by C L Carr
The trail was just as it had seemed from the first time they looked at it. It was most definitely slow going. The risk of going too fast and falling to ones death was just too much for either adventurer to bear. So they took their time. In some places they needed to clear fallen debris or snow from the path. In others they tied rope to one another as they shimmied themselves along thin ledges. It was indeed tough going but they at least were heading in the correct direction.
They talked along the way. Though they had spent much time together, they had learned little about each other. The perils of being chased kept them alert most of the time. On this trail, aside from a fall, there was little real danger it seemed. The men of the northern woods had not mentioned anything in particular that might seem dangerous so it was a rather peaceful hike.
“So, how did you meet Tressnou, my friend?” Artirius asked the dwarf as he chucked a large rock off the cliff.
A smile crossed the dwarf’s face, “Well, as a matter of fact he found me. Long ago I was a trader. I traveled the paths that ran between West and East Hollows. One day while I was hauling a cart, I was ambushed by some nasty lurkers. They were hiding on a cavern ceiling as they are known for. They had no interest in my things, just killing me. I got one but then a second wrapped its tentacle-like hand around me neck and well, it was not looking good. Then Tressnou was just there. Flash of light from his staff, the beast was dead, and he was tending to me and my wounds. He was a little younger then. As was I, I guess.
“Now for two hundred years or so I have been his servant and, I am proud to say, friend. I have acted at times as his liaison to me people. I also, as you already know, am his informant on issues at large. I have agents here and there, and they gather knowledge for the great wizard. On some occasions I take to the seeking of knowledge myself. I am sure you understand that need. In fact, it was I who let him know you were on your way.”
“How did you know I was on my way?”
Chuckling, “As the wizard has secrets that keep him ahead of the game, so do I. Once you arrive in the woods the elves know you are there. Before that, I have my resources is all.”
“You are a strange and well versed dwarf it would seem, Balic.”
“Just don’t tell others, they might start relying on it,” Balic winked. “Now as for you my barbarian companion, how did you come to meet Tressnou?”
Artirius looked off into the mountains around them. He was looking back to the day he met the elven wizard. “It was not so momentous as your meeting, but nonetheless, it was a great day in my life. It may surprise you, but in my life I have not encountered foes that better me.”
“Really, my huge friend, never would imagine you as dangerous.”
“Yes, well I am capable. It is this blood that courses through my body I guess. Something about it makes me sharp. It must be the elf in me. It is funny to learn something so important about yourself several decades into living. That amount of time is little to you or Tressnou, though, I would suppose. In any case, I did not have some great peril at the time I met him. I had left my people. I was searching for something I was missing. I traveled through Deep Hollow and spent some time there with the dwarves. Later I ventured to Alastrial, and was granted entrance through the forest, though at the time I did not realize just what that meant. To be accepted means you are either known and welcome or truly good. They, at the time did not know me.
“I wondered down the path through the forest, mesmerized by what I saw. It was just inspiring, truly inspiring, to see what they had done. I felt like I was in a dream. It was simply beautiful. I eventually found my way into the city and was looked over by all the elves. I was a curiosity to them. Not a bad one, just an image that was out of place. So I allowed the looks as I simply admired everything. Then, out of the blue, Tressnou was just there. He too was interested in me. I was far from my element. A northern barbarian does not travel from his land. He spends his life there. We do not aid others in their wars. We do not have real allies other than our tribes. So to have me there in the first place was simply interesting.
“He invited me to his home, and we talked. I must assume you were away at the time, because I did not get the chance to meet you.”
Balic thought a moment, “At that time I was most likely west of here. I had been working hard for several years gathering intelligence on the conflict brewing in the Northern Woods. There is a human kingdom that is located on the peninsula near the deltas that flow into the bay. They have been concerned for some time. A war in the neighboring woods could cause them a problem. They were one of the few outsiders allowed passage through the woods. They traded with the elves, even. With things becoming worse, the elves shut down everything. They even threatened war against the peninsula kingdom. That would have been a few years ago.
“Tressnou hoped to get involved. His cousins mattered to him, as did peace. So all the time I spent in the region ended up being of little help. The conflict continued. Now with this escalation it is hard to tell what will come of things. Galmatros spreading more discord only makes matters worse. I tell you there is no better way to control the world, than to distract them while you walk right in. He is clever and vicious it seems this demon. Let us hope we are a bit cleverer than he.”
Artirius nodded solemnly in agreement with the dwarf, “Hmm. So I wonder, the second day I was in Alastrial, on my most recent trip that is, did I see the elf Tressnou was talking about leaving his home?”
“I do believe you did. He is a great pupil of Tressnou and very wise and gifted. He has been with Tressnou since he began wizard training about an hundred years ago. He is four hundred and thirty-five years old, young for his people really. We were shuffling him out the door as you were coming in.”
Artirius nodded, “Well hopefully the elf is well. What was his name again?”
“Aenor of Tressnou, as is custom he took on his teacher’s first name as his last.”
“One day if I am lucky, perhaps I will meet this ‘young’ elf. For now though our deeds at hand will determine the fate of many people, perhaps all of Norta Massa. Do you think we will succeed?”
Balic looked out over the mountains and cliffs to the forests below. He turned and looked up at Artirius, “If anyone can, it is you. You have the heart of a hero, even if you do not want it. I have lived a long life, and in all my years I have only ever met one other with a heart like yours, but he fell many years ago. I was unable to help him, but I will not fail you,” Balic paused a moment, “I think we better push on, we need to make the camp site by night fall.”
So in silence the two traveled on the rugged path. It began to widen as they went, though there were still many patches of snow to slow them. The pass continued to be peaceful and pleasant. They both agreed that if they ever had the chance to travel it again they would. The sun slowly set to the west behind them, setting long shadows on the path before them. Just as the sun was about to tuck itself away from sight, they arrived at the camp that Roland had told them about.
It was an alcove that would shelter them from rain or snow. It had a place set up to light a fire and a supply of wood and tinder was nearby. It had been covered to keep it dry. There was even some flint available to start a fire. Along the back of the alcove there were food stores. It was mostly dried fruits, meats, and nuts. There was also plenty of drinking water. All the containers were well sealed, most likely to preserve their contents. There were even supplies for sleeping, some blankets and bedrolls. It would be a decent night.
After they set up camp and were settled in, they talked for some time. They shared stories of past adventures. Some of them were sad and others were glorious. It was nice and peaceful, a luxury that until now they had taken for granted. Here, the fears of Galmatros, his minions, and the evils that were spreading across the land were forgotten. Balic even brought out his stash of pipe weed, and they enjoyed its smell as it burned on the fire. It was an uncommon use for the medicinal plant, but when burned over an open fire it gave off a very pungent
odor that smelled much like a forest in autumn.
“So what of love?” Balic inquired, “Were there any women in the past of the great Artirius?”
A smile crossed the great man’s face. He looked back in time. “When I was a younger man, there was a particular woman. She was radiant, confident, and she knew I loved her. She loved me too. But she was to be given to the son of a chieftain of another tribe. It was a tradition. How I hate the traditions of my people, sometimes. After that I spent little time with love,” he seemed to bitterly fling the word out, “on my travels there were some. They never meant much though,” Artirius looked deeply into the fire.
“Well, nice to see such a jovial tone from you,” Balic tried to little avail to lighten the mood. “Listen, you are still young, especially for the blood that runs through you. You may live to be as old as I possibly, maybe even older,” Balic paused, “do you remember my tale of my meeting with Tressnou?”
Artirius looked at the now somber Balic and nodded.
“Well…” Balic paused for a moment more. He seemed to fight off some great pain. “My meeting with Tressnou was also my gravest separation. I didn’t wish to mention it to you, but I was not alone with my cart. I had a companion with me, my wife. She was the first victim to the beasts in the dark. I killed the creature too late, for the life had already been wrung out of her.”
Artirius looked at Balic more sympathetically, “I cannot relate to your pain. Does it get easier, the loss?”
“No,” a tear rolled down his face, “It just gets familiar. You get used to the hollow spot in your chest, where part of you used to be. You live each day no longer for yourself, but for them. You try to carry on their memory as best as you can.” He looked at the barbarian, “Be glad that the one you truly love still lives. Tradition or no, she still lives.”
The oddest thought occurred to Artirius. In all the time since he left his home, this dwarf was the first person he had truly felt for. Tressnou was the only possible exception, but the elf had a different meaning to him, not like this. Balic felt warm and familiar in his heart. He felt like family. Artirius put aside his own pains and looked with a smile towards Balic, “What was she like, your wife? I would like to know.”
The dwarf wiped away the tears that had stained his cheeks and returned the warm smile, “Well, I would love to tell you about her,” and for a large portion of the night he did just that.
After many hours of talk and laughter Balic sighed a long soft sigh. Like a burden was being breathed out from inside him right into the air. As the night deepened its hold on them Balic looked at his friend, “Thank you. It feels good to talk about her, to remember her.”
“Perhaps one day you will be able to return the favor.”
Balic nodded with a solemn look on his face, “For your sake, I pray I never have to help you live with her death.” He looked out into the night. At this height in the mountains the view went on for miles. Balic’s dwarven eyes could see nearly all of it, even in the pitch black night. “It is very late, we had best turn in. Just to be on the safe side, we might consider keeping watch until morning. Even up here we might see trouble.”
Artirius nodded, “Well, seeing as you have suggested it,” he turned to face Balic only to find him already asleep. He chuckled lightly to himself, “I guess you can sleep while I take the first watch,” and he turned to look into the fire.
The barbarian did not bother being too alert. For some reason he just knew that there was nothing to be afraid of here. He allowed himself to really ponder some things. He thought back to the day he left his village. He travelled the length of the continent to a remote corner. After living with those people he continued on to an even more remote region of tropic jungle islands. He wondered to himself, why? Why did I leave my people behind? Why did I run away from them? Why did he need to isolate himself so deeply and entirely? He thought more and more about it. He never really understood what drove him away. The depth of his heritage had not truly hit him yet. One of Balic’s comments had him thinking, ‘How long will I live.’ He was mostly human, yes, but the mingling of the other bloods, his titan and elven lineage, was something that he was trying to completely grasp. Combine this all with his heritage as a barbarian and it was nearly too much. He was literally a walking contradiction.
The barbarian tribes were close with nature and lived with it in harmony. They isolated themselves from the world and held strength in unity only of their tribes. They were strong, stout, capable, and content.
The titans were arrogant and serious. They believed themselves the equals of the gods. Nature was there to command and manipulate for their own wants and needs. They did not believe in family and unity but in themselves. They destroyed themselves in their ignorance, for they were not gods, and alone they were not as strong as they thought.
Because of their seemingly endless lives, elves were patient. Being so long lived they were whimsical, but also strived always to learn more. They were not content with simply what was before them. They commanded nature, but at the same time revered it. They were somewhat arrogant, but not to the point at which they would isolate themselves. They knew they were stronger and safer in numbers, which is one of the reasons they were still alive today.
Then there was the human blood. Being relatively short lived humans were in a hurry to do as much as possible. They always had a sense of urgency to accomplish all their goals. Some few found contentment through prayer, study, or their work but most could not even find solace in these things. Because of this, most humans had a degree of insecurity and confusion in their lives, and because of these things they would always struggle to achieve balance.
All these thoughts and more crossed Artirius’s mind as he sat in the dark. He mulled over the entirety of his being again and again too little avail. He never was able to meet any common ground within himself. He had wondered nearly a decade and still nothing. Now that he was given this epiphany, the knowledge of his elven blood line, he was still not able to put everything together inside of himself. He was simply torn and confused.
After pondering for many hours, he noticed the companion that had silently joined him. Across from Artirius and the sleeping Balic sat a great wolf. He stared intently at Artirius, whom locked eyes with the beast in return. They understood each other well. It was as if they were looking into a reflection of themselves.
The stare seemed to last forever. Finally the wolf, seeming to bow with respect, turned and walked out of the alcove. He gave Artirius a farewell glance as he leapt on top of the ledge that formed the roof of the alcove and was lost to the night. Artirius knew there would be no trouble for them tonight. The wolf had told him so. He smiled apprehensively, not sure if he was happy that he understood the silent stare of the beast, or if he should be concerned that he had an urge to follow the creature, to leave the troubles of the world behind again. Then he turned to the sleeping Balic, a dwarf that he was beginning to call, in his hear, brother.
No. The one thing that he did know was that he was compelled to see the current path to its end. He would meet Atriel, and see what this call was entirely about. Artirius would play out his part in all of this. It was the first thing in his life that he was sure of. He not only owed it to himself, but to those like Balic, to the good inhabitants of Norta Massa.
This resolution pleased Artirius, who had an odd feeling on the inside, peace. He allowed himself a great yawn and decided it was time for his friend to take up watch.
Chapter 16
