Kane gallops on ahead to the walled city of Camars, in central Tol Nedra. He has walked its streets before. The city walls look weathered, as they have stood many centuries, since the time long past when Camars was capital of Tol Nedra, long before even the Palladian Knights of Dolgaran brought justice to the lands, and Tol Nedra was a beacon to the other Kingdoms.
The Shroud covers it now in perpertual darkness, and torches glint from the walls ahead.
A drawbridge spans a deep creek, bridging the way into the main city. Kane draws up to the drawbridge and calls, "Morning, looking for work and a smithy to patch up some of my gear."
The guards are barely visible on the wall overhead. "Work? What sorta work?"
Kane gives a smile, "Should be obvious no? Mercenary, caravan guard. That sort of thing."
The guard snorts. "Warrior, eh? Some advice, lad. Don't be causin' trouble here in Camars, or me and the lads will be th' ones to come break yer head open. Clear?"
Kane nods, "I'm no rookie, I know how to keep my nose clean."
The guard's reaction in the darkness is hard to read. "For a smith, see old Dras. Up the main way, 'til just after the tavern. His prices are fair." Dras is the one mentioned by Verraine. "Just don't try to talk to him much, eh?" The guards on the wall chuckle at that.
Kane offers his thanks and crosses through the gate.
Thragga, Khom-Bei and Verraine make their way into the deep woods overlooking the Kingsroad near the city of Camars. The vantage point allows a good view of the approaches, while still keeping you secluded, and you see Kane gallop off towards the city. The view is somewhat diminished by the Shroud of perpetual night that covers the lands hereabout.
Thragga is rummaging through the saddlebags. He holds up a meager morsel to Khom-Bei. "All we have left to eat is this dried sausage, Northerling. Can your magics whip us up some more food?"
Khom-Bei says, "Sorry, Thragga. All I can manage is clean water at this point. I'm sure we'll be in town soon and eating well. And don't look at the horses like that."
The Urag breaks off from staring hungrily at the horses. He is about to snatch down the morsel when he reconsiders. He passes Khom-Bei the meager sausage. "Perhaps you should feed Verraine. I will go find us some breakfast. Slaying is hungry work!"
Khom-Bei says, "Good thought, Thragga. Stay close, Kane may return and we'll have to move quickly."
Thragga disappears into the dark pine woods, nocking a black arrow into his warbow.
Camars is a simple city, in the old style. Kane feels at home here, unlike the big city of As Sedrai, where he left Rooker behind. Few buildings are taller than two stories, and the earthy smell of dung cookfires fills Kane's nostrils.
Kane heads up the street and follows the directions given to him by the guards to get to the smithy of Dras.
The city streets are home to Reith and Tobon, moving furtively and not making eye contact...and Urag slaves in massive iron collars...and Vorghol. You can tell them by their carriage, their pallor, and their feral eyes.
Kane keeps his eyes down intent on getting to Dras without incident. He doesn't want to draw much attention to himself.
Kane picks his way on horseback along the narrow dark Camars streets. Just after a small nameless tavern, on the left, a small corral stands, and a horseshoe sign indicating a smithy. You can see a small barn-like structure inside, and the sound of a hammer beating on an anvil, rhythmically.
Kane walks his horse slowly into the smithy's yard and ties his horse to the post there. He then heads into the workshop to find Dras.
The workshop is a full place, with the implements of the smith's trade about. Well-made farm implements and horses' tack, mostly. A low ceiling occludes the room. The hammer beating is coming from the back of the workshop, behind some tall barrels.
On entering the work shop, Kane waits and tries to catch the smith's eye
A figure swings down from the rafters overhead. No more than three feet high, it jabbers, "Greetinks!" The Gholibin swings from a rafter, upside down, right in Kane's face.
Kane says, "Good day, I'm here to see Dras the smith."
The Gholibin swings back and forth, still upside down. "You in right place, bucko! Dras is busy! Busy busy! Unless you got dragons, huh?"
Kane says, "I have work for Dras, and I can pay for it."
The Gholibin says, "Work?" He squints at Kane, at eye level, even though he is hanging. "Dras is happy to take your dragons. Fix shoes on your fine horse, patch up your warrior armor, huh?"
Kane says, "Perhaps, can I speak to him?"
The Gholibin actually pokes Kane in the shoulder. "Eh? You make fun now, Reith. 'Talk to him!' Ha! Ha! No make fun of Dras, or I kick you in the rear!"
Kane says, "I asure you I am making fun of no one. Can I speak to him or not?"
The Gholibin swings back and forth. He pulls one of those horrid Gholibin squeeze-boxes from arouns his neck and squeezes a little tune. "Tell Ugash, hmm? Please?"
Kane says, "Why can't I speak to Dras?"
The Gholibin squeezes his accordion-thing, swinging upside down. "Stupid Reith! Dras is busy! Dras talent! Ugash handle customers!"
Kane says, "Listen, I'm sure you're a nice fellow but I need to speak to Dras myself. I can wait till he has a free moment."
The Gholibin, Ugash, harrumphs at Kane. He squints. "You are a friend of ours?" he asks, eye to upside-down eye with Kane.
Kane says, "You I know not. Tell Dras I am a friend looking to do some business."
The Gholibin swings down and curses, stumping off to retrieve Dras. The big man in the rear sets down his hammer, listens to the tiny Gholibin squeaking and cursing, nods, and then steps out to see Kane. He's a big man, almost as tall as he is wide, nearly as tall as Thragga, with huge thick corded arms and a great black beard. Ugash gestures. "Here. Here is Dras. Dras does not like interrupt! This will add to your bill!"
Dras says nothing, merely regarding Kane silently with dark eyes that reflect the hearthlight.
Kane says, "That's fine. Dras, I am a friend here to do business. A mutual friend sent me."
Dras nods at Kane. Ugash says, "What friend, Reith? Dras has many friends. Some friendlier than others."
Kane says, "Her name is Veraine."
Ugash leaps. "Verraine? Why did not you says so!" He runs up to Kane, and in annoyance, kicks him in the shin.
Kane rubbing his shin says, "I suggest you don't do that again Ugash.
Ugash snaps his fingers at Kane. "Stupid Reith. You should have told Ugash." He lays a finger alongside his nose. "You are a friend of ours, no?"
Dras watches all this calmly and silently.
Kane says, "Yes, I suppose so, though I never have thought to count a Gholibin as one of my friends. What has happened to Dras that he cannot speak?"
Ugash says, "Lord Valkris comes to Camars, his men take take Dras' wife and child for the blood tithe. Dras say no. Valkris say yes, they beat him...and take Dras' tongue as well." He shakes his head. "Lord Valkris very bad."
Dras looks at Ugash, but no words pass. Ugash nods up at the big man, then turns to Kane and says, "Dras, he wonders how we can help a friend of Verraine? Even if Ugash thinks he is a foolish Reith."
Kane says, "I may be paying him a visit in the near future. As for now, I and some friends including Verraine, could use your help. I need a way to get Verraine here unseen, then she will need a safe place to stay for a while."
Dras listens. Ugash says, "Dras and Ugash will be glad to help. We have a safe place in the city. Where is she? Ugash will help you."
Kane says, "She is camped in the woods just outside the city with two friends of ours."
Dras looks alarmed. Ugash tugs at Kane's cloak. "Is she hurt? Need a healer? Ugash can help!"
Kane says, "We rescued her from Lorn. Her parents, sadly, were killed."
Dras slams his hammer down at this news. Ugash says, "Taggart? Killed? Dras says this is bad. Very bad."
Kane says, "It is a very sad hour. What do you have in mind to get them here?"
Dras gestures to Ugash, who nods. Ugash scrambles over to a wagon. "Help Ugash!" he squeaks at Kane, trying to lift the heavy tack to hook up the mule in the corral. "Ugash often goes into the forest for more wood for the smith. We go get more, you understand? What is your name, foolish Reith?"
Kane helps Ugash with the tack, "My name is Kane, my small friend."
Ugash grunts and groans, then throws on a cloak, climbs into the cart, and gestures to Kane to get in. Dras watches in stony silence. He claps Kane on the shoulder, a gesture of encouragement and good luck.
Kane nods to Dras and urges Ugash to be on his way.
Khom-Bei helps Verraine from her resting place in the cart and seats her on a folded blanket, handing her the last of the parties food and his waterskin. "Eat, Verraine. Thragga and Kane will return soon." Then he gathers all of the empty waterskins and places them in a pile on the ground, kneeling with his hands outstretched over them. "Great Father, fill these vessels with lifegiving water that we may drink of it and be refreshed from our labors."
Prayers spoken, the Northerling gathers the full waterskins and returns them to their rightful places, bringing one to Verraine. The girl tries to sit up and drink. She is pale and weak, not the strong young woman you recall.
She takes a gulp and nods in thanks. "Khom-Bei, I am pleased to see you again," she says, essaying a wan smile.
Khom-Bei smiles a crooked grin as he helps her to drink. "And I am pleased to see you again, Verraine."
Verraine bites her lip. "They slew my father, Khom-Bei."
Khom-Bei places his hand on the young womans shoulder. "Yes, Verraine. We saw what took place at your father's farm. We have slain all those responsible. It is not enough, but we are not yet through."
Verraine says, "No. None of us are through. All the Hunters could be in danger if Lorn broke our code."
Khom-Bei says, "Unless he shared his knowledge, the Hunters are safe. We destroyed his papers."
Khom-Bei says, "Verraine, were you at the farm when the evil ones arrived? Can you tell me what happened?"
Verraine says, "Gwent came to the door. And my mother invited him in, glad to see him, before she realized he had been turned. It was horrible. He had often told me that he would prefer death to such a fate..." she sips more water.
"Father was just sitting down to dinner, but glad to see Gwent. He asked Gwent to play a tune...You know, he was quite a musician. You remember after we stopped those Vorghol at the Westwall, the celebration."
Khom-Bei nods. "I remember."
Verraine says, "Gwent pulled out his flute...and ran it into my father's eye. I think he was dead before he hit the ground. Then he turned and ripped my mother's throat out. I took the sword from over the hearth, but he batted me aside easily." She shakes her head. "We had invited him in, you see. Lorn was waiting outside. It was Lorn my father had summon you for...to warn you about him. How he was rising in the court, and how he had spoken of defeating the Hunters in order to impress the King."
Khom-Bei looks around while he listens to Verraine, watching for Thragga and trouble. "Do you think that it was Gwent who gave the codes to Lorn?"
Verraine says, "Lorn had a reputation as a sage...he had been an alchemist before he was Turned. I believe he may have worked them out, based on interrogations of Hunters done in Dolgur. I think he lured Gwent to him as a way of testing his...what is the word? Calculations."
Khom-Bei nods. "Did he say anything that would make you think he gave the codes to anyone else?"
Verraine says, "He was full of boasts...I do not know!" She gulps water. "What will become of us if he has learned them? The Hunters would be doomed."
Khom-Bei says, "Well, I think that he was hungry for power and would not share his knowledge with others. But we should begin a new system and spread it among the Hunters as soon as we can."
Verraine nods. "I know a little about it...my mother taught me ciphers and such."
Thragga returns, bearing a large deer over his shoulder and a big fanged grin on his face. "Northerling! Now -this- is a proper meal!"
Khom-Bei smiles up at Thragga. "Yes, it is, my friend."
Khom-Bei says, "Thragga, butcher the deer for travel. We may need to carry it along."
Khom-Bei stands and surveys the area for a suitable fire site.
Thragga rubs his hands, bows over the deer and pauses. "A prayer...?
Khom-Bei kneels next to the deer carcass and bows his head. "Great Father, we thank you for this gift of food that nourishes us and allows us to continue the task you have set for us."
Thragga bows his head, reverently. After the prayer, he pulls out his knife and expertly sets to work dressing the deer. He pulls out the big liver first, tossing the big dripping hunk of meat to Khom-Bei. "That will make Verraine strong. And don't cook it!"
Khom-Bei gathers stones and dry timber into a small depression out of sight and wind, making preparations for a fire. He sets the deer liver on the ground next to him, grinning at Verraine. "Just a warming through, Thragga."
Thragga snorts, but allows it. Verraine smiles at Khom-Bei appreciatively, knowing Thragga's ways.
Khom-Bei makes quick work of starting a small cooking fire and places several small pieces of meat near to the flames, including the liver. He says, "Try not to damage the skin, Thragga. Verraine will need boots to travel."
Thragga slices the skin off whole, scraping at it carefully and throwing it over a branch to dry over the fire. He pushes the heart and lungs to Khom-Bei. In Urag hunting, nothing is wasted.
Khom-Bei gathers the offal and inedible parts of the deer together and takes them just inside the edge of the woods. Placing them under a low-growing bush, he kneels. "Brother Deer, we thank you for your sacrifice. May you run free with your kind on the the plains of the Great Father. Be at peace."
Returning to the fire, Khom-bei passes a hunk of the liver to Verraine. "Eat this, Verraine. Thragga is right, it will do you good."
Verraine takes some of the meat and eats it hungrily. "Thragga is wise..." she says.
Khom-Bei passing another piece to Thragga. "And to the hunter goes the heart."
Khom-Bei hungrily knaws at a still dripping hunk of venison.
Thragga raises the heart in salute and then begins to feast, snapping up the rich bloody meat in his great maw. He spits out a bit of gristle, chewing noisily. "We have avenged your father, Verraine. Life is good."
Verraine doesn't look so sure. She tells Thragga: "It is not so simple as that, Thragga." She looks to Khom-Bei.
Khom-Bei says, "She is right, Thragga. Things are far from over. All of our many friends may be in great danger."
Thragga looks from one to the other of you. He sets down his meal. "Danger?" he says.
Khom-Bei says, "If the Hunters' code has been broken, all of us may be at risk."
"But we killed Lorn! The head that had such wisdom is now dust!" the Urag grunts.
Khom-Bei says, "Yes, but we must make sure that his knowledge went no further. If it did, no Hunter is safe from the fate that Gwent suffered."
"I will not let either of you end as Gwent did, my friends..." he hisses.
Khom-Bei looks into Thragga's eyes. "And I will not let you come to that end either."
In mid-meal, Thragga jumps up, pointing to the dark road that curves past the bottom of the ridge. A small wagon has come lumbering down the Kingsroad, driven by a tiny figure in a cloak, and a tall familiar Reith in black seated alongside him.
Khom-Bei gathers the rest of the meat into the deerskin and kicks dirt onto the remains of the fire.
Thragga helps Verraine to her feet, steps out of the woods, and waves down at Kane and the figure in the wagon at the bottom of the hill.
Kane, in the wagon, waves back to his friends.
Ugash tugs at Kane's cloak. "Urags have killed your friends!"
Kane says, "The Urag is a close friend of mine and a great friend to us all."
Verraine tells Khom-Bei, "That would be Dras' sidekick, Ugash. He's not a bad little Gholibin, if you can get past the horrid music."
Khom-Bei quickly unhitches the harness holding the draft horses to the cart and ties them to a lead from his pony.
Thragga frowns. "Gholibin?"
Kane turns to Ugash and says, "These look like some promising logs don't you think?"
Ugash grins yellowed teeth at Kane. "Ugash likes the way you think, Kane!" He leaps down off the cart, making room in the rear for the three passengers, who are making their way down the hill.
Khom-Bei looks at Thragga. "Is he talking about us?"
Thragga tells Khom-Bei, confidentially, "I hate those little bastards, Northerling."
Khom-Bei ties the horses and his pony to the back of the wagon and climbs in, extending a hand to Verraine. "Climb aboard, milady."
Verraine bows in a courtly way to the tribesman. It's the healthiest she's looked since you've rescued her. "I thank you, sir."
Kane turns to Ugash, "I hope the guards didn't count our mounts on the way out."
Thragga squints down at Ugash, who squints back up at Thragga. There is at least four feet difference in their height. They regard each other in silentbelligerence for a while.
Kane turns to Khom-Bhei, "Here we go again. Before the day is through they will either kill each other of become best of friends."
The Gholibin breaks off first. He says, "All of you are logs. Get in and act like logs. Trust Ugash!"
Khom-Bei hands a slab of hot venison to Kane. "Here, you almost missed
breakfast."