Chapter 09 - Camp Talk

Edna's eyes fluttered open a few hours later.

The remnants of a good nap clung to her mind. She had been so tired after having walked half a night and all day to Keggma's Grotto, and that had weighed heavily on her aging body.

But now, as she blinked away the sleep, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. She had to save Warfrost before it was too late, and this quest was already taking far too long.

Sitting up, she glanced around the small clearing where they had set up their makeshift camp. Hildebrin, the stalwart half-Dwarf, was crouched by a small fire, tending to what appeared to be a feast. The aroma of roasting meat and vegetables filled the air, making Edna's stomach beg for some.

Beside her, Makaik stirred, the young monk novice's face still peaceful in slumber. Edna couldn't help but smile at the sight. The boy had earned his rest, having carried Hildebrin's large bag full of food through the rain all day long without complaint.

Edna stretched her limbs, feeling the familiar ache of her muscles. It had been too long since she'd undertaken such a perilous journey, but the fire within her had been reignited. Warfrost's capture had awakened a fierce determination in her, and she would stop at nothing to rescue her beloved cat.

As Hildebrin added more fuel to the fire, Edna caught a glimpse of the older woman's face. There was a resolute expression there, a hardness that belied the Dwarf's gruff exterior. Edna knew that Hildebrin, too, was driven by a desire for vengeance. Her twin sister's death at the hands of the goblins fueled her rage.

Edna watched as Hildebrin expertly prepared the meal, her thick fingers swirling utensils with a precision that belied her imposing stature. When the food was ready, the half-Dwarf ladled generous portions onto three plates, the aroma wafting through the air and making Edna's mouth water.

Hildebrin approached Edna, handing her one of the plates. "Eat up, lass," she said, her voice gruff but tinged with a hint of warmth. "You'll need your strength for what's to come."

Edna accepted the plate, nodding her thanks. She took a bite, savoring the flavors that exploded on her tongue. It had been so long since she'd tasted such a hearty, satisfying meal.

Beside her, Makaik stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Hildebrin immediately turned her attention to him, thrusting a plate into his hands.

"Eat, boy," she commanded, her tone brooking no argument. "You're too skinny!"

Makaik blinked up at the half-Dwarf, his expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Edna watched him dutifully begin to eat, his movements slow and deliberate.

Edna studied the interaction, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. Hildebrin's gruff manner, while understandable given the gravity of their mission, seemed to border on disrespect. Makaik was a capable young man, and he deserved to be treated with the same dignity and respect as the rest of them.

Clearing her throat, Edna spoke up. "Hildebrin, I appreciate you preparing this meal for us, but I think it's important that we treat Makaik with the same courtesy we would expect for ourselves."

Hildebrin paused, her spoon halfway to her mouth. She fixed Edna with a piercing gaze, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean, lass?" she asked, her tone defensive. "The boy's a twig. I'm helping him put a little weight on. That's all."

Edna met the half-Dwarf's gaze evenly, her own expression calm and resolute. "Makaik is a valuable member of our team, and he deserves to be treated with respect. Ordering him around like a servant is not the way to foster trust and camaraderie."

Hildebrin's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Edna thought the older woman might lash out. But then, to her surprise, Hildebrin's features softened, and she let out a low chuckle.

"Aye, you're right, lass," she said, her voice tinged with a newfound respect. She turned to Makaik. "Didn't mean any disrespect by giving you so little food. You need seconds or thirds?"

Makaik smiled. "No. It's good though. Very delicious."

Hildebrin blinked in surprise, her eyes widening. "Now you're telling lies again. Ain't a single person ever said my food was delicious."

The boy's mouth hung open, unsure what to say. Edna caught on to Hildebrin's sense of humor early, and shook her head. No matter how the boy had answered, Hildebrin would have had an argument.

"Just giving you a hard time, boy!" Hildebrin clarified. "Eat up! You're too skinny is all I'm saying! We're about to kill a bunch of goblins so Edna can get her orange cat back or something!"

Makaik smiled. "Thank you, ma'am," he said, his voice soft but sincere.

Edna watched the exchange, a small smile playing on her lips. She knew that Hildebrin, beneath her gruff exterior, was a woman of honor and integrity, even if her humor was unpredictable.

As they ate, the three companions fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Edna couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie and trust growing between them, forged in the crucible of their shared mission.

She gazed into the flickering flames of the campfire, her thoughts drifting back to the Slumbering Vales. It was a realm she had not revisited in decades. With a wistful sigh, she turned to Hildebrin, the half-Dwarf's rugged features softened by the warm glow of the fire.

She had promised that she would tell the woman about her trip to those lands, and this might be her last chance to make good on that promise.

"You know, Hildebrin, it's been a long time since I've set foot in the Slumbering Vales," Edna began, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "But I can still remember it as if it were yesterday."

Hildebrin leaned in, her interest piqued. "Aye, lass, I can well imagine. The Vales are a sight to behold, even for one such as myself who's called them home before."

Edna nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "It was there, in the heart of Mountaincrag Deep, that Warfrost and I were surrounded by The Betrayers."

Hildebrin's brow furrowed, and she shifted closer, her attention fully captivated. "The Betrayers, you say? Only heard tall tell of them, but I know nothing of their ways."

Edna's gaze grew distant, her mind's eye seeing the events of long ago unfold before her. "They were a ruthless and relentless group who wanted all the Ramorai dead, driven by an insatiable hunger for power. They sought to kill Warfrost Ramorai."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

She paused, her fingers absently tracing the patterns on her leather vambraces. "Warfrost and I, we fought them at every turn. But they were cunning, Hildebrin, and they knew our weaknesses."

Makaik spoke up, "the cat is a Ramorai?"

Edna nodded. "The last of the Ramorai. You have probably read about them in books or scrolls. Warfrost is descended from Thoga Ramorai, one of the greatest of their kind. The Betrayers killed most of them. I witnessed the battlefield massacre with my own eyes. Warfrost and I, along with a few other Humans, escaped, and The Betrayers chased us across many lands for many years."

Hildebrin listened intently, her eyes wide with fascination. "Go on, lass. What happened?"

Edna's expression darkened, the weight of those memories evident in the lines of her face. "They cornered us, deep within the ancient caverns near Mountaincrag Deep. Warfrost's power was our only hope, but The Betrayers had learned to counter it."

Edna's eyes grew distant as she recounted the harrowing events of the past. Hildebrin leaned in, her weathered face etched with rapt attention.

"The Betrayers had us cornered, their blades gleaming in the dim light of the caverns," Edna continued, her voice tinged with a haunting sorrow. "Warfrost and I fought with every ounce of our strength, but they were relentless."

She paused, her gaze flickering to the flames of the campfire. "Just when all seemed lost, a thunderous roar echoed through the caverns. The Betrayers froze, their faces etched with fear, for they knew the sound all too well."

Hildebrin's eyes widened, a spark of recognition igniting within them. "The Koh'Lodur of Mountaincrag Deep," she breathed, her voice tinged with reverence.

Edna nodded, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Aye, Hildebrin. King Koh'Lodur himself, leading a band of his finest Defender Vanguards, came to our aid."

She could still hear the thunderous clash of steel, the roar of the Dwarven warriors as they swept through the caverns, their axes and hammers cutting down The Betrayers with ruthless efficiency. Warfrost had fought by her side, his massive form a blur of orange fur and razor-sharp claws, his mighty roar echoing through the cavernous halls.

"The Dwarves were magnificent, Hildebrin," Edna murmured, her eyes shining with a reverence that belied her usually stoic demeanor. "Their skill in battle was unparalleled, their loyalty unwavering."

Hildebrin's breath caught in her throat, and Edna could see the emotions playing across the half-Dwarf's weathered features. She saw pride, awe, and a deep, abiding sorrow.

"Aye, lass, the Dwarves of Mountaincrag Deep were a force to be reckoned with," Hildebrin said, her voice thick with emotion. "King Koh'Lodur was a true leader, beloved by his people."

Edna reached out, placing a weathered hand on Hildebrin's arm, her touch gentle and reassuring. "What happened, Hildebrin?" she asked softly, her gaze searching the half-Dwarf's face.

Hildebrin's expression darkened, a storm of emotions brewing behind her eyes. "The king was murdered," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "An illegitimate heir, a snake from a different kingdom, took the throne by deceitful force."

Edna felt a chill run down her spine, her heart aching for the pain and injustice that Hildebrin must have endured. "And what of the Dwarves who stood with the king?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Hildebrin's jaw tightened. "They were punished. All half-bloods, like myself, were cast out of the Slumbering Vales, our lineage and our loyalty called into question."

Edna's eyes widened in horror, her hand tightening around Hildebrin's arm. "Hildebrin, I had no idea," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

"My sister Magdelina and I didn't talk about it, because Humans don't understand."

She nodded in response.

The half-Dwarf's gaze was distant, her expression haunted. "Aye, lass, it was a dark time for my people. My own family, they disowned me and my twin sister, Magdelina, because our mother was Human."

Edna felt her heart break for her companion, the weight of Hildebrin's loss and the injustice she had endured palpable in the air between them. She opened her mouth to speak, but Hildebrin raised a hand, silencing her.

"But that is a tale for another time, Edna," the half-Dwarf said, her voice gruff but tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "Right now, I want to hear more about how King Koh'Lodur and his Defender Vanguards saved you and Warfrost from the clutches of The Betrayers."

Edna nodded, her gaze softening as she met Hildebrin's. "It was a sight to behold. The Dwarves swept through the caverns like a tidal wave, their battle cries echoing off the walls."

She could still see it, the blur of steel and the roar of Warfrost as the legendary cat fought alongside the Dwarven warriors. "King Koh'Lodur himself led the charge, his great hammer swinging with the force of a thunderstorm."

Hildebrin's eyes shone with a fierce pride, her grip on her mug loosening as she leaned forward, her attention rapt.

"The Betrayers had not sent a full army after us into the mountains, and they were no match for the Dwarves' skill and determination," Edna continued, her voice tinged with awe. "They fell one by one, their screams of anguish drowned out by battle."

She paused, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "And in the midst of it all, Warfrost and I fought side by side, our bond stronger than ever before."

Hildebrin let out a deep, rumbling laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Aye, lass, I can just imagine the sight of you and that great cat, cutting down your foes with the fury of a thousand storms."

Edna chuckled, her own expression softening. "It was a sight to behold, Hildebrin. And when the battle was done, King Koh'Lodur himself came to us, his eyes shining with respect."

She paused, her gaze growing distant once more. "He told us that we had earned the right to be called Dwarven friend, and that the Defender Vanguards would help protect Warfrost Ramorai if ever need be, since he was the last of his epic bloodline. That was the word of one leader to another."

Hildebrin's breath caught in her throat, and Edna could see the emotions playing across her face. There was a mix of pride, sorrow, and a deep, abiding longing.

"Aye, lass, that sounds like our King Koh'Lodur," Hildebrin murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "He was a true king, beloved by all who knew him."

Edna reached out, placing a weathered hand on Hildebrin's arm once more. "I'm sorry, Hildebrin," she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. "I had no idea the pain and injustice you and your people have endured."

Hildebrin let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping ever so slightly. "It's a burden I've carried for many years," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But to hear of King Koh'Lodur's bravery and the Defender Vanguards' loyalty, it...it warms my heart."

Hildebrin's gaze met Edna's, and in that moment, the two women shared a deep, unspoken connection. This was a new bond forged through the shared experiences of loss, injustice, and the unwavering determination to right the wrongs of the past.

Makaik, who had been silent throughout their exchange, shifted slightly, his eyes filled with a newfound respect for the two women before him. He had heard tales of the Dwarven kingdoms and their legendary warriors, but to hear it firsthand from Edna and Hildebrin was a humbling experience.

Edna shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. "In the end, we had no choice but to hide Warfrost's soul, to protect him from their ravenous hunger. I watched as his true form faded, replaced by the gentle orange cat we know today."

Hildebrin's eyes widened in understanding, her hand reaching out to squeeze Edna's arm. "Lass, I can only imagine the pain you must have felt, to see your dear friend reduced to such a state."

Edna nodded, her gaze meeting Hildebrin's. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, Hildebrin. But I knew that if I didn't, Warfrost would have been lost to me forever."

She paused, her expression softening. "And so we fled, hiding in the shadows, always one step ahead of The Betrayers. We made our way to Danvers, where I hoped we would find the peace and solitude we so desperately needed. Everything has been fine for twenty years."

Hildebrin's brow furrowed, her voice low and solemn. "And now, after all these years, a stupid goblin has ruined it all." It was not a question, but a statement of understanding.

Edna nodded, her gaze hardening with determination. "And the I think we should have faced The Betrayers long ago. Maybe we shouldn't have gone into hiding. Once Warfrost is restored, they'll find us. The Betrayers are still hunting for him, I'm sure. And I'll fight to the last breath to protect Warfrost and allow him to reclaim his rightful place in the world if any other Ramorai still exist."

Hildebrin's expression mirrored Edna's, a shared resolve burning in their eyes. "Then you'll not be facing them alone, lass. I'll be by your side."

Edna reached out and squeezed Hildebrin's hand, a silent gesture of gratitude. "Thank you, my friend. I'm grateful to have you with me on this journey."

The two women fell silent, their thoughts consumed by the weight of the task that lay before them. In the stillness of the night, a sense of camaraderie and purpose had taken root, forging a bond that would see them through the trials to come.

After significant time spent resting, they cleaned up camp. Edna and Hildebrin turned to head towards the giant sinkhole in the middle of the swamp, looking at the treacherous steps leading down to Keggma's Grotto.

Makaik's gaze held steady to something far away in the direction they had traveled. Edna and Hildebrin both looked, but saw nothing.

Hildebrin asked, "you see something?"

"No," Makaik answered, turning back to them ready to go. "Nothing important. Sorry."