at some price.
There were not only Men, but people of the other races, even a few Elves and several Orcs, about their work or leisure in the small port. There were females as well as males, though they were in the minority. As well, the outlaws were of many different clans, breeds, tribes and peoples. All had a certain hardness to them. Some seemed merry or jolly, but they did not live such lives because they chose this fashion over farming, ranching, legal trade, or craft, but because they believed, such pursuits were unattainable in their life.
Some had began in this style of living young and had once thought they chose to do so out of desire for wealth or adventure, but many more seemed desperate. Many were the veterans of the war who had lost home and family and not believed they would find peace as Rangers.
When Tsuki and Gwindor looked about, they both felt they were looking on many who had been as hurt by the war and its politics, but who had not found the Rangers.
In truth, a majority of the Men were of a land at the mouth of the Great River, further south, which had been long fought over by kingdoms to the north and south of it. During the war, their great port had been attacked and many ships stolen, by the one now called High King. In war, it had seemed fair to those in the north, to take the ships from their port, because they were in need of transporting troops quickly upriver, and because the corsairs had been said to have some affiliation with the Dark Lord.
The Men of that land viewed did not see the attack as justified. Just as many of Fei's home kingdom had been allied to the Dark Lord, though many individuals within it did not seek to owe him allegiance, these Men had not believed themselves evil, but simply under the domain of powerful minions of a more powerful lord. That their livelihood had been disrupted in a foreign King's campaign against one he termed evil did not seem justified. They had great dislike for the King, his Rangers. That their port operated within the borders of his kingdom was their act of defiance and revenge.
"It will be best if we split our party into smaller groups," Beryl suggested. He continued, saying that they should not be alone and that they should watch their horses and packs.
As the company following Kato were eager to find passage, many of the corsairs in the port desired to speak with the newcomers and learn what their business was. Among their fellows, such things as half-breeds of any combination were rather common, and so they though little of Duma, even seeing him without his ears covered. As well, Easterlings were not uncommon in their secret river ports in these times, and Tsuki and Fei were eyed with only the slightest suspicion. Laurel wore eastern-styled garments and carried her staff and person with a strength that made her seem unlike average women, and so while she was viewed as attractive and female, she was also viewed as one to be wary of, and as one they would have to face Fei's scavenged scimitar to take. Dale, Beryl and Kato all had the look of being eccentric and crafty characters to those among the outlaws that viewed them. No one supposed Dale to be a Ranger.
The remaining three Elves caused some suspicion. Galadhiel wore male garments, and though this would have been considered rather normal and appropriate among the corsairs, she had what they perceived to be haughtiness or self-righteousness about her. If they did not believe there were no female Rangers, they might have assumed her one. Gwindor most assumed to be some righteous Elven friend to the Rangers, if not one himself. He seemed Elven nobility, which he was.
Lenaduiniel seemed Elven and noble as well, but as she had chosen to walk alongside Duma, she succeeded in confusing onlookers, so that though they remained suspicious, they did not assume she was one who would report their activity to some authority if allowed to depart with her life. Though she had fondness for her pupil, accompanying Duma was a calculated move on Lenaduiniel's part. While suspicious gazes followed her brother, she might gain useful information while seeming submissive to Duma.
He did all the speaking for them.
One of the Orcs in the small port had been in Marduk's Clan. The Easterner claimed not to know what had become of Marduk after their camp had been attacked. He had found himself alone after running and had followed Marduk's order to continue east, but then, when he had not found Marduk, but this strange settlement, he had found the Men willing to bargain with him. "Orcs have no Masters now, but it is no hardship to have an employer. I get gold for my work, moving cargo and guarding our crew and cargo. I can use gold to get things I want. Things Marduk does not have to give. There are other Orcs that work for the sailors. Other Easterners."
Duma felt Lenaduiniel lean into him and glanced to her. "Does your employer pay you the same amount of gold that he does Men doing the same manner of work?" Duma asked then.
The Easterner said nothing, but the answer was obvious. He did not know how to count.
"If you want to work for Men, you best learn to know how many containers you are set to watch and how many coins of what weight you are paid."
Fei and Laurel for their part, consulted each other and then set about walking the perimeter of the mound encampment, noting who prepared food and how many Men were of similar decent to Fei. When they had been around the camp once, they stopped near a cook fire they had passed before. Fei spoke a customary greeting and asked if they might sit and have some food. The man cooking answered in the same dialect and gave the price for a meal from his fire.
Fei and Laurel seated themselves on the stools hewn from logs and made their choice of meal. AS the cook stirred noodles, sauce and fish in his pan, Fei asked him questions, and also offered some information about himself.
Fei retold again how he had come to be a prisoner, of his time with the Witches, and how he had recently seen battle with Orcs and also learned one of those who had come west with him had become a professional bodyguard.
The cook said he had also been ordered to come west to serve the Overlord; it was the name many in the east gave the Dark Lord. The cook had not been captured during battle, but after the Overlord's defeat, when his Captains had offered surrender, the cook had felt too dishonored to return home, even if he had not sought to follow the Overlord or his ways.
"Our Emperor gave him allegiance, and so we were all his to order into war," Fei said sadly.
"The Men here do not understand."
"Those in the west, who were not lorded over by the Wizard, feel they have the right to condemn our people, only because they were spared being conquered by the secret workings of the Rangers in their defense."
"They act as if we failed to resist where they succeeded, when the work was done by the Rangers. I do not care for the Rangers, but they are more worthy adversaries than other Men of the west."
Laurel spoke a few words of Middle Kingdom Speech to say the meal was to her taste. The cook made a slight change of facial expression that seemed to indicate Laurel seemed too little submissive. "No women in her homeland seem submissive to outsiders," Fei sighed.
The cook laughed.
"I see there are Orcs in the harbor. Do you never have troubles with them?"
"One can have troubles with someone of any race. They are no different in that respect. These work for another Captain, but I have noted quite a few of their kind on ships and in ports of late. We find them just east of the river and they seem eager to get west. Sometimes we see them operating their strange ferries from our boats. Once they get to this side of the river, it is a simple matter to buy their services. They are menacing and work for little pay. Some of the Men have new reason to dislike them, for they fear their work will go to Orcs and they will not be taken on as crew."
"There are problems for Mannish settlements in the west, as many Orcs now roam without Masters. I fought in several battle against them."
"I hear many tales of their raids in the west. In our Kingdom, they came to us only with the Overlords Captains to control them and we had peace in our fear of the Overlord. I now hear that the Empire is in unrest, though Orcs are not at fault. Something makes them come west."
Fei nodded. He had not heard this before, that Orcs were particularly eager to be on the west side of the Great River. He had seen that they were coming south and that their raids centered on their stronghold in the ancient Dwarf mines. If the cook was correct, it explained why there were such a great number of Easterners among the Orcs this side of the river. There were more than might be explained by deserters from the battles of the war breeding. Survivors from battle sin the east and their offspring were also adding to the number.
"Do you know of any ships that make river crossings and are large enough to carry horses?"
"I know of such ships, non in port. Perhaps Murphy. He may be coming here within the next few days. It will cost you, and he is selective in taking on passengers."
"How should we know this Murphy?"
"Southerling. Near as black as an Orc. Keeps a woman as First Mate. A black-sailed ship. Called the Nebuchadnezzar, or some such Southerling name."
Fei nodded. He wondered if the others were having better luck.
Beryl and Kato had found their way to a meeting with the Man who was Master of the secret harbor. His guards had recognized Beryl and brought him and the Halfling to their boss, in his lookout. "Vero," Beryl said as he saw him, then made an elegant bow.
"Lucky Beryl." He laughed. "How is Fin?"
"Finloriel is well and in Newhaven. She minds my business there. How is your sister?"
Vero quirked a brow, as if he thought Beryl's question indecent, though he had asked after Beryl's own daughter. "My sister is importing herbs and fruits to make a ruin of tea and cakes of what was my father's tavern."
Beryl laughed. "I did not expect to find you out here, or I might have looked for your help. This does not seem your style."
"I won control of the port in a game of chance. It is not so interesting as it seemed, but it is now mine. Do you ever see that fellow...Reif was it?"
"Recently I saw him. He was having troubles with a woman."
Vero laughed. "How can I help you and your new friend?" Vero asked, glancing toward Kato, who sat at the edge of the treeborn platform with his feet dangling.
"I seek a ship to transport nine horses and ten passengers with baggage to the east side of the Great River."
"There may be two who could help you, if you can find them and meet their price. Black Murphy has a sail ship and The Smith has a curious Wizard vessel, runs with the turning of some great water wheel. It is said Smith stole it from the Dark Lord's own harbor, where his sorcerers were building it. The Smith runs games on his ship, but too few are not wary of the Wizard ship to make the games interesting."
"Are they in your port now?"
"No, but they may be soon."
"I suppose we shall enjoy the hospitality of your harbor until then."
"It seems Dale is enjoying himself already," Kato said as he looked down from the lookout.
Dale had found a hook-handed bartender with a cask of Lake and was then seated upon Tsuki's knee, drinking wine from a copper mug from his pack. It was his first mugful, but Dale behaved as if he had been drinking all morning. Already his cloak and jacket were tossed aside and his sword, scabbard and straps were removed from his back and propped beside him. He had even pulled loose the braid at the back of his head.
Dale spoke rapidly and freely as he unfastened the wooden toggles that closed his Elven shirt. "And then I began dancing upon the table...but that night was not so good as that we drank the Elven liquor...but this wine is fine." Dale laughed at his own rhyme.
"I do swear Elves can be drunk on a thimbleful," Tsuki said. He was fairly certain Dale was acting.
"No!" Dale shouted, "it's a thimbleful can be drunk on an Elf!"
"Keep on your shirt, Dale, the Men need not learn of belly shots," Gwindor said quietly as he approached, Galadhiel beside him.
Dale laughed and lifted his sword by the scabbard such that it knocked the sword hanging from Gwindor's belt. "It is warm today I think, I wish I might feel some wind on my skin."
"The season for such things has passed. You will feel better by night, when you cool can cool your blood gazing at the moon."
To make the point more clearly, Galadhiel passed by Gwindor to take a seat near Tsuki, making certain that her sword struck Gwindor's.
This made Dale laugh. "Sit and drink with us. I know the Men would feel better to see you drink. You must make them nervous, looking as if you are some Prince or Ranger. Does he not look the sort?"
The Men around them laughed.
"Let it not be said Elves are not merry," Gwindor said. He took a seat on one of the primitive benches and then asked if there were goblets for himself and his companion. "Do you wish to drink with us also, Tsuki?"
"I will partake of the wine only from Dale's lips."
At that, Dale turned his face toward Tsuki to kiss him.
"Excellent year," Tsuki whispered as their lips parted.
"He kisses as one who has been at sea so long he has forgotten what is good about women," a one-armed Man laughed.
"Women are good for something?" another Man asked.
There was much laughter.