by David Greer
Chapter 17
Later that evening Smythe, Clyde, and Grimey sat at their usual table at the White Rock Tavern silently drinking their ale. Usually the three would celebrate a successful hunt, however the fact that they had to defend Quarry to such a degree had the hunters concerned and wearing grim faces. There was nothing jovial about the atmosphere save for Scully who, being too young to enjoy ale, drank a glass of lukewarm water. The young hunter understood the deadling attack was very out of the ordinary and oddly aggressive but he and the others fought them off. The town was safe and Scully was ecstatic to have taken part. First the kingpin hunt, now he helped fend off a deadling attack. He couldn't help but wear a large grin.
It was Clyde who finally broke the silence
“So Grimey, how does it feel to be the traveler for a change?” He purposely avoided talking about the deadling attack.
“Meh.” Grimey said with a shrug and a gulp of ale.
“Something's different.” Smythe said. He leaned forward inspecting the bearded hunter. It was the first chance the three hunters had a chance to speak since Grimey returned from Port. It was unprecedented for Grimey to travel. For as long as the others knew him, Grimey had only ventured as far as Woodlawn Village. After a brief moment Smythe's nostrils flared then his nose crinkled. “You stink.”
Grimey went on to tell his friends about the sloth. He didn't realize the stench had clung to him since he never actually touched the beast. The hunter sniffed his own sleeve and quickly recoiled. Even after fighting off the deadlings the wretched sloth's stench still clung to him. He scowled at the memory of its foulness and resented the fact that he now carried it.
“How close did the sloth come to landing on you?” Smythe asked. He was familiar with sloths from his trade expeditions and had learned to follow his nose and find the path of least foulness when navigating through Slothern Woods. “That's their ambush. Fall and try to crush you upon landing.”
“It landed about a foot in front of me.” Grimey said.
“Hey that's pretty close. They usually miss me by several feet the few times they do get the drop on me. I usually back up and throw a knife at them. Lazy beasts barely move. It's like target practice. Plus you avoid the smell better. Or you could just walk around them. Did you kill it or just avoid the thing?” Smythe knew Grimey well enough to know the bearded hunter would not take the easy route and evade the sloth. Grimey would have killed it, as any diligent hunter should.
“Used my axe.” Grimey pointed at the weapon still strapped to his back. “That stench. I just wanted the thing dead quickly. Leo and Kane were too busy losing their lunch to do anything.”
“His name is Kane huh?” Clyde chimed in. “Where are your traveling buddies anyway?”
Grimey explained how the islanders were setting up camp in the woods. Leo preferred his own camp to an inn. “He's got something about stars. Stares at them every night. Leo, that is.”
“Do you know what those black marks are?” Clyde asked.
“They're called tater – I mean tattoos. They move. Flow around his skin when his eyes glow.”
Smythe, Clyde, and even Scully gave a confused, incredulous look. Grimey realized he'd have to explain.
“I don't know how he does it but the lad can make his eyes glow. When that happens those marks – the tattoos – look like black rivers flowing on his skin. Odd stuff. His eyes glow because of the tattoos and the tattoos flow because his eyes glow. I don't really get it.”
“Why does that happen? I mean, what does it do?” Clyde asked.
“Makes him shoot better. His bow, that is. Lad says he doesn't miss when his eyes are glowing. Sees things better, steady hand, things like that. Beats me how, but he was able to tell the stone-stools apart from regular rocks.”
“Stone whats?” Clyde asked. Smythe filled in the gap.
“A stone-stool. It's a monster that looks just like a rock. About waist-high, looks like a nice seat except they don't like being sat on. They bite. For as many times as I've traveled those roads I still can't tell them apart from normal rocks.”
“Yeah. Well, Leo can see their faces when his eyes glow.” Grimey said.
Clyde and Scully were silent, unsure to believe what Grimey was telling them. At the market Leo had swiftly killed an adult deadling with an amazingly accurate bow-shot. Clyde remembered it well because he had never seen anything like it before. Then earlier that day Leo had demonstrated skill and accuracy with the bow unlike anything they've ever heard of. Not once did either of them notice any glowing eyes. To think the islander could become more lethal with a bow was far-fetched. Not to mention the whole glowing eyes and flowing tattoo part.
“Rocks with faces and glowing eyes huh? Ok.” Smythe wasn't so convinced. He remained skeptical. There was no way anybody, glowing eyes or not, could tell a stone-stool apart from a rock.
The tavern doors opened giving way to Kane and Leo. The two had washed up since the deadling attack. Kane wore black pants and a clean white shirt with short sleeves that showed off the tattoos on his arms. They looked like black thorny vines wrapped around his biceps. Leo was in all black. His shirt sleeves came to his elbow, exposing the part of the tattoo on his right forearm that curved like a blade to the base of his thumb. The tattoo over his right eye gleamed like polished coal in the tavern's firelight.
Kane, as usual, grabbed a mug of ale from the bar then immediately found a table in the corner to drink in solemn solitude. Leo unslung his longbow from his shoulder and joined the Quarry hunters. Scully sat upright at Leo's presence. The young hunter was awestruck at the islander. The way Leo shot his bow was simply amazing. Such speed, such accuracy. Scully had never seen anything like it. Neither had any of the other hunters for that matter but they didn't show their amazement as eagerly as Scully did.
“That was amazing Leo.” Scully said. “I've never seen anybody shoot a bow like that.”
Leo nodded his thanks at Scully, then turned his attention to the others at the table. The islander had some pressing matters on his mind.
“Do deadlings usually attack so aggressively and in such numbers?” Leo asked.
“Nope.” Grimey answered. “Never seen an attack like that before.” Clyde nodded agreement.
“Has anything unusual happened lately? Some kind of event or accident?” Leo asked.
The three Quarry hunters, and Scully, contemplated the question. Clyde was the first to speak.
“It was harvest season. Usually the banshees start acting up around this time of year but we already took care of the kingpin.”
“Large kingpin.” Grimey recalled. “Largest I've ever seen.” This seemed to pique Leo's interest.
“There was also the new monster we found in the woods.” Smythe added. “The angry little thing.” Smythe was careful not to mention Woodlawn Village to the islander. He did not easily reveal the small secluded village to anybody, especially islanders he had only been acquainted with during the times they passed through town. He found Leo's interest in their hunting exploits suspicious as well.
Smythe's animosity toward the islanders didn't end there either. In recent days a trade opportunity came up. One that he could easily profit from. But going would mean leaving Clyde alone to guard Quarry. Given the way things had been going lately with the monsters, that wasn't something Smythe could do. Regardless, he was miffed at the missed opportunity for some extra coin. Winter was coming and one could never have too much stocked up for the cold season. The hunter blamed Leo for taking Grimey away.
Leo ignored Smythe's irritation. His mind was focused on the news he was learning about. He had heard about the kingpin and the new monster on his previous visits to Quarry. What was news to him was the size of the kingpin and the ferocity of the new monster. The feeling that somehow everything that had happened was connected with the destruction of Northern island remained.
“Something must be happening to stir the beasts so violently.” Leo said.
“Like wh
at?” Smythe asked not bothering to mask his incredulity. “It's not like monsters have some kind of messenger telling them all to attack at the same time.”
“What if they do?” Leo said. A spark of an idea struck in the islander's head. “Well, not a messenger exactly but something else. Something that can influence all of them. Much like how your kingpins can influence the banshees. Did you tell them about Northern?”
“No.” Grimey said.
The bearded hunter went on to tell the others how Northern Island was destroyed. Smythe, Clyde and Scully marveled at how an entire island could be washed away by a giant wave. Something so powerful was inconceivable to them but the explanation of a wave being generated by a mountain falling into the ocean, as unfathomable as it was, made sense. It was the simplest explanation.
“I believe this event is tied to what is causing the monsters to act so aggressively.” Leo said. His words sparked everybody's curiosity.
Leo went on to iterate his suspicions about a great monster from the time of Orion awakening. He told about the prophecy that eerily fits with the disaster of Northern Island and gives a clue to the monster awakening in the far north at Iyre Mountian. Then about the suspicion that an extremely powerful monster could influence many monsters across great distances. Kill the one beast and the rest will back off. Leave it be and chaos will ensue.
Heavy silence fell upon the table. Whether or not they bought into Leo's theory was unknown but the islander examined everyone. The willingness in Clyde to believe something that could bring relative peace back to his home. After today's deadling attack he was more open to new ideas. The youthful wonderment of Scully. He didn't fully understand what was happening but the young man was eager for a hunter's life. Grimey was tougher to read behind his beard but his eyes showed determination. Then there was Smythe. He sat back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, the doubt and skepticism on his face was all too clear. He would not like the next part of Leo's plan, which he purposely left out. It was the part about getting Grimey to travel north. Leo hoped he had said enough so the bearded hunter would persuade himself to travel some more.
Leo waited patiently for somebody to break the silence. No surprise it was Smythe, the obvious skeptic, who spoke first.
“Don't you think it's a bit foolish? I mean Iyre Mountain? Nobody goes up there. Do you even know the way?” Smythe asked.
“Yes, my route is mapped out.” Leo answered.
“What is it then? Where will you go?”
“Northwest beyond the Woodlawns keeping close to the Ursa mountains until we reach the Greenwater River where we will follow it east to its namesake town. There's a ferry there. We will cross the river. Then it's north across the Windy Pass, through the Tunnel of Lights, and further north to Iyre Mountain.”
Smythe was a little taken aback at Leo's knowledge of the land. He slowly nodded agreement although he had never been further north than Greenwater Town. He had only heard of the Windy Pass and had no idea what the Tunnel of Lights was. What he did know was the far northwestern region of Arlynd where Iyre Mountain stood was only known as the Northern Wastes. It was supposedly an uninhabitable land that no man had ventured to in known recent history.
Although he knew little of those areas, Smythe would not let his ignorance show and kept his eyes narrow. For the parts he did know, it was certainly the wisest path. Most would be tempted to travel due north to Greenwater Town but that leads through the Weeds, a long stretch of grasslands where the grass is head-high at its shortest. Many travelers had been swallowed up and lost in the high grass. Few ever found their way out.
No matter though, so what if Leo knew the land well enough to plan such a journey. The Quarry hunter still didn't believe the prophecy. All nonsense. But if the two islanders wanted to gallivant across Arlynd for whatever reason that was their business. It didn't affect him at all. That is until Grimey spoke up.
“I'm going with them.” Grimey said.
If the silence before was heavy, this one was immovable. Clyde's shoulders slumped as though the wind had been kicked out of him and Scully sank in his seat. Smythe, however, didn't stay quiet long. He bolted upright, wide-eyed.
“What!” his voice almost a yell. “You can't leave! The monsters are acting in a way we've never seen. While you were gone the banshees swarmed again and they didn't even have a kingpin. Took two days to get them back in the woods and McGrady lost some livestock. Not just crops, but livestock! Then there's the deadlings. They've been attacking along the roads leading from town to the white mountain like they were guarding it. Their numbers have been growing as though they were preparing for an assault, which they did. Today! You were there!”
Grimey only nodded. His decision would not be met with praise, he knew, but it was his decision to make and he made it.
“Our hands have been full. We need you. It's only getting worse.” Smythe said. “Why leave us, your home, when it's under constant attack?”
Grimey took a swig from his mug. “For all the things you just said, lad. If the islander is right, if killing one monster will calm the rest of them. They made it clear they want my help. You saw how good they are. They wouldn't ask for help unless they were certain they'd need it. Besides, if there is a great beast, Leo suspects it's only just now waking and I say it'll be easier to kill the damn thing while it's yawning.” Grimey took another gulp from his mug and slammed it on the table. The matter was closed.
The contempt on Smythe's face didn't fade one bit but he kept his mouth shut.
“Okay Grimey.” Clyde said. “Go on. We'll have our hands full but we'll keep Quarry safe while you're away. Just don't stay away for too long.”
Smythe scoffed. Without a word he stood and left.
Leo relaxed in his seat. Grimey had made the argument for him and things unfolded quite favorably for the islander. The last part of his plan, which was to get Grimey to join he and Kane, had fallen nicely into place. “It's settled then.” He said. “We have a long way to go. It will be weeks before we return but return we will. I promise. Our journey begins tomorrow.” Leo originally planned to stay in Quarry for a few days but now thought it best to leave as soon as possible. He didn't want to risk any further tension from Smythe nor risk Grimey changing his mind.
Sensing that all conversation was over, Clyde rose to leave. Once more, Leo quickly observed the hunter. Clyde was worried but there was hope in his eyes. The Quarry hunter gave a respectful nod to Leo and slapped Grimey on the back before exiting.
Scully and Grimey didn't move from their seats. Leo now saw anguish in Grimey's eyes. The bearded hunter did not come to his decision lightly. He would miss Quarry and constantly worry about his home. As he should, Leo thought.
“One thing lad.” Grimey said, leaning forward in his seat. “Can we stay out of the river?” Leo raised an eyebrow. “I don't much care for water.”
“We will have to cross the river at some point.” Leo said. “The ferry at Greenwater is sturdy. It'll keep us quite dry.”
Grimey seemed little eased by that. Leo didn't really know if the ferry was sturdy as it had been sometime since he visited Greenwater but Grimey needed whatever assurance could be given.
“What do you think of all this young one?” Leo asked Scully, who only shrugged. “Oh come now, there must be much on your mind. It's all right to speak.”
“Well.” Scully began. “I never really thought the great monsters to be real. I just thought they were made up to make Orion's life seem more, I don't know, amazing.”
“Most people think the same. Do you think I might be wrong?”
“Well...” Scully searched for the words to say. “I guess you've traveled more than the rest of us and hunted around more places so you probably know things we don't. And like Grimey said, if the monster is real, better to get it early. Worth a shot I think. But what do you think this monster is?”
“Do you remember the stories of Orion?” Leo asked, Scully nodded. “What did he hunt?”
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Scully's brow furrowed as the youngster thought. “I remember a ghost demon. Then there was a dragon. Then some big animal. Oh and the Kraken. And there was that rabbit, but he never got that one.”
“It could be any of those. Well, probably not the rabbit or the Kraken. The rabbit wasn't actually a monster and the Kraken is still alive. I think whatever is rising was once hunted and is now somehow coming back.” Leo said.
“You mean the bookworm doesn't know?” Grimey said. His voice was flat and it was difficult for Leo to tell if he was teasing or chiding.
“The records only mention how Orion hunted the beasts and saved entire regions from their terror. It doesn't mention anything about them returning.” Leo answered.
“Ok then lad, fair enough. But let's be clear on something. I don't agree with your ideas about all this. And I don't like leaving Quarry. Just better safe than sorry, that's all. It's asking a lot of the other two to handle everything that's been going on here all on their own.”
At this, Scully turned toward Grimey, “I'll keep an eye on Clyde and Smythe and help out. I may not shoot as good as Leo but I'll do my part.” Grimey eyed the youngster for a moment then smiled with a nod. Ever since the young hunter took part in the kingpin hunt he took his role as a hunter more seriously. He practiced with his weapons more. He spoke more easily with the rest of them. He even walked a little taller. The boy had changed. Maybe the town would be okay. Scully turned back to Leo, “How do you shoot like that anyway?”
Leo, sensing that Grimey had said what he needed to say and that it was time to leave, slung his longbow over his shoulder as he stood. “My mentor told me once: an archer will practice until he can hit a target. A hunter will practice until he never misses.”
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