Chapter 17 - A Madman's Fatal Endeavor
The night ended suddenly, or so it seemed. Orin had dozed off, having been completely exhausted, but that doesn't mean his rest wasn't troubled. These things that had been haunting him had overcome him once more in his mind, but it was all quite fuzzy. A man stood with a blade, speaking but making no sound, a look of calm in his eyes. He had his father's eyes, his father's face even, but it wasn't him. There was something wrong, something different, something that made Orin want to cry in his sleep. As Bowie spoke, his lips moving, but expressing no voice, his face became distorted and ugly, and eventually his eyes grew white and his teeth became sharp and blood-soaked. He lunged forward angrily in Orin's subconscious, and drew blood from an unknown figure, and Orin sprung awake from his cot, panting heavily.
"Woah..." he managed to groan while he sat in his cot, eyes wide and his heart racing. "What's...what's wrong with me..."
He got up out of his bed and looked around. Everyone was still sleeping soundly in their beds, and Vahn was still alive and well. Orin wiped the sweat from his brow and walked toward the stairwell ahead of him. There, on the ground, lay a long sword and a rod clasped with a red gem.
"Ah, so he did come through." said Orin as he picked up his new blade.
What little sun that shined through the trees gleamed off the blade, and made the sword look somewhat holy and powerful. He gave it a wave, and was amazed at how light it was for its size. A good training session right now was exactly what Orin needed to calm his nerves and wake him up a bit more. So, he walked into the thickets of the forest in search for the biggest tree he could use as a dummy.
-----
Paje had gotten to Granseal early in the morning. An old man such as himself had a hard time traveling what was normally a days walk. It had taken him three times as long as he expected, and he was exhausted by the time he reached the Granseal gates. With Orin's note, he was permitted to enter the village and the castle to seek our Queen Elis. When he found she was still sleeping in her room, he sat down to rest in the room below her bedroom.
"Please, sir." said a soldier of the castle. "I think it would be much more beneficial if you took a rest in one of the guest rooms."
"No, no, lad. I'm fine. I'm not as old as I look, you know..." he said, panting as he sat in the chair at the table that stood in the center of the room.
"As you wish." said the soldier, who bowed and walked off toward the staircase to the throne room.
It seemed like hours before Elis had awoken, and ventured down the stairs for breakfast. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she looked at Paje oddly.
"May I ask who you are, sir?" she said kindly.
Her blonde hair was in the usually bundle on her head, and she wore a sky blue dress this morning.
"I'm Paje." he said, as he grabbed Orin's note from his pocket and handed it to Elis.
She read it intently, and then looked at the hermit once she had finished.
"My son...is...he alright?" she asked, holding the note against her chest.
"Fine, last time I had seen him. He left my home about three days ago on his way to Nazca." said Paje, who had finally caught his breath. "He sent me because he wanted to be sure you were handling everything alright here."
"Oh, goodness I'm so happy he's okay." she said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I'm so glad you're here, too."
Paje looked at her closely. She had looked as if she has lost countless nights of sleep, and was losing the beauty in her eyes. They were become gray and lonely.
"I have never taken care of the castle without Bowie...he kept everything perfect when he was around." she said, sounding upset again. "I never knew how much trouble he put into this place. How much work he did, and now Orin is gone and so is Gyan, and..."
Paje cut her off and stood from his chair.
"Gyan!? Where is he!?" yelled Paje.
"He...he disappeared yesterday. I have no idea where he's gone." she said, now crying a bit.
"Damnit!" coughed Paje, as he moved as fast as he could to the stairway. "We have to find him! He could have been taken already!"
"Taken!? What...where are you going!!" yelled Elis as Paje ran from the room and down the stairs.
Paje reached the tunnel exit and looked toward the school house nearby. He wouldn't be there, it's not like it was his house. Paje ran down to the well and asked the two women that stood there where Gyan's house was.
"He lives in that little house near the water. He hasn't been answering the door lately though..." said one women.
Paje thanked her quickly and moved off as fast as his old body could carry him to the house near the docks. He panted heavily as he approached the door, which was slightly ajar, a dark aura seeming to seep from the house.
Paje grabbed the door reluctantly, and slowly pulled it open until he could see into the dark house. Nothing. Everything was in perfect condition, and there was no sign of a struggle at all. The only thing that made Paje wonder was the bandages that were strewn across the floor and the bed sheets that were left sprawled out at the foot of the bed. Though Paje was unsure of what had happened to Gyan, and tried to convince himself that he hadn't been possessed yet, the truth of the matter laid in the Gyan himself, who was now bolting across the countryside with white eyes and a muddled mind.
-----
Orin heard someone talking in the distance as he approach camp again after training. His new blade had proved to be even more deadly than his previous weapons, and he was feeling invigorated after his training.
When he got to the clearing where his camp was, he spotted Ikara and Tess sitting and talking to each other. Duran was up as well, leaning back against one of the small ledges that ran throughout the clearing.
"Morning" said Tess when Orin reached them.
Orin simply smiled back at her and sat down next to Duran.
"So, how are you feeling?" asked Orin, as he looked over at Duran.
"Getting better. I'm a bit sore though." replied Duran as he rubbed his hip softly.
Orin nodded and stood up again.
"Keep an eye on them." said Orin to Tess and Ikara, as he pointed to Vahn and Keith.
"Gotcha." said Tess as Orin walked off toward the stairwell.
The new rod for Ikara was gone, so he guessed she had seen it and picked it up. He walked down the stairwell until he reached the tunnels below, and began to search around for the dwarf who had left him the weapons.
His search ended with him just being confused. Had the dwarf left while they slept?
"A good idea." Orin said to himself as he approached the stairs again. "It's no use staying and waiting for them to come and attack you."
He reached the top of the stairs and seen that Keith had now come to as well and sat up next to Duran. Both of their wounds were healing quite nicely, and quickly even though they had only eaten a few herbs. Vahn still lay in his bed, struggling every few breaths to catch some air.
"And how are you?" asked Orin as he approached Keith.
Keith smiled weakly at Orin when he seen him.
"I'm fine. I know I'm in good shape when I can still pummel the runt, here." said Keith as he flicked Duran's ear.
"Knocked it off, you twit." said Duran angrily as he knocked Keith's hand away. "It hurts when you do that."
Sure enough, though, as soon as Duran looked away, Keith flicked his ear again.
Orin sat down in the grass next to Vahn as he strained to inhale. He was really trying his best to stay alive. Maybe it was more serious than they all thought. Maybe he wasn't recovering, but just stalling death for a few minutes longer. He struggled to inhale again, and wiggled a little under his blankets.
"Vahn...what can I do to help you...?" Orin asked in a low voice so only he and Vahn could hear.
Orin stood up again and sat down on his cot instead. There wasn't much to do until Vahn came around, and so they had only one choice. Find more herbs. The last one was already eaten the night before, and so the only way to get everyone back on their feet was to go in search of more. Orin thought for a moment and stood up.
"I'll be back in a bit." said Orin, as he turned toward the thick forest.
"Why?" Ikara called after Orin as he walked on into the woods.
Orin stopped walking and turned to face her.
"There isn't anything we can do until they are well. I need to go find more herbs." he explained. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Ikara nodded, as did Tess, and Orin walked off into the woods. The forest was dark and eerie, unlike the beautiful clearing where his camp stood. He managed to find his way out of the forest without much trouble, and began his search for herbs. It wasn't really his specialty to look for these things, as he had never really gone out and done it before. He found two near a rock, but they were both small and not much of a help to him. Nevertheless, he searched on for them until he happened upon something better. A group of ripened herbs grew from the side of a ridge near the river. Upon the herbs grew purple, bead shaped seeds, that concentrated even more medicinal power than the leaves of the herbs.
He picked the seeds and put them into his satchel, and picked as many herbs as he could until both of his hands were full. Afterward, he marched back to the forest and to the campsite with his rare finds and dropped them onto the cot at Ikara's feet.
"There we go. That should help a lot." said Orin.
Ikara picked up one of the herbs, and with her new rod, turned it to ashes in an instant. The rod had enhanced her magic powers even further, and she was becoming adept to her powerful fire spells.
She fed the ashes to Vahn, who gulped them down and gasped for air, and slowly got the hang of the old steady breathing he was trying to get as the herbs kicked in. Keith and Duran also ate up, and felt good enough to get onto their feet. They still complained of soreness, but the pain was likely to pass within a few hours.
Vahn had started to get his breath back, and Orin thought it best to give him a few seeds he had found. Vahn chewed them down, and within about 10 minutes he was awake and aware.
"Ugh...my god..." he moaned as the pain hit him hard now that he was conscious.
He looked at Orin and the rest of them standing over him as he lay there.
"Damnit, it hurts..." he groaned, his eye twitching in pain.
"Well at least you're alive, bud." said Keith. "You didn't seem to perky this morning."
Keith laughed a bit, but when he noticed everyone was ignoring his unnecessary joke, he quieted down.
"When you start to feel better we'll get moving. Until then I want you to rest as much as possible." said Orin. "I don't want anything like this to happen next time, so we all have to be ready for anything."
"I guess we're going to have to do some traveling then...along the mountains..." said Duran.
"No." said Orin very suddenly. "I know where to go."
They all looked at him strangely.
"One of our enemies survived last night. One of the dwarves." explained Orin, as everyone's eyes widened. "He proved to me that his leader was being truthful about the situation. He gave me proper directions and supplied Ikara and I with weapons."
"I was wondering whose this was." said Ikara.
"So how do we get through the mountains then?" asked Tess.
"To the north is a cavern that we can pass through. It twists around into the valley of northern Grans Island." said Orin. "I think it best if we travel by night for once. The Exiles won't be able to find us if they are lurking about in the dark."
They all nodded in agreement. They would set out when the sun set, and when Vahn had recovered enough strength to move along with them. Until then, they all took advantage of the time they had. Duran and Keith fell back to sleep, and Tess had gone to the river to get drinking water. Vahn was still lying in rest, in a light sleep. Ikara and Orin were the only ones awake, and they seemed reluctant to speak to one another. For some reason, there was an awkward feeling about the situation that made them feel uncomfortable in one another's company. Finally, though, Ikara broke the silence.
"So what happened to that dwarf you met with the other night...?" she said, her voice low and almost squeaky.
"He's gone. He left early this morning, I believe." replied Orin. "I wouldn't be fond of waiting around here either if I were being hunted."
"Aren't we though?" she asked quickly. "The Exiles want us dead. We killed at least a dozen of their men."
"I guess, but you know I wouldn't be afraid to stay here." said Orin, as he looked at Ikara and smiled. "I have you guys to look after me, and to look after each other."
Ikara smiled back, and then looked at the ground. The smile faded from her face quite quickly. Something else was bothering her, but she didn't dare not speak of it. Orin watched her expression change, and his smile faded, too. He understood her better than she knew, and she was surprised when he spoke up.
"What's the matter...?" he asked, as he moved from the ridge he had been leaning against to her side.
He sat down in the grass next to her. She didn't bother to look at him, but only stared down at the ground, seemingly fixated on something.
"Come on, what is it?" he asked again.
"Nothing. I'm...just worried about how we will fair when we leave tonight..." she said, but he knew she was lying.
Even so, he smiled at her and decided it best if she kept whatever it was to herself.
"We'll be fine." he said, as he got up and moved back against the ridge.
He folded his arms and looked at her as she stood from her cot and walked toward the forest slowly.
"Where are you off to?" he called after her as she walked.
"For a walk." she answered, not bothering to turn around. "I'll be back before dark."
There was a certain tone in her voice that suggested she was upset, crying even, but Orin simply shook his head and closed his eyes to rest against the ridge.
He had only been napping for about an hour before Orin's eyes opened and focused on his surroundings. The clearing had started to grow dark in the days twilight, and only a few rays of blue light were able to penetrate the canopy.
Tess sat in front of a newly built campfire, warming her hands as the night grew chilly and damp. Everyone was still dozing, but Ikara was nowhere to be seen. Orin rubbed one eye and yawned loudly, grabbing Tess' attention.
"Oh, someone's finally awake." said Tess with a smile. "Where's Ikara gone?"
"She went out for a walk." replied Orin, as he walked toward her. "But she should have come back by now."
Tess stopped smiling, and looked out into the forest where Orin's gaze had become fixated.
"I'll be back. We should leave within an hour or so, so I need her he to help us get prepared." said Orin as he marched off to the forest.
Tess said nothing, but only watched as Orin walked off into the forest, and disappeared into the darkness. Orin had no idea where she could be now. She had left over and hour ago and could be anywhere by now. He got through the forest and out into the plains near the river. He looked down along the riverside in both directions, but she was nowhere in sight.
"Damnit." said Orin, as he chose to run to the north in search for Ikara.
The sky was growing darker every minute, and he still couldn't find her, when finally, against a solitary tree near the river, he spotted her sitting alone. He ran in her direction immediately, expecting her to jump up from where she was sitting at the sight of him. She did not. When he reached her, he kneeled down quickly when he seen her eyes were closed.
From her head ran a line of blood that dripped from her chin onto her robes, and her head was tilted oddly toward the sky. Orin's eyes widened when he seen the blood, and he immediately pulled a cloth from his pocket and wiped the blood from her cheek and forehead.
"Ikara!! Ikara, wake up!!" he yelled as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
It was no use. She was out cold. Orin stood up and looked around. The blood from her head was fresh, and whoever had attacked her had done it only moments ago. They were bound to be lurking about somewhere.
"YOU BASTARD!" He yelled into the fields. "Show yourself!! You have the gull to attack a lone woman, but you can't fight me!!"
Orin panted and looked around in anger. No one appeared before him, and so he tried to calm himself, and turned back toward Ikara. He lifted her up into his arms, and took off as fast as he could run toward the forest. He looked at Ikara as he moved, her mouth slightly agape and her eyes shut tightly. The moonlight glistening off her face and lips. At that moment, Orin began to think. 'She's beautiful.'
Orin slowed down gradually as he grew closer to the forest's edge, and he stopped running and began to walk when he entered the woods. He thought he'd be close to camp by now. As he crept through the dark forest, the sound of cracking made him jump. He looked in all directions for the source of the noise, but there was nothing. Then another crack was heard, and another. He started to run again. Something was there, searching for him in the forest. Something smart enough to know the woods were better cover to hunt him down than to have confronted him on the plains. His arms were growing tired quickly, and he tried his best to run and support Ikara as he weaved in and out of the trees that got in his way. The cracking grew louder, but finally, he managed to find the clearing. He jumped past the last tree, almost losing his grip on Ikara as he skidded to a stop right near the campsite.
Tess spotted him and jolted up from where she was sitting. Another crack came from the forest as the thing grew closer, and finally, both Orin and Tess could make out the outline of a person walking toward them slowly from the depths of the dark woods.
Niro lifted his leg past a shrub that obstructed his walk toward them, an evil sneer pasted to his face.
"My soldier's are very bad at setting traps, I can see." he said softly, drawing his blade.
His dragon mask revealed only his teeth and his eyes. His eyes where wide and crazed, as they had been before, and his smile was wide as well. He looked at Orin and Ikara, and then at Tess and the rest of the group.
"Those fools couldn't kill any!" he roared at Orin. "How dare they fail!! It's your fault, you little shit!"
Orin moved backward, still holding Ikara in his arms. This kid was out of his mind.
"Don't be afraid." he said, throwing away his anger and replacing it with the same disturbing grin he had had before. "I'll be sure not to make it hurt to bad for you and your friends."
Orin gritted his teeth in anger, and he put Ikara down and leaned her back against one of the clearing's ridges.
"What in hell do you want, you son of a bitch." said Orin, trying not to show how much he hated his enemy. "Shouldn't you be off taking more kingdoms and killing more people?"
Niro laughed manically.
"You're such a fool!" he said, calming down and turning his gaze to Tess and then back to Orin. "You misunderstand, I never meant for anyone to die. Did you ever think maybe it was YOUR fault? Ever think maybe if YOU hadn't been so bothersome your friend wouldn't had died?"
Orin was taken aback. How did he know exactly how Orin felt? Only a few days ago he had told Vahn that he felt it was his own fault Shale had been slain.
"What did you say?" said Orin, his eyes wide. "What--"
Niro cut him off before he could finish.
"I come only to kill the one who took my kingdom away. The one with the blood of the man who kill our savior." said Niro, as he readied his blade.
Tess gasped.
"You!" she said. "You're the one who killed Shale!? You're an Exile!"
Niro looked at Tess and snickered.
"Oh, so smart. You should learn to hold you're tongue, bitch." said Niro, as he widened his smile. "Dirty little thief. Was this the only group of dogs that were filthy enough for your standards?"
Tess was surprised at first. She'd never been so insulted.
"How dare--" she began, but was cut off.
"I told you to SHUT UP!" Niro roared as he took a step toward her.
Orin drew his sword as soon as Niro moved, and the sound of the blade being drawn caught his enemie's attention.
"Oh, I see." Niro said, still smiling. "You're going to try and fight back? Well come on then, pig. I'll gut you and your friends and send your head to your dear, dear mother."
Orin was enraged. It was beyond even his belief how furious he was, and he could feel the rage growing. He hated him so much. Everything was a blur, his memories were spliced together and his mind was frazzled as Niro laughed, his blade stretched directly into the air.
"You're mad, you know that." said Orin softly, as he gritted his teeth and tried to keep his anger locked away.
He knew a blind move may cost him his life.
"Oh, really!?" said Niro. "Am I mad? Well why don't you come SEE how MAD I REALLY AM!!"
Niro waved his sword at Orin, taunting him, encouraging him to take a swing. Orin wouldn't fall into the trap.
"I don't fight crazy people." said Orin, his face stern as he held his blade limply, and got out of his fighting stance. "It just wouldn't be fair to slaughter you when you aren't in the right state of mind."
With that, Orin turned around to face Ikara, and he walked toward her calmly.
"You cocky little bastard!" yelled Niro. "How dare you turn your back on ME!!"
Niro lifted his blade and charged Orin. Orin spun and whipped his blade over his shoulder, just quick enough to block Niro's swinging sword. Niro drew back and threw a second slash at Orin, and a third to Orin's face, and another to his stomach, and another to his chest, all dodged and guarded. Niro was fuming. He hoped back and sheathed his blade.
"How dare you make a mockery of me! Trying to show off for your filthy girlfriend!?" he said, as he began to laugh once again. "It doesn't matter, pig. You may have bested me, but you can't fight them off."
Niro snapped his fingers and the sound of rustling came from all around. Several bulky Exiles emerged from the forest, armed with axes, and they all stood at their leader's side.
"That's right, bitch." said Niro, turning to Tess. "I'm an Exile. As a matter of fact, I head them. So go ahead, use that pretty little head of yours to solve more puzzles while you can, because in a second my men are going to bust it wide open..."
He sneered, and the laughed and withdrew from the head of his group. His outline faded back into the woods, and as his men were about to attack, his voice came again.
"Maybe you're right for once, pig. Maybe I'm not in the right state of mind. I have a friend of yours who agrees with you." said Niro, who sounded as if he was all around them. "Although, come to think of it, he's lost his head too."
With that, from the darkness, an object was tossed out at Orin, and it narrowly missed him and cracked against the ridge near Ikara. When Orin turned to see what it was, he almost fell backward. There in the grass sat the severed head of the last dwarf. Tess gasped from behind and put her hands over her mouth.
"Bye bye, dogs." said Niro one final time before he disappeared all together.
The men lifted their axes and laughed. Orin had no time to speak, no time to call for his friends to wake up and come fight. They stood only 5 yards away from him, grinning wildly. Finally, one charged forward angrily, yelling out his war cry, and he was on top of Orin within a second, ready to cut through him without so much as a second thought.
But it didn't come. The blade never finished it's path, for the axe fell to the ground right next to Orin with a thud, and the Exile groaned and fell onto his back as blood oozed from several gashes that ran along his entire body.
Orin was amazed. A man stood before him...no, not a man, half a man. The creature was covered in fur and stood upright, a wolf man equipped with gauntlets and a chest plate, as well as leg bracers.
The beast turned to Orin, and began to talk in a low, rugged voice.
"Hey, boy. These fools given ya trouble?" said the wolf man with a fang filled smile.
Orin stood, a bit stunned at the wolf man's appearance.
"Well, what? You got nothing to say, bud?" said the wolf man, his smile fading.
"Who...who are you?" asked Orin, as the rest of the Exiles began to charge.
"No time for intros, boy!" he said, as he jumped forward and slashed two Exiles at once, sending them toppling into the brush.
He moved in a blur, even faster than Tess. His claws ran through the men's bodies like a hot knife through butter. He made it seem all to easy. The last two Exiles took off after seeing their friends slaughtered within a matter of seconds, and the wolf man turned to Orin and let out a howl.
"What's your name, boy?" said the wolf man, as he shook like a dog to get the blood off his fur.
"O..Orin..." he said reluctantly.
"Orin..." said the wolf man, his eyes widening. "You're...Bowie's son..."
The wolf man's expression changed from surprised to happy, and he lunged at Orin, tackling him to the ground.
"Orin! It's been so long since I last saw you! At least 10 years!" howled the wolf man, as he ruffed up Orin's hair.
"G--get off me!!" yelled Orin, trying to push the man off him.
He got up off Orin, and looked at him intently.
"Oh, sorry bout that. It's just good to see you after all this time!" said the wolf man. "My name is Gerhalt, I'm a friend of your father's."
Orin's eyes grew wide.
"A...member of the Shining Force?" asked Orin, his voice was slow.
"Wow, that hasn't been mentioned in a long time. Being out here makes you forget a lot of things. But yeah, that's me, part of the Shining Force." said Gerhalt.
"Then...you're in trouble." said Orin immediately.
"Wha..?" asked Garhalt, as he scratched his head. "What do you mean...?
"My father. He's been kidnapped, along with Kazin and Slade." said Orin, his expression was stern.
Gerhalt's ears drooped at the news, and his eyes grew wide again. Before Gerhalt could say a word, Orin explained their situation and what had happened during the past few weeks.
"That's not possible." said Gerhalt.
He was stunned. He just stood wide eyed, looking at Orin for a while.
"We are searching for him as we speak. We believe these devils are hunting down the force members to get revenge for the resealing of Zeon." explained Orin.
"And those guys?" asked Gerhalt, pointing toward the dead Exiles.
"They're the remainder of the Galam kingdom. They're after me and my friends." said Orin.
"This is unbelievable..." said Gerhalt, trying his best to understand. "How could this have happened?"
He stood for a short time, saying nothing. Both Orin and Tess stood with him, waiting for him to at least say something of importance. Finally, he looked at Orin with a burning hatred in his eyes.
"I have to come with you then. We have to find Bowie." said Gerhalt, his fists clenched in rage. "We have to punish those devils."
"No." said Orin immediately.
"What!?" said both Tess and Gerhalt at once.
"Why not! I can help you guys out big time, and I need to show those devils who's boss!!" yelled Gerhalt.
"NO! It's too dangerous to stay with us. You have to find a place to hide, and that's the only way!" yelled Orin.
"I'm not a coward! I will not hide from them!" he yelled back.
"Listen! If you don't hide, they'll capture you, definitely, and then we'll have more to worry about. You have to promise you'll hide as best as you can!" explained Orin.
Gerhalt said nothing. He simply looked at Orin, looking very upset.
"You're the son of our leader. I can't defy you." said Gerhalt. "I'll hide if it will help you more than my aid."
"Thank you." said Orin. "I'll be sure to come back to you and tell when this is all over."
Gerhalt nodded and walked toward the forest's edge.
"When you see your father," said Gerhalt before he entered the woods, "tell him I said hello."
Orin nodded as Gerhalt turned back toward the woods, got down on all fours, and bolted into the forest as quickly as he had appeared.
Tess simply watched as Orin lifted Ikara and brought her near the campfire. She was just about to come around. Orin gave her the final herb from his satchel, and she chewed it as if it was that last thing she'd ever eat. Orin laid her down in her cot, and she coughed wildly and held her head as her eyes opened. She said nothing, but only held her head and looked at Orin with a pained look in her eyes.
"It's okay, you're with us now." he said calmly.
She rubbed her head and looked up at him with a kind of sadness and pain at once. Tess leaned over to see her, and grinned softly.
"Yeah, you'll be okay now." said Tess.
Ikara began to calm down, the pain slowly subsiding as the herb began to take effect. The other members were roused as well as the night had crept in on them, and they were all getting ready to go. When they were all awake, including Vahn, who was sitting upright with only a slightly sore chest, Orin explained what had happened. Afterward, he looked to Ikara who was also sitting upright in her bed.
"Do you remember what happened...?" asked Orin.
"Not really...I remember leaving and walking along the river, but much of it's a blur." she explained, still rubbing her head.
"That's okay. I'm guessing Niro tried to lure me in but didn't do a good enough job." said Orin. "But either way, we have to get moving. Everyone is read, right?"
They all nodded and began to pack away the cots and put out the fire. Orin couldn't help but think. That poor dwarf who tried his best to escape the Exiles was caught and killed in the end, and Niro found more satisfaction in causing Orin mental anguish. It still puzzled him though, how he knew so much yet had only near Orin for a few moments in Granseal castle. There was something about what he had said that bothered Orin, and it wasn't going to leave him alone any time soon.
Orin wrapped the final cot into a bundle and hoisted it onto his own back, as they all got ready to set out for the northern pass. The group stood read by the edge of the clearing. When Orin approached them, and nodded that everything was good to go, they moved out toward the edge of the forest so that they could move along the river's edge. The forest was thicker and darker by night, as it seemed, and there was an eerie feeling about them. An odd mist had worked it's way through the woods, and the surroundings were beginning to grow damp with dew.
The reached the river's edge within a few minutes, and began to march quietly toward the north. The sky was lit only by moonlight and the flickering stars. It was a cloudless night, though it was a bit chilly, and the moon seemed to light them a silvery path as they walked along. No one said a word as they moved. It was at least a few hours before someone finally spoke up.
"How long do you think that cave is?" said Duran, sounding as if he was only trying to break the awkward silence.
"Probably only as deep as that skull of yours" said Keith, who started to laugh.
"Does everything have to be a joke with you? I was only asking a question!" yelled Duran, as the bickering for the night began.
"Well it was a stupid question." said Keith, still laughing.
"Enough." said Orin sternly. "I'm in no mood for this right now. We have to keep quite."
Keith and Duran became silent again, and they continued to walk along until the spotted the base of the mountains.
"Finally." said Tess, who was starting to feel a pain in her leg.
"Should only be a short walk to the base, and the we have to go into the forest and find that cavern." said Vahn, trying to sound encouraging.
They got to the base of the mountain, and set to rest for a few minutes. But it wasn't long before Orin was up and ready.
"We've rested enough. I want to get to the entrance within the hour. We can sleep once we get there, and go in when the morning comes." said Orin, trying to get them to move along.
They all got up and proceeded toward the forest, knowing not that someone watched them closely from the jet black sky above.