The Troubles of Men
A J cannot sleep, pacing back and forth in her makeshift post; she keeps watch for signs of Chaos's return.
"Come on you grumpy old man. I do not understand the need to place myself in danger to prove honor band bravery. If there were say a reason, like oh, wealth, a home, I don't know, anything other than one's curiosity put to rest."
A snapping in the bushes below her makes the rant come to rest. As she makes herself smaller AJ readies one of her tiny silver daggers. Holding her breath steady she waits for the moment to show its self for the killing blow. A stag almost as tall as Exile, with a rack that showed at least twelve points grazes under the tree house. All AJ has to do is place the dagger, thump, The dagger lands in the killing spot of the deer's neck. As AJ smiles at her throw and the good luck of fresh venison she is startled to see a shadow walk up to the deer.
"Glad he caught that dagger and not I. You're a deadly little thing aren't you?"
Chaos kneels down pulling the dagger from the deer's throat and uses it to slice the windpipe making an end of any last struggles.
"Thank you for the life you are giving for my friends, family and I. We honor you."
AJ smiles to herself.
"You miss her. She is ok. Well, welcome back, glad I do not have to explain to Dragu and Exile where you are."
"What does she mean by that?"
The two of them are caught unaware as Verial appears.
"You are an awful look out."
Chaos replies to AJ. AJ smiles down at him standing her full height.
"I saw plenty. I just did not see him. I do not think anyone truly sees an elf if they do not want to be seen or heard."
Laughter from beside her makes AJ about jump out of the stand, a hand swiftly stabilizing her allows her a second to recover.
"How long have you been up here with me?"
AJ looks up at Exile, her breath once again catching at the sight of him. Her thoughts running from' what is wrong with me? I could have been killed instantly; I am never so far off my game like this; to wow he is so pretty.' The bewildered look on her face just makes Exile pat her head gently as one would a small child. For some reason this one tiny action sets AJ off into a foul mood.
"Why are you two sneaking around out here? I came out here with Chaos to do some hunting. We got some game. I thought it would be safer to stay closer to the inn as you said; however Chaos decided to go for a full on track. He came back just in time to help me bring down the stag. I am going to say that you know everything as you followed us no doubt from the time we left."
Climbing down to join the other two AJ and Exile get a closer look at her killing hit, after retrieving her dagger, she looks at the three men.
"Well, we gonna stand here all day? Shall I carry it?"
Looking at each other they each decide to lend a hand. Verial and Dragu finally get it fully hoisted, with longer legs they were able to walk faster than AJ. She soon fell a few steps behind the group. Exile came to walk beside her. The look on her face told him that she still is not in the mood to talk.
"We did not think it would bother you so much little one. We just wanted to make sure that you and Chaos were safe. We have come to think of Chaos as family and now that we have you as part of our group we will worry about you as well."
"Yes, I am everyone's eternal little sister. I will always be seen as the smallest and weakest. I will never be looked at…."her thoughts wander left unsaid. "Ah, who has time for thoughts past living anyway? We need to catch up, I am not sure any of you are capable of skinning a deer. I want the hide intact. I intend to make a blanket for the baby."
It takes them little time to get the deer cleaned and put into the cellar. Chaos takes a big deer hank skewering it, seasons it then places it over the fire to slow cook. Smiling and humming as he is doing this. AJ finds some potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and some onions turning them into some vegetable sides like slaw, fried potatoes, and boiled cabbage. She also makes some bread. Verial, Dragu, and Exile take their time cleaning and purifying the Inn. They wash the walls wiping the stain of the murders away. When all that can be done is done they all go outside to where the funeral pyre was built the night before, standing there shoulders slumped, is Jonathan. Drawing his sword, Dragu steps up behind the boy.
"Are you a shadow of the boy once called Jonathan or are you the man?"
"Both tell me is what remains of my family?"
Dragu looks to Verial who nods, Exiles eyes shows a soft glow around Jonathan as the spell that Verial cast limes his form in magic. Dragu's voice cracks as his frayed emotions betray him
"We are glad to find you alive son. Sadly, yes, this is the ashes of the fire. Did you see what went on here? Who or what did this to our family?"
Jonathan turns his eyes first finding AJ, when he sees her he walks over and puts his hand in hers. Then looking at Verial, Exile, finally Dragu tears rewetting those dried on his face
"It was awful, we had just turned in, there was a knock; dad went down to open the door. The man declared himself a messenger carrying a message for those inside. Dad opened the door. Sigmar, was sick, his daughter, she had hide the pregnancy from him. No one knows who the father is, When the baby was born mom thought it to be Exiles." Sneaking a look at Exile for a reaction, everyone waits for a reply.
"I did not do such a thing to our friend. She confided in me one night when I caught her coming in late from town that she was with child. She could not tell the father as he is already married and it would not bode well for him or her child."
Verial's brow furrow's, "That adds up. I saw her talking to a soldier from the king's guard. She seemed upset when he handed her a warn letter then told her not to write anymore and to do so would mean death to all inside the Inn."
Jonathan looks frightened. Exile looks at his old friend. "We saved that young son of a ram, now he attacks those inside our home to keep an affair quiet?"
"I do not think it was a messenger from this king or from this castle. I do however believe we have received a message. Now, we need to get the rest of our family home. We have two enemies vying for our time. We also need to find out the name of the young man at the castle. I believe he needs to know that fate of his love and the child he did not get to know."
As they are talking AJ looks up at the edge of the woods near the wooded edge is a female form. AJ could not be sure but as she is about to point it out the figure fades from view. AJ shrieks, pointing where the female stood.
"She was there!"
The men turn and look to where she points nothing is there but a mist slowly fading away. Creeped out AJ continues holding Jonathans hand and walks into the Inn, the smell of warm supper greats them making her feel a little safer. As the rest come in Jonathans stomach makes a rumbling noise, his face reddens. Ruffling his hair, as one would a young boy of mere six years,
"Wash up lad we will serve you some fresh venison and warm stew. We will stop the stomach from grumbling."
"I am a man." Fixing his hair he glances over at AJ trying to act his sixteen years. "I want to help stop this thing."
"You will son, after we eat, and you do some more growing."
As they sit down to the meal they talk about everything but what happened that night. Finally the meal is done the leftovers stored, dishes done, and everyone sitting with pipe, coffee, or spiced wine the question is finally asked.
"So Jonathan, can you tell us what you remember?"
"I know that the messenger was not from the Kings guard. I also know that we have nothing to worry about. This was not retaliation due to the baby."
Exiles brow furrows and he plays with his pipe. "How so?"
"The monster did not have the right colors on to be representing him. Also, when he was leaving he did not get on a horse and ride away. He just disappeared in a cloud of mist. The only thing I saw that lent humanity at one time was when he saw the flowers my mom had planted. He actually stopped and picked a rose, smelled it, then crushed it. He looked.." swallowing and looking at Verial "he looked right in my direction but he did not see me. The light from the moon was enough to show me that his eyes were silverfish in the light. He had fangs, and he was sniffing, as if he could smell me. I hid deeper in the straw. I did not know why my dad had me out in the barn; I knew about the baby, I thought he did not want me there for the birth. I am angry I was not able to help save them. Please, tell me, why the infant?"
AJ looks at Verial tears rim her eyes at the mention of the baby; the shake of her head barely seen by anyone. Verial just clears his throat looking at Jonathan
"She was too small, with her mother gone she was not able to eat, she died from lack of milk, warmth, and being early. The monster did not hurt the babe."
Exile catches AJ's look out of the corner of his eye. He sees that there was something neither of them wanted Jonathan to know about. The four men are waiting for the one question none of them have an answer for. It never came though. A little after mid-night Jonathan gives up his fight with sleep, curling up on a chair near the fire. AJ covers him with a blanket. Taking the empty cup from his hand before it hits the floor. The six of them sit for a little longer talking of the things they just learned trying to get a firm plan in mind. AJ notices Verial flipping through some old books. He keeps looking at one place continually.
"Verial, is something on that page bothering you? I mean you keep returning to that one page. Is there anything that we might help you with? We might see it differently or maybe the same way."
Moving over so she can sneak a look at the page, AJ leans over, the look on her face at the Archaic language made the men laugh.
"It is not as easy as you thought ey little one. I am a bit at odds with this one passage as I can best gather it connects to the passage from the oracle, Aria. I just do not know how. I also hope it is not passed already, if it has then we are too late to help; plus our overall mission is unfinishable."
Exile gets up walks over to the open door. The nights are beginning to lengthen; they are cooling off as the days are shortening. The woods already show the signs of an earlier than usual fall. Winter nips at the heels early, frost sparkles in the light of morning sun during chore time. Just thinking of the frosty cold to come almost makes him miss the homeland of his hidden past. Sounds of throats clearing make him turn around.
"I was just lost in a bit of thought. I know rare but has anyone else but me noticed that winter seems to be coming faster and colder this year?"
"Ah, my dark friend, Exile, I am afraid that is what I have been trying to tell you." Verial gets up walks over to join Exile at the door. Patting his friends shoulder as one would a beloved brother. "I no doubt that we are experiencing things just as we are supposed to, come my friends, I need to look upon the sky." Looking over at the sleeping boy, he stops AJ with a shake of his head. "Let the boy sleep. I fear that unless we make his life remarkable from now on, his adult life will be short. He lost a lot more than his family; I fear he lost his faith as well as his youth. Come."
The odd six walk out to the center of the yard. There is an odd sight in the sky. Verial has been following them for a few nights now, but to a few of the six the red moon that is now visible in the night sky draws a few deep gasps from his friends.
"Um, Verial, friend, I may be a silly simple human, and a fighter with that, so, this whole magic stuff is really new to me. I learned a little since marring my sweet Snow. Nothing though has to do with a red moon. We are in something deep aren't we?" Chaos looks a little shaken, worried but mostly awed.
"Verial my friend I am with Chaos on this. Not the simple human part, but the we are in it deep part. I understand magic a little. This is a bad omen. What did the book say?" Dragu looks over at his friend, the look on his face one of concern.
"Well my friends I brought you out here to let you know that Aria is right. We are in a hurry to solve the riddle that was given to her. We also have a recipe of sorts to put together. I will simplify it, we need to find a celebration in danger that they know nothing about. There is a citadel that is attacked by dragons never to see sunlight. I think I know the answer to this one; Taven carries a strange key from one of our first adventure. It is a key with a dragon head on it. He carries it he says for luck. I think he believes that it was him bending over looking for the key that kept him from losing his head when a trap swung." Verial shakes his head at the memory. "This that I was reading also mentions the singing stones and a never ending winter. I am afraid that some of it has me at a loss. Like the one that has me worried. We need to find the sword from the bones of a king that is not disturbed. I am not sure what that means."
Looking from face to face to see if there is any hint of an idea Verial is about to give up when the sounds of horse hooves is heard over the sound of the crickets. Looking towards the noise the six of them see a wagon running towards them out of control. They notice as it draws closer that the cloth that usually covers the metal rings in the back is ripped and waving wildly in the wind. AJ is the first to react, grabbing on of her daggers she readies to throw it at the spooked horse; as she is about to let fly Jonathan appearing as if from nowhere stills her throw.
"I can stop them no need for more death."
He steps in the way of the wagon and the six, hands outstretched,
"Whoa there, easy there, whoa."
The horse seeing Jonathan starts slowing down the panic dissolving from his eyes. The destroyed wagon clambers to a complete stop within yards of the Inns front door. Jonathan takes hold of the horses bridles stroking his face calming him with soft words. AJ watches this with an open mouth. Then realizes the boy could have been trampled to death.
"You are brave as well as a little stupid. You could have been trampled to death. I just meet you and you want to go and die. I do not need another friend like that, ok? If you and I are to be friends and family then you are not to try anything like that again."
Jonathan looks at the Halfling and smiles. Her little size just makes her words a lot less terrifying than they should be. He just nods; fear that a laugh would escape.
"Does anyone recognize the horse?" remarks Dragu, looking over the horses gear.
Verial, Exile, and Chaos are all examining the remains of the wagon. It is AJ that find the little girl and her baby brother in the back, once again a tiny shriek escaping her.
"Verial come quick please!"
Running to the back where she is standing the men find her holding another baby. The little form once again covered in filth and blood. The little girl that is with her could not be much older than six winters. Tears run unchecked down the frightened face; dirt, grim and blood mar her looking familiar to anyone.
"Has she said anything?" Verial asks taking the baby in his arms to look it over.
"Just your elven word for mother." replies AJ.
Verial and Exile look from AJ to the girl. Then taking her in his arms he lifts her from the wagon, carrying her inside, AJ once again carrying the baby. Verial leads them to the chairs near the fire. Seeing the fire the girl backs away.
"Something tells me she does not want to get that close my brother. Let's try over here at the dinner table. Maybe we can clean her up and get some warm milk into the two of them." Suggests Exile.
Verial nods in agreement. Dragu and Jonathan put the horse up; as they do they check it over for any injuries. Finding only one small singed spot on his hind leg, as well as, a stone spur in its left hoof. Jonathan takes to working on the horse as Dragu sets to working on any hidden clues with in the shell of the wagon. Inside the back hull he finds some blankets of elven design; some clothing packed within a few back packs; a druids pouch, a few healing potions, a wand, some cooking utensils, some elven meal and some powdered milk. He also finds a letter telling a man named Jeremiah to hurry home the drow attacked. Several of their people were taken. Muttering to himself Dragu climbs from the back of the wagon, waves toward Jonathan pointing to the Inn, the boy just nods. As he walks in Dragu finds Verial holding a cleaner little girl as she drinks some of the offered milk. AJ is just finishing cleaning the baby.
"Dragu, did you find anything telling us of their family?"
"I am afraid I have as well as some bad news. Can we speak or do we need to wait?" looking at the little girls eyes, fear still lights them up.
"I am not sure she understands common language. She has said a few things in elven but only asking for a blanket, her family and a large dog." the mention of the dog made Exile shake his head and hide a smile.
Dragu looks from Verial to Exile. "Ok what am I missing?"
About that time there is a spooked yowl from the barn. Dragu, Exile and the little girl all run towards the door. Verial gets up slowly looks at AJ
"I often feel too old for this."
AJ just nods. "We should have said something about the pet. Jonathan is probably trying to kill it right now. She does not need to lose another thing. I wonder if there are some baby things in the wagon." Laying the clean baby in a bundle near the table AJ walks outside. Verial follows her in order to make sure there are no deaths tonight. The two find themselves faced with a large grey wolf licking the face of Jonathan and the little girl. The wolf, which stands as tall as the girl, stops in order to address Verial.
"You protected my family. I thank you Sir." bowing he walks over to Verial. "I am Greypaw. I was adopted into this pack as a pup. My druid saved my life just weeks after I was born. I have stayed with her up until last night. She and I were hunting dinner for her young. We were making a game of it. She smelled the fire first. She ran for the wagon getting to it before I did. I saw her let the horse go. If she had stayed in wolf shape she might have stayed alive. I tried to follow the wagon as close as I could but the horse was spooked when the flames got to near. I saw his leg burn; Autumnwing's mother put the fire out. I followed it here. I cannot tell you if they are alive or if they both fell. I can tell you that it is the same thing I smell that attacked my pack." turning abruptly towards Exile Greypaw bares his fangs. "You are a member of the pack that took mine. I want my pack back."
Exile holds his hands up, "Um, easy fluffy, what is it with animals and me? Verial a lot of help here."
Verial gets between Greypaw and Exile "Exile is named for his stance with his pack. He is no longer a part of the pack that is doing these awful things. He, in fact, fights them. Do you know where they have taken your family?"
Sitting down, "yes, sadly, I cannot go with you. I am afraid if I do I will not make it." Greypaw shifts a little showing Verial and Exile the gash in his side. "I took a sword for the little one. She does not know how bad I am. I have not heard them use common around her. I know she can speak elven. If it is ok we will stay here until I can travel. Then I will take them on to the glen."
Verial gets closer to Greypaw "May I?" the big wolf lowers his head in acquiesce. Verial touches the wound testing the length and depth of it. Soft chanting is heard then the wolf lets out a little whimper. Autumnwing looks over at her friend fear once again a mask on her face. Greypaw lifts his head a grimace on his muzzle fangs bared. Exile walks behind Verial. "You will mend well. There is not any infection. I did not feel any broken ribs, as for you three staying here without us I do not think that would be wise. I would not be honorable if I left you in harm's way. We will take you to meet the druids that live in the glen. Chaos's wife Snow was a student there. Her mentor is the head mother. She will have no issue with us bringing you."
"I know your Snow. I was at the glen when she and Azule, her tiger, came to be there. She lives here now?"
"Yes, this is our home for our pack. Chaos and Dragu are the humans Chaos is married to Snow. Exile you have met. Jonathan is the young lad putting up the horse. I believe he is going to make a fine fighter or cleric one day. AJ is new to our little mix. There are a few of us missing right now. They should be home soon, we hope."
Greypaw senses the worry hidden within Verials words. "so you have seen the foretold signs also. Have you made any since of what is to come?"
Taken aback Verial looks to Exile, "You know of the signs?"
Greypaw makes a noise akin to a laugh. "We animals know things are going on. I am not sure we have it all figured out. We know that something that must not come is trying to come to our world. If it makes it death will follow. This creature will arrive during a celebration that is to happen soon. We also understand the two moons. Red for death, white for good. When they meet the ones that will save us need to be in the room of the singing stones. We also know that a special child will be born on that night."
Those near him look at each other than over to where Chaos is aiding Jonathan with the horse. Greypaw seeing the look on Verial's face, as well as the person to whom the look is aimed at, glances up at the sky, "bless you Snow wherever you may be right now. Snow is with child? How far is she?"
Verial looks to Greypaw "as far as I can guess she has four maybe five months left. I am not really sure. Why do you ask?"
"There mother was helping someone with the translation of the signs. They had just figured out that there is a song that must be carried to the vault of a single key. The problem they had with their translation it kept showing the mother of the child born of the light and the dark mixed in the vault. Why would she be in the vault during a battle for the end of time?"
"Unless she has a part to play with the recipe, ah Snow, what have the Gods done to us now?"
Chaos and Jonathan come join the group. Autumnwing is holding her cup full of warm milk and a fresh slice of bread. Jelly is on the side of her face but she seems happy. Verial looks at the tiny elven child noticing something for the first time.
"She is not full elven, but she is not human. Her mother is elven, what is her father?"
Greypaw looks at the little child beside him, her tears have temporarily stopped. She is not fully aware of what is going on, neither is she fully lost. "Autumnwing and her brother are indeed half elves. She has a full elf mother and a half elf father. Jerimiah was half dwarf and half elf; his father married an elven woman; even doing this though the dwarves did not lose their respect for Jerimiah's father. The reason his parents did not raise him within the dwarven compound is freedom. They wanted Jerimiah to learn both traditions as well as choose a path that he wanted to follow as an adult."
AJ yawns and rubs her eyes; the gesture catches Greypaw by surprise. "Are you ok little one?"
AJ looks at the wolf. "great now even you are calling me by that. I am not that little. Oh, never mind. I am sleepy, the little girl and her brother need rest as well. I will keep them with me unless you have any qualms about that."
"No, do you mind my staying in your room as well?"
"Do wolves snore?"
Greypaw looks at Verial "She is an odd little one. Is she one of your half breeds?"
Exile stifles a laugh while watching Verial trying to keep his respectable composure. "AJ is a Halfling, they are a race all of their own. She recently joined my pack as we need her help in reading a map."
Greypaw walks closer to AJ, his bulky form towers over her by several inches. "Halfling, I have met someone new today. I like that. I am glad to meet you, AJ. I now consider you one of my pack."
Greypaw goes inside finds the sleeping baby. Gently lifting the bundle with a nip of the blanket he is wrapped in he walks over to the stairs. AJ motions for him to go up the stairs to the second door on the left. Autumnwing follows her wolf closely; she still hugs a warmed mug.
"I bid you fine gentlemen a good night." AJ gathers up some needed things then goes to her room. Once the door is closed it takes no more than ten minutes for everyone inside to be in comfortable places to sleep, soon they are sleeping unaware of the conversation being held below them.
Once more gathered around the table the men talk about the recent events.
"So, do you believe that Snow is going to be giving birth to our child in the middle of a battle?" Chaos's voice drips with anger, fear, and malice. "I did not sign up for this. I did not become a good swordsman so that I could find the perfect wife to lose both her and my child in a battle that we have no idea how or who we are fighting."
"Calm down my friend I will not allow anything to happen to my half cousin. I did not find her to lose her. I will find a way to protect them both. Right now I am worried about the problem we are facing with this." Verial pulls out a map from one of his spell books. He lays it on the table in front of them. Pointing at the corner he shows them all the makers mark. It is another of AJ's fathers. "I do not think her father died dishonorably. I believe he was a map maker for one of the magic guilds. All the maps to the places in these books have his mark. Before he was born it was similar to his. Looking up the history of the man owning that mark it was his father. I do not think he expected AJ to be a daughter. When they ask for map makers they train men only as the going is dangerous. Women are rarely heard of in this trade. AJ being able to read and make maps means her father trained her. I do not know how well, when or what made him change his mind about the needed training;" spreading his hands out and shrugging " I am glad he did and now we have her on our side. We have a two hour trip in the morning. I sent a magical message to the glen. There will be an envoy waiting for us and Greypaw two hours from here. We are to head north from there. We are going to a little thorp to see what is becoming of its citizens. I have sent a message to Dalamar letting him know to meet us there. They are not to come here. I do not want Snow to see the place till we can completely be sure that it is safe."
Exile, Chaos, and Dragu settle on getting rations, the wagon and everything able to be readied. Verial and Jonathan gather needed weapons, spell scrolls, wands, books, maps, ledgers, potions and herbs from the hidden stores. Sigmar had been preparing for a battle they were heading to one. When the first light of dawn struck the sky the men were rested but a bit weary. AJ came down stairs holding tiny bundle. Her cooing and smiling stopped when she saw the looks of her friends and their faces. They hid the bad parts from the little one when she and Greypaw joined them. Breakfast was warm and she still had a cup, empty now, but she still had it. When the baby was sipping at a makeshift bottle and she was eating AJ and Greypaw were given a briefing on the discoveries. AJ handed Verial the baby walking outside making the excuse she needed to check her gear.
"Well that went well. Exile if you and Greypaw will clean Autumnwing up, Jonathan, Chaos and Dragu have cleaned up the kitchen and everything, I'll make short work of changing him then we will be off."
The wagon wheels creaked in the morning dew. Jonathan rode near AJ as they left his home behind. It was only AJ that looked back to catch the slight glimmer of a shadow near the tree once again.
