They turned to see two boys running from the direction they had come. Slats jogged toward them and knelt as the two children fell to their knees. He caught them in his arms, nearly falling over himself.
"P . . . p . . . pl . . . please!" the child struggled to breathe. "We tried to catch you near the mountain stairs!”
"Slow down," Slats said. "You have well caught us, so rest. Give us time and we can provide some food and drink for you."
"There is no time, sir!" the other child said. "We must go now."
"What is the matter?" Berie asked.
The boys looked up at Berie and then to Euso and Slats.
"You are not the like the soldiers of Lokam?"
"Of course not!" Euso said. "You should be happy for that."
"No, master, sir. The Legions that had come to help us are different from most Legions that had been this way. They had said they did not work with the others. It was well, but then a blackness came from the clouds and into our village. The good men tried to help, but many were hurt. We came this way to find others to help."
"Legions or not," Slats said, "we should go. We cannot simply ignore such a sign."
"What sign?" Berie wondered.
"The children came to us just as we were headed back this way."
"But we must go toward the southern road. It is this way," Euso said.
"It may not be time to leave this region, and I know I am not the only one that has wondered of what we found near the steps of Harrodarr."
Berie nodded her head to agree with Slats.
"Then yes, dear boys, take us to where you need," she said to them.
The two boys, barely having caught their breath, began back across the rocky fields at a hastened pace. It was at this time that Euso thought of how much easier a journey this would have been with a horse, for he as well as Slats felt a burn in his legs, his stout form not being one made for running.
To the foot of the mountains and then south they went for a good while until even the boys were tired. They walked for a longer time, and it was clear that the two children had indeed traveled a great distance looking for help.
The ground was greener here. Fewer rocks and more grass and flowers dotted the landscape, as the place of the dwarves was well behind them.
They turned into a gentle sloping hill that went into the mountain and rose upwards. A smell of burning wood already met Slat’s nostrils. They followed the boys up a narrowing path and to wooden bridge that spanned a distance between two large boulders.
The ascent continued until they were many paces than higher for a safe drop to the ground. The cliff side jutted out from the mountain, creating a large, fenced-in area ahead. A simple thatched house lay against the mountain, and a greeting came from a bleating goat at the gateway.
Following the boys, they proceeded through the gateway and past the goat that nipped at Slats as he walked by.
"Dwarfs must be a rare delicacy to goats!" Euso joked.
Slats shook his head and replied, "Perhaps apothecaries are good, too. I hear they even come with their own spices!"
The two shared a laugh as they made a corner and came to the interior of the mountain village.
It was well that fence ran along this path as it did, for the entire village of the town was set in the corner of a deep mountain gorge, the chasm traversed by rope and wood bridges reaching from either side. Along either side were one story thatch-covered houses, broken in monotony by a random shop or two-story building placed in between a row of two to three houses. In total, there were around thirty structures.
At the far end, a tall wooden house sat as a center building in its own island of stone that reached down into the chasm. It was there the boys led them with a certain haste. Jumping over knee-high gateways where there was no way the dwarf could simply follow, they made it to the large house after leaping and running across a bridge.
Slats, Berie, and Euso took a path around the gateways, eventually coming to the large wooden bridge, at which two men held wooden sticks, but did not hinder their travel.
Slats peered over the edge of the bridge and saw the sliver of river far below. He felt queasy and looked back to catch up with the others.
Euso went at first to the closed door, but before he could knock, the two boys below him pushed it open.
"They are waiting for you and will be worrying of us!"
As they entered the hall, the smell of spiced meats hanging up along the vaulted ceiling met their noses. Though a darkened room, a large fire burned at the far end. The seating was set up in a ring that followed the walls of the building. Although, at first glance only this was normal. There were many pallets made on the floor and men lay everywhere with numerous cuts and bruises.
It was clear their arrival was not expected. Some of the men sat up, short knives in their hands, and an attendant who wiped a man’s brow with a cool rag stopped him when he reached for his sword.
Berie looked up and down at the men who lay in the hall and noticed their armor as a type she had seen before.
"They are men of the Legions," she said firmly to Slats.
The dwarf's hand felt backwards to his ax, but Euso coughed harshly as he nudged him with his elbow.
"They are injured and not seeking violence. Let’s learn more before we begin hacking away at them, hmm?"
Slats nodded, but still his hand was ready. His dealings with the Legions, as well as Berie's, had been less than civil thus far.
From a doorway on the far end of the hall, a woman emerged from a back room. In her arms were stacks of blankets, and a trail of assistants carried other items for making an evening meal. They placed their items on a long table near the fire as the two boys from before went to her.
She bent down to them and abruptly stood, looking toward the three of them.
"Come to me, travelers," she said.
They proceeded in a line, careful to not step on an exposed foot or a sleeping man's hand as they went before the woman.
She was tall and wore a leather tunic that had long feathers. It formed a drape of sort that hung down her chest covering her legs. Her braided hair fell down to just below her elbows. She looked down upon them.
"Are you of the Legions?" she asked.
"We are not," Berie said.
"I figured so with a woman as yourself in the midsts, although you cover your hair, and I find that strange."
Berie said nothing.
"And you two men are a bit short for us of the mountain. Your legs lack the length to build a fine house or hunt the cliff sides. I say to you three, what is it you have been searching for in this land?"
"Herbs," Euso told her.
She stared further at them. Taking a moment to scan each of them before finally settling on Berie.
"And for herbs you need an ax, as well as what I believe to be a bow strapped to your back, woman."
Berie raised both her eyebrows and said, "The children stated you needed help, and we are here to offer it."
A silence fell on the hall.
"Very well, I will leave questions for later. My name is Sediya, Mistress of the Mountain and Leader of Swunock village."
She stepped forward, motioning to the soldiers laying on the floor.
"These men were attacked by a cloud of smoke that had chased them from the old dwarven places further north to here. We have dealt with them in the past and provided sanctuary before, but it seemed that even our power was not enough, as this was no Legion force as before."
"These soldiers are legionnaires," Slats said.
"They are of a rebel force that has seen some sense and has joined our cause; however, that is not the issue. They are under my care and I will see to them. You have come to help and thus I will show you to where you are needed.”
Chapter 14 Swunock and the Lost Legion
Sediya turned from them and began walking. The three followed after, led first to a small door at the back of the hall that opened up to a long hallway. Candles
placed every few steps painted a shadowy glow on the adorned walls, decorated with furs of mountain animals. The preserved trophies stared at them blankly and were of little welcome.
They gave a tug to the door at the far end and were outside again. A wooden balcony that stretched over the chasm had a bridge pulled up that cut off the hall from the mountainside. Sediya lowered it with the release of a taunt rope near the door.
"Follow this up the mountain path."
She pointed to the peak. A dark cloud hovered above it. Smoky blackness seemed to float down the crag, and the air from above was foul.
"I can tell you that is no rain that is held in that cloud. Although I cannot tell you what is, it is beyond the power of this place to protect you. Weapons are of no avail to this force."
Berie looked at the others and nodded, indicating they should go forward. Slats ran ahead at once, his ax in his hand, regardless of what the woman had said.
Euso turned to the woman and said, "We will return. Thank you for showing us out."
She nodded, cocking her head to the three as they went across the bridge way. With a clanking sound, she pulled the bridge close again.
Beginning the ascent up a winding pathway that reached into the clouds above them, the air became thin, and if felt as if a strong warmness waited ahead of them.
The sun was not nearly so warm as they crossed into a line of snow, noticing trickles of water as the ice melted atop the peak.
Berie threw back her tunic and felt for her bow. Grasping it, she placed an arrow in place and ran to follow Slats, who was now quite a distance away.
The path turned, cutting back above the previous path. It would do this a few more times, as the actual road narrowed and a few spots of road required jumping across small breaks to continue.
After seven switchbacks, they came to an open area where three bodies, garbed the same as the ones in the hall below, lay lifeless. They paused for a moment as Euso went to each of them. The first two had been stabbed multiple times. He noticed that their swords were still in scabbard.
Coming to a final corpse that lay with his eyes open, a bloody short sword rested on the lap. His lacerated neck lay open, and dried blood covered the wound crusting down over his silver armor before congealing between his legs. A glossy look covered his peering eyes.
Euso closed them.
"It seems that this man took his own life, if I can indeed guess correct."
“We should question their purpose,” Berie said. “Why were they here? I sense a darkness in the air.”
"Mind yourselves, then," Slats said. "He was not the first person to be drawn to fall on his own knife — I have heard of such things in books. We must be careful."
They began up the final ascent to the top of the mountain. Soon, the black clouds were around them and blotted out their view.
Slats made it to the top of the mountain first. A ring of trees, bare of leaves, and a large stone basin adorned the otherwise rocky mountaintop. The clouds swirling around the edges of the rocky area turned to a sheen silver, and the dwarf spotted a man sitting on a stone near the basin. His hands cupped his ears and his helmet, with a white plumed crest, sat next to him. His skin was pale, and he breathed rapidly.
Berie moved on tipped toes around the side of the basin, approaching the man opposite of the direction Slats did.
The man seemed to be quivering. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He looked up abruptly, spotting Slats. His eyes were wide and pupils small. He stood at once, his sword on his hip drawn, but then he dropped it, the blade and hilt clanging on the rocks. The man then collapsed onto his face and began convulsing.
Slats went to him and knelt, as Euso came to his side.
"Back up from him," Euso commanded.
Euso reached into one of his pouches on his waist and drew out a dried herb. He placed it near the man's nose. The shaking began to slow and then stop as the man rolled onto his back.
"Help me roll him to his side," Euso said.
Slats and Euso rolled the man, who then began to take gasping breaths.
"What sickness is this?" Slats asked.
"I do not know, but it has deeply affected this man."
The man wore the same silver breastplate as the men from before. The image of a blue-clawed bird was imprinted on his armor. Numerous dents and slices covered the dull metals stacked upon each other, running down the sides of his torso. White feathers, tattered and dirty, were flecked with what looked to be blood, and fresh blood ran down one of the man’s arms.
"This man is a general, a Legatus of the Legion, considering the plume on his helmet," Euso suggested, “like Varac.”
The silver clouds surrounding them flashed with a sudden bolt of lightning and turned black. There was a flash of red and the sound of approaching footfalls drawing closer.
Berie spun behind her to the sound of snarling. Like a dog, but trailed by a wispy gray smoke, a beast ran toward her.
Her bow sang, and its arrow struck the animal and caused it to collapse and roll. She drew a second arrow and turned the opposite way, firing over Euso and Slats, who had just turned to see another beast charging them. The second arrow found its mark, and Euso stood as Slats jumped up. Another beast was atop the basin.
He swung his ax, smacking the creature and hurling it into a nearby tree trunk. It slumped down dead.
"Euso, your knife!" Berie yelled. "Protect the man!"
More flashes of light followed and the smoke began to dissipate as more creatures attacked them. Slats sprinted forward, meeting the creatures as they materialized, hewing their necks.
Berie was atop the basin now, using her elven arrows to catch the ones Slats missed.
The dark cloud around the mountain was all-but gone, as a final flash of lightning proceeded a group of four of the beasts coming at once.
The dwarf and elf made quick work of them, too. The mountain became cool, and a breeze came from across the nearby ranges, blowing off the dead beasts’ morbid stench.
Euso looked down to see the man staring up at him.
"Are you well, Legatus?" he asked him, curious in his own mind if the man could even respond.
The man blinked a few times and looked up to Berie and back to Euso. He mouthed a few times, then managed to say a word.
"Yes," he said, choking as he spoke. He closed his eyes again.
"We should get him back to the hall," Euso said.
Slats and Euso carried the man. His weight was a struggle for them, and though manageable, by the time they reached the last stretch of the mountain pathway, they were relieved to see help coming from across the drawbridge.
Sediya was there, also. Seeing them, she looked up toward the summit of the mountain and smiled. They went across the bridge following those now carrying the Legatus.
"It is well you were led here," she said to Slats and Euso.
Berie came behind the others, and her hands held the man's sword and helmet. She had been unable to cover her head in haste to get the Legatus down the mountain.
Sediya looked at her, smiled and then quickly sank her head to her chest.
Berie stopped before her.
"I apologize, dear elf. I did not know your kind was still in existence, and in such I should not have treated you such. But please, cover your head for now. Those that have seen may not have noticed, but I can see your ears beyond your hair."
Sediya took the helmet and sword as Berie once again covered her head.
"It seems the words of the mountain were true, and time is renewed. I will speak with you and your friends in private soon. The times are as I fear then."
Sediya said nothing else and beckoned Berie to follow the others.
Inside, the Legatus had been placed on the long table and his wounds bandaged by the women of the hall. A line of legionnaires formed, most on one foot or leaning on one another, to see their downed leader. His eyes were open and from a wet sponge, he drank.
"Were any more injured?" Sediya aske
d.
"No," Slats replied. "Three more were dead. But that was all."
The men who stood near lowered their heads. A soldier came to Slats and Euso. He stood only with the aid of his walking cane. His leg, bandaged at the knee, showed signs of needing a change of dressing, and he was unsteady on his remaining leg.
"I served my Legatus well, but have failed the men. I had fallen behind in our retreat and should have been left."
The man drew a knife and handed it to Euso.
"Take what you need of me to fix him. I can tell by the bags you carry that you are a healer. If I, or any part of me, can make him or any other men here whole, by my body cut first."
The man had a firm grimace and looked to Euso in earnest. The bandages on his arms had begun to soak through and a stream of blood trickled down his arm.
Euso smiled at the man and said, "Take rest, soldier. I do not wish to cause further harm to you, and your leader will be well. Let me tend to that bandages, and perhaps you can tell us of what pursued you?"
"If my Legatus be well, I will allow him to tell you. I feel it would be best from him, and I am not to talk of anything of our work with others. It is the oath we made in the separation."
Euso began to wrap new towels around the man's arm.
"Separation?"
"Yes,” the soldier replied, “but not even that may we speak of. We are all wanted by the Grand Protectorate, and a large sum of money is own our heads, as well as our Legion's. Not even of them may I speak, for them I will never lead again. You are of the Island Nation, are you not?"
"I am. They call me Euso."
The man nodded and then looked to Slats. He said, "You are not. You do not wear the garb."
"You are correct, but both of us have secrets and for now that shall remain. My name is Slats, and the woman with us," he said motioning toward her, "is Berie."
" ‘Slats and Berie.’ Strange names and unlike those I know. I am Nrath, centurion and second rank master. My Legatus is Arsus, and I thank you for helping him."
A voice spoke from behind them.
"Nrath."
The Legatus sat up, and under protests by those tending him, attempted to stand.
Saints of Wura: Winemaker of the North, Arcane Awakening, Reckoning in the Void (Saints of Wura Books 1-3 with bonus content) Page 43
