I zoomed in, finding the controls a mixture of using a giant iPad and a little mental prodding. Once our view hovered over the area, all we could see was a series of trees, higher than some others, but lower than many. It looked like a normal hillside to me, except…
“Is that a road?” I asked the room in general, catching sight of a line of smaller trees that followed a straight path. Looking closer and twisting the map around, I could see what appeared to be straight lines of stunted growth that ran… south toward the sea, and north toward the Great Tower, where it loomed in the distance.
“That would mean…that was probably one of the Waystations!” Oracle said excitedly. When we all just looked at her, she huffed in disappointment. “The Waystations were built to help people moving to and from the Great Tower. When the Tower was first built, this whole area was under the Night King’s control, but the only way to this side of the continent was through Terin’s Pass; the mountains shielded the land beyond that."
"The Tower was built here to watch over the pass and secure the eastern side of the continent. When the Waystations were first built, the land here was wild, creatures roaming and killing, so they were secure places that people could rest. They stopped being used so much after the Legions started pacifying the land.”
“Well, sounds like th’ Legion missed a few wee beasties!” Oren muttered, getting a dark look from Oracle.
“That’s enough,” I said, holding up one hand and looking around the room, “Does anyone have anything else to add?” There was only silence, so I went on. “Okay, then, we can get everyone on the ship, then we can do a quick flyby over the camp, see if we can see anything, then we’ll back off and come up with a plan. Any issues?”
“B’sides th’ goblins knowin’ we’re comin’ iff’n we do tha’, ye mean?” Oren said, then held up his hands when I glared at him. “Ye told me t’ speak up iff’n I disagree, laddie. Well… I’m tellin’ ya, tha’ plan will no’ work. I already flew over; iff’n we go again, they’ll know we’re comin’. There were nothin’ to see when we passed over afore, or th’ map’d look different now.”
“Fuck,” I muttered eloquently, realizing he was right.
“I suggest we scout it on foot, Lord Jax. Goblins are notoriously lazy and stupid. They may not have scouts at all, but if they do have scouts deployed, we can find them.” Flux said confidently.
“You’re sure?” I asked, and he nodded. “We can sense their hearts beating at closer range,” he said simply, and I grinned, realizing just how hard that would be to hide from.
“Then that’ll work, but we’ve no idea how many there are up there… Oren, there are no clearings between here and there, just solid forest; that right?” Oren just gestured at the map, as though to tell me to look at it. I glared at him. “Then in that case, the ship can’t help us in the fight, or at least not yet. Can you get Decin’s ship flightworthy?”
“I can have th’ engineers look ‘er over… canna see any issues meself. Most looks fixed, but I’ve no been on ‘er yet…” Oren said, looking out of a porthole at the ship and shrugging.
“It’ll take us a good few hours to get up there, I’d think. Once we’re there, we’ll scout out the area, and see if we can get to the crew and Flux’s younglings. Then a few more hours to get back down here. So… if you can’t get the ship in the air in, say… four hours, get everyone back on here and take off. We can always fix the other ship later if need be. If we need you to use the cannons to support us, then I’ll either send Oracle to you or shoot a firebolt up into the air as we retreat. Otherwise, be ready to pick us up.” Oren nodded, then spoke hesitantly.
“I could come wit’ ye, another fighter’d be…”
“And who’d look after the ships?” I asked, cutting him off. “No; thank you, my friend, but you’re needed here, and we’ll be okay.” I considered my words for a second before adding, “Unless of course it all goes to shit, in which case we’re going to need you on the ship even more than with us, as we’ll either need support or an escape…” I shrugged, then clapped him on the shoulder. “Seriously, you’ll be the most help to me, and to Decin, on the deck of your ship, but thank you.”
I scanned the room, a collection of grim faces looking back to me, and I nodded to them in return.
“I’d like a word, before we go?” Oracle piped up, and I smiled at her. Her attempt at seriousness was a bit strange, but hell, so were we all at this point.
“Okay, if nobody else has anything they need to say?” Lydia raised her hand, and the others paused on the way to the door.
“Well… the three idiots, Lord; what do we do with them?” she asked hesitantly, and I immediately saw the problem. I could force them along with us, and they’d be essentially cannon fodder for the goblins, which would potentially save one of us, or even prove useful…although I doubted that. More likely, though, they’d get in the way, give us away at the worst point, or run when we needed them most. I couldn’t risk it.
“Give them a sword each and the pack of food we put aside for them, then turn them out. I don’t care where they go, as long as they choose a direction away from us and the Tower, and not towards the goblins. Point them towards Himnel and let them make their own choices.” Lydia nodded her head and left the room, drawing Oren
