“This is madness,” stated Trenny, almost unrecognisable behind his thick grey beard and heavy cloak and clothes.
“I agree,” agreed Aran sourly, his wool hat pulled down low over his ears and his own dark-blond beard coated with icicles from his breath.
“The storms will be gone in three or four days,” interrupted Hela confidently, “There is a change coming through. It’s still going to be cold, but we’ll have fine weather for a week or two.”
“Anything is better than this” said Darven, gazing about him at the whiteout conditions. “I mean we can barely see ten yards away, if not for this stream we would have been long since lost.”
“Not so,” yapped Halffang, “There is no wolf alive that cannot find their way out of these mountains. It’s just a matter of scent and sight.”
“But we are not wolves,” argued Darven tiredly, “And our own senses are confused by this weather.”
“That is not the point,” interrupted Bini, “We really cannot wait for the weather to clear. Three or four days is too late, we need to do something now. We’ve already lost all our pack animals. Pressing on might well mean that the lives of the people in this group are imperiled.”
“But we can’t stay here,” Trenny muttered.
“Then we need to find some kind of shelter to wait out the worst of these storms,” Aran said abruptly.
“If any are to be found in such a place,” muttered Bennek under his breath.
Aran turned to where Halffang was crouched, the wolf’s hindquarters turned against the worst of the wind. “You and your Brethren have scouted further out. Have you come across anything that would be decent shelter?”
“There were a couple of caves east of here,” Halffang admitted, “However; they were wolf sized holes, certainly nothing that you great hulking humans could fit into.”
Sage Ash stepped up, “I believe there are man-made tunnels two or three leagues west of here,” he said suddenly.
“Tunnels? However can you tell?” asked Aran quizzically.
The Sage shrugged, “There is another node to the north of here. My awareness has been strengthened by its proximity.”
“A node, where?”
The Sage pointed his arm out to the north and west, “There, about three days march away.”
“That’s the general location of Erie,” Drayden informed them quietly. “You may not have been aware of it, but we are now only a couple of days march from the source of this stream. Once we have achieved that we need to turn west. There is some climbing involved; however we are now quite close to Erie.”
“And Thakur city,” added Darven, “If we are so close, then we will need to be on the lookout for patrols.” He glanced at the range to their west, “I know there are still a lot of mountains between us and Thakur, but it would be neglectful of us not to be watchful.”
“Look at the weather! I doubt that anyone will be about,” reassured Drayden.
“However, we have heard that it will soon be clearing,” Aran replied. “If we are so close to our objective, then these tunnels will be good enough place to wait until the weather improves.” He gazed at the others, “You ought to know now that I don’t intend to take you all into Erie with me.”
There was an immediate clamour of voices at that but Aran put his hand up for quiet.
“No, please bear with me, for I have been thinking a great deal on this.”
He paused as if to better choose his words, then lowered his voice so it would not carry beyond to where the Scout was sitting bound against a boulder. Quietly, he addressed the mages and Guardsmen.
“I know that you were all planning on coming with me,” he said quietly, “However I have decided against it. I believe that Archmage Maran did not expect you to go with me to the very heart of the enemy, for I believe his intent was only to lend me your aid to accompany me here. Beyond and into Erie I must go alone.”
“Not quite alone,” added Darven, “You know that the Guard will always be at your side.”
Aran nodded, “Three of the Guard only Darven, the other three will remain behind to protect the mages.”
“So who do you intend on taking my lord?” asked Bennek.
Aran glanced across at the guardsman, “You shall be one Bennek, but not Jede or Uhmar or Kunek,” he added. “Additionally I will be taking Darven and Gunthred, plus Alissa of course and Bini. The others must wait behind for our return.”
“You have left all the mages my lord!” Drayden was puzzled, “Why so?”
Aran shook his head, “All of us going on are mages, Drayden. None of us may have studied at Glaive, but we all have the Ability within us. I chose these few because they are warriors all, and also have Abilities to fall back upon. Where we go I shall need Warriormages more than Earth, Healer or Weathermages. Your job is to remain here and see to your own safety.”
“There will be one addition to your party,” Ash said quietly, “I have known all along that I am required to go onto Erie.”
Aran turned to the Sage frowning, “I did not think it necessary for your inclusion, yet you do. Why?”
The Sage turned towards the north-west.
“The Node has been corrupted by the Warleader. I must cleanse and cover it, so it can no longer be tarnished by her influence,” he replied quietly.
“How in Andur’s name do you intend to do that?” asked Darven incredulously.
The Sage shrugged, “I do not know. I guess it will become obvious to me when we get closer.”
He paused and stared at Aran, his face grim, “I should warn you now that she is already aware of us.”
Aran took a step back in real horror. “What! Whatever do you mean?”
The Sage sighed, “It is very simple, every time the Earthpower is accessed by the mages it reverberates throughout the fabric of the nodes. Our presence in the mountains is announced with every application of the magepower. The Healermage and Weathermages must use their Abilities to ensure our survival, but with each application she feels us drawing near.”
Aran shook his head, his face whiter than the snow at his feet, “Here I am thinking that we could somehow sneak up on her, take her unawares. Yet you tell me that every time we are Healed, or when the Weather is Moderated we announce our exact location to our enemy!”
The Sage nodded sadly.
Aran was furious, “Why did you think not to warn us of this eventuality?”
The Sage’s face grew even stiller, “Without the intervention of the mages, this party would have long since perished of the cold. Oh yes she is well aware of us, but she is confident that we pose no threat to her, and allows us close in order that her curiosity about us can be satisfied.”
Aran turned away in disgust, “And how long have you known this?”
The Sage shrugged, “Only in the last day or so, every step we take draws us nearer to the node. I have only recently understood how closely she is linked to it.”
He paused, “Do not think that this is bad news my lord. I did not say that we are entirely without hope.”
“Then there is hope?” Alissa said quietly, almost whispering.
“Of course…” Ash turned to Alissa, “Where there is life there is hope, and we cannot give up now. Too much is dependent of what happens from now on.”
“So what does happen now?” asked Trenny, sagging a little with relief that he was not expected to go onto Erie.
Aran faced the mountains, “We go on, and with Sage Ash’s help we locate these tunnels. We cannot resume our journey to Erie until the weather improves. I had hoped that the storms were hiding our presence here, but obviously that is not the case.”
When he turned back to the group, the anger had gone and his face was heavy with resolve.
“Let us be quit of here,” he sighed. “If these tunnels are truly only a couple of leagues away, then we need to start moving immediately. I am determined that our group reaches adequate shelter by dusk.”
*
Chapte
r 6—The Gauntlet
“The tunnels are just up there my lord,” said Ash, pointing into the snowy darkness.
“How far?” asked Alissa, as she stamped warmth back into her chilled feet.
“No more than two hundred yards or so,” replied Ash.
“It’s a pretty steep climb” said Aran, “And those loose rocks look none too safe.”
“I can see an old track up above us,” Darven said, straining to see up into the darkness.
“That would make sense,” Drayden replied, “Especially as this area seems to be riddled with old mine workings.”
“Copper and other minerals were all mined hereabouts,” volunteered the Scout from the back of the group. “When we came to the mountains we discovered that the area was rich in metals and ore although it’s pretty well all worked out now. These particular tunnels have not been used in over twenty years…”
Aran frowned, “You are wrong, the ores are still here, deep down.” He hunched his shoulders as he extended his awareness out, “I can feel them, there are vast amounts still.”
Darven’s eyes glazed over, as he too extended the Warriormage awareness out to encompass the mountains. Still he felt nothing, but the usual background impression of the nearby Thakurian settlements. Finally he glanced across at his friend, “I can feel nothing Aran.”
Aran turned to the Wolf Leader, “This is not your skill, Darven,” he reassured him. “You must remember that I am additionally a Metalmage.”
The Scout nervously eyed the two warriors, and then sighed as he stared down at his feet, “It is true that the minerals are still there, but we have not the skill to take the tunnels deeper to track the ore veins.”
He glanced up at the others, “The deeper they go, and the more certain it is that they collapse. We’ve lost over three hundred miners to tunnel collapse in the last fifty years.”
“These top ones are safe?” asked Drayden.
The Scout nodded, “Oh yes, they have been in existence for over two hundred years. The Herder Caste lives in them during summer when they are out on the mountains with their flocks.”
Aran glanced up at the hidden mine tunnels, and again at the steep slope of loose scree and snow drifts then shrugged, “We need to get up there! We can’t stay the night out here on this exposed side of the mountain.”
Darven took a few steps up onto the scree slope, and the loose rocks cracked, and slid alarmingly beneath his feet. Shaking his head he carefully retraced his steps.
“It’s no good,” he said to Aran, “It would be suicide to venture up there. If the snow cover was a bit heavier and consistent it might bind the rocks, but for some reason this steep slope has been protected from the worst of the snowfalls.”
Suddenly Halffang was at his side.
“If the humans walk behind me in single file, I can lead you up,” he volunteered. “I will be able to find a way but it will mean walking exactly where I go.”
Aran nodded, and passed the order back to the others, also making certain that everyone was roped together with one of the long Glade ropes.
*
The going was slow and torturous, but step by step the group inched their way up the steep and broken slope. Aran could finally see the track, and the mouth of the tunnels, when there was a sudden cry and thump, and he felt the pull as the rope stretched and tightened about his middle. Behind him he heard several voices shout out in alarm, and the clatter of rocks cascading down to the valley below. Immediately he steadied himself upon the slope, and then chanced a glance behind.
“What happened?” he called out, staring down at the long line of people stretched out down the expanse of the rope.
“Mage Trenny’s fallen!” was the answering shout, “Some rocks gave way beneath his feet, and he fell heavily.”
Aran stared down into the darkness, and finally made out a couple of people gathered around the prone mage.
“How is he?” Aran called out.
“He’s out cold…” was the immediate reply, “Also one of his legs seems to be broken.”
“Hell!” Aran swore, and then he called out again, “Is there a way he can be dragged up? I am almost at the top, once we can get a few more people up, we may be able to drag him the rest of the way.”
“Not without bringing the rest of the slope down upon us,” came the reply from below, “This section is very unstable.”
“Hell!” Aran swore again.
“My lord Aran…”
Drayden’s voice came up out of the darkness.
“I can take Mage Trenny up, I must warn you all though that the rope will slacken when I transform…”
“Do what you must, Drayden,” replied Aran, “For we can’t stay here all night.”
Aran steadied himself yet again, and then felt the rope slacken as the High Earthmage transformed into the great sea eagle, and shook off the coil of rope which fell at his feet. With one great flap of his wings, the eagle had flown the few yards further down the slope to where the injured mage lay. The wings trembled yet again, and Trenny was no longer visible on the ground. Aran saw the eagle make a small swoop downwards, and in its great claws pick up a small white object from the rocky slope. Aran, gazing back down the rope, followed the flight of the eagle back up, and across until it too was lost against the heavy darkness. Moments later there was the sound of Drayden’s voice calling out that all was well, and for the others to continue their climb up.
“How is he?”
Despite being almost the last one on the rope, Genn had hurried as best he could up the treacherous slope to finally join the knot of men and women around the injured mage.
“Not too good,” Bini replied, turning around from where he was kneeling beside the elderly man. “I’m certain his leg is broken in at least two places, and he’s received a nasty bump on the head too.”
“Aye,” agreed Jede, “I was right behind him when he came down. I could hear the crack when he fell.”
Genn cast his professional eye over the injured leg, “It seems to be a clean break, but we need to get him into shelter immediately. The cold will be a far greater killer than any injury he may have sustained.”
The guardsmen immediately clustered around, and between them soon had Trenny’s prone body arranged over Kunek’s broad shoulders. With his fellow soldiers carrying both Trenny’s and his own gear, Kunek slowly eased himself to his feet, and carefully steadied himself, whilst making certain his limp burden was secure across his shoulders.
“I can carry him if it’s not too far,” the burly guardsman assured the group, “Just tell me where these tunnels are.”
*
It did not take long for the group to gain the comparative shelter of the tunnels. With night now completely fallen behind them, they carefully ventured into the dark, cold expanse of the mine opening.
“We need a light,” Aran said immediately “There could be anything in here.”
Halffang walked forward sniffing, “No animals, some old dry bones and the cold coals of a cook fire.”
He sniffed again, “There is also human scent…fresh too…not in this place but somewhere near.”
“Just our luck,” Aran sighed wearily, “Another patrol?”
“No,” the wolf padded out into the mine entrance, “A solitary human…male.”
“Then we’ll investigate as soon as we’re settled,” Aran replied, “However first things first…light.”
With a small application of magepower on a few sticks of wood and twigs, the group soon had a small fire burning just inside the tunnel, and in a location that was sheltered from the wind. Everyone cheered considerably when they saw that the tunnel was large and dry, and they were even happier when they discovered a substantial cache of wood and dried goat droppings left over from the previous occupation.
“This will last us a good number of days if we are frugal with its use,” said Darven happily, “It’s lucky that we found this hoard…our own fuel supplies were getting alarmingly l
ow.”
“Mage Trenny next,” said Genn quietly, “I need to do a Healing…and soon.”
“Then I’ll take the Guard and Halffang out to investigate this other Thakur,” Darven said whilst picking up a burning brand from the fire.
“Be careful,” called out Aran, “Keep away from that slope.”
“Don’t worry…we will,” came the cheerful reply.
With Drayden assisting Genn with the healing, and Darven away with the Guard, Aran was finally able to sit back near the fire and stretch out his weary legs whilst keeping an eye on the prisoner. The mages not directly involved in the Healing were busy unrolling sleeping sacks, and setting out spare cooking bowls containing handfuls of snow to be heated into melt water. Alissa had already unrolled their sleeping sacks, and with Bini’s help was busily sorting through their store of rationed food. By the time Drayden and Genn had completed the Healing, the tunnel was beginning to look lived-in, with the sleeping sacks unrolled and people’s cold, damp outer clothing hung from convenient rocks in order to dry. Alissa had taken some of the dried meat and vegetables, and was concocting a stew. Hela and Theaua too had not been idle. They had taken advantage of the enforced rest to prepare some dough, and were busy cooking unleavened bread to fill out Alissa’s stew.
*
“You mean to go onto Erie don’t you,” said a quiet voice by the tunnel wall.
He turned to find the Scout steadily regarding him with interest in his dark eyes.
“Aye, it is no secret now,” Aran replied, “We are close enough now for you to guess our intent.”
The Scout was quiet then he spoke again.
“No-one is allowed within sight of the White Fortress,” he said, “If you value your lives, you would be better off turning back now.”
“I value my life,” Aran replied simply, “But we value our freedom more. We will do everything it takes to penetrate Erie and bring the Warleader down.”
Warriormage: Book Three of the 'Riothamus' trilogy Page 17