The Brega path
( The Silver Call - 2 )
Dennis Mckiernan
Dennis McKiernan
The Brega path
INTRODUCTION
The first part, Trek to Kraggen-cor, told of how the hearts of Peregrin Fairhill and Cotton Buckleburr, two of the Wee Folk-the Warrows-were stirred to excitement as rare visitors, a Man and two Dwarves, came on a mission to Sir Tuckerby's Warren in Woody Hollow in the Boskydells. Perry, the present curator of the Warren, was asked to show the visitors his copy of The Unfinished Diary of Sir Tuckerby Underbank and His Accounting of the Winter War, a chronicle more commonly known as The Raven Book.
The Dwarves were seeking to glean from the 'Book whatever detail it held of Kraggen-cor, the ancient undermountain homeland their ancestors had fled more than a thousand years earlier when the dreaded Gargon was inadvertently set free. But the Gargon had been slain during the Winter War, and the Dwarves now sought once again to take possession of their ancestral Realm.
But Kraggen-cor remained infested with Spaunen-evil maggot-folk that had begun once more to raid and pillage nearby steads, and to slay the innocent.
Enraged, the Dwarves planned to invade Kraggen-cor to root out the evil; but their knowledge of their ancient homeland was fragmentary at best. However, 231 years in the past, during the Winter War, four heroes-a Man, an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Warrow-had passed through Kraggen-cor from Dusk-Door to Dawn-Gate, and their tale was recorded in The Raven Book. Hence, to increase their knowledge of the ways in Kraggen-cor and thus improve their odds in the coming struggle with the Spawn, the two Dwarf visitors,"Anval and Bonn Ironfist, guided by the Man, Lord Kian, had come to the Boskydells to read the account for themselves.
The Raven Book did indeed contain the tale of the Four
Who Strode Through Kraggen-cor, but the story was of marginal help to the visitors. Oh, the tale did yield valuable information, telling that the condition of the two known ways into Kraggen-cor would make the invasion most difficult: On one side of the Grimwall Mountains, the western entrance- the Dusk-Door-may have been broken and buried under tons of rubble by a hideous Kraken living in a black lake warding the portal. And on the opposite side of the Grimwall, the eastern entrance-the Dawn-Gate-appeared all but impossible to invade because the drawbridge over the Great Deep had been burned by the four heroes during their escape more than two centuries agone; and to try to win over that virtually bottomless chasm in the face of an enemy army seemed an insuperable task. Yet, although the visitors had learned of the chief difficulties they would initially face in the invasion, The Raven Book had not given them what they sought: step-by-step knowledge of the heroes' trek through Kraggen-cor- knowledge needed to wage a War upon familiar ground.
On learning of this need. Perry showed the visitors a scroll said to have been recorded years after the Winter War by one of the four heroes-Brega the Dwarf. The scroll detailed the path the heroes had taken on their perilous journey through the undermountain Realm. Anval and Borin authenticated the scroll, for they saw that it contained secret Dwarven marks; further, they vouched for its accuracy, saying that the Dwarves have a special gift: once they have trodden a path, it is within them always.
But Dwarves must actually tread a path in order to master it; they are no better or worse than others at memorization. And the Brega Path was long and complex; and for Anval or Borin to have to memorize it for the Dwarves to invade Kraggen-cor would take months-time the Dwarves could ill afford; for the strength of the Spawn had continued to grow, and each night they extended the range of their murderous raids.
Yet all was not lost, for with Cotton's help, Perry had been studying the scroll, and he had committed the path to memory; and as a stripling, Perry had always wanted to be caught up in an adventure, and at last an adventure had come to him. Hence, even though Perry felt unprepared to accept the role suddenly thrust upon him, the buccan nevertheless volun leered to go with Anval and Borin and Lord Kian to rendezvous with the Dwarf Army and guide them along the Brega Path.
Impelled by friendship and loyalty, Cotton, too, answered the call to adventure.
Thus, Perry, Cotton, Anval, Borin, and Lord Kian all set forth upon a long journey to Landover Road Ford to meet the Dwarf Army, even then on the march from Mineholt North toward Kraggen-cor.
During their journey the two Warrows, under Lord Kian's tutelage, began training at swords, for they would need to defend themselves should they become caught in battle.
Weeks later, having overcome time, distance, flood, landslide, and hunger, the five comrades rendezvoused with the Army.
Durek, King of the Dwarves, held a War council, and meager though it was, all the information gleaned from the journey to the Boskydells was reviewed. During the Council, Cotton revealed that he, too, held the steps of the Brega Path within his memory, thus could also serve as a guide. Hence, full of unknowns, two strike plans were settled upon: The first called for the Dwarven Army, with Cotton as their Brega-Path guide, to cross the mountains and march to the Dusk-Door, where they hoped somehow to avoid or defeat the Krakenward, if there; to remove any rubble under which the Door might be buried; and to enter Kraggen-cor via that portal if it would open. But, because the Dusk-Door may have been broken during the Winter War, and because the arcane hinges could onJy be repaired from the inside, a second strike plan, coordinated with the first, was called for: here, a squad of seven persons, including Perry as the Brega-Path guide, was to journey to the Dawn-Gate, somehow cross the Great Deep, and if possible penetrate undetected through the Swarm of maggot-folk and traverse the full length of Kraggen-cor to the inside of the Dusk-Door to make repairs if needed-if the Gatemasters in the Squad had the knowledge to do so.
Following these two uncertain courses, the Army marched away toward the Dusk-Door while the squad embarked for the Dawn-Gate.
Perry and the Squad rafted down the Argon River toward their goal, at last settling in at a riverside campsite to wait for time to pass in order to match schedules with the Army. While encamped they were attacked by a Hlok-led band of Rucks and nearly overwhelmed. Yet in the nick of time the Squad was rescued by Ursor the Baeran, a giant of a Man, by Shannon Silverleaf, an Elf, and by Shannon's Elven Company. Even so, two of the Squad's Gatemasters were lost to the mission: Tobin's leg was broken, and Barak was slain. Hence, but one Gatemaster, Delk, remained to perhaps repair the possibly broken hinges when and if the Squad ever reached them. Yet it was decided that the mission must go forth, even though the loss of Tobin and Barak was a severe bfow. It was also decided that Shannon and Ursor would join the quest, once again making the Squad seven strong.
Meanwhile, on their own mission, Cotton and the Army had marched into a mountain blizzard and had been trapped for days. Yet, after an exhausting dig-out, followed by a long forced march, they arrived at last at the Dusk-Door. And all the while, Cotton had borne with him a small silver horn: the Horn of Narok-the Horn of the Death War-a token deeply feared by the Dwarves, for it was a relic of Dwarven legend, a legend foretelling of a great unknown sorrow to befall the Dwarves.
Indeed the Door was covered by a huge mound of rubble, and the work to remove it began. But at sundown the Krakenward attacked, devastating the ranks of the workers. After a desperate all-night struggle, by axe and sword and Atalar blade, and fire and hammer and drill, and water and stone, the Army at last defeated the Maduk, breaking the dam and draining the black lake and casting huge stones down upon the Monster. Even so, the creature had buried the Door under even more rubble, placing the rendezvous with the Squad and the entire invasion plan in grim jeopardy.
But as the tale continues, we return to the river camp where the Squad even now prepares to set forth for the Dawn-Gate,
to set forth upon their dire mission to penetrate the lightless, Spawn-filled length of Kraggen-cor in a desperate bid to reach the hinges inside the distant Dusk-Door.
CHAPTER 1
THE GREAT DEEP
Perry was awakened at dawn by Delk, who had the last watch. Before joining the others for breakfast, the Warrow retrieved Bane from the log beside him; the Elven-blade had been embedded in the bark point down, the long-knife left standing upright through the night as a silent sentinel for all the company to see. And as each member of the Squad had taken his ward tour, he had kept a close eye on the sword, watching for the flickering blue flame that would gleam from the blade-jewel if Spaunen drew near.
Shannon Silverleaf, whose turn at guard had come after Perry's, had been especially interested in the blade, and had plucked it out and held it with reverence. "This was crafted long ago in the Realm of Duellin, a bygone Land of Atala," the Elf had said to Perry after long study, "and the way of its making is lost. This blade speaks of the Elden Days, when it was one of many weapons fashioned to engage the evil forces of the Great Enemy, Gyphon-the High Vulk. In a way, we are fighting Him still, for it is He who bred the Rucha, Loka, and Ogruthi-as well as other evil beings-in Neddra, in the Untargarda. My forefathers in the House of Aurinor made these blades to fight that spawn.
"Alas, though many of these poniards were forged in those Elden Days, few remain in Mithgar, and fewer still are yet in use-most lie in rest in ancient graves or upon dusty tombs." Silverleaf had then flourished the blade. "But this pick still serves. I think the name for this edge, Bane, is. well chosen, and one which imparts honor to the weapon. This is a great token to carry into Black Drimmen-deeve, and it bodes well for our mission." The Elf then had plunged its point back into the log and replaced Perry at guard.
But now it was dawn, and any maggot-folk abroad would have taken cover from the coming Sun, so Perry sheathed Bane and hunkered down for the morning meal.
"Enjoy your hot tea," said Kian, "for there'll be no fires after this one until our mission is done; this is the last pot we'll brew til then. But we'll not be without tea for long: Today we start overland. At sunrise on the sixth day hence we should be entering Dawn-Gate. At midnight of the ninth day we should see Durek with Cotton and my brother. Rand, enter the Dusk-Door with the Army right behind. Then, after another day or three and many dead Spawn, we will at last build us a fire and enjoy some more hot brew."
"It will give me much pleasure removing the uninvited Wrg 'guests' from our upcoming tea party," grunted giant Ursor, and the others nodded and smiled grimly.
Soon breakfast was finished, and all the spare supplies were cached. The Sun had risen, and it was time to go. Delk quenched the fire, and all shouldered their packs. Perry took one last look at the Great River Argon in the direction the blazing funeral raft had swept. "Farewell, Barak," he whispered, and turned to join the others.
They started west over the land, walking in single file: Lord Kian led the way, the young Man armored in mail and a plain iron-and-leather helm, and armed with his silver-handled bow and arrows, and a sword and dagger, behind Kian marched Anval, the Dwarf warrior mail-shirted, iron-helmed, axe-armed; Ursor the Baeran came next, wearing a dark-brown boiled-leather breastplate and carrying his great black mace; Perry was silveron-mailed under his shirt, with Bane and a dagger at his belt, and on his head he wore a simple steel-and-leather helmet; lithe Shannon Silverleaf strode next, without armor but armed with a longbow and arrows and a knife the length of Bane; Borin and Delk brought up the rear, these two Dwarves each armed and armored like Anval, with axes and helms and black-iron mail. AH wore green or grey or brown travelling clothes that blended with earth and stone, leaf and branch; and they bore packs containing the needed tools, food, and other supplies for their mission; each carried a leather water bottle at his hip. Their bedrolls and cloaks were fastened in rolls on top of the packs. Thus did they trek in file toward Kraggen-cor, leaving the Argon behind.
Soon the Seven emerged from the river-border forest and came to the wold, a treeless rolling plain that slowly rose up toward the far mountains. Occasionally a thicket stood barren in the winter Sun, and heather and gorse grew on the land. The slopes were gentle and the growth was low, and so they walked in a line straight to the west; only now and then would they make a detour to pass around an outcropping or a tangle of briars or other minor hindrance. Only twice did they come to major obstructions: The first was a deep, wide ravine across their path, running out of the northwest and down to the southeast. They clambered down one steep side and into the wooded bottom where a wide stream bubbled and danced through mossy rocks; the company took the opportunity to replenish their canteens in its clear, sparkling depths. Crossing over, they scrambled up the other side and back out onto the wold. The second obstacle was a minor bluff that jumped up out of the land to steeply bar the way. They walked north three miles before finding a cut that they could walk up through to pass beyond this high rampart.
The second day was much like the first: Even though it was mid-November, the day stayed mild and the air was calm, and so the trek was made in good weather. The course the comrades took was over gentle land, and they made good time. The wold continued to rise slowly as they marched westward toward the mountains.
That evening the Seven bedded down on the lee slope of a hill, sheltered from the light vesper breeze by a massive rock outcropping. Perry sorely missed the cheery campfire, though the Moon waxed overhead, shedding enough light to see out upon the open wold.
That night Perry was awakened by Anval, who pressed a finger to the Warrow's lips and whispered, "Bane glimmers." Perry looked in silence and saw that the guardian blade had a faint blue glint that dimly flickered deep within the rune-jewel.
The company was now awake, crouched in the shadows of the outcropping, each facing outward, scanning the moonlit land, weapons drawn, senses alert. Shannon Silverleaf
whispered to Kian and then silently withdrew and made his way noiselessly to the crest of the hill, where his keener sight and sharper hearing could be used to advantage.
Perry knelt without breathing for long intervals, straining his own hearing to detect the enemy, but he neither heard nor saw movement. Bane had been resheathed so that its werelight would not shine across the wold to give them away, but occasionally Perry would carefully draw it but a small way-an inch or so-cupping his hand to shield the glimmer, checking the faint blue flame. The flicker persisted for about an hour but slowly died away until once more Bane shone only with pale moonlight, the distant danger past.
And then Shannon came back down. "Though I saw nothing," he said quietly, "I felt the presence of evil to the south, toward Darda Galion. Mayhap my kindred will soon engage the foul despoilers on the borders of that abandoned forest."
The following day they marched swiftly across the uplands, and the wold continued to rise. They could now see the mountains, and before them was the Quadran, four peaks taller than the rest; and one of the four towered above the other three. "That is mighty RaVenor," answered Borin to a question from Perry, "the greatest Mountain in the known ranges. Even from here you can see that it looms over the Others. My people call it the Hammer because of the sudden storms that maul its slopes, to the ill of those caught in its blasts." Borin gazed with admiration at its dull red sides. "Even though it now houses Squam, still I am eager to walk the halls and chambers within. And when we have routed the foul foe, and cleaned their stench from the stone, we shall make it into a mighty homeland as of old."
The next day the companions entered a low range of foothills that jutted out across the way. In the lead, Lord Kian struck for an old footway in the north of the spur, and soon they were on a narrow path wending up through the hill-chain. As they climbed to the ridge, low on the horizon far to the south they could see a darkling green. "Look," said Perry, pointing, an unspoken question in his eyes.
"That is Darda Galion, the Larkenwald," Shannon informed die buccan, "the last true home of t
he Lian here in Mithgar. Most have now ridden the Twilight Ride, but a few of us remain, scattered to the four winds, living in other forests with our kindred, the Dylvana, while Darda Gallon lies empty."
"Lord Kian told us he thought the Larkenwald was deserted," said Perry, looking southward at the shaded green far away.
"Yes, it is so," responded Shannon with regret, "we no longer dwell there. Many left in the ancient days when the Vani-lerihha~- amp;ie Silverlarks-disappeared. Others fled when once more the power of Gron arose and the Draedan-the Gargon-was loosed. Still more went when the Mistress- Dara Faeon-rode the Twilight Path to plead with Adon for succor. And when she was gone, the light seemed to go out of the forest. After the Winter War, many followed her to Adonar, while others lingered in Mithgar, not ready to ride to the High One's Lands. Even Coron Eiron was unready to follow her, and dwelt yet a while in Mithgar among the mortal Lands. But he grew weary of living without her brightness and now is gone too. And when all the Lian had gone from the Eldwood forest, the Dylvana, too, went away, crossing the Argon to come into Darda Erynian and the Greatwood to live with their brethren. And then Darda Galion stood empty."
Perry stopped, pausing a moment, gazing in sadness at the now-empty realm. Then he turned and hurried to catch up with Shannon. As they tramped onward, Perry remarked, "Lord Kian said that travellers at times catch a glimpse of movement in the forest-as if Elves were still there. And I see that the green holds dusk, as of a Land in twilight, though ahe Sun yet rides the day."
"Ah yes, the trees do now hold the foredark, for again my kindred are there. We learned that Rucha and Loka-Gyphon Spaunen-were stirring in Black Drimmen-deeve," said Shannon grimly, "and raiding south through the Larkenwald. A company of us returned, to bar the way and stop their passage through Darda Galion. But there are many companies of mem, and we are but one, and thus the foul despoilers yet win through, though now we give them pause."
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