The Towers
Copyright (C) 1997 by Charles Tryon
14: Rethmar
The sun was just beginning to rise in the cloudless sky over the hills as GreyEagle awoke, and a cool breeze gently tossed the heads of the grasses in the glen around her. She rolled over and moaned painfully as her sore muscles reminded her of the abuse they had taken the day before. Marianne had been able to heal the wounds incurred in the battle, but the frantic flight before the orc army had left her stiff and sore. GreyEagle clenched her teeth and forced herself to a sitting position. "Good morning my lovely one," the voice called softly in her ear. She turned slowly to see Coyle squatting on the ground behind her. "The new day awaits your smiling face." GreyEagle brushed the loose strands of hair from her face. "You flatter me Coyle," she said, wincing, "and I don't know if anyone would appreciate whatever smiles I might be able to force..." "But, you will get up anyway," Coyle interrupted with a grin, offering her his hand. She accepted the hand and slowly stood up. "You can help me check on the horses while Marianne and the others fix breakfast. I think that she and Trouble have prepared one of her special teas, which should help loosen up those aching muscles of yours." GreyEagle stretched and breathed the morning air deeply. The tea did smell good. She tried to shake some life into her arms and legs before turning to hurry after Coyle, who had already started over to where the horses were tied. "And how are you this morning?" she asked, looking over the back of one of the horses. Coyle shrugged and muttered something. GreyEagle laughed. "You are as stubborn as I. You wouldn't admit to being in pain if the ogres had chopped one of your arms off. `Oh, it's only a scratch,'" she said, dropping her voice to imitate Coyle's Coyle smiled and tossed a handful of grass at her. "Well, at least the horses appear to be in a little better shape. They would do better with another day's rest, as would some of us, but I am afraid that I agree with Sucaba - it's too dangerous to stay camped out here in the open for long. Horton was able to scare off the orcs last time, but who knows what they will do next time, if driven hard enough. Even a dragon may not be able to save us if there are too many of them." They walked back to the fire when they were finished. Marianne had left the preparation of breakfast to the others and was now stooping over the huddled form of Recuahc. GreyEagle walked over to where he lay. "How is he doing?" she whispered. "Better, but I still wish that we didn't have to ride today. There was a while there when he stood at death's door, and a breath of wind would have toppled him through." "Oh, it wasn't that bad," Recuahc groaned. One eye opened a crack and a faint smile curled on his lips. "Just hand me my sword and I'll whack those bad old orcs." His voice was gravelly and weak, but there was still a sparkle in his eye. He turned to look at GreyEagle. "I am sorry, but I don't think I will be able to practice with you today." GreyEagle smiled. "No, not today my friend. Rest for a while now, and we will bring you some of Marianne's tea. Coyle promises me that it works wonders." Marianne frowned. "Well, I don't know it's is that good..." Recuahc smiled and nodded. "I could use a wonder or two." He tried to roll over, and winced sharply at the effort. "But how are you doing?" GreyEagle interrupted, touching the healer's shoulder. "You have been so busy caring to the needs of others that I am afraid that you've had little time to care for yourself." "Oh, I'm much better," Marianne assured her. "I was able to heal most of the damage from the arrow wound, and a good night's rest did me wonders." She stole a glance at the others around the fire. "I am more concerned about Coyle, and even Conrad and Ormec. They still have serious injuries which need to be attended to, but here on the open road it is difficult." She shook her head. "When we were with the caravan, I could put someone in a decent bed at least, instead of forcing them to bounce around over rough roads on the back of a horse. I dare not ask Sucaba to wait another day though, especially out here in the open, but it would be good if we could spend even one more day in Rethmar once we reach there." She looked at GreyEagle and shrugged. "We do what we can with what we have, I guess." "I have my doubts that he will listen to me, but I will ask Sucaba about waiting a day in the city." Marianne bit her lip and looked over at where the mage was focused on the heavy tome which he carried with him everywhere he went. GreyEagle followed her gaze and nodded. "I think I'll wait a little while..." Sucaba's mouth worked soundlessly as he studied, forming the syllables of the magical incantations that were his life and blood. It was as if the rest of the world no longer existed around him. He rocked back and forth slightly, breathing the power of the spells into his memory. Suddenly he closed the book and stood to his feet. There was a curious grin on his face as GreyEagle watched him walk over to where Horton lay. The dragon rased its head as the mage approached, and his eyes burned an intense red as the mage crouched and whispered in his ear. The two of them walked a short distance from the others and stood perhaps a dozen paces from a small knot of trees. Sucaba stood for some time peering into the trees until he found what he was looking for. With a quick gesture, he pointed out whatever it was to Horton. By this time, the others in the camp had taken notice of the mage's actions, and there was an uneasy hush. Sucaba did not fail to notice this, and flashed a brief grin in their direction. Then he quickly re-focused his attention to what he was doing. Holding his hands out in front of himself, he pressed his palms together. GreyEagle thought she heard a faint crack, as if some power had been released, and the mage opened his hands. Drawing then swiftly to his face, he blew lightly on them, as if trying to blow away a small pinch of flour. In response, a tiny puff of smoke sprang from his palm. It rolled swiftly away from the mage, expanding as it moved. By the time it reached the knot of trees in front of Sucaba, it had already grown in size to the point where it completely engulfed the trees, obscuring them from sight. The cloud hung there, still as death, for some time before the morning breezes began to gently began to tug at its edges. Eventually, it dissipated, leaving the trees as they had been before. With a nod from the mage, Horton approached the trees, took a few moments looking for something, and finally returned to Sucaba with the body of some small creature hanging limply from his teeth. The mage took the body, examined it for a moment, and then tossed it away. Apparently satisfied, he returned to sit by the fire. Propped up on one elbow, Recuahc watched the mage as he sat down. "What exactly was all of that?" "Magic," Sucaba answered flatly. "Ah... a most astute answer," Trouble chimed in. "And an answer I could have guessed myself," Recuahc growled back. "So why do you ask?" Sucaba grinned and made no move to answer further. Recuahc gave him one more look before he rolled his eyes and lay down again. GreyEagle kept to herself through the entire conversation. Sucaba would tell them whatever he thought necessary, when he thought it necessary, and no amount of prodding or prying would get it out of him sooner. The cloud of mystery which he held around himself was just another part of his control over them. When they had eaten, Sucaba stood to his feet. "We will reach Rethmar some time today, and from there we will continue South. Find whatever comfort you may in the town tonight, for we leave at first light, and will be traveling without road or house for many days. We will have to ford the river at some point, so make whatever preparations you think necessary." They got up and began to pick up the camp, but were still stiff and sore from yesterday's flight, and not moving quickly enough to satisfy Sucaba. The mage paced restlessly around the camp, trying to get them to hurry. He stopped and looked over Marianne's shoulder as she changed one of the many bandages which covered the Recuahc. GreyEagle stepped up to the mage and cleared her throat nervously. "Recuahc is still weak," she said softly, "and I don't know how fast the horses will be able to ride after what we put them through yesterday." She could feel Sucaba tense, and she hesitated. "Should we wait a day or two to make sure we are stronger before going on? In the long run it might even save us time, since we will be able to push harder." Sucaba wheeled around to face her. "Why should our mission be delayed by a few orcs?" he sneered. "No, we travel to Rethmar today. You will have comfort enough in the inn once we arrive. Tomorrow we move on." The mage stopped abruptly, and for just a moment his face relaxed. Then suddenly, he threw his hands up in disgust and stormed off. Recuahc coughed. "No GreyEagle, I'll be fine. We're still not safe here, and frankly I'm surprised that the orcs did not attack us again last night, under cover of darkness. Put me on a horse and point it in the right direction." He looked up at Marianne and there was a faint twinkle in his eye. "There may even be a bit of a smile left in me when I see a real bed instead of these rocks and thistles." Marianne laughed nervously and looked up at GreyEagle. "He will be OK, as long as we don't try to move too quickly. He has improved much, even since last night. You will most likely be in front, so you can keep the pace moderate." GreyEagle nodded. "I had better get ready to go." "Yes," answered Marianne, "and I still need to check on the others." She reached down and patted Recuahc lightly on the cheek. "I must be careful to not forget my duty to the others while I am worrying over you, my dear." Recuahc smiled back at her and nodded. He shifted uncomfortably, and then closed his eyes to catch what little rest he could. Marianne went around to those who were still hurting the most from the battle of the day before. As she stood by Conrad, Ormec and Coyle in turn, placing her hands firmly on their shoulders, she closed her eyes in concentration. Whether it was by skill or power, GreyEagle did not know, but each looked considerably better after Marianne stepped away from them. Coyle in particular moved with new strength after Marianne's touch, though Ormec still limped and grumbled with every move. Sucaba continued to pace, checking to be sure that they were all ready. He paid particular attention to the horses, and GreyEagle was thankful she had carefully gone over the horses the evening before as he scrutinized each beast. She could feel the sweat trickling down her back as he checked hooves and tackle. Finally, the mage stepped back and gave her a nod of satisfaction. She shook her head as he walked away from her. He knew little about horses, certainly less than she had learned in her years of dealing with them as she had grown up, and she wondered what he thought he might find. She shrugged. Again, it was just his way of making sure she knew just who was in charge. They were almost ready to leave when Sucaba and Horton took to the air. They had arranged to meet outside of the gates of the city. Greyeagle wasn't sure what Sucaba hoped to accomplish by going on ahead of them at this point, but she was just as glad to have him leave. The entire camp seemed to brighten without the mage's constant pacing and muttering. When they left the glen, GreyEagle led the way back down the brook and up the road towards Rethmar. As they went, they found that the road grew even more hilly than it had been before, and they moved slowly, stopping frequently to rest both horse and rider. Conrad guarded his collection of armor carefully, though more than once GreyEagle wished that they could simply dump it along the side of the road. They had paid dearly for it though, and neither the gnome nor the dwarf were about to let it go. After a while, the land around them began to open up, and the hills became less steep. They were going generally downhill, and many small streams flowed along side of them, making it easy to water both themselves and the horses. The air was still hot and sticky, but the dust was not as bad, and summer flowers bloomed around them, giving a cheery appearance to the path. GreyEagle almost found it hard to believe that it had been only a day ago that they had been fleeing for their lives. Once the hills opened up, it was not long before GreyEagle caught sight of the shining ribbon of the river and the afternoon sun glinting off the rooftops of the city. The river stretched from the mountains which still rose to the East of them, down to the Southwest. It was some time before the others could see them too, but once the city came within sight, even the horses became anxious, sensing the prospect of rest and good food. When they came within sight of the gates, they found Horton and Sucaba waiting for them. The city guards watched them nervously from a distance. GreyEagle was sure that, in the wilds here, they were used to unusual sights and rough travelers, but she was sure that a dragon, even a small one, was not something they encountered regularly. However, since the dragon and rider showed no sign of hostile intent, they had not raised an alarm. Sucaba wasted no time beginning to give out orders. "Marianne and GreyEagle - you are to see to stabling the horses. I will take those who are in need of healing to one of the temples." "I would like to go with you," GreyEagle interrupted, "to see about the healing potions." Sucaba paused for a moment. "Fine. You will help me with Recuahc." "I will go with Marianne and make arrangements for us to stay the night," Conrad offered. "I have no need at the moment for the services of a priest's healing." "Suit yourself..." Sucaba shrugged. "Besides," the gnome added with a smirk, "I have a few business items to attend to." In the end, it was decided that Coyle, Ormec and Recuahc would go with GreyEagle and Sucaba to one of the temples. The others would find an inn, or attend to the business of exchanging the armor they had collected for gold pieces. They approached the gate of the city, the guards at the gate hesitated to let Horton, but after Sucaba spoke to them and a couple of gold-pieces quietly changed hands, they were allowed to proceed. From there they split up. GreyEagle went with Coyle, Ormec, Sucaba and Recuahc, while the others headed into the city. It took them almost an hour to wind their way through the narrow streets to the temple district. The houses there small and closely packed together, sometimes extending over their heads to the point where they almost cut off their view of the sky above them. The people were clean, but gave them a wide berth as they watched Horton from behind shuttered windows and dark alleys. The temples themselves contrasted sharply with the houses they had passed. They were massive buildings, alternately gaudy and plain, depending on the particular deity they had been raised to. There were many temples there, catering to the wide variety of travelers who passed through the city, either along the road or the river. There was a temple to Torm, the Defender, and Coyle suggested that they stop there. "The priests there will be used to ministering to those in need, weakened by attacks in the wild." Sucaba rolled his eyes. "The god of the weak. A fine commentary on those in our group." However, he rased no further objection. The heavy fortress of the temple reminded GreyEagle of the time when she had entered a temple such as this in another city. It seemed like it had been an eternity ago, though she knew it had been only a few weeks. They had been through much since then. They were met at the door by a pair of priests in the long grey robes of monks. Coyle greeted them silently, bowing low and touching his chest with his fingers. The brothers responded in kind, and silently indicated for them to follow. Horton curled up outside of the door, promising to keep an eye on the horse which they had used to carry Recuahc. The brothers looked relieved when they heard this, most likely happy to not have to deal with the issue of allowing a black dragon within the doors of their house. They were led down a long echoing hallway. he ceiling and supporting columns rose high over their heads, and GreyEagle strained to see above them. There were many fine details worked into the stonework and plaster, with paintings failed over the countless years. She was glad for her sharpened eyesight, for it allowed her to see details that she was sure no others had noticed before. Tiny faces of stone stared down at her, smiles which spoke of hope and bravery, contrasting sharply with the gargoyles perched high atop some of the other temples they had passed. They has leered down at them, sticking their tongues out at them in derision. There had been faces of fear and pain and anguish, of enemies torn apart and devoured, or left to rot, hung from poles and spikes. She shuddered, wondering which of those temples Sucaba might have entered, had he been the one to choose rather than Coyle. They entered a large, brightly lit chamber near the end of the hall. The late afternoon sun filtered in through a great many windows which filled the space just under the eves. The walls were brightly decorated with tapestries depicting scenes of battle. This was, after all, the temple of the Defender. Though a number of the tapestries showed scenes of heroes beaten down and defeated, still the faces and eyes of the warriors showed pride and confidence. They died knowing that they had done what they were called to do. They had not trembled and fled, and now they were ready for what fate had brought to them. They faced it without flinching. GreyEagle wondered how she would face death when it came to her. The priests spoke briefly with Sucaba, and then turned to look them over carefully. They examined the wounds and commented on their progress in healing. Sucaba paced agitatedly as they gathered first around Coyle and then around Ormec. They spent a great deal of time around the dwarf, whispering and nodding their heads. When they were finally done, both fighters looked considerably better. Ormec's wounds had shrunk to small welts, still ugly and red, but no longer open or bleeding. He smiled broadly and thanked the brothers profusely. Recuahc though, they simply shook their heads over. He had found a chair along one wall and had slumped down into it, exhausted by the short walk down the hallway. "Only rest or the blessing of his god can help him," they said in low voices. "He has been mortally wounded and brought back from the brink. You are fortunate that he has made it this far." "Here are eleven hundred gold pieces for your troubles," Sucaba sneered, "and for the potions. One hundred for each of the healing spells and three hundred for the potions, as agreed." He held out a small pouch which jingled heavily with coins. One of the priests took the pouch, and with a quick bow, disappeared through a darkened doorway. He returned a moment later with two small deeply colored vials which he carefully handed to Sucaba. "May Torm lead you down the right and true path." "And may the true path find you someday," Sucaba replied with an expression somewhere between a smirk and a snarl. "And," GreyEagle added quickly, looking at the mage with one eyebrow rased, "may its end be neither sudden nor violent." She turned back to the priests. "I am, as always, your servant. We wish your blessing on our journey, as the Path of Truth is fraught with dangers. May Torm smile on his servants." The priests fidgeted nervously, and kept looking at the mage. Sucaba could sense that his continued presence there was a source of discomfort for the brothers. "Fine. We will meet again at the inn. Ormec, Recuahc, our business is done here." With that, he gave Coyle a crooked grin. "Do not be delayed," he said, pointing a bony finger at the fighter. Then, he spun around on his heels and stalked out of the room. Ormec followed after him muttering under his breath about being treated like a servant or child. Recuahc hesitated for a moment before he shrugged and followed slowly after the dwarf. When Sucaba was gone, GreyEagle felt like the sun had suddenly come out from behind a heavy thunderhead. The priests too breathed an audible sigh and smiled. "I am not proud to admit it," the older of the two said quietly, "but I am glad that your companion left. I have always tried to keep an open heart to all who walk through those doors, but it is not always as easy as I would like it to be." He gave GreyEagle and Coyle a curious look. "I hope you do not object to my asking, but how is it that the two of you travel with such a one as he?" GreyEagle frowned. "We are on a quest to find and destroy a powerful demon that has captured a mage and forced her to bear his child. Our quest is to find the demon and rescue the mage and her child before the demon is able to sacrifice the child to Orcus on its second birthday. The mage who quested us selected Sucaba to be the leader of the group. He is a strong leader, to be sure, and I still believe that the original choice was wise." "Expedient perhaps," the priest replied, "but I do not know if I would have called it wise." He shrugged. "However, that is your business, not mine. I still would like to know though what happened to you that you would need to come here, with such injuries. I worry for the young man, though he has a strong spirit, and may yet pull through. I guess that your leadership was not immune to mistakes." GreyEagle blushed. "Actually, it was not his fault. Sucaba was ahead of us, and I was leading the group, along with a dwarf in our company. On our way here, we were attacked by a group of ogres and orcs, and we barely escaped with our lives." The younger nodded his head. "Yes, there has been an increase in the last couple of years of those foul creatures. Unfortunately, nothing was immediately done, as we'd had no trouble from them in many years. But now they threaten to cut off the trade route, by forcing people to pay a toll to get through. Those who refuse to pay are usually slain, or badly wounded as you found out. Several of the temples as well as the city guard are banding together to form a plan to rid ourselves of this plague, but we have faced some opposition from a couple of other temples, who we suspect are receiving `donations' from these marauders. The orcs and ogres are too well organized, there must be someone or some group that is leading them." "Well," GreyEagle replied, "we were able to dispatch perhaps a half dozen ogres and twice that many orcs. However, one orc fled and returned with over a hundred others, pursuing us as we fled towards the city. We would have been overrun if it had not been for Sucaba arriving on his dragon and driving them off." The priest raised his eyebrows. "I see... A powerful ally, or an enemy best kept within sight." She looked down at the floor. "To be honest, Sucaba frightens me. I do not enjoy traveling with him, but I do not know how we can accomplish our task without him. He is a driven man, with forces burning within that I can only guess at. My hope," she said, casting a quick glance at Coyle, "is that with the rest of us, we will be able to prevent Sucaba from doing more harm than good." The priest nodded. "A noble goal, even if it may be foolish." He looked back and forth between the two of them. "I am glad you are not alone." Coyle nodded. "I have not been with the group as long as GreyEagle, but when circumstances brought us together, I was concerned for the safety of her and some of the others. I find all of the mages in the group to be of questionable morals, and," he paused, casting a quick glance at GreyEagle, "the man who hired them also has something of a questionable reputation. Perhaps you have heard of Schimray?" GreyEagle held her tongue. She knew well Coyle's distrust of Schimray, but her own feelings towards the mage were confused still. The priest shook his head. "No, I have not heard that name before, but I do have contacts throughout the region. If I should discover anything, how can I find you?" Coyle shook his head. "We have business to the south of here, though we will be returning to Channathgate, perhaps as soon as a fortnight form now. From there, we will head East along the Traders Way to Kholtar, and beyond." The priest took a quick step back. "Kholtar," he breathed, and quickly shook his head. "What could ever bring you to that cursed land?" Coyle frowned. "I am not free to say at this point. It is important though that we make it there." "The roads you have traveled were dangerous, but it only becomes worse as you continue South. We stand at the edge of the wild here, and few are brave, or perhaps foolish enough to venture into the mountains, and I have no doubt you have heard the rumors of the Rift." At the very mention of the name, the priest shivered, and his skin turned pail. "Nevertheless, that is our destination." The priest regarded Coyle carefully for a moment, and then shook his head. "I see by the look in your eyes that it would be a waste of time to try to dissuade you. Both of you are strong of spirit, and," he added with a sigh, "just might have the strength to return form that land of evil." He turned and gave a quick hand signal to a youth man standing in the shadows behind them. In a moment, the youth returned with a small bundle of scarlet cloth. The priest carefully opened the tiny bundle and held up two small broaches. GreyEagle looked at them and saw what appeared to be the form of a gauntlet - the symbol of the god Torm - made of fine silver, and finely worked with symbols, the meaning of which she could only guess at. "I will do what I can," the priest said quietly, "though I fear that it will be little help against the foes you will no doubt face." He carefully pinned the broaches to each of them. "Your own strength, and the combined strength of those who are faithful is what will carry you through in the end. In your hour of need, look to Torm, and he will be your help." He took a step back. "I must now attend to other duties, but if you should pass this way again, please stop in and let me know how your mission goes. If I learn anything useful, I will pass it on to other temples east of here and let them know to be on the lookout for you." Then he smiled, and rased his hand in blessing over them. "May you never stray from the straight and true path," he intoned firmly. "Torm look out for you." "And may Torm watch over you and defend you," GreyEagle replied. She touched the pin. "We thank you also for your gifts, and hope that we will prove faithful." She bowed briefly, and looked up to see the quick smile of the priest. It was there for only an instant, but it was refreshing, like an instant of sunshine peeking through the clouds on a grey and overcast day, so unlike the manipulating or leering smirks and grins of the Sucaba and the others. Coyle nodded his farewell, and the two of them walked back out into the streets. Earlier, the sky had been a harsh bronze bowl over them, beating down on them without mercy, but as they stepped from the temple, GreyEagle could sense a change in the wind. It was subtle, and at first she wasn't even sure it was there, but she paused and let the breeze gently play with the loose strands of hair around her face. Yes, they were in for a change, though it was impossible to tell what the change would be yet. GreyEagle jumped as Coyle touched her arm, scattering her thoughts like dry leaves. "I am sorry," he whispered. "I know that you do not share my feelings about Schimray and his motives, but I thought this might be an opportunity to try and learn more." He shook his head and looked blankly down the street here they walked. "I have a difficult time trusting Sucaba, and it makes me wonder what sort of person would hire him." "Schimray did not know what Sucaba would be like when he first spoke to us," GreyEagle protested. "Perhaps, but when you returned from the first Tower, what then?" "I spoke to Schimray of what happened." "Oh? When." GreyEagle balked, and looked away. "I am sorry," Coyle quickly added. "I shouldn't pry." GreyEagle shrugged. "There is not much to tell. I told Schimray some things, but I think I was more concerned at the time of the tension between Raal and the others." Coyle bit his lip. "Then there is the gold which flows like water to fund this quest. Where does it come from. Even kings do not pay so well." "I don't know." GreyEagle replied flatly. To be honest, these same questions bothered her, but so far, she had succeeded in putting them out of her mind, preferring to deal with the here and now, the immediate issues of surviving in a hostile land, with companions she could not trust, on a quest which became more and more confusing and uncertain as the days slipped by. Suddenly Coyle put his arm about her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. "However, we go on," he said with a sigh, "watching our backs and doing our jobs as best we can. I am glad to have you at my side though. I trust you, and you and that sword of yours are a force to be reckoned with." GreyEagle did not answer right away. It was good to hear the encouragement coming from Coyle, and she knew he spoke from the heart, as opposed to simply flattering her in a feeble attempt to lift her spirits. It warmed a spot deep within his heart to know his respect, and to stand with him knowing that his sword would not falter due to cowardice or fear. Still, the issue of Schimray and Sucaba remained, and no amount of kind words or pretending would brush it away. Added to that was her own relationship with Schimray, something which Coyle had quickly stepped away from. That too faced her, and she had not a clue what to do once they returned to Arabel. If they returned. "No, you are right," she said finally. "We still know nothing about Schimray, save what he has told us, and even that is little. Still," she added, remembering the look in his eyes when he had stood at the window, speaking of how the Demon Orcus had stolen away his heart so many years ago, "his heart is pierced with many sorrows, wounds which he hides from the others who are around. There is bitterness and anger there, yes, but I think that there is good there too." She looked up at Coyle, and her eyes stung. "I know your heart is good and true Coyle, and I know that you wish only to protect me from hurt. I am just confused." Suddenly, she reached out to Coyle and held herself close to him. "I am glad to have you by my side too, though I do not know if I can live up to your high praise. Schimray's spell of protection has been expended, and I fear for my life. I am not strong like some. When I faced the ogre, confident of the magic I had, and suddenly it failed me, I could feel death breathing down my neck." She shuddered again at the memory. "I fear that we will soon have much stronger foes to face on this path we travel than a few ogres and orcs..." "You are strong, GreyEagle," Coyle said, looking deeply into her eyes. "Do not doubt your abilities. What you may lack in brute power, you more than make up in speed, intelligence... and strength of heart." He shook his head. "We must know our strengths... and weaknesses, and not blunder into every fight we see. We must fight together, not like a bunch of rats thrown together in a box. It pains me to say it, but had Sucaba been with us, I do not believe we would have gotten into that foolish battle at the gate on the road into Rethmar. Ormec is a noble warrior, but he is no leader, for he speaks and acts rashly, forgetting he is protecting people who cannot battle as he does. I spoke to Horton and suggested that when he and Sucaba leave us to scout the road ahead, it would be wiser to put someone else in charge." Coyle gave her his coy smile and chuckled. "I thought perhaps it would be wise to make a suggestion to Horton rather than to talk to Sucaba directly, as he and I are not on the best of terms." "A wise man," GreyEagle replied, "though you would still have a better chance suggesting something to Sucaba than I would." "No. You were selected by Schimray. I was not. No matter what you might say, I am still an outsider. Remember that," he added sternly. "I am not always free to say what I choose." "But you have fought with us!" GreyEagle protested. "Surely Sucaba knows the value of Marianne's skills!" Coyle held up his hand. "I do not pretend to understand our `leader'," he said sharply, "but I know what I see." Then there was a twinkle in his eye. "What I see is that you are by my side, and as long as you are there, I will have no fear." GreyEagle rolled her eyes. "You are hopeless." "I hope so..." She scowled at him. "What did I ever do to deserve such a clown?" "Ah! I am a a clown now?" He danced a couple of steps ahead of her, pretending to juggle a set of invisible objects. With a swift move, he tossed an imaginary ball in her direction and chuckled as she dodged out of the way. GreyEagle stopped in her tracks, standing with her hands on her hips and staring at him, not sure if she should be angry or laugh. In the end, she let out a sudden laugh and lunged at Coyle, only just missing him as he spun out of her reach. She rolled in the dust of the street, laughing, caring nothing for the curious looks of the strangers around them, aware only of Coyle and his merry laugh and twinkling eyes as he stooped down to help her back to her feet. "What ever will I do to restore my dignity?" she asked, feigning disgust and brushing the dust from her clothes. Coyle grinned slowly. "I do not know, but it is unlikely that you will ever be able to do so, as long as I am around." "Of that I am sure, though I would rather be your clown than one of Sucaba's ladies." Then she frowned. "I should not speak so of him, even if I do not appreciate his jabs and mean words. I should be like Marianne and pay them as much heed as water spilled on the street in front of me." "But you are not Marianne," Coyle softly. "You know how much I love Marianne, but you and she are different, and I would have it no other way. She is wise, yes, and has grown strong and brave under the continual eyes of the soldiers and sailors we have traveled with, but she does not have the same kind of fire you have." He frowned, searching for words. "How can I describe you?" "A silly head, full of air." Coyle laughed. "Yes, sometimes. Or rocks." He deftly stepped aside as the palm of GreyEagle's hand grazed his chin. His hand shot up as GreyEagle swung at him from the other side, and caught her hand fast. "And a heart that is true, and lips which speak no lies, I might add." GreyEagle relented. Then she smiled. "What would I have done if you had not come with us?" "I don't know if you would have gotten past the ogres at the gate, though I think you have Marianne to thank for that more than me. Without her skills, some of you would have survived no doubt, but there would have been graves left behind there I suspect." He shook his head, the playful sparkle suddenly gone from his eyes. "I am just grateful that we didn't lose Rex. This march would be solemn one without his lighthearted words and songs." They walked along in silence then for some time. It troubled GreyEagle to see Coyle so suddenly serious after his playful mood of only a few moments before. Still, she respected his need for silence. There was much to think about, though it was encouraging to laugh now and then. Her hand went to the pin she had just received from the temple, and behind it she could feel the cool solidness of the amulet Schimray had given her. She had not yet had a chance to use it, and in fact, most of the others were still ignorant of its existence. She wondered what it might do, or if it would even work. Schimray had not exactly been emphatic in his assurances of what its powers were. What would she do if it failed? She shook her head. There was no way she could answer that question now. When the time came, she would know. They arrived back at the inn and found Marianne waiting for them. The silent one, she informed them, had gone up to his room and did not wish to be disturbed. GreyEagle quietly rolled her eyes and wondered who might be with him. Trouble and Laurel had gone out to look around the city, and to have dinner together. GreyEagle found this match-up curious, but shrugged. The two had spent a lot of time together lately, which was not a problem as far as she was concerned. She noticed too that there was a subtle change in the mage whenever he was around Laurel, a change which she found encouraging. It was as if he was on his best behavior for her benefit. It was certainly better than when he was trying to impress Sucaba. They helped Recuahc up the stairs and into a bed which Marianne had gotten ready while they were away. She had opened the windows and put fresh flowers in a small vase on the table. Their sweet smell filled the room, and added a little color to the otherwise dull grey of the walls and furnishings. Recuahc protested weakly, but the trip to the temple had left him exhausted, in spite of the mount they had given him to ride, and after a firm word from Marianne, he relented and laid his head wearily on the pillow. Marianne closed the door quietly behind them, and then stood for a moment in the hallway outside the room. She was obviously worried. "It's Recuahc..." GreyEagle whispered. "Will he be OK?" Marianne nodded. "Yes, but he needs rest now." GreyEagle clenched her teeth. "Even the priests at the temple said they could do no more for him. I hope that Sucaba does not kill him with his ceaseless drive to push on at all costs. Even a day or two would help." Marianne looked up at Coyle. "I have done what I can. He will rest for a while now. If we are fortunate, we won't encounter any more problems on the road South." GreyEagle shook her head. "Those at the temple warned us that the road only grows worse from here." "I suspected that. I have never traveled this far to the South before, but I have heard enough stories about the Southern wilderness to know that wise travelers avoid it. I would like to wait a few days here - we could all use a rest - but I am sure that Sucaba would not hear of it." "Could we leave him here until we have returned from the second Tower?" Marianne shook her head firmly. "No, he made me promise that I would not leave him behind, a promise that I was foolish enough to agree to. The riding itself will not harm him, but if there is any trouble..." "We'll have to stick close to him if there is an attack," Coyle added. "That is easy to say here in the quiet of the inn," GreyEagle shot back, "but in the heat of battle, things do not always go as planned." Coyle shook his head. "I don't know what else we can do," he said angrily. Then, he sighed. "No, I am not angry with you GreyEagle. What you say is true. I do not understand Sucaba, nor do I like his leadership, but I have given my word, and I will stand by it." Abruptly, he smiled and put his arms around both Marianne's and GreyEagle's shoulders. "But, we are here together, and together we stand or fall." GreyEagle nodded. It was some comfort to have the three of them together again. It somehow muted the helpless feeling she struggled with. There was nothing more they could do there. Marianne did not want to leave the inn, so GreyEagle and Coyle slipped out to see what there was of interest in the town. They walked the streets together, talking quietly and exploring the small marketplace. The shops there were much smaller than the ones they had seen in the towns and cities along the Golden Way, and tended much more towards weapons and armor and steel than the finer items of silk and gold seen in Shaarmid, and the shopkeepers eyed the strangers carefully as they strolled past. They returned to the inn at dinner time. GreyEagle would have liked to spend the rest of the evening with Coyle, but he was still tired from the previous day, and not in the mood for exploring. The air was slowly cooling as the sun went down, but it was still uncomfortably hot, and GreyEagle had to admit that, in spite of Marianne's touch, her shoulder still ached. She tried to not show it, but sharp stabs of pain still shot through her arm every time she moved too quickly. "A warm bath might help," Marianne suggested with a teasing smile, "and I doubt that you will have another opportunity for one for quite a while." GreyEagle smiled. It did sound good. A few minutes and a gold piece later, she was slowly slipping into the warm water. The soap was coarse and harsh, but she could feel the tension and anxiety sliding away along with the sweat and road grime as she gently worked the sponge over her body. After a while, she just laid back to let the warmth soak through her relaxed form. She slept well that night. It was the sound of the wind rattling the windows which awoke her the next morning. She lay for a while listening to it, and to the faint creek and moan of the timbers of the inn as the wind pushed and pulled at the building. She might have stayed a lot longer, but the smell of breakfast cooking downstairs reminded her of her empty stomach. Food like this was another thing which she might not see for some time. Some of the smells which greeted her as she came down the stairs she knew well, but there were some rich and pungent odors which she could not place. There were many new foods here, some of which she had seen the day before with Coyle, and she was curious to try some of them. The others, with the exception of Recuahc who was still resting, were already gathered. Ormec had cleared the entire end of one of the long tables, and had then piled it high with various platters and mugs and bowls full of every imaginable food. The dwarf hardly noticed her as she sat down at the opposite end of the table, next to Coyle. GreyEagle was surprised when the silent mage walked in a few minutes later, but then she did sometimes overlook the mage as he sat quietly, often a little apart from the others, always watchful, with his face shadowed deep under the wide brim of his hat. This morning though, as he had done a number of other times in their journey, he had acquired clothing to match that worn by the local people. The robes were long and flowing, and not bound around the waist. His head was bare, and his flowing red hair was pulled back tightly and bound in a tail behind his head. There were some muttered expressions of surprise from the people around them as he sat down at the table with a wide grin and motioned for something to eat. What caught GreyEagle's eye though were the gleaming, matched hilts of the two swords which showed, one from where it was bound to his side, and another from the wide belt which passed over his shoulder to his back. She remembered the blade which he had shattered after the battle with the ogres, and guessed that he had been to the armorer. The hilts were finely worked - not flashy and useless like a nobleman's steel, but clearly showing their quality and artistry. She could not see the blades, but she guessed that they must be of similar workmanship. It seemed strange, but the mage looked more the part of a warrior than a magic user. She smiled in his direction and he acknowledged with a nod. A serving girl appeared behind him, slightly confused by the different costume. "Za?" she asked, and the mage responded with a sharp nod. She disappeared, and a moment later returned with a dark steaming brew. The mage quickly caught up a few of the sweet-breads which had been piled at the center of the table, pausing just long enough to take a deep gulp of the beverage. The strange brew piqued GreyEagle's curiosity, and she waved to the girl. "Another one... like that, please," she said, pointing to the heavy ceramic mug of the silent one. The girl nodded, and almost as quickly as before, returned with a second cup. GreyEagle gave the mage an uncertain look, and lifted the mug to her lips. The aroma was the first thing that hit her. It was definitely one of the scents she had detected coming down the stairs, which she could not place. She couldn't define it - bitter and smooth, strange and enticing, pungent almost to the point of being overpowering. She paused for a moment to draw it in, watching the silent one over the rim of the cup as he grinned back at her. Suddenly she laughed, and took a sip. The taste surprised her. It was not at all like the smell, and yet it was the same mixed up jumble of sensations as the aroma had been. Across from her, the mage had already finished his first cup and was signaling for another. It first, GreyEagle turned up her nose, but after a couple more sips of the steaming liquid, she decided that she could enjoy something like this. GreyEagle looked up at Marianne and was surprised to see a look of concern in her eyes. She turned to follow the direction of her gaze and discovered Recuahc approaching the table. He was still pail, and walked slowly, but he was on his feet, and the characteristic smile had returned to his face, accompanied by that eternal twinkle in his eyes. "I thought I told you to rest," Marianne scolded. "And miss all the excitement down here?" Recuahc put on a hurt expression. "Excitement?" Marianne sputtered, "I think you have had enough of that for a lifetime or two." "Ah, not nearly enough, though I must admit that I could use a break for a few days..." Marianne shook her head. "Well," she finally relented, "if you are going to be here, you might as well not stay standing there all morning." She slid over and indicated the spot next to her. Recuahc's face lit up like a light as he hobbled over to sit next to her. Marianne quickly ordered a large bowl of hot oats and raisins for him, and when it arrived, she sprinkled a pinch of herbs over it and mixed them in. At first, Recuahc made a face at the bowl, but after a stern look from Marianne, he ate it. The herbs must have been potent, for he quickly gained some color in his cheeks, and perked up considerably. The next half hour was quiet as they concentrated on eating. Between the sweet breads, za, ale, wine, meats and exotic fruits, they put down no small amount of food. When even Ormec was satisfied, they finally leaned back, and the conversation turned to the road ahead. They could sense that they were drawing steadily nearer to the second Tower, and the excitement was building. Sucaba fidgeted nervously during the conversation, and any time it wandered too close to mentioning the Tower itself, he shot an angry look at whoever was speaking. Recuahc looked nervous as the others spoke, and he said little. Finally he leaned over to Marianne and whispered to her. "So, how am I doing?" Marianne caught her breath and hesitated for a moment, confused. "Well..." she began slowly, "considering the fact that you were standing at death's door only a few days ago... you are doing quite well." "Then, `not well' would be a good answer." "No... I did not say that..." Recuahc cut her off with a shake of his head. "Perhaps it would be better if I stayed here rather than travelling, until I get my strength back up. I am a burden and a danger to you now because I can not defend myself should we run into trouble." Marianne opened her mouth to protest, but Recuahc went on. "Leave me a horse and I would be able to travel more quickly alone than you can as a group. I could catch up to you in three or four days. Just show me your path." GreyEagle risked a glance in Sucaba's direction. He said nothing, but he was carefully watching Marianne, waiting for her reply. At first, Marianne didn't know how to respond. She looked around at the others, and then back at Recuahc. "You are still weak, but you are healing quickly, and for the most part, out of immediate danger. You need rest, but we can not leave you behind." She glanced over at Coyle. "What would happen if you were attacked while you were on your own, trying to catch up, or your horse broke a leg, or you got lost and couldn't find us? We will be traveling overland now, so I don't even know how you would track us. No, you will be much better off going with us, than trying to kill yourself catching up." "Perhaps..." GreyEagle cut in, "one of us could stay with him for a day or two, and then catch up. Two traveling together would be much safer than just one." Recuahc sighed, "Perhaps, but I have no desire to split up the party." Sucaba cleared his throat. "Can he travel at full speed?" Marianne did not respond immediately, but finally, she nodded. "Yes, he should be able to ride. It won't be comfortable, but he'll be able to keep up." "Good. Then we leave together." With that, Sucaba indicated that the issue was closed. GreyEagle and Marianne exchanged anxious glances, but finally Marianne shrugged. She had expected this, and now needed to deal with the reality of moving on from there. Conrad excused himself from the table, saying that he had to fetch something. He returned from his room lugging a number of heavy sacks. "I don't know about the rest of you," he said proudly, "but I had quite a time yesterday afternoon after we arrived." He scrunched up his small face and peered around at those seated at the table. "As for those who spent so much time whining about those suits of armor we dragged along, well, we will see what you say now that I have exchanged them for hard currency." He flopped the sacks up on the table with a loud thunk. "If I'd had more time, I could have done better, but it seems like we're in a bit of a hurry. The gems weren't too bad, at 10, 100 and 1000 gold pieces. Put all that together, and you've got..." The gnome paused a moment to scratch his chin. "...398 gold pieces each." "There are the daggers to consider too," Trouble added. "We have two now." Conrad looked around until he spotted Recuahc. "You could use one, I suppose." The gnome smiled. "You might do better with a shield to keep you out of trouble, but this might help." Recuahc's eyes lit up. "Are you sure? I would not want to take it from someone else who could make better use of it... but I would appreciate it." "You do not have a magical blade," Conrad added solemnly. "The others do. Use it well." He handed the blade to Recuahc who carefully tucked it into his belt. They divided up the gold and gems. Recuahc and Raal took the two smaller gems, while Ormec took the largest one, returning a small pile of gold pieces to the others to make up for its larger size. The dwarf's eyes gleamed as he carefully picked up the stone, and he would not move for some time after that, as he just sat there staring into its many-faceted depths. GreyEagle noticed that Sucaba's mood had improved considerably. He sat quietly as the others talked, smiling and chuckling to himself. Once the gold had been divided, he stood to his feet. "We will leave from here soon. If you have any further business to attend to before we head into the wilderness, then make it brief. We will leave the city before the sun reaches noon." He looked around the table. "Horton and I were able to spend some time going over our route, at least for the distance of a day's travel. We will cross the river Channath just outside the city. From there, we follow along the river until we reach the forks. Here it is that Horton and I found a place to cross." "Is it shallow enough to ford the river there," GreyEagle asked, "or will we need to build a raft to get across?" "You should be able to cross without a raft." Sucaba turned to Trouble and the silent one. "I have acquired two additional healing potions with the money given to us by Schimray. I am giving these to you two to carry, though they are for the group to use, but I believe they will be safest if you carry them." Trouble stowed the vial in his pack. "Let's hope we don't need it any time soon." The silent one accepted the vial with some curiosity, and held it up to the light, tipping it back and forth. Apparently satisfied, he slipped the vial into one of the deep folds of his cloak. While some of the others scattered through the town on various errands, GreyEagle stayed behind at the inn to help Marianne prepare Recuahc for travel. In spite of her calm words, GreyEagle knew she was still upset about forcing Recuahc to leave so soon, but there was nothing else to be done. With some luck, they would keep out of trouble for a while, as long as she could keep Ormec from dragging them into another fight.
Next...
7 April, 1998