The Home Stone

A light drizzle greeted the seven, as Kirin led them out the eastern gate and back onto the road towards Evermore. It was a picturesque road they traveled. Giant oaks spanned the well-traveled roadway, covering the travelers and giving them some protection from the now heavier rain that began to fall. Had it not been for the elven cloaks that Alicia had provided, they would have been soaked to the bone. Ashley, who had protested to Kirin about always being left out of any adventures, gained his permission to accompany them to Evermore.

By midday, Kirin called a halt and told the party that they would have to make camp and wait out the rain. It now fell so heavy that no one could see beyond their horses’ ears. Tethering the animals, the seven hunkered down under an oak that provided some protection from the rain, while two men kept watch. Off in the distance, the booming sound of rolling thunder could be heard.

“I hope the storm stays far away,” said Kirin. “We don’t need to add to our misery.”

No one spoke, but Kirin knew that they all agreed. With no dry tinder around, they ate their meal cold and washed it down with some wine. Now all they could do was to huddle together and wait out the rainstorm. As night approached the rain began to lighten up and by midnight it had stopped all together. By dawn, the party saddled up their horses and continued.

“If we make good time,” Kirin stated, “we should reach the foothills of Ashland tomorrow, just after dark.”

The day remained mostly cloudy with the sun peering through every once in a while. The party made good time and when the sun finally set on the second day, they found themselves at the entrance to the Elsdor Pass. It was named after Elsdor, a great and high-ranking warrior among the Sky Elves. He was also one of the first elves to train and ride a giant eagle, known to the elves as a Roc. Not too many elves ever come here, for the sky riders do not particularly like strangers. Even those of their own kind.

Once inside the pass, the road began a slight incline that rose for about two thousand feet. There it leveled off onto a huge plateau, which housed a large lake in its center, surrounded by lush green forests.

Just before midnight the party saw the lights of the village come into view. Quickening their pace, the four made their way into the village and over to a two-story building called “The Eagle Head Inn”. Securing the horses outside they entered the main ale room and sat down at one of the empty tables. Hours before, they would have all been occupied, as the supper hour found most of the inhabitants eating at the only place in town. Now near empty, with only a few of the town’s folk drinking at the bar, the seven sat down at a table near the fireplace in the far corner. A young elf maiden came and told them that the kitchen was closed and the cook had gone home. She offered to make the party some sandwiches and bring flagons of wine or ale. Kirin stood up and walked over to the bar where the innkeeper was filling goblets of ale for some of the other guests. Recognizing the elf, he smiled.

“Haven’t seen you here for some time,” he said. “What brings you to my humble establishment?”

“What else?” answered Kirin? “But a small plate of your good home cooking. One could smell it the moment he entered the pass, but alas we arrived too late. Do you have rooms for tonight?”

“Of course,” answered the old elf. “Anything for a friend. Will you be staying long?”

“No,” replied Kirin. “Only this one night. We’re off to Evermore on urgent business.” He did not want to say any more than he had to. No one yet outside Evermore knew about the missing stone, other than those that needed to know.

Grabbing the flagons of ale, Kirin made his way back to the table. There he told the group in a low tone that no one here knew that the Home Stone had gone missing and that they should not speak of it in the presence of the elves here.

The young maiden came with the tray of bread and cheese along with some cold leftover meat and more flagons of wine. The hungry party ate in silence. Not until the last morsel had been consumed did anyone say anything. Then another round of wine was ordered and after about the sixth round they climbed the rustic wooden staircase and found their rooms. Each room was sparsely decorated, with a bed against one wall. A small table and chair stood under the window and against the other wall stood a dresser with a large bowl for washing one self. Clean towels were found hanging from a nail behind the door. There were no other decorations covering the walls other than heavy drapes that were hung loosely over the window. Pushing the drapes to one side, Ashley peered out onto the lake that rippled in the evening breeze, reflecting the moon’s rays. Backing the lake was a shadowed forest, black as the night itself.

Blowing out the candle that occupied the center of the small table, she sat down on the side of the bed. Removing her boots and riding clothes that were still damp from the trip, she lay down on the straw filled mattress and covered herself with a warm blanket and fell asleep immediately.

Dreen and Karradon both marveled at their meager rooms and quickly went to sleep as soon as their heads touched their down filled pillows. Only Kirin remained awake. The thought of the Home Stone and Shannon being so far out of his reach troubled him. He was not there beside her if she needed him, even though he knew that she probably did not need his protection anyway. He lay there on his bed thinking about the next day’s events when sleep finally took over and ended his thoughts.

The next morning before the sun peeked over the circle of peaks that surrounded the plateau, the seven found themselves reentering the pass that would bring them back onto the east road towards Evermore. Before leaving, Kirin spoke to Weedon, who oversaw all the Sky Riders, to prepare them to head north and help the dwarf army at Maryton. He also advised them to wait there for his arrival.

As they were leaving, they could see the beauty of the village set against the background of the peaks. The forest, no longer shadowed, now showed itself in a lush green and the calm lake reflected the clear blue sky with a mirror finish. Set into the mountains about two to three hundred feet higher up, one could see the dark cave openings that housed the giant birds.

“If these birds are so dangerous, how can they ride them?” asked Ashley.

Kirin explained that when a new hatchling was weaned from its mother, it was given to a young elf whose job it was to take care it. The two would become inseparable so that the bird would recognize its new master and the two would become a team. The great birds were still wild and could tear a man to pieces if not properly trained and used to its master’s commands. The elf, no matter how long he trains with the Roc, the majestic bird would never really be conquered. It would always remain a wild bird and will only listen to its master’s commands along with a special whistle that only these great birds could hear. Many a rider had tried to ride a fully-grown wild eagle, only to be torn apart by the bird’s lethal talons and razor-sharp beaks.

Ashley shuddered at the thought of riding one of them. She had a hard-enough time trying to stay aboard her horse, let alone trying to fly on the backs of such a vicious bird. Though a good rider, she preferred to do all her fighting standing on firm ground.