Tranquil Fury

by P. G. Thomas

  Chapter 26

  Lauren got into the wagon beside Mirtza and stood up, called out to everybody, “Before we start, I would like to thank everybody. But to be honest, how you can place so much blind trust in me…” Mother please help me. “All we have is a direction, south, but that was all Mirtza had when he found us. And he got us from where we arrived to Ironhouse. I don’t know if it was luck or if somebody guided him, but it seemed to work for my friends and me. John seems to think that there is some divine design in place, and we really cannot stay here. I thought long and hard last night, trying to find words to inspire this trip. I got nothing.” Lauren was hoping for a chuckle from some of her friends, but silence was her only answer, again. “Mother chose me. I didn’t ask for this. If this all goes terribly wrong, blame her, not me.” Than Lauren sat down and pointed to the open stable door. Mirtza slapped the harness and headed out for the unknown.

  Alron and Bor left last, so that Bor could lock the stable door, and as he got on his pony, he looked at Alron, “Inspire, she does not. Sad her speech was. Earth Daughter, troubled she is?”

  “Friend Bor. First, thine clan hath extended great welcome to mine Earth Mother and Earth Guard. Grateful does we be for thine dwarf hospitality. Earth Daughter, much hath been thrust on her shoulders in time short. She does be but four weeks old, training she does naught hath, naught like Earth Mother who does train for years of forty. Ores fine or naught, how long does it take thou to difference tell? When thou were four weeks old, thou still suckled on thine mother’s bosom. Earth Daughter, youngest of all, greatest task of all, in her hands does Mother place. If Earth Daughter does embrace task too quick, does naught consider all around, then concern does I hath. Responsibility does be great, so should her concern be.”

  “Still, try harder she could. Her kindle and flint, wet they are, no fire start will she. Her words, the same. Alron doubt now I have.”

  “Bor. Black-clad we shalt find. Avenge thine father’s death, does that inspire mine dwarf friend?”

  Bor cracked his neck, smiled, then reached behind his head and caressed the sharp edge of his axe, “Those words, friend Alron, more than inspire do they.”

  Alron then rode up to the wagons and whistled. The Dawnfalcons slowed down, being the rear guards. The stags that carried Cethail and Erust started leaping through the long grass, anxious to take up the lead. And when the wagons arrived at the dwarf road, they turned south. Even though they had only been travelling a few hours, the trip seemed to be progressing well. Alron could not see any signs left by the front guard that would warn of any problems, nor could his deer ears detect any warnings from behind, or in front of the wagons. He was about to whisper a prayer to Mother when Aaro rode up beside him.

  “Problem there is.” Alron turned to Aaro, a new concern written on his face. They had just crested the hill, where the life of the Master Weapon Smith ended. Aaro pointed to the base of the hill, “Pappy, there dead we did find him. Black-clad bodies, many left we did, scavenger food they be. Gone now, but scavenger not.” As they rode over the ground, Aaro, Bor and Alron searched for signs of a struggle, but to no avail, as the bodies removed, the evidence destroyed.

  Alron then whistled to Panry, “Does ride forward, warn Cethail and Erust, black-clad soldiers, they does be in this area.”

  Panry did not wait for an explanation, dug his heels into his stag, and leaned forward. Alron saw the gaze that Lauren gave him, but ignored it. She already knew that threats were close to the Ironhouse Mine, she did not need to know how close. That was his concern.

  The first sun had set when Alron began to spot the signs that the front guard had found a campsite for the night. Alron took the lead and led the wagons deeper into the forest. Aaro and Bor waited for the wagons to disappear from the road, and then covered the tracks before they joined the camp. A fire greeted them at their temporary home, and the five boys helped Mirtza unload the chests to prepare the meal. Gor watched in amazement as Mirtza pulled out foods, plates, mugs, pots, and more. He walked over and peeked into one of the chests, only to see that it was empty. Then watched Mirtza reach in and pull out something else.

  Gor walked over to Lauren, “Earth Daughter, those chests, Gor does want. Find them, do I where?”

  “You will have to talk to Mirtza about that.” She then walked over to Alron and Aaro, “Pretty good for a first day?”

  “Earth Daughter, our progress does be good, but distance we does need,” replied Alron. He wanted to say that they were moving too slowly, that there were too many of them. But his oath was protect and serve, not command, “Our first day does go well.”

  “Thank you Alron.” Lauren realized that he did not leave, and that something seemed to be on his mind, “What else is there?”

  “There does be something that I does need to tell Earth Daughter. After Earth Mother does command that Earth Daughter we does protect, one more command she does speak. Earth Daughter canst naught command her Earth Guard. Serve, protect, help, guide, what thou does ask for, Earth Guard wilt answer.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean?”

  “Earth Mother, thou gift she knows does burn bright. She does be afraid, if danger does be great, command us to safety thou shalt. That thou might sacrifice thine self, to save thine Earth Guard. She does command us to protect thou at all costs.”

  Lauren just shook her head, “Go, stay, do whatever you want.” If this world really wants me to lead, why do they keep making decisions for me?

  *******

  The next eleven days were uneventful. While their travel was slow, they did not see any signs of the black-clad soldiers. And everybody was enjoying the new scenery; forests alive with wildlife, the magnificent, ever-present view of the mountains to the west, flat grasslands consumed by rolling hills in the east. It seemed as though their worry was for nothing.

  For the first couple of days Zack, from his place at the rear of the wagon would yell out, ‘Are we there yet?’ It was good for a laugh. A month later, the very same question would result in objects thrown in his general direction. The scenes that they had embraced earlier now seemed commonplace. Road goes up, road goes down. Mountains to the right, forest to the left. Breakfast, stop at stream, camp for the night. Trees, grass, more trees, more grass. They all hoped for a change, should not have, as rain came one morning and stayed for a week. Alron smiled as the rain drenched them, smiled as he watched their fresh tracks turned into mud, leaving no signs that they had ever passed.

  A few times Alron had the front scouts keep an eye open for deserted settlements. When they came across one, they would occupy it for the night. On these special occasions, Lauren would seek out the house that had the best tub, and fill it with warm water. She would try to pull herself from the water, before it got too cold, so that Gingaar could also partake. Several times, she offered to let Gingaar go first, but she always declined. Each night when they camped, Mirtza would deploy his guard bats so that they only required a few guards, as sleep was becoming a very valued commodity.

  The second month on the road was the same as the first. Both Alron and Lauren could not believe the journey had been so uneventful, but Alron noticed that the farther south they traveled, the number of roads connecting to the south road increased, every day, seeing one or two more. Most disturbing, Alron began to see fresh tracks.

  It was towards the end of the second month, the day that Alron heard the warning whistles from the front guard, at the same time that Panry heard them from the rear guard. They were between two large forests, both of which were too far away. Lauren pointed to a small stand of trees, told Mirtza to head for them. When both wagons stopped, she jumped out, drove her tri-wood staff into the ground, and concentrated. What happened next surprised them all, as the trees began to grow rapidly, increasing in height by several feet in a matter of seconds, branches multiplying and sprouting a thick coat of leaves, which then began to drop, filling in the gaps. As the front and rear guards approached the empty road, Al
ron whistled to them, and they headed over to the large forest that the front guard did not recall seeing. But Alron did not have to whistle, as wagon tracks were still very visible, which Lauren saw as well. She drove the staff deeper into the ground, concentrating harder. Crushed grass filled with life and shot bolt upright. Plants and young trees, bent with a death sentence, drank deep from the earth and stood as well. Alron looked at the Earth Daughter on her knees, clutching her tri-wood staff, absorbed in the task at hand. Never had he seen such command of the plants, seen them embrace the call of an Earth Daughter. When completely hidden from the road, Alron breathed a sigh of relief, and quietly walked over to Lauren.

  They all watched in silence as two black-clad patrols met with each other, both numbering twenty-four. Alron figured that they would report their findings, and then head back in the direction from which they had arrived, but instead, they dismounted. Alron scanned the grassland in front of them, could not see any signs that Lauren had missed, and was still unsure why they had stopped. Forty-eight to twelve, some might consider them outnumbered, but six were Earth Guards, and could take down forty-eight by themselves. In fact, he knew that Panry alone could dispatch so few. He could hear the silent howl of the Ironhouse axes screaming for vengeance, so could Lauren who glared at the Ironhouse brothers. Her speech at the mine might not have inspired them, but her look froze them in their tracks. Before them knelt an Earth Daughter, Mother Chosen, power like none had seen or heard of before. Axes ready, they did not move.

  Alron was horrified to see the black-clad soldiers break out their rations, lie down in the field, and release their mounts to graze. He did not know the curses that Lauren spoke under her breath, but he saw his reaction mirrored in her face. The stags, Earth Guard-trained, would not move until commanded. The war ponies, dwarf-trained, would also remain motionless. But eventually, beast or other, a muscle would cramp, somebody would sneeze or cough, or something else would happen. Alron glanced over to Panry, but could convey no verbal message—he did not have to. His Earth Guard could read his mind, and Panry passed the message he had seen in Alron’s eyes to the next Earth Guard, does naught move, does be ready. Each in turn, passed the same message along. Lauren was not worried about the Earth Guards, and was certain that the vengeful Ironhouse brothers would not move. She now stared at Eric and Tranquil Fury. Every deck of cards has at least one joker in it, more specifically a wild card. She knew that Eric would not do anything, but Tranquil Fury had been on his back for over two months, and she was uncertain if it could influence or manipulate him. She glared at Eric, but his face was without expression, his eyes glued on the black-clad soldiers. She tapped Alron on the knee, and pointed to Eric. Alron noticed as Eric began to twitch, but before he could do anything, Panry tapped Eric on the shoulder and pointed to Lauren. Her look intensified, as did Eric’s, and Alron moved back, afraid that bolts of lightning would shoot forth between them. Lauren removed one hand from her tri-wood staff, pointed to Eric, then to the ground. Eric slowly dropped to one knee, but did not look pleased.

  Alron and Lauren breathed a sigh of relief, but when they gazed upon the black-clad soldiers, they saw one approaching their hiding place. He was undoing his pants, searching for a spot to relieve himself. Lauren grasped her staff, pressed it into the earth. Small thorny vines began to grow, pricking the soldier’s hands, biting through his trousers and into his legs. With each step, the vines grew taller, silently fought his advance, but he was so close that Alron could hear his breath, but just as Alron thought that all was lost, the soldier turned, and headed to the other side of the road. They were silent for fifteen minutes when Lauren heard a pony move one of its legs, no doubt shaking off a cramp, and she began to hum very softly in an effort to comfort all of the beasts. Mirtza’s oxen had not moved an inch since they had entered the forest, not even swatted a fly with their tails.

  The black-clad soldiers started to pack up after an hour, the southbound patrol continued south, the northbound patrol continued north. Alron waited for fifteen minutes before he signalled the all clear, and twenty statues, hidden in the shadows, slowly emerged, reached down to massage cramped leg muscles.

  Panry hobbled over to Alron, “South to south, north to north. Patrols they does naught be.”

  Alron nodded in agreement, but Lauren needed a better explanation, “One does go to replace another. One does most likely be an outpost guard, which does return to their base for better food and rest. Other does go to replace them.”

  Lauren climbed up into the wagon beside Mirtza, wondered how many more narrow escapes awaited them. If Mirtza was correct, seventy or more days could still be before them. She was sure that there were several passes through the mountains, but did not have any benchmarks to know where they were, or how far away they might be.

  Alron whistled, the front guards headed out, the rear guards waited, and the group started south. They traveled for six more hours, when Alron started to pick up the signs that a night camp waited for them. The second sun had set, and dusk was upon them as they found Cethail and Erust waiting, hidden deep enough in a forest, that Alron felt it safe to light a fire.

  *******

  IT silently crept through the dark moonless night, stopping to listen, to test the air. IT like this. Open. Fresh air. Close. Hungry. Fresh. IT like fresh.

  *******

  It had been two weeks since their first encounter with the black-clad soldiers, and every morning Alron wondered if today would be the day? They were barely two hours on the road when they came across the Dawnfalcons, the front guard.

  “Alron, black-clad guard post, two miles ahead. Four does be dead.”

  “What does thou mean?”

  Careel looked at Alron, “Camp we does find. Horses tethered and four does be dead. We does naught know what does happen, just does report what we does find.”

  “Does thou kill them?”

  Babartin shook his head, “Alron, frost bear tracks we does find. Death by beast, naught by sword.”

  Alron called to Panry, Aaro, and Bor. The four then rode ahead to the camp where the dead soldiers lay. It was just as the Dawnfalcons had reported, four frightened horses tethered to a tree, and four dead soldiers ripped apart by some kind of bear. The claw marks, and the wounds presented evidence that no one could argue with. Alron ordered them to carry the bodies into the forest, and to bring the horses with them.

  As they waited for the wagons, Alron looked at Aaro and Bor, “Frost bear, sense does naught make.”

  “South too far, no snow here,” Aaro replied.

  Alron shook his head, “Perchance lost?”

  Bor shook his head, “Odd it is?”

  Alron sent the Dawnfalcons out as front guard when the wagons showed up, then tied the horses to Mirtza’s wagon. Two hours later, again Alron found the Dawnfalcons waiting for him. When he asked for a report, their reply was simple, ‘Does be same’. Again, they came across a guard camp, four dead, and huge bear prints on the ground. Alron could not believe his eyes, “Perchance, same giant bear?” The elves and dwarves that were with him did not know how to answer, as they could not explain it either. He ordered the bodies disposed, and attached the additional horses to the back of the wagon.

  As they got underway, Lauren called to Alron, “What is happening?”

  “Earth Daughter, I does naught know. Two guard stations we does find. All dead does be, bear killed, it does naught make sense.”

  They travelled for two more hours when once again the Dawnfalcons were waiting for Alron, “Guard post, one mile south. All still does live.”

  Aaro and Bor also heard the report, “Sneak by can we?”

  “Naught,” replied Babartin

  Two guard posts taken out, a third one still occupied. Alron could not deny it any longer, admitted to himself that they were in enemy-controlled territory. Eight missing guards were bound to raise questions, and the wagons were moving too slow. Alron rode over to Lauren, “Another guard post does be ahead. Let us t
urn back, does find a spot to camp, and discuss what options we does hath.” Lauren nodded, as the concern on Alron’s face was enough for her to agree with the captain of her Earth Guard. Slowly, the wagons turned on the narrow road and headed north. When Alron found a rocky section to hide their tracks, he ordered the wagons into the forest, leaving Panry at the road’s edge to wait for the rear guard, then followed the wagons into the forest. The day was still young, Mirtza and Gor started to prepare the meal, but Alron stopped them. He would not allow them to light a fire, as he was afraid that the smell of food would give away their position. They had consumed all of Gor’s fresh fruits and baked goods long ago, so Mirtza pulled fresh fruits, dried meats and more from his chests, and each time Gor saw the exchange, he was still amazed.

  As the meal was being laid out, Alron went over to Mirtza, “Earth Daughter does say thine wagon in thine pocket thou can carry. Does this be true?” Mirtza nodded in agreement.