by Noah Layton
Cass would also be coming along for the quest; her acrobatic skills were not as adept as Talia’s, but they were still a valuable asset that could come in handy.
One other figure would be joining us, too, but not on my initial recommendation.
‘I would like to accompany you to the cove, Master Jack,’ Alorion said as we returned to the treehouse
‘Really?’ I responded. ‘It’s going to be freezing by the time we get there, and then there’s the trek east to the forest. It’s going to be tiring.’
‘And this is the very reason that I should join you. We must work quickly to keep ahead of Garrison’s potential conquests, and if the next challenge is anything like the first that you confronted with the doppelganger and the hobgoblins, then you must be rested enough to keep your wits about you. I can handle the horses and check up on the property there while you do what you what have to do.’
‘Are you sure, man?’
‘Definitely, Master Jack. I am not only an advisor to you, but a help when it is needed.’
‘And I’m guessing Rudy at the Drunken Steed might have another batch of Corinthian’s?’
‘You should know that alcohol makes you colder, not warmer,’ Alorion said matter-of-factly. ‘Although perhaps a sip by the fire would not go amiss.’
‘Wrap up warm, then. We move out the moment we’re ready.’
After securing the horses to the wagon, Talia and Lara got set up with our supplies in the back while Alorion hopped onto the seat by my side.
The fox-people opened the southern gates and I whipped the horses reins lightly, prompting them onwards at a steady trot along the path ahead.
‘Are you going to be cold without any clothes?’ I asked Alorion. ‘We can’t start a fire up here, you know?’
‘I have the situation addressed,’ Alorion shivered, swiping his hands before him and tapping at the air. ‘I have an inventory that I rarely use…’
In an instant, a huge pile of blankets suddenly landed in Alorion’s arms, almost knocking him from the seat next to me.
I grabbed hold of his arm just in time to save him from slamming into the snowy ground and pulled him back to his seat.
‘Thank you, Master Jack. That was close.’
‘I’ve got you, bud.’
Alorion proceeded to wrap himself up in the blankets, and several minutes later it was like he wasn’t even there – all I had next to me was bundle of sheets, with my faithful imp dwelling somewhere within.
The road to the cove was thankfully protected from the elements. Even the snow which had made it down to the road was worn and reduced to slush and water thanks to the tracks of countless carts that had continued making their way to and from the cove.
It was a central trading hub in this section of Agraria, and even in the snow the citizens of the land continued about their business.
Alorion and I sat in peaceful silence for much of the way there, but the same couldn’t be said for Cass and my wives in the carriage.
‘What are you talking about back there?’ I called to them.
‘We’re wondering…’ Talia said, sweeping back the curtains that blocked the view of them and addressing me, ‘whether or not Agraria will ever see another time of peace.’
‘Peace?’ I answered. ‘I’ve been told stories of the Great War several decades ago. Surely it’s been peaceful since it ended.’
‘There is still fighting,’ Talia replied. ‘We are always fighting to protect what is ours.’
‘That’s a natural law of the world, of any world,’ I answered, confident in my belief. ‘If you have something of value, there is always somebody out there that will try to take it from you.’
‘A peaceful world would be a pleasant change,’ Lara sighed, polishing her bow, ‘Even if it would mean giving up the thrill of the fight.’
‘I was raised in a world resembling it,’ Talia said, ‘we wore the finest gowns, ate the most luscious of food… We were still raised to defend ourselves, of course, but life had its pleasantries.’
‘You don’t think we have things good on our land?’ I said,
‘I think we have things wonderfully. Food, warmth, protection – a handsome, strong husband…’ I tried not to smirk. ‘But in a world like this we are always looking over our shoulders. I would love to eat and dress beautifully without worrying about being attacked… I once had a laced garment of the finest silks that you would have particularly enjoyed me in, husband…’
‘I’ll bet I would,’ I replied. ‘But I don’t know if Lara would give up fighting so easily for a life like that.’
‘Do you know me at all, husband?’ She replied. ‘I distinctly remember enjoying the garments that I wore when we were the guests of honor at the land of the sun elves. And those glorious silken gowns that Master Artrix bestowed upon us…’
‘Silk gowns?’ Talia repeated. ‘You have silk gowns?’
‘The finest, bestowed upon us by Master Artrix of the sun-elves of Morelia, after Master Jack saved his daughter.’
‘So the story Santana told me was true.’
‘She knows all about that,’ I smiled with a shake of my head. ‘Besides, silk gowns are about as far away from fighting in the wilds as you can get.’
‘We fought in our dresses when the wood-elves attacked, remember?’
‘I know that, I just never thought that you would give up the bow. It’s always been at your side ever since I met you.’
‘True,’ she smiled, running a skillful finger along the string, ‘but my interest in this weapon came out of necessity. I killed to survive. It will always stay with me. But one day I hope that we will not need to fight.’
‘That’s exactly why we have to do this now,’ I replied. ‘To gain that peace, we have to stop the threats all around us.’
‘Loving and vicious,’ Talia said, withdrawing into the carriage where I heard words not meant directly for me. ‘What a man…’
I could only smile at my wives’ expressions of admiration. The commitment and dedication of one beautiful and fierce woman was one thing, but five?
I was a lucky man.
A moment later I heard pattering footsteps by the side of the wagon. My hand readied on the handle of my blade, but instead I turned to see Cass jogging alongside.
‘I’m sitting here with you two.’
‘There isn’t much room up here.’
‘Tough. You started it with all of this lovey-dovey talk with your ladies. I’m close to vomiting.’
I laughed as Cass hopped up onto the seat next to me, sandwiching me between herself and Alorion.
‘How much longer?’
‘Not far now.’
‘What do you think we’re going to find?’
‘Hopefully the next clue to the location of the agrarium – and hopefully something that will try to kill me a little less than the location of the first clue.’
‘Kill us, you mean?’
‘I take the risk,’ I replied. ‘I’m the one leading us on this expedition.’
‘True, but you are our tribe master. You took a chance on me and my brothers when nobody else would – when bartenders in taverns wouldn’t even offer me a pint of ale.’
‘You know why I did that? Because I saw that you and your brothers were good people. I believed in you.’
‘And I believe in you, Jack, even if you are stir-crazy. Aden believes in you. Oden…’ Cass took a long pause, thinking back to her fallen brother. ‘… Believed in you. That’s why he fought so hard to defend the land against those attackers.’
‘I know,’ I said quietly. ‘And I’ll forever be grateful for his sacrifice.’
‘I’m grateful you gave us a chance at a good life. It’s our job to protect that now – not to do so would be a betrayal of my brother’s life.’
She smiled up at me from my side and I smiled back.
***
It was early afternoon by the time we arrived in Ichabod’s Cove. I paid a few gold pieces to th
e stable master in exchange for taking care of the horses and our wagon, and together we ventured to our property above the Drunken Steed.
Alorion occupied our base above the tavern while Talia – hooded to prevent her appearance from being noticed – and Cass headed downstairs for a drink.
Lara being the most knowledgeable of the cove’s merchants and traders accompanied me through the cove’s labyrinthine levels, guiding me to the highest level where only a few traders resided, occupying precariously-placed wooden structures.
From up here the view of Ichabod’s Cove was magnificent. There were few places in Agraria where a man could get a bird’s eye view, but as we reached the peak of the hub we looked out over the ships scattered with frost, glistening in the midday light, floating upon the icy water.
The wooden rooftops had been swept of snow, and the windows of every dwelling and merchant stall were filled with warm orange light, each their own bastion in this harsh winter that had abruptly arrived in the land.
Lara led me to a rickety shack set towards the highest rocks of the cliff, bearing the name Treetoppers.
She winked at me knowingly and opened the door into the merchant’s building. I followed close behind and shut the door against the cold.
The well-lit store comprised a counter occupied by a single being; upon laying eyes on him, I immediately reached for my sword.
Lara grabbed my wrist with expert speed, shooting me a reassuring nod.
I relinquished my grip but kept my guard up.
The creature behind the counter was humanoid in shape, wearing weathered but well-kept clothes, save for one huge difference; just like its dark-furred body, it possessed a head shaped like that of a jaguar.
‘Weary travellersss,’ the being said. ‘What bringsss you to this neck of the woodsss?’
‘Hawk?’ Lara said. ‘It’s me, Lara. Don’t you remember?’
The jaguar-man squinted at Lara in confusion before his eyes went wide.
‘Lara? The hunter?’ He exclaimed. ‘Godsss, I haven’t seen you in yearsss.’
‘I never took to climbing,’ she smiled flatly.
‘But you were quite adept at it, were you not?’
‘I wasn’t bad, I just preferred keeping my feet on the ground and my head on the target.’
‘Always working, no?’
‘Exactly. This is Jack, master of the Orakin Tribe. My tribe master.’
‘So you found yourself a tribe, uh? How unlike you.’
‘Just waiting for the right master to come along,’ she winked.
‘Indeed,’ the jaguar-man nodded, turning his attention to me. ‘My, you look to be a ssstrong fellow, tribe master.’ He offered a human hand to me, save for the black fur. ‘Hawk Feather. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.’
‘Jack Hawthorne,’ I replied, shaking his hand.
‘Please do not be taken aback by my appearance,’ he assured. ‘My kind do not often frequent these parts of Agraria, but they always say you can find what you are looking for in Ichabod’s Cove – I play a sssmall part in that mantra.’
‘Hawk is a tabaxi,’ Lara filled me in.
‘My kind are… Of the jaguar,’ Hawk continued cryptically. ‘I take that it is your first time meeting one of my people.’
‘It’s not that,’ I laughed it off. ‘You just look a lot like a mantilap that Lara and I killed a few months back.’
‘A mantilap?’ He exclaimed in the closest tone of shock that his perpetually relaxed voice could manage to muster. ‘My kind do come close to those feral beings. We are so much more sssophisticated… Anyway, what can I do for you on this unpleasantly cold day?’
‘We’re going climbing,’ I answered. ‘I’m guessing that’s why Lara brought me here.’
‘You are indeed in the right place,’ Hawk replied. ‘My people are adept at the art of reaching high places. That is why I came to this cove in the first place – to share this art with the rest of Agraria. My tribe did not take well to it of course – banishment was not a surprising punishment for giving up the sssecrets of my people, but here we are. So, what will you be needing?’
After perusing Hawk’s wears for a little while, he eventually supplied us with the resources that we would be needing for a little under 800 gold pieces – tough lengths of rope, climbing hooks, chalk, and a contraption that most of our gold went towards.
‘What is this thing?’ I asked, examining the heavy crossbow-like machine that Hawk lifted onto the counter with considerable effort.
‘I’ll show you when we get to our destination,’ Lara said.
‘And where would this place be that you are so eager to reach?’ Hawk asked.
‘That’s for us to know,’ Lara smiled mysteriously.
‘A sssecret mission, perhaps?’
‘Maybe. We’re being careful about who we trust right now.’
‘I see.’
I paid Hawk, stored the equipment in my inventory, then headed for the door. As I opened it onto the cold, Hawk spoke once more.
‘Tribe master,’ he called. ‘If you are venturing to where I think you are venturing, be on the watch. This cove may be a civilized place within this wild world, but the godsss are adept at creating places that we beings are not meant to go – and they reserve punishments for those who dare to enter their realmsss.’
‘Are you warning me against going?’
‘Not at all,’ he responded. ‘Far be it from a humble merchant like myself to stop a man like you from following the path you wish to. You have a will at the edge of your eyesss, a drive that pushes beyond survival, to something else… But know this; the handsss of the gods hold many unsavory things, especially to the living beings of this world.’
Hawk nodded at me knowingly. I returned it and left with Lara.
‘You couldn’t have told me about him before we went inside?’
‘I thought it’d be fun to see your reaction. Besides, I’m your wife – it’s my job to keep you on your toes.’
‘I spend my entire life on my toes,’ I laughed.
‘Me too,’ Lara shrugged, ‘but most of all when it’s you doing it to me.’
Just like the rest of my wives was she was an expert at commanding my desires, but right now another thought was dominating my mind – the thought of the challenge that awaited us at the Hand of Talaso.
The belly of the beast awaited.
Chapter Ten
With Alorion keeping an eye on things back at the cove, I set off into the snowy wilderness to the east, accompanied by Talia, Lara and Cass.
This was territory both untouched and unseen to me. Anything could be awaiting us out there, and with the light that the day afforded us it was a race against time to reach our destination.
Thankfully the forest to the east of the cove was not as dense as that which had surrounded the iron skull west of the dwarven lands, but the air was still bitingly cold – we were wrapped up tightly, traversing the white landscape among the trees as fast we could move through the frosty undergrowth.
‘So this agrarium,’ Cass asked along the way, her petite figure jogging alongside me. ‘What exactly are we expecting from it?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you said that you need to acquire it in order to keep it out of the hands of Garrison, that bastard dark-elf that you spoke of. But why so?’
‘We don’t exactly know,’ I replied. ‘Even the dwarven refugees that arrived at our land don’t seem to know. One of their ancestors allegedly studied it decades ago, then chose to hide it. But considering the lengths that he went to in order to hide it, and the legends about how it was used to forge the weapons of the gods, it must hold some kind of power.’
‘And that’s the thing we don’t know, right?’ Talia added.
‘Right, but if it’s powerful enough that he felt the need to put all of these obstacles in the way, we can’t let Garrison get his hands on it. I would sooner destroy it than let him get to it.’
‘Th
is still begs another question, though,’ Cass said. ‘If this thing was so dangerous, why leave clues in the first place? I mean, he was a dwarf, and a dwarven blacksmith at that. Surely he would have had access to mines. Why not just drop it into the deepest pit that he could find and jump off with it?’
‘There’s only one answer to that,’ Lara said. ‘He wanted it to be found.’
‘But by who?’
‘Whom,’ Talia corrected, receiving a stark frown from Cass. ‘Sorry. But it’s a good question.’
‘There’s also only one answer to that, too,’ Lara said. ‘The first person who manages to get to it, of course.’
‘Let’s just hope that that’s us,’ I replied.
‘We have to be,’ Lara said. ‘There’s no way that Garrison and his men even have any idea where the first clue is, never mind the path that it leads along.’
‘Yeah,’ I replied, ‘let’s just make sure to keep our guard up.’
The forest was deathly quiet as we moved east. The trees remained distanced and divided, their branches sagging by the weight of the snow, offering up a greater view of the path ahead.
Several miles along the trail the forest floor suddenly rose at a sharp incline. We used the trees to leverage and support our weight, eventually dragging ourselves up to its peak and pausing for breath.
I panted against the cold air and looked at the rest of the route – but there was none.
We had arrived.
‘Oh my god…’ I exclaimed quietly, gazing at our destination just a few hundred yards ahead.
The metallic model of the columns in the tree back at our land hadn’t been inaccurate.
The stone columns rose into the sky by at least fifty yards, four surrounding a fifth that sat at the center, peaking slightly higher than the others.
From where we stood we could vaguely see the hint of the enormous pit that they stemmed from.
‘Gods…’ Cass whispered. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.’
‘Come on.’