Gash sat before the fire, drying himself while Lum stood before Marian who began checking her over for signs of fever or sickness. Lum stared on at her with her golden eyes. Marian smiled at her.
“You have very pretty eyes,” she told her. Lum did not answer or smile, but just continued staring. After a few moments more of examination, Marian looked at the little girl, an unsure look on her face.
“Well,” she said. “I don’t see any signs of illness and she has no fever. You said your throat hurt, dear?”
Lum nodded.
“Have you been coughing at all?”
“Some,” Lum mumbled, shyly looking at the floor as she twisted her foot, feeling the wood.
“Four times,” said Gash. “There was blood the last time.”
“Taddle-tale!” Lum shot at him.
“He’s just concerned for you, dear,” Marian soothed, smoothing the little girl’s hair. “Well, if it is illness, it is not something I can discern or treat. It could simply be...”
Marian trailed off, the little girl’s golden-eyed stare sparking something hidden deep in old memories. Revelation struck her and a portion of an old saying rushed to the forefront of her thoughts.
With golden eyes
The watch of the north they keep
From places high and cold
Where the winter does not sleep.
The orcs shall not
Return again
Till watchers sleep
And all shall end.
Marian inwardly shuddered as her mind connected the dots. She cleared her throat to ask her next question, hoping her fear did not show in her voice.
“Lum,” she addressed her, “from whence do you hail?”
Lum gave her answer in a timid mumble.
“From the mountains,” she said.
“Which mountains, my dear?” Marian asked.
Lum shifted her eyes to Gash, attempting, but failing to look like she wasn’t. Gash merely nodded in reply. She then looked back to the Marian.
“From Lukrushe,” she said. “From one of the Watcher Cities.”
At this Marian breathed out a hard breath and looked away. She then attempted a smile at the little girl and smoothed her hair.
“Thank you, my dear,” she said. “I am finished. You can go and sit with Gash.”
Lum did so. Marian stood, visibly shaken, and turned away from the two. She began to unconsciously rub her scarred wrists as she paced in silence. Gash waited, not speaking. Marian’s behavior was odd. There was something about it he did not like, yet he could not place. He heard her whisper something, but could not make out the words.
“Gash,” Marian said in a more audible voice. She was still facing away from them. “What do you…I’m afraid…I do not have good news.”
She turned to face them, her face displaying waning control over her emotions as she continued to rub her wrists.
“Long ago, along the Dragon Spine Mountains and the mountains of the valley, villages and watchtowers were built to watch the Northlands, should the orcs ever attempt to enter again into the south. The people there were marked by their golden eyes and their immunity to most diseases and sicknesses. But they rarely left their mountain dwellings.”
She paused a moment, steadying herself and then continued.
“There is something called Descent Sickness; what some call Watcher’s Curse or... It only seems to affect those who come down from the Watcher Cities who have lived there their whole lives. Few ever wandered down from the mountains or went to dwell there from below. But among those who did come down, none but a rare few ever got ill. But in every case the symptoms were always the same…as was…their fate.”
Everything connected then for Gash. Instinctively, his hand covered Lum’s chest, as if to somehow protect her from what Marian had spoken.
“What…be done?” he managed.
Marian, opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. She closed it again, but at last spoke.
“The situation is not without hope,” she said. “So far, it is only a cough and a little blood. That does not bode well, but that is not to say she won’t recover. But even if the symptoms worsen, there is always hope and it is found in the Godking and in him alone.”
Lum’s eyes went wide and she spoke in wonderment.
“You know of the Godking?” she said.
Marian smiled at the little girl.
“Yes, my dear, I do,” she replied. “He is our creator and he watches over us always.”
“I know,” Lum said. “Mother and Father taught me all about Him.”
“Then I dare say they taught you well.”
“We should pray to him and ask him to make me better. That’s what Mother and Father always taught me to do when we’re in trouble.”
“That is an excellent suggestion, Lum,” Marian said, moving to sit in front of them. “Come, let us go before him now and ask his mercy.”
Marian took one of Lum’s hands and one of Gash’s. Then Lum took Marian’s and Gash’s other hand and the two humans bowed their heads and closed their eyes as Gash watched this strange beseechment of their god.
“Father,” Marian began, “Your mercy is great and your goodness endures forever. Great is your faithfulness in all that you do. We ask that you would have mercy on little Lum and spare her life. Heal her, if it be your will. Nonetheless we ask that your will, not ours, be done. We thank you and praise your righteous name.”
The two released their grips and raised their heads.
Marian smiled at Lum, smoothed her hair, and laid a kiss on her forehead.
“Now,” Marian said, addressing Gash, her voice having returned to its normal tone, “We must still do what we can to get Lum some help practically. We do that and trust the Godking with the rest. She will need a physician, but I can think not of where you might take her where they would not slay you on sight-“
“Lilliandra,” Gash interrupted.
Marian’s brow crinkled.
“What of her?”
“She came to me twice before, speaking of the Godking. She has shown great power. Perhaps she can heal her.”
“How do you intend to find her? Do you know where she stays?”
“No,” Gash replied, moving to stand and lifting Lum into his arms. “But she always came from the north and always returned to the north. So we will head north. Perhaps we will find her.”
“But what of the orc army to the north?” Marian asked, also standing. “Do not tell me you would abandon the dwarves?”
Gash stood staring at her a moment. He had not considered how he might take care of both.
“I will see on the way,” he at last replied.
He then wrapped Lum in the animal hide.
“Be mindful of the weather, Gash,” Marian cautioned him, aiding him with the hide. “Keep her bundled up in cold weather and try to carry her as much as you can. She’ll need to rest as much as possible. Make sure to keep her fed and give her plenty of water, warm water if you can.
“There is a caribou trail in the north-east corner of this valley. You can use it to find food and make an easier route. Now make haste. She needs treatment as soon as she can get it. I will be in prayer for you both.”
Gash nodded and headed out the door. Marian watched them go, Lum’s golden eyes staring back at her. She began praying in her heart for their safety and Gash’s wisdom, fearing that the worst indeed was still ahead.
“Where are we going now?” Lum asked as the two passed into the thick forest.
“We must find Lilliandra,” Gash replied.
“Is Lill…Lilla…andr…”
“Lilliandra.”
“Is she a friend?”
“Yes.”
“Will she make my throat better?”
“She serves the Godking. She will be able to help.”
“What if we can’t find her?”
Gash looked down at the little girl he cradled in his arms. Lum’s golden eyes stared pure and t
rusting back at him.
“We have no food. Rest now. I will carry.”
Lum fell silent and did as she was bid there in the warmth of Gash’s arms and chest.
***********
Gash did as Marian instructed, heading north-east through the hills of the valley. He kept at a quickened pace, knowing the orcs and Lum’s health might only last so long. The two reached the caribou trail after only a day. Leaving Lum in a dry spot among the trees, Gash went to hunt and returned a short while later carrying two of the animals over his shoulder. With haste he gathered some wood and set about making a fire and spitting the animals.
Lum had been silent as they traveled and as Gash had been preparing the fire and food. She now sat staring silently into the flames, the thick animal skin wrapped about her, her knees pulled to her chest. Gash sat watching the animal cook, reaching occasionally to turn to the spit. Lum looked at him and then back at the fire. She did this a few more times, nervously shifting beneath her wrapping. At last, she could stand it no longer.
“Gash?” she asked.
Gash looked at her.
“What was your mother like?”
Gash’s eyes strayed from her as his mind went into deep thought, trying to remember the time before Gurak had dragged him into the Cursed Land. At last he looked at her and replied, “I do not know.”
Lum cocked her head.
“You mean…you don’t remember?” she asked him.
Gash nodded in reply. Lum looked back at the flames and was silent a moment, but something told Gash she had more to say, and so he waited.
“Marian reminds me of Mother,” she said finally. “She used to smooth my hair like that and kiss my forehead. I miss her.”
Lum then fell silent as she buried her nose in her knees, her eyes showing signs of coming tears. Knowing her pain to be that of loneliness, knowing that all too well, and not knowing what else to do, Gash reached out a massive arm, pulled the little girl close to him, set her in his lap and wrapped his arms around her. Lum’s tears began to fall in earnest then, if in silence, as she wrapped her tiny arms around his and buried her face in his strong arm.
They spent the night that way, Lum eventually falling asleep in his arms, Gash not really caring if the food burned or if the fire went out.
*************
The next morning found Lum again in her talkative mood, for which Gash was grateful, knowing it meant her sadness had passed for the time being. The rains had ceased and the two ascended the steep trail that led out of the valley and onto the plain near the Dry Hills. Upon reaching it, Gash immediately looked north, searching the land for signs of the orcish army or the Bent Mountain that they hauled in tow, but more so for the lithe form of Lilliandra. He saw none of these and so continued north-east, watching all the while for any sign. The air grew warmer as they left the valley and Gash promptly removed Lum’s covering for which the little girl was all-too grateful.
After another day-and-a-half of constant travel, with Lum squirming the whole time and whining for half of it, Gash halted and set the little girl on the ground. Setting himself down on the arid turf as well, Gash again scanned the horizon as Lum stretched long and walked around. He had seen no signs of the mountain, the orcs, or the light elf. He knew he should at least be able to see the mountain in the distance by then and he pondered why he had not, as he pulled some meat out of their sack and began to eat. Lum stood turning this way and that, looking upon the landscape and scratching her head.
“Gash, what are those?” she asked, pointing west.
“Dry Hills,” Gash replied, handing her some meat.
Lum’s eyes went wide as she instinctively took the meat.
“Gash,” she said in a whisper as she scooted closer to him and looked around fearfully, “Does that mean we’re in the Northlands?”
“No,” Gash replied. “Other side.”
“Phew,” Lum said with an exaddurated gesture of wiping her brow. “I thought for minute that we were in danger.”
She then took a big bite of her meat and began chewing.
“Father said the Northlands are dangerous,” she said around her meat. “He said dangerous creatures live there and we are the only ones who guard against them coming south.”
“Your village?”
Lum nodded. “He said that most of the villages and watchtowers are gone but we still need to watch out.”
Lum then looked at Gash with childlike fascination.
“Have you ever met any monsters, Gash?”
Gash looked at her, slightly confused by her innocence. For in his clan, the orc littlings of her age would have lost all sense of wonder, filled by then only with malice and the desire for battle. Thinking upon his clan, he nodded. Lum stopped chewing.
“You have?” Lum asked, her eyes widening. “What were they like?”
“Like me.”
“Oh come on, Gash!” Lum said, excitedly. “What were they like? Did they have big fangs and sharp ugly teeth? Did they have evil yellow eyes and drool black sludge? Did they want to put you in a stew and eat you with carrots? Did they come at you at night with faces that looked like this?”
Lum then raised her hands in the form of claws, scrunched her face and bared her teeth, strips of meat showing as she did. Gash stared at her, wondering at the ridiculous description she had put forth.
“That’s what Father told me they were like,” Lum said, dropping her demonstration. “I think he made some of it up. Especially the carrots cause I don’t like carrots. But tell me, Gash! What were they like? Did you have to fight them? Did they give you those scars? Did they try to eat you?”
“I did fight them. But…”
“But what?”
Gash sat a moment thinking about the reality of his time in the Cursed Land that Lilliandra had revealed to him.
“But…I was rescued.”
Lum’s eyes grew wide again.
“Wow. Who rescued you? I bet it was a knight. He probably had a really sharp sword. No, I know. He carried that axe and he died saving you so you took his axe and decided you would kill all the monsters in order to repay him. I bet that’s it, isn’t it, Gash?”
Gash shook his head.
“Was it a girl? Did she steal you away in the night-“
“It was the Godking,” Gash interrupted her.
Lum was silent a moment as she stared at him.
“Really? Was it really him?”
Gash nodded.
“What did he look like?”
“I did not see him,” Gash replied.
“Then how do you know it was him?”
“Lilliandra serves him. She told me.”
“Wow! Does everybody in the Lowlands know him?” Lum was now so excited she seemed ready to burst. “Father told me about him. He said he watches over us always because he loves us and won’t ever let us go. No one else in the village seemed to believe in him, not even Tarin. But I knew he was real.”
She then looked at Gash in a queer sort of way.
“Say, do you think it was the Godking that sent you to rescue me?”
Gash considered this and finally nodded. Lum responded with a smile.
“I think so too,” she said, plopping down and scooting to lean up against him. “And if he saved you from the monsters and me from the village, then he can save us from anything, right?”
“Yes,” Gash replied.
Lum happily bit off more of her meat and continued eating. The two finished their meal and rested a while, Lum talking long as Gash had learned she did when she was happy. As the sun began to sink behind the Dry Hills, Lum began to grow sleepy. Gash picked her up, once again covering her with the animal skin to keep her warm and help her sleep, and continued traveling.
He walked all that night, Lum sleeping soundly in his arms. The night held no moon, the stars giving little light as Gash continued north-east, noting where the stars vanished behind the hulking forms of the North River Mountains high up on his right side
and keeping parallel with that as best he could in order to maintain his direction. As the sun rose the next morning, the brilliant rays cut through the clouds and the morning mist to reveal to Gash’s tired eyes the answer to the riddle he had been seeking since leaving the Valley of the Maw.
The North River Mountains ran in a long, swerving line, slanting north-east. Rising above their peaks miles away, Gash saw a snow-covered mountain-top with a most unnatural, but familiar bend. He stood still a long while, pondering why they would be taking such a hard route rather than just heading south.
A stirring in his arms broke him out of his daydream and he looked down and uncovered Lum’s head. The little girl slept soundly in his arms. She had not had a coughing fit since leaving the valley. He thought that perhaps she was recovering, but her breathing sounded raspy. Gash knew he could not take the chance. He raised a hand and smoothed her hair. She stirred, blinked her eyes open to slits, and looked up at him. She rubbed them, trying to wake herself fully. When she was finished she laid her head against his chest.
“Are we there yet, Gash?” she said in a tired voice.
“Not yet,” Gash replied.
“How much longer?”
“I do not know.”
Lum moaned and rubbed her face in Gash’s chest.
“Do you want to walk?” Gash asked her.
Lum nodded and Gash set her on the ground. She stretched and rubbed her eyes.
“I have to go pee,” she said.
Gash turned away and waited for her to tell him she was done.
“Can we find some water, Gash?” she said as he turned to face her. “I’m really thirsty.”
Knowing there would be water where there was a forest, Gash began walking towards the thin forest, Lum walking swiftly at his side. They reached the forest after an hour and soon found a stream where they were able to refresh themselves and fill their waterskins. They then continued heading north through the forest, the shade and freshness of the air making them feel refreshed and seeming to quicken their pace. They traveled and talked for most of the day, Lum seaming perfectly satisfied to walk all the while. Having grown weary of speaking, Lum began to ask Gash questions about his own life. They ate their food as they walked and as Gash slowly let out details of what his life had been like and what orcs were like. Though he had expected her reaction to be negative, Lum did not seem surprised that the monsters of the Northlands were orcs and that Gash was of their blood.
Half-Orc Redemption Page 30