by P. G. Thomas
“Two days from here there is a large tent city where the black-clad riders rest. It is easy to pass at night, but after two more days, there is a large wall made of logs,” Careel stated. “It stretches across the entire pass: nine-hundred feet wide. We found one valley close, and there we climbed the mountain. Beyond the wall, there was a hug town, filled with black-clad.”
“Long as wide it was,” added Babartin, “Thousands of black-clad we saw, and there is no way around it.”
“I do not want to enter it,” advised Careel. “Hide we cannot. Our size, not any untruth exists that will protect us. Entrance deception, if we gain it, will not work, as talk of prisoners will bring others.”
“Let’s get closer, sneaking past the small camp,” suggested Lauren, “then ride the two more days west. Babartin, Careel, were there many places like this where we can hide?”
“Yes, Earth Daughter. Valleys small and large, many there are.”
Lauren knew that there had to be an obstacle preventing travel through the pass, but she was hoping for a similar to the first camp and never expected a nine-hundred-foot wide roadblock. She thought they might have a fort, which they could sneak by on one side, or Logan might be able to set it on fire so that they could navigate through the confusion. No, they have to build a super-sized mega fort. Nine hundred square feet of black-clad soldiers crammed inside like sardines, no doubt. She looked to John, “Nine hundred square feet. How many can they squeeze in?”
“Not sure, as they would have to have roads, stables, and warehouses. It would depend on the density of the barracks. Without seeing it, I’ve no idea.”
“Let’s try this. What’s nine hundred multiplied by nine hundred?”
“Eight hundred and ten thousand.”
“If you divided that large number by fifteen, what’s the result?”
“Fifty-four thousand.”
“Fifty-thousand soldiers in that thing,” exclaimed Lauren. “Holy freaking death star!”
“Earth Daughter,” began Bor, “your number is small, double, triple it you should. I have seen the way the black-clad are treated, and comfort to them, would not be considered.”
Lauren looked at Careel and Babartin, “Did you see a swamp up there?”
“Earth Daughter, not such did we see.”
“We can’t go around it, and I suppose finding a secret tunnel underneath would be too much to ask for? Aaro, Bor. If we get closer, can you and your brothers scout these valleys, seeing if you can find a mountain path, so we can avoid the congestion at the end?”
“We can try, but our mountain gear we left behind,” replied Aaro.
“Mountain and dwarf, brothers we are,” responded Bor, “If there is a path, Ironhouse will find it.”
Lauren rubbed her temples, trying to force her head into a new less constricted reality. When that failed, she looked to Alron, “Let’s travel four days west, and see if we can find… find…” Her voice trailed off becoming a quiet whisper, “let’s just head west to see what we find.”
However, Alron also felt the same frustration that she expressed.
They headed out that night, concealed in darkness, easily hiding from the nightriders. After the second day, they arrived at the tent camp, and staying close to the sides of the pass, they effortlessly stole by them. On the fourth day, the Dawnfalcons directed them to the last ravine, and that morning, all saw the massive fort that filled the valley. Then they waited four more days, giving the Ironhouse brothers a chance to find a path through the mountains. Lauren, once keen on Mirtza’s trunk of unending food, now grew to hate the sound of it opening. Knowing that only cold rations and fruit waited for her, she knew they needed nourishment.
On the fourth day, the Ironhouse brothers returned from their scouting mission. Even though the mountains and dwarves may have been brothers, some families failed to agree. “Earth Daughter, the path sought we did not find,” Aaro said, “Travel is possible but the danger is great. Should we head back?”
Her voice was filled with frustration, “Damn it! That’s the finish line. We get to the other side, we win! Nine hundred freaking feet to go, and we traveled like a thousand days to get here.”
“Actually, about one hundred and eighty days,” replied John.
“I don’t need somebody correcting my math problems. I need a way to travel a short distance through a large group of people, who probably want to kill all of us. Process that! Does anybody have any ideas?” Eric raised his hand, “Besides him, does anybody have any ideas? Logan, anything up your sleeves? Ryan, you seem to be the strong, mysterious type lately. Anything? Zack? John? Anybody?” Lauren looked around the tired group, but when nobody answered her, she continued, “Every damn pass through these damn mountains will be blocked like this one. Finding another one…We need to get from here to the other side of that fort. Give me some ideas, and I don’t care how stupid they are.”
Alron tried to push the thought away, but he had seen the goat path, which Aaro had called it, knowing that it would be like a walk in a forest for a dwarf, but it scared the crap out of him. As such, he was afraid to ask for a dwarfish definition of the word bad, as his had been destroyed long ago. Seeing the struggle on his face, she commanded him to talk. “Earth Daughter, I do not like this idea and prefer different. Aaro showed me one path, and dangerous it is, but not to dwarf. He thinks that Ironhouse can guide your Earth Guard and Gingaar through the rough terrain and get us to the other side, but the route is too dangerous for larger like you.”
“Then what do we do?” the concern was etched deep on Mirtza’s face.
Alron glanced in the direction of the fort, “So many black-clad in one space that I think a few more they will not notice.”
Lauren’s eyes flared open, “Pardon!”
“When the last patrol approaches the fort, your group shall fall in behind. Not too close, not too far back. When the first enters, you follow them in. That night, you will make your way to the west gate. There we shall meet with you.”
Determining the odds of trying to sneak through the fort, John compared them to a treacherous mountain pass, “I’m small like an elf. Can I go with you?”
“If more dwarf were present,” advised Alron, “then you can go with us, but Fen shall have to guide two. If each dwarf guides two, they will be easy to pull from the path, and all three shall parish.”
“Seriously, just walk into the enemies den?” asked Lauren.
“The second option is to go back to Ironhouse and start over,” replied Alron.
He removed his bracelet, “We could be back in thirty seconds.”
“No, Mirtza, we’re not going back. There’s no way I’m going to turn around, and then travel another one hundred and eighty days to get back here. Logan? Ryan? Any ideas?” They both shook their heads. Even though Eric raised his hand again, she ignored him, “Just walk right into the lion’s den? That’s our only plan?”
“Zack can follow you,” began Alron, “and report what happens. Then he shall find your Earth Guard, but once inside, not any will give you any interest.”
“Inside their keep they will not look for,” advised Bor. “Black-clad, they are too stupid to think. In plain sight you can hide, and it will work in our favor.”
“Works for us? Then you and your brothers will be joining us as we stroll through the fort?” asked Lauren.
Bor realized he could have chosen his words better, “Size large it will only work for.”
“Six of us walk right through the crowd. Maybe our stench will keep them away.”
“Do like they do. Blend in you will,” advised Aaro, “Bor is right, and intruders they will not look for.”
“Has anybody seen any of the black-clad with beards?” asked Lauren. After unanimous denials, she looked to Mirtza, “Friend, you need to be clean-shaven, otherwise, you’ll fit in even less than the rest of us.”
His eyes went wide, “What happened to the timid girl that wouldn’t trust me to give her a ride? Now
you’re just going to walk right into their hands. Have you lost your mind?”
“If you want to, you can stay here, or you can go elsewhere. I thank you for your help and services, but my path leads west. I have to get to the other side of that fort, and walking through it seems to be the simplest solution. It also appears to be the only one. Shave or don’t shave; at least you have a choice.”
As the group dispersed, each heavy in thought, Alron walked over to Zack, “This night, you shall follow Earth Daughter. You will watch the fort when Earth Daughter enters. After the gates close, find our mountain trail. Find me and report what you have seen. Should she enter, exit not, you will be my only source of news. If a safe entrance they grant her, I will then wait. If they discover her, my plan shall be different. Only news that you will deliver shall guide me.” His voice became determined, “If she is hurt because you do not find myself, I will hunt you down. Do you understand?”
Dude is serious, intensity on steroids, “Dude, your plan sucks. I’m going in with them. Yeah, they might get through the gate okay, but when it closes, nobody will know if anything happens. If they’re thrown into a dark cell, you’ll never be able to find them. I’ll make myself small to hide on one of them, and if anything happens, I’ll follow them. Only then will I go to the west gate to find you.” As Zack spoke, he held the volume of his voice down but not the passion, as the raw energy that fed his transformations bubbled to the surface like a quiet rage, “Dude, if anything goes wrong, if Lauren gets hurt because of this stupid plan, you won’t have to hunt me down. I’ll be right in your face, and you’ll pay for her pain. And, Alron, you’ve no idea on how many different ways I can inflict pain. You really don’t want me to introduce you to my zoo. First light, be at the west gate and don’t be late.” Then Zack turned, heading to watch the pass.
Lauren shook her head in disbelief. Six dwarves are going to guide seven elves through a treacherous mountain goat path, and half of them are more worried than they’ll admit to. She looked at Mirtza whose face and neck were now covered in dozens of nicks. He’ll probably pass out from blood loss. After scanning the rest of her frightened friends, she headed over to Eric; the smiling armored wild card with a six-foot long sword.
“So how are you doing?”
Eric stood, towering over her, “Earth Daughter leads. I will follow,” he said with a smile.
“Damn it, Tranquil Fury! You’ll do what I say. I beat you once, and I can do it again. Eric’s the champion, and without him, you’re nothing.”
“Eric is nothing.”
“You spoiled piece of rotten metal. Listen to me now.” Placing her staff at his feet, Lauren leaned on it, looking up to the source of the emotionless voice. “You already know I have no idea of what I’m capable of doing. I know you know that, but if you continue trying to be the champion, suppressing Eric, I’ll unleash upon you that which I don’t know I’m capable of. That might not make sense, but if I translate my confusion into reality, you won’t like how it ends. You think that I’m unable to handle you? That I cannot quench you again? You’re conceited and arrogant—traits that’ll get you both killed in battle. Only if I say will your prophecy be unleashed, so you need to understand who’s in charge here. Eric’s the champion. There’s more than night filled screams and rivers flowing red. I think he has a bigger mission than that, but if you try to bury him, then we’ll never know.” She was looking straight into his eyes, as the ground beneath the giant had softened, absorbing him. Looking down to his missing feet, he turned back to her. She nodded her head, “I can bury you out here, and when I finally need you, dig you back up. Since you seem to like being left alone, I can accommodate that request.”
He felt the earth around his feet begin to solidify, “As Earth Daughter commands.”
Lauren heard the words but not the sincerity. Leaning on her staff harder, the ground became softer. When he was three inches lower looking up at her, she replied, “You all need to work as a team—as equal members. Do you remember the ice bridge that Logan made? If the elves hadn’t tied a rope to you, if the dwarves hadn’t pulled you free of the current, then you would be dead. That was teamwork. Both of you—all three of you, you’re a team. You need to figure out what you’re going to do.” Her voice became intense, determined, “Right now, let me make this perfectly clear: You’ll do what I want and not what you want. You’ll not fill the night with screams or make the rivers flow red until I tell you. You’ll not wage war, and damn it, you’ll quit suppressing him. You can learn from him.”
“Yes, Earth Daughter. Support you, we will.”
“This is my battle, not yours.” Lauren raised her staff above her head, bringing it swiftly to the ground, the earth loosened, releasing its grip on Eric. Turning, she headed towards Alron.
“Earth Daughter.” Lauren stopped, turned, uncertain of what to expect, “Why do you care?” The words Eric spoke sounded anything but hollow.
“It might be easier for me to turn my back and let you lose. You may be a solution to this issue, but you’re not the resolution that I seek. Why do I care? Because I can’t imagine a land without it.” As Lauren walked over to Alron, she called to Aaro and Bor, “Your brother seems to be deep in thought. Can you please lend him a hand?”
Alron, surprised at what he had witnessed, stared back with a confused look.
“Well, you didn’t expect me to walk into that fort tonight,” advised Lauren. “Especially with him smiling the way he has been for the past week. They would know something was up. I think he knows that I’m still in charge.”
“Eric or Tranquil Fury?”
“Hopefully both, Alron. Let’s gather the rest to go over the plan, as I want to make sure they all understand. That includes the tag team of Eric and Tranquil Fury.”
While Alron was impressed how she had focused the attention of Tranquil Fury, he also made a note to himself: never to stand too close when she was upset.
Lauren smiled at the now clean-shaven guide, “You look so young.”
“Why do you think I grew it? I feel naked without it.”
“Dude, know the feeling.”
Alron knew they were wasting valuable daylight, so he quickly reviewed the plan with all, ending with, “Zack has modified my plan, and he shall alter into a small critter, so he can hide on one of you.”
“On one of the boys,” advised Lauren. “You’re not going to cling to any of my undergarments.”
“Dudette, you can trust me,” he said with a smile.
“No, not going to happen. Ryan, Logan, John, your choice. You’re not going to get to second base with me that way, you furry little bastard.”
“Follow the black-clad into fort,” continued Alron. “Find back alleys, avoid the crowds, and slowly make your way to the west gate. At first sunrise, you will spot us there.” He then took a pause before continuing, “If anything goes wrong, then Zack will find me, and we will rescue you if it is necessary. If any can suggest a plan that shall save myself hours of worry, that will diminish this great burden on my shoulders, then please speak it now.” When no suggestions came forth, he looked to her, “Earth Daughter, safe passage. Tomorrow morn, we shall be free of the black-clad.”
She nodded, “We damn well better be.”
Instructing the elves to create a rough rope corral to hold the ponies and extra horses, Alron had no desire to see them wander out for a few days, providing evidence of their intrusion. The Ironhouse brothers had already stripped their saddles from their war ponies, placing them in Mirtza’s wagon, and then each of the dwarves went over to say goodbye to their old friends, hoping one day they might find them again.
Lauren was uncertain of what to say to her Earth Guards, Gingaar, or the Ironhouse brothers, so in silence, they headed over to where Mirtza had stacked several ropes for them. After the dwarves had tied one around their waists, they fastened the other end around one of the elves, and the powerhouse Fen attached two. Then they took to the mountain with Aaro and Alron in
the lead. Bor and Panry followed close behind. Watching until they could no longer see those who had provided safe passage, they then headed back into the small valley.
As they waited, they dressed in the black-clad uniforms one more time. It would be five hours before the last sun would set, and then another four hours before the night patrol would return to the fort; their passport to a destination none wished to visit, but all hoped their stay would be short. With time passing slowly, none could sleep, all being too anxious. Then in the dark, they heard the horses approach. Morphing into a squirrel, they wrapped Zack in his clothing before stuffing him inside Ryan’s shirt. When the westbound patrol passed them, they silently left the cover of dark, falling quickly in behind the soldiers that so desperately hunted them. Initially, Lauren kept them back thirty feet, but when a black-clad soldier called for the group to tighten up, they all approached closer. As the fort advanced, they began closing the distance, and when the gate opened, it was one large group. Once inside, dismounting, stable hands took the horses away. Lauren with Eric led the way through the heavily traveled street, followed closely by John, and Mirtza, Ryan, and Logan circled around him, trying to shield John’s shorter height from prying eyes.
Chapter 7
With all inside the fort clad in black, none seemed to notice the odd group of six wandering through the crowd, looking for a less populated route. When Lauren saw a side street, pulling Eric towards it, the others instinctively followed. As they entered the path, dark clouds above released the refreshing liquid, and rain fell to the ground. Working their way through the maze, they felt a strange comfort in seeing so many similarly dressed, as it made it easier for them to blend in. Several times, they were forced into smaller alleyways to avoid larger enemy groups, and at times, they had to wait for long periods for crowds to disperse, or they would find themselves in a dead end, forcing them to retrace their steps. They cautiously worked their way west, passing all types of unique shops, which were still busy with black-clad soldiers, seeking whatever services or products they offered. Passing by a few that had a strange blue smoke floating from them, Ryan, having to push Zack back inside his shirt, failed to appreciate the love bites that he protested with.