The crisp cool autumn air chilled Faris's face as he toddled around the campfire.
"So where are we heading?" He said, turning to face Angela as she whittled some drift wood into a sculpture of a nondescript figure.
"Patience, it's only your third trip, why'd you think we were heading anywhere?" She asks innocently.
"We haven't ever been this far out into the spine before, and if I remember the two most notable parts of the Spine is Carvahall or any of the Urgal villages.
"Aren't you getting a little presumptuous? Why'd we go to either of those places?"
"I don't know about visiting Carvahall, but I know that you taught me more of the Urgal language than the Dwarven language so far."
The sculpture Angela had began taking a more distinct shape as she whittled it away. It was the form of a woman with long hair, a bright smile and two long shiny ram horns protruding from her forehead. The most noticeable feature was the fact her eyes seemed inhuman, amphibian like.
"Oh that's…"
"It's a story passed down by the Urgralga to their children and to the dams looking for perspective mates." Angela stated, never taking her eyes off the sculpture, as she added more details to the sculpture.
Faris smiled, "Is it a gift for the people we will be visiting?"
Angela winked. "Maybe"
The finished sculpture was an urgal woman, her most distinctive features was her long horns, long hair, and bright smile juxtaposed with an extremely gruesome looking face, almost lifelike sags and wrinkles and drooping face gave a somewhat unsettling appearance.
"That's Maghara right?"
"Yes, it is, you know the legend?"
"When Nar Garzhvog helped Eragon travel to Du Weldevarden, the Kull leader shared some Urgal legends, I believe this was one of them."
Angela laughed, "There are so many things you know that are normally regarded as closely guarded cultural secrets."
"Wait…" Faris began, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no" Angela began, "It's a funny thing that our entire world is a work of fiction somewhere else, it makes me think, are our works a truth of their own? My old master would have been extremely interested in meeting you."
A twig snapped just outside the clearing. Faris turned his head to see Elva returning alongside Solembum with a bundle of dry sticks.
"We have company" She says. "And I think they're disappointed with us."
"Who? How? Why?" Faris confusedly asks.
"Urgals" Angela states lightly. "We are near their territory of course, probably one of their youths eager to prove himself before his time."
No sooner has she mentioned that that an Urgal entered the clearing. Faris looked on nervously, the Urgal was shirtless and wielded a sharp axe and chipped shield. He was of a slender build and had a youthful face, looking almost human. Based on what Faris remembered the Urgal would probably be somewhere in his adolescence and not a full adult.
The Urgall scowled and spoke in his language. "Feh! Humans, not, worth my time, not even warriors, a woman, a girl, a manling and a pet?! I gain no honor defeating them!" Solembum growled at the Urgal but Angela just smiled.
"Would your Herndall be happy that you killed a friend of the Ugralga? Even now those are few and far in-between."
The urgal flinched, "You speak our tongue?"
"Well If I didn't we wouldn't be able to get anywhere." Angela replied dryly
The kull youth grumbled to himself he deliberated what to do.
"How do I trust you? Just because a human knows our tongue doesn't make us friends. Many of my kin knew the human tongue before the fight against the Oath-breaker."
"Very smart" Angela replied. "I am a friend of Hamma, and I invoke Otragkith, so take us to her."
The Kull's eyes widen in surprise at the mention of that name. "I don't know if I can trust you, but if you say those words I must honor them, if you know our rites then you know how important honor is to our people, the shame you might bring me for lying will cost you your limbs human."
"Do as you wish, the truth will be revealed when we meet Hamma."
Faris looked on curiously.
Who's Hamma? He inquired to Solembum.
She keeps good milk.
Faris paused, and asked incredulously; Is that all? Isn't there more?
Nothing really important. Solembum replied nonchalantly.
The Kull youth grunted. "Follow me! And no trickery!"
The village was small compared to the city he lived near back on Earth. But it was still sizeable, there where over 40 buildings arranged, mostly huts of various sizes and decorated with the skulls of various animals in decorative displays, closer inspection revealed runes carved into each of the bones, From what he learned Faris could tell these where words of protection and warding, meant to keep evil spirits away and sooth the restless spirits of those that died.
There where countless Urgal men and women milling about, as well as several children running about, some almost as tall as the kull youth who brought them to the village, right now though most eyes were on them, Faris swallowed nervously and hid his face from their prying eyes, burying it into the cloth on the sling Angela had fastened to her back for ease of travel over large distances.
Faris was the only one amongst the four who showed any outward discomfort, Angela had a light smile on her face and Elva kept her face expressionless, Solembum's eyes betrayed the bout of drowsiness he was feeling at the moment. Faris observed them with awe, even if he was older like before he died he wouldn't be able to stand the scrutiny.
Some people are just born exceptional I guess. He mused.
He continued to get lost in his thoughts until the procession stopped in front of a particularly large building.
The most notable feature of the building was the ornate bone carvings and engravings, even more so compared to the others in the village. The Kull youth shouted to the two Urgals guarding the door and one entered, the other keeping watchful eye of the group, eventually a voice called out and the remaining Urgal stepped to the side, beckoning us in. The Kull youth chose to remain outside.
It was dark and warm inside, smelling of burning wood and sweet incense. Large intricate tapestries wove around the room, depicting images of Urgals in combat, triumphing against man, beast, and dragon alike. In the center of each weave was an Urgal wearing an ornate crest, two pairs of horns jutted from the crest, one matching the antlers of elk, and the other curving akin to that of a dragons. Angela's teachings of Urgal Language and culture and their stories allowed him to recognize some of the legends, Nar Korbag, who tamed one of the massive bears of the Beor Mountains, Nar Bucharkiv, the aptly named king slayer, who led a victorious wrought against three human kingdoms and captured and executed their kings. Nar Herndall Gleiflagh, an Urgal Dam whose mate had been slain in a battle against another tribe, instead of surrendering and being wiped out she led her Urgals to achieve victory.
Each tapestry as they went along was completed, leading finally to an incomplete tapestry on the table, several elderly Urgal women where working on it, synchronizing their sowing on each section, moving at the same pace never skipping a beat. It was slow work, but the detailed piece was inch by inch coming together. From what he could see it depicted a giant of a man in armor wielding a massive mace. He was surrounded by man, elf, werecat, and urgal in the midst of heated battle against him, another man had grabbed on to the giant from the back, above them 3 dragons soared overhead in battle, one blue, one red, and one black, the black one towered over the others.
Faris looked around until he noticed the procession stop, turning forward he locked eyes with an Urgal dam with long dark hair and large curled horns, she was in what could only be described as an armored dress, and had a baby in her arms, nursing it at the moment. She appraised the group with cool eyes until they rested on Angela, who carried a cheeky grin, the Urgal dam broke into a smile and called out in a rough accent; "Angela, you change as quick as the oak tree my friend! Come! Sit!" She began to bark orders at some Urgals standing guard, who quickly vacated.
Angela walked up to and lifted her chin up, exposing her neck. She smiled as she said, "Hamma, it is good to see you again, you look as strong as ever! And your horns! They look extremely glossy, are you following that elk weed treatment I recommended?"
The dam touched the tip of her horn and hummed in pride. "The young women and even some of the warriors have taken to this treatment as well, a shining horn shows health and strength, our clan is honored and feared for our strong men and shining horns now. Thank you, my friend, you are free to pass through our land at any time, if you would like, I can fetch a warrior to lead you safely through these mountains."
"Thank you for the offer, but I have another request to make"
"Oh?" Hamma switched to the human tongue as she cocked her head.
"Does it have to do with the pup hiding in your coattails?"
Faris stared wide eyed as she peered over and looked at him, her warm breath smelled of porridge and honey, and her baby stared at him with wide eyes, it's horns just tiny nubs on its head.
"Well… actually, yes." Angela began with a smile.