frontage of the onrushing enemy. Some shapes he distributed between the two lines.
He forced himself from the temptation of firing another barrage against the
encampment and the wagons. He needed to conserve his strength.
As the van of the enemy neared the first line of shapes, he readied himself. He let them
pass. When they came close to the second line, the rest were already within the first
line. He swiftly infused the shapes and ignited them. All the shapes detonated at the
same time. Another morbidly fascinating scene greeted Tyler, even for the short
moments it played itself out. Illuminated by the detonations, carcasses and pieces of
bodies were flying through the air even before the sound of the blasts reached him.
The sound of the explosions was like the continued rolling of a drum. One could not
separate one detonation from another. The slaughter was complete. Fifty or so beings
gone in a heartbeat. For some reason, he was thankful for their quick demise. He didn’t
know if he could bear hearing the agonized cries of the wounded and dying. He wasn’t
that much of a veteran yet.
The suddenness of the carnage, complete in its death-dealing efficiency, clearly
shocked Habrok. He was tongue-tied, unable to give the summary he was supposed to
state after every action. Then Jorund came up.
“Sire, a lot of troops moving from the front-line encampments. About more than a mile
out, quick movement but still spreading their formation. Vargar in front. Searching for
us.”
Shit! That was frighteningly fast reaction. No time to use the second position. Good
thing the head and the tail could not communicate. Otherwise, we would be up shit
creek.
“We withdraw. While we have time. Now!”
Habrok took the lead as agreed. Tyler made sure to dissolve all the unused shapes. The
three followed the trench back to their starting position and the fog closed behind
them. As they moved through the ditch, Tyler could smell himself. He did pee in his
pants.
CHAPTER LORE:
Talf – Old Norse. A Nordic board game similar to chess. A lot of variations exist.
Belfry - Clarification. Siege towers, or breaching towers as some call them, are also
referred to as belfries. The term describes the enclosed and protected housing at the
top of the siege equipment.
CHAPTER XVI
When Mountains Talk
Finally, they reached the cover of the forest on the other side of the stream. Catching
their breath, they drank water and crammed what food they could in their mouths. In
the adrenaline of the situation, it was tasteless. But only fools will not take advantage
of a break in the middle of a battle.
Keeping prone, Tyler looked at the fog-covered area in front of them. No sight or
sounds yet of pursuit. But the fog would have dampened any noise. He doubted if
the dokkalfr would use torches. His two companions were quiet, though they moved to
his sides. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind them.
“Well, lads. You’re a nice sight for trolls. Dirty, smelly and on your stomachs. Legs
spread even.”
They could feel the silent laughter accompanying the lewd comment. Turning, Tyler did
see Rumpr doubled up, keeping his mirth in check. Oh, a joker.
“Did you see what they are doing?
“You’ve made a mess for them, that much is clear. Couldn’t get close enough, if that’s
what you mean. Been busy closing those ditches. Wouldn’t be good if they found them.
But most of them are still busy with the wrecks you left. A band is keeping watch near
the burned area. Anyway, what are you still doing here?”
“Nowhere to run. If we try to escape through the forest, we’ll die tired and scared.
The dokkalfr and jotnar will definitely overtake us. They’re faster and have better
eyesight at night. Those wolves will never lose our scent once they start on this side.
Better to stand and fight here.”
“With you smelling like that, even a blind vargyr could find you. But I never thought the
three of you would be so eager to die. There’s still a buffet of enemies out there. Some
from the front encampments are arriving. Stupid humans. With all this death for glory
nonsense. Go straight back until you find the mountain before you. Wait for me there.
Have to make sure the fog doesn’t lift so soon. And little ditches here and there.
Hopefully, I get to maim some of them.”
Man, he may be a gnome. But a bloodthirsty one when it comes to the jotnar.
Tyler stood up and went on a fast jog in the direction pointed out by Rumpr. Habrok
took the lead. He let him. His enhanced eyesight may be better than that of the ranger
but the man’s woodlore was on a totally different level. The forest they were passing
through was dark. Occasionally illuminated by the dim light of the waning moons
whenever they passed through a clearing or the tops of the trees allow light to pass.
But despite the darkness, he never felt any wariness about his surroundings, unlike the
time they were approaching Bildsfell. It was as if the forest was allowing them passage.
Tyler was not keeping track of time anymore, all he cared about was reaching the base
of the mountain. All he remembered was the number of breaks they had to take. Four
in all. Good thing Jorund took with him the food and water they had left in their starting
area. No discussions. No questions from anybody. No wisecracks from Habrok. Only a
grunt now and then when one stumbled on something in the ground.
Finally, they reached the mountainside. True to form, trees formed a carpet of green
beneath the mountain. Habrok picked his way among the trees until he found a spot
where they could see the stone of the peak. The three stopped and rested, waiting for
their host. The water was nearly gone, only a single waterskin remained. Each was
quiet but watchful. Tyler for his part was feeling lost.
Another plan gone bust. Though I guess Rumpr’s idea is better. But I do wish I know
where we’re going and what his plans are. Trusting him for now is a settled question.
He did help us. The fact he wanted us to escape the enemy is a point in his favor. But
going in blind into something new is an idea
