Hydrablood Chapter 6 May 2, 775 FF
The tiny village of Rockhill rarely had visitors. The occasional traveler from Rockhaven, the tiny town a day’s travel west and located on the main road south, and perhaps a peddler once or twice a year were about all the people who ever passed through. So when four young men came staggering into the village from the rocky foothills of the mountains to the east that morning it was quite a surprise. Icepaw and his companions had found that the villagers apprehensive at first, but once Icepaw opened his purse to pay in silver for the small mountain of food that he requested for Hydrozeno, the apprehension turned to welcoming hospitality. Icepaw was fairly certain the villagers had thought the group had been bandits of some kind at first.
Technically, Icepaw and Hydrozeno might have indulged in one or two acts of banditry before, but only after having been victims of the practice themselves and the villagers did not need to know that. Neither did their new elven companion. Dan probably already suspected. The two had talked enough that Icepaw was certain Dan knew that his two new companions were not saints, but neither were they villains.
As far as the four children in the village of Rockhill were concerned, however, Icepaw and his friends were mighty heroes. They listened in rapt attention as Icepaw recounted the epic tale of his group fleeing across the hills from a massive group of bandits after they had slain the bandit chieftain. Not strictly true, but it was close enough. The adults preparing the evening meal probably knew he was embellishing the story for the children, but that was alright. The children gasped as Icepaw reached the part when the massive mountain bear appeared from the cave and chased the bandits. On a whim Icepaw pulled on a drop of mana and created an illusion. It showed a dozen small dirty looking men fleeing from a roaring bear three times taller than any of the men. The children laughed when he concluded the story with their arrival in the village and a wildly inaccurate image of a tiny, adorable looking Hydrozeno eating a pile of food bigger than he was.
The surly hydrablood’s reputation could use some softening up. He was frightening enough as is. Sure enough, several of the children glanced shyly back at the corner where Hydrozeno lay asleep. Then one raised their hand.
“Why didn’t the bear attack you when you went into its cave?”
Icepaw laughed and pointed.
“That elf over there is Kiln and he knows how to speak bear. He convinced the bear that we were good and only wanted help to get away from the bad men.”
“Wow!”
The elf in question was sitting in a meditative position with his eyes closed. He had remained that way unmoving for several hours. Icepaw’s tail twitched in amusement when he saw the elf’s mouth involuntarily twitch. Icepaw was not sure if it was a sign of amusement at the children or irritation at Icepaw’s portrayal of the story. Confounded elf, he still heard everything even when he was supposed to be asleep. Icepaw had heard that elves did not truly sleep, but he had discarded the rumor years ago when he met Hydrozeno. After all, Hydrozeno slept every night. It must be because of whatever was done to him. He clearly was not a normal elf. In fact, Kiln was the first real Icepaw had met. He was simultaneously impressed and annoyed by the elven ranger.
The elf was clearly skilled at his craft, but Icepaw knew that Kiln knew they were not as innocent as they seemed and the elf did not trust Icepaw at all. Out in the wilds, it had not been a serious issue. It probably would not even be one here in Rockhill, but once the group was on the open road there would probably be issues.
“Suppers ready!”
The children ran over to the table to eat as the adults set out food. Icepaw smiled and wandered back to his friends and sat. Hydrozeno was snoring. Not even the word supper had caused him to stir, a testament to how stuffed he already was and how much of a toll the journey on short rations had been on him. Dan was also unconscious. The human had walked into town that morning, eaten a quick bowl of food and fallen asleep the moment they gave him a place to rest. He had not stirred since. Icepaw glanced at the last of his three companions. Kiln’s eyes remained close as he sat cross legged next to the bed Dan was sleeping on. The elf spoke, his voice was quiet so that only Icepaw could hear.
“You have a way with telling stories.”
Icepaw shrugged.
“Sometimes, in the north, all you can do is sit together and tell stories. There are not many other things to do when you have to spend three days in your den while a snowstorm buries the world in ice.”
“I suppose not, but are the stories always so… fanciful?”
Icepaw chuffed in humor.
“Of course, that is part of the game.”
“Game?”
Icepaw nodded.
“My tribe has a long tradition of telling stories. Naturally, the grander the stories the more fun they are. So we always make the stories more grand than they really are. We all know this and so the listener can entertain themselves wondering. Which part of the story was the true story and which part is the illusion?”
“I have heard your people are masters of illusions. Although I have never met one of the kitsune before.”
Icepaw twitched his tail in amusement.
“We have a long history of illusionists amongst our peoples. The idea that we are all natural born tricksters and illusionists is in itself an illusion.”
Kiln opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow.
“How so?”
“Our species has no natural inclination towards illusions or even magic in general. It is a cultural distinction. Many of our people choose to learn how to cast illusion magic. It’s not something we are born with.
“I did not know that.”
“Most people never bother to ask.”
The pair lapsed into silence and after a while one of the villagers hurried over with a bowl of soup for both of them.
“It’s not much but we hope you enjoy it.”
Icepaw beamed at the woman, he thought her name was Quila. He really needed to be better at remembering the villagers' names.
“Thank you, I am sure that it will be most satisfactory. We have been short on commons for a while now and your hospitality is most welcomed.”
The woman blushed and hurried away. Kiln shook his head.
“They are going to think we are some kind of nobility with the way you speak to them.”
“Is that such a bad thing? They likely will never see us again and our story will fade into one of those old stories about that one time a group of noble adventurers passed through years. The kind every village cherishes for decades.”
“We are hardly true adventurers.”
“Perhaps, but you never know. Maybe one day some of us will be. Even so, to the people who live here, our story will cheer and inspire them.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“It doesn’t seem very honest.”
“Hope rarely is.”
Kiln eyed Icepaw suspiciously.
“What?”
“I am trying to figure out if you are being honest or if you are playing me.”
Icepaw sniffed indignantly. His ears flattened and his tail thrashed angrily.
“How dare you! I am always playing with people. I simply have an innate sense of knowing if they prefer to be played with lies or truths! Do not mock me like that again.”
“Oh really? And which do I prefer?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Obviously not.”
“It’s whatever I decide it is.”
“Which is?”
“I haven’t decided.”
“You are just trying to annoy me now, aren’t you?”
“The high and mighty elf has descended to my level. I am honored.”
“The tricksy, annoying fox has forgotten who got rid of the hounds baying for his head.”
Icepaw paused and felt all the self assurance drain out of him. His ears tucked back and his voice grew quieter.
“I never really got to say this while we were on the road, but thank you for saving Hydrozeno and me. There is a good chance we would have died without your interference. Well I would have. Hydrozeno might have survived if they didn’t realize that he probably wasn’t dead.”
“Yeah, that was a neat trick and you were almost certainly going to die.”
Icepaw shrugged ruefully.
“I might have talked my way out of a fight. The odds weren’t great but it was doable.”
“Maybe.”
The two sat silently eating their soup for several minutes before Icepaw spoke up again.
“Do you mind if we tag along with you? You are headed to Hendrix right?”
“If that is where the mercenary companies are then yes.”
Kiln sat silently for a little bit longer. Icepaw knew he was thinking and figured it would be best to wait for the elf to finish his thought process. Then he spoke again.
“You can come, but only if you promise that there won’t be any… shenanigans.”
“No shenanigans, that's fine with me. Honestly, it’s better if we just have a nice quiet stretch of nothing.”
“Then if we are going to officially be traveling companions, then we need a proper introduction. I am Kilnoher, scout and ranger of the Elven Tribes. Most people call me Kiln.”
The elf extended his hand to Icepaw. Icepaw shook the hand with his paw.
“I am Icepaw of the Third Arctic Den of the North. It is a pleasure to be traveling with you. I hesitate to ask, but elves are tricky to tell with. How old are you?”
“Oh, between us, I am eighteen.”
“I am as well. So is Hydrozeno. Is Dan as well?”
“Actually, yes.”
“What are the odds?”
“I am sure Dan could tell you.”
“He appears to be sleeping poorly.”
Icepaw noticed that the human was quietly moaning in his sleep. Kiln shook his head sadly.
“Yeah, it happens.”
Icepaw cocked his head.
“It seems to happen every night, I have noticed. What is wrong?”
Kiln shrugged.
“I haven’t asked. It doesn’t seem like something he wants to talk about.”
“Very well. Should we sleep? I know your plan to rid us of pursuit probably worked, but I would still like to get farther away from here tomorrow.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The two rolled into the blankets the villagers had provided them with and closed their eyes. Icepaw knew the conversation was not a sign that they were friends. Kiln still seemed wary of Icepaw, which was fair. The elf could probably tell that Icepaw and Hydrozeno knew more about the men that had chased them than the two had actually said. No they were not friends, not yet. This was a truce, a temporary alliance until everyone had a chance to calm down, think and plan for the future, and for now that was enough.
* * *
The world around Dan was pitch black. There was no visible surface that he could see and yet he seemed to be standing on solid ground. Dan raised the cursed Blade of Memory. He could see himself and the blade perfectly despite the darkness all around him. He knew what to expect. It was the same dream that he had every night. Out of the darkness came the familiar form of the wolf. Its fur was a dark gray, almost black and its shoulders were as tall as Dan’s chin. It came towards him, growled and lunged forward. Dan swung his blade.
The fight ended the same way it always did. The wolf tore Dan apart. It was the opposite outcome of how the fight had ended in the real world. There Dan and Kiln had tracked down the massive creature and killed it. Dan could still remember striking the final blow with the perfect crystal clear memory he had had for years now. He could also remember every fight since then. Every night the wolf returned for revenge and tore him apart. Kiln was not here in his dreams to help put the wolf down. Dan was alone. He fought alone and he died alone every single night. He just wanted the nightmare to end.
It did eventually. Dan awoke in a pile of twisted, soaked blankets. Kiln lay nearby. The elf’s eyes snapped open when he heard Dan shift. He looked over and nodded at Dan reassuringly. Dan relaxed. Outside, he could hear the sound of chirping insects. It was not yet morning. Dan laid back down and slept. No wolf came for him this time.
* * *
Hydrozeno awoke with a start. He could feel the quiet of the predawn radiating around him. As he stood he looked around. Icepaw was asleep. So was the human, Dan. The elf Kiln was not. He was sitting peacefully against a wall. His eyes opened and he studied Hydrozeno intently.
“You are up early.”
Hydrozeno shrugged at the elf’s comments.
“You don’t talk much, do you?”
“No.”
“Would you mind if I asked you some questions?”
Hydrozeno glanced at the sleeping form of Icepaw. He did not like talking. Talking was Icepaw’s job. Hydrozeno’s job was to hit things.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“Okay then.”
“How long have you and Icepaw known each other?”
“A couple years I think.”
“Do you trust him?”
Hydrozeno let out a small snarl.
“He’s my friend.”
“So he has never lied to or abandoned you?”
“Never! We are a team. He doesn’t always tell me everything, but he trusts me with his life and I trust him with mine.”
“You are telling me he has never lied to you?”
“No! Well, maybe I don’t play cards with him, but that’s different.”
“He’s your friend.”
“Yes.”
Kiln nodded. His eyes studied Hydrozeno as the Hydrablood glared at him. Then he nodded slowly and smiled.
“You trust him. That’s all I needed to know.”
Hydrozeno let out an irritated growl. What was the point of all those questions then? He had already said that. He stomped out of the small home the villagers had let them sleep in. There had to be food somewhere around here.
* * *
It was late morning when the four companions set out on the road. The villagers had told them the best route they knew of. Hopefully it would actually take the group south. None of the villagers had actually traveled more than a day from the village. Still the group was confident they would be okay. There were supposed to be additional villages along the way that could give directions and a handful of silver had let them fill their packs with enough food that even Hydrozeno would be satisfied for a week or so. The only thing that marred the moment was the light wind and rain that fell on them. The only person who did not mind was Kiln. He enjoyed watching some fallen leaves dancing in the wind as he walked along, snugly wrapped in his warm, waterproof and magical cloak. It was the envy of the entire group.