The Sword and the Flame: The Forging

Chapter 24

The group stopped, hidden by the thick brush and trees, they watched the camp as the people hurried about their daily business. Young boys gathered wood while their mothers or fathers bent over the soon to be cook fires, cleaning out the ash and debris to make room for fresh wood. It was a lazy morning, evidenced by most of the merchants remaining closed. They were either sold out of items or made enough that it didn't bother them to start slow on their last day there. Galin commented that was unusual for any vendor; but it did indeed seem the most likely scenario.

The Dwarf's uneasiness settled on Gilliam's planning. Were they expected? Had Renard already captured and killed Berek? Several more thoughts went through Gilliam's mind, but he dismissed them. If his nephew was dead, they could be dooming themselves. No, somehow he knew Berek was alive. He had to be. After everything they'd gone through, Gilliam refused to give up hope. A silent prayer to Fallor helped ease his nerves.

Their plan had changed enroute. Feeling that sneaking into the compound would be next to impossible, they agreed it was better to send in a scout. Janessa had volunteered before Gilliam could finish his sentence. She shot through the knee-high grass easier than the most graceful of nature's beasts.

Gilliam found a spot beneath a willow tree that would keep them hidden and sat down. Galin joined him, and they both kept their eyes on the field that swallowed their companion. Galin pulled out his old weathered knife and inspected it for any chips in the blade. Satisfied there were no imperfections, he resheathed it and leaned against the tree. Gilliam watched the Dwarf with mild curiosity until he couldn't help but ask what was on his mind. "How do you do it?"

Galin raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"When everything's calm, you seem anxious and agitated, but when danger is about to welcome us, you're calm."

Galin smiled. There was no threat of ambush where they stood. If there was, they'd already be dead. "Long years campaigning, lad."

Gilliam nodded. "Until last night, I always thought of you as a merchant."

"None of us are what we seem." Galin pulled his knife back out and began whittling on a piece of wood he carried with him.

"So I've learned." Gilliam raised his gaze to the trees above them, then towards the camp. "Is it always like this before?"

Galin nodded as he sliced off a small piece of wood. A decorative cut, Gilliam thought. "Always. Such is the life of a soldier wandering or otherwise. Endless moments of boredom..."

"And extreme moments of terror," Gilliam finished the sentence. He heard the same phrase from former soldiers and wandering swords for hire, but he never understood what they meant until that moment.

Next to him, Galin nodded, shaving off a long piece of wood. "Aye, lad."

*****

The boredom of her companions was the farthest thing from Janessa's mind as she wandered through Main Street. She assumed Galin and Gilliam were having the time of their lives while she was forced to walk through a deserted market place. Most of the shops were being packed by their proprietors as they readied themselves for the inevitable move the next morning. In the best traditions of Halflings, Janessa worked hard to turn the current climate to her favor. As such, a few passersby were relieved of their coin purses or some piece of jewelry they wouldn't miss for some time.

"I bet Galin and Gilliam are having loads of fun hiding in the woods while I trudge around here." Janessa couldn't help but pout, she felt as though she cheated herself out of a grand adventure.

A strange sound came from behind one of the empty stalls. Curious, she thought, and made her way between the makeshift structure and a large tree stump that was all that remained of the tree used to build the stall and its neighbor a few days earlier.