Elfhunter (22 page)

When the Elves and Rogond finally emerged into the
light from the depths of the mountains, they rejoiced at the
sights, sounds, and smells of the world outside. They could hear
one of the two mighty streams that flowed near the Sanctuary and
realized that their destination was very near at hand, though they
were now south of it. Rogond, who had spent more time in these
lands than any of the others, looked around with satisfaction.
Though they would still have to negotiate treacherous footing along
the rocky slopes, and undertake a precipitous climb over the pass
that opened the hidden way into Ordath’s realm, it would be nothing
compared with what they had already been through. They were now
below the tree line, and the snows here were old and tired. Spring
would bring the land into flower before long, and they had actually
made better time than they had planned.

Each of them now blessed the encounter with the
dwarves, who had shown them the way out. Luck had been with them in
that they had not encountered any significant threat along the way,
but there was one rather queer sign at the tunnel exit. Crude gear,
food stores, and weapons, apparently to provision a small company
of Ulcan guards, lay abandoned. It was queer because the Ulcas that
owned the provisions were nowhere in evidence, yet it was full
daylight outside, and the Company had seen no sign of them back up
the tunnel for a long distance. Galador guessed that they had gone
out in the dark of night on some mischief and had either gotten
lost or had fallen under misfortune.

"If they got anywhere near the Elven-realm, they will
never return. That much is certain," said Rogond. "All the same, we
must take care."

Gaelen and Nelwyn picked up the trail of the Ulcas
without difficulty. They had gone south along the slope, avoiding
the path toward Mountain-home, but for what purpose none could say.
Curiosity had gotten the better of Gaelen; she wanted to know what
had befallen them. A familiar prickling was growing in the back of
her mind. She and Nelwyn tracked the Ulcas southward, despite the
mild protestations of Rogond and Galador, who pointed out that they
were getting farther from their destination. Finding themselves
ignored by the She-elves, they followed behind, speaking in low
voices to one another and keeping watch for enemies.

"We may encounter Elves of Mountain-home in these
lands, hunter-scouts like yourselves," said Rogond. "They will
welcome us once they know us, but they may be a bit twitchy if they
cannot identify us quickly. Of that we must be wary, especially as
evening draws down. I would suggest that we stop moving once night
falls."

Gaelen nodded, though she had no intention of
stopping until she discovered the fate of the Ulcas. The prickling
in her mind had not gone away; it had turned instead into a low
burning. She looked up at the sun-bright sky and smiled. She did
this for two reasons. The first was that it was good to see the sky
again, unclouded by snow or mist. The other was that the stars and
moon would be bright tonight, and she would have good light for
tracking. A short while later she was beginning to pick up scent on
the wind, and in a few moments she knew that tracking the Ulcas
would not need to extend into the darkness, as they were dead.

Their scent had carried for miles, and it was coming
on toward twilight when they were found at last. Seven dark,
rotting bodies, dead for several days, lay among the rocks. There
was evidence of a struggle, and several of the Ulcas had fled
upward toward the tree line in a vain attempt to escape their
attacker. These had been killed quite effectively, lying face down
with arrow-wounds in their backs. The others had been killed
hand-to-hand using a keen blade. There was blood, but much of it
had been washed away, apparently by a late winter rain. Several
massive stones had been displaced, indicating that a large and
heavy being had taken part in the fighting, yet was not among the
dead.

Gaelen galvanized as she beheld the scene, then she
had to sit down and wrap her arms about her shoulders to stop their
trembling. This was the work of their enemy—of that she was
certain. The scent was faint and nearly obliterated by the stench
of the rotting Ulcas, but it was there. Nelwyn also recognized the
pattern; it was becoming all too familiar. So, he had been in this
very spot only a few days ago. Gaelen could not believe her
luck!

They moved upwind of the decaying Ulcas and held a
council. It was decided that Galador would make his way back to
Mountain- home and deliver their message to Lady Ordath and Lord
Magra. Then he would rejoin the others, who would continue tracking
the enemy. With luck, he would bring aid.

"Rogond, I have some concern that I will not be able
to find the way into the hidden gates, as I have never been to the
Sanctuary without an escort," said Galador.

"But you have been there, and you are known to them,"
said Rogond. "The way will be opened to any Elf. Do not fear."

Gaelen knew they had to be swift. The sign could
disappear at any time, and it was her sense that, somehow, this
creature was dimly aware of them and would become more wary as they
drew nearer. Her contact with Halrodin and Gelmyr had forged a
bond, albeit a vague and tenuous one, with her enemy. As long as
their mutual hatred flourished, this dim awareness would
continue.

It was all she could do to restrain herself until
morning, but she knew that this was the only wise course, as signs
would be easy to miss in the rocky darkness. Tracking this enemy
was not like tracking a group of unwary Ulcas, at least not when he
was on his guard. She stood alert in the light of the crescent moon
and waited.

Quite a number of miles away, Gorgon also found
himself standing alert in the light of the crescent moon. He had
emerged from the mountain many days ago, moving north along the
slopes toward Mountain-home, hoping for prey. He would avoid the
Sanctuary itself, for it was protected by a power that was beyond
him. Having done so, he could then drop down along the western side
of the mountains and cross the river into the great forest. There
he might encounter stray Wood-elves as he moved ever westward,
eventually gaining the Verdant Mountains, where he would go to
ground again for a while once he was sated. He would be far, far
away from anything to do with Gelmyr the Èolo, whom he had banished
from his thoughts.

Gorgon lifted his proud, ugly head, turning it to the
north as the breeze stirred his long hair. So, his pursuers had
found him again; he was sure of it. He was both annoyed and
impressed that they had somehow managed to intercept his course,
but he felt it was high time to resolve the situation one way or
another. He had a sense that there were Elves among them—one in
particular— and now he intended to draw them close enough to get a
good look at them. If there were but few, he would eliminate them,
and if not, he would stage a demonstration that would make them
think twice about the wisdom of meddling in his affairs.

He rose and stretched his massive arms and legs,
replacing his helmet and gathering up his gear. There was a fair
likelihood of finding prey nearby, as Gorgon had lingered near one
of the main outposts used by the scouts of Mountain-home as they
kept watch. He could still smell them. Like Gaelen, Gorgon
possessed a keen sense of smell, and had trained himself to use it.
If he waited yet awhile, they would return. For now he would find a
place of concealment and be ready when they did.

"I am uncomfortable with the idea of your going to
Mountain- home on your own, you know," said Nelwyn, as Galador made
ready to depart. "I really think we should stay together. If we
find the enemy, I sense it will take all we have to defeat him. And
you may find unknown perils on the road, with no one to aid you.
Will you not reconsider?"

"Someone must warn Lady Ordath and Lord Magra, and
tell of the fate of Gelmyr. Who knows how far this road will take
you? It is my intention to return to your side as soon as I can,
hopefully with the power of the Elves of Mountain-home at my side."
He sighed, and turned to face her. "It is not my desire to leave
you, but I feel there is no other course. Do not fear. I will find
you again." He smiled, intending to reassure her, but all it did
was make her heart ache the more at the thought of his leaving. She
embraced him as a cold wash of dread came over her.

"This can only end badly. I know it! I cannot leave
Gaelen, but she is on a road that will take down all who travel
upon it. Please, Galador, return as quickly as you may, for you
will be needed here.

And take care that your own road ends safely…" Then,
at the last, she whispered, "…for my heart goes with you." She
turned and left him before he could reply.

At dawn’s first light, Rogond, Gaelen, and Nelwyn set
off on the trail of their enemy. They would remain on this trail
for days, as the signs at first became fresher and more obvious,
then faded, then picked up again. This was of some concern to
Gaelen, for she wondered whether the creature was taunting them by
making things too easy, and then making them so difficult that even
her tracking skills were sorely tested. What was he playing at?

She picked up the first signs of the Elves of
Mountain-home nearly four days into the pursuit. They had come
along a track from the southeast and had been intercepted by the
enemy, who apparently had rested nearby for several hours until
they had appeared. There were three Elves in the group, and they
were not being especially wary, for their sign was easy to follow.
The creature was obviously in pursuit, and Gaelen feared for them.
Rogond and Nelwyn were also dismayed; they did not wish to find
another like Gelmyr. On the morning of the fourth day, they first
beheld the Elf named Elethorn, as Gorgon had left him for them to
find.

It was Nelwyn who first caught sight of Elethorn from
her vantage point in the high boughs of a tall spruce. Her heart
sank as she took notice of the limp form bound to a tall stone.
There was no sign of any other living being as far as she could
tell. Climbing carefully back down, she informed her friends of her
discovery, and they all despaired, assuming that the unknown Elf
would be dead when they found him. They wondered what had happened
to the others, suspecting that they would soon learn the unhappy
truth of them, also.

As they drew nearer to the stone where the Elf was
bound, they relied on Gaelen to judge how recently the enemy had
been there. She could not tell, as the scent was confused. Here it
was faint, there it was still fairly strong, but still at least a
day old in her estimation. There was very little blood, but the
tracks told the story. Two of the three companions had been dropped
quickly; the third had been set upon and dragged away, struggling.
Now there was blood. The sign was strong here, and the Company drew
back, alarmed. Retreating to the shelter of stones, they discussed
what to do next.

"We must attend to this poor soul and see whether he
still lives, but I fear the enemy is near, and I am afraid," said
Nelwyn.

"That poor soul was left there to lure us in, Nelwyn.
You have every reason to be afraid," replied Gaelen, who could not
seem to stop her hands from shaking.

"We don’t know that," said Rogond, who had lived
among the Elves of Mountain-home, and feared for what he might
find. He was bent on rescuing the unfortunate Elf, though he did
not as yet know him. "Perhaps it’s the same as the last; the enemy
just enjoys displaying his victims to any and all that pass."

Gaelen shook her head. "I trust Nelwyn’s instincts,
as they are seldom in error. If the creature had meant to arrange a
display, this one would have been like Gelmyr— he would not have
been left alive for us to attempt rescue. If this is not a trap,
then I’m a dwarf!" She shook her windblown hair from her eyes, and
turned to Rogond.

"What is your honest opinion of our ability to defeat
whatever it was that killed Gelmyr?" She searched his anxious
face.

"I don’t know," he said at last. "But we cannot just
leave the Elf. We don’t know that he is dead…what if he is yet
alive?" He looked imploringly at Gaelen.

"This is a chance to do what I have longed for these
many weeks, to get close enough to get a good look at the creature
and hopefully get off a shot that will remove his stench from this
world forever," she stated, as though this should be obvious. "I’m
willing to take the risk, for I, too, would prevent another
needless death if I can. And I’m weary of this chase. I certainly
will not waver…not when I am so close. But let’s at least make a
plan first."

They spoke in hushed voices, quickly formulating a
plan to rescue the unknown Elf. Nelwyn, who had the steadiest hands
and was best at shooting from high places, would climb a tall
spruce where she could survey the area with ease, her bow ready to
deal with the enemy should he appear. Gaelen, who was the smallest,
lightest, and most stealthy on the ground would steal in and
release the Elf, while Rogond remained concealed until they were
certain the area was secure. If the enemy evaded Nelwyn’s bow and
attacked Gaelen, Rogond would come to her aid with sword and spear.
Then they would all work together to defeat the creature.

Gaelen wore her curved short sword across her back in
addition to her bow and quiver, and she carried two long daggers
that she could throw with deadly accuracy. Nelwyn embraced her
before being hoisted onto her shoulders and springing up into the
convenient spruce tree. She disappeared into its green heights, and
Gaelen felt much safer. Nelwyn’s marksmanship was almost
infallible—nothing would get past her.