by Clark Graham
When he regained his senses, he headed up to his quarters to tell Ammlee the bad news. He knew she was not going to take it very well at all.
Bad Tidings at the Fort
By the time Sarchise had gathered his gear, told Ammlee goodbye, and made his way down to the great hall, Hemlot and the other warriors were ready to go. The Dwarves had to be helped up onto the tall white horses, but Sarchise was able to hop on. He had lived on a farm part of his childhood. His father would take him on a horse, once in a while. He climbed on the back of a horse ridden by Sharis. She was as beautiful as Fawn, with long flowing blonde hair and penetrating blue eyes. Being that close he could feel her warmth, and the smell of her hair was even alluring. It made him feel even more vulnerable.
"Hang on tight," Sharis said to Sarchise. He didn't listen, but had his arms loosely around her waist. She spurred her horse to have it lurch forward, forcing his grip around her waist to tighten, rather than fall off the back of the horse.
"You did that on purpose," he complained.
"Yes, I did," came her unapologetic reply.
The others were starting out, with Hemlot on Fawn's horse, and a Dwarf warrior on each of the remaining six horses. Their supplies had been packed into saddlebags. Fawn and Hemlot's horse was in the lead followed by Sharis and Sarchise's horse.
Without a spoken command, but in unison, all the horses started into a trot. They headed out across the plains of Zor. Sarchise was amazed at the speed and the gracefulness of the horses. The plains were a mere shadow of the land that it had been before the first Gremlin war. Before the war, it had been planted in crops, from the mountains to the sea. Between the fields had been farmhouses and villages that supported them. It was overgrown in grassland now. The inhabitants of the land had been swept away by the Gremlins. It was only the land around the village of Zorham that was planted. The people of this land were trying to rebuild their land and their lives.
The group only stopped briefly to eat a midday meal, and then headed out again. They made for the fort to spend the first night. It had been built during the last war, and was still garrisoned by Dwarves, with the blessing of the people of the Land of Zor. The Dwarves had liberated the people of the land from the Gremlins, and still maintained a presence on the plains to protect the people of Zor and the approaches to the Mountains of Iron.
When the group got close to the fort, the Dwarves swung the door open and allowed them in. The fort had seen the Valkyrie from way off. It was getting dark as they approached. What was remarkable to Sarchise was they had arrived there so fast. It was a several day’s march for an army of the Dwarves to reach there.
As the rode through the gate Oswin the commander of the fort walked up to greet them, “Prince Sarchise, Hemlot, and warriors of the Valkyrie, welcome to my fort.”
The Valkyrie smiled and said, “Thank you,” to Oswin.
“Things have changed since the last time I stayed in this fort. You have real stone walls now,” Sarchise said as he admired the stonework.
“Yes, and we are not expecting to be killed before the night is over, unlike the last time we stayed in this fort together,” Oswin replied with a smile. He had a light brown ponytail sticking out of his green and gold helmet. He had a light beard, lighter than most of the Dwarves. Oswin was very broad in the shoulders and preferred the short sword of the Dwarves instead of the standard battleaxe.
Sarchise climbed down off his horse and bowed in response to Oswin’s bow said, “It’s good to see you, my friend,” Sarchise said. “I just love what you have done to the place.” He looked around at the ramparts, barracks and other buildings now erected inside the fort. It was a far cry from the desperate days during the war, when they hastily threw up walls in a nearly hopeless effort to defend themselves against a huge gremlin army. Now the walls had been expanded, and it was a proper fort complete with a fire pit in the center.
“Nothing remains of the original pile of rocks that we called a fort,” Oswin said, “But now that we have a proper fort we have no enemy left to threaten us.”
“Enemies come and go,” Sarchise said, “I remember we walked into the Westwood to fight one enemy and then getting attacked by a different one altogether.”
“How true,” responded Oswin. Sarchise noted a look in Oswin’s eyes as if he needed to tell him something. That would have to wait for later, when they were alone.
The women got off the horses and helped the Dwarves down. Hemlot was walking around gingerly, saddle sore from the day’s journey. Sarchise knew that they had a long ride ahead of them and this was just the first stage. He wondered how bad it would get before the end.
Soon the group settled down and the fire from the large pit lit up the night sky. The fire was enough to see by and warm the guests against the evening cold. Since his troops were on duty, Oswin allowed the warriors only one ale each. The food and company were excellent, as Oswin had been a commander of Sarchise's at one time. They traded old war stories with the Valkyrie during dinner.
After dinner when the Valkyrie had settled down at one end of the barracks, Sarchise decided on bedding out in a guard post. It only had a small table and a cot. Oswin soon joined him.
"My Prince," Oswin started in, "there is trouble in the world of men. A man named Gregor has moved into the village of Zorham. He was a young child, when the first Gremlin war took place. His mother fled with him to South Fort. She was a duchess in the kingdom of Zor. He grew up in South Fort."
"Yes, I know him. We were school boys together. He is arrogant and egotistical. I do not trust him," replied Sarchise.
"He did mention you when he visited me a fortnight ago. He is the only royal left in the line of royals that once lived in these lands. He supposes that you will back his claim to the throne, since you were so close growing up together. With the strength of the Dwarf armies to back him he thinks that King Mortimur will not dare unseat him," Oswin told Sarchise.
"Do the people support him?" Sarchise asked concerned.
"No, the people of the land are loyal to King Mortimur. Gregor has brought fifty men with him from South Fort. Those are the only ones that support him. There is tension in the land because of Gregor. The people fear that fighting will break out in the village at any time," Oswin said. "The people of thevillage do not want to go back to the time when an evil man like Timor ruled over them."
"How did you leave the conversation?" Sarchise asked.
"I told him that I did not know what the relationship with you two was in the past, but that you were a good friend of King Mortimur, and that I doubtedthat you would risk that friendship. Even if you did, I know that King Cazz is not interested in risking open war with the Humans."
"If he comes again, tell Gregor that I will personally arrest him if he ever claims the throne, or even tries to become the mayor of the village. We freed that village from Timor's men, and we won't hesitate to do it again. I fear for the four kingdoms. With all these low nobles claiming thrones that would have never been theirs before the wars, I worry that civil war is coming." Sarchise said.
"Yes, my Prince," responded Oswin.
"One more thing, I want you to lock the guardhouse from the outside and post two guards at the door," Sarshise said sheepishly.
"Why, my Prince?" asked a very puzzled Oswin.
"The Valkyrie, I don't trust me not to go out there and I don't trust them not to come in here," Sarchise responded.
Oswin was still puzzled but he did what he was asked.
A Journey Towards the Westwood
Sarchise thought he heard someone talking to him. He was in a deep sleep and was having a hard time waking up. Again someone was saying something, so he concentrated to hear what they were saying it finally came into focus the third time.
“My Prince, do you want me to open the door?” It was the guard that Oswin had put in front of the guard house, at Sarchise’s request.
It was then Sarchise realized he was standing with his hands on the front door,
trying to push it open.
“Um, no, I don’t need out,” Sarchise was trying to get the cobwebs out of his head. “Can you bring me some water?” he asked the guard.
“Yes, my Prince,” and one of the guards ran off, but was soon back with the water. The guard opened the door and handed the water in to Sarchise.
“Thank you,’” Sarchise said through the open door.
When the door was closed and locked again, Sarchise drank some of the water, but poured the rest in front of the doorway. He then went back to sleep.
The second time Sarchise woke up, he was again standing in front of the door. The cold water on his bare feet woke him with a start. He was standing in the puddle by the doorway. He walked back over to the bed and dried his feet. He then lay down and went back to sleep.
In the morning the guards opened the door and let him out. Oswin was there to greet him, “I hear you were up in the night. The guards said that you didn’t sleep well at all.”
“Yes, I kept waking up,” Sarchise replied.
“Did you hear the singing of the Valkyrie in the night while you were awake? They have beautiful voices,” Owsin asked.
“No, I didn’t hear any singing.” Sarchise responded. “I will have to pay more attention."
“The Valkyrie are almost ready to ride. Your breakfast awaits you by the fire.”
“Thank you. How is the road ahead?” Sarchise asked.
“With the speed of your horses, you should reach the Westwood before sundown. After that it will be slow going, for the paths cut through the forest are narrow and it will be hard for the horses to make headway. I would take the way that bypasses the Lost City as it is more traveled. Many fear getting too close to the city as some have disappeared who go near. After a few miles into the Westwood, it’s older wood and the trees are further apart, and you can again ride faster,” Oswin explained.
“Any word on the Elf?” Sarchise asked.
“Your old friend still lives at his Ornamac tree. The Dwarves still maintain the outpost there. They get along, but there is not much conversation between them. He acts as a healer to their wounded from time to time,” Oswin said.
Sarshise sat down and ate his breakfast. He was soon packed and ready to go. Again he climbed on the back of the horse that Sharis rode.
The Valkyrie rode hard and fast and passed the King’s road before midday. The horses slowed to a trot after that. Alidia said to Sarchise, “During our war with the Elves, we were ambushed on these roads more than once. That's why we like to approach them at full gallop now, even though the Elves have left and the Gremlins are defeated.”
Sarchise just nodded his head as he held on tight. He was not used to being on horses for an extended amount of time and he was started to get a little saddle sore at full gallop. Now that they had slowed to a trot he was getting some relief. They stopped once during the afternoon at a stream to rest and water the horses. The Valkyrie set out guards while the rest of the company relaxed. They were being more cautious now that they had left the territory controlled by the Dwarves. After some lunch, they again headed out.
Sarchise could tell that the Dwarves were having a worse time than he was riding the horses. Their legs were short and almost stuck straight out from the sides, as they clung to the rider in front of them. The speed of their progress impressed Sarchise, and he vowed to find a way to get some horses or ponies to speed the messengers he sent out from time to time.
It was not dark yet when the group arrived on the edge of the forest. Fawn rode her horse up to Sarchise. “We will stay here tonight. I don’t want to spend any more nights in the Westwood than I have to.”
Sarchise had spent many nights in the Westwood during the last Gremlin war and before that as a Royal Scout, for the city of South Fort. He was more at home there than he was upon the plains, but he just said, “I understand,” and then he climbed off the horse. It was like going home to him and then stopping on the front porch and not going inside.
Hemlot came up to Sarchise while he was deep in his thoughts and looking at the forest. “It’s been a long time since we were in there,” Hemlot commented, “If I had not stumbled across you that one night, my bones would still be in there.”
Sarchise laughed, “You were not happy to see me that night. You had your battleaxe at the ready and you were looking for a fight.”
“Yes, but I listened to you in the end,” Hemlot replied with a smile. He stared at the imposing wall of trees, “I lost a lot of countrymen in those trees. We had battle upon battle, most of which we should have lost, but we are still here.”
“I never want to relive the horror of those days,” Sarchise said.
“Neither do I,” replied Hemlot.
"There are so many memories of all those we lost in the Westwood. Harn, Prince Caspin, Sal and Glowin to name just a few," said Sarchise.
"Yes, they fought well, and died with honor. Not all of them made it back to the Great Hall under High Mountain to have songs sung about them and to be buried under the mountain in a place of honor," Hemlot reminisced.
"Sal did not make it but Harn, Prince Caspin and Glowin were all buried with honors,"
"Harn, being a Human, would never have expected to die in the Westwood and be buried as a hero on the slopes of the Dwarves largest Kingdom, High Mountain," Hemlot replied.
"It's just too bad that he hated the Dwarves." Sarchise commented.
"It is kind of sad when you think about it. He would have been miserable to know where he was going to end up," Hemlot said.
"It is truly a sad thing."
When they turned around a fire had been started and both the Dwarves and Valkyries were cooking over it. Hemlot and Sarchise went to volunteer to help cook, but they were not allowed.
The Valkyrie cooked up a spicy stew. It was something they make while on the trail. They bring the spices in one of the saddlebags, and they gather roots wherever they stop. The Dwarves had a leg of lamb that they cooked to add to the meal. There were no songs around the campfire that night as everyone was tired from the long ride.
When it was time to bed down, Sarchise found a tree at the edge of the forest and tied himself to it with a rope. He had been unnerved the night before when he found himself walking in his sleep. He then settled in for the night.
Into the Forest
Sarchise awoke suddenly. He looked around to see if there was danger around him. Everything was quiet and peaceful in the camp. The fire had died down and he could hear snoring coming from a couple of the Dwarves. It was then he realized the reason that he had awakened. He had been pulling at the rope around his waist. He was trying to sleep walk again.
Frustrated with himself, he pulled the rope a little tighter, and settled back down. The next time he awoke, he could feel himself pulling at the rope. This time he didn't open his eyes right away. He heard a soft sweet melody coming from Fawn. Even though he couldn't understand the words he could feel the song calling him over to her.
Sarchise cut the rope and stood up and started walking her way. The song stopped suddenly and Fawn rolled over and pretended to be asleep.
"It's the music," he said. "That's how you lure men over to you, the music."
Fawn sat up, "It's not like that, I just wanted to dance."
"But I didn't want to dance, or anything else, for that fact. That doesn't matter, it's all about what you want, isn't it?" Sarchise yelled.
Sharis came to Fawn's aide. "You don't understand. There has not been a male child born to the Valkyrie for over four hundred years. We do what we have to, to perpetuate our race."
"But I don't want to be a part of that. I have a wife and a home, a child on the way. You certainly don't need my help to perpetuate your race." He was still yelling.
Fawn smiled and said, "You are right, it was wrong of me. From here till our journey's end, I promise you that I and the rest of my people will not entice you in any way. You will not need to tie yourself to a tree anymore."
Sarchise looked down; he still had the rope around his waist. He quickly untied it and said, "Thank you." Then he stormed back and sat down, but he couldn't sleep the rest of the night.
Breakfast was a couple of unlucky rabbits that the Dwarves had found, and then the group, walking the horses, headed into the Westwood. The trail was already overgrown in some places and the Dwarves, with their battleaxes, had to cut down some vines and small trees as they went. The trail was used regularly, but it was in a part of the forest that grew rapidly. They took the trail that bypassed the Lost City as they headed into the woods.
Sarchise felt at home here, but they Valkyrie eyed the trees nervously. The vegetation was too thick to ride horses through and the going was slow. They had to walk the horses behind them. When noontime came, they broke out some bread that they had brought from the Mountains of Iron and ate while they walked. Soon they arrived at the place where a major battle had been fought in the last Gremlin war. It was here that Hemlot had been badly wounded and spent the rest of the war recuperating at High Mountain. Sarchise had memories of that desperate day too. If it were not for Cazz coming to the rescue, he and his whole army would have been killed.
There were still signs of the struggle in the scarred trees the bordered the path. As evening came, the trees started to thin out and they were able to ride the horses agian about an hour before darkness set in. They ate dried meat and bread instead of cooking. Starting a fire in the Westwood would bring a predator's attention to your presence.
"Put out four guards to keep watch on the camp,” Sarchise said to Hemlot. “About half way through the night, you and I and the other two Dwarf warriors will relieve them. No sense in anyone missing a whole night's sleep. Oh, and if they hear any singing, they are to wake me immediately."