Tales of a Horse Thief, Part 2d
When he was done bathing he dressed in his better tunic and breeches, gathered his things and stepped back into the day. He felt refreshed. The hemp cord of his goddess charm glistened in the sun, and he suddenly felt a little self conscious of having both the charm and the tattoo. There was surprisingly minimal scabbing from the tattoo and the ink had not run anywhere that he could see. After admiring the friendship knot Flint took a quick look around. The kitchen was behind one of the newer sheds, herbs and plants of all sorts hung from the rafters, the wall and on a pair or standing racks that served to divide the kitchen area from the rest of the yard. The nearby garden was bountiful and very healthy, Flint noted at least a few poisonous plants as well. Other than the animals and a few visiting birds there was no one around.
Taking the opportunity to clean and go over his gear he repacked some of the things the dwarves had given him. There were at least a couple of the pieces that were not very useful and if he didn’t end up trading them away he would likely give them to his younger cousins, nieces or nephews. Thinking of home made him aware of how uncomfortable he was around most folk, especially in situations like this. You could usually trust your kin and most of those who lived the old ways. Yet the majority of folks these days had mixed bits and pieces of the old, thrown in with the new gods and new formula for magic. It was disconcerting; who knew what glamour or charm might be used against you. Though he had a necklace from his great aunt that provided some level of protection from magic of all sorts.
Two women’s voices sounded from around the corner of a building to his left. Grumpy and an even taller fair skinned lady walked around the corner, stopped in unison a couple paces from where he stood and stared. More than a few moments passed, he noted the fair skinned lady was likely of elvin descent though she had dyed her fair hair a purplish black and all sorts of charms hung around her face.
Then grumpy said, “So was I right?”
“I’d say.’ The fair lady gesticulated wildly. “Come now, I’m hungry.” She led the way into the yard, Flint followed.
The tall lady poured out cups of water for the three of them, passed them around and raised her cup looking into Flints eyes intently. She smiled and said, “Welcome to my household, please stay and share my hospitality.”
Flint drank, “Thank you for your hospitality and your beautiful bathhouse.”
Grumpy turned and started serving food, the tall lady cleared a sideboard and pulled up a few stools. She indicated that Flint should take a seat and bluntly asked, “That bastard blade of yours, it is Eldra?”
To delay his response Flint tried the food, other than being a bit too hot it was pretty good. The question had taken him a bit aback, he had not expected some rural hedge witch to know much of the Eldra. “Yes, in fact, it is. A family heirloom of sorts. Though it was missing for a while.”
Othi, still standing near the side board hissed. “I knew it, the sword that was lost!”
Flint was totally taken aback now, Grumpy laughed at the look on his face but passed him a chunk of bread.
Othi became increasingly animated, eyes boring into him intently, “I saw it, nearly a month gone now. You are of their blood, a Rover.”
Trying to be nonchalant he ate another bite of food and stuffed in some bread as well, he masticated slowly then said, “I am, what else do you know of me?”
“Huh?” She paused, quieted after a moment, “Not much really, sorry for being so rude. It’s just that I’ve been trying to access the hall for most of my life now. I’d actually though no one was home or that maybe everyone had died during the Queen’s Bane.”
“You know where the hall is?”
She sat, looked at her food but did not eat, “Well yes. Or at least its boundaries, there is an area near the cliffs, a bit northwest of the lumber yard, no one can actually get to the river’s edge in that area. The trees and brush are too thick and even our best foresters get turned around.”
“I see. Well, I can try to gain access. I am a Rover and Eldra blooded as you say, but it might be more specific than that. Whatever enchantments have been laid down might only recognize certain families or even specific items.”
“Like your sword?”
He shrugged, went back to eating.
She started eating.
Grumpy looked over, “How come you haven’t mention to him yet about the part where you have his child?”
Othi glared at her, Flint focused on the meal, this was getting out of hand.
Othi, beside herself, threatened to turn her friend into a toad and used the younger woman’s name. “Don’t think I won’t, Alnavien! Then you’ll be giving birth to a bunch of tadpoles.”
The rest of lunch passed quietly. As well, somewhat uncomfortably, though Grumpy, who he now knew went by Alnavien, could not hide a self-satisfied smirk. He excused himself when he finished and went to his belongings, he checked his newly washed clothing, they were still too wet to put away. He picked up bow and quiver. He looked expectantly at Othi as she joined him and made a broad gesture to the north. She had the decency to blush.
She looked at the sword laying next to his gear, “Are you not going to take it?”
“Not this time, it would hinder me greatly trying to move through dense woodland.”
“If it was me, I’d be taking it now. Powerful enchantments will beguile you and that sword might be the difference of getting past them or ending up walking in circles for the day.”
“We can always try again.”
She shrugged, “Fine, lets go.”
Othi lead him up a back trail through the woods, they passed a small log house, though it did not look like it was in use. The trail mostly stopped shortly after the abandoned cabin. Most of the larger animals did not seem to come this way. Flint took the lead as the trees and undergrowth closed in around them, even in the early afternoon it was like walking through a perpetual twilight. He did not move in a straight line and relied on the suns approximate position above them to keep his northward facing.
He noted Othi moved well through the rough terrain, fairly quiet and aware of her surroundings. She kept close behind him, trying to move where he did, though she never bumped into him. She seemed to know where he was moving to next. Her closeness was disconcerting, but as he focused on tracking north through the enchanted woodland he became used to her aptitude and began to trust that she would not get in the way. Her focus was getting to the hall, seemingly more so than his own desire for the same objective.
When they finally found a clearing and buildings they were near the mill and lumber yard, facing east, nowhere near where he intended to be. Half a dozen homesteads and two bunkhouses, as well as kilns and a workshop indicated that this camp was an ongoing concern. Folks were busy about their work and did not seem to notice the two of them standing at the edge of the pasture.
“I’d swear we never left a northward facing.”
Othi looked glum, “That’s what happens to everyone, I’m not powerful enough to get past it.”
“Has anyone tried from the riverside?”
“Yes, but the climb is dangerous, over the years a couple of people have died trying it and the few that make it to the top end up wandering through the thick woods and ending up around the outer edge somewhere.”
“How large is it? Has anyone measured?”
“Some have tried, I think its only a couple yat by four or five. Other people would argue its much larger than that.”
As they gazed down across the hamlet Flint spotted a man on horse, leading two others, galloping up the trade road at a dangerous pace. Some of the locals were starting to take notice him as well. When the man came up the lane to the camp he was shouting. A number of the villagers moved in his direction.
Flint looked at Othi, her gaze was locked on the scene below them, “Shall we go down?” He asked.
She gave a nod and led the way, they were only part way there when a bunch of the locals started running around, most going to their homes or the bunkhouses. Flint thought the rider might have been the same man he has seen distantly the day before. The foresters and labourers seemed to be arming themselves, they could make out that they were shouting something about bandits.
Flint quickened his pace.
Leave a Reply