The Ruins on Stone Hill

by F. P. Spirit

  Brundon looked mildly offended. “I know it very well. You are looking at the best tracker this side of Dunwynn. If there’s a place you need to find, or a trail you need followed, I’m your man.”

  Titan gave him a stern scowl. “Gods, Brundon, can you be any cockier?” She finished by jabbing him in the arm.

  “Well, I am, love, and you know it.” He rubbed his shoulder where she had hit him.

  Titan shook her head and crossed her arms again, obviously still annoyed with her partner. Aksel had to stifle a laugh once more. He was starting to like this woman Titan.

  Brundon leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But I must tell you that Stone Hill is not a safe place. It is surrounded by the Dead Forest, which, as you might guess by the name, is not a friendly wood. Travelers have seen and heard strange things there for the last few months. What’s more is folks started disappearing there just recently.” He leaned back, folded his arms, and gave Titan a strange grin. “No telling what you’ll find up there.”

  Aksel cast a look at Glo, but this time the elf shrugged. Perhaps Brundon was exaggerating, but still there might also be some truth to what he said. Either way, he was tired of this back and forth. “Well, that may be, but we still have a job to do.”

  Brundon leaned forward, trying to sound casual. “So…what would the pay be?”

  “Fifty gold pieces for the both of you,” Aksel said firmly.

  A smile crept across Brundon’s face. He was about to say something when Aksel added, “Twenty up front, and the rest once we have safely returned from our journey.”

  Brundon opened his mouth, but Titan cut him off. She sat forward and put out her hand to Aksel. “Done.”

  Brundon’s mouth hung open as Aksel reached forward and shook hands with Titan. The little cleric allowed himself a smile this time. “We leave within the hour. Meet us outside the inn.”

  Titan gave them a definitive nod. “We will be there.”

  Aksel stood up and dropped a few gold coins on the table. Brundon’s eyes fixed on those coins. Before the tracker could say anything more, Aksel spun around and strode away, Glo beside him. Behind them he overheard Brundon and Titan arguing.

  “I could’ve gotten us more,” Brundon said.

  “You know I was going up there anyway. Now we’re getting paid to—so just deal with it.”

  Aksel nearly laughed out loud. He was really starting to like this Titan.

  Once they were out of earshot, Glo said, “You handled that well.”

  “Thanks. I was beginning to lose my patience with that fellow.”

  “If it was me, I would have turned him into a toad.”

  Aksel glanced up at his friend, but the elf was smiling. “You know you can’t really do that.”

  Glo grinned. “Not just yet I can’t, but I will someday.”

  Aksel smiled in turn, picturing a toad with the tracker’s face. Glo had an odd sense of humor; Aksel did not always know when he was kidding, but he was learning to read him. Either way, Glo made a good companion. Besides being a wizard, Aksel could trust him, and trust was really important to Aksel. He had lost his entire family and felt the weight of being alone ever since. Even when they took him in at the temple, he had not felt comfortable. Sure, the clerics were nice, trained him and all, but Aksel never really fit in. They still had families; he did not. Something had changed though in these last few weeks. Between Glo, Seth and now Lloyd, Aksel felt like he was part of something again—a family of sorts.

  The two companions left the common room together, discussing the impending journey as they walked down the hall and climbed up the stairs to their rooms. Although neither could be certain what awaited them up at Stone Hill, they were both sure it would be an interesting trip.

  Into the Dead Forest

  Human and halfling disappeared into the woods, shadow-silent

  About an hour later, the four companions met in front of the Charging Minotaur. Brundon and Titan soon joined them, leading two horses by the reins. The former wore a sour expression, but Titan appeared satisfied enough for the both of them—looking more than ready to use the longsword strapped to her side. The tall warrior no longer wore chainmail, but instead was dressed in full plate armor that gleamed silver in the midday sun. Glo noted the magical runes inscribed on the armor, put there to make the heavy metal lighter and easier to maneuver in. Across her brow she wore a metallic headband shaped like the letter ‘M’ with an attached piece reaching down to the jaw on either side of her face. In her left hand, Titan carried a large metal shield; on it was the likeness of a rearing lion over two crossed swords on a diagonally split backdrop of red and silver—most likely a family crest.

  Glo watched as the impressive woman-warrior approached Lloyd. She focused on the massive twin blades sheathed in cross-like fashion on his back, smiling at him with an almost child-like excitement. Aksel introduced the two, who shook hands and immediately fell into an avid conversation about weaponry. They continued talking as they packed their saddlebags and mounted their steeds—Lloyd on his paint and Titan on her quarter horse. Glo could not help but smile with amusement, listening to the two of them go on about weapons, battles and fighting techniques. Lloyd had found a kindred spirit in Titan. He almost envied the young warrior. The only one he had ever been able to share his craft with was his father, and that hadn’t worked out so well.

  Brundon rolled his eyes. “Titan can go on for hours like that.”

  “It’s one of Lloyd’s favorite subjects,” Seth agreed.

  “Good.” Aksel gave a firm nod. “Then they can keep each other busy on the ride out to Stone Hill.”

  Glo finished with his own saddlebags, then mounted his horse and surveyed the rest of the group. Seth was dressed in his normal black silks and vest, his long dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. He had a knife strapped to his leg and a number of pouches on his belt, most likely filled with an assortment of throwing weapons and other equally dangerous or useful equipment. Aksel wore a white, high-necked robe with a diamond-shaped emblem on the chest—the symbol of his goddess, the Soldenar. A white cloak hung over his shoulders with the hood hanging down his back, its green lining visible around his neck. His copper hair tumbled over his forehead in front but was cut short in back, revealing his slightly pointed, gnomish ears.

  Lloyd once again wore red leather armor. It covered his upper torso, but also had tassets which extended down to his legs. He wore a matching set of greaves, which covered his legs all the way up to his knees. Brundon was still dressed in brown leather, but now had a short sword strapped to his belt, a quiver full of arrows across his back, and a long bow over his shoulder. Glo himself had on his long, flowing purple robes. In his left hand, he carried a staff with the two crescents on the end, a present from his mother, and on his right shoulder sat his familiar, Raven. She was cawing, “Nammë avánië, nammë avánië.” We are leaving, we are leaving.

  They were just about ready to go when they heard a cry from the direction of the inn. Glo spun around in his saddle to see Kailay rush through the front door, down the steps and over to Lloyd, skirt swishing against the dusty road. She held up a basket to the surprised young man.

  “Just a little snack for you while you’re on the road,” she said, looking breathless.

  Lloyd’s face reddened slightly as he dismounted. “Thanks. You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”

  Kailay handed him the basket. “It’s no trouble at all.” She glanced down at her feet with a shy smile, and waited while Lloyd secured the basket to his horse. When he turned back around, she stepped forward, reached up, and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips. It only lasted for a few seconds, but Lloyd blushed through the whole thing. Kailay finally let go and took a step backward. She put a finger to her lips and said demurely, “That was for luck.” She glanced ar
ound at the rest of them— “Good luck to you all!”—and ran back into the inn, a soft giggle trailing behind her.

  Both Brundon and Titan wore amused smirks. “I’ve been coming here a year, and never got a goodbye like that,” the tracker noted.

  Everyone laughed while Lloyd turned even redder. The young man remounted his steed, his face still flushed.

  Aksel glanced around at everyone, his eyes finally coming to rest on Lloyd. “Are we all ready now?”

  The young man grinned sheepishly, his hand going to the back of his neck. “Yep.”

  “Okay then, let’s get going.”

  The midday sun shone brightly overhead. From what Brundon told them, it would only take a few hours to reach the Dead Forest. The party headed southwest down the road, crossed the bridge over the Raven River, and passed the Temple of Arenor.

  Townsfolk hurried about their business, but they were evidently not too busy to notice the strange group of travelers passing by on horseback. A number of folks stared as they went by, and a few even waved. Ten minutes later, the party had left the little town of Ravenford behind.

  Once they were in open country, Glo turned to Raven and spoke a single word, “Revia.” It was the elvish word for fly.

  Raven replied in her small bird like voice, “Lassuilye, Tura.” Thank you, Master. She then went winging off his shoulder and up into the clear blue sky. The black bird spiraled higher and higher, riding the thermal currents, until she reached an altitude well above the trees. From there, she launched herself forward and flew down the road ahead of the little party.

  Brundon took the lead, followed by Aksel and Seth. Next rode Glo, with Lloyd and Titan bringing up the rear—the two warriors still talking about weapons and battles. From the way they were going, Glo was sure they would talk for the next few hours, maybe even days.

  The group followed the roadway southwest, the smooth cobblestone path paralleling the coastline. The road veered sharply northwest, skirting the edge of a forest directly in their path. According to Brundon, that was the Kelvan Woods—a very densely-wooded area that would not be easy to navigate on horseback. The road continued northwest for a few more miles until it reached a pass in the Kelvan Hills, and then it turned back southward. It would have been slow going through either the woods or hills; the road was still the fastest route to take.

  The companions continued along the cobblestone roadway. After another mile or so, the forest disappeared, replaced by green rolling hills to their left. On their right, the land was flat and grassy. The blue glint of the waters of the West Raven appeared off in the distance. The day remained clear and sunny with only a couple of puffy white cumulus clouds in the sky. Birds winged their way through the air, both solo and in flocks. Every once in a while, Glo’s raven came into view high up overhead, paralleling the party’s progress, then flying off to scout ahead.

  The road was smooth, and before the travelers knew it, they were turning southwest, entering Kelvan Pass. It was really not so much of a pass as a flat area between the rolling Kelvan Hills. The small company left the West Raven behind them and were now surrounded on both sides by the lush green hillsides. Patches of forest occasionally cropped up. It remained a beautiful spring day, and the ride was easy so far.

  Glo thought about how peaceful it had been in the Bendenwoods before they were ambushed. This ride was equally pleasant, but that previous experience reminded him that this was no casual ride. They were on a mission and needed to remain vigilant, no matter how serene their surroundings might seem. Glancing around, he noticed the serious air that had fallen over the party. Lloyd and Titan had gone silent, moving into rear flanking positions on either side of the party. Both rode along easily but maintained careful watch over the passing countryside. Brundon, a little ahead of the group, kept an eye on the road’s horizon, while Seth quietly scanned their surroundings.

  Glo did his part via his contact with Raven. The black bird seemed quite at ease; he could sense her enjoyment as she soared through the clear skies above. The party continued south until the Kelvan Hills fell away to their west. In their place was a large peak off to the southwest. That, according to Brundon, was their destination—Stone Hill. The top of the rise looked barren from this distance, yet those with sharp eyesight could see the outline of the keep at the top of the hill. As the travelers closed on their objective, a patch of wood loomed up ahead. It did not look very appealing to Glo; the tree line appearing more grayish than green. There was something decidedly wrong about it, but aside from the off-color of the trees, he was not sure what from this distance. Brundon, still out in front, called for the party to halt.

  “That’s the Dead Forest on the road ahead. Do you want to continue into it, or do you want to head straight to Stone Hill?”

  His question was met with silence. Glo stared at the grey woods. So that is the Dead Forest. No wonder it is so unsettling to look upon.

  Aksel spoke up after a few moments. “I think it might be best to stick to the road. On the off chance that the keep is occupied, anyone, or anything, on the hill will see us coming.”

  The lean man nodded. “Better safe than sorry. If we stick to the road, we will soon be under the cover of the trees. Then we should be able to turn toward the hill without worrying about being seen from Stone Hill.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Aksel agreed.

  They spurred their mounts onward and continued down the road. As the group approached the Dead Forest, they began to see why it was so named. All of the trees were wilted and sick; vegetation was scattered half-heartedly as if it’d forgotten how to grow there. No animal sounds. Not even a bird chirping to ward off the chilling emptiness of the bony scraps of trees people referred to as a forest. A feeling of unease settled over them as they entered those pale trees. Luckily the forest was mostly devoid of leaves, allowing the blue skies above to seep through. It should have warmed them, but even the sun seemed less cheery as they plodded forward. A short way into the woods, Brundon called for another halt.

  The base of Glo’s neck tingled with a strange sensation. “This is eerie. There is a palpable heaviness in this forest. The trees seem barely alive. Not even in the great forest of Ruanaiaith, which is very dark in places, is there such an oppressive gloom as hangs over these woods.”

  Aksel’s expression was grim. “Then let’s not stay in them any longer than we have to.”

  Brundon nodded. “Very good. I’ll scout ahead. I recall seeing a trail leading up to the hill.”

  The lean man rode ahead while the others waited. The oppressiveness of the woods continued to hang over them, making it feel like forever before they caught sight of the tracker again. Brundon reappeared on the road ahead and soon rejoined them, reporting his findings.

  “Sure enough, just as I remember. There is a path leading off the main road about a half mile south of here. It does not look well-traveled, but it will be easier than trying to travel through all of this dead underbrush.” He surveyed the forest floor.

  Aksel nodded gravely to the tracker. “Lead on.”

  Brundon led the way down the road until they came to a break in the trees. A narrow path led them westward off the path and into the forest. It looked like it had not been used in years. Since the forest was mostly dead, there was not much overgrowth, just the occasional fallen branch.

  The group had to follow single file, so Titan moved toward the front, between Brundon and Seth. Seth was followed by Glo, then Aksel, with Lloyd bringing up the rear. Brundon rode a bit ahead, scouting the path in front of them. The group continued through the dreary forest in silence, as if a wrong word would cause the woods to close in on them. Grayness completely surrounded them, making the feeling of oppression grow worse. It was as if all of the color had been sucked out of the world, except for themselves and the mounts they rode upon.

  The path slowly rose upwards, but they w
ere still in the forest when they reached the base of Stone Hill. The trees thinned out as they continued their ascent up the hillside. Abruptly, Brundon stopped ahead, quietly raising his hand for them to halt. The others heeded his signal and reined in their horses. He slid off his steed and walked back between the others, a half-twisted smile on his face.

  “The path enters a pass through the hillside about three hundred yards ahead. It would be the perfect place for an ambush,” Brundon explained, trying almost too hard to be nonchalant. “I think it’s best for me to scout ahead off the path and see what’s up there.”

  Aksel nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  Seth jumped off his riding dog. “I think I’ll go, too.”

  Brundon gazed skeptically at the halfling. “No offense, but this kind of thing requires stealth. Can you handle that?”

  Glo nearly choked. Brundon had no idea who he was talking to. He expected an acid retort from Seth, but the halfling was surprisingly calm. He gazed up at Brundon and said, “Tell you what—you head out into the woods. I’ll follow after a minute or so. If you can see me or hear me coming, then I’ll head right back and wait with the others.”

  A smile slowly crossed Brundon’s lips. “I like your style, friend. Very well—let’s see what you can do.” With that, the tracker turned and sprinted into the woods. He was soon gone from sight. Seth waited a bit over a minute, then took off after him.

  Glo could not contain his amusement any longer. “I think Brundon’s in for a bit of a surprise.”

  “Don’t underestimate him,” Titan said to them. “He’s pretty good in the woods.”

  “You don’t know Seth,” Glo responded.

  They waited in silence after that. The woods around them were deathly still, a body without a heartbeat. Finally, after about ten minutes, Seth reappeared.