SWNOVELS Chapter 13: The Journey Begins
Chapter 13: The Journey Begins
The next morning the trio of Tegus, Razahir and Norsewind met by the carriage men.
“I can take you were ever you like Master Tegus” Ocelot offered.
“Just to the road to the north is fine.” Tegus smiled at him, “I thank you Ocelot but our journey may be long, and no one knows how long you can stay away from the University. I’d rather you stayed, and I knew you were right here.”
“Ok Sir, since you insist. Should we be off then?” Ocelot said with a smile.
“Is everyone ready?” Tegus asked the other two as Kalthion stood by to see them off.
Razahir smiled as he pushed the 4th blade Tegus could see into its sheath.
“Always.” he winked and pulled up his cowl as he climbed into the carriage.
Norsewind was running up the path with the biggest bag Tegus had ever seen. It was twice the size of the dwarf in height and width; Tegus wondered if it was magic or the dwarf’s raw strength that held it strapped to his back.
“Do you need all that Norse? Tegus questioned him.
“Aye lad, food, potions, trinkets and gifts for the folk of me homeland. Told them I would bring them something back!”
“Norse I’m sure you could leave some behind? I understand the food and even the small gifts but all this?” Tegus tried to convince him.
“Guess your right lad.” he laughed and dropped the bag on the floor, which landed with a clatter like pots and pans.
“Did you really bring your kitchen Norse?” Tegus laugh at what he was saying.
“Right again lad,” Norsewind didn’t realize Tegus was laughing at him, “You said the essentials, and we got to eat!”
“Ok,” Tegus said, “maybe more basic than you brought.”
“Your trip, your way I guess.” Norsewind reasoned and dug out the food supplies and some of the gifts, but left most of the kitchen utensils and pans.
The pack was much smaller and Norsewind also shrunk it a little more with magic to make it lighter.
“Good.” Tegus smiled and the dwarf scrambled into the carriage.
Tegus signalled Ocelot as he jumped in and the carriage took off with neigh from Revolver. Kalthion bid them farewell with a wave, turned and walked away.
The group arrived at the road a few minutes later. They clambered one by one off the carriage and grabbed their bags as they magically flew down.
“Farewell for now old friend.” Tegus said to Ocelot with a silent look of respect.
Ocelot smiled and nodded in return with a groan from his joints and within a second, the carriage took off.
Norsewind was the first to speak, “Razahir tell us of your life within the city. What was it you did?”
“I was a marksman for hire and a thief when I needed to be.” Razahir replied without any secrecy.
Norsewind had always been one for doing things that were right and didn’t like what Razahir had admitted to.
“I merely killed those who deserved it and stole from the greedy, and I simply did what I had to do to survive.” Razahir defended himself.
Norsewind looked at him with a frown.
“Master dwarf what I believe is, that there are good people, bad people and good people who have no choice but to do bad things.”
The dwarf nodded to Razahir as a sign of understanding that he had had no choice, “I apologise lad. Did not mean to offend.”
“Let’s be off.” Tegus said eager to get on and they all picked up their bags and set off deeper into the shaded Woods.
They walked on, and the light between the trees dimmed. They dimmed not from morning changing to night, but from the thickness of the trees. The trees appeared to get larger and almost seemed to be stalking them. The trio just walked on with Razahir leading the way with Tegus behind him and Norsewind following on at the end. Razahir was fully alert and knew this place was not the safest. Norsewind at the end moaned about how far they had already walked, and how much he disliked this place.
Tegus did not hear the dwarf or see Razahir’s concern he was too much lost in thought. Tegus thought about Grand Master Ilfirimain and how he believed in Tegus and what lay before Tegus and his companions. This made him think about Vakaroth and all Vakaroth had done to his family, friends and the people of the University. Vakaroth was dangerous and Tegus knew he had to stop him. He knew the Shard of Solaster which he now carried would help him.
“Ouch!” Norsewind tripped and landed on his nose interrupting Tegus’ train of thought.
“Master dwarf, please watch what you are doing this is not a place to mess around.” Razahir said edgily.
“I know, I know,” replied the dwarf, “but I tripped on this blasted root”.
“That’s no root, that’s a tripwire.” Razahir answered.
“What for?” Tegus puzzled.
“To alert the man responsible, we should proceed with caution.” Razahir said with a look of vigilance.
Norsewind picked himself up, and the trio proceeded on looking around cautiously. The Woods grew darker and darker until they could no longer see the sky. Above them the trees meshed together creating a canopy so high that all they could see was branches reaching down towards them. By now, the party had gone so far into the Woods that any cry for assistance or help would be pointless. Tegus clapped his hands, and as he did a great white light appeared within them. He raised his right arm in front of him to lead his way, once again his curiosity governing him. Norsewind had turned around and was walking backwards to make sure there was nothing trying to sneak up behind them. Norsewind had heard unsettling rumours of these dark woods, tales from the city Tavern and University alike.
“This isn’t so good, I know there’s something there. I’ve heard the rumours we all have; this was a bad way to come. We should have got Ocelot to take us beyond this.” Norsewind was usually confident, but this place gave him the creeps.
“We know Ocelot can fly for the University to pick people up but on a journey away from it, for how long we would need, I do not know if the magic could last, and I do not wish to test the limits of what keeps him alive.” Tegus pointed out.
“I know, I know.” Norsewind agreed, “I just think it would be nice to get out of these awful Woods”
“Why would we want to leave master dwarf, when this is exactly where we need to be.” Razahir winked at Norsewind as he drew his daggers and stepped back into the shadows.
Tegus shot round with his hand of light to try to see where Razahir had gone. Norsewind looked at Tegus and winked at him.
They both stood there for a moment, in a kind of Purgatory, waiting and expecting something to happen. However, nothing did. Tegus let his guard down, and Norsewind laughed loudly and the pair walked on.
“You can come back now!” Norsewind said bellowed.
In a second, Tegus heard a click and turned facing Norsewind who just looked back at him with eyes that said more than words could. Norsewind’s eyes, followed by Tegus’ slowly looked down to see Norsewind’s foot standing on a metal trap.
As Tegus and Norsewind, both looked up, Tegus saw a trunk of an oak tree horizontally swinging towards them from the way they had just come. Before either had chance to react, they were picked up by the momentum of the once great tree.
Tegus found himself locked around it, and he and Norsewind were propelled forward. As the tree reached its maximum swing, both where thrown to the floor.
Bruised and winded they both went to stand up to find themselves looking up at blood-stained blades, which were held by a small humanoid creature. His whole body was an odd shape with a larger head, hands and feet. He wore dirty old rags that covered his arms, legs and body, and wore scruffy boots on his feet. His face was half-hidden by an oily rag, but Tegus could tell that this short creature was, in fact, a goblin. Even though his skin was already dark green it was made even darker by the lack of light and the grease covering him, and the goggles he wore.
“Why are you in my Woods?” the goblin questioned.
Tegus and Norsewind looked at each other puzzled, but had no idea how this had happened and what was going on.
The goblin repeated itself, “Why are you in my Woods?”
Tegus and Norsewind saw a clean blade appear at the otherwise dirty goblin’s chin, and a figure behind him.
“They are here with me, and I think you should lower your blades my tiny friend.”
The goblin eased up and allowed Tegus and Norsewind to stand up. “Now, to business, we need your help.”
“Lower your blades Razahir and let us talk.” The goblin requested knowing the voice.
Razahir’s blade disappeared into the shadows.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Norsewind objected, but it was too late the goblin was free.
“Apologies for threatening you, I don’t get many visitors, so I hope you will forgive my precautions. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Takvar Greasehound and these are my Woods.” The goblin gave a sort of bow.
Razahir had appeared back behind Tegus and Norsewind.
“I am Grand Master Tegus Bulock, and this is Professor Norsewind, and we need your help.”
“You are a friend of Razahir, but why should I assist you?” The goblin smirked behind his rag.
Razahir stepped forward past Tegus and Norsewind. “Because you owe me more than one favour, I bled for you, stole for you, acquired rare things for you and even killed for you. You owe me all that you have.”
The goblin couldn’t argue. He knew that Razahir was right, he may have paid Razahir for those things, but if he had not he would be nobody.
“Let us go inside and see what we can do,” he said.
The group followed Takvar Greasehound down a dirt track that revealed a cabin that was hidden by tree’s branches that were covered by many leaves. They walked through the pokey door, and inside was not what they expected. It was lavished with Royal silks, rare paintings and everything was lined with gold and jewels.
“Please take a seat and make yourself at home I will just change and be right with you.” The goblin announced.
The three went and found seats around the grand fire.
“This is not what I expected.” the dwarf was very puzzled by the place they had just entered.