The Beginnings Omnibus: Beginnings 1, 2, 3 & Legend of Ashenclaw novella (Realm of Ashenclaw Beginnings Saga) (78 page)

“What of Geth?” asked an elderly and balding gentleman who emerged from the caravan door to stand among them. He gestured toward the east, where the fallen man still lay in the road. The mist was lingering and rolled over him, engulfing him in an eerie way, Saeunn thought.

“The man is alive and lying somewhat comfortably back on the road where I left him,” Elec said nodding in that direction. “We will need to get him into a cot in the wagon so that he may rest properly. I do not know if his wounds will completely heal nor if there is any permanent damage, but he is certainly alive.”

A younger woman stood in the doorway, staring out and trying to hold back tears. She offered Elec her thanks, obviously overhearing the conversation.

“Dryden, you and I will gather Geth and bring him back to the caravan,” the older man instructed as Elec continued to treat the wound of the forest elf, wrapping a clean piece of linen around his arm.

“We will help you,” Saeunn said as she looked at Rose, jamming an elbow into her side, as if to urge her into action. She frowned and then nodded and they all gingerly but firmly lifted and carried the man back to the caravan, laying him gently on a cot at the rear of the wagon.

“Let us return to speak with the Inquisitor. These people shall break bread with us and will remain under our protection until further notice,” Saeunn declared. “There may be more of these highwaymen lying in wait,”” she added, speaking directly to the older gentleman, whom she assumed was the patriarch of this group. “I am Saeunn of the Chansuk barbarian tribe.”

“I am Pendus,” said the man, extending his hand in greeting. “That is my son, Dryden and daughter, Jasmine.” Saeunn stared hard into his eyes and merely nodded, then turned away.

 “She’s a bit of a cold fish,” Rose said, stealing a glance at the barbarian, who stared back at her. He nodded and turned to his son to instruct him to go back east.

Dryden climbed back into the seat, directed the horses, and the caravan pulled away from the scene of the carnage, back up the hill slowly to the cavern where Garius waited.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving my family,” Pendus said again to the group.

Saeunn sat staring out at the area surrounding the road and wondered if they would be able to provide them safe passage. Heartwood Valley, among many other known roads, was one often plagued by bandits, cutthroats, and worse. She looked at the humbled and emotionally distraught man and sighed. Then her thoughts turned to the potential loss that this family might have endured if they had not happened upon them when they did.

“We are not out of danger yet,” she added firmly. “And you’d be a fool to believe that these roads do not hold more dangers upon them.”

Pendus drew a deep breath, turned to face Elec and Rose, and gestured his thanks to them.

“I warned you, didn’t I?” Rose quipped to Pendus, drawing a half-smile from him. Saeunn ignored the remark again but listened in to the conversation.

 “I appreciate what you have done for my daughter and her husband,” Pendus continued. “He is the wounded man—my son-in-law—Geth.”

“I am glad that we could help,” Elec said with a smile as he continued to move between both Geth and the elf. Saeunn noted that Elec avoided Rose’s gaze, which seemed to linger on the elf. This continued for the entire trip back until their caravan, and Orngoth, came into sight at the crest of the hill.

Sounds of something approaching in the distance drew Garius from his recent findings. He exited the cave mouth and glanced back at the still unconscious form of Thaurion, who was resting comfortably.

A modest-looking wagon slowly entered into view, emerging from the dense fog that had rolled in while he was performing the ritual. At its head was a young man who propelled it up the hill and into their camp, where it slowed significantly.

Garius immediately withdrew
The Repentant
from his back and held it out before him. He began to prepare a spell asking The Watcher for a thunderous bolt of lightning. As the clouds began to comply with his will, he saw Rose emerge from the decelerating wagon, nimbly walking and jumping off the runner. He shook his head, realizing that she certainly danced to the beat of her own drum.

When the wagon finally came to a halt, the solid form of Saeunn emerged and smoothly leaped to the ground, not breaking her stride. Garius noted that as the huge barbarian exited the caravan, there was a noticeable spring in the wagon as it was relieved of her weight.

Garius paused to consider the survivor of Chansuk. She was an atypical and remarkable woman, full of muscle and wide of jaw. Yet, what was truly impressive was that she was not only a vicious and deadly warrior, but also an extremely striking woman.

His thoughts quickly gave way to the present, however, as a young woman and an elderly gentleman appeared from behind his companions.

“What happened?”

“They were being accosted by a gang of highwaymen along the road in the valley below,” Rose offered.

“How fortuitous that you happened along then,” Garius answered.

“It happened to coincide with the fog rolling in from the north.”

“Then, it seems that your attackers were either lucky or—”

“Clever,” Rose interrupted, “done on purpose, of course.”

“And if it weren’t for the aid of your friends here, we would have been robbed and possibly killed…or worse,” mentioned the young female that stood next to the elderly gentleman. Based on the strong family resemblance of the two of them, Garius figured that the man could only be her father.

“Aye, there are fates worse than death, Jasmine,” agreed the older man cryptically. “I am Pendus,” he said as he bowed low in front of the Inquisitor. “My family and I were traveling from Dhegg to Oakhaven in a somewhat futile attempt at observing the Days of Holy Enlightenment Festival, but we were delayed by inclement weather.”

Garius nodded and moved close to the group as the driver stepped down from his post and joined them. He too had a strong family resemblance to both the father and the daughter.

“You most certainly have missed the Days of Holy Enlightenment by now as Winters Fade is upon us,” Garius mentioned. He noted a wounded elven figure come into view, emerging from the caravan and favoring his right arm that rested in a sling. The elf joined the group and stood silently as Elec, Rose and now Orngoth, gathered behind them. Saeunn strode up to Garius and leaned in close.

“Perhaps they can return Thaurion and the others to Oakhaven. It would give them strength in numbers at the very least,” Saeunn suggested. Garius nodded and turned to speak to Pendus.

“Perchance you good folk can do us a favor in return,” Garius began. “Since it is the confines of Oakhaven that you seek, I would ask that you add four more to your wagon. You see, we were to return there as well and were to escort an injured acolyte and his fellow priests to the temple of The Shimmering One within Oakhaven’s great walls. And since you are heading there anyway, perhaps you wouldn’t mind allowing those priests to accompany you? In light of certain…
evidence
…we will need to remain here for as long as needed.”

This drew a curious glance from Rose.

“Of course we will,” answered Pendus. “We owe you at least that for saving my family, my son-in-law and this fearless elf,” Pendus continued as he gestured toward the forest elf. “I am Elidyr, my lord,” the elf offered with a bow.

“No need for those titles here. I am sure that Elidyr here is eager to return to his people as well. I shall see you gone from here as soon as possible, then.” Elidyr nodded in agreement.

“I would also ask that you seek out one Huuna of Chansuk and tell her that her daughter yet lives and that she needn’t worry,” Saeunn said as she maintained a stoic and emotionless gaze. Garius watched her face intently, picking up the slightest hint that perhaps she missed her mother.

Pendus nodded an affirmation to the barbarian woman as the young priest Alana poked her auburn head out of the caravan and beckoned for Orngoth to come to her. The half-ogre nodded and proceeded toward the caravan while Garius spoke with Pendus, handing him a map of the surrounding area.

Moments later, the half-ogre emerged with the injured Rolf in his arms, placing him gently onto the floor within Pendus’s wagon. It was a bit small in the space but would certainly incorporate them all.

Alana followed them out and turned a pair of concerned eyes toward the Inquisitor. Garius caught the pleading concern in blue orbs, understanding that her worry was for Thaurion.

“He is well…resting in the cave mouth there. He should be waking soon.”

“I am indeed fine,” confirmed the voice of Thaurion from behind him just then, as he emerged from the shadows of the cave entrance. The young priest ran a hand through his short blonde locks and shook his head as if clearing it of confusion. Alana ran to him and threw her arms around him and affectionately kissed him on the cheek, and then made off again. Garius approached him and steadied the young priest with a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“You have been through a great deal, young man. Do not worry though. You truly are a kindhearted individual, just as Tiyarnon has boasted. Great things await you in the future,” said Garius, as he held the young priest now at arm’s length. “I will personally counsel with Tiyarnon and suggest that your status and rank be escalated in the hierarchy of the temple and in the eyes of The Shimmering One.”

Thaurion smiled half-heartedly and shrugged. “What happened to us?”

“I am not ready to indulge you that information just yet as I do not understand it all myself,” Garius informed. “Suffice it to say that we have much to do here in order to recover the amulet that remains absent. And now we have a general idea of where to begin looking for it—thanks to you.”

Again, a forced smile crossed Thaurion’s expression and he slowly walked toward the awaiting caravan where the others had already piled in. He stopped as he entered the threshold, turned and shouted back to Garius, “Good luck, Inquisitor.”

“You must remove yourselves from Heartwood Valley as fast as you can, for we do not know what other troubles lurk within its surrounding areas,” Garius said to Thaurion as moved to stand close to him again. “We will be keeping a close eye on you until you exit the valley and will once more be bringing swift aid should you be attacked. Once out of the valley, I have given Pendus a map of the area. Upon it are marked a few uncharted roads that may well keep you out of harm’s way, though they will slow your journey. Good luck to you.”

The young priest disappeared within the wagon and Dryden maneuvered the vehicle around and headed back down the hill and into Heartwood Valley. Garius hoped that the thinning mist might help them escape any prying eyes. Several moments of silence passed as the caravan moved westward toward Amrel and Oakhaven.

“So, what have you discovered,” Rose asked as they collectively watched the caravan disappear into the distance.

“I have to clean up after the ritual before I attempt to explain things and I am rather famished.”

“As am I,” Saeunn said. “I saw a gathering of ducks on the lake below. Perhaps we could bring back a few of them since Orngoth was unlucky in his earlier search.”