by deSouza, Leo
“Fine, now let’s leave.” The captain spoke again.
They left the room and walked outside the trunk, Alrid led them to the point where they could see a long branch extending forward and joining another tree’s branches, forming a footbridge. “It is a safe path, just follow it south and you will reach the cliff.” He spoke.
“Thank you again. And please tell your father that we must talk again on a more propitious occasion, send him my regards.” Replied Thuor.
The elf motioned and left, Rurur slapped the ram’s hip, the dwarfs went ahead.
The Soothsayer.
The leaving from the elf kingdom was melancholic for the dwarfs, somehow they felt charmed by the cozy mood of the place, and they felt they were missing something when they left it. Now they were approaching a grove with short green grass and young trees, there were flowers from small plants on the ground, and many yellow butterflies flying around. Rurur was looking at the animals and trees, pleased. “A good opportunity to find roots, herbs, for sauce.” He said.
A noise was heard, the buzz of a flying beetle, and no one paid it any attention until it became really loud, so loud that the dwarfs thought that no beetle could make such a noise, they looked at each other and around, then something passed flying above Torag’s head, he quickly crouched. A huge beetle landed just ahead of them, not a normal beetle but a gigantic one, the size of a small pony. The dwarfs approached as they admired the insect, Torag came closer, stealthily, he went from behind the insect and jumped on it, the animal stirred and twirled. “Behold! For I’m the rider now! Fly away bug! Take us to the skies above the lands, and may no flying beast threaten us anymore!” The dwarf said hitting the animal with his heels, as is done with a horse.
The other dwarfs laughed, the beetle opened its wings, throwing Torag ahead.
“Ouch!” Exclaimed the dwarf as he hit the ground.
The bug flew away, making a disturbing buzz, Torag raised his torso and was now sitting on the ground with his legs stretched, then he noticed something, there was someone close, sitting on a rock, an old man with a long red-haired beard, wearing a cloak and a hood, his face could not be seen, except for his dirty teeth in his smart smile, he had a staff resting on his lap.
“Hey. I did not notice ye coming.” Said Torag.
“Nor me.” Said Thuor looking around as if expecting to understand what happened.
“Who told you I came?” Asked the old one.
“Ye were not there just now.” Said Torag.
“No, I wasn’t.” Replied the old man.
“Wait… I know ye. Ye! Ye again! We met ye before in the boulder village and in the carpenter elves dwelling! Ye following us!” Torag spoke.
The man shook his head and gestured denying what he said. “No, no, no. We just crossed again. That’s fate.”
Olaf spoke: “It is he, for sure, though he seems a little bit different now, he looks more…”
“Clean.” Rurur completed.
“Fate? Hah! Speak now, I do not have much patience left for things like this! Tell us how ye got here!” Torag exclaimed as he rose from the ground and slapped his legs to clean off the grass.
“I’ve been always here, and never saw this place before.” The man replied.
“Stop tricking us, old one.” Thuor spoke.
“Ye came flying, mounted on the beetle.” Said Olaf.
The old man chuckled. “What an absurd idea! No man can fly on beasts this way. Can he?”
Thuor looked at him and approached. “Who are ye, old one?”
“I’m many things, one of them is a soothsayer.” Replied the man.
“Oh not this again…” Torag whispered. “Ain't nobody have time for tricks and cheap magic, not to say about losing more coins! This is the second time he is going to mock us!”
“If you say so, master Torag RockFoot.” Replied the man showing his yellow teeth in a forced smile.
“How do ye know my name? Geezer.” Torag asked.
But the man could not answer, Thuor spoke first: “Tell me.. Who are ye? And how do ye know about us?”
The old man uncovered his head from the hood, revealing his face for the first time. Red beard and hair, many wrinkles and a friendly smile, his eyes seemed to have somehow the same color as his hair.
“A spy! A bounty hunter! Paid to pry on us. Maybe to kill us!” Said Torag getting into aggressive stance.
“To kill you? Someone more apt would be chosen for such a task, not a geezer like me. Anyway, allow me to present myself, I am myself.” Said the man.
“Oh save us from this round of charades! What is your name?” Asked Olaf.
The old man frowned. “Now you ask for a name… I have many names, depending on the place, and sometimes on the situation.”
“Then tell us, master of riddles and runaround. What is your name here, and now.” Said Thuor.
“You can call me... Wait...” Babbled the man. “I think I forgot my own name! I mean… One of them.”
Torag sighed. “I will leave this for ye.” He whispered as he moved away.
“Ye don’t remember your own name? Dotard.” Asked Rurur.
“Not the one for this occasion… It is like some king’s name… I guess… Can’t find it right now…” Whispered the man as he rubbed his chin.
“This is ridiculous. The man sits on a rock and thinks it is a throne, on an altar of madness!’ Said Torag.
“Oh!” Exclaimed the man as he looked at Olaf. “Altar, that is the name!”
Rurur chuckled, Olaf shook his head.
“So, Altar. Now tell me, how do ye know about us?” Asked Thuor.
“You know, some say soothsaying is just about being a good observer, and hearing well. You spread your own reputation around, do you think you can go on, fighting against goblins and burning places, dealing with diplomacy between folks, scuffling in taverns, and visiting wise elves on the top of their dwellings to talk about serious events and all this without catching any attention?” Replied the old man.
“It is true, we have been messing around.” Spoke Rurur.
“I want a convincing explanation, it must be more clear.” Thuor insisted.
“Clear? It is so clear that you caught much attention, captain. So much attention that warned powerful masters, the type of one who you know not, but who can send vassals after you.” Altar said.
“Are ye talking about the assassins who came to kill us?” Thuor asked.
“Assassins, spies… Many ones know about you now.” Altar said.
“And why is someone sending assassins to kill us?” Thuor asked.
“The ones who came to you had the black viper mark on their bodies, right? It means they can only come from one place, and in this place there is only one who rules. Yes, captain Thuor, you raised the ire of powerful ones, for there are many shady interests in this entire plot.” Altar spoke.
“You know too much, this is not sounding good.” Olaf said.
“Yes, I know.” Replied Altar. “But I’m not the one hiding anything, am I, Olaf?” Altar asked.
Everyone looked to Olaf, the dwarf felt intimidated. “Me?” He asked.
“Yes, I know just by looking at you. You began to feel strange again when you came close to this place, right?” Altar asked.
Now Olaf looked at the man with a serious mien.
“Tell us Olaf, I’m done with half truths and riddles.” Thuor spoke.
“I don’t know about this, I…” Olaf was saying when he stopped suddenly, as if remembering something. “…It is true, I remember now, I had a dream last night, a strange dream.”
“Oh this is what I’m talking about, why don’t you share it with us?” Altar asked.
Olaf looked at Thuor as if expecting from him the order to go ahead and talk, the captain nodded.
“I dreamed about the Dark Rider…” Olaf continued. “He was inside a strange place, white place… Yes, I remember now… But it was a dark place, there was not much light. Corridors, enc
losure rooms, and he was doing something, I could not tell what, can’t remember more.”
“And so you woke up this morning feeling downcast, and the more you approached here, the more you felt dread.” Altar spoke.
Olaf just nodded.
“There are many things to be said about the connection you have with this one, Olaf, but this is not the right time for it. Now it is time for us to join into a common task.” Altar said.
“Really? You know too much about us. Why don’t ye tell us more about yourself before getting to dealings? Now I have many questions about what is really happening here.” Thuor said.
The old man jumped from the rock and stood up, making the dwarfs remember how tall he was, he spoke: “More about me myself? That is fair… My name is Altar, at least in these parts, yet I have many different names depending…”
“Depending on the place and the situation. We already know.” Thuor interrupted.
“That is it.” Altar said. “In the west they know me by a different name. Anyway, I’m a traveler, and a good friend, if you know how to deal with me. As I was saying, I think we can help each other, I’m on the same trail as you, I have being following him too, the Dark Wanderer, the rider.”
“Why?” Asked Thuor.
“Because someone must take care of such business, master Thuor.” Altar replied. “I’ve been following horse tracks, and I was close to finding my answers when the trail just disappeared, and as we came to know, it was because he now flies.” Said Altar.
“And why follow us?” Asked Thuor.
“Well… Right after the trail disappeared, I came to know you were looking for the same thing as me, quite appropriate.” Replied Altar.
“So ye followed us hoping to find the Rider.” Replied Thuor.
The old man frowned, twisted his mouth, snorted and then finally nodded.
“What about the horse?” Asked Olaf.
“That is an interesting question. But why do you ask about it?” Replied Altar.
“I have a special interest in it, I saw it once, a marvelous animal.” Said Olaf.
“Marvelous you say! Ha!” Exclaimed the man. “How close did you come to it? Guess you would not find it really marvelous if you had come that close. Strange horse it is, the strangest I have ever seen. It steps like a great beast, as heavy as can be, but it can gallop so fast that even an eagle would find it difficult to follow.”
Thuor sighed, he rested this hammer on the ground and his hands on the tip of its helve. “And how do ye know our names? How do ye know about Olaf?” Replied Thuor.
“We have some common friends, Marok in his tavern, Lainor, the elf master I visited just before you, and some others.” Said Altar.
“So ye know Marok and Lainor, that clarifies many things. And gives ye some credit, for a friend of these ones is my friend too.” Said Thuor. “Marok would not reveal our names to any stranger. If he did it, it is because this man deserves to be trusted, I know Marok, I would put my hand in the fire for him. The same could be said about Lainor, plus this one could find and extirpate any false friend.” Said Thuor.
Altar smiled. “Good to see we came to a point of agreement.”
“What about Olaf? No one knows more about his… Dreams…” Rurur said.
“That is because I have dedicated comrades, some of them can see inside people’s minds.” Altar spoke.
“The little one! Kalish it was his name.” Olaf said.
“Yes.” Altar replied.
“So are ye like a guild of sneakers and gossips?” Torag asked from far.
“Ye say about a common task. What is this about?” Asked Thuor.
“Finally to the important point. It seems we are chasing the same thing. Right?” Asked the man.
“Yes it seems so.” Replied Thuor.
“Why don’t we join our forces to achieve this? I have a golden clue for you, you have the workforce.” Said Altar.
“What do ye want from us?” Asked Thuor.
“Nothing from you, but for us.” Altar said. “It is time, let’s not delay it anymore, our meeting here is not by chance, Olaf and his connection with the Rider is the key. The dream he just told us about came to confirm my suspicions, the end of all this plot can be near. I know where this rider is, join me now, and maybe we can finish our quest.”
“It is a trap! Look at him, he will hoax us. Who knows what this old rogue has in mind? Maybe he is planning to stab us in the back. Maybe his partners are waiting on the road, lurking.” Said Torag.
Thuor stared at the man for a while, then spoke again: “Let’s say we accept the offer. Now for the rider and his beast, how do ye think we could meet him, without being, eaten?”
“I told you it would be a good clue.” Said Altar with a smile. “The place where the Rider is now is not an open field, it’s a tomb, an underground one.”
Thuor bent his head to the side and squinted. “This is a very convenient situation.”
“Yes it is.” Said the old man.
“How far is this tomb?” Asked the captain.
“Ask me how close. Half a day of walking… or such.” Said Altar.
Thuor motioned to the man and turned back, calling the others to join him. The dwarfs formed a small circle and started whispering.
“What is it, captain? Will ye trust this geezer?” Asked Torag.
“We all heard the man. He knows too much about everything, there is something in him, he can not be a crook.” Said Thuor.
Rurur stood on tiptoes and peered over the shoulder of Olaf, he saw the old man standing there. “It’s true, he knows our friends, and our deeds, there is something about him.” He said.
“Well then... I say, let’s do the job, and if he tries anything, we cut his head off, and take his belongings.” Torag spoke. “He has a backpack, I wonder what is inside it. If he is a trickster, ye can imagine how many fools he has deceived. Maybe he stole their belongings, and there is everything inside the pack now, gems… jewels…”
“Right, Torag. Ye can take his belongings if he betrays us, but for now, let’s give him a vote of confidence. I’m not going to lower my guard, I still want to know many things about him, yet we must take the opportunity.” Thuor said.
Everyone nodded, they turned back to Altar.
“Right, old one. We have a deal.” Said the captain.
“Excellent!” Exclaimed the man. “Let’s go!”
“No! Not before eating.” Said Torag. “I’m hungry, quite hungry if ye ask me.”
“Me too, and I’m not leaving without a good meal.” Said Olaf.
Rurur came to the ram and started taking breakfast stuff from the saddle, Torag left towards the grove to collect sticks for a fire, the other ones arranged food and things on the ground, the old man just sat nearby. After some moments a bonfire was lit, and a piece of meat was being roasted.
“Ye can eat with us.” Said Thuor motioning to Altar.
The wanderer approached and took from outside his backpack some packages, he unwrapped one revealing its contents, a preparation of cheese and herbs that seemed delicious to Rurur’s eyes, the dwarf looked at it with greed as the old man started cutting it with a knife and eating it. Rurur slightly moved around to ask for a piece of it when he noticed Torag shaking his head quietly as he stared with a stern look. After the meal they took the road among the trees, led by Altar, there was a junction near the grove entrance and there a small sign with many arrows pointing to different directions, one saying Fortune-Telling Grove and pointing ahead to the road through the woods, so they went south and entered the grove. The vegetation became denser, although it could not be called a thicket yet; the dwarfs were watching Altar as they walked, they were still suspicious of the old man who had a soft but steady walk, he did not look sideways, walking uprightly with eyes fixed on the road ahead, as if he knew exactly where he wanted to go and what he would do. Torag approached him and walked by his side. “So, Altar… How ye came to become a tracker?” Asked the dwarf.
“Well, master dwarf, one must adapt to the many circumstances of life. I once was an emissary, but things have changed, and got more complicated, now we need eyes to watch the corners of this world, like this grove.” Said Altar looking around as if suddenly remembering that a threat could be lurking.
“Do ye belong to some House, what is your order?” Continued the dwarf.
Altar stood silent or a moment, then spoke: “My order you ask. Yes I belong to an order, a very distinct one, very particular.”
“And I suppose your patron sent ye in this quest.” Said Torag after stumbling on a rock.
“Patron? I have no patron, but I’m under some charge, that is for sure…” Replied Altar.
“Brotherhood of the East.” Thuor spoke.
“Good conclusion, captain Thuor.” Altar said.
“So ye work alongside the little one, Kalish. I should know!” Torag spoke.
As they advanced the road became narrower, and tall bushes stopped them seeing the surroundings, except for Altar, who was a tall man. The leaves on the trees were exceptionally green for that season, and there were still many birds and butterflies, as if it was spring. After a curve over a small mound they entered a clearing and right when the group was crossing in the middle of it their attention was caught by something on the bushes nearby.
“What is this?” Asked Rurur stopping and looking at a stirring bush.
The other ones stopped to look at it.
“This is why this place is called Fortune-Telling Grove, the trees know about the travelers who cross these lands and the flowers whisper gossip about their lives.” Said Altar.
From inside the bush suddenly came a flying thing, so fast that none got to see what it was. It flew around the group making inscrutable sounds, the dwarfs whisked at it with their hands.
“What is this annoying thing?” Grumbled Torag with his rough voice.
Then suddenly the thing stopped in the air, so they could see what it really was.The dwarfs looked at it astonished, Altar made no sign of surprise. The flying thing was a fairy, it stood in the air, beating its almost transparent wings faster than the eye could see. It was a tiny creature, in the form of a small woman or a child, so small that it could be mistaken for a hummingbird, and as quick and agile as the bird.
