Watching for Watchers
The tracks that Ranger found haunt his sleep. Partly, this is because of that burned out village he and Witherfang found. It's not a pretty sight, and while Ranger's had his own hardships, war is something he has rarely seen. In some ways, it was probably a mercy that there weren't many bodies, however grim the implication of that is.
However, it is also that second set of tracks bothering him. The one that led further into the forest. Could it have been a hunter? Absolutely, but that does not mean that Ranger is convinced of it.
He'd really like to have another look around, just to make sure that there's nothing unusual going on. Early in the week he decides to take the other rangers (with a small r) out to cout the area, they'll probably find nothing, but at least that will mean he can sleep soundly.
"So ya all got the idea?" Ranger asks. "We're goin' a mite off trail for this one, a little outside yar usual duties."
"If there is a potential hostile in the area, then tracking it down is very much part of our duties." Anneth replies dutifully. "Anything in particular we should be looking out for?"
"Arrows, made of local birds. Mind the fletching in particular, most people use goose feathers, because they're common and the right size." Ranger sates. "Other than that, any sign of habitation that isn't us. Not sure what we'll do if we run into someone who's just huntin' mind."
"Oh that's simple." One of the rangers says. "His lordship technically controls hunting rights for the forest, so all we need to do is say we're his agents and we can get them in proper trouble."
There is a brief pause as everyone looks at the ranger in question.
"Sven." Anneth states at last. "Do we need to have a discussion about appropriate uses of power that isn't ours?"
Ranger doesn't much concern himself with the conversation that follows. His attention is focused on the task to come, particularly with organising the search. Overlapping groups so that if something goes wrong they get discovered, covering the most ground in the least time is all normal, and he is good at it, but it still takes time.
So too does the tracking. Hours pass and they find nothing. Animal tracks, regular traffic, Dalish elves. Actually that turns into a tense stand off that could have ended in bloodshed. They had stared at the small group of elves, who in turn had arrows on their strings and looked a moment away from drawing.
Then, Anneth nodded and began to lead the group away. Ranger kept one eye on the elves as they passed by, but they made no move. The two groups passed in complete, if wary, peace. It felt like a miracle.
For several days that seems to be all. Ranger is starting to feel almost foolish, and considering turning his attention to preparing an early warning system when Witherfang starts to bay.
Every head in the party turns to look at the hound as he takes off into the underbrush, Ranger a few steps behind. It takes several minutes until Witherfang comes to a stop, and another whole minute for Ranger to catch up, but when he does he finds everyone looking very concerned.
It seems they have found the trail of whoever's tracks he saw last week. Worse, he has an answer to the question of whether they were a regular hunter.
Lying tangled in a thornbush is a person. Not someone they recognise, so it must be a traveller or a poacher. That is much less important than what killed them. An arrow. A darkspawn arrow, fletched with those feathers that Ranger had found at the camp last week.
Witherfang is sniffing at the ground and slowly heading away in a manner that indicates that he has a trail. The only question is if they want to follow it or not. It only takes a few moments of deliberation before Anneth and Ranger come to a decision simultaneously.
"Come on men." Anneth says. "Let's get after them."
"Witherfang. Seek!" Ranger barks.
Humans and hound both vocalise their agreement, and the party swings onto horses or puts nose to the ground, and almost as one they surge forth after the trail. Though there are no horns and only one hound, Ranger can't help but feel a familiar surge of excitement as hoofbeats echo through the forest.
Witherfang is proving to be worthy of his name. He keeps a fierce pace up despite the fact he is not yet full grown. Close, admittedly, but not quite there yet. Despite this handicap, he does not break pace or lose the trail.
The rangers prove themselves worth their name too. Though it is difficult if not impossible to keep a party of fifteen horses completely silent, they are focused and determined. They keep pace without complaining or chatting. Frankly Range would have killed to have foresters of their quality back in the day.
Ranger watches the trail from behind Anneth. Not needing to steer proves an unexpected advantage, allowing him to focus on the ground they pass.
Whoever, or whatever, this darkspawn is, they're better at not leaving a trail than their fellows. There's no dropped buckles, no pointless hacking at the undergrowth. Frankly, without Witherfang, Ranger would probably have lost the trail, but since the hound gives direction, he can manage to pick up signs that mean they're getting closer.
Fittingly, it is nothing that he sees when he makes the rangers pull to a stop. He dismounts, studying the ground carefully, even pressing an ear to it to see if he could hear anything that way.
Eventually, when he slowly hauls himself to his feet and looks up at the rangers around him.
"We're close." He says. "We should go on foot from here."
"How can you tell?" Asks one of the rangers. "I don't see a trail."
"Then you're blind." Ranger responds, gesturing at the ground. "See this? It's an animal trail, usually go to water. There's a stream about two hundred yards that way. Thing is, not a hide nor hair of an animal, can't hear 'em either. Means somethin' dangerous came this way."
"It could be an animal." Anneth points out. "How sure are you?"
"Well. Witherfang's not actin' like he's caught wolf scent, we're too far south for bears and nothin' else is big enough to scare everythin' like this." Ranger replies.
Anneth nods once. "Dismount everyone. We're moving up on the target."
Red cloaks are rolled up to be stored and horses are left loose, apparently they're trained to come when the rangers whistle. Which sounds like a neat trick he should teach Witherfang now that he thinks about it.
Then the sixteen of them begin to creep after Witherfang.
None of the rangers are anything to write home about. Other than a few training sessions with him, they're not really experienced in this. Workmanlike, but mostly common sense things like moving slowly and watching where they step. Ranger can do better obviously, but he can't cover for everyone.
Fortunately, the terrain is heavily in their favour. The trees here are thick trunked and grow close together, covering line of sight. At the same time, the undergrowth is relatively thin, and the branches are high, so little noise is made squeezing past them.
They soon realise they are coming close to Gladesville, which makes everyone nervous. In fact, they can see the trees slowly breaking. Which is fortunate, as they nearly stumble right on top of the darkspawn.
Half rotted cloth and small metal plates are belted tightly to thick leather. A helmet sits upon its head and it has a bow and quiver, filled with arrows that match the one they found not too long ago. The rangers all start slowly worming around to surround the creature.
"Five." The creature growls, deep in its throat.
Everyone freezes. Darkspawn aren't supposed to talk. Ranger looks at Anneth, rather out of his depth at this point. He is not comforted by her expression.
After a pause that feels like an eternity, she makes a decision.
"If we can take it alive, we'll do so." She whispers. "Everyone, split up in pairs. We'll come at from all sides."
"What do ya want me to be doin'?" Ranger asks. "I'm a fine shot, and can rustle up a sling, but I ain't a young man, was never much good at brawlin' besides."
The ranger's officer gives him a long searching look, and Witherfang another. After a few moments thought she answers.
"You two hang back, we'll lend you a bow. If he runs, hit his legs, or stay on his trail." She orders.
Ranger is, in truth, a little surprised that there is something for him to do, but he nods. Taking the bow that one of the other rangers is offering him he meets her eyes.
"Aye, I'll do that." He states firmly. "I won't miss."
The woman nods, and begins splitting up her small force with quiet commands.
By and large the breakdown is a standard one, not that Ranger knows that. A simple circle of warriors surrounding a single target, all waiting for a single signal to attack. The only real challenging factors are the moving of the target, and ensuring that everyone arrives at roughly the same time.
Unfortunately, this isn't an easy task to undertake. The instructions take a great deal of time, and have to be repeated more than once. It isn't enough to give them away, but Ranger notices the darkspawn looking up and around. In hindsight, he realises the beast was probably subconsciously noticing the change in animal noises and the rustling of the bushes.
The darkspawn slowly rises to its feet, hand going to its weapons. The man next to Anneth raises his fingers to his kips, only for her to grab them, staring at one of the parties not in position.
"Not yet." She hisses.
The man looks from her to the darkspawn, who is now looking all about him. The man looks nervous, and he's clearly tugging gently at his arm, but the officer keeps a firm grip on him. A breeze stirs the trees, sending a nearby flock of birds cawing away.
"Not yet." She repeats.
The darkspawn starts to sniff at the air. Witherfang growls quietly, hackles rising. The man's glances are becoming more and more rapid and panicked. The darkspawn growls.
"Now."
A shepherd's piercing whistle echoes through the forest, and a roar goes up as fifteen warriors descend on the darkspawn. Swords flash as they are yanked from sheathes or pointed at the foe.
Ranger hasn't been in many fights. Not since he stopped being a werewolf anyway. It's all incredibly fast, and he struggles to follow it at times. The kid will break down a lot of what happened with him and Anneth after the fact, explaining what went wrong.
The thing about an ambush, particularly against a single target, is that it's all about overwhelming them in that moment of surprise and indecision. A charge is very similar, relying on weight and momentum concentrated at the 'decisive point', whatever that is. By trying to use both at once, it creates an overwhelming first strike, but surrenders much of the staying power of a more cautious assault.
In the moment, here is what Ranger sees.
The press of red cloaked warriors physically ram blades into the darkspawn. Only a couple manage to reach it, the others sort of milling about, unsure what to do. One or two actually crash into their companion, overbalancing both.
It is these people the darkspawn seizes, and bodily hurls at their companions. Whether the armour deflected the swords, or darkspawn are tougher than regular humans, Ranger doesn't know. What does matter is the disabling strikes have failed, and there's too many warriors too close to do much to stop it now.
Those few seconds of confusion are used by the darkspawn, which uses greater than expected strength to break a way to withdraw through. It lays about behind it with its sword, damaging helmets and weapons, though no one is yet injured. Still, the space it creates is enough for it to manage to disengage.
Ranger doesn't know combat, but he knows hunts. He can already see that, armour aside, the darkspawn is probably faster on foot. He's also not sure if they can afford to run it down, do darkspawn tire?
Either way, he has a job to do and he looses an arrow crying, "Witherfang, Bite!"
The arrow deflects harmlessly off plate that cannot be as rusted as it looks. However Witherfang, for all that he is not quite full grown, is a heavy dog, and the sudden application of mass and speed to the darkspawn's head overbalances it.
Then the rangers are upon it, hacking and stabbing. They don't know why their disabling blows weren't working either, and they take no chances. While the creature writhes on the ground trying to fend them off, they keep hewing until it no longer moves.
"Is it dead?" Anneth asks. When she is told that it is indeed dead, she curses. "Fine. At least it can't keep spying on us. Right, let's go tell the boss about this."
They have won, but it still does not feel like much of a victory. The ride home is a subdued one.
Elves in Brecilian
In the time you have been preparing to march, you have internally assigned the Sabrae clan to watching Lanaya and guarding the forest. Partly due to their insularity, another part due to your internal comparisons to the Laiquendi, who had never joined swords with you in the past.
The greater part of the reason is that you trust them to act as a check on Lanaya and to guard the forest with expertise you lack. Asking them to follow you to what could very easily be seen as a 'human war' would likely strain relations only to have them perform suboptimally.
Thus you have felt no need to meet with them and make plans. Even when Merrill mentioned some kind of issue, you stayed out of it, trusting them to govern themselves. Still, it would be simply rude to ride to war without any word or communication with one nominally your ally. So you head to the Sabrae clan.
Upon arrival you are immediately greeted by an atmosphere of intense friction. You notice that children do not run about as in prior visits, instead they are kept at home, escorted to and from lessons. So too are the adults tense, drawn and ready to either run or fight. The conversations you hear as you ride past have the air of people avoiding an uncomfortable topic.
All in all it reminds you of gatherings in the last years of the Trees, as Noldor watched each other with suspicion, and swords were sharpened in secret. You urge Orundómë on with greater urgency, concern growing.
Marethari too has the air of one who has too much on her plate, and when she ses you she sighs audibly.
"Let me guess, you're here to talk us into staying here in the forest instead of running from the Blight?" She asks sarcastically.
You raise an eyebrow and slide from the saddle. "While I do not believe my personal position on the matter needs to be voiced, it matters little. I have not come to influence your decisions, but in the spirit of alliance to discuss what we are to do in the coming war."
"That sounds like an overly convoluted way of saying yes to me." Keeper Marethari says, crossing her arms.
You keep your irritation off your face, reminding yourself that she is merely lashing out and you will only make the situation worse by rising to it.
"That is an unkind reading of my words." You reply firmly but calmly. "Do you believe that I hold myself as lord and you my vassal? In your mind am I some interfering busybody who only seeks to use you to my own ends? I have come in a spirit of friendship, to speak of matters to come, not with demands, so why am I greeted as one would a usurper?"
Marethari glances away and her shoulders fall slightly. "It is undeniable that you have come here often to argue a case one way or another. That you seek only to use us may be untrue, but you have often interfered in affairs some would say do not concern you. Now, when the clan is divided, on an issue you have a well documented stance on, you come here again. What should I think?"
Deep breaths and count to ten, grandfather taught you this Nelyo. Do not rise to the child's provocations.
"I am not here to tell you what to think." You state. "I have come to inform you of my plans for the Blight, and to inform you that I shall be absent for some time."
"You will?" The Keeper asks, sounding surprised.
Briefly you cover what will be happening come next week, that you will be departing with most of your warriors and leaving some behind.
"I see." Marethari replies. "And what exactly are you expecting me to do with that information?"
"I was hoping you would share your own plans, what shall the Sabrae be doing in the coming Blight?" You ask.
She snorts. "I don't know. Frankly, I don't particularly want to talk about it, if I had my way, we'd already be leaving."
Suddenly a cunning gleam steals into her eyes. "What do you think? What do you say we should do?"
"I see the trap you have laid, and I want nothing to do with it." You inform the Keeper. "Whether you stay or go is a decision you must make, I merely need to know which it is, as I have a request if you stay."
"A likely story." Marethari snaps. "Or do you deny that you've had my student coming in here to argue with me about my decisions?"
You give her a disapproving look. "I do. Whatever you and Merrill have been arguing about is entirely due to her beliefs and yours. I have not intervened in any way shape or form."
Stubbornness glints in Marethari's eye, but before she speaks, you sigh.
"If you have decided that I am your enemy and will not believe a word I say, tell me." You state. "If this is to end as my time with Lanaya did, then I would rather have it out here and now than drag the whole forest into it with the Blight on the horizon."
Your words bring visible pause to Marethari. The young[2] Keeper frowns. It is clear she is disturbed by your words, there is anger there too, but at least it is now mixed with another emotion.
"I am not Lanaya." She says firmly. "I'm not going to attack you or make up wild conspiracy theories."
You nod. "I am glad to hear it. So, are you willing to accept that I was not trying to intervene in your affairs?"
Marethari looks doubtful, and you sigh once more.
"Tell me, what has been transpiring, why are you suspicious?" You ask. "Where has this sudden hostility come from?"
"Surely you already know." Marethari says, suspiciously.
"I have heard Merrill's account of the matter, true." You reply calmly, settling yourself against a tree. "However, I would know what your thoughts are and how you see the matter."
Marethari gives you a long searching look, seeking any deceit. Naturally she finds none, and she too leans against her aravel.
"With the Blight coming, naturally I want to leave the area." She says simply. "We are too close to the Kokari Wilds, and we don't have the army to defend ourselves."
"An understandable assessment." You comment.
The Nandëo gives you a shocked look. "That's it? No comments about cowardice? No demands to stay and fight."
You shrug. "As I said, I will manage whether you stay or go. I, naturally, believe that it is best to fight the Blight, as should the defences fall, there will eventually be nowhere to run. However, I also agree that you have relatively little in the way of warriors, and those are dedicated to feeding your people. Your assessment is correct, even if I would not come to your conclusion."
"That…" Marethari frowns. "So you admit that you disagree with me?"
"Naturally." You reply. "However, just because I disagree with you does not mean I have tried to sway your decision unduly. In the course of our duties as leaders, we are often faced with situations where there is no clear right answer. It is natural to disagree in these situations. That does not mean that we must interfere and prevent others from acting. We must do what we believe to be right for our people, that is our duty."
"I've never heard you talk this way before." Marethari says. "You're usually more 'my way or no way'."
"Well, I confess that I am perhaps overly enthusiastic to help." You admit reluctantly. "However, no matter how hard I argue, persuade or push, I never force someone else to make a decision they do not want to."
"True…" The Keeper says. "Yet, Merrill has been arguing with me fiercely. Protesting and pushing. I assumed she was acting on your instructions."
"No." You repeat. "She has her own reasons to wish to stay, Lanaya is her friend, and does not seem to be going anywhere. Further, my understanding is she intends to come with me to face the Blight. Naturally she wishes her clan to come with her."
"She has a strange way of showing it." Marethari complains, less disbelieving now.
"Have patience with her." You request gently. "She is young, and hotblooded. That tempers flare over this disagreement is normal. Eru knows I have had screaming fights with my brothers plenty of times. It means less than your pride believes. You are not so old yourself, and as new to your existence as she."
Marethari takes several deep calming breaths as you have seen Merrill do, and her shoulders slump.
"I suppose I have been letting my emotions get the best of me lately." She is silent for a moment in thought, then with a shake of her head she looks back at you. "What was that favour you were going to ask?"
"Well, prior to my request, I think it wise to ask after Merrill." You reply. "I have said that I believe that she will accompany me to face the Blight, is such a thing permissible?"
Marethari gives you a cautious look. "Merrill is a grown woman, she can speak to me herself."
"I am not here to ask on her behalf." You clarify. "However, while she has been my student for some time, I have not forgotten that she was yours first. So too does she have duties to her people. Thus, in order that there be no uncertainty, I am ensuring that if she should accompany me, that she does so with your permission."
"And if I withhold it?" Marethari asks probingly. "If I say that I am moving the clan and she is coming with us whether she likes it or not?"
You shrug. "Then I will be sure to tell her, I do not promise that I will do anything to prevent her choosing to come without your permission, but I will not enable it."
"That seems rather like you are saying you will let her come anyway." Marethari notes evenly.
You wave a hand in a gesture you have seen humans use. "It is not that simple. Choice is valuable. If Merrill chooses to defy you and do what she deems right regardless of what anyone else says, I would be a hypocrite to prevent it or even to argue against it. However, freedom of choice is not freedom from consequence, and should you wield your lawful authority to command her not to do what she does, then I cannot shield her from the consequences of disobedience."
"You could have her restrained, or simply refuse to let her accompany you." Marethari points out.
"Would that truly stop her from following me, if she had her heart set on it?" You ask. "Leaving aside that personally I believe that we need every scrap of aid we can find in this fight."
Marethari's fist clenches and she is silent for an extended period.
"If she asks me, I will give her permission." She says at last, sounding quite tired and frustrated. "I… She has already asked. We, argued over it. But she may go. I will tell her."
"You have my thanks." You incline your head. "May we move onto my request, or should I depart at this juncture?"
The Keeper closes her eyes and sighs through her nose. For a moment you think that is your answer, but she does eventually answer you.
"I will hear you out." She says.
"I was hoping you would agree to watch Lanaya while I have taken most of my warriors to the Blight." You state simply.
"You want Dalish warriors to guard your property." Marethari asks sceptically.
"No." You shake your head. "I am leaving a small contingent behind to guard what they can, but Lanaya will outnumber them greatly. I fear she will besiege them and I will not hear of it until I return."
"So, what exactly do you want us to do?" Marethari asks.
"I want to be told if Lanaya seems to be planning something, or worse that she does something. If any are willing to aid me further than that, I would be grateful, but I will not hold you to it." You explain.
"I suppose such a thing is not too much of a task." Marethari smiles bitterly. "I would say that the damage to our relations would be a complicated factor, but I suppose the time for such concerns is past."
"If you are making attempts to bridge the gap and believe such an agreement would jeopardise them, I would understand a refusal." You offer.
It would be annoying finding another solution, but the fact of the matter is that you have seen secret dealing and keeping backfire too many times to want anything to do with it.
Marethari's shoulders suddenly slump and she laughs quietly. "Truly, you are going out of your way to make me feel like a bitter old woman."
She waves off your response and continues. "I agree, we will watch Lanaya, I'm sure Tamlen will be only too eager to intervene should she do anything, leaving aside Auriel. I've certainly heard enough arguments from them on the matter."
"You have my thanks, Keeper Marethari." You state, then smile. "Dareth Shiral, Marethari."
The Keeper is taken aback a moment, then she breaks out into a smile. For several moments she doesn't say anything, but just when you fear you have given offence she speaks.
"Namariiay, Nelyafinwe." She says.
Her pronunciation is terrible, but it is still one of the best things you have heard today.