Tales of the Wolf: Book 02 - Enter the Wolf

by A. E. McCullough

  “When Oddr gets back with a clear trail, I am going to leave you and Dagr behind.”

  Agni started to protest but Midach silenced him with a wave of his hand.

  “This is not open for debate. Yes, I know you can and want to continue on but Dagr is hurt worse than you and can hardly walk. Plus, with Hakon and Ander’s bodies we are moving way too slow and you know it.”

  Agni looked down. “Aye, that I do.”

  “You two must make your way back to the surface and get word to the King. There is too much activity for this to be only one gnomish village. This must be the entire gnome population rallied against the Highlanders.”

  “But…”

  “What do you think Blackfang promised them to get them to rally to his cause? Victory over the Highlanders? A people who don’t even realize that there is a whole other realm beneath their feet?”

  Agni looked up. “Darkmoor?”

  Midach nodded. “It has to be. Nothing else would get all the clans working together like this. I counted at least seven different insignias in the gnomes that we’ve fought.”

  Agni nodded. “You’re right. It must be done.”

  Anything else that might’ve been said was lost due to Oddr’s return. Those warriors that were still mobile enough to continue said their farewells and fell in line. Oddr and Ivarr took the lead, Brandr and Midach right behind with Knutr following up the rear as always. Knutr was the strongest member of the company but he was also the shortest and widest.

  Oddr led the small company to the site of a small skirmish where four gnome corpses lie and pointed out that the bodies were at least a day and a half old.

  Midach glanced at the bodies and shrugged. “Okay. Dead gnomes. We’ve left a few score of those behind ourselves.”

  Oddr shakes his head. “You don’t see it, do you?”

  “I do.” Ivarr pointed at the corpses. “Hawkeye killed these three in battle but this one was stabbed from behind.”

  Oddr nodded before moving over to a flat area nearby and pointed at the ever so faint scratches on the rocky floor. “They sat here for a short time before heading off that way together.”

  Midach asked, “Hawkeye is a prisoner?”

  Oddr shook his head. “I don’t think so. He is walking behind the gnome. No one in their right mind allows a prisoner to walk behind them, especially one that is three times your size.”

  Ivarr added, “So they departed as companions. Interesting.”

  Midach stood up and shouldered his pack. “They have over a day’s head start on us, let’s get moving.”

  Without another word, the five dwarves headed off into the darkness following the ever-so faint trail left by Hawkeye and Kang.

  Several hours later as the group paused, Midach looked at the crevasse with distrust.

  It was small but if Oddr said that Hawkeye’s trail lead to this crevasse, then it lead to this crevasse. The dwarves began to enter the gap, all except Knutr. Midach took one look at the small rift and then back at the stout dwarf. There was no way he would fit and they both knew it.

  Knutr spoke first. “Well sir, it looks like I won’t be going any further with you.”

  Midach shook his head. “No my friend, I guess not. We are going to miss your axe the next time we run into trouble.”

  The stout dwarf nodded and just held out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure sir.”

  Grasping forearms in the tradition of warriors, Midach nodded. Nothing else needed to be said. They both knew that the smaller Midach’s company got, the worse his chances were at returning alive. But then, every dwarf on this mission knew the risks when they joined him on this quest.

  Knutr watched the smaller dwarves struggle and scramble to get through the small crevasse. Once they dropped out of sight, he picked up his axe and started back to his injured friends.

  Midach and his three remaining companions landed in the lava room with a loud thump. When nothing attacked them, they set out to search the area.

  It was obvious that some sort of fight had happened in this grotto. There were blood and gore stains on the floor and walls. None of it was entirely fresh, it was at least a day old but with the heat from the lava pools it was hard to tell.

  Oddr combed all around the grotto until he stopped at a large pool of the yellowish fluid and looked up. The other dwarves followed his gaze upwards and froze when they came upon the rear appendage of the scorpion-man hanging out of the small ledge. Very quietly and slowly, the dwarves backed into the lava room with their weapons at the ready.

  Oddr broke the silence. “I think its dead.”

  Ivarr kept his crossbow trained on the creature but glanced at Midach. “I hope it is but we need a plan in case it isn’t or it has friends.”

  Midach nodded. “I agree. Oddr?”

  The scout studied the ground and pointed away from the corridor with the monster overhead. “The only tracks lead back through the lava room and down the other corridor; only one set though and walking with a limp.”

  Brandr guessed. “So, one of them fell in battle with the girtablu while the other was injured. Can you tell which?”

  Oddr shook his head. “No. The tracks are smeared. I cannot get a good bootprint.”

  Midach said, “Doesn’t matter. The trail leads that way, then we go that way.”

  Backing away from the corpse of the scorpion-man, the four dwarves followed the winding trail for several hours until they reached a large cavern. Cautiously, the dwarves paused at the opening and studied the grove of fungi trees. They knew that this meant that there would be some sort of creatures in the area. No area of good grazing or hunting is overlooked for long in the Subterreth.

  However, when the sounds of battle reached their ears, they quickly made their way through the colorful fungi. Peeking around the trunk of a towering mushroom, they spied a large band of kobolds. The monkey-like scavengers had a limping figure surrounded and were poking at it with their spears.

  Without waiting to discuss it, the dwarves attacked. Midach, Brandr and Oddr charged the kobolds while Ivarr began to fire his crossbow as rapidly as possible.

  Chapter 8

  Whoever Hawkeye was expecting to see come to his rescue, finding a young boy that was completely bald and dressed in white robes was not it. The boy was probably no more than ten years of age yet he was fighting the kobolds and the ogre with amazing skill.

  The boy was wielding a white wooden staff which he spun expertly. One second he was blocking an attack from behind him, the next he was lashing out in a strike. On top of all that, the boy was never still. He was dodging, executing back flips and rolls unlike anyone Hawkeye had ever seen before. It was astonishing to watch.

  Unfortunately, the odds were completely against their savior.

  During one of his flips, as the boy landed on the trunk of a nearby mushroom and prepared to rebound off, the ogre shoulder charged the fungi and knocked him off balance. The young martial artist landed hard and everyone heard the whoosh of air knocked from his lungs. It was obvious that he was momentarily stunned and the ogre grinned at the easy prey in front of him.

  Hawkeye knew that he wouldn’t reach him in time but had to try. Screaming at the top of his lungs, the barbarian rushed to cover the twenty feet which separated them, knowing full and well that he would never make it in time.

  Before the ogre’s axe could travel the short distance from over his head to the boy’s neck, an arrow sprouted from the massive beast’s chest. The ogre paused and looked down at the projectile with a perplexed look. A second arrow buried itself in his chest a thumb’s width away from the first and then a third. Without another sound, the ogre released his grip on his axe and fell backwards…dead.

  That was enough for the remaining kobolds. Their leader was dead and so were many of their numbers. Kobolds were not a race to pass up any sort of fresh meat; being true scavengers, many of the dead kobolds were dragged off by their companions.

  Hawkeye and Kang paused as
an old man calmly walked into the carnage left by the battle.

  The old man was also bald but wore grey robes and used a staff to feel the ground as he walked. His hollow eye sockets declared that he was obviously blind, yet the long bow over his shoulder and the quiver at his waist proclaimed that he was also the archer which had saved them. Hawkeye was about to say something but the old man held up his hand to silence him and turned his face toward the young boy. He spoke in a language that neither of them had ever heard before but the boy nodded, gathered his staff and departed into the darkness without a word.

  Turning his eyeless face towards them the old man asked, “What are your names?”

  “I am Kamots Hawkeye and my companion is Kang of Aad.”

  “Judging from your accent you are a highlander and Aad is a gnomish city, which means your traveling companion is a gnome. Two enemies working together as allies this far underground; interesting, very intersting. I am sure there is a story to be told but not here…there are other scavengers waiting to feast on the dead. Come.”

  Without waiting for an answer the blind old man turned away and disappeared into the darkness. Not having many other options, the two companions followed. The old man in grey robes led the two injured companions down a winding path through the fungi forest.

  The sound of running water, thump and a splash continued to get closer but the old man seemed unaffected by its strangeness, so the two companions tried to relax. Rounding a bend in the forest, the two wounded companions stopped and stared at the sight before them.

  The largest mushroom that either of them had ever seen stood tall in the middle of a small clearing. To make it more fantastic, a door and several windows had been carved out of its trunk. The warm glow of a fire burning inside beckoned them, as did the scent of roasting lamb. A small herd of sheep milled about the clearing, seemingly wary of stepping across a line of white stones which encircled the clearing.

  As they studied their surroundings, they also discovered the source of the mysterious noise. Along the back of the clearing, where it intersected with the cavern wall was a small pool of water. Evidently there was a spring which flowed from a crack in the wall. The old man had rigged some sort of hollow tree limb and fixed it where it would catch the dripping water. When it got full enough, it would fall over and dump its contents into a wooden trough before righting itself to once again begin the whole process over. It was such a simple and elegant explanation that the two companions just stared at it.

  The old man’s voice brought them out of their stupor. “Are you two going to stand there all night or would you like to come inside and eat?”

  Turning back to the voice, they noticed that the old man had not stopped when they had but continued to the mushroom house. The mention of food and the smell of roasting mutton overruled any thoughts of hesitation. Besides, they were in no condition to argue with their rescuer.

  Whatever they were expecting when they entered the old man’s strange house, this wasn’t it. It was sparsely furnished but at the same time, warm and comfortable. The door opened onto one huge room which seemed to be nearly the whole width of the mushroom trunk. The floors, walls and ceiling seemed to be carved from the living fungi. Hawkeye couldn’t help but reach out and touch the wall, only to find that it was slightly spongy. He could only guess that the floors and ceiling were the same. In the center of the room was a stone fireplace with a small lamb roasting on a spit. The young boy who had come to their rescue was sitting nearby but he was wearing a blindfold at the moment.

  The old man pointed at two woven mats that were next to the fire. “Come. Sit. Eat. You need to regain your strength for your journey.”

  Both Hawkeye and Kang looked at each other before looking back at their host. Kang casually rested his hand on his sword hilt but it was Hawkeye who asked.

  “What do you know of our journey?”

  The old man shook his head.

  “Nothing… unless you tell me of it. But it isn’t hard to figure that you are on a journey since you are so far underground.”

  Filling a wooden bowl with steaming meat the young boy had carved off the roasted lamb; he set it on one mat and began filling a second bowl.

  “Come…eat…after dinner we will tend your wounds.”

  Hawkeye and Kang both understood that this was just a more advanced or more civilized version of the Stranger’s Fare ritual and moved forward to sit down. Again, they were really not in any condition to argue since they were both wounded and tired. Besides, they had already seen both in action and they knew that even if they were well-rested and fully healed, they would be hard pressed to defend themselves against the two monks. The four ate in silence which gave Hawkeye ample time to scrutinize his surroundings and his rescuers.

  When they were finished eating, the old man sat down his bowl and turned his scarred face towards the highlander.

  “I know you have been studying your surroundings while you were eating. I’m curious…what have you discerned about us?”

  Hawkeye set down his bowl and gestured to the young boy.

  “He’s the easiest to figure out. He is obviously your pupil. Given the racks of weapons which align the walls, the abundant targets set up outside and the fact that he is blindfolded at the moment, I would surmise that part of his training is to learn to fight without the use of his eyes.”

  Hawkeye turned his attention back to the blind monk.

  “You on the other hand, I haven’t figured out. Judging from the wounds on your hands and face, I guess that you are no stranger to battle. Although the scarring around your eyes doesn’t look familiar, so I cannot guess how you lost your eyes. Nor can I guess why you two are living in a mushroom house this far underground. Care to enlighten us?”

  The old monk just stared at him for a moment before he broke into a huge grin. The sound of thump and splashing water echoed through the fungi house.

  Turning his sightless eyes to the young boy, the old man said. “Ronin, it is time. You may take off your blindfold for the evening. Please, get some bandages for our guests.”

  The young apprentice did as he was told and blinked rapidly in the bright light of the fire before running off to do his master’s bidding.

  The old man turned back to the wounded companions.

  “First off, let me introduce myself, I am Pau. Master Pau, Keeper of the Five Rings. And you are correct Hawkeye; I was once a great warrior. But my fame was also my curse, for it was my skill in battle which led to the loss of my eyes.”

  Ronin returned with bandages, herbs and water. Without waiting to be told or pausing to ask, Ronin began dressing Kang’s wounds. At first the gnome scout resisted but he was weak and in pain, so he relented.

  “Let me explain. My homeland is far, far to the south. We have our own problems and wars that have nothing to do with this region of Terreth. However, we too worship the gods and have suffered since their disappearance. Many have fallen away from the teachings of the gods but my sect, the Godai, still believes and follows the teachings of Gogyo, the one you call Terra.”

  He paused in his story for a moment and shifted in his seat before continuing.

  “To truly answer your questions, I need to explain the Godai to you. The Godai consist of the five elements of the universe; Chi, Ka, Fu, Sui and Ku. Or in the common tongue; Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Void. A warrior of the Godai must pass through each of the five elements and emerge.”

  He pointed at his scarred face and missing eyes.

  “This is my badge of honor from Ka or fire. I was too proud of my abilities and I nearly lost my faith during the ritual. But Gogyo took pity on me and allowed me to survive.” He touched his scarred face again. “This has become a mark of my doubt.”

  Hawkeye nodded. Some of what Pau said made sense but then he knew that his people had similar, if not so intense, rituals that would be hard for outsiders to truly understand. As Pau continued Hawkeye returned his focus on the older warrior.

  �
�Every generation is called upon to train the next generation in the Way. However, the new ruler of our land, Emperor Ryuu, has declared that the teaching of Gogyo to be subversive and the Godai to be disbanded. When his soldiers arrived at our temple they were led by his youngest son Saburrou; a spoiled, petulant child that was not used to being disobeyed. When Saburrou ordered my master to kneel before him, Master Chu refused and explained that it was against our beliefs to kneel before a mortal. Needless to say Saburrou didn’t like that, drew his sword and killed my master where he stood.”

  Master Pau bowed his head and his voice became softer. “I am sorry to say that my brothers reacted out of anger and retaliated.”

  Kang spoke for the first time. “Sounds like this Saburrou fellow got what he deserved.”

  Master Pau shifted his sightless gaze to the gnome. “Possibly. But many who deserve to live, die in battle. And many more who deserve to die, live when everyone around them dies. It was not our right to decide their fate.”

  Hawkeye said, “To fight and kill your enemies is one thing. To react out of anger or fear and take a life is another.”

  Master Pau nodded. “I see….you also understand the Way.”

  Hawkeye shrugged. “I do not know this Way you are talking about; I just strive to follow the tenets of my goddess.”

  “Nevertheless, they are the same path. But to continue my story, my brothers were victorious but we knew that it would only be a temporary reprieve. Now the Emperor had an excuse to destroy our order. So, the council selected ten masters and our most promising pupils, loaded them with supplies and the bulk of our library and sent them off into the wilderness while the rest of our order stayed behind to die.”

  Kang asked, “Why not just use your skills to defeat the Emperor? He sounds like a bad ruler.”

  Master Pau shrugged. “To decide the politics of our land is not the purpose of the Godai. We were formed for one purpose and one purpose only; to aid the child of prophecy. We are to train and remain on the Way until he needs us.”