Dennis McCiernan - Into the Forge

Over the rim of his cup, Ralk's gaze followed this exchange. He set his cup to the ground. "Your mission you may keep to yourselves, but as to what you have seen and heard, bear you any news?"

Loric glanced at Phais, and she said, "Modru of Gron has begun a war to conquer all of Mithgar."

"Modru," growled Ralk. "Aye, that we knew." He gestured for Phais to continue.

"Challerain Keep has fallen and High King Blaine calls for all Free Folk to join together to overthrow the Rupt."

As Ralk nodded, "He left out the Warrows," muttered Beau.

Phais glanced at the buccan, and then looked back at Ralk. "Borne by Eloran, news has come from the High Plane: the way from Neddra to Mithgar has been sundered."

Ralk's eyes flew wide.

Loric said, "Adon did so to stop the invasion of the Rupt, or so the herald said."

Ralk clenched a fist. "Good," he gritted, then added, "though it has come late."

Beau looked at him. "Not too late, I hope."

Ralk frowned. "That I cannot say." He turned his gaze once again to Phais.

"Crestan Pass is held by one of Modru's Hordes, and the way is barred."

"Ah, then that is why you have come this way to reach Aven. Yet there is the pass over the Quadran-"

"Quadran Pass is blocked, for Drimmen-deeve is under attack by the Foul Folk," said Phais, "and it seems that Modru has made an ally of at least one Dragon, for Skail of the Barrens did come and war with fire against the Drimma."

Ralk gasped in dismay. "Kraggen-cor under attack, and by Drakes?"

"By a Horde and a Drake," confirmed Loric.

"Kruk!" exploded Raggi, sitting nearby. The Dwarf leapt to his feet and began stalking back and forth, rage on his face.

"Ka ta det?" asked Bolki, looking in surprise at Raggi, and Raggi stopped pacing long enough to step to Bolki and speak in a low voice… and Bolki gasped in dismay.

"Gflnar Slot is occupied by a small force of Rflpt, though we did slay a few as we broke through the ring of their guard.

"At this end of the slot the village of Stede has been destroyed… much the same as Annory."

"I say," said Beau, "could it be that the same maggot-folk who destroyed Stede also destroyed Annory? If so, well then, we've avenged those we saw lying dead in that ravine."

"That I do not know, wee one," said Phais, then she looked at Ralk.

Ralk shrugged.

Phais took a sip of her tea, then said, "But for the detail, that is the news we hold. Hast thou any question, then ask it, for on the morrow we leave for Gfinarring Gap and beyond."

Ralk held up a hand, palm out. "No you will not, Lady Phais."

As Tip took in a deep breath, fearing what was to come, Phais raised an eyebrow. "Why so?" asked the Dara.

"Because, Lady, that way, too, is held by the foe."

Laric slammed clenched fist into palm. "Vash! Modru blocks the ways so that the High King cannot unify his forces and bring them to bear."

Phais frowned. "The gap, it is wide; mayhap we can steal through in the night."

Ralk threw up a hand of negation, saying, "Nay, Lady, a full Horde holds the gap, and worse yet, they have a Ghath among their ranks."

Loric and Phais drew air in between clenched teeth.

"What is it?" asked Beau. "This Ghath thing, I mean."

"A Draedan," gritted Loric.

"A Gargon," growled Ralk.

"Oh, my," breathed Beau, turning to Tip. "One of those fearcasters."

Tip groaned and looked up at Phais. "If we are to deliver the coin, we've got to find a way 'round. Does it mean we must ride back across Gunar and up to Ralo Pass? Cross over if it's not blocked? Ride another thousand miles west looking for a way into Tugal?" Tip jumped to his feet. "Is this the way it is always to be, that we are driven south and west when we want north and east?"

Ralk looked at Tip. "Tell me, Waeran, is the delivery of this coin important?"

Tip took a deep breath and let it out. "I don't know. It seemed so to the Kingsman who bore it. Before he died at my mill he gave me the charge to see that it was carried to King Agron."

Ralk cocked an appraising eyebrow. "You are a miller, eh?"

Surprised by the question, Tip nodded, then plopped back down.

"A good and honorable craft," said Ralk. His gaze swept over all of them, then he turned to Raggi. "Raggi, da skal vad dek gein va Chucah. "

Raggi's eyes flew wide. "Det ta a Chakka na."

"Ne va net."

Raggi bowed his head. "Ma da taka."

Now Ralk turned to Tipperton and the others. "There is a way to go across the Grimwall, a way known to few who are not of the Chakka, yet Raggi will show you the way. But should you choose this path, you cannot take your horses, for only ponies are small enough to go through, and even then it is a squeeze."

Phais looked at the ponies and then the horses. "We will trade ye our three horses for three of thy ponies."

Ralk blanched and pushed out his hands, as if warding a blow. "Nay, we cannot, will not. Were we merely to use your steeds as pack animals or as dray horses to draw a wagon, then yes, we would trade and trade gladly. But we have no ponies to spare, and those we do have are needed to bear us throughout much of Gunar, and horses we will not ride."

Phais shook her head. "I do not understand."

Ralk leaned forward. "We are sent by Okar, DelfLord of the Red Hills, to scout out the strength of the enemy within Gflnar, for there will come a time when Chakka will attack this Horde standing in the gap."

"In spite of the Gargon?" asked Tip.

Ralk nodded. "Okar has sent for a Mage. It is said that they know of ways to deal with the fearcasters.

"In the meanwhile we are to ride the land at their back and see if they hold more forces arears. And that, Lady Phais, is why we need our mounts, for we must cover much ground in the coming days, then ride back unto the Red Hills with news of what we find."

Phais shook her head in puzzlement. "But thy mission would go swifter from the back of a horse."

Ralk shook his head. "Hear me, Lady Phais, in the name of Durek, no Chak will ever ride a horse."

Tip looked 'round to see Raggi nodding in agreement and whispering translations to Bolki, that Dwarf nodding as well; and Tip had no doubt that Vekk and Born would concur if asked, though for the moment those two stood at distant guard.

"Why not?" asked Beau, but Ralk merely looked at him and did not reply.

"Then thou art saying that if we use this secret way, we must walk across a reach of Valon." Phais's words were a statement and not a question.

"Aye," confirmed Ralk. "That I am. Unless of course you can find mounts in Valon to ride. Yet I fear that most of that land is abandoned, for a Ghath stands at the western door, and who knows what strides within the margins of that realm?"

Phais looked at Loric and Tip and Beau, then said, "Even walking we can reach Darda Galion ere we could go the longer way around, assuming that way is not enemy-held as well."

"Darda Galion?" Beau frowned.

"To get fresh steeds from our kindred," explained Loric.

"But wait," protested Tip. "What if the Horde has moved on?"

Ralk cocked an eyebrow.

"I mean," continued Tip, "if they've pulled out, say to attack someplace south-"

"Pendwyr," murmured Loric.

"Yes, such as Caer Pendwyr," agreed Tip, "well then, we'd be taking a long walk for nought."

"Tip's right," said Beau. "We must make certain that the gap is still held."

Ralk shrugged. "They were still there yester."

Tipperton's face fell. "Oh."

"Nevertheless," said Loric, "Sir Tipperton's advice is well taken. We should see that what was true yester still holds true on the morrow."

Phais nodded, then turned to Ralk. "Given that the gap is yet held, we will accept thine offer to lead us a different way, for we have little choice elsewise."