“That's much better,” he smiled.
“Yes!” Gwendolyn snapped. “I'm sure it is!”
“Are you mad at me?” the knight asked.
“Of course not!” she replied. “I'm just frustrated! That's the second time I've failed today. What's wrong with me?”
“There's absolutely nothing wrong with you,” the Telian observed.
The maiden cut Darian a hopeful glance, doing her best to judge the look on his face.
“No,” she sighed, shaking her head as she spoke. “No, I'm sure it was just another accident.”
“What was?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing,” she replied with a light laugh “You just accidentally said something gallant again. Well, it could have been. It wasn't, of course, but it could have been. Either way, the important thing is that you're well now.”
“I'm glad that's taken care of,” Tealor said, making his way to the young knight and helping him to his feet. “Because we need to move on as soon as these bodies are burned.”
In less than an hour, the party was once again on its way. The Telian rode at the front of the column, his attention focused on discovering any hidden enemies that might lie in wait for them. The rest of the party followed a short distance behind riding side-by-side in pairs. After several empty and peaceful miles, two things in the sky above attracted the bard's attention almost simultaneously.
One was a wisp of smoke rising from the forest that seemed to originate from beyond a range of nearby hills. The second was an odd green glow to the west that tinted the dark clouds filling the skyline.
“What do you make of that, my friend?” Ian asked, pointing into the distance as he spoke.
“I'm not certain,” Tealor replied, staring at the pale green light. “I'd be willing to bet it has something to do with what we're searching for.”
“Aye,” the bard nodded. “I'd say that was a safe bet. At least it gives us a lead to follow. It may well be the sign we've been hoping for. Of course, we also need to investigate that smoke. Something's started a fire out here and, considering where we are, I doubt it's anything wishing us well.”
“True,” the warrior nodded, “we'll have to look into that.”
The captain called the band to a halt. The decision was made to ride into the hills that stood between the party and the source of the smoke. Once they neared the peak, Kilren and Erana would scout ahead on foot while the others waited a short distance behind.
The ranger and the rogue slid from their saddles the moment the party reached the agreed upon spot. Within seconds, the pair had disappeared amongst the shadows and the undergrowth. Just minutes later, they returned with information of unquestionable interest.
“Well, I've never seen anything like that,” Kilren said, shaking his head as he spoke. “I? We! We've never seen anything like that. Have we?”
“No,” Erana agreed while also shaking her head. “No, we haven't.”
“What was it, lad?” Ian asked.
“Is,” the rogue replied. “You mean: What is it? The answer is trolls. It is trolls.”
“What do you mean?” Tealor asked.
“I mean,” the young man replied, “a bunch of trolls are sitting around a camp fire down there and cooking meat on sticks.”
“That's not possible,” the bard disagreed.
“Go look for yourself!” the rogue exclaimed.
“Trolls don't do that,” the dwarf asserted.
“Then, why don't you go tell them?” Kilren asked. “Maybe they don't know!”
“That can't be what you saw,” the bard replied in amazement.
“Well, it was, Ian,” Erana affirmed. “That's not all. They've also built some kind of pen, and they have a number of elves held in it.”
“What?” the knight asked.
“Are we going to have to repeat everything we say?” the rogue asked rhetorically. “She's telling you that the trolls just over the hill – the ones doing the cooking – are holding a number of elvish prisoners!”
“We have to rescue them!” the knight said, drawing his sword.
“Wait!” the warrior demanded.
“What?” the Telian asked.
“Stop saying that!” Kilren exclaimed. “He said wait. Are you deaf?! Tealor, please explain to Darian what wait means!”
“Stop,” the captain said, raising his hand as he spoke. “Just stop for a moment. I think we can all agree that this is a very unusual situation. However, we have to accept that Kilren and Erana did, in fact, see exactly what they said they did. That being the case, we obviously have to rescue those prisoners. But we can't go rushing in headlong. We've got to come up with a plan. Agreed, Sir Darian?”
“Agreed,” the Telian replied, putting his sword back in its scabbard. “But we need to hurry. Who knows how long those people have.”
“True,” the warrior said. “However, the fact that they're alive now suggests we have some time. So, let's use it wisely. If we're going to rescue them, we have to do things right the first time. Ian, can you think of anything like this that's ever happened before?”
“No,” the dwarf replied, knitting his brows and shaking his head. “No. I'm pretty sure this is something new.”
“Do you think there's any point in trying to negotiate?” Tealor asked.
“Negotiate?” the rogue exclaimed in disbelief. “Are you mad? Or did you miss the part where I said trolls?”
“Kilren,” the warrior began, “these obviously aren't normal trolls. According to you, they're sitting around a campfire cooking...”
“They are!” the young man interrupted.
“Right,” the captain nodded, “so they're not behaving like normal trolls, are they?”
“Well, no,” Kilren admitted.
“So, we can't necessarily deal with them like we normally would,” the warrior pointed out. “How many were there, by the way?”
“Hmmm... Maybe ten?” Kilren answered.
“That's not good,” the bard observed after letting out a long, shrill whistle.
“No, it's not,” Tealor agreed. “That's another reason why negotiation might be best. If it's even possible.”
“Well,” Ian replied, “I've never heard of a troll being able to speak.”
“No,” the warrior said, shaking his head, “but we had never heard of them cooking, either.”
“Aye, that's a fair point.”
“What do we do if they won't negotiate?” the Telian asked.
“And, you can be sure they won't,” Kilren speculated.
“They probably won't,” the captain agreed. “However, even making the attempt might work in our favor. But first, Darian and I need to look over the scene. There may be even more trolls down there that you couldn't see...”
“That's certainly true,” Erana interjected. “Who knows how many more may be hanging around the camp completely invisible.”
“Exactly,” the warrior replied before continuing. “I also need to get a good look at the layout of the camp. Kilren, can you get us where we can see, but can't be seen.”
“Probably,” the young man replied. “But you need to wrap up in some cloaks. That armor will give you away in a heartbeat.”
The warrior and the knight each retrieved a long traveling cloak from their saddle bags. The pair did their best to conceal their shining armor within the ample folds of the dark brown garments. This attended to, they fell behind the rogue who led them quietly and cautiously to the crest of the hill.
The trio crawled slowly through the underbrush that separated them from the view they sought. As soon as the camp was within sight, the knight asked the Eilian to open his eyes. There were nine trolls in and around the area, all of them quite visible. For the moment at least, they had nothing to fear from hidden enemies.
The warrior gazed over their enemies' encampment; formulating a plan as he considered the strengths and weaknesses of each party. The two prime goals had to be survival and rescue. They couldn't affor
d to lose their lives here; the kingdom of Innalas was counting on them for information – if nothing else. Of course, there was also no point to a rescue where those being rescued weren't. If they were going to risk it, they had to have a viable plan. Fortunately, the captain felt he had one.
Tealor nodded at his comrades before crawling back toward the rest of the party. As soon as they were reunited, he shared his thoughts.
“Alright,” the warrior began, “the camp is set in a shallow valley. I think the best course will be to divide our forces in two. Darian, Ian, and I will approach from one side. Sarena, my love, you'll need to lead the others in from the opposite side. We'll get their attention and see if we can open a parley. If that doesn't go well – and it probably won't – then, you can move in after we have their attention.”
“So far, so good,” Kilren said with a nod.
“Now, even if they attack us, we're not going to engage them,” the warrior continued. “We're just going to serve as a distraction so that you'll be able to sneak into camp and attempt a rescue. We'll pull as many of them as we can, but it may not be enough. If too many trolls remain behind, then just leave. We'll regroup and try to come up with another plan.”
“How many is too many?” the rogue asked.
“My lovely bride will make that decision when the time comes.”
“Well, I just have one more question, then,” Kilren said. “What do we do with the captives once we've freed them?”
At this question, the knight and the warrior turned to one another.
“We'll have to escort them back to safety,” the knight said after a moment of silent consideration.
“No,” the warrior replied, shaking his head. “We can't do that. It would take far too long.”
“We' can't just leave them here,” Erana pointed out. “We can't send them back to Innalas on foot and without weapons, either. They wouldn't survive the first night.”
“We certainly can't do either of those things,” the knight agreed. “We've got to help them get home.”
“Look, Darian,” the warrior said, his eyes locked on those of the Telian, “I agree that we have to rescue these people. And I agree that we can't just desert them. However, we can't escort them all the way back to Innalas. We simply don't have the time.”
“We'll have to,” Darian asserted.
“Sir Darian,” the captain began, “where is the enemy army now? How many villages have been burned since we left? Just how far have those dark clouds managed to reach? How many more lives has the enemy taken in the last two days?”
“I don't know,” the knight admitted, “but that doesn't change anything.”
“Oh, yes it does,” Tealor disagreed. “It changes a great deal. Did you see those elves down there, Darian? They're wardens. Some of them may even be rangers. They're not civilians. They're not children.”
“Maybe not,” the knight snapped, “but they still can't fight trolls with their bare hands.”
“You miss my point, sir,” the warrior replied. “Other elves may be dying while we spend three or four days seeing these captives to safety. We can't let that happen! The quest the king gave you was to find and, if possible, stop this enemy. That is your first duty!”
“Then, what do you suggest?” the knight asked.
“I don't know,” the captain replied, “Maybe we could...”
“The tower!” the rogue interrupted, snapping his fingers “We could escort them back to the tower. If we hurry, we could even get there before nightfall.”
“I don't know,” the Telian said.
“No, really,” Kilren continued. “The place is like a tiny fortress and it's been abandoned for years. We even have the key! They could hold up there for a few days at least.”
“It's better than nothing, lad,” Ian said, his gaze on the young knight. “I think it may be all we've got.”
“How would that be any better than just deserting them here?” Darian asked. “We can only leave them so much food. In a day or two, they'll run out. I doubt there's enough to hunt in these lands for them to live off of. Even if there was, they couldn't leave the tower without risking their lives. They'd do better just trying to make it back to Innalas on their own.”
“Which is what I was basically saying,” the captain pointed out.
“One moment now,” the dwarf said, lifting his hand. “First off, we found some weapons in the tower. They're not much, but they're better than nothing. Secondly, I think they might be able to scrounge up something to eat. They are wardens, after all.”
“That's certainly true,” Erana agreed. “There are a number of roots and things in these woods they could live off of for months. They're not particularly pleasant foods, but they're very nourishing.”
“Of course, we may be able to help them get a message back to Innalas,” the bard continued. “In fact, it might not be a bad idea for Illfas to send a small force to hold the tower.”
“How could we send such a message?” the rogue asked.
“Aye, that is a fair point,” the bard admitted, scratching his head just under his hat.
“We could leave them one of our horses,” Gwendolyn suggested. “Maybe one of them could ride for help. If they headed directly east and rode as hard as they could, they could probably make it in a single day.
“No,” the warrior replied, “we need all of our mounts.”
“Hold on,” Kilren said, raising his hand in objection. “Just hold on for a second now. I think Gwendolyn has made a very good suggestion. I don't weigh much, and Erana weighs practically nothing. She and I could easily share her horse. I mean; obviously, that's not an ideal solution, but we can't just desert those people or leave them locked up in a tower without any hope of rescue. Can we, Darian?”
“No,” the knight agreed, “we can't.”
“I still think...” the warrior began.
“Now, now,” the rogue interrupted, “Sir Darian's made a decision; let's not be argumentative. Anyway, we need to get moving. Those prisoners aren't going to rescue themselves. We'll have plenty of time to discuss the details once we're safely on our way back toward the tower.”
“I agree with you there,” the captain replied. “We do need to get moving. Sarena, my love.”
“Yes, my champion?” the sorceress answered.
“Lead your party around from the south-east,” the warrior said. “We'll give you a few minutes and then Darian will issue his challenge.”
“As is our usual method,” Sarena laughed.
“It seems to be of late, doesn't it, my dear,” he chuckled. “Now, let's move.”
The beautiful sorceress quickly led her party to the south-east where they could round the hills and enter the valley beyond the view of the camping trolls. They would have to be extremely cautious. It was critical to the success of the plan that they not be spotted. In the few minutes they had before they would need to be completely silent, the elvish maiden spoke to her love.
“You know, Kilren,” Erana said, taking her betrothed by the hand as she spoke, “that was very noble of you; offering to share your horse in order to help these people reach safety.”
“We all have to do our part,” he replied with a smile. “Sometimes, sacrifices just have to be made.”
“It was very kind of you,” she asserted. “You really are a hero.”
“It's good of you to say,” he replied, gently squeezing her hand. “I guess a little bit of Darian is rubbing off on me.”
“Well, I wish a little bit of you would rub off on him,” Gwendolyn observed.
At this, all four companions laughed as loudly as they dared.
“You know,” the rogue said with a wink, “I think I know what you mean.”
“Shhh,” the sorceress softly scolded. “Remember, children, lives hang in the balance.”
This brought the group’s conversation to an end. Until the rescue was complete, they would need to speak in whispers and, even then, only when it was absolutely n
ecessary. The group entered the valley before dismounting and tying their beasts to several small trees. Though they would have to continue on foot, it was imperative that they be able to reach their mounts quickly, should the need arise.
The rogue and the ranger led the sorceresses to the very outskirts of the camp. Only a thin veil of vegetation hid them from the gaze of their encamped adversaries. From this vantage point, it was easy to see that the cage which held the prisoners was nothing more than a number of rough, wooden poles driven into the ground in a circle. A narrow wicker gateway on the far side filled the only entrance to the enclosure.
“What do you think?” Kilren asked quietly.
“Not great,” the sorceress sighed, “but not impossible. It really all depends on how many fall for my love's ruse. If they were all to leave the camp, the rescue would be a simple matter. I fear that won't be the case.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Several things,” she replied. “The main one being that these trolls took captives in the first place. They're holding them for some reason. Not that I can imagine what it is... Either way, that cage couldn't hold a child if it weren't for the trolls guarding it.”
“No, it couldn't,” the handsome rogue agreed. “Most of the prisoners could squeeze between the poles if they had to and the rest could certainly climb over them. Not to mention that the gate looks like they could just open it if they wanted to.”
“Exactly my point,” the sorceress whispered. “That cage is just to keep them from being able to run off. What's actually keeping them captive is the trolls themselves. And, all things considered, I suspect they know it.”
“I can see your point,” Kilren nodded.
“That being the case, it hardly seems likely that all the guards will rush out of camp after only three enemies,” she explained. “Of course, if they did, we might not have to do anything. My guess is that the prisoners will be rather keen on the idea of escape themselves. If the guards are gone, the prisoners will be shortly after.”
“Alright, then,” the rogue replied. “What’s the plan if they don't all just leave?”
“We'll have to see,” Sarena said thoughtfully. “We might just try the same thing a second time.”
The Beasts of Areon (The Chronicles of Areon Book 2) Page 21
