Hero Wars
Issaries, Inc. |
The Travels of Biturian VaroshThe People of the Woods
After a full week of travel through rugged foot-hills the
elf presence was thick enough to feel in the air. Eye-whisper reported them,
and a scout returned having seen one. During the travel Morak had been growing
more and more uncontrollable, but instead of his usual growling or other
animal sounds he would chuckle and laugh. We rarely saw him as we gingerly
negotiated the tricky trails. The days were long, and though we thought we
had far to go, we could make only eight kilometers a day at best.
Two days before the holiday we came into a clearing where a copper-armored elf gleamed in the sunlight. An axe and quiver of arrows were strapped upon his back. I was flattered at first to be met by a Wood Lord of the cult until he addressed Ruric rather than me! Our friend was polite enough to direct the conversation to me, though the elf seemed distressed to converse with an Issaries priest. We made all the normal elf greetings. I detected many spells being cast upon us but withheld investigation of their source. There was no doubt that we were circled by many elves right then. At last he was satisfied. He said he was Frofey Oakheart, then welcomed us in the name of his people. I introduced the party. He glanced them over, told us we must make haste to reach the dance site, promised good rest if we pushed on all night, and led the way. We stopped once, and he gave us some sweet drink which relieved our weariness. We arrived at a place where Aldryami had collected a full day before the festival. Morak had befriended a pair of Runners on the march, and they followed him about like pets. The day we rested, he stayed awake. When he returned he told us he had spoken with one old woman and a tree while we slept. He still laughed a great deal, and his eyes gleamed. Norayeep, the guards, and I were not to be initiated, but Frofey said the elves were always happy to have an Issaries bless their ceremony. Thus I was the last to see Morak when he left. His examination was simple, and I saw that the "old woman" was a staid Dryad whose path was covered with white bellflowers where she walked. Pixies dashed about her, ringing the air with their laughter. When Morak was accepted, some of the pixies flew around his head and led him into the woods. I spoke briefly with the Elder Sister Priestess, then she led me to the next stage where the Initiates were being accepted. This was much more solemn, and the young elves who were about to become men and women stood stiffly in a line before a warrior who wore shining copper armor and carried a bright axe upon his back. I sighted Morak, quiet at last, among the crowd of other Lay Members. Several beasts stood reverently nearby, as well as a dragonewt farther away. The Initiates received their bow-seeds, were taught a prayer, then each of them joined an older elf who turned and led the way silently into the woods. The Lay Membership broke the silence first as their childish joy broke forth unrestrained. The priestess came and we spoke once again, but I explained that I would attend no deeper. My wife, I reminded her, was also an earth priestess and I preferred to go and finish the ceremonies with her. The dryad told me when and where to meet her younger sister, who had elf goods to trade, then went on. As I watched her go, other movement caught my eye. I turned in time to see a huge dark-brown man step from the shadows. A tail flicked Morak's arm. The boy turned and I saw that the man had the head of a bull. His horns were a full meter wide, and his shoulders looked powerful enough to wrestle a bison. I couldn't hear what was said, but Morak nodded once, his mouth and eyes wide as he stared up at the minotaur, then followed him into the woods. Morak had, at last, found his home. |
