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Archives: A New Balance

Chapter 12: Morning on the Raiden Road

    Alm woke with a start, his eyes searched the surroundings for anything that he remembered. He saw no familiar faces, and his arm and side hurt tremendously. He sucked in the cool morning air and breathed out a sigh of relief. It was all just a dream. The world erupting in flames, the damned crawling out of the ground and terrorizing the living. He looked up to the sky and sighed. “Blue,” he muttered. “The sky is blue.”

    His eyes surveyed the people around. What was I doing last night? This seems to happen to me all to much. There is something that I am trying to remember but I’ve lost it again. He got up feeling the blanket slide off of his body, he looked down at it and lifted it up. He tied it around his slim shoulders and ran his hand through his filthy hair. He walked over to Granite and poked her softly with his foot. “Hey you, what am I doing here? Am I a prisoner or something?” He calmly sat down beside her and waited for her to wake and respond.

    Granite woke with a groan after she felt something poke her back. The dwarven woman rolled over to see Alm sit down behind her. “What?” she asked, half-asleep. She gave a yawn and politely covered her mouth as she did. “Why would you be a prisoner?”

    Toan sat up from sleep and stretched his arms. Getting an earful of the conversation next to him wasn’t a pleasant way to wake up but he shrugged it of. “Hey,” he said groggily. “Is there some kinda problem over here?”

    “I don’t know who you are, or where I am, so I thought I might have been taken prisoner.” Alm shook his head. “You two aren’t much of morning people are you?” He sighed softly and clicked his tongue. Without waiting for a response, he continued, “Sometimes I think everyone should wake up early, so that they can see the morning at it’s best. The night is my favorite time though, because I see my nightmares clearer.” He made a face. “No, wait. That’s not right. I HATE THE NIGHT!” He yelled at the top of his lungs. He shrieked and scrambled up a tree. “The night’s going to kill me.” He wailed in the tree, tears streaking down his cheeks as he clung to a branch and howled.

    “Umm...” Toan mumbled as he got up. “That’s nice, kid.” He looked at the ‘child’ in scrutiny. The boy looked like a young elf, but didn’t act much like one. He had his suspicions but kept them to himself. “Maybe his parents left him huh?” he said. “He is kinda weird... I’d like to help him, but the road we’re heading for isn’t one for kids. We should pass him off onto someone bound for town as soon as possible.” He began packing his things and preparing for today’s travels.

    “I’m not a kid.” he growled from the tree. Alm bared his teeth and growled louder. “It’s Alm, I have no parents and I wasn’t abandoned. I left.” He leapt down from the tree and sat on his haunches at Toan’s feet. “What are you to think you have a chance of being on the same level as me, you tailless monkey. Give me food and I might let you live without the fierce reminder of my teethmarks in your foot.”

    Alm’s expression went blank for a moment, then he smiled pleasantly. “Well there, who do we have here?” He bent over backwards until his head touched the ground and greeted Granite. “It’s the dwarf from last night. How do you do on this pretty morning?”

    “A grassrunner,” Toan grumbled under his breath, trying to ignore the insults as best he could. Calling a dark elf a monkey was a good way to get oneself killed, but Toan was just slightly annoyed. “I thought so... I did not sign up for this. Granite, you watch yourself. His kind are known for being more trouble than they’re worth.”

    Granite sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. Even after just waking up, she remembered last night far better than Alm. He just flitted from subject to subject when he talked, and couldn’t seem to remember anything from ten minutes earlier with much ease.

    “A grassrunner!” Granite gasped as Toan revealed Alm’s true identity. “I should have known. What were you doing last night acting like a child?”

    Anisa was awoken by Alm’s shouting, much to her frustration. While it was the perfect time for her to wake up, the fact that it was to someone being obnoxious didn’t sit well with her. The leggy half-elf slid out from under her blanket dressed in a skimpy pair of shorts and a small top.

    She heard Toan announce that Alm was a grassrunner, and that made perfect sense to Anisa. Frustrated by the fact she believed him when he first wandered into their camp, Anisa strode over to Alm and Toan and picked up the grassrunner by the back of his shirt. “Jest what’ya think yer doin’? Playin’ us for fools by makin’ us think yer just a little kid!” she echoed Granite’s question, only in her own aggressive way.

    Ultarik had been awake since sunrise, just he’d not spoken or anything. As the exchange went on and he learned this newcomer was a grass runner he looked over to Alm, he was merely curious what his real intentions were.

    “So what are your intentions here, I don’t mean to sound too harsh but I have to ask. I am Ultarik Grimeye, we should all try to get along here and not make any enemies.” He stood up and stretched, then he went to grooming his horse as he waited for a reply from Alm.

    “Listen, I don’t even remember last night, so I can’t say what my intentions were. I sometimes get like this, forgetting simple things...I think.” he grins at Anisa. “You know, for an elf, you’re really kinda cute. Like an adorable cat that just needs a little scratch in the right places to make her purr.” He laughs. “Of course, I’m just kidding. I remember Granite from last night, but other than that...I can’t remember much, not even why I’m wounded or my behavior. So, on those grounds, I apologize for myself, and anything I might have said to upset anyone.”

    Alm let out a deep breath. “I should really keep things written down so I can remember them. Of course, I may forget that I wrote it down, so that won’t help. So...” Alm sucked in a deep breath and prepared to finish his long winded introduction. “My name is Alm, I’m a grassrunner. I’m not a child or anything, but I do take well to women mothering me. I’m not much of a fighter, or a shaman, but I do my best to keep things from getting far enough that I need to fight. I’m on a quest, though I can’t remember the details of it...I think it has something to do with finding out...something...” he trails off slowly.

    Alm’s expression blanked again. “Ah, the goddess from last night...I must have been in your great graces for you to hold me at arm’s length...Cherish me, love me and I shall adorn you with...” Finally the pain in Alm’s side grew too much for him to handle and he passed out. Let this be a lesson to all those who try to carry on long winded conversations with a wounded side that hasn’t even been treated.

    Ultarik listened to his speech and looked to the others after he passed out, so he was also wounded. The fact Alm’s memory was so bad would make it hard but then he seemed decent enough, perhaps the grass runner was worth the help.

    “Anisa I have a suggestion. Considering he is wounded right now and even he said he’s not the best fighter or shaman. I think somebody should get that wound tended to, after that I think we should take him along as he could still be a useful addition. Just a suggestion, we all really need to have a say here in this.” He pulled out some food from a saddlebag and ate a little, if Alm was passed out then he obviously needed a lot of rest after being patched up. He also pulled out the map again and went over to everybody, now that they were all up they could finally see the shortcut he had found. “Here’s the shortcut I found, it could put us a day or two ahead of our original plans.”

    Anisa rolled her eyes at Alm’s comment and dropped the grassrunner into Granite’s arms. “It’s up to all y’all if ‘e tags with us, but I ain’t laid claim to bein’ the leader ‘ere,” the half-elf said. “But if I catch ‘is grubby lil’ hands in me loot, I’ll cut ‘em off.”

    She turned to Ultarik, leaving Granite to deal with the little grassrunner lech. He said he found a shortcut, and while she was ready to just check the map, she suddenly realized they never told him where they were going. “‘Our original plans’? What ye be meaning? Shortcut to where?” the half-elf inquired suspiciously. “We ain’t told ye where we be goin’.”

    Granite caught Alm in her arms as Anisa dropped him. The half-elf probably expected Granite to catch him, but it didn’t seem if she particularly cared if he was caught or not.

    The dwarf laid Alm down on her blanket and tried to gently shake up awake. “Hey, Alm, are you alright?”

    Alm felt his body being moved, as if someone was trying to wake him up. Without thinking he sat up with a jolt which caused his side some considerable pain. He grit his teeth and pinched at the wound. “Huh?” he applied pressure to the wound as he responded. “Sure, I’m okay.” Alm looked to Granite with a calm smile. “All in a day’s work.” he laughed. “Do you have a needle? I appear to be bleeding.”

    Ultarik sighed, he would come up with a good line. He was going to have to use tact here, after she went silent he clearing his throat and looked at Anisa.

    “I know of a place that is supposed to hold great magic, shortly before her death the dark elf woman I loved and I passed by it. Between us we mapped our route, it just so happens what you mentioned was another reason why I went to her grave in the area. I know of where you are going from my travels, that’s how I know. I buried this map by her grave, I was surprised it was still there.”

    He then sighed, he did not want them asking about her. He knew they would be together again, he just had to ensure his deal was kept a deep secret. He had grieved since her death, and if anyone asked he would tell them about her as they deserve to know.

    Alm scratches at his wounds while he looks over to Ultarik. “Hey, big guy...sounds a little fishy.” Alm picked open his wound and flinched. “Ow ow...” he wiped the blood on his clothing and continued to stare at Ultarik. “What do you mean by ‘great magic’ and how come this is the first time I’ve heard of ‘great magic’ and uh...” he trailed off. “I still need a bloody needle. It’s not going to heal itself you...” He paused again and began to pick at his wounds yet again. “It still hurts...but what about this map and how come you of all people have it...why didn’t I have it...and how come I still don’t have a bloody needle? Who do I have to kill to get a damned needle...?”

    Granite checked her bag to see if she brought a sewing kit. While she was no seamstress, her mother thought it would be a good idea to carry a kit to mend clothes on the road. She just wasn’t sure if she bought on or not. While Alm was distracted, Granite finally pulled out a little box from her bag.

    “Here, I’ve got one,” Granite replied, controlling her irritation. “Someone want to mend him?” She didn’t like the idea of stitching up someone’s flesh, and if she could pass the job onto someone else, she would.

    “Thank you Granite.” Alm says taking the needle from her. He lifts off his little shirt to reveal his pale flesh and the wound in his side. Taking the needle firmly in his left hand he stitched his side carefully. He had made his own patchwork clothing but this was nothing like sewing fabric, this was his own flesh that he plunged the needle into, worming it through both edges. He did a simple cross-stitch to keep the wound from opening and bit the thread off after tying the knot so it wouldn’t come undone. He then moved to his arm and began to stitch the wound shut, utilizing his teeth as his second hand. When his arm had finished its stitching, Alm returned the needle and remaining thread to Granite and slipped his shirt back on. “Anybody have any water to flush the wounds clean of infection?”

    Anisa looked at Ultarik suspiciously. It was obvious she didn’t fully trust his story, but their journey was nothing all to secret or important to the whole of Lodoss. All it was was a treasure hunt, at least as far as Anisa knew. She didn’t care to assume it was anything more, and if it was, she could probably handle it.

    “Well...let’s see yer shortcut then,” she said, trying to ignore Alm. The little grassrunner was starting to get under her skin. I wish he would just pass out again....

    Granite blanched as Alm went to work sewing up his wound. It wasn’t something she wanted to watch, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Instead, she became entranced by the whole process with a disgusted sneer on her face. It looked as if she were about to vomit, but she seemed to distracted to do so.

    When Alm finished, Granite looked at him in utter disbelief that he could be so blasé about stitching his flesh. She gave him her canteen of water anyway.

    “Thanks again Granite.” Alm said dousing his wounds in the cool water. He wiped the excess off of his wounds with his shirt and returned the canteen. “Well, I’m all patched up now.” He flipped onto his hands and walked about a little, strengthening his weakened arm. “So where is everyone from? I personally am from Alecrast...it’s far away and boring. Nothing exciting ever happens there so I came here...I think.”

    He hopped down from his hands and went over to hug Granite. “You’re such a softie.” he says giving her a big grin. “You can trust good ol’ Alm, he never steers ye wrong...never.”

    Ultarik gave Alm a quick but definite answer to his question, the grass runner was alright by his standards. “I come from Marmo, leave it at that.” He then turned back to Anisa, clearing his throat he placed the map on flat rock. This was going to be a long and difficult journey, and he would need to keep all of his wits about him to make it through.

    “Back to the business at hand, here is the route the shortcut takes us on. If you need to look it over longer go ahead, just make sure the map itself gets back to me when your done.” He started into some of his rations afterwards and waited for her to finish, he had never really traveled in the company of even a single grassruner in his life before this. He knew they were annoying, though anger was best reserved for battle.

    “I am somehow made very afraid by that statement...” Fenix muttered when Alm made the reference of ‘never steering them wrong’. Grassrunners were, at best, annoyances. The fact that they looked like elf children, and the remarks they made if you made that reference, didn’t help his opinions of the little sprites. Rubbing some stray hair out of his face, he looked like he was still half asleep. “Me? I’m from Alania, but grew up in Raiden.” It was a bald faced lie, but he wasn’t telling his life story. He was, after all, playing the part of Brahms. Besides, they didn’t need to know he was from Marmo, although lived most of his life in Raiden.

    Looking over the map, he clicked the roof on his mouth with his tongue. “I’d prefer to know who else is going that way, to. To many chiefs ruin the cake... or something like that, I’m not a poet. If I can get someone to slow the others down, we might be able to get total claim on the job without splitting anything. Next big town I should be able to get information.” Of course, the others likely knew his connections had something to do with the fact that the horses they now possessed had been bought rather cheaply, even if not all that legally.

    Alm grunted. “I’m not into treasure, so I don’t need a whole heckuva lot to get by. If you’ll have me, I’ll work hard for all of you. I’m good at working and I’m not afraid to get dirty.” He smiled softly. “Besides, I’m sure that the treasure with some ‘big’ magic is probably nothing more than a musty tome and snail carcasses. If you wanted that then I could always just go around looking for snail carcasses.” He laughed. “Not that it will do any of us any good. Besides, with ME along, you don’t have to worry about the safety of little Granite here, I’ll protect her real good like.” He gave her a sly wink. “So no worries...and uh...hey elf girl, what’s your name? I think I forgot it.”

    Anisa looked over the map with Brahms, purposefully leaning close enough to the mercenary for him to smell her and feel her heat. She didn’t tease and flirt subtly consciously, but she enjoyed attention so much, she sought without even thinking.

    “If it were jus’ posted in Raiden, there’ll be mercs ‘eadin’ out all over the roads. Takin’ a shortcut through the Wildlands will be rough, but quicker if we don’ meet anythin’ nasty,” Anisa added.

    She didn’t pay much mind to Alm’s comments, but she did look down to at least let him know her name. “Anisa, be me name,” she replied. Glancing back up at Fenix, she asked in a murmur, “Should we take ‘im along? ‘e could be handy, an’ if ‘e ain’t, we could toss ‘im to the beasties as a distraction.”

    As Alm moved off, Granite went to preparing for the day. She wore her shirt and breeches to bed, so all she had to put on were her boots and armor. The dwarf pulled on her boots and rolled up her bed. She could hear the conversation, but being a novice traveler, she didn’t have much input. Brahms and Anisa were far more experienced than she was.

    The thought of traveling through the Wildlands was unsettling and having a neurotic grassrunner protect her wasn’t comforting. She wanted adventure, and after all, she was a dwarf—she was naturally stronger than an elf or average human. This was the choice she made, and she couldn’t run home now. It would be an insult to dwarven pride.

    Alm whistled happily and hugged Granite again. “You know. You are really cuddly.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and moved away a bit. “Want some food?” he asks digging around in his pockets for his rations. “I’ve got some food around here somewhere.”

    Toan listened to all of the discussion while making a grimace and trying to get a word in. “Ah—I’m just afraid that the grassrunner will slow us down,” he said, finally. “I mean, not to be rude but... he has lied to us plenty already, even if he doesn’t remember it. I don’t say we leave him to die or anything, but err...” He looked down as if to say he gave up, if anybody was even listening to him in the first place. “Oh gods, this party is odd enough as it is. What’s one more going to hurt?”

    Fenix personally liked the attention to; It wasn’t every day a very beautiful half elf leaned in close for him to almost feel. Well, if it was intentional, she wasn’t exactly showing it. Looking over the map, he took it in. The short cut might cut time off, but it was a bit more dangerous route than the main road. A road less traveled usually was, after all. When she asked him about the grassrunner, he just nodded slightly. “At the very least we can use him to get information and to gain access into small areas...” Thinking about it, he smirked at her comment about throwing him to monsters. “That monster idea works to.”

    “Hey!” Alm growls. “I’m not monster food. I may not be the strongest or the fastest, but I have my uses. You want information, I can get it for you. I’m good at wiggling into tight places so if we’re exploring collapsed ruins or something I can be point. I am useful, and not just for feeding monsters, Anisa...and big guy whose name hasn’t been spoken yet.”

    “Oh, I’ve got plenty of food,” Granite assured Alm as he dug through his pockets for something. She really didn’t like the idea of eating something he’d been carrying around in his dirty pockets for Falis knew how long. However, he’d already been distracted by Anisa and Brahms’s conversation.

    The dwarf moved over to Alm and stood behind him. “I’m sure he’ll be very useful,” she assured them, patting Alm’s shoulder. It was only kind to stand up for him. He didn’t seem like he was all there, and that wasn’t something he could help. He had attached himself to her, so she felt it was only right to try and understand him.

    Alm forgot about the others and turned his attention to Granite. “Oh, you already have food? That’s good.” He smiled at her gently and gave her a small peck on the tip of her nose. “That’s for being a nice girl.”

    “Oi,” Toan groaned loudly at the sight of Alm kiss her again. He knew Granite was just trying to be nice, but it was annoying to him. “Hey. Keep anything and everything you might have in your pockets to yourself, got it?”

    Alm glared at Toan silently. “I was trying to be nice.” he growled through his teeth. “You have a problem with generosity tailless monkey? People should really be nicer to newcomers, even if they don’t like them. As such, you should watch your snide comments, and I will refrain from calling you a monkey, got it?” His hand drifted subconsciously to his rapier. “Just because I can be friendly doesn’t mean it’s a fault of mine, fairy waste.”

    “Hey! Knock it off you two! Grassrunner, this is my first, last, and only warning,” Fenix suddenly yelled, stiffening up and furrowing his brow. “Do I need to remind you that you are quite puntable? If you make any more comments like that you will be, and right out of the party. I don’t think any of us wants to stomach getting annoyed the entire trip, got it!?”

    Anisa started laughing after Brahms’s warning. “Puntable! Ha! I’m gonna ‘ave te use that one,” the half-elf chuckled.

    Ultarik watched the exchange with little amusement, it was more like this was not how things should be for the group. He would not get involved in the bickering however, but Alm on the other hand was somebody who everybody seemed to distrust and seemed very valuable. “It seems we’re all getting along just nice and fine, going through the Wildlands like this will not help our cause. It will only slow us down, I don’t care what others think Alm is not going to be monster food and is a valuable member... Somebody even tries it their not going to like the results, let’s get this job done and then we can all squabble when it is over. ” He had enough of this fighting, his voice sounded very agitated and he was trying to restrain his anger at the problems. Anger was best used in battle, he had to bottle it in until then and use it on an enemy in battle. “I’ve spoken my mind, now that it is said I really think we should all focus on the job ahead.”

    “Sorry,” Alm mumbled. “I’m really sorry. Sometimes I can’t help my mouth. It says things that I don’t want to say, really.” He gave a short bow to Toan and then to Brahms. “Pardon my rudeness, I got out of line, it won’t happen again.” He was sincere enough in his apology, but Toan’s comment still hurt him as he was just trying to be nice to Granite. “I’ll be quiet now, since that’s what everyone else wants.” He plopped down onto his haunches and stared at the ground. He didn’t want to be alone again, and he felt that this group of people could be his friends if he tried hard enough.

    Granite felt a pang of sympathy in her chest as Alm went sullen. While it didn’t seem that Anisa or Brahms cared much, Granite couldn’t stand to see the little grassrunner so depressed. So, she went to his side and crouched down next to him. “Don’t worry, I’m still your friend,” Granite said as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder and gave him a hug.

    Anisa shrugged and turned her attention back to the map. Ultarik was probably right, though she wouldn’t admit to thinking such a thing. It wasn’t worth picking a fight over.

    Alm remained quiet like he promised and nodded at Granite approval of friendship. He dug his toe into the ground and began to draw with his fingers. It wasn’t an overly good or artistic drawing but it conveyed his feelings at the moment. He drew himself laying down with a mess of laughing faces around him. He frowned and punched the dirt where the drawing was. His face darkened, his eyes narrowed and he rose to his feet. “I’ll be right back.” he growled. He didn’t feel like explaining himself, he just needed to vent his frustrations and find some berries to chew on. He gave a quick glare to Brahms and went into the bushes to find some berries.

    Granite sighed heavily as Alm stalked off. His drawing revealed enough of how badly he felt. It struck her, realizing just how cold Anisa and Brahms were. Toan and Ultarik cared at least, even if they found him a little annoying, they were still being kind, for the most part. Toan’s comment wasn’t too mean, if not a little thoughtless, but it probably only added to what was building from Anisa and Brahms’s comments.

    Looking around camp, Granite could have sworn they were a person short. She suddenly recalled Coras. He wasn’t very obtrusive, in fact, he just seemed to tag along and brood most of the time. He wasn’t in the campsite, but his horse and other belongings were still there. Maybe he just left to relieve himself?

* * *

    The farm-boy turned mercenary had snuck away from camp soon after waking. Everyone seem distracted by the grassrunner who came in the middle of the night, and Coras just wanted some space. The time he spent in Raiden, before he left on the mission, introduced him to many new ideas. He had visited the shrines to Falaris and Kardis in the Free City—the only place besides Marmo where people could freely worship the evil gods.

    Coras knew that the gods of Light granted boons to the faithful. Fortune turned in their favor. However, a “good” god would never grant him the kind of fortune he was seeking. He observed rituals to Kardis and Falaris in the temples, so he figured he would try and replicate them to get blessings. Most minor rituals involved sacrificing animals, though there were plenty that also required human sacrifices.

    However, he didn’t have the time to hunt an animal, and the only one available was his horse—which had more important duties. He wasn’t about to sacrifice any of his companions, so all he could do was say a small prayer in the privacy of the forest. First, he spoke a prayer to Falaris, figuring that the God of Darkness was a sure thing. Kardis had been sealed and her followers were thinning, though Falaris only suffered slighter losses. After his prayer to Falaris, he decided to say a prayer to Kardis, just in case.

    Ooke walk through the trees slowly for it had been a long time since he had been any were near Raiden, and did not know what to expect. He took notice of his book. The book, now red as if blood were running through, put thoughts in his head.

    “Goblins.” he said softly.

    Ooke move in to some near by brush and listened. After a second pass he began to think. Why can I not hear them? They aren’t the type to walk softly or keep quite. Could it be something else? He listen more and soon heard a human voice. Curious, he walk towards the voice and soon found himself twenty feet behind what appeared to be a human male, and attempting to pray to Kardis none the less. Ooke knew that not many still prayed to Kardis and even fewer cared to see a priest of Kardis, so he concealed his book and any other signs of Kardis on him to be safe.

    “A prayer to Kardis without sacrifice, is much like a warrior without the will to live...Dead,” Ooke said in a tone of wisdom, so as not to startle the man or evoke a threat.

    Coras turned suddenly, as if he were caught doing something wrong (which, to many, he was), to find a rather interesting looking dwarf standing behind him. He was eye catching in his white and orange robes, tattooed bald head and bejeweled beard.

    I guess I wasn’t getting anywhere without a sacrifice, Coras thought. “I don’t have anything at hand to sacrifice,” Coras said honestly, fixing the dwarf with a piercing gaze. He didn’t know whether the dwarf approved of his choice of worship or not, but he wasn’t the sort to bend to people’s wishes. If the dwarf didn’t like it, he could tell it to a blade.

    Ooke cracked a smile, seeing that the human looked a bit tense. “I am Ooke Blackskull. Fret not for I am not one to judge your ways, but I must say it is few that pray to Kardis.” Ooke laid his war hammer down and took a seat on the stone head of the hammer. “Come sit. Tell me what troubles you human. I lend you my ear and wisdom.” Ooke said, and pull out his book, which was still flushed red. “There are other sacrifices that can be made when praying to Kardis. Of course that is for you to decide.” Ooke smiled, opened his book and waited for the man’s response.

    “What does a dwarf know of Kardis?” He was still wary, but as he saw it, perhaps he could use the dwarf to his advantage. “Sorry, disregard that. I was just startled.” Putting on a mask of trust, Coras moved by the dwarf and sat to his side, keeping his hand not too far away from the hilt of his sword. “I’m Coras. My troubles are few, I just wished to be blessed before undertaking a bit of a treasure hunt.” He paused. “You said that there were other ways to make sacrifices to Kardis, how so?”

    “Blood is in itself a sacrifice.” Ooke said and pulled out a small animal skull from his bag. He placed it on the ground in front of the human. “I will let you do the honors for it’s your prayer. A small cut and your own blood becomes a sacrifice. Just lay the blood on the skull and say your prayer.” Ooke paused for a second. “Of course a more noble sacrifice can be made later, when you have taken time to prepare your surroundings. Understand that a prayer to Kardis should be done while the sky is still dark.”

    Ooke heard a voice in his head, You trust the human far too much. You don’t even know his name! it said.

    “A minor set back that I can fix,” Ooke replied to his voice out loud. “My good human, you have me at a disadvantage, for you know my name, but I know not yours.” Ooke said with a smile and held out his hand.

    Coras sighed. “I told you my name already, but since you might be hard of hearing I’ll say it again. My name is Coras.” He took out a small knife and cut his left palm. The blood spilled out onto the skull and he whispered his prayer softly to Kardis. “Thanks for the advice, Ooke. Next time I’ll make my sacrifice to Kardis at night, as you suggested.” He staunched the wound with a bit of his shirt, it wasn’t too deep and he could always excuse it on falling on a sharp rock. He glanced back to the clearing with the others, hoping that no one had seen the exchange between him and Ooke. “Why don’t you come with us, Ooke?” he asked. He would rather have another who understood his want to pray to the evil gods than an annoying grassrunner anyways. “I could vouch for you if you’d like. I’m sure that the others wouldn’t mind having someone other than that...thing following us.”

    “I’m always up for a good adventure.” Ooke said with a smile. Ooke picked up the small skull and wrapped it in a cloth then said, “Bless us all Kardis.” and tucked the skull away. “I’ll let you lead the way,” Ooke said, not knowing what to expect as he did not know not how many waited, nor how they would feel about him leading a member of there party to Kardis. Ooke then stood up and took a sip of his “Dwarven Water” that was in his water skin.

    Coras nodded. “Very well, I must warn you though, we seem to pick up strays like flies to honey.” he snorted. “Not everyone in our group might like the idea of praying to a dark god, but never the less. It’s this way.” Coras knew he could trust the dwarf so he lead the way back to camp. Hopefully the others would be as accepting of Ooke as they were of Granite.

* * *

    Coras returned to camp. Anisa and Brahms were off looking at a map with Ultarik, Granite was over by a crude drawing and the grassrunner was no where to be seen. Toan was somewhat near himself, but Coras was less than caring what was going on.

    “Where’s the annoyance?” he asked suddenly after emerging from the brush. “Did it go away finally? If it did, I’ve got someone who might actually have something of use to contribute.” He waited for Ooke to come out and introduce himself but kept an eye out for the grassrunner Alm.

    Ooke emerged from the brush with his head up, chest out and a polite smile. As any proud dwarf would. The first thing that caught his eye was the female dwarf, for it had been a while. He stoked his beard and nodded at her. Then focus on the others.

    “Good day!” Ooke said with a pause, then continued, “I am Ooke Blackskull.” Then he waited for any reply. He figured they would ask him questions of all sorts so he wouldn’t bother with going in to detail of who he was until they asked.

    Ultarik looked at Alm as he left and nodded his way, he then looked around at everybody and back to the map which was being studied. “I’m Ultarik Grimeye, that’s all you need to know Ooke.” He then watched the map as he did not care much to talk right now, that little incident had made him kinda quiet too.

    Granite’s mood immediately improved as the dwarven man entered the camp. Her heart beat a little faster, hoping that he could be her sort of man. Ooke was his name, and he was eye catching in the way he dressed, and obviously, he appreciated jewels.

    Granite moved over to the dwarf to greet him personally. She noticed his eyebrows were shaved off, which was odd. She didn’t mind a shaved head, so long as he had a full beard. “Hi, I’m Granite Stoneheart,” she said with a coy smile.

    “Bloody...” Anisa murmured the beginning of a curse as yet another stranger wandered into the party. “We be jest pickin’ up strangers like a pack of stray dogs,” Anisa murmured to those near her.

    “Anisa, trust me,” Coras said softly. “He’ll be more useful than that creature that seemed to want to attach to you. Besides, Granite has seemed to warm to Ooke.” Coras inwardly smiled. He had his own reasons for the dwarf being with them, but they didn’t need to know that.

    “Where is that accursed pest anyways?” He drew attention to Alm’s lack of presence to hopefully keep attention off of asking Ooke too many questions. He wasn’t too sure on the dwarf’s ability to withhold or completely obscure the truth.

    Ooke noticed that Ultarik, the murmuring female, and another were studying a map. Rather then impose on what they were doing he laid down his hammer and took a seat, then turned to Granite. “How long have they been looking over the map?” Ooke questioned.

    “Oh, just a few minutes,” Granite replied. Since Anisa and Brahms seemed to be either engrossed in their map or disinterested, she thought it was best that she introduced them. Granite leaned close to Ooke and pointed to the two he didn’t know yet. “The half-elf woman is Anisa, and the man is Brahms. And there’s a grassrunner with us, but he’s um...out in the woods. He’ll be back shortly, his name is Alm.”

    Ooke heard the word grassrunner and couldn’t wait to meet this character, but at the same time couldn’t help but notice Granite’s concern for Alm. Voices in his head started up again. Watch her, if she proves strong. A good Dwarven breed could be made for Kardis, the voices said.

    Ooke thought on this for a bit, she was attractive but he need more to go on. “Maybe,” he said softly. Then pull out his water skin full of the good brew and took sip. “Would you like a sip while we wait?” he offered to Granite.

    Alm went of into the forest alone, but his anger and frustration was far from disappearing. He collected a few berries in his shirt and returned to camp. At his return he saw another dwarf talking to Granite and that Coras had returned. Alm ignored everyone with a dark look on his face and sat down with his back to a tree. Quietly he munched on his berries, his hand not far from his rapier. He tore off a leaf and wrapped a few of the berries up for later. He remained seated and tried to imitate the coldness that Anisa had showed him. He gently cracked his knuckles, popping each on individually, then finally working on his neck, twisting quickly but not hard so that the loud snap could be heard. Of course he was fine, but the sound wasn’t that pretty.

    Granite smiled and knelt beside Ooke. She took a testing sip from his wineskin. “Mm...this is good! Do you make it yourself?” she asked, then took a deeper, more appreciative drink.

    Ooke enjoyed seeing another dwarf enjoy a stiff drink. He noticed Alm had returned and was fueled by anger this also sent a bit of joy through Ooke, but he choose to play it off. “Yes this is my brew; three days of grinding and boiling hops on and off, then add some good barley,” Ooke replied. “Alm is troubled no? One so small really should find a formidable outlet.” Ooke whispered softly in Granite’s ear, “And you; one so stunning should never kneel.” Ooke slid over to make room on his hammer for Granite to sit.

    Ooke’s compliment was so strong that it gave Granite a chill of anticipation up her neck and caused her cheeks to blush deeply. At this point, it obvious that they both were interested.

    Granite sat beside Ooke on his huge stone hammer. She wanted to ask about the craftsmanship, but Alm came over to offer her food. With a warm smile, she took the berries he offered. “Thanks, Alm. I’d like you to meet Ooke, he’s Coras’s friend,” Granite introduced the two men.

    Alm’s ears perked at the mention of his name. He didn’t want to intrude on Granite’s possible friend, but his name had caught the young grassrunner’s attention. He got up and went over to the pair of dwarves and sat at their feet. “Granite.” he held out his hand with the wrapped berries. “Here.”

    Leaning lazily on his staff, and close enough to Anisa to still pick up her scent well enough, Fenix noted that yet another individual was attempting to join the party. The fact was, he wondered if some god painted a big bullseye on them for just such an event. The dwarf was a nice enough individual, but something about him bothered the former priest. Whenever he spoke, or looked at Coras, a cold chill ran down his spine. The grassrunner was annoying, but this guy was walking on his grave... repeatedly. “Nice to know that we aren’t even getting asked if pets can be brought along...” He mumbled, although more than likely Anisa was the only one who could hear it. Her proximity to him, and her elven hearing would definitely ensure she picked it up. “Alright, I got that the grassrunner is apparently somewhat useful. I mean, if push comes to shove, its the ‘cute’ factor. But... Ooke, was it? What can Ooke give to us that we don’t already have in Granite?”

    Giving a sharp glare at Coras, Fenix turned his attention back to Ooke. “I don’t know what he told you, but we’re going into a very dangerous area, not a ball. Not only that, but you, and this goes for you to Alm, would have to ride with someone, an uncomfortable experience to say the least.” He omitted the last part of his mistrust. Dwarves were generally the last ones he mistrusted, primarily because they were usually quite honest. But to himself, he had another reason. I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you, and thats not to far.

    “Coras is an ass.” Alm’s voice shifted in pitch a little. His mind had already started to recycle itself, and thus he was about te be someone else entirely again. “Coras is an ass and I don’t trust him.” Alm stood up and pointed his finger at Coras. “You filthy, mud-raking human.” Alm’s personality returned to normal and he bowed deeply. “I-I’m terribly sorry Coras, I didn’t mean it.” He sat down and bit his lip. He wanted to refrain from speaking again until he knew he could have a firm grip on his tongue.

    Mud-raking human... His blood boiled at that comment. What right did that damned annoyance have to call me such?

    “Keep a leash on your damned pet, Granite- or perhaps a muzzle would be more suited for him.” Coras looked to Brahms. “I’m sorry I didn’t consult you, I’ll try to be more mindful in the future. As far as what Ooke can contribute, he’s another front liner, something to take the brunt while the shamans in the back pile on their spells. I’d rather have two dwarves than one grassrunner any day. Let the pet walk beside its master.” Coras was irritated to say the least, and he was having a hard time keeping his irritation in check.

    Even Anisa was getting frustrated by the tension. This would be a rough trip. She just hoped the didn’t pick up any more strays. The half-elf rolled up the map and passed it back to Ultarik.

    “Lets hit the road, mates,” she said loudly enough to break through the growling conversations. With her suggestion made, she turned away to dress and pack up her belongings.

    Alm made his way over to Anisa and tapped her back softly. “Anisa, sorry to bother you, but can I ride with you?” He looked up at her with sullen eyes. “I’ll pick berries for you for compensation.”

    Ooke stood and walked over to Coras. “I don’t much care for horse back, but if I don’t I’m sure I’ll be left far behind. With that said I think it best if I ride with you. That is until I might obtain my own,” Ooke suggested.

    Then turned to face Brahms “I wonder; if you are going to a dangerous area would it not be better to have numbers on your side?” Ooke said gently so as not to test the human.

    Ooke turned and smiled at Alm “I have a good feeling about you,” Ooke said, and left it at that. Ooke then returned to his hammer and offered Granite his hand to help her stand and so he might retrieve his hammer. Ooke could see that this group was young with the exception of the elves whose age was always hard to determine and that the tension was thick. This pleased him, and just might play to his advantage later.

    “Sure,” Coras sighed. “Ride with me, I can’t guarantee comfort though.” He shot a quick glance to Alm bugging Anisa and shook his head. He packed his gear on the horse and looked to Ooke. “Do you want a hand up?”

    Anisa wasn’t too fond of riding with the grassrunner, but she agreed anyway. “Alright, but if ye cop a feel, I’ll break yer bloody fingers, mate,” Anisa said. The half-elf packed up her belongings and went to saddling her horse.

    Granite took Ooke and let her help her up. “Thank you,” she said, blushing. Her hand lingered in his for a moment until she pulled away. “I better go get ready, I’m riding with Brahms.”

    Ooke took up his hammer, and then let out a sigh. “As much as it pains a dwarf to say it…yes I’ll need a hand up. As for comfort I never have been to found of it anyway.” Ooke replied to Coras.

    Alm gave Anisa a cold glance. “I’m not going to cop a feel.” He sighed. “Can you help me up? Unfortunately, for you, as well as me, I’m short.” Then he lowered his voice so Anisa was the only one he hoped could hear him. “Besides I’m scared of horses. I’ll be holding onto you, but I promise I won’t do anything.”

    Ultarik had already gotten his horse ready and was waiting for them throughout the exchanges, with the map safely away he looked around. Hopefully they would all make it there in good shape, if they didn’t it was no big loss either as he had his own objectives and the others were really just tools towards that end.

    Coras helped Ooke up onto his horse. Lifting dwarves wasn’t Coras’s specialty and the very task took a little out of him. He climbed up onto his horse afterwards and waited for the others to mount.

    Anisa packed her supplies onto her saddle, then picked up Alm and set him just behind the saddle horn. She mounted behind him. The rest of the group packed up their belongs and mounted their horses as well. Granite rode with Brahms, Alm with Anisa, and Ooke with Coras. Ultarik and Toan were left with their mounts, but with two horses carrying the extra weight of two dwarves along with their original riders, it would slow them down. Alm’s weight was barely anything, but hard riding was out of the question with Anisa’s horse else Alm might bounce off.

    Once everyone was ready, Ultarik took the lead out of the campsite, since he had the map. Anisa and Brahms followed close behind, since they both seemed to have fallen into the role of leader.

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