by Clark Bolton
Murac scowled, “If they approach we will not hesitate to drive them into the fens, assuming any make it that far!”
Autbek shut his eyes in frustration for a moment as he tried to figure out how best to deal with Murac’s anger and no doubt the anger it would raise among the elves. However, he did not have to say anything as Tesloa merely nodded and lead them up toward the mountains which all but touched the river at this point.
The elven camp was small as it appeared in total there were only nine elves accompanying Peersday. No Desoa revealed themselves and the other elves gave them a cold but not unfriendly welcome. Peersday himself was shocked at first to be introduced to humans but then excited after Appaloupe introduced himself and took to explaining why they had come. The Halfling was indeed as the term for his people implied, half the height of a man and in other ways appeared almost childlike. His face was the only obvious thing that set him apart from a child of about ten, other than his big hairy feet, making him the only other person besides Un Papp that went around barefoot.
“I am most pleased to hear that you might be able to help us and that you are not part of those devils.” Peersday announced after breaking away from the gnome with some trouble.
Autbek found his accent strange but tolerable and so felt not the need for a language spell. “We are happy to be of assistance, Peersday, but please understand that we know nothing of your devils, though we fear they will someday come to attack Astrum.”
“That is your city? I can tell you that if it is you best prepare with high walls of timber and pits if you ever hope to stop these giants.”
Haspeth could not resist whispering to Castor. “I suppose we are giants to him.”
Autbek furrowed his brow at the Halflings remarks. “Um, yes, but I think we will have to show you Astrum for it has high walls of stone already.” This seemed to confuse Peersday who apparently had never seen a city. “We think though that it may be at risk anyways as our sightings show many ships and men.”
Castor stepped up a little closer to the small man. “Do you know if they have mages with them, the ones who attacked your village?”
Peersday though for a moment with eyes sadly downcast. “I know not but with what Tesloa tells me their ships were not like others and so may have been magical.”
This got Murac’s attention; he had been keeping close watch on the edges of the campsite. “Master Peersday, how were these ships so different?”
The Halfling gladly filled them in on what he knew and ended up recounting the entire battle that took place outside his village. The humans that attack called themselves the Hon-Chi and had landed several massive flat ships at the mouth of the river that was a short walk from Peersday’s village. The Halflings had no warning as they kept little watch in that direction for they were not a seafaring folk and so had little to do with the sea.
They were no match for the hundreds of soldiers that came marching to the edge of the village and then demanded that the Halflings come forth and surrender themselves. What followed sounded like no battle to Murac, as the Halflings mainly fled into the forest and so few were injured by the soldiers.
“They took more than a hundred of us with them, saying that they would not be harmed so long as we Halflings told no one of the Hon-Chi. If we did they said we would never see our kin again. They left then, and never said when our kin would be released or where.”
Murac nodded in sympathy. “Have you told anyone beside the elves and us of your tragedy?”
Peersday deflated and shook his head. “Who else can a Halfling tell? We have other villages but they cannot help us as we are not soldiers though we fight the likes of goblins and such when the need arises.”
Murac pressed gently for more. “These ships, how high were their decks above the water?”
“Well, I did follow and sneak a peek at them as they left; being lucky I was not among those captured. Maybe the height of two or three men I’d say.”
Castor stood next to Murac nodding his head at the news then paused to ask. “Would that be two or three Halflings or humans?”
“Halflings sir!”
They went on to question him about the number of soldiers and sailors he saw which turned out to be a thousand or more though he admitted he could not be sure as he had not been close. Murac seem perplexed at the ships and asked for more details but Peersday had none to give. Taking Autbek and Eifled aside they discussed the matter.
“I don’t see, O’t, how these ships could sail along this coast as they look to be made for lakes or rivers from what he says and from what Pemmesa tells me about them. It’s not adding up somehow.”
Autbek glanced over at Peersday who went back to talking with Appaloupe and Castor. “You believe him don’t you?” He asked Eifled
“Yes, I do. The elves also but it is like no other tale I’ve heard and Murac is right I suspect about these ships they travel in. No lands near here or any place I’ve seen recorded would seem to have their like.”
“Yea, well I think there are mages involved, that I’m pretty sure about. The fact that their ships look unmade for the ocean and that they hide so well from us. Anyway, I’m going to send a fire-note to Berdtom, his staff should see it and get it to the palace where he’s likely to be.”
“It will reinforce the Earl’s decision to assemble his army.” Eifled commented. “Though at this point the court seems determine to do so.”
“I may have to give the Earl some credit for thinking ahead.” Murac muttered as Autbek excused himself.
Autbek walked to the fire and watched closely as Pemmesa and the two viken worked to begin a divination, doing their best to focus it on the fens and so in that way they viewed again the ships of the Hon-Chi. This time they reported they could see the reeds of the fens surrounding three wide and flat ships that appeared to be more like barges than ocean going vessels. At first no one but Pemmesa and Aldem could see the images in the fire until Castor and Lita stepped up to form an illusion.
Autbek was baffled as the two illusionists were able to float moving images of the ships and the men on them above the fire for all to see. The fact that they could do this without being able to see the ships themselves just showed how truly marvelous illusion magic could be and how their skills had progressed.
“They must not do this for long, right, O’t?” Resbeka whispered with concern.
“Yes!” Autbek acknowledged in agreement. “The longer they peer at them the greater the chance a mage among them will become aware of our scrying, so let us keep this short.”
Autbek had to settle for a log as a writing desk as he prepared a piece of parchment as the others watched the mysterious ships and the small figures moving upon them. The letter to Berdtom did not include much about the Desoa or the elves and so mainly focused on Peersday account of things including the ships and the Hon-Chi. As he wrote he glanced up to see Castor and Lita doing something with a piece of parchment themselves and when finished they brought it over and handed it to him.
The surprise was evident upon Autbek’s face as he gazed in amazement at the page for it was as if some fabled artist had painted the scene above the fire depicting the Hon-Chi ships. “Do you wish me to send this to Berdtom?” Autbek asked with a furrowed brow as he realized that is exactly what should be done.
“Why not?” Castor said with just a hint of pride.
“Yes, why not?” Autbek mused as he glanced up to smile at the kid. He then tucked the illustration under his letter and prepared to do the fire-note.
“Add this if you will, O’t!” Eifled said as he walked over to hand Autbek another piece of parchment. “It details to Berdtom what he must convince the Earl to do immediately if he is to properly protect the city’s harbor.”
Autbek read the parchment and was not surprised at the military terms it contained as he had been in on conversations before between Berdtom and Eifled concerning defensive strategies used during sieges in past wars. The subject initially had been a sur
prise to hear coming from Eifled but then it became clear that such subjects fell naturally within the domain of sages among whom Eifled had a considerable reputation.
“Is the Earl prepared do these things?” Autbek asked with genuine curiosity as he handed Eifled’s instructions to Murac who had walked over.
“I have instructed his lordship a number of times on such tactics, O’t, and Berdtom has been at court to keep such advice fresh in the Earl’s mind, but as to whether or not his generals are prepared I can only guess.”
“I have seen the use of floating barricades before.” Murac commented as he handed the parchment back to Autbek. “Against these barges we’ve seen I would guess they could work.”
When ready Autbek invited everyone to watch as he cast the fire-note into the campfire, and as usual it burst into cinders instantly. Peersday seemed very interested in what he was doing and so Autbek sat down with him to explain. “This spell I used will send the letter to a friend of mine, and in fact he or his staff should have it now. We are mages, Peersday, and we hope with the help of the elves here and you to stop the Hon-chi, though I think there may be a war.”
“Will they know, I mean the Hon-Chi … that I told you about us Halflings?”
“I don’t know, maybe we can figure out some way to help you but do trust me when I say we will keep secret anything you tell us about them that would give you away.”
“That is good, and I hope to do my part in stopping them. Just wish there was more of us Halflings, but I’m afraid others did not see this as I do. I’ve no trust in the Hon-Chi, not after what they done to us but my village thinks otherwise. They won’t do anything for fear of what those devils will do to our kin.”
“I can’t blame them I guess, but I do think you did the right thing.” Autbek proclaimed as they all sat watching the fire for a while in silence.
After a time Murac turned to ask Tesloa. “Is there any way to know where in the fens these barges are?”
The elf shook his head. “We see as you, only reeds and water, without more we cannot say. The fens are notorious for their twisted channels and featureless islets of which there are many hundred.”
Murac nodded his head in understanding, “Hmm, at least we know they are there, and that those barges are likely enchanted, and I can’t but think even a small squall would sink them.”
Haspeth spoke up as he laid leaning against a tree. “Can’t you find those Halflings, O’t, like you did that sailor? You, know, with blood!”
Castor was the first to reply. “Not bad thinking, battle-mage. Maybe you are good for something besides fires.”
“Yea, well I’ll fire up some more Desoa if they show up. Which reminds me, should we not get out of here before long?”
Autbek thought about his locator device, which he had in his saddlebags back with the horses. “We could find the direction anyway, though what that means to us today I’m not sure.”
They decided it would be worth it to do as it would provide confirmation for Peersday that his fellow Halflings were indeed in the fens. So they promised him they would if he would agree to cross back over the river with them.
“I will, sir, but I want to go further. I want to see your city.”
Autbek furrowed his brow as he thought about yet another guest in the mage tower, glancing at Onaleen he got a sympathetic nod. “That is fine with us but we may not have much time for you and so your stay could last a while. If you like some of these elves could accompany you.”
The elves declined the offer, saying they were not willing to enter the city or even remain near it as they had no like of such places. So all came to the conclusion that for now Peersday would travel to Astrum, and that by doing so he risked losing contact with Tesloa and the other elves.
Peersday understood the risk. “It saddens me, Tesloa, to leave you, but in truth we both know I’m of no use to you here. The water of the fens is no place for a Halfling.”
The party wondered what use, other than his blood, he would be to them but no one said anything aloud. They then waited for Peersday to pack his few belongings and then followed the elves back to the reed boats and again crossed the river.
Their ride back to the mage tower was uneventful and so by dark they arrived among the many laborers who were hard at work on constructing tunnels and below ground chambers. To most their new guest appeared to be just another gnome, or at worst an ugly child.
Chapter 34
Berdtom finished commenting for the fourth or fifth time on the contents of the fire-note that he had lain out on the table of the Earl’s main conference hall. As military officers and other officials arrived at the hastily convened strategy meeting he would again explain briefly what he knew as all waited for the Earl to arrive.
Fesmbol eventually arrived to review the illustration and to hear for the first time the name Hon-Chi, their new supposed enemy. He then came over to ask softly a question of Berdtom, “Your mages will be available to me on the morrow?”
Berdtom nodded his head at the not too rude suggestion that Fesmbol was going to ask for either Castor or Haspeth’s assistance. “I expect them in the tower by morning.” He replied, feeling he at the very least owed Fesmbol that much knowledge. “I’ll see that Autbek is prepared to provide one.”
Fesmbol nodded his head slightly then stepped back into the background as the Earl came into the room. “How did you come by this Berdtom?” The Earl asked incredulously as he closely examined the illustration Castor had made.
“Sorcery my lord!” Berdtom replied succinctly as he paused to let that fact sink in among the two dozen or so officials in the room. “Autbek has procured this drawing and has sent it and the other information you see here by its use.”
The Earl had moved on to Eifled’s letter and had taken a seat while reading it. “The fens?” He asked as he looked up at Berdtom.
“Yes, my lord, he has gone there along with Eifled for the purpose of casting some divinations. As you can see they have turned out to be successful. He knows not where within the fens these three ships lay, and believes they have been there for some time, months perhaps.”
The room became abuzz with theories and suggestions for action until the Earl called for calm. “Months you say? How can they be this close and we not know it?” The Earl demanded of the military offices in the room who all looked rather ashamed at not being able to provide an answer.
“The fens are deep my lord.” One of the officers proclaimed defensively. “And there are only these three ships, but we could now easily overcome them with our forces my lord should you order it!”
“You won’t find them, colonel!” Berdtom declared when no one else seemed inclined to. “Autbek has confirmed as much. You will likely only find your ship’s mired in mud and we will lose any element of surprise that we have now.”
A long series of discussions and arguments ensued as the Earl sought a consensus as to how to react to this now apparent threat. Many in the room were now convinced that the prophecy was coming to fruition and that therefore the Earl must act decisively and quickly or risk now the catastrophe that this invasion could bring upon them.
“Three barges of foreigners can hardly be considered an invasion, my lord.” Cachner argued as he looked closely at Castor’s drawing. “And how can such detail be obtained without an artist not standing beside these vessels?”
Berdtom shook his head sadly at Cachner’s attempt to discredit him and Autbek before calling out loudly to the hall, “We have glimpsed these peoples before through more than one source my lords, so let no doubt enter your minds that this is our foe. They have masked their presence well and it is only these three that our Mage Councilor has been able to discover but we must assume that there are dozens more if not hundreds!”
Most in the room seemed inclined to agree with him and Berdtom also was inclined to think the Earl saw the wisdom of his words as the man began to ask detailed questions about Eifled’s floating-barricade design and how long
it would take his forces to erect it. By the time the meeting ended a great catharsis had become evident as now the court and the military had a clear and present enemy to focus their efforts upon, leaving many to express optimism at being able to handle this now materialized threat.
Haspeth poked his head around the door of the mage-tower’s study to announce to Autbek what they both had been warned by Berdtom would come to pass. “Fesmbol is in the court yard, my lord!”
Autbek nodded his head as he rolled his eyes in annoyance at the news. It was early morning and only the following day after their somewhat tragic but successful adventure into the fens. He had finished his condolence letter to the family of the guard who had been killed by the Desoa, and so was thankful of getting that arduous task completed. Thankfully Murac had offered to help and had been rather clear on how to word such a letter.
“Is Murac ready to accompany you?” Autbek asked as he stood and got ready to come down and meet with Fesmbol.
“Me?” Haspeth whined. “I thought maybe a sneak-thief would be more along the lines of what a lord like Fesmbol would have a use for!”
“That’s why you will be going!” Autbek announced as they descended the stairs. “I don’t need Castor accomplishing something…undesirable!” He had no idea what that might be but putting the illusionist at the beck and call of Fesmbol seemed too much of a convenience for someone he considered most undeserving of it.
“Ohhh, so I won’t bloody well be accomplishing anything then, master!” Haspeth replied sarcastically.
“Hopefully not but unfortunately you are to try your best anyways.” Autbek told him as they walked out of the dining hall toward the group of men gathered in the courtyard that included Fesmbol.
“Lord Councilor, a good morning to you!” Fesmbol called out with his customary keen smile.
Trying to keep things cordial Autbek replied, “Good morning to you as well, lord Fesmbol. Please allow Haspeth here to be of service to you this day.”