Over the next few of days, the planning and packing for the journey fell primarily to Astaria.

Hendelt's job was to acquire the horses, during which time he found out just how shrewd a horse trader Grady was. It seems, Grady needed a new course of roof tiles installed on his stable and since the horse seemed important to Hendelt, Grady was driving a hard bargain. It took him the better part of two days to finish the roof.

Getting the pack horse from Wattel was considerably easier, however. The hard part was keeping their leaving, a secret.

Wattel has been the closest friend that Hendelt has had in the village. They got drunk together, got lost in the forest more than once when they had been drinking and got into more than a little mischief when they were children. Wattel was the practical joker in the village and Hendelt had been caught in more than a few when they invariably backfired.

Mrs. Whistle still wouldn't let them anywhere near her when she was making her jam for the annual harvest festival. Something about mixing salt in her sugar container. Sure they thought it was funny, but only until Shawn and Wattel’s father found out. They were made to eat all the jam they had ruined and spent the whole summer repairing all the fences around the village. Mrs. Whistle also didn't have to worry about her supply of fruit the following spring, since Hendelt and Wattel picked all her fruit for her jams.

There were many other instances where Hendelt paid the price for Wattel's pranks, but for this one alone, Wattel owed him a huge favor.

Always he had confided in Wattel, but this time, since he didn't want to lie to him, he just told him that he needed the horse and ask for his silence. Wattel didn't understand, but trusted Hendelt enough not to ask and never mentioned it to a soul.

When Hendelt was finally finished Grady's roof, there was a great show made of presenting the small white pony to Glacia. Half the village was present when he did and she was so surprised, she almost couldn't speak. But since no female was ever silent long, she readily found her tongue and chatted away to anyone within earshot, of how her favorite uncle had given it to her.

Finally, the supplies had been packed and the children had been outfitted. The horses had been shod and fed and all the packs and tack had been checked and double checked for weak points. Letters had been written to the council and friends, to be found when their absence was noticed or someone came looking for them. The night of departure had arrived.

The decision to leave in the middle of the night was made early in the planning process. Since it was evident that the council was against anyone leaving the village. If they got wind of what Hendelt and Astaria were planning, they would have done their best to place obstacles in their path, even to the point of having them placed under house arrest.

Using his position, Hendelt had the been able to re-position the night Stormwatch to the east side of the village. He had let it be known that he 'felt' a storm would be coming from the east in the next night or two. This would allow his family to move undetected to the west and then north around Glacier Mountain.

The night had been set to coincide with the dark of new moon. This would not allow them to see very far, but did allow for a lower chance of discovery.

At the fourth hour after sunset when all the lights in the village had been doused and all the houses were dark, they began their trek. They were on a mission of discovery, but the knowledge that they were unlikely to ever return to the village caused a sadness fall over the two adults. This was the place where all memories would be grounded and emotion flooded both Hendelt and Astaria.

Glacia, yawned, sitting gingerly on Icicle. Still unable to trust that she wasn't going to fall off after only a week of riding lessons.

Antin, snoring lightly, was nestled in his riding harness slung across Astaria's back astride her palomino mare. Hendelt walking, quietly leading the group through the village, making sure they were not seen or heard.

It took the better part of an hour to reach a point where Hendelt could mount. There were many paths in the area, but by keeping the little group to the game trails, far back from the paths they would be well concealed.

The ground fell away from them at a gentle slope as they wound their way down towards the foot of Ice Mountain. Once they reached the river they would follow upstream for a day or two, where they would leave it's course to find the base of the glacier. Once there they could better decide which way to proceed.

Their downward trek was beginning to level out by the time the sky had begun to lighten. The sun would be up in an hour, but would take another hour after that for it to reach this low behind the mountain.

Hendelt had suggested that they wait until daybreak before stopping to break their fast, but the awakening of Antin, dictated that they stop now. The unfamiliar surroundings when he awoke scared him and they would need a little time to calm him down and explain what is happening. What Antin was feeling could have been avoided, had they told him before hand that they would be leaving. The thought had occurred to Hendelt, but his sister disagreed.

"Hendelt, do you remember the last time I told you a secret? Do you remember how old you were or how long you kept that secret? I do. You were six and I told you I had a crush on Shawn. Even giving you the benefit of the doubt it didn't stay a secret for a whole hour. The first time you saw Shawn you gave away my secret, just blurting it out. Now, do you really expect a four year old little boy to keep an even larger secret?"

When Astaria finally got Antin quieted, she went about the task of preparing the morning meal. Hendelt and Glacia, had scouted the area and found enough small twigs and fallen branches to make a decent fire. Hendelt displayed to Glacia, the skills Shawn had shown him of how to find wood, not whetted by the morning dew and how to make a fire.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

It was one of the many things Shawn had taught him about living off the land. He had become a fair tracker and was quite adept at moving without making any noise, although he could never seem to sneak up on Shawn. It was almost as if Shawn could hear him breathing whenever he got close, even when he held his breath.

Hendelt didn't need Shawn's perception now however, whatever it was that was crashing through the trees toward the camp, was definitely not trying to be quiet. Hendelt strung his bow quickly and taking careful aim was ready for the intruder to show itself.

The noise stopped and a disembodied voice calls out. "Don't shoot. I'll come out as soon as you lower the bow."

"I should shoot you anyway, Wattel", Hendelt shouted as he lowered the bow.

"You scared the children, you big fool. What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm following you, what does it look like? I was just going to follow for a day or two before I caught up to you, but when I smelled Astaria's cooking, my stomach got the better of me. Are you still going to shoot me?"

"Yes, now come out and take your medicine."

At the light tug at his pant leg, Hendelt looked down.

"Are you weally gunna shoot him, Unca Andelt?"

"No, Antin, I guess not, but you know he deserves it, right? Come on in Wattel, I wont shoot. This time."

Antin looks up at his uncle and smiles, "Thanks Unca Andelt, I like Waddoe."

"Why, Wattel, what a surprise, Welcome to our little outing".

"Thank you Ma'am. Sorry for the intrusion, I wasn't going to join you just yet, but you made my mouth water from the perfume of your fine cooking. I couldn't help myself. Do you think you could keep a leash on your brother? He almost shot me."

"Hendelt, why is Wattel here?"

"Now, don't go blaming Hendelt, Astaria. I figured it out myself. When he told me he needed a horse and not to ask questions, I decided to investigate why he was being so secretive. It's not like Hendelt to keep secrets from me. I just added it all up. The horse from me, the new pony for Glacia, the stockpile of riding gear, supplies and clothing said it all. I just watched the signs for when you would be leaving and did a little preparing myself. I thought it best to not let on that I knew and follow you for a couple of days until we were far from the village. I thought you would be happy to see a friendly face by then."

"I don't expect telling you to go back would do much good, would it?"

"No, my lifelong friend, it wouldn't. I've been itching to get out of that village for a long time. Besides, you need me, your life would get boring and dull if I wasn't around."

"Ah, yes, just like old times, you get the ideas and I pay the piper. Well, not this time old friend, this time I am in charge and you get to do what I say for a change. If you think that sounds a little arduous, remember, I can still wound you and leave you to find your own way back to the village."

"Agreed. Now, to the reason I am here. Let's eat."

Soon enough, the breakfast was complete. The dishes were done, the saddlebags repacked and everyone was remounted. The now slightly enlarged group set off at a slow walk through the trees toward the river. Wattel rode beside Hendelt for a while, listening to him teach Antin about the land and forest around them. He fell back to talk to Astaria when he became bored with the conversation.

"Astaria, where are we going? The whole trip has the feel that everyone thinks we are just out for a camping trip."

"I don't know, Wattel. What I do know is that Hendelt feels compelled to find out what is happening to the weather. He was planning on doing this himself, but something is telling me that if we do not go with him, he will never find what he seeks."

"I remember one day when we were young teens, the sky was clear, but for some reason he insisted we go into one of the caves on the mountain slope and make a fire. I told him he was crazy, it was a fine warm day and we had no need for a fire. He insisted and even threatened to tie me up to make me stay in the cave with him. The storm that came up that day, came so fast that we would have been frozen before we could have found any other shelter if we had waited. I've trusted his feelings ever since and I'm not about to doubt them now."

"I'm glad to hear it, and I'm glad you decided to come with us. I think Hendelt will need all the friends he can get before it is all said and done."

The remainder of the day was uneventful and by late afternoon, they had reached the bank of the river. The run-off had swollen the river to overflowing and they stayed well back for fear the raging waters would cut away the bank beneath them. Hendelt found a place upstream where they would make camp for the night.

While Hendelt and the children scavenged for wood, Astaria began preparing the evening meal. Wattel curried and hobbled the horses before scouting the area for trails and any signs of game. He found a couple rabbit warrens, but no rabbits. He had walked more than a mile from camp when he came upon a maze of trees that had fallen across the river. There were so many tress, it was evident that many had floated downstream to get caught against the one massive tree that had been undercut by the river. On returning to camp, he suggested that they take a better look in the morning and possibly use the logjam as a bridge to the other side.

Hendelt had wondered how they were going to cross the river, and had fully expected that they would need to climb the glacier to find a path over. The news came as a pleasant surprise.

Dinner consisted of cooked beans, fried pork chops and fresh made flat bread and was quickly consumed.

"Since everyone else has had a hand in the chores to make the evening meal, it falls to you, Wattel, to do the dishes."

"Dishes!", Wattel begins, "That's wo.......".

He pauses and looks at Astaria.

"You were saying?"

"Ahhh, umm, I was saying that's work that I can do."

"Good, then see if you can get them clean this time, the ones you did this morning were filthy."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I'll help you, Waddoe."

"Thank's Antin, but you stay here with your mother. The river is too dangerous just now."

"I'll walk down with you Wattel, just to keep you company though, I'm not helping. This is your chore tonight."

The two men walked down to the rivers edge and found a bank that had collapsed leaving a small slide to the waters edge. Wattel crept down the slope while Hendelt stayed high and dry.

"Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into, Wattel? I have no idea where this excursion will take us, nor what we will find. It's still not too late for you to turn back, but I think that when we cross the river, it will be."

"I know as much about what will happen as you apparently do. Besides what am I really leaving behind? A council that can do nothing more than worry about losing their positions. An eternity of tilling fields and fixing weather worn roofs and hauling water? I think not. We are traveling into the unknown and I find that much more appealing than what we are leaving behind."

"OK, just remember, you have been warned. Now hurry up, I'm tired."

"Just finished, now help me up."

When they got back to the campsite, they found the children sound asleep and Astaria wrapped in her blanket by the fire.

"All clean Ma'am."

"I hope so, I hate dirty dishes. Store them with the others and let's get some sleep, I have a feeling it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

With that, Astaria walked over to the children and curled up between them.