Rana - The look on their faces told me they had seen something that had spooked them. “Its time to go.” they said collectively. We worked swiftly and with great coordination as we reversed our course out of the old mine. I didn’t ask them what they had seen. I poured my energy into securing knots and pulling ropes. The chorus of crickets that surrounded us underscored the urgency with the growing frequency and volume of their song.
We were all dripping in water in the cold cave, the labors of our work stayed the effects of the cold until we were out of the tunnels and free from whatever chased the boys from the tunnels. The guard has spent the night on duty outside the entrance. Their heavy eyelids said that they were unaware of the dangers we faced within the mountain.
I had not fully appreciated the menacing nature of spiders before tonight. The hordes that chased Hakaar, Bromm, and my brother through the collapsed tunnel tuned my limbs to lead. We managed to collapse the tunnel and trap the venomous creatures, but knowing that nest of venom sits below out town is unsettling to say the least.
The guards knew their assignment was at an end as we proclaimed our achievement. One of the men departed to tell of our success. The sun was starting to color the water to the west and paint the sky in purple and blue. Heavy rain clouds sat on the horizon like a pack of wolves. The fair weather that had favored us for a week was nearly at an end.
As we departed the high road from the Windhollows the old dwarf Withy wandered into our path. “Kelly Pot.” He said, mostly as a mumbled chant, holding his hands wrist to wrist with his fingers extended high and low. Withy had been a pitiable figure in Hlofreden for as long as I could remember. He was teased by children and pitied or tolerated by adults. He lived off the generosity of others since he was unable to work. The boys seemed to understand his meaning as he gestured and chanted. Bromm stiffened and paled at some deeper level of understanding that he had yet to share. Whatever the boys had seen in the deepest reaches of the mines was not a thing of recent minting. The old dwarf had seen it too.
The coming clouds and my wet body conspired to chill me, but it held no advantage over the chill that now grew in my soul. Suddenly I wanted to be home, away from this place.
After concluding our business with Hagan go Brách. My brother and I acted on that will. My understanding of the world had changed in the mines and my skills had sharpened. It was time for me to head out to the ranch. My brother’s tutoring had helped me to survive our recent adventure, but it was time to strike out on my own. Perhaps the half-orc would take my money in exchange for his wisdom.
