Private Tales Biting Wind

[Ava Gilleth]

Ava's head snapped up and she have Valthar a stern look. "I'm still considered young among elves, but if you want to put it into measurable terms, two hundred and fifty. Though, i wouldn't reccomend asking any other women that question, they might take offence."

She laid her head back again, letting her eyes sink closed. "I could make you a raven...theres a merchant in Belgrath who sells clay thats perfect for sculpting. All it'd need is a small sacrifice to give it life enough to make the journey, and a little bit of your home to help it find its way."

Valthar

 

[Baise]

Two hundred and fifty years seemed a very long time indeed. He imagined that if one applied themselves to a subject, sorcery for instances, they could learn a very great deal in that time.

"Didn't mean to offend," he apologised. On his road home he had been offered few acts of kindness. Very few. All his thoughts of having a thorough rant about getting shot for... Valthar looked around the wagon... Food supplies and fabrics seemed to sublimate away.

He still frowned at the word 'sacrifice'. Magic always had a price. If someone was willing to pay that price smto conjure such an inferno to defend fabric he wondered how cautious they would be in more minor magic.

"That would be very nice of you," he spoke plainly. Valthar was a foreigner here, but at his heart he was a very plain man. "What kind of sacrifice?"

 

[Ava Gilleth]

Ava smiled, she didn't need to see his face to know that the word 'sacrifice' had conjured up something awful in his mind. "Something small will suffice, a puppy, perhaps." She opened an eye to see his reaction to her joke, chuckling at her own wit.

"Relax, Valthar, nothing will bleed for your raven to find its way home, not unless you want it to. Sacrifice does not always equate to blood or death. Your energy for a few days, a dream, a memory or your magic for a day or two, all of these would suffice. The choice is yours. Think on it and let me rest. When we stop to camp, I'll sew up the hole in your shoulder."

With that, Ava began to drift off, smiling inwardly at the fondness she was developing for her travelling companion. It wasn't often Ava found people who stirred such things within, mostly people were useful tools or a means to an end. This one was different.

Valthar

 

[Baise]

A simple creature at heart, Valthar didn't crack a smile until she started laughing. Sarcasm usually went over his head and this was no exception.

Valthar watched Ava Gilleth in silence as she drifted to sleep. He realised that still coming down from the adrenaline high of the battle he had been looking to pick a fight with the sorceress for forcing them all to take on the orcs in the first place. So kittle kindness had been directed his way that it had been thoroughly diffused.

Valthar propped himself against one side of the wagon and closed his eyes. There would be no deep sleep for him; the wounds hurt fiercely. As the wagon bounced along he found some measure of rest, sleep coming in fits and starts.

---

"Why would doorways be a problem?" Valthar's voice would come from behind the wagon as Ava woke. He had decided to get up to stretch his legs.

"It's a dwarven city." That was the ex-ranger leading the caravan.

"And?"

"So they build them for other dwarves. Which means a tall lad like you is gonna learn to duck. Often."

"Oh."

 

[Ava Gilleth]

Ava's muscles tensed as the voices drifted over her, stirring her gently from her rest. It took a moment for her to remember where she was and what had happened. Slowly her muscles relaxed and she opened her eyes, sitting up she flexed her fingers, bringing the tips of one hand together and attempting to draw on the air around them to create a small flame, it flickered and died quickly. So she wasn't up to full strength, she at least had her physical energy back and that would be enough for now.

"Don't expect to see the sky either." Ava chimed in, sliding neatly off the wagon to join them, "Belgrath lies beneath the mountain. It's one of the greatest architectural master pieces this world has seen, even in its poor state."

The road had become wider and bustled with activity, merchants and travellers from across the country had merged with their own caravan. The high pitched screech of a falcon caught Ava's ears, pausing she whistled sharply, extended an arm. The bird glided low over peoples heads and settled on her arm, its talons scraping on her greaves. She tugged the scroll from its legs and shifted it to the wagon where it sat patiently, the scroll itself disappeared into a pocket. She wasn't about to read possibly sensitive information in the open.

"How's your shoulder?" she asked Valthar .

 

[Baise]

Valthar watched the spectacle with the messenger falcon with a calm air of interest. They did not have many large birds in the tundra; the pool of prey was too sparse. Consequently no one had tamed birds to carry messages, at least not where he came from. Not that he could read or write anyway. That was a skill reserved for mages, nobles, and increasingly the merchant classes.

It occurred to him that if she was such a well connected individual then there could have been more vital wares in the cart than just rugs. Valthar's valuation of goods was quite simple. Things that were precious metals were expensive, steel was pricey and everything else was 'stuff'.

"It hurts," he replied simply with a shrug. A shrug followed by a grimaced formed of both pain and embarrassment for having made it worse himself. His long hair had escaped its braid at some point in the night and kept being whipped across his face by the mountain wind.

"How...deep underground is this city?" he asked.

 

[Ava Gilleth]

Ava made him stop, checking beneath the bandages before tiring them tight again. "You'll be fine till we get to Belgrath. I'll give it a good clean and stitch it when we're settled." She slid her arm through his uninjured one and started them walking again.

"To answer your question, very deep. The city centre itself lies in the heart of the mountains and the city centre is where everything you need is so there is no escaping it. Most of the outskirts are abandoned or rife with thugs and gangs." Ava surveyed him for a moment. "Are you afraid?"

Valthar

 

[Baise]

Valthar briefly stiffened as she slid her arm around his. In two strides he was back to a more relaxed gait. Everyone he had met in the summer lands so far who had been kind and beautiful had generally been duplicitous and ended up trying to kill him.

The mountains of the spine were more vast than anything they had looming over the tundra. He struggled to imagine having that volume of rock above his head.

"I am not afraid of thugs and gangs," he declared.

Ahead of them an angular shape started to stand out against the natural formations. There were many gates and entrances to the dwarven city. Some of them were well hidden. This was not one of those gates, it was one of the great trade routes with statues of long passed dwarven lords standing guard.

 

[Ava Gilleth]

Ava heard the unspoken fear and nodded in response. Of course he wasn't afraid of thugs and gangs, the skirmish with the orcs had proven that much, but anyone who'd spent a lifetime with nothing they sky above their head would have a fear of being lost beneath a thousand tonnes of rock and stone.

They walked in comfortable silence as the gate drew near, Ava pulling them closer to the wagon that bore her belongings so they would lose it in the throng of weary travellers. Tinkers stood high on their carts bellowing news to one another, already bartering with merchants for wares, seeking better deals before the prices had a chance to rise to match that within the city.

Ava slipped away from Valthar, collecting the falcon from the wagon and whispering in its ear before casting it into the sky. It soared ahead of them disappearing beneath the gate and into the city beyond. "I've somewhere we can stay, Shae will alert them to our arrival." she told him, looping her arm back into his. Her own eyes were drawn upwards, marvelling at the gate she'd passed through a hundred times. Even after so many years, she could still recall the sense of awe and fear she'd felt the first time she passed beneath them.

Valthar

 

[Baise]

It was the sense of age that put Valthar in awe. If someone had told him that these statues had been here since the time the world was forged he would have believed them. In their grandeur he started to lose his concern about the depths.

Not for long. The dwarves might have kept their greatest city in a good condition - even if it was a shadow of its former self - but it was still a maw of darkness swallowing them up.

Ancient water clocks told the time of day outside and braziers were kept lit all through the day every day. Several clever tunnels even brought some daylight from far above, without pouring rainwater on the inhabitants.

The entrance to the city was a bustling area. There was a line of commerce between the portal stone at the heart of Belgrath and its remaining open gates.

"Hold up you two!" huffed a dwarf who did not look accustomed to running after someone. Valthar recognised him from the caravan.

"You heading north norden right?" he was stuff breathless.

"Yes." Valthar didn't offer up information freely more of the time.

"It's just me cousin is heading north. But through the old gate, the one that closed. You can handle yerself, and you too ma'am. If yer headin' north be just as safe as the orcs above ground and there'd be pay!"

Valthar frowned, not quite understanding. He didn't realise that the dwarves had a vast, endless network of tunnels. That most of this network had been lost. A dwarf who wanted to make a name for himself could gather and expedition and try and retake some lost ground. Clear out any creatures of the dark and re-establish a part of the old city.

 

[Ava Gilleth]

"'Just as safe'" Ava gave a derisive snort. "We'd be trading orcs for gangs and whatever other unholy creatures that might have weaved their nests down there. Not to mention there's no guarantee a cart can get through those gates. Or anything else for that matter" She caught the look of confusion on Valthar's face.

"Many of Balthar's gates were blocked up when the city began to fall into disrepair. Not enough dwarves to man them and even less people to traverse them. A lot of the roads that lead to them have been equally forgotten overrun by gangs and gods know what else. His cousin means to remember them. Its a fools run, but if you're lucky enough to survive it'll land you heavy pouch of gold."

The dwarf looked mildly uncomfortable at that last statement. "Let's just say pouch of gold, shall we?"

Ava bristled and took half a step towards him. "Heavy is good!" he blurted, chuckling nervously. "I'll see my cousin knows. That is if you accept?"

Ava shrugged and looked to Valthar, above or below ground made no difference to her, the venture would probably cost her more than she would earn from it but if Valthar agreed, then she would go with him. She wanted to see the norden safe, so she would do exactly that.

 

[Baise]

"You want us to travel through an old underground road that might also be full of orcs?" Valthar clarified. He was glad that Ava had explained the situation before he could be talked into this convoy.

"Actually more likely to be goblins not orcs. And...well...guess they'd be less than a snack when you...you know..."

Valthar frowned. He wasn't certain how much he liked his Svalen being described as fit for snacking on goblins. He knew the dwarf was intending it to be a complement.

What crossed his mind was that he still needed coin to get onto a ship to get home. By all accounts marching across the Blightlands or Wilds alone was a death sentence.

"Where would we find your cousin?" Valthar asked.

"Ask for Laanan at the Eastern armoury, but they'll be setting out within a week now." The dwarf range his hands, nodded, stroked his beard and walked away without another word.

"That was odd," Valthar grunted. He found most things odd. "You said you have somewhere I could stay?" he asked Ava.

 

[Ava Gilleth]

A week was plenty of time to make arrangements for her belongings and to send notice of delays that this would likely cause to her personal plans. Menalus would wait, after all her visit, though announced, was not one he requested. "Dwarves are odd." she confirmed, "Gifted, beyond any doubt, but odd." she shrugged.

"This way." They followed the cart into the city centre, where the architecture around them became more impressive. With the cart ahead of them, the busy streets made the going slower than if the two of them were able to weave through the crowd, but Ava was not going to let any of it out of her sight. Before long it drew to a stop outside a bakers. Two young dwarf boys came running out, each colliding with Ava's legs. "Oh my goodness how you two have grown. Finn, Bazil this is Valthar." They separated from Ava, each offering their hand to Valthar, giving Ava a chance to greet their mother who had followed them wearily.

"It is good to see you Ava, its been too long." Ava bent low to place a kiss on each of her cheeks. The dwarf woman regarded Valthar with a wary eye. "He safe."

"You think i would bring anyone to your home that wasn't? Halga meet Valthar." Halga grunted and gave him a curt nod, clearly suspicious, but then her eye caught the cart and she bustled away shouting for hand to help unload them. Ava smiled at Valthar. "Halga will warm to you quick enough, she's always a little wary of those from beyond the walls of Belgrath. She's never left here, but she'd lost more than a few sons to what she calls 'unnecessary adventures'. Don't mention the tunnels if you can avoid it. I'll never hear the end of it."

Valthar

 

[Baise]

He didnt mind the slow pace. Valthar was certain his neck was going to end up permanently bent from looking upwards. He couldn't understand why no one else was looking to the roof of the cavern high above them. The pillars were larger than any structure he had seen in his life and yet there was an artisan's attention to detail in the shares carved into the rock. That such a bustling city had survived for so long took the edge of his nerves.

Finally his gaze was drawn back down. Partially by the call of his name, but also by his sense of smell. A nordenfiir was almost always hungry, but that only increased after a transformation.

He shook the hands of the children, having to drop to one knee to meet them. All he offered Helga was a nod in return, suspecting it was all she would exchange for now.

Valthar couldn't help the look of confusion that crossed his face as he turned back to Ava. This was not what he had expected. Perhaps he had thought that the sorceress would visit an alchemist with a lab full of horrors, but certainly not this.

"You have known her long?" he asked. "How did you meet?"

 

[Ava Gilleth]

"I've known Halga since she was a child. Her father was killed protecting me from my brother. A long story for another night, but, I do everything I can to make sure they never want for anything." As she spoke, she led them inside.

The doors weren't as low as the ex-ranger had made out, but that in part was due to the fact the building had once been owned by humans and adjusted as such. The ceilings were still a little low, the tops of them brushing Ava's head. Inside the bakery was bustling with customers, beyond that a large kitchen, thick with the smell of fresh bread lay before them, a large table set before an equally large heart was set at one end, at the other the vast over and bakers worked, beyond them a staircase was tucked in a corner that led up two floors, the first a living space for the family, and above that their rooms.

Ava settled in front of the kitchen hearth. "We've become something of a family." she shrugged "A distant one, that doesn't get too much chance to see each other though."

"Well," interjected Halga as she came in before two dwarves hauling Ava's crates behind her "If you spent less time on the road getting involved in things you shouldn't, then we wouldn't be so distant would we?"

"I write." Ava replied, smiling.

"Yes...well...fat lot of good a quill and ink will do you out there. Look at you both, you look like you haven't slept in weeks, which means too much sorcery and this one is covered in blood. The box is on the mantelpiece if you mean to sew him up. You hungry?" she directed the last question at Valthar as Ava rose to collect a very similar box to the one she'd used to treat his wound on the road and set it on the table.

Valthar

 

[Baise]

Ava Gilleth

It was difficult to reconcile his perception of the sorceress on the road with the scene unfolding before him.

I have become too quick to judge, he told himself. He decided it was unfair to blame himself for that. So many different kinds of people had shown their worst qualities to him on this trip home. If risking the lives of others for some rugs was her worst quality then perhaps he had misjudged her. He liked her smile.

Valthar was happier sitting down. In the dwarven home it put his forehead out of risk from beams and doorways. He was fairly average height for his people, but stood a good half a foot above the average humans.

"Some food would be very welcome, thank you," Valthar said to their host. "We might as well get on with the stitching."

He didn't like the slow pain of needle and thread. There was something worse about knowing a pain was coming.