Knowing his strength to be limited, Gash wasted no time, but slowly and meticulously began working his way back down the path. Mara had been mostly silent during their work and remained that way as Gash worked his way towards the mountain path. The wind did not give more than a gentle breeze and the soft padding of Gash hands was the only sound. At last, as they approached the point where they could step onto solid ground, Gash heard Mara’s voice come subdued in his ear.
“Gash,” she said. “Tell me about your god.”
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The Report of Captain Joseph Caldris, Knight of the Realm
“General Toz and General Arnett arrived at port ten weeks prior. I had been assigned to General Arnett’s company. We arrived six-thousand strong in total. We set to march two days later, arrived at the Valley of the Maw in a week and exited it in another week.
“Upon exiting the valley our scouts reported a few scattered orcish tribes to the north, but other than that, the land was empty. We marched for the kingdom of Mahar per our mission. As we advanced we noticed that not a league from the exit of the valley, the land had been completely laid waste. There was no food to speak of and we were forced to keep marching in hopes of finding some. We knew our reserves would last only so long.
“We arrived at the capitol in a fortnight. We had seen no villages along the way. The capitol itself was nothing more than a burnt ruin. Again, our scouts reported a few orcish tribes to the north, but none else. A couple of scouts thought it to be the same orcish tribes they had seen before, but they could not be certain.
“It was at that point, our mission being unsuccessful, that the Generals decided to march on north towards the Elarian Kingdom. The Generals were not unaware of our relations with those people. However, they believed that any who had escaped the destruction of Mahar might have fled to Elaria. They could not have crossed the Dry Hills and we saw no evidence that they had fled south. Elaria would have been the closest refuge.
“The Generals, knowing their actions to be questionable to the council announced leave to return to Galantria any man that wished to do so, our official mission being over. However, they were men of such character and bravery that none opted to return. Therefore, the next morn we set out for Elaria. Again we met no resistance and no people of any kind. Only ruined earth.
“We reached Elaria City after another two fortnights. By then our food supply had run dangerously low. When we reached the city it seemed to have seen some recent battle. The fields before it even up to the walls were muddy waste. We saw evidence of orc tracks, and large ruts like that of catapults and the like, but no enemy to speak of.
“When we reached the city, the people greeted us readily. The Generals had been correct. Many from Mahar had fled to Elaria. However, the Elarians were equally glad to see us. We entered the city in multitude, for many of us were hungry. They Elarians were prepared to feed us what they could, but even they were low on food. I overheard one of the citizens saying they had been under siege for some time by a great army of orcs. Just three days prior to our arrival, however, the orcs began to disperse. The Generals must have discovered this as soon as I for at that moment, they ordered every man inside the gates of the city. Just as they did so, Orcs began flooding onto the plane from out of nowhere. We got in as many as we could…and closed the gates on the rest. Six-hundred were left outside. The orcs numbered in the thousands. The men were slaughtered.
“The orcs had definitely united. They were at least ten-thousand strong. They had catapults, siege engines, battering rams- They were far more organized than we had anticipated and they all bore the same symbol of a red flame with a crooked green line running it through.
“There was a ridge that ran north to south a mile west of Elaria City. The Elarians had built an escape tunnel for times of siege that led from inside the city to midway down the ridge. Its entrance was hidden well and the orcs had not discovered it. They had not yet used it firstly because the orcish army was so massive they would not have gone unnoticed, and secondly because if they ran into any more enemy while trying to escape, they would be defenseless.
“The Generals organized a strategy: Commander Richlet would lead five-hundred men and the refugees, approximately three-thousand men, women, and children, through the passage and south towards the Valley of the Maw in hopes that we would reach Galantria before the orcs caught us. The Generals in the mean time would ride out and engage the enemy head-on, diverting their attention from our escape.
“It was a suicide mission. An army of five-thousand taking on an army of ten. This was the strategy from two of the order’s most heralded generals. They did not expect to survive.
“I was eager to stay and die in valor. Yet, I agreed to follow the orders of the generals of the army to whom I have sworn allegiance. Rescuing the Maharians was our mission. That is what my lot fell to. That was the responsibility laid upon me that I took with pride and with deep regret.
“We executed our orders as given. Commander Richlet led us out the passageway and down the ridge. We were a sizable distance from the battle when we were ambushed by the orcish tribes we had previously seen. They killed Commander Richlet as well as the other captains, and well over a hundred foot soldiers. By the end of the battle, three-hundred and twenty knights were left.”
“We reached the Valley of the Maw as quickly as the refugees and injured could manage. We saw no signs of pursuit. I can only guess that our escape had gone completely unnoticed and the orcs were not smart enough to guess where we had gone.
“After the incidents in the valley and the encounter with the orcs on the far side of the Dry Hills, fifteen of my men were left. Three of them died from their injuries here in Galantria.”
Joseph, Mara, Dolanas, and Allister in Galantria
Joseph removed the bandage from his ankle and examined it. The bruise had gone and the skin had returned to a pale shade of his normal skin tone. He stretched it to test its elasticity and then carefully slipped off the bed of the room in which he had been staying. They had been in Galantria three days. Aside from the city garrison nearly engaging Gash and the others in battle, there had been no activity and the captain of the Knights of the Realm had been able to rest and allow his ankle to heal. He was glad and walked about the room to test its strength.
“How is it?”
Joseph turned to see Mara standing in the open doorway, her staff in her hand as always.
“Much better, thank you,” Joseph replied, pressing down on it repeatedly. “The physician told me I should be able to walk on it by this morn. Looks as if he was right.”
“He was right about many things.”
Joseph looked at her and nodded, knowing she spoke of the doctors pronouncement on his men’s conditions. “How are my men?” he asked as he moved to his bed, picked up his sheathed sword and pulled it part-way out, checking its blade.
“Another died last night.”
Joseph dropped his hands back to the bed and leaned over.
“Corporal Allister?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Joseph closed his eyes. Many of the wounded they had brought back had recovered well enough, but there were a few that were beyond recovery. Corporal Allister was the third and Joseph stood there, silently grieving both for his soldier and his friend. Allister had been partnered with Dolanas ever since they escaped the hordes in the North. He had developed quite a fondness for the young corpor
al. Joseph could only imagine the grief his friend must have been suffering through. He was certain his was nothing compared to it. Silently he wondered where the justice was in the world where a man could so young meet his end. There had to be some answer, but it seemed it was lost to him.
“Dolanas did not sleep,” Mara’s voice cut through his thoughts. “He just sat by his bed until his body was cold.”
“Dolanas doesn’t sleep,” Joseph said, regaining his composure as he sheathed his sword and wound the belt around him. “Where is he now?”
“Out in front of a weapon maker’s building.”
Grabbing his boots, Joseph slipped them on.
“I thank you, Lady Mara, for keeping me informed of my men’s conditions. It has been an invaluable service to me.”
He stood and approached her, stopping before her. Looking down at her, for she was slightly shorter, he thought he saw on her face a slight look of sadness and regret.
“What is it?”
Mara did not answer, but continued to stare up at him.
“Lady Mara?”
Mara turned her head aside.
“I was wrong,” Mara finally replied. “You have proven yourself honorable. You care for your men and Gash and…there should be more men like you.”
Mara let the last bit out almost in a mumble. Joseph smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. Mara immediately shoved his hand off of her.
“That does not mean we are friends,” she said, disgusted as she looked at him. “I still say you are a coward for torturing Gash. But if he is able to forgive you…I suppose I am able as well.”
“I thank you, lady.”
“You are not welcome,” Mara replied, bitterly. “Just be sure you do your best to see that Gash is freed.”
“You have my word.”
Mara just stared at him a moment.
“Well,” she spoke, maintaining her lack of countenance, “at least now I know I can trust that much. I am going to the jail to see that Gash is well and then I am going to bed. Unlike Dolanas, I actually do need sleep.”
Joseph nodded as Mara turned and walked down the hall.
Joseph shut his door and walked down the hall as well. After stepping outside, it took him only a few minutes to find the correct blacksmith. Approaching it, he saw Dolanas sitting on an anvil just outside the door, his back turned to Joseph as he whittled away at a piece of wood, smoke rising from the pipe in his mouth.
“Dola,” Joseph greeted him.
“Captain,” Dola spoke without turning from his work, not at all surprised to hear Joseph’s voice.
Glancing inside the doorway, Joseph spotted a short stool. Grabbing it, he brought it out and set down next to his long-time friend. The two sat in silence for long moments as Dola continued whittling. Knowing him as he did, Joseph could tell the old veteran’s carving was more aggressive and less refined than normal, though when it was finished, none would be able to tell the difference between it and a piece by the slow, steady hand of a master craftsman.
“He was just a boy, Joseph,” Dola finally spoke.
“No more a boy than I,” Joseph replied.
“I know. That’s why…” Dola stopped himself, unable to finish. “Y’know, that boy wasn’t the strongest, or the smartest, but he never gave up.”
“I know,” Joseph replied. “I was going to recommend him for promotion when we got back.”
They sat silent a moment, Dola at last speaking once more.
“You’re a good man, Joseph,” he said.
“So was Frederick,” Joseph replied.
“Mmm,” Dolanas said, taking the pipe from his mouth and holding out his fist. “Here, here.”
Joseph happily touched his own fist to Dolanas’ and the elder replaced his pipe and continued about his work. The two sat in silence for a long while, one content to be there to comfort his friend, the other just grateful his friend was there.
“Did you actually drag that anvil out here by yourself?” Joseph finally asked the aged knight.
Dolanas shook his head.
“Carried,” He corrected him. “Blacksmith was none too pleased.”
“Well, just tell him you’re blessing it with a sprinkle of dwarven dust from your rump. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Immediately, Dola dropped his arms from their work as he was overtaken with fit of laughter. He reached out an armed and punched Joseph in shoulder, almost knocking from his stool. He then returned to his work, shaking his head and chuckling as Joseph sat by him smiling. Dola stopped his whittling and held the piece in front of Joseph who nodded and approved its workmanship before the old dwarf took it back and continued his work upon it.
**********
Mara lay uneasily asleep on the floor of her rented room. She had slept for almost a day. But now she lay with eyes closed and mind waking. She knew she would have to rouse soon, though she wished it not. It was but just now getting to midnight and she did not wish to be up for the entirety of the night. At least she hadn’t been dreaming about them this night.
At long last she opened her eyes and looked out the open window. She could not stand to be shut up just like she could not stand to sleep on anything softer than a slightly cushioned floor. A cool breeze blew in and she inhaled the fresh scent. She lay there for long moments, simply resting and allowing her thoughts to wander. She thought of Durin and of her home. She thought of her words to him and his to her on the day of their parting. Her hand found the stone-hard wooden staff that lay next to her and she gripped it tightly.
Feeling restless, she arose and went to the window. She looked out over the silent buildings and noted the few glowing torches lining the main streets. She could not even make out the distant farmland in the darkness. She sighed, missing the wild. The captain had been kind enough to secure a room for her. She would have gladly stayed in the fields were it not so far from Gash. So strange was this place, she thought. It was so foreign to what she had known. She silently wondered how anyone could shut themselves off from nature so. But that was their affair, she supposed.
Still not feeling the least bit sleepy, she decided to head down and see if there be anyone up to supply her with a meal. Picking up her pack, she walked out of her room, down the hall, and followed the winding staircase to the main hall of the tavern. Stepping from the stairwell, she found the room to be dimly lit and mostly empty. A rather sullen man stood behind the bar fiddling with something out of sight. He gave her a glance and nothing more. But three other figures- three of the knights gathered around a table for conversation, some ale, and a few games of cards- stood and greeted her.
“M’lady,” they said, almost in unison.
Mara bowed slightly and then moved to the bar. The knights resumed their game, keeping an eye on the bartender who seemed not to want to bother with the likes of the teenager.
“What can I get you?” he said uncaringly.
“I will take a small meal if you would,” Mara replied.
The bartender gave a sigh, as though it was a bother for him to move from his spot, and went into a back room.
“Don’t you let him give you any gruff, young miss,” one of the knights told her. “He knows your meals are paid for and that you’re with us. He gives you any trouble, you just leave it to us. We’ll set him aright.”
The other two knights nodded their heads. Mara smiled. She noted the one speaking to be one of those she had knocked in the head whilst fighting atop Gash’s cage. She still felt rather awkward being on friendly terms with them, but she nonetheless nodded in thanks.
The bartender returned and carelessly plopped down in front of Mara a wooden plate with a small block of cheese and a hunk of bread. He then returned to his task, not even bothering to look at her. Mara thanked him despite his lack of care and took a bite of the cheese.
Mara sat there for a time, slowly eating her meal and thinking of her home in distant lands across the Great Waters. She thought of the friends she had left behind. She hadn�
�t many of them, and none as close as her brother had been. But they had been her friends and as she thought of them now, she wondered silently of their fate. Her thoughts then turned to a feeling of guilt over her then ignorance and she dejectedly rested her head in her hand. Had she not been so deceived, so wooed by honor and glory…would she have seen the truth sooner? Would they have listened if she had told them? She knew there was no way for her to know, and the thought stabbed at her.
The floor creaked behind her. She instinctively turned to look and saw the last person she wished to see standing at the bottom of the steps. The soldiers all stood and saluted their captain who returned the gesture. Mara just looked away wishing he hadn’t shown up.
She heard his footsteps move past her and saw him sit down next to her. Inwardly, she shook her head.
“I’ll have an ale,” Joseph told the bartender.
He received the same treatment as Mara as the malcontent barkeep took a mug, filled it with ale and set it down in front of Joseph.
“Your tab is running low,” The man told him.
Joseph gave a smirk.
“Sorry to hear that. Guess it’s a good thing we’ll be moving on tomorrow.”
The barkeep gave no response but continued about his task. Joseph looked over at Mara who was trying to finish her meal quickly. She wasn’t getting very far very fast. There was just too much bread.
“You’ll get sick if you keep eating like that,” Joseph told her.
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