Chapter 41: To the Valley

The four companions moved down to the road, Etienne still leading the pony, and gazed after the retreating goblins for a moment. Alcar could see that there were more of the creatures now fleeing than the three or four that he had seen overpowering Kora – others must have been waiting, lurking on the road. At least a dozen in all were heading back up the slope towards the borderlands. Kora’s slumped body could just about be made out among them.

“What are you waiting for?” cried Olynka, looking around at them. “We need to go after her!”

“I dunno, pal,” said Etienne, frowning and scratching his cheek as he spoke. “They outnumber us. We were lucky to escape as it is. If we go after them, we might as well hand ourselves over to them.”

“We weren’t lucky,” said Alcar firmly, looking down at the halfling. “Kora was brave and fierce. She showed why she would be a worthy member of our group. A fighter.”

“Sure,” said Leppie, stooping to wipe blood from her knife on the long grass, and then flipping it in her hand before sheathing it. “But it’s a bit late now. Those goblins will take her to their caves, or whatever foul place they dwell in. We can’t overpower them, and we’ll struggle to catch them now, anyway. And once they reach their lair, there is no rescuing Kora. Believe me – I’ve heard of this sort of thing before.”

Alcar looked around at the healer. “Well, what do you mean? What are they going to do to her?”

Leppie shrugged calmly; of the four, she seemed least concerned about Kora’s fate. “Torture, perhaps, for their amusement, but mainly they’ll use her as a slave, I expect.”

Alcar shook his head angrily. “Isn’t this against your religion, Lepp? I thought you of all people would be urging us to intervene.”

But the healer just shrugged again. “Hernvall provides,” she said. “If Kora is devout, then my God will provide what she needs, too.”

“He seems to have provided for the goblins,” muttered Etienne. Leppie glared at the halfling, but said nothing.

“Well,” said Olynka, shouldering her bow. “I, for one, am going after her. I hope some of you do the right thing, and help me.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Alcar. “As far as I am concerned, she is a member of our party, and we don’t leave a comrade behind.”

“Brutus too?” asked Olynka.

Alcar ran his hand over the dog’s soft neck and ears. There was no doubt that he wanted to keep Brutus out of harm’s way, but still... “Yeah. He stays with me,” he replied after a pause. He then glanced around at the smashed wagon which lay some distance off. “But we are going to need to gather up what remains of our stuff.”

“I’ll see to that,” said Etienne, patting the pony’s flank. “The wagon is toast, but I should be able to strap the chest and sacks across her back somehow.”

“Good. Do your best, man.” Alcar looked ahead. “I’ll take Brutus, but I think that Leppie should stay here with Etienne, okay? I don’t like to split the party up, but I also don’t like to leave one of us alone.”

“As you wish,” said Leppie.

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Alcar’s gaze lingered on Leppie, and he momentarily wondered what beef the healer had with Kora. Had there been a disagreement between the two of the that he had missed? “Right, then,” he said at last. “The two of you can gather up what you can, and then continue along the road towards Gilmour Village. We must go the other way, but with luck, we will all be back together before too long.”

***

Alcar and Olynka saw only a few glimpses of the fleeing goblins as they made their way back along the road in the direction of the borderlands. From what he could make out, it appeared to Alcar that the creatures were tending to run at a slow but steady pace.

“I think they’re heading for the valley that we passed,” said Olynka, pointing.

They were now in sight of the tree-filled valley that had been to their right as they had travelled through the borderlands on the wagon. The mouth of the valley, with the river running down, was now uphill and to their left.

“It won’t be easy to find them in there,” said Alcar. He had been feeling more and more despondent as they had continued – and a little scared. His words in support of searching for Kora had felt right at the time. They were the words of the leader that he wanted to be. But now, as they proceeded, the enemy territory seemed vast and dangerous. And he really didn’t want to have to face a dozen goblins – or more.

Brutus paused to sniff at a nearby rock. Alcar wondered what the dog could detect – if only he had a way of communicating...

“Don’t forget that we’re not both city folk,” said Olynka, interrupting his thoughts. She looked around at him and patting his shoulder. “I am not bad at all when it comes to tracking. My friends and I used to hunt in the forests off to the west of Katresburg where I grew up. Sometimes my parents would take me into the mountains, too.”

“Huh. That’s good,” said Alcar as they walked on. “And I think Brutus must have some idea of which way to go.”

Olynka nodded. “Sure. Plus, we have a sorcerer, right?”

Alcar sighed. “I’m not much of a sorcerer. And now I don’t even know where my master is.”

“I’m sure he’ll resume your lessons soon enough,” said Olynka reassuringly. “Besides, you set that archery target on fire back in the city. That would be enough to freak out the goblins – I’m sure of it!”

The discussion of Master Maluhk put Alcar in mind of the book that Lox’aar had given him, and he pulled it out of his robes as he walked on, unwrapping it once again.

“What’s that?” asked Olynka.

“Oh, it’s a book from my master,” he replied. “You just reminded me. I don’t think it’s going to help much, though. It’s called ’The lost portal of Dathmir,’ and it’s by a goblin called Gorba Longtongue.”

She peered down, eyes widening as an excited look spread across her face. “It might not be a spellbook, Alcar, but it could be really useful. I mean, we’re in Dathmir province now, and chasing down goblins. Perhaps they live near this portal!”

Alcar shrugged. “Perhaps. But what are the chances?”

“The master must have given it to you for a reason, though.”

“Sure.” Alcar turned the book over in his hands again. “Obviously he expected me to visit Dathmir. But, I mean, he had no way of knowing that we would be attacked by these specific goblins. There could be loads of goblins in the province.”

“True,” Olynka replied in a low voice, now looking at the road ahead again.

“If it’s relevant at all, it’s more likely to connect to Gilmour Village, or provide some info on the trail to the Trollbone Hills. Or more likely still, Master Maluhk just thinks it’s part of my education.”

“All the same,” said Olynka. “I mean, perhaps it’s of some kind of value to their species. Perhaps we could trade it for Kora.”

“Yeah. Perhaps. And I certainly don’t have time to read it right now.”

“No you don’t. Because I’ve picked up their trail. Look.”

As Olynka paused and crouched at the side of the road, Alcar stepped closer and peered down. There wasn’t much to see – some damaged leaves, and a little bit of churned up earth. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. Too recent to be anything else.”

Alcar looked back; they had only come a little way past the mouth of the river, meaning that they were still close to the hill valley’s lowest point. The road continued to rise high up its northern flank, while the southern side was dominated by craggy hills. Both sides were dotted with trees, while the valley floor was a mass of huge twisted oaks and beeches clustered around the small river, looking like they had taken advantage of the damper, more sheltered conditions. The whole area had a rich, earthy smell.

“Lead on, then,” said Alcar, clutching his staff tightly.