Chain of Bargains dm-5

by Jeff Inlo

  "There's more than one!" Ryson exclaimed.

  "What?" Holli responded in disbelief. "They do not travel in packs. Are you…"

  She was unable to complete her question as five cahltofs broke from the trees ahead of her. They were still quite far in the distance, but they sprinted in a full charge. As Holli did not slow her own pace, the space between them quickly diminished. Three came at her from the left and two from the right. At first, all five focused on Holli and angled their approach to keep her from escaping between them. One of the beasts, however, broke ranks and lined a path toward the delver.

  Two of the fastest cahltofs widened their lead on the other three. When they reached the proper range, each launched itself at Holli, though they sprung at her from opposite sides. It was an attack the elf expected.

  A cahltof would pursue its prey to exhaustion, and when it believed its victim was sufficiently fatigued, it would leap at the head and throat. The long sleek body would wrap around its intended meal, choking the prey or snapping its neck. It was a usually a quick fate, but not one Holli intended for herself or Ryson.

  One of the beasts slammed into Holli's chin and attempted to wrap itself around her throat just as the second leapt into her midsection and hoped to crush her lungs. Both, however, received a daunting surprise in the form of a magical disruption.

  Like the seeds of a dandelion scattered in a burst of wind, small fragments of tiny magical particles exploded off of Holli's body. They landed upon the thick coats of the cahltofs that attempted to wrap themselves around the elf's body. Once the particles made contact with the beasts, each shard of magic discharged a burst of electrical energy. Quick flashes of lightning exploded across the bodies of both cahltofs. The electric bursts dislodged both creatures and sent them flying away from the elf. The pain was severe enough to convince the creatures to make a hasty retreat back into the woods.

  The cahltof that altered its path to hunt the delver forced its attack on Ryson with a similar leap toward the delver's head. The creature never made contact. Once in the air, its path was set and there was no way for it to redirect its course.

  Ryson simply twisted his upper body the moment after the cahltof launched itself toward him. He dropped his head and shoulders low to one side and allowed the beast to pass harmlessly by. Instead of turning to face the creature, he increased his speed and passed Holli. With his sword in hand, he moved toward one of the two cahltofs that remained in front of the elf.

  With a quick but shallow thrust, he jabbed the point of the sword lightly into the shoulder of the beast. The Sword of Decree held many enchantments and the glowing blade burned the essence of the creature. The cahltof shrieked and followed two of its previous companions back into the woods.

  Ryson turned with another flash of speed and rounded back at the cahltof that had failed to hit him on its initial assault. As expected, the creature had spun about and was preparing to strike at Holli from the rear. With another jab of his sword, the delver convinced it to retreat as well.

  With but one predator remaining, Ryson turned back and moved to Holli's side. The elf and the delver came to a halt and prepared to fight off the single attacker. They watched the beast carefully as it had also pulled to a stop. The cahltof returned the stare of the elf and the delver as Ryson considered their next move.

  "Is that spell of yours still active?" Ryson asked.

  "It is," Holli advised, but she did not reveal that its potency was quickly fading.

  Ryson wondered how long the standoff would continue as he also knew the traits of cahltofs. Patience and persistence were their strongest attributes and he did not want to remain there for long. He kept an ear out for the other four beasts that had run into the forest, but he knew that they were far off in the distance.

  Holli was just about to take the bow from her shoulder, but her hand stopped before it could reach the bow's riser.

  "Go home," the cahltof snarled, as its gaze passed back and forth from elf to delver.

  It said nothing further. It simply turned with total disregard and stalked slowly back into the trees.

  Chapter 2

  "Did you know they could talk?" Ryson wondered.

  "No, I did not believe they could," Holli admitted.

  The delver glanced back at the cahltof's path into the trees. He could no longer see it, but he could still hear the creature moving away at the same steady pace. Despite the otherwise peaceful setting of the serene hills, the delver felt his uneasiness-and his curiosity- grow. The raspy growl of the cahltof echoed in his mind.

  Go home!

  That was the beast's message-or perhaps its warning. Maybe it was sound advice, but the delver found it unpalatable. His delver spirit soared at the thought of uncovering unknowns, and a warning from a cahltof added to the mystery surrounding the Great Valleys.

  "Well, what should we do now?" he asked in an almost giddy tone, like a child wondering which lavishly wrapped present to open first.

  "We are not going home," Holli responded.

  "I didn't think we were. We still have to check out what's going on in the valleys, but the inferns are guarding the pass, something was coming at us from the north, and now this."

  Holli quickly appraised the situation. She understood the delver. It was more of a delightful dilemma for him to have so many mysteries thrown at him at once. For an elf guard, however, too many unknowns crafted a dangerous path.

  "We no longer have to worry about cahltofs trailing us. That concern is now gone. As for the inferns, we can examine the question of their presence with greater care in due time. That can wait… as can the valleys. They are not going anywhere. The mystery to the north involving the goblin scent is now our immediate concern."

  "Actually, they're probably more to the east of us by now. We went a pretty far distance and I doubt they could have kept up with us." Ryson nodded down the clearing that curved around the hills. "If they're following us, they're back there on the pass between us and the inferns."

  "With the heavy scent of goblin upon them, I am sure you can pinpoint their location once we get closer, but we will not use the pass."

  "What do you suggest?"

  "Let us take to the trees, but move in a northeasterly direction." Holli pointed to the closest hilltop. "We angle up around that peak. Once we get to the other side, we move parallel to the pass but remain in the trees and on higher ground. When you sense them, let me know, and we will choose the best route to gain a better perspective."

  "Fair enough," Ryson agreed as he sheathed his sword.

  Holli took the lead knowing Ryson would follow. The elf took several strides along the open pass before approaching the tree line, placing some distance between them and the passage used by the last cahltof. She then turned north and moved into the woods. Quickly scampering up a large ash tree, she climbed two thirds of the way up the trunk before stepping out upon a branch strong enough to hold her weight.

  The limb bent low as Holli moved further out to its edge, but it would not break. The leaves rustled with agitation as the branch bounced with each step of the elf. When Holli leapt over to a neighboring tree, the limb snapped back upward, bobbed up and down several times, and ultimately settled back in its previous spot, reaching for the bright sunshine.

  Ryson moved with even greater ease through the trees. Though he was not as accustomed to that form of travel, as a delver he could quickly adjust to his surroundings. His instincts and his agility served him well as he danced through the trees at a much faster pace than his companion.

  The delver still allowed Holli to set the direction of their travel, but he circled about her position, never getting too far ahead or lagging way behind. He barely had to watch his footfalls as the tree branches simply became an intertwined system of bridges and paths.

  Utilizing all his senses, he sniffed the wind for foreign scents, listened for hints of travelers, and scanned the lands around them. Through the varied trees of oak, ash, hickory and basswood,
he noted the natural trails of the regional wildlife as well as the recent signs of humans and dark creatures alike. He caught several traces of goblin scent as he traveled, but he believed they were nothing more than the residue from old trails. After passing the third hilltop, however, he caught a fresher scent that definitely matched what he had noticed before the incident with the cahltofs.

  "We're getting closer," he whispered over to Holli as he leapt back to her side. He pointed to the southeast. "It's coming from over there. I haven't heard them yet, which is kind of strange."

  Holli examined the location of the pass from where she stood in the trees and then matched it to the area pointed out by the delver. She surveyed the hills in the distance and quickly fixed upon the hilltop where the inferns were spotted.

  "If they are near, they have not moved far from where we first encountered them."

  "If they're not moving, that would explain why I haven't heard them."

  The elf guard weighed the additional information and made a quick decision.

  "Let us remain on this course and see what else we can discover."

  Holli moved slower, even allowed Ryson to take the lead. She continuously scanned the surrounding lands and reached out to touch the magic that flowed freely in every direction. She utilized her inherent ability to take hold of the energy, and she examined it closely to sense any danger in the vicinity. The magic, however, remained pure and untouched. She sensed no magic caster attempting to exploit the energy.

  Ryson silently glided through the trees, making no sounds and focusing all of his senses on the signs he could find. After passing another hilltop, he announced his new discovery.

  "They're dwarves," Ryson offered.

  "You are certain?"

  "Look at the tracks," he stated with confidence as he pointed to the forest floor. "Those are dwarf footprints. There's eight of them… and they're very close by." He paused to listen and sniffed the wind once more. "They're not moving, I think they're just waiting in the pass. I can't see them, but it's around this hill."

  Holli looked across the horizon, noted the position of the pass in the distance and its relation to their current position.

  "Right where we were when you spotted the inferns," Holli declared. "They didn't follow us at all."

  "What should we do?"

  "Can you see if the inferns are still watching the pass?"

  Ryson quickly retrieved his spyscope. He had to climb higher up the tree, but he found a position with a clear view. After a brief moment of peering into the east, he leapt silently back down to the elf.

  "Still there. They're not moving, either, and they don't seem to be concerned with what's going on over here. They're just focused on the pass as it drops down into the valleys."

  Holli nodded.

  "Let us get a better look at the dwarves," she advised.

  With fluent grace, the elf and the delver slipped through the trees like silent shadows. Holli led once more and chose a path that remained elevated above the clearing of the pass. Ryson stalked through the trees very near the elf as opposed to circling her. He knew exactly where the dwarves were, even as they remained out of sight around one last hilltop.

  Once the two circled the last peak, they found a spot deep within thick leaves that covered their positions, but allowed them to review the dwarves from a safe distance. Holli brought them to a halt and took great care to pinpoint the location of all eight dwarves. She could not understand why they carried such a strong scent of goblin among them, but she was relieved to see their relaxed state. All eight stood within the clearing of the pass, and though they kept watch in all directions, they showed no sign of aggression.

  "They are armed, but probably not a war patrol," Holli whispered as she continued to evaluate the situation.

  The elf guard immediately spotted a female dwarf who turned her head in their direction. The dwarf made no other move, but stared directly at Ryson and Holli's position. By her armor, Holli judged her to be an officer. The dwarf would not release her gaze. It was clear they had been discovered.

  "One heard me," Holli revealed in a slightly lower voice. "Might as well not pretend. Let us greet them in the open."

  "You're sure?"

  Holli nodded. "Best way to handle the situation. We are going to ground level and we will move into the pass. Stay on guard and do not stray too far from the trees. Leave your sword sheathed, but remain prepared to retreat back into the woods."

  Ryson agreed and again let Holli take the lead. He followed her to the ground and they broke through the thick brush at the edge of the clearing together. When she stopped after but two steps into the open pass, Ryson took a position by her left side. He took one quick scan of the horizon and then noted the movements of the dwarves. They did not appear at all surprised to see them.

  The female dwarf who had turned her head stepped up deliberately to meet the two new arrivals while the other dwarves remained several steps behind and showed little distress. The dwarf officer had a wide chin and large eyes, and she looked upon Holli with what appeared to be simple curiosity. When she turned her attention to the delver, she smiled broadly and her large chin seemed to expand even wider.

  "Ryson Acumen, it is an honor to welcome you to the Oachets."

  "You know who I am?"

  "You are the delver with the glowing sword and a friend to all dwarves, no?"

  The delver agreed with the sentiment. Though his relations with the dwarves of Dunop had been at one time strained by certain circumstances, any hostilities had been settled. Still, he was not at all familiar with the dwarf before him, and Dunop was a great distance to the west.

  The dwarves of the Oachets were of another city, another region. He realized tales of a delver carrying the Sword of Decree were spreading, but he remained uneasy over such fame-and uncertain on how to react to his growing prominence among strangers.

  "I guess so."

  "You guess? Are you not the delver who destroyed Ingar's sphere? Though we dwarves are not thrilled with the return of magic, we understand how you saved all the land. Did you also not save the dwarves of Dunop from the shadow trees? And did you not work with those same dwarves to save the humans of Connel and build growing relations between the two races?"

  "There are others that had a lot to do with all of that."

  The dwarf released a hearty chuckle.

  "Ryson Acumen, now is not the time for modesty. You're in a strange land, greeting a dwarf warrior you have never met. Are you a friend of the dwarves or not?"

  "I've always thought so, well, at least for as long as I knew dwarves existed."

  "We have always existed," the dwarf laughed a bit harder, "but I understand. The time before magic remains in most of our memories, even if it now seems a distant thought. My name is Ulet Bulharp. I am a battle commander in the dwarf brigade of Sterling."

  "Pleased to meet you," Ryson responded.

  The smile remained on the dwarf warrior as she turned to the elf, but it diminished a degree or two.

  "And may I ask the name of the elf who accompanies you?"

  Holli introduced herself, but stood firm and made no other acknowledgement.

  "I am Holli Brances. My original camp was of Dark Spruce Forest-among the elves that oversaw the region below Sanctum Mountain. I am now in the service of the wizard Enin of Burbon… and Connel as well."

  The dwarf's smile drifted away, but she responded with respect.

  "Holli Brances. You also entered Sanctum in service of the land. Now you work side-by-side with the great wizard, and the deeds of Enin are almost as legendary as that of Ryson Acumen."

  The dwarf warrior then placed her hands together and rubbed them strenuously as she announced her intentions. "I wish to speak with both of you, but not here. There is a cave entrance to Sterling just to the southeast… near the base of the neighboring hill. I would ask that you follow me there. It is a more secure area. Agreed?"

  Holli would have preferred to sta
y in their current location. The trees remained in reach and there were only eight dwarves before them. Moving into a tunnel that served as the entrance to a dwarf city would definitely alter the advantage and limit her options, but she had to accept the fact that she and Ryson were the ones traveling through dwarf territory. She did her best to appear congenial but also acted in a fashion to mitigate the potential hazards.

  "I would ask that we do not move far into any tunnel. I am uncomfortable in confined areas."

  Ryson appeared somewhat surprised, but the dwarf appeared unfazed by the request.

  "I understand. We shall stay at the entrance. I'm going to leave six of my party here to keep watch over the pass."

  "Can you have them take that sack with them?" Ryson asked, as he pointed to a large bag that exuded an overpowering scent of goblin. His delver curiosity almost made him inquire as to the contents of the bag, but then he feared they might open it to show him, and he believed the stench might render him unconscious. He never asked.

  The dwarf warrior agreed and gave her orders to the surrounding dwarves. A half dozen moved off to the north with the foul smelling sack in tow. Only one other dwarf accompanied Ulet, Holli and Ryson, and the dwarf commander bade that sentry to guard their flank.

  Ulet Bulharp led the delver and elf across the clearing and into the woods of the adjoining hill to the south. Once past the thick brush that filled the border between the pass and the trees, they stepped upon clearer grounds that were deep in the shadows of the thick canopy of leaves overhead. The dwarf turned west and followed the lower base of the hill. After several paces, she made one last turn back to face the hillside. With but a few steps, they came across an opening that broke through a massive chunk of limestone.

  The dwarf at the rear remained just outside the opening as Ulet guided Ryson and Holli several steps into the tunnel entrance. The path widened slightly after the initial opening and then angled into a fairly steep downward grade.

  Ryson's vision immediately adjusted to the lower light, but he realized it remained brighter than it should have been. He quickly noted the angled position of several reflective rocks at the cave opening that sent beams of light down the tunnel. He also recognized several scents coming up from the passage. He wondered how far below ground the dwarf city of Sterling rested and what it might look like.