"It is getting late," said Shaluhk.
"So it is," he admitted, "and yet there is still much work to be done. If Laruhk is successful, it means we will be crossing the mountain passes for the next few days. It will be hard going, for we will not be able to stop and make fire."
"And once we are through?"
"Hopefully, we will see a hidden wilderness teeming with game."
"And if not?"
"Then we shall go hungry longer. There is no way to tell how far these mountains go. We may be amongst them for some time. Perhaps we should turn back?"
"And return to the Human lands?" said Shaluhk. "You know we can not do that. It would be the end of us all."
"Then our choice is made for us. We must continue."
"Yes, and it is all in the hands of my brother. Do not worry. If there is a way through, he and Durgash will find it."
The sun cast its red rays across the western peaks as it approached the horizon.
"Where is he," said Shaluhk, "and why does he not signal?"
Kargen stared off into the distance. "Wait for the darkness," he said. "He has limited fuel and knows the fire is best seen at night. Stay strong. They will be successful. I know it in my heart."
They stood in the darkness as the daylight fled. The moon soon made its appearance, illuminating the white of the snowy peaks.
"There!" said Kargen, pointing. "Do you see it?"
Shaluhk stared, breaking out in a grin. "I do," she announced. "They have made it! They have found the path!"
"Yes," he agreed. "Now all we have to do is get everyone down this cliff."
Getting the hunters down the steep precipice was easy, but the elderly and young gave them no end of trouble. They finally settled on using a basket for the young, lowering them down one at a time at the end of a rope, then hauling it back up for the next. While this approach proved useful for the wee ones, the elderly were too big to fit. They had to come up with a different solution, so they settled on each elderly Orc being tethered to a hunter. As the hunter descended, their partner would dangle beneath them, watching the cliff wall to avoid hurting themselves.
It was painstaking work, yet by day's end, the entire tribe had made the descent. Laruhk and Durgash returned to lead the way onward, but Kargen insisted they wait until everyone was past this hurdle. Splitting the tribe, he insisted, was not the Orcish way.
That evening they sat around the last of their fires, huddling for warmth. When night fell, they would sleep peacefully beneath the precipice, for once shielded from the harsh mountain winds.
"This is the last of our wood," said Kargen. "Starting tomorrow, we must continue without fire." He turned to Laruhk. "Tell me of the way ahead."
"There are large drifts of snow that will impede us," the hunter replied. "And we would do well to mark the path for those that follow."
Kargen nodded. "Let each hunter unstring his bow. We will then plant them in the snow at regular intervals to mark the path."
"They will be hard to see," noted Shaluhk.
"Then let us tie a cloth to their tops to make them more visible."
"I have a red blanket that might suffice," she offered.
"Excellent, then we shall cut it up and distribute the pieces. As the last of us takes the path, they will collect them for use farther up."
"It will likely ruin the bows," warned Laruhk.
"Better a ruined bow than to die of the cold. If it will lead us all through this, so much the better."
When they began their ascent the very next day, the Ancestors smiled upon them, gracing them with mild weather. The winds died down, allowing them to make satisfactory progress, but on the second day, the mountains decided to impede their progress, sending snow to blind them.
By the third day, bereft of fire, the tribe was struggling. Already there were signs of trouble, with two of the elderly falling into the snow. Kargen had the hunters spread a blanket across two bows, allowing them to carry the frail members of his tribe, but the cold soon claimed them. With no other choice, they were forced to leave the bodies in the frigid mountain air, stopping only to recognize their contributions to the tribe.
More than once, Kargen wished for the presence of Artoch. The fallen master of flame could have saved them, but then the chieftain rebuked himself, lamenting that he should have done more to save them.
Shaluhk comforted him as best she could, telling him such losses were inevitable. "You have done well to save so many," she said, "but you can not save them all."
For two more days they struggled, and then when they crested yet another ridge, Kargen ambled to the front, no longer strong enough to run. He stood beside Laruhk, the two of them staring to the north where the lush green of a distant forest beckoned them.
"We are almost there," said Laruhk through cracked lips and a dry throat.
"And just in time," croaked out Kargen. "For our food is gone, and water scarce. Spread the word. This news shall hearten our people."
King of the Therengians
Summer 1104 SR
"Are you sure?" asked Athgar
Skora kept looking at Natalia. "I have helped in the birthing of many babes. Trust me, I know the signs. Tell me, dear, have you any signs of discomfort?"
"My back has been sore," Natalia replied, "but I thought that was from sleeping on the ground."
"Any dizziness?"
She hesitated. "Yes."
"There, you see? Old Skora is not as useless as she looks."
Natalia looked at Athgar, worry in her eyes, but all she saw was love. "This can't be happening," she said, "not now."
"Children will come when they want," said Skora. "Parents have little choice in the matter."
"It looks like we shall be spending some time here," said Athgar.
"She's pregnant, not
