by Clark Bolton
When the trail began to descend they got a brief look at the Keless river valley. At this point the river emerged from a great ravine with mountains emerging upon the far side. To the west the river fanned out into an endless sea of rivulets and small lakes that faded into the sea far off in the distance.
Haspeth was quite bored by now and so kept up his usual chatter with anyone that would listen. “Hope we are not going to get bloody wet!”
Adelm assured them they would not as the henge was on the very edge. “Another hour I think, though it has been some years since I’ve been to this one. We'll see if Quene still resides here. I think you’ll find him interesting.”
“Will he have a bit to eat, because this bread could use something!” Haspeth went back to munching a piece without much enthusiasm.
Autbek ignored Haspeth and glanced up at the sky to get a sense of the time of day and figured it was about noon now which meant so far they were on schedule. “We can’t stop for long I think Murac, don’t want to be here in the dark too badly.”
Murac grunted his understanding from his place at the head of the party. He was enjoying the outing it appeared, as he normally did for he found the mage tower confining as he did the city as well.
When the trail reached the river bottom they found themselves among short trees that formed a thin forest which prevented any view of the river or the fens. The trail soon forked repeatedly and so it was anyone's guess as to which one to take.
Adelm road up beside Murac. “We are close to Quene’s hut I think, so we best look around. If we find that I will know where the henge lays.”
Murac had them pause. “Wait here I’ll circle around in front of us and see if I can find it.” He then rode down several small game trails as he sought out the hut. “Smell smoke over here, and it looks well-traveled” He finally announced on his return to the party.
When they sighted the small hut they paused and let Adelm and the other viken, Bezzelay, approach first so as not to startle Quene. It turned out he was well aware of their approach and after hearing Adlem call out several times and announce who they were he revealed himself.
The man was short and thin and had an ageless look about him. He walked gracefully into view carrying a longbow and had a woodsman’s knife at his belt. His head was covered with a band of wool cloth and the quiver on his back was filled with arrows.
“Be well, Aldem, and may your search this day be fruitful.”
The man got similar replies from the viken and so all seemed to be at ease as Autbek wondered what kind of person lived in such simply surroundings. Quene himself seemed not of Tesslodken stock or Dakish such as Castor or of any of the other peoples commonly seen in Astrum. His features were sharp but not aged, giving him an almost feminine look and one that made it difficult for Autbek to guess his age. “Greetings, Quene, I’m Autbek from the city of Astrum as of late.” He figured this greetings was more appropriate than one involving titles.
The party chatted briefly with the man before he kindly set them on the right path to the henge, seemingly uninterested in accompanying them. As the party road on Eifled hung back to briefly chat with Quene and then rejoined Un Papp at the rear of the party which Autbek could not help but notice was Eifled’s preferred position. Seeing the two men riding and walking together as they chatted contrasted greatly with the rest of the party, which seemed filled with impatience and aspirations making Autbek wonder when a more measured life would come his way. For now though he had to listen to Haspeth grumble about not even getting a chance to get off his horse.
“So much for the wild game I was looking forward to eating.” Haspeth said before spurring his horse faster in an effort to speed up the party.
“Ah, cheer up, no doubt there will be something to burn to a crisp when we reach the fens.” Castor told him from behind Pemmesa, as he still preferred to ride double.
Haspeth found that intriguing. “Not a bad idea, shadow boy, could bag me a big deer or something. “ He then called up to Murac. “Right, I mean there is deer about, yes?”
Murac called back over his shoulder. “If the elf has not put an arrow in them all there will be!”
“Elf?” Haspeth mused as he looked back toward the hut that had just become obscured by trees. “Nah … right?”
“I was going to say it if Murac hadn’t.” Castor said softly so as not to have Quene hear it.
Autbek could not help but look back also and then turned to Adlem. “Is he you think?”
Aldem shrugged, “I can’t say Autbek, some elven blood we have often wondered, but not an elf I think.”
“Hmm, pity, I would have liked to have met one.”
“The fens are not a likely place for elves I would think, O’t.” Eifled called out. “The northern mountains there are where you will find them.” He added as he gestured toward distant peaks.
Autbek looked to the mountains on the horizon and nodded his head in understanding. The Northern Mountains as they were known in Astrum ran nearly the full length of the northern border or so he had heard and were said by Berdtom to be the same range in which Runeholden lay.
Appaloupe, who was riding behind Onaleen, spoke up then, which was not surprising as he was second only to Haspeth when it came to chit chat. “They don’t come to speak with humans much, O’t, least not as much as us gnomes, but mind you we don’t do that much either. He does have that look though now that you mention it.”
“I take it you have seen elves before, Appaloupe?” Onaleen inquired. She found the gnome a pleasantly cheerful riding companion and minded not at all his quests for conversation.
“Oh yes, but they are not really very sociable and can’t sit still long I’ve always thought. “Must be going” they always say.”
They stopped their chatter as they emerged into the fens. Tall stalks of cane began to appear on either side as they rode and soon very few trees could be seen as they finally came upon the henge. It rose up from the cane like a stone building of some sort. The circle of stones was some thirty paces across and each of about forty monoliths lining the edge rose to twice the height of a man.
Resbeka quickly dismounted to step into the circle. “It’s beautiful, and untouched!” She exclaimed. “Is it ok to just walk in?” She asked of Aldem.
Autbek furrowed his brow as he could not help but compare it to the one at Runeholden. The one there was much larger and in much better shape, for here he could see great chips of stone missing from the monoliths and the central tiles where uneven and missing in places. He fought down the desire to mention this as he felt again the urge not to reveal facts concerning Runeholden.
They picketed their horses and then built a fire in a seemingly old but well used campsite next to the henge. Then they ate lunch as Resbeka and some of the other women prepared to sing the song from the Tesslodken Sta.
“Having second thoughts about this.” Autbek admitted to Castor as they sat about eating bread and dried meat. “Suppose we will do it anyway.”
“Yea, sounded simple before … but …” Castor remarked and then paused as he glanced again at the imposing monoliths. “Suppose it might help Pemmesa though.”
Their plan had been for the song to be sung and then Pemmesa would do her divining on the small fire in hopes of seeing more than what she and the viken had seen so far. Autbek himself was hoping for some sign, or even just a premonition. Anything really that might get them further along in guessing what the future held for the city and something that might bring some calm to the Earl and his court.
There was also just the curiosity factor, since they all wanted to see something mentioned in the pages of the Sta, including Un Papp, who had been sitting and meditating just outside the circle ever since they had arrived. This contrasted with Eifled who was methodically examining each and every rune he could find, and there were plenty as each of the great stones seemed covered in them.
When Resbeka announced she was ready most of them assembled around the central st
one that lay much like an altar at the center of the circle, and there she began to sing. Autbek was pleased she was doing it entirely from memory for it seemed much like a spell and so with her being an apprentice it seemed appropriate.
Her voice seemed angelic and with the calm winds and bright sunlight the place seemed to become the very picture of a heavenly garden. The far edge of the henge was bordered by water that stretched out for only a short distance before being filled in by cane. Much of it was flowering and endless numbers of birds, fish and other small creatures became apparent as they too seemed to enjoy the lengthy verses.
When she had finished they all congratulated her and stood or walked about to enjoy the late spring atmosphere. Haspeth and Murac seemed not so inclined and so began discussing opportunities for a little hunting as they hoped the singing had drawn in some larger game along with the small birds. They kept this plan from the girls as best they could, not wishing to upset them and thus have their plan foiled.
Walking over to the horses the two hid as best they could their actions which involved retrieving Murac’s bow and appropriate knives for butchering. They then announced that they were walking off a bit to have a look around.
“O’t, Murac and I are having a look off this way … won’t go far!” Haspeth called out as they walked quickly off along the border of the cane and the trees.
Castor glanced in their direction then muttered a bit too loudly. “Yeah, just make sure there is enough for all.”
“Huh?” Onaleen inquired, but got nothing more than a shrug from Castor.
After a few minutes passed Pemmesa and Autbek went to the small camp fire where there they prepared for her to do her divining.
Resbeka and most of the others hung around the circle and so were alerted by her when she suddenly ask, “Did you hear that?”
Castor glanced off toward the direction he figured Murac and Haspeth were. “Didn’t sound like a missile or an arrow to me.” He replied, though in truth he had not heard anything.
“No, I mean over there!” Resbeka then walked to the far edge of the henge near the water. “That was not there before, was it?” She asked as she peered down a wide path that ran out into the cane.
Some of the others came over to investigate just as Resbeka took a few steps down the twisting path. “You're going to get wet!” Onaleen scolded as she followed slowly.
“No, there are stepping stones!”
“Hold on!” Castor cried. “I’ll get Murac and Haspeth before you go walking off into the swamp.” He and Lita then walked to the far side of the henge so they could call out to the two hunters. This got Autbek’s attention who then came over to investigate.
When Autbek took a few steps down the path he found that the girls were already getting a bit too far ahead. “Aldem, where does this lead?” When their reply came back that neither of the viken were aware of the path he insisted that the girls wait.
After a minute's pause Autbek worked himself to the front of the party which was now about fifty paces down the path. The twists and turns brought all but the very tips of the monoliths out of sight but still the path went on through the cane. The rounded flat stepping stones left room for only one person to stand and soon Appaloupe had to hop with some difficulty from one to the next as he followed the women.
“How much further you going to go?” Onaleen asked as she steadied herself on Resbeka who remained in front of her.
Autbek leaned out as far as he dared to see around the next turn of the path. “Don’t know … can’t go much further though I would think.” With that he stepped to the next stone and then the next.
Chapter 33
Murac could hear Castor’s calls, and they just seemed urgent enough that he figured he and Haspeth should turn back so they could answer the boy without spooking the game too much. They had not seen a deer yet but there was plenty of game trails here where it looked like such animals came down to drink at the river.
They found Castor and Lita walking slowly toward them as they walked back toward the horses. Castor filled them in, and so with a shrug Murac gave up the hunt and headed back to the henge. There the two guards were looking out into the fens.
“Have they all gone?” Murac asked them.
“Yes, sir! Off that way they found a path into the fens.”
“Great! You two watch the horses.” Murac then followed Castor over to the far edge of the henge. “So where is this path?”
Castor searched a bit and then shrugged. “Was right here!”
“Don’t see nothing,” he announced as he parted the cane and took a tentative step. The ground was marshy though not quite wet. After several steps he found one of the stepping stones. “Don’t see more of these.”
“Sounded like there were more.” Castor said as he stepped out into the cane followed by Lita and Haspeth.
“Nice! Lost after ten bloody paces just like we will be!” Haspeth complained as water began to seep in around his boots.
They called out to the party but got no replies and so Murac continued on and eventually stumbled upon another stepping stone. This encouraged them so they continued as Haspeth took over the task of occasionally calling out over the cane as the monoliths disappeared from sight.
“Anymore stones Murac?” Castor asked after several minutes of fighting their way through the cane. The ground was more solid now and so it seemed they were veering a bit from the river.
“AUTBEK!” Haspeth yelled out again.
“Enough, enough!” Murac told Haspeth and this distraction nearly cost him his life as the first arrow nearly struck him in the chest but he reflectively batted it aside with the bow he was still carrying.
“Ah!” The others cried in disbelief at what Murac had just done, but there in the cane lay a broken arrow. Murac then dropped to the ground with a noisy crash from the bent reeds as two more arrows came at him with one striking him in the thigh.
“Damn!” He hissed as he knocked an arrow. “Mages cover us!” He barked as he tried desperately to see a target. He saw nothing as he heard the two casting behind him.
“PUNK!” An arrow bounced off the invisible barrier Haspeth had just put up about them. This gave away the attackers location or so they thought but they saw nothing but perhaps the faintest movement of the rushes.
Murac gritted his teeth as he tore off a bit of his shirt to wrap around his leg. The arrow had gone clean through and had missed the bone but he was bleeding a lot now. Looking around he could just barely make out Castor and Lita now as they both looked to be composed completely of cane. Haspeth was staring intently into the cane with his hands slightly raised, ready to cast a spell should he see a target.
They sat silently for a few minutes until suddenly a great rustle came from off to the side followed by an object that came sailing at them from overhead. It hit the shield spell with a thud and then bounced off a short distance away. Murac could just make out the attacker who had made the throw, which appeared to be a man but he could not be sure and he did not have enough time to shoot an arrow at him.
“They are moving around over there.” Castor whispered as he pointed off to their right.
Murac nodded his head as he peered out to see what they had thrown at him. His suspicions were confirmed, for indeed it was a human head. One of the guards left with the horses it looked like to him. “They are not playing nice, time to do the same!”
“What did they throw?” Haspeth whispered as he continued to look for a target.
“That was private Slat, I’m afraid.” Murac announced as he prepared to maneuver. “Can you make it sound like we are about twenty paces ahead?”
“HUH?” Haspeth hissed as he tried to confirm what Murac had said about the guard they had brought with them, but could not get a good look at the object.
Castor nodded his head. First he cast an illusion of more reeds about them so as to hide them better, and then he began to cast an audible illusion. It was a skill that had come later than the vi
sual illusions had but he was now adept at combining the two.
Soon a disembodied voice called out. “HELP! Please, we don’t want any fight … we just want to leave! Please … please … don’t hurt us anymore!”
Murac then suddenly rushed off in the direction Castor I heard the movement from. This left the other three kneeling alone in the reeds. Castor paused only a few moments before deciding to follow.
“Wait!” Haspeth hissed trying to inform his friend that the shield spell would not follow them but it was too late. Haspeth decided to wait and protect his friend if need be by casting a spell should one of their attackers show himself.
No arrows flew at Murac as he ran but as Castor and Lita followed several went in their direction. Crashing through the cane Murac came upon a small trail and just caught sight of two short men fleeing away from him. They were too fast and so he quickly broke from the trail at a right angle figuring they likely would do the same to avoid him.
Coming across another trail he threw himself to the ground and then turned to untie the makeshift bandage around his leg. Then gritting his teeth so as not to make a sound he poked at the wound until blood began to flow freely again. He then began dragging his leg through the cane as he crawled on his belly.
One arrow had struck Lita and was now protruding from her side. Castor pulled her down beside him in the reeds and whispered as softly as he could. “Be still, I’ll break it off.” He then took a hold of the shaft and then, changing his mind, he quickly jerked it out.
“Ahhhhh!” Lita hissed as she bit into her sleeve. When she saw the blood emerging from the wound a strange look came over her face.
At first Castor thought she might faint or scream in panic but then realized it was a look of sheer anger. “It’s ok!” He tried to reassure her as he began casting a spell. It was an illusion spell but he had a feeling it was the right thing to do … at least for her.
