by Jeff Inlo
He had only seen one dwarf city in his lifetime, Dunop, and it remained one of the grandest spectacles he had ever witnessed. The thought of exploring another dwarf city was almost intoxicating. It took tremendous strength of will to douse his delver curiosity and keep from racing down the tunnel path.
The dwarf warrior pulled to a halt and turned to the elf.
"Is this acceptable?"
"Yes, thank you."
Ulet took a moment to review both the elf and the delver before her. She smiled broadly again at Ryson.
"You wish to see our city?"
"I would love it," but then Ryson saw the stern expression on his companion's face. "Unfortunately, this isn't the best time."
"It is a strange time, indeed," Ulet confirmed and then focused on the point of the meeting. "I assume you were headed into the Great Valleys?"
Holli saw no danger in admitting that fact.
"Yes,"
"May I ask why you are heading into the valleys through this pass?"
"We thought it would be the least conspicuous," Holli admitted without hesitation. "It seems we attracted more interest than we expected. Cahltofs trailing us, inferns watching the pass ahead, and a dwarf scouting party crossing our path."
"We were not on a scout. We were there to intercept you." Ulet saw the questioning expressions on both her guests faces and did not hesitate to explain. "We did not want you to charge unwittingly into the inferns, but then again, we did not know that a delver was among you. I had known you were an elf, but from a distance, I guessed your partner was half-elf. A miscalculation that was corrected when we saw the glowing sword he held as you retreated back down the path."
"If you weren't out scouting," Ryson wondered aloud, "how did you know we were there?"
"Listening posts below ground across the Oachet range," Ulet revealed. "We have been monitoring the pass for some time. We picked you up, as well as the cahltofs behind you, and followed your progress. When it became clear you were heading into the valleys, we hoped to persuade you to take a different path. That is why we used the goblin scent. We believed two elves would take to the south in hopes of avoiding a large group of the monsters. You surprised us when you turned back on the cahltofs. A cunning move, if not somewhat foolhardy."
"I thought there was only one," Holli replied. "I believed they were solitary creatures and did not hunt in packs. I also did not think they spoke."
Holli watched Ulet closely at this point and the dwarf could not hide her surprise.
"The cahltofs spoke to you?"
"Only one. It told us to go home. You have not experienced this before?"
"No, but then again as I said, these are strange times."
"Care to explain what you mean by that?" Ryson asked.
"What you have seen on this day has been happening for some time. Inferns guarding a little used pass, goblins entering the valleys from all directions but in small parties, cahltofs traveling in packs and now talking-little of this makes sense. We know the valleys are experiencing turbulent times, but it seems the turmoil is now spreading into our range. This has our king and queen concerned."
"What is the status of Sterling?" Holli inquired.
"We remain secure, even thriving. The disorder has not reached our underground borders or those of our neighboring dwarf cities. Whatever is creating the havoc in the Great Valleys remains above ground. May I now ask what brings Ryson Acumen and the elf guard of Enin out of the western lands, across the central plains, and into these hills?"
Holli did not hesitate. She believed Ulet had been open and forthright in describing the circumstances of their region, and the elf felt honor bound to reciprocate.
"Many settlers have come to Connel, far more than we ever expected. Most have come not from the outposts throughout the plains, but further east, from the Great Valleys. Stories have come with them, stories as to why they have left these fertile lands. What we have heard has been… confusing and disturbing."
"And so you have come here to investigate for yourselves?"
"Enin made the request. He would have come here himself, but with so many new humans entering Connel, he could not risk leaving the city. Balancing the needs of all concerned is a delicate matter and his guidance is needed."
The dwarf warrior considered the new information as she rubbed her chin with the thick, powerful palm of her right hand.
"I see. We, too, have followed the migration of the humans to the west. For the most part, they are utilizing Pride Gap, which serves as the gateway to the central plains from the far eastern edge of the Great Valleys. That point is quite a distance north by northwest of here. As to the reason for the exodus, we cannot be sure. The dwarves keep watch over the borders between the valleys and the foothills, but we have no reason to interact with the human towns. They have completely inundated the valleys and we leave them to their own business."
"So you have no idea of what's going on within the human towns?"
"We try not to speculate," Ulet replied without taking insult. "We know many humans are leaving, but we also know the valleys are not emptying out completely. We have seen no indication of wars or even signs of skirmishes. What we have seen is the increased activity of dark creatures all around the borders of the Great Valleys, but they do not appear to be taking any hostile action. Most seem to be entering the valleys with an almost casual attitude. Others have staked out positions at the borders. It's almost as if they are simply keeping watch over who enters and who leaves the area."
"So the inferns further down the pass are simply monitoring activity?"
"It would seem so. They have not acted in any hostile manner, but then again, we have done our best to make sure they are left alone. A skirmish with inferns could lead to unnatural forest fires, and that is something we hope to avoid."
"I see."
In her mind, Holli reviewed all that had happened. Many mysteries remained, but the dwarf warrior did not appear to be withholding any information. She had but one last question that needed to be asked.
"Why did you remain in the pass when we returned?"
"Because I was hoping you both would return. Once we saw the sword and understood it was Ryson Acumen, I believed it best to show absolutely no sign of hostility or distrust. I wished to understand your purpose for being in these hills. We could not hope to catch an elf-let alone a delver- racing through the hillsides, but a delver's curiosity is renown. I believed you would come back with questions of your own, as you obviously have."
"And I thank you for answering all those questions," Holli noted.
"I have told you all I know, but we welcome you to Sterling. I am certain the king and queen would be happy to host you at the palace if you wish to stay here for the night."
"Thank you, but I would prefer to reach the valleys before nightfall."
Ulet frowned slightly. She seemed ready to argue the point, almost insist, but in the end, she deferred to the elf's wishes.
"Then I will not delay you any further, I only ask that you avoid any confrontation with the inferns. Their magical fire remains our concern. The trees of this forest are not as resistant to it as dwarves."
"A conflict would be in no one's interest. We still aim to enter the Great Valleys, but I understand your concerns and I will honor your request. We shall move to the southeast and remain in the trees. Ryson will ensure that we enter the valleys without incident."
The dwarf warrior offered a simple salute, acknowledging both the delver and the elf. She then offered her own warning.
"Take care entering the Great Valleys. There might not be signs of battle, but something is not right. I realize that's why you are here, but know that most dwarves are blessed with a certain gift for seeing their way through the dark. We have a sense for danger and a nose for trouble." She chuckled for a moment and then continued with brazen honesty. "We ourselves often dismiss such warnings and go headlong into battle with the unknown, but we are a stubborn race. To say an ill shad
ow covers the valleys would be much too melodramatic for my taste. Still, almost every dwarf in Sterling realizes that something is amiss with the humans. The valleys are changing."
Chapter 3
Pushing through the last heavily forested section of the Oachet Mountains, Ryson led Holli to the edge of the Great Valleys. He guided them down one of the steeper slopes where he made a path away from the eyes of the inferns. He also avoided contact with other dark creatures he detected guarding several smaller trails out of the hills.
The Great Valleys encompassed many large and small vales that spread far to the north and east. Numerous rivers, fed by abundant streams and tributaries, formed a series of byways for human travel and trade. While the valleys remained lush and green, vast stretches of land had been cleared for farming, and the entire area hosted hundreds of human towns and cities. It was not as densely populated as the eastern coastal regions, but it served as the true cradle for human expansion throughout the land of Uton.
Humans had long dominated the Great Valleys, and they employed the land for their growth and gain. They spread themselves across the region and filled the lowlands all the way to Pride Gap-the end point of the last western valley where the land opened up to the central plains. Protected by the rolling hills to the southwest and another majestic range of mountains to the east, the fertile lands provided everything the humans needed.
With farmlands, several towns, and even the Aranka River within sight, Ryson and Holli remained in the trees. They crouched in a sturdy ash that grew from the rich soil at the edge of the Oachet Mountains. Their path had brought them to the border of one of the southern valleys, and they both looked upon the amazing expanse with a mix of curiosity and awe.
The sun was setting to the west. The hills behind Ryson and Holli began to cast long shadows across the valley. Still, a deep orange glow lit up many of the taller tree tops in the distance, as the sun had not yet dropped fully below the horizon. The amber light filling the space above the shadowed ground offered a haze of warmth, as if the trees had been blessed with divine glory. Leaves reflected the orange and red aura of the sunset, and it almost appeared as if the harvest season had come early to the valley. Both the delver and elf watched the display with immense appreciation.
"This is my first entrance into any part of the Great Valleys," Holli noted, as she found a great sense of contentment in watching the natural display of beauty.
"Mine, too." Ryson announced.
The revelation surprised the elf.
"Truly? A full-bred delver never exploring this area?"
"I could never get out of the hills," Ryson admitted. "The valleys are farms, towns and people, not a great deal I ever wanted to see. There wasn't much here that ever really called to me, but the hills…"
Ryson looked backed upon the rolling slopes to the west. The hills themselves were covered in shadows, but the sky above them was painted with the glorious sunset. Even with the expansive valley ahead waiting to be explored, he could still feel the tug of each rounded peak behind him. His delver spirit ached to uncover mysteries in the crevices of limestone rock, to explore the forest at its floor and throughout its intertwined branches, and to examine the trails, dens, nests, and markings of every creature that inhabited the rolling high grounds.
"Before the magic returned," Ryson explained, "I would come as far east as the Oachets, but I never even got close to the valleys. Once I got in those hills, I could explore for entire seasons. I love the hills."
Ryson turned his attention back to the valley, and as the light began to fade, his eyes adjusted to the growing darkness. His delver vision enabled him to see as if it were still midday, but the coming night allowed him to view the valley from a different perspective.
Lanterns in the distance revealed the nearest farmhouses and towns. The land before them was not quite as expansive as the central plains they crossed before they reached the Oachets, but there was so much more activity in the valleys, so many more people.
"How should we approach this?" Ryson asked, deferring the decision of strategy to his companion.
Holli responded as if reciting from an elf guard handbook.
"Scouting and surveillance first. We need to become familiar with the landscape, and we should remain out of sight in order to limit our risk. Care to our safety and thoroughness to our investigation remain paramount. There is no sense in being careless. We are not constrained by time. There is no pressing concern, no immediate crisis which must be addressed. Let us use the first few days to explore the surrounding areas and witness for ourselves the true extent of the predicament."
The thought of a long exploration should have thrilled the delver, and in many ways, it did. There was, however, another part of him that was now anchored to his home in Burbon. He thought of his wife, Linda. She understood the need for him to be gone, but she would miss him, and he would miss her.
He wondered how long it would take them to gather enough information to suit Holli, and to quell his own curiosity. The Great Valleys stretched over an expansive distance, and it could take several cycles of the seasons to explore the entire region. From the information they already obtained, he knew it would not be necessary to visit each valley, but there was no guarantee that the turmoil was spread evenly throughout the area.
"We have the reports from the settlers that left the valleys, but what exactly should we be focusing on?" the delver requested.
"We are here to determine the extent of the infestation, its purpose, its influence, and hopefully, its origin. We will focus on the farmlands first. Better to understand what is happening out on the edges before we enter the center."
"Okay, so a concealed scout of the outlying farms. Will you use any sight spells?"
"Not at this time. I do not want to alert anyone to our presence, and a sight spell that would go measurably beyond your senses might reveal us to a powerful mage in the area."
Ryson looked back over his shoulder to the west, but this time he did so to gauge the dying light. The sun had disappeared behind the hills and dusk had begun. The sky remained dark blue overhead, but the far edges in the east were already tinged with gray.
"Well, soon we should be able to set out under cover of darkness, but until then, I suggest we move around the surrounding woods to get a better look at what's going on here before we hit the farmlands. We might be able to pick up a few trails and check on some of the dark creatures that were watching the borders of the valley."
Holli nodded and the two set off to explore the area in greater detail. They quickly located another group of inferns in the distance. They were easy to spot as they did, in fact, glow. The heated nature of their bodies radiated through their pale skin, and their faces lit up the night like round lanterns held on armor pedestals. Their iron javelins appeared as long red staffs encased in molten metal. They stood as silent sentinels in a clearing on a nearby hillside-demon imps offering themselves as beacons to light up the night, perhaps warning the curious to stay away.
As a deeper darkness spread across the valley and the night advanced with a moonless sky, Ryson and Holli expanded the scope of their scout. They leapt from the sanctuary of the trees and moved through the fields at ground level.
Carefully, they spied into farmhouses and barns and examined the roads to determine the level of activity that occurred throughout the outlying regions. They noted the location of a few towns, but never got close enough for any detailed inspection of the activity in pubs, taverns and inns.
They traveled quickly and quietly, covering huge distances. Despite the lack of sleep, neither tired and they never paused. Blending into the night, they stayed in shadow and kept away from large clearings where their movements might be detected. They went unspotted despite the tense nature they sensed.
Moving carefully through fields, along fences, and down gullies, Ryson and Holli noted the apprehension of all those they crossed. It seemed every farmhouse remained well lit, and several armed soldiers on ho
rseback moved along roads far from the outskirts of nearby towns.
The guards remained cautious and alert throughout their patrols, and they rode in groups of larger numbers than seemed necessary for the region. Even their mounts revealed a skittish nature, as the horses stepped across gravel and dirt roads with a cautious gait and a wary eye. The guards stopped often and peered for long moments into the darkness. Even sentries at the gates of small towns appeared tense and apprehensive. The night was not a friend to any of those on patrol.
Holli and Ryson kept silent, but knowing glances between them revealed their awareness to the tension. They also observed oddities within the farm fields they could not explain. It was the height of the growing season, and most fields were carefully planted and yielding great quantities of crops, but some appeared disheveled and disorganized. These fields lacked clean planted lines, as crops and weeds mixed together across swaths in haphazard fashion. The ground was packed hard under foot, not the softer mounds of recently plowed fields.
Once the night passed, they returned to the trees in outlying areas and continued their reconnaissance from afar. They watched the roads and noted the pace and direction of wayward travelers and merchants. There were far fewer than they expected.
There were, however, a great number of other travelers on the roads-travelers they did not expect to see out in the open in broad daylight, but they were there nonetheless. Goblins moved along roads without hiding their numbers and with little regard to humans they passed. They acted as if they belonged there, and even more surprising, the humans that spotted them simply passed as quickly as they could. No one called for help, no one shouted an alarm. The presence of goblins seemed to be accepted.
After several days of careful reconnaissance, Holli decided to approach a farmer working in the fields. She hid her pointed ears under a forester's cap and counseled Ryson to appear as nothing more than a human logger surveying the land.
