Part Fifty-Three
They waited, watching for ships to come in. The company continued with their usual training and work, and joined the encampment upon the mound. Vero allowed some to come and go from his tree dwelling, but he forbid any Elves save Beryl from joining him there. This bothered Dale, who felt safer when he could climb into a tree. He pitched a tent below one of the trees but he did not sleep well or often.
Beryl did not sleep at all. He sat at the edge of the lookout watching the river. Often Kato sat beside him, but Kato would leave Beryl to eat, sleep or play a game with Vero and his henchmen. Fei and Laurel sometimes came into the lookout, mainly to share information with Kato and Beryl, but also to bring Kato food. As Kato's bodyguard, Beryl insisted Kato not leave the lookout.
When they slept, Laurel and Fei would join the Elves below for their mutual protection. Duma slept at the bottom of the tree, not far from Dale. He woke during one night, not knowing why. He recalled no dreams and heard no strange sounds but those of the harbor he had become accustomed to.
Duma rose and went to the rope ladder that led to the lookout. The guards atop the platform allowed him to pass and Duma walked over the decking in search of Kato.
Kato saw Duma coming, as he was about his midnight snack. He waved cheerily, swallowed and then smiled. "Is there-?" Duma started.
"Did you sleep in the mud?" Kato asked, pointing to Duma's person.
Duma looked down then and saw mud upon his black leather armor. It was not only mud, he realized, it was a distinct handprint, too small and awkwardly placed for him to have made it himself in sleep; he would have had to twist his arm to match the direction of the print. "She is here," Duma whispered.
"Ugarit?" Kato whispered, mispronouncing her name again.
Duma sat at a simple chair across the table from Kato. "What is the point in all the training if a girl can mark me as I sleep?"
Kato chuckled. "Your body trusts her."
Duma grimaced. "Is there any news?" he asked then, scrubbing the mud from his torso with his bracer.
Kato piled some smoked fish on a biscuit and then stuffed it in his mouth before giving any answer. He tipped his head toward Beryl's position. Duma went with Kato to see the Elf.
Duma crouched at Beryl's left side, while Kato stood at Beryl's right, his arm resting upon Beryl's shoulder. "The moon favors us, but not the fog. I can see a large shape upon the water, but not yet what manner of ship it might be," Beryl told them in his usual quiet manner.
"Tilion favors this strange fellowship often," Duma said.
"It is a matter of interpretation," Beryl said, "When waxing we say the light favors our vision and Tsuki's ability to bless us, and when waning we say the darkness better conceals us and increases Tsuki's ability to make banishing spells. His magic is not quite that of other Wizards, and it is not that of the Witches either."
"Not like Elves."
Beryl nodded at Kato's observation. "Not quite Elven enchantment either. There are two shapes moving in the mist. I see their approach now, one pulling from behind the other. The Wizard ship overtakes that with black sails."
"The ships we have been waiting for!" Duma said excitedly. He put his hand to the decking and vaulted to the damp ground below.
"It is likely not a good time to bother Dale with such news," Kato sighed.
Beryl laughed softly. "It is what comes from having children. When I had children, I could barely even count their mothers as lovers until my young ones grew old enough to have lovers of their own."
"I think Ugarit is about."
"Yes. We left her the raft. I expected she would be smart enough to use it. It was no use to us, having the horses, but she could have come east much more quickly than we and been able to rest her leg along the way."
"No sign of Marduk?"
"There is such a scent of wetland, river and Men here that he might stand upwind and be undetected," Beryl confessed. "We are too close to a Man camp to have news from the animals. If he and any of his band survived, they are close now."
Below, Duma ducked into Dale's tent and found his father naked and entwined with Tsuki. "Could ya leave us alone!" Dale complained.
Duma shook his head and did not move from the tent. Neither Tsuki nor Dale could detect any shame or hesitation in Duma's matter. Either he did not realize what they were at or he did not think it important. Truthfully, Duma realized just what they did, he simply did not consider they might have a desire for privacy. Orcs carried out all manner of breeding activity quite publicly and union for sake of pleasure, when there was no punishment or reward involved was a novel concept to them. Sharing had been explained, but Duma did not think the fact that Dale shared himself with Tsuki meant that he must stay away when he needed to report to Dale.
"The ships we have been awaiting are both coming close to port. Their crews will come from the ships in their small boats. We must go meet them."
"You could have told me that from outside the tent!" Dale complained as Tsuki sighed once, then went about putting on clothing.
Duma shrugged.
"I am certain that Chieftains do sometimes have a cave or stolen building they claim as their own!"
"Chieftains often claim luxuries..." Duma seemed to think on something, "and females. Females claim many luxuries, but one enters to make a report. There is no trouble; I knew you were here fucking your Wizard-"
Dale cut short Duma's speech. "You can't speak of Tsuki in such a manner when he is right here!"
"Not in mixed company. Only when it is just Orcs," Tsuki said.
Duma nodded.
Dale growled and then he pulled at his hair. "I do not think it is right!"
Tsuki and Duma both looked at Dale curiously. "You do not?" Tsuki whispered.
"Tsuki is not just some pet that I use. Maybe it is better for the other Orcs to think so, but you know that it is not true, and maybe they know also. I am not sure that it's right. Even if Tsuki is willing to pretend for us...I do not like to hear you speak of Tsuki that way."
"You said you do not lie," Duma hissed.
"Um, maybe I could appreciate such manner in certain company. I can get a bit rough sometimes," Dale laughed nervously. "It is just not so entertaining when Tsuki has to hear it. It is not how I really feel."
"Duma, we appreciate your report. The sooner we cross the river, I think, the sooner we shall sort out who is the enemy of whom. For now, leave Dale here with me and go to the others. Dale is also an Elf, and they are passionate creatures."
Duma did not leave immediately but watched as Dale looked saddened and slowly drew on his clothing. "It hurts if someone that you appreciate can be made to seem less in your eyes or those of others. It hurts if you can be made to seem less in others' eyes."
"Yes, but I will make Dale understand that I am no less or more than I am, no matter what others believe or say."
"Ugarit is here. I mean that she was. I do not now know where she may be."
Tsuki nodded once and then Duma left. As soon as he had gone, Tsuki pulled loose the laces Dale had just tied on his pants. "Do not Elves share before they are wed so that they may explore their passions constructively, and be satisfied and free of distraction when time for battle does come?"
Dale said nothing, but gazed at Tsuki and made a slight nod.
"Across the river, we shall see what sort of a mission we have been sent on, and we shall learn if we will be forced into the role of enemy to your child. There may not be time then, so let me continue now."
"Don't stop."
"Not until you beg for release."
Dale shivered as he exhaled, it made his breath waver. "I do not really think of you that way."
"Yes, you do, it is only true that half of you feels guilty about it. Dale," Tsuki pressed closer to him, "I have been desired for my youth and ability and all my physical urges were suppressed. I like the way you treat me because it feels more natural. More honest. I do not dislike you for discovering that you speak roughly of me to others, in fact, the very idea of it arouses me."
"Tsu..."
"I am no more a child than you, Dale. I will not be manipulated into submission, not by anyone, but I can enjoy being the object of your lust. I know you. That lust would never lead you to harm me. Speak of me as roughly as you like. I will remember that there is much more to you than rude jokes and naughty lyrics."
"Harder, curse you! You're aroused no matter which way around I say I want it to be! You have a most twisted sense of the humorous, confessing you're faith in me when I've allowed you to take me!"
"Survive and you will soon be the one to take me again," Tsuki promised, then he bit Dale's shoulder, quite hard.
Galadhiel and the two Woodelves had remained within the camp while the others, Dale and Tsuki also excluded, went to meet the crews of the incoming ships. They expected, whoever they met from these crews, an Elf, a Halfling, an Orc, a Witch and an Eastman should find one among them who could convince the Captains to deal with them.
The only member of their party who might not have been a redundant choice of representative was Tsuki, considering he presented himself as a Wizard.
The first crew to arrive was that of the Wizard ship. They came in a wide-bottomed metal rowboat, and it seemed magical that this craft did not sink, as metal objects often sank beneath water. The members of the crew did not dress exactly alike, but they al displayed some remnants of uniform attire such that it was apparent they had served the military of some kingdom together, even if they did not now.
"These Men served the other side during the war," Beryl whispered to Kato.
Duma clacked his barbell. "In a manner of speaking, Fei and I each served the opposite side from you during the war."
"If Orcs had civilians, you would be one and Fei was certainly a conscripted civilian," Beryl insisted, though his voice remained soft. "This Captain is more a deserter than one who liberated a ship."
"He did desert those you would call enemy," Laurel pointed out.
"Think the fellow an enlightened enemy or redeemed Man if you will, but I shall not easily trust one who was deserter or traitor to any side."
"Deserting is not quite the same as being a traitor," Fei said, "if I understand the terms as you speak them. Did he merely leave with the ship at the moment of certain defeat, did he nobly deprive your former enemies of a weapon they would use against you, or did he take what his own people had created for their defense to use toward his own ends?"
"I think that is what we must determine," Kato said, "before we decide whether or not to ask passage of this Man."
"They will be some time unloading their boat," Laurel said, "what of the other ship?"
The second crew was arriving as they spoke, aboard several long reed boats. They did not have wear any uniform, but all seemed to wear clothing that in the south must be stylish, if a bit worn from wear. They wore sandals rather than boots and the males among them wore skirt-like garments, not unlike the kilts of the highlanders in fit, though these were most often made of lightly colored solid fabric.
"Difficult to read," Beryl admitted. "I sense no great danger in them, but that does not mean we should trust them to request passage."
"We must request passage from one," Kato reminded them, "Let us choose what seems the lesser evil, if we cannot find one that is good. Perhaps Laurel can tell us."
"I could throw bones on the matter," Laurel agreed.
"Duma, take Fei with you and ask this Captain Smith if he would grant passage and what price he asks. Kato and I will ask Murphy the same."
Laurel told Duma that she would go with him also. It did not seem to her the best solution to be a woman alone on the pier, though she could defend herself against small number of opponents.
Duma was able to reach Smith before the crew of the black-sailed ship was docked. The slender Man looked toward Duma with an expression of superiority. "Your father was an Elf...that found some means of breeding with an Orc...It is not the way of Orcs to seek to create half-breeds...Elves love nature...they love chaos...it was the Elf...your gear is most curious...your father is the one they call Orc-killer."
"That is what the Sylvan Elves call Dale," Laurel whispered.
Duma had learned this name for Dale already. "How do you know?"
"It is obvious," Smith replied. He did not confess what clues had led him to his conclusion, but was now assured that he was correct. "What do you seek?"
"Passage across the river, for ten people and nine horses with gear," Duma answered. "What price would you ask, if you would agree to take us as passengers?"
"The question you mean to ask is what price will I accept...and that...Young Orc-Killer...depends on what you have to offer."
Duma scowled. "I do not kill Orcs. My name is Duma."
"Tell your father I will see the others in your party." Smith then walked past Duma and headed toward the encampment, flanked by two guards.
Beryl and Kato were able to approach Murphy as he walked from his boat. They inquired whether he was in fact the Captain, and then Kato spoke. "We are seeking passage across the river for ourselves, eight other companions and nine horses with our gear. Your ship has been recommended to us, for its capacity. I ask whether you would be willing to take us on as passengers and what price you wish for the trouble."
Murphy stood and looked down at the Halfling. He was a bald Man, wearing a vest above his kilt, sandals laced to his knees, and a curved sword from the sash at his waist. The woman at his side wore a skirt and top of sheer black fabric that wrapped in layers enough for modesty and carried a cleverly made crossbow loaded in her hand. "And I ask what you could possibly offer to make a trip across the river with no other cargo worth our time," Murphy asked in a thick southern accent.
"A fool would name all the valuable they have at hand in so public a place, but if you do not seek treasures, I assure you our crew has many skills that you may find useful."
"Not interested," Murphy stated and pressed past Beryl to continue toward the camp.
"I fear we have come to a misunderstanding," Beryl said. "We must consult Laurel and Tsuki. Or, perhaps you should meet Smith. I sense nothing helpful, but you are particularly apt at reading others, for one who is not an Elf."
"The woman looked back after they left," Kato said. "If we desire to hire Captain Murphy, we should go through her. Let us go. I should find a way to meet Smith. We can consult the others if Dale and Tsuki are not still occupied.
Dale and Tsuki had walked north from the encampment to find a place to draw water and wash. They had already put on some of their fresh clothing and Tsuki sat drinking tea made with the remaining hot water while Dale sat across the stove combing his hair.
Sati, Captain Murphy's First Mate, came also to the same section of stream, looking for a private place to wash. She carried a pot of firewood in one hand and her crossbow in the other. Dale heard her approach slightly before she was able to see the Man and Elf before her, and so when she noticed them, they were already looking at her.
Tsuki lifted his hand from his sword and stood. "Hullo," he called out politely, "Our stove can quickly heat water, and is not yet cool, if you wish to use it. And there is tea if you wish a drink to warm you without stealing your wariness, My Lady."
"Lady," Sati whispered. "And what do you charge for use of your stove?"
"Nothing."
"I do not trust gifts of Wizardry." Sati looked past Tsuki for another place to bathe.
"I only meant the offer in kindness. You do not need to leave. We were preparing to leave for the mound encampment and will not bother you."
"That is a most interesting weapon. May I look at it? I will let you hold my sword if you like."
Sati took a step back and glared.
"You will have her think us lechers," Tsuki said to Dale in Elven, then he spoke to Sati in the Common Speech, which she spoke well. She was from a disputed Principality that had been the most southern part of the north as well as the most northern part of the south and her particular ancestors resembled the locals of the kingdom the secret harbor was within. "My companion is so accustomed to rough places that he forgets himself when speaking. He would give you his weapon as collateral if he might study yours."
"The sword is not my weapon of choice."
Dale laughed.
Tsuki sighed.
Sati smiled at Dale. She was used to rough places and not being treated as a lady.
"Tsuki, give her your bow to hold on my while I look at the crossbow," Dale said casually.
"It is not necessary," Sati said. She moved forward, set down the pot, and handed Dale the crossbow. "I will take the tea instead and give you warning that I do not need a weapon to fight."
"Even against two?" Dale asked as he studied her crossbow. It was smaller than others he had seen and he wished he could make a copy.
"You need not answer. We are not going to fight you," Tsuki told Sati. He passed her a small clay cup filled with tea.
"It is not imported from the east."
"No. I was raised in the west. The tea was supplied by our friend, a Halfling and merchant. I am not certain where it is imported from."
"It is a blend of roasted leaves from mountains in the southeast." Sati took another sip. "He is a blond Halfling traveling with a stylishly dressed Elf, your friend?"
"You met him?"
"He seeks passage across the river," Sati said. Dale returned the crossbow and returned to combing his hair. Sati did not look toward him, but at Tsuki. "Do you also seek to go with him?"
"We are part of his escort. I think perhaps he will meet suppliers there."
"Is he a legitimate merchant? Why seek passage here? If he has such an import business, he must have access to boats further south."
"It is not for us to give away our reasons," Tsuki said, "but even merchants can have enemies, and we wish to make our approach from an unexpected direction. We cannot cross further south."
"What is his cargo, if he is a merchant?"
"That also we cannot reveal, as we, like others in the party, are only employees."
"My Captain has space aboard his ship, but he is careful in choosing passengers. We are privateers of course, but our Captain selects only crew that share his particular code of conduct. There are some things he will not deal in. He dislikes Art and Wizardry, and I see you carry a staff and hang amulets from your bow. This stove also seems wrought by Wizards. You will not easily convince my Captain to take you on, even if the Halfling is rich."
"Do you know of this fellow called Smith, or The Smith?" Dale asked. "We hear he also may have a ship of appropriate size."
"I know him. The Smith he is called, because he served the sorcerers by aiding them in making their machines. He worked in their forge and learned much Wizardry. I was once part of his crew, before my Captain liberated me. That was another life, one I do not wish to speak of further."
"We will not ask. We also have dark pasts," Dale told Sati.
"I thank you for the information," Tsuki said. "We must go to our companions and discuss how to convince a Captain to take us aboard. We will retrieve the stove later, if you are not able to bring it to the camp."
"I thank you for the tea. My name is Sati. Ask for me if you need to meet with my Captain."
Tsuki pulled on the rest of his clothing as Dale bowed and introduced himself to Sati. "Dale Maple of the Vale Elves," he said.
Sati smiled, but said nothing.
"Tsuki Eru."
"Tsuki Eru," Sati repeated.
When Dale and Tsuki had walked toward the camp, Sati went to the stream to draw water. She hefted the pot back to the stove and stood waiting for the water to heat, watchful for spies. Most Men that frequented the ports knew not to cross her, but now and then there was some new fellow who though he could have some fun with her and that she would not be able to resist his particular charms or strength.
Sati thought she heard a scream. It would not have disturbed her, much, except that it did not come from the encampment, but further away from it than her position. The thought of someone being lured away from the port and taken advantage of did not please her. Not my concern, she told herself. People should know better than to come to the harbor if they could not take care of themselves.
Again Sati heard a sound that seemed a scream, or cry of distress. This time it seemed closer and was followed by some lower, amused vocalization. It was more than Sati could bear. Perhaps she was a fool and this was a trap, a scene acted out to draw her into danger, yet, she had still not grown so cold that she could ignore such a cry. She would have nightmares if she did not do something to help.
Sati checked that her bow was ready and that she had more arrows in her hip quiver, then she ran toward the sounds. "Hullo! Is there some trouble! I warn you I am armed!" Sati called out. Perhaps sneaking would have been more intelligent, but if there was one to save, then any distraction might help them, if it came soon enough.
When Sati came upon the scene, she found only Orcs. There were four, all large, dark, knuckle-dragging Orcs, like those that were common in the east. One of them was bleeding from his arms. "Where did it go?" he said, and then they noticed Sati.
Sati understood that whatever the quarry had been, it was hidden or gone now, and all four Orcs would be after her.
Ugarit watched the woman turn and run. She was a fast runner. Maybe she would survive, or lead the Orcs toward more dangerous prey. Ugarit had not planned to lead the Rocs to the woman, but her other choices had been risking that the strange Orcs would find Tashmetum as well or surrendering her own body and life. Putting the woman in danger seemed the best choice.
Now Ugarit could return to the place Tashmetum was hidden and the little one would have someone to help her survive. Ugarit's leg ached. She had run without her crutches. The crutches would have made it entirely obvious she had a vulnerability.
Dale halted and turned his head. "Sati is calling you," he said. "She is in trouble.
After Dale spoke, Tsuki was also able to hear the calls. He turned and ran back toward Sati. Dale then ran after him.
Sati was no longer running but engaged in battle when they came to her. She fought well, Dale thought, but no Man or woman alone was stronger than one of these Easterners. One would have to be a master of weaponless martial arts to fight four and use their own size and strength against them. Maybe better than just a master. Even Elves were thought mad to face numbers of Orcs alone.
Tsuki drew both swords and rushed in. Other Men likely would have thought him mad. Even with two swords, one small-statured Man against four Orcs of this breed would not be given good odds in any gambling house. Yet, it was Tsuki, and his swords were clearly made by some master of the craft. Dale would never bet against him.
Two Orcs were decapitated, before any of them knew Tsuki was there. The Orcs had not even drawn weapons, but attempted to beat Sati with their fists. She had done well in dodging their attacks, such that Dale told himself not to bet against this woman in a fight again. She had excellent mastery of the art of weaponless combat.
"Leave one to question!" Dale called. He did not bother to join the battle, as he could see Tsuki and Sati now had matters in their control. Four had been too many for her, but one was not even a match. Sati snapped the Orcs neck.
Dale moved in then. Tsuki had his swords trained on the Orc, so he was not moving. Dale spoke to the Orc in Goblin. "What Clan are you, and who is your Chieftain."
The Orc did not speak, but his lips twitched and his yellow eyes seemed to widen. Dale had seen the look before. His reputation as a killer of Orcs was known among their kind on both sides of the river, some remembered him more for the Orcs he had slain in war, while others knew he had some connection to slayings in the northwest. They saw a red-haired Elf carrying Orc gear and they knew they were going to die. "You are not employed by the corsairs, and you are not one of Marduk-Chieftain's clan. You came across the river recently."
The answer was clearly affirmative, though the Orc did not speak.
"There is no Dark Lord, and surely Orcs know they have enemies in the west. Why do you cross the river? What is over there?"
"You should know, Elf."
Elves, Dale supposed; he was not going to get a better answer without torture, and that would be disturbing for Tsuki to watch. "You thought you would play with this woman? So close to a Man settlement. You can smell them, can't you?"
"You speak Goblin with strange accent."
Dale growled. "You want me to kill you quickly or do it slowly? What were you doing? I did not scent you before, yet you encountered this woman before she began her bath."
"We did not hunt your woman," the Orcs said, clearly implying Dale had some attachment to a weak creature. "She disturbed our hunt. We saw something."
"What did you see?"
"It is not for Elves to know, Death-shadow."
Dale growled. He was going to kill this Orc no matter what he answered. "Was it perhaps something that looked like an Orc that was female?"
Again the Orc did not speak, but Dale could read the answer in his expression.
"The Precious Things are not to be jumped in like some wilderness-spawned Orc entering your Clan. They are to be protected. They are to be kept secret. All the Chieftains agree, myself included. The punishment for spoiling Precious Things that have not been fairly won in single combat or given you by a Chieftain is death. The punishment for hunting Precious Things is slow death."
The Orc was afraid, so afraid that he soiled himself.
Dale snarled. "You are a too weak to be considered an Orc. The punishment for those who are not Orcs and cannot be trusted to keep the Precious Things safe and secret is immediate death." Dale drove his sword into the Orc's chest. "Take his head," he said then to Tsuki.
"You are still speaking Goblin," Tsuki said calmly.
"Take his head," Dale said again, in the Common Speech.
Tsuki shrugged and then complied.
"Who are you?" Sati asked as Dale bent to strip the Orcs of useful gear.
"I told you. Dale Maple."