Legends of Belariath
Kyrspeth and Shadow Wolf
Kyrspeth's Quest
It was early in the morning when I slipped out of the inn. There were only a few people awake, if you can call it that when they are sparawled out on the floor half drunk. I had left notes to Ehlanna and Zarias letting them know i would be away and unable to do my jobs at the inn and unigo. As I hurried down the road I saw a tall figure in the morning mists waiting at the fork in the road, smiling as I approached seeing it was Shadow Wolf decked out in his armor and armed to the teeth literally. We spoke quickly as I told him where we were going. Shaking his head he growled and we set off going on the road to the west.
We travelled many days through the wilderness and through many cities always keeping a low profile since a wolven and high elf are not always welcome in the lands of the human kingdoms. As we traveled I consulted the mage scroll given to me guiding us toward the location. We travelled through the country side we began to notice that the countryside had more burned out farms, houses burned, farmland overturned and destroyed, the poor countryside peasents slaughtered without mercy. As we looked at each other we knew we had entered a war zone.
From that point on we stuck to the woods staying off the road. This seemed a good idea as detachments of calvary and foot infantry marched by on the road heading the same direction as we were going, besides the obvious human armies marching to war.
Several times as we checked the road we found evidence of non humans elfs orcs wolven trolls etc staked out and left to die. It was obvious we were not in friendly territory. We kept going moving through the woods by night and sleeping far from the road during the day. This helped as we seemed to avoid the majority of the human army since they were camped at night.
Our easy nights of travel came to an end finally as the woods and forest thinned out into large grassy plains. From the edge of the woods at dawn we could see the smoke rising in too many places to count. Our travel troubles had just grown a hundred times more difficult. The next night we began our travels moving quietly and furtively, avoiding any contact we could. We managed well for several days but our luck ran out as we were traveling over a low rise and we ran into a patrol of cavalry most likely looking for infiltrators. The fight catching us by suprise as much as the cavalry it degenerated into a knife fight as the calvary was only 10 and were for the most part inexperienced. Between Shadow's ferocity and my magic we beat them but we lay exhausted covered in blood and in the middle of a slaughter house. We had to get as far away as we could because the rest of this group's mates would come looking once they did not report in. we took four horses with us, leading them with us just in case.
We hurried through the night stumbling from fatigue and a few wounds that we had not had time to fully heal. By dawn we were breathing in relief as we could detect no pursuit. As we sat in a hollow relaxing and catching our breath we heard a rumbling we both looked up to see if there was a storm approaching but the sky was clear. Shadow and I looked at each other as the rumbling got louder. we both knew now what the rumbling was. We moved as quick as we could mounting a horse we began to ride hard. We rode through the day forcing ourselves to stay awake and keep going. We managed throughout the day to stay out of the sight of the calvary tracking us only once catching sight of a scout.
As nightfall approached we knew it was time we had to find somewhere to hide. Pulling out the magescroll I blinked in suprise to realize that we were mere miles from the location of the item. Telling Shadow this we consulted and decided to try a trick. The two horses we were not riding we switched over to, so we would be riding fresh horses. The two worn out horses we set loose Shadow giving a loud growl which spooked them causing them to bolt in the opposite direction. As we took off in the direction of the item, I hoped that this little trick bought us time. We rode for an hour until I was sure we were near the spot we, then spread out looking around, searching for anything.
We found the spot but not the way we wished. My first indication we were there was as 5 goblins leaped off the top of a large rock, taking me out of the saddle with a scream. Shadow hearing the scream turned towards it riding to help. As he rode up he was taken clean out of his saddle by an ogre. Landing flat on his back he realized the ogre was not alone but had 4 friends. Growling he leaped to his feet drawing his sword rushed in slashing and ripping at the ogres. As we both fought we knew we were in trouble we were tired and hurt and the goblins and ogres were many. We fought hard as we finally met each other standing back to back as the ogres and goblins gained in numbers. Panting and gasping we knew we were finished when we heard a loud war cry and the rumble of hoofs. Our trick had worked but they had found the horses and retraced our other path and were coming up on the rear of the goblins and ogres.
Shadow and I thinking as one turned. As the goblins and ogres turned to meet the cavalry we charged into the ranks behind us and managed to cut a hole. As we charged away the goblins and ogres seem to forget about us as they charged the cavalry. As we ran we stumbled into a cave obviously the home of the creatures. We ducked in moving quickly and quietly deep into the bowels. We found a cul de sac and ducked in hiding in the dark panting and resting we collapsed sagging against the wall exhausted.
A sudden noise woke me and I sat up groaning in pain and trembling with exhaustion looking at Shadow. I laid my hands giving him whatever stamina I had left. Drinking several of my stock of potions I began to feel better as I began to heal both Shadow and I.
After I had roused Shadow and we both were a bit more stable I decided to see what was about. I cast a spell to detect magic in the area. I blinked and almost cried out as I was nearly blinded by something nearby. something magic. The ITEM. I felt a wave of giddeness wash over me as I realized what I sought was so close. cautioning Shadow I crept out moving carefully through the tunnels towards the brightness. I could hear the sounds of movement through the tunnels but I realized it was not down this far and that I was alone.
I slowly made my way into a fairly large cavern and realized by the smell this is where the ogres were dumping the bodies of the dead. As I entered I recast my magic the glow became two distinct ones a rather large one in one area and a second lesser glow to one side, I moved in digging in my bag I dared to light a torch. I called softly to Shadow who came to the light. His reaction was no less then mine as we looked at the pile of bodies strewn on the floor. As I looked I saw that they had been stripped and the equipment tossed into different piles. I motioned to Shadow to go through a pile of swords as I moved to the clothing, the glow leading me to the item. I dug it out holding it up suprised at how simple it looked. No one would ever think of the power it possesed. I turned around as I heard the swish swish of a sword. I could but chuckle as I could see without my help Shadow had picked out the sword that I had seen glowing. As I moved towards him I stumbled over a pouch. Hearing it jingle I turned and picked it up smiling as I hefted its weight I tossed it to Shadow. I folded the robe and hid it in my bag. I motioned to Shadow and put out the torch. we moved off into the darkness; creeping slowly through the tunnels we finally found the main one.
As we got closer I realized we had slept longer then I had thought as it was close to morning and the creatures were filing in to hide for the day. We waited silently far back from the main tunnel dozing as we waited for the day to come. Finally I could see the full brightness shining through. We took our chance and moved for the entrance. Luck was with us as we slipped out and began to move away back towards home, back towards the Inn.