Hinterland Fortress

by Ron Smorynski

  "An army? Out here?

  "Exactly! Be hard to maneuver! Even for us troll hunters!"

  "Can't have an army out here?"

  "Oh, that I agree. So for now, mercenaries, hunters, and small teams are searching out the ruins and legends of the lost kingdoms in the Evermire swamps! Fascinating!"

  "Is that oil you have there?" Ender asked, noticing the cruddy pail with oily leather straps hanging from it.

  Himley looked. "Oh yeah, to soften the leather when I work with it."

  "Could I buy some of that oil from you?"

  "Oh, no! No telling when I'll get some next. We’ve been getting fewer and fewer wagons lately."

  "My purpose is to open up that road again. We could use some oil for that end. Willing to pay gold for a leather sack of it. A small sack," Ender offered.

  Ender entered the Inn & Tavern. He saw Ligo sitting with a fine meal and ale. Ligo had what appeared to be a new purple cloak on. Ender came over.

  Ligo immediately perked up, swamp meat in his mouth. "Rhyal is in her room! I knew that'd be the first thing you asked!"

  Ender sat.

  "Get yourself a fine meal and ale, my fine tracker! We leave early in the morning!" Ligo said, chewing and drinking, laughing greedily at his fortune.

  "I see you've bought some new attire? Not many gnomes here. How'd they have such attire for you?" Ender asked, waving the innkeeper for the same order as Ligo's. Of course, that was all they were serving anyway.

  "It's my own clothes! I sold it to the Merchants of the Trade just to feed myself. You don't know Ender. Its tough out here. When I saw you two, I knew you were different! The only other adventurers coming out here are low life criminals and vagabonds with a rusty sword. No one heroic wants to venture out this far, isolated on a rock in the middle of the most dreary land. And remember this, the Merchants of the Trade and worse, the Merchants & Banking get all the treasures! We get a smidgeon of coin for our troubles! It's a business venture! And corrupt at that!"

  "Then why did you come?" Ender asked, as the innkeeper plopped a plate of some sort of cooked swamp meat, in gravy, with some sort of cooked root, and, of course, a thick ale.

  Ligo chewed rapidly for awhile. Innkeeper Brunswick brought more crusty bread. Ligo tore a piece to soak up the salty brown gravy, pondering. "I've not been that great a business gnome. Tried my luck in Telehistine. Gnomes aren't really given the same treatment as manfolk, especially in Telehistine with those corrupt merchants. At least these ones here are risking something out here. All carry a sword here as no telling what may happen. Anyone who comes out here has had a run of bad luck, and that would definitely be me." He sighed and continued eating.

  Ender looked down at him. Ender was somewhat like an elf, eating modestly. But in the Evermire, Ender was getting an appetite. No telling when the next cooked or over-cooked slop of a meal would come. He began eating greedily like Ligo. Both shared a smile.

  "Why did you and Rhyal the elf come then, if you don't mind me asking?"

  "Nothing special really. I'm from the manfolk and wanted to leave the elven cloister. After the dragon wars in the West, the elves have hid away in their forest kingdoms. Many of the great lords were lost. They have remained hidden from the world for the most part. I wanted to leave to see the world."

  "Were they disappointed since they saved you, raised you?"

  "No, Rhyal's father found me a bit pesky I'd say," Ender thought about it.

  Ligo let out a guffaw.

  Ender was going to get emotional but couldn't help feel the lightened and joyful mood in Ligo. "Yes, I suppose I was, am. Since manfolk tend to have shorter lives, we want to do more, quicker. I wanted to fight for good, for families against evil orcs. And I heard of Telehistine..."

  "All roads lead to Telehistine!" Ligo hummed out the saying everyone seemed to know.

  Ender nodded. "Rhyal is a young elf. She never experienced their great war. She, I think, was always challenged by me, to do things, to hurry up, instead of hide away." Ender thought about it, feeling he was speaking more than he had in a long time. There was something about Ligo, diminutive and cheery, and their modest success that brought out Ender's reflection.

  "Good, good, I saw it in you! I talked to Jurgeon the dwarf about you as well!" Ligo said, chewing and wiping and drinking. "He of course didn't want me to hire you! Or partner with you! Hah! Everyone here knows I've lost ruffians and coin. So I'm just being honest with you! But from now on, I'm not listening to the upper management if you know what I mean! No more risks from them! They're all up there hiding away in those recently built mansions! Spent all their coin and labor, hundreds of wagons and laborers, soldiers and everything, to make their comfy abodes! And what do they have to show for it? All their servants, soldiers, and workers left! They hated this place. I remember the day, nearly two score wagons, hundreds of manfolks, all left!"

  Ender stared wide eyed.

  "And now, the few left here are hanging on to their investment, straddled between the lost venture and the dark foreboding Evermire!"

  Ender stared as if seeing the Evermire before him, and a myriad leagues of danger and despair.

  Ligo snapped his fingers. "Right, so finish your meal and get some rest in a real bed. I know I will. And early tomorrow, we go get that wagon of trade!"

  9. Dire Trade

  Rhyal and Ender waited outside the Hinterland Fortress. It was another dreary morning in the Evermire swamp. The fortress was situated atop a rock foundation, like a mound extending out of the dark sea all around. Its hewn walls extended up further with the modest stone walls.

  It wasn't like it needed vast defenses, having the swamp all around it. There were two gated entrances on the east side. The tallest part where the Duke's keep and noble buildings were was on the west side, facing the way back to Telehistine and the West.

  The road wound about the bog to enter on the eastside. Perhaps it was a good defense, requiring anyone who wanted to get to the gates to rush along the west and southern cliffs and walls. The northeast gate led to the rickety and rotted docks. Some of them were just a few rocks with boards nestled amongst them, whatever worked out here in this foul remote land.

  The settlement upon the rock had quite a sharp slope up. The mound was still able to collect and keep much of the muddy terrain just as the lands below it.

  Rhyal and Ender peered at the few water vessels. They were simple barges and dinghies. It looked like they were using them mostly to fish and hunt swamp creatures.

  "It appears they hunt food more than treasure," Ender discerned.

  Rhyal agreed. "They aren't getting the deliveries they expected. And now with the road becoming more dangerous, there will be even less."

  "Right-oh!" Ligo came, plopping along with four leashed goats.

  "Bah-ah-ah-ah-ahhhhh!"

  Rhyal was taken back. Elves didn't deal much with manfolk beasts, especially strange ugly ones.

  "Oh, come on now!" Ligo noticed. "It's our ticket to riches! These little beasts will haul anything!"

  Ender bent down to pet them. They immediately began chewing on his soft elven leathers. He gently then forcefully nudged them away.

  "Oh and hah hah! I've talked to the Merchants of Trade, those rascals. It appears they are desperate for that wagon, desperate for any wagon! They are desperate for trinkets and trade! Others have gone out and not returned. It appears the road is becoming more and more dangerous!"

  "There must be more orcs out there. Perhaps there is a war party, spread across the road, looking to ambush us," Rhyal said.

  "And remember, the Duke conquered this rock, defeating an orc clan. No doubt their scattered remnants are wanting to return," Ligo figured.

  As it was getting darker, they decided to camp out on the road. They traveled a full day and then some. It wasn't too difficult to see as night came as the mist seemed to let light in, then keep it. But it was only in that gray misty way. At night though, the shadows did get darker and seeing detail
s for footing and steps became trickier.

  The goats were dragging as well. They found a dry spot, on a high part of the road, away from swamp grabbers or small krokodills. Rhyal sat calmly, away from the pesky goats. Ligo tied them together on some bramble which they immediately began to chew on.

  Ender laid down comfortably next to Rhyal. Ligo then set up some small sticks and a string all around them. He tied some trinkets to the string. Ender noticed, Rhyal surely noticed but stayed in her meditative state.

  Ligo winked. "Bought it at the market. Warn us of any creepy crawlers trying to get in." He winked. The trinkets were little pieces of tin, easily clanking if something pushed or tugged against the string. "Everything in this swamp slithers or crawls along."

  Ender was impressed. He went to sleep. In the middle of the night, a small krokodill tried to sneak up but the warning system worked. Rhyal used a torch and her own flame to frighten it away. The goats bleated in appreciation.

  The next morning they headed out. Ligo rolled up his warning system and got the goats ready as they continued to chew on the bramble. They were swamp goats, moorland types, with wide hooves and a slow yet strong gait. Thankfully, they could eat anything in a swamp for sustenance.

  As he trotted along, Ender found the pathway back to the ruins. It wasn't far in from where they had slept. He stopped and peered along the pathway.

  "Tracks, fresh ones," he said aloud.

  "From us?" Ligo asked.

  "Oh no, more orcs, last night headed to the ruins," Ender said.

  "More orcs? Surely this road is now officially dangerous!" Ligo responded.

  "How many?" Rhyal asked.

  "Five, six, orcs only, no goblins," Ender said.

  "Orcs only, pretty tough. Not sure we should risk it," Ligo fretted. "I do want that wagon. We must... but orcs are orcs."

  "If we could draw them out, down this path," Ender figured. "Use the flame again, burning them on the path, they'd have to flee back or into the water." Ender showed his leather flask of oil. "And we can get them stuck in a fire once again."

  "Oh, I like your thinking tracker!" Ligo responded.

  "Fire is my calling," Rhyal said, showing a small flame.

  Ender snuck along the path to the mound of ruins. It wasn't hard to see the orcs. They had a fire going and were going through the wagon of supplies. They were tossing the vegetables about and examining the tools. It appeared they were packing up what they thought useful and planning on returning down the path.

  Ender thought to wait, but then realized, he didn't want them to travel back with the supplies. If they ambushed them with the supplies, the supplies could get burned or ruined. He was going to lure them for a chase. He was confident he could make it back to Rhyal. His movement in the swamp terrain was as good as any orc or better. Rhyal wasn't bad either but she was hidden and ready by the largest bramble they could find.

  Ligo took the goats back aways, worried about the grabbers and krokodills. Rhyal made him a torch to repel anything.

  Ender fired his bow, hitting an orc. It yelped in pain. The other orcs growled in surprise and turned to spot Ender. He stood up letting them know he was there. He prepared another arrow. An orc came rushing out of the covered area in tattered black robes, wielding a staff with a small rat or snake skull on it.

  Ender was surprised by the look of it as it swirled its staff. He fired his bow at it but missed. The foul orc was some sort of a shaman. It fired a black shadowy spider-like mist at him. It ripped through him and made him shudder in pain.

  Ender reeled knowing he could not sustain much more pain than that. He fled awkwardly back as the orcs growled and tossed their sacks and packs of salvage.

  Ender saw another black tendril orb blast near him. He felt the tinges of pain from that one and knew he was in grave trouble. Could Rhyal even resist such painful dark magic? He had no choice but to flee. He did his best scampering lightly yet quickly across the path and mud.

  The orcs chased after him. It was easy to tell where they were since they growled and barked in their blood lust. Ender knew where the oil was placed and stepped upon the bramble laid over it.

  Rhyal saw him and could tell by his odd crouch he was in pain. She knew something magical must have happened. She could sense it. She then saw the first few orcs charging forth. One threw a javelin very close to Ender. It could have done him in. This challenge was beyond them.

  Ender jumped past her, leaping behind and skidding into the mud. The orcs were very fast as they traversed upon the bramble trap.

  Rhyal leapt up and sprayed them with the burst of her fires. It lit up the area and the orcs. Three of them were consumed and the oil caught. A wall of flame burst and the orcs were consumed. A fourth reared back in fright. Rhyal then saw the shaman orc, a smaller bent over orc in a few tattered robes wielding a staff.

  It howled in rage and touched one of the remaining orcs, screeching some dark words to it. She then saw the orc suddenly grow in stature, in size. It looked bigger and braver than before.

  It came splashing through the murky water, brandishing a crude war axe.

  Ender healed his own state of painful shock. He was now ready with swords in hand. He felt the weight and motion and knew to use both swords and not hesitate. This beast of an orc was enchanted with size and strength.

  "Grrahh!" Ender roared with courage.

  Rhyal saw the shaman prepare another spell, but she was ready and blasted it with a bolt of fire. The shaman reeled in pain, rolling away to put it out. It still managed to cast a dark webbing blast at Rhyal. Though it hit her, her magical armour absorbed the black magic.

  Ender met the giant orc at the path, not letting it get out of the water. It swung frantically but was not balanced. Ender had the advantage and slashed to and fro. The orc was badly wounded but still swung again wildly. Ender continued to block it from gaining a foothold on the path.

  Another orc was trying to cross in the rear. It hurriedly followed the other orc in the water. Rhyal quickly imagined a krokodill's head coming from the water. The orc saw it and yelped as it retreated.

  Ender managed to swing again then pierce, skewering the enlarged orc. Its eyes rolled back as it shrunk back to normal size and fell back into the water.

  Rhyal saw the orc flee and the shaman with him. Where did they think they were going? Trapped at the ruins! She fired more fire at the shaman, blasting it from behind. She felt a surge of power in her flaming element. She wasn't sure why but after never having been in such dire situations, it was as if the magic within her was awakening. In these split second decisions under duress, she felt a surge of power unleash.

  Ender looked at Rhyal than at the floating krokodill head. "Is that you?'

  Rhyal nodded, flicking her fingers. The illusion dissipated.

  Ender sighed relief and hurried through the water, near the flames on the path, but not too close. He made it across and peered in the distance, readying his bow.

  "Don't go without me!" she warned. She carefully went to his side near the water. "Ender, sense any creatures?"

  Just then, tentacles came out to grab the dead orc. There were several dead orcs, some still smoldering.

  "Yes," he quipped, nodding to the grabbers.

  "Funny." She quickly sloshed through the water to Ender's side.

  The swamp beasts were delighted once again to eat orc. There seemed to be more of them, including several bog krokodills. One looked like it was large enough to attack them, a krokodrake. But with easy prey right there, the jaws clamped down and it receded into the dark water.

  "Let's go," Ender said, hurrying along. "Only two left."

  "Careful, could be more. Are you hurt?" Rhyal whispered after him.

  "Was hurt, healed now. That shaman has some evil incantations!"

  "I'll burn him! I caught him a couple of times. He should be weak now," she replied.

  They hurried along.

  The orc and shaman were hiding in the only place they could, w
here the previous orcs once had sleeping quarters and a small fire for burning their meals.

  Ender came about to spot them. He fired his bow, missing. He kept to the ruins for cover. The shaman fired a bolt of the foul dark tendrils but it blasted the rocks before him.

  Then Rhyal came out of other side, familiar with the ruins, and burned them with her hands. They screamed in a flurry of flames and died.

  "That's an orc shaman, ehy?" Ligo leered at the burnt pile of dead bones. "Shamans means more orcs, a bigger lair, a raiding part, a war boss somewhere," he surmised.

  "This isn't all of them?" Ender asked.

  "Oh no," Ligo said. "Got's to be a bigger party probably all scouring out along the road, seeing who can get the best loot for their chief or leader. A raiding party will have more. But maybe we've whittled them down a bit, ehy?"

  Rhyal and Ender gulped, looking down at their victory, yet fearing that their tactics and strategies may not always continue to be successful.

  Ligo saw their concern. "Look, we get these supplies packed up, take them back, see if we can get some more help or packs of oil like you used there, okay? I'm sure the Merchants will see our success and they'll help us with our next venture. Okay?"

  Ligo stared up at Ender and Rhyal who seemed exhausted and their nerves strained. Ligo rubbed his chin. He quickly looked amidst the supplies in the sacks and packs, plopping them back in the wagon.

  "Looky here! If these aren't potions and I'd say of healing magics?"

  Ender and Rhyal blinked out of their morose state.

  Ligo handed each one. "Take it. You too. You've earned these, not fifty-fifty! Bonus! For the incredible fighting. You've defeated six orcs! That's quite impressive! Before you know it, others will want to work for us!"

  Ender and Rhyal took them and put them in their sacks for later use.

  Rhyal tore some of the healer's bread, giving Ender a portion and taking a smaller portion for herself. She then climbed up atop a ruin. "I need to meditate this filth and muck away." She sat on the driest rock she could. It was smooth on top and easy to sit on.