The rest of the afternoon was thankfully as monotonous as the morning. With our increased pace, courtesy of the morning and early evening light, we made incredible progress. Glancing at my mini-map, we were closing in on the southern perimeter of the High Thicket when nightfall was on the horizon. The shadows of the trees stretch with each passing moment to cover the forest in darkness. Before the last of the fading light was lost, Stedious slowed his gallop to a trot before dropping to a walk. Without looking back, he held a hand and sent a sharp whistle. After the remaining wardens cantered into the small clearing, Stedious called out saying we would be taking a break.
The numerous redwood trees surrounding us in this part of the forest had steadily grown further apart than the dense population we had seen in the middle of the forest. Each was far smaller in size as well, most only towering a paltry hundred feet high over our heads. Even had I not checked out my map, the sparseness of the trees around us clearly indicated we were soon approaching where the forest gave way to vast rolling hills and grasslands. Stedious turned his horse around and then approached where my small group patiently waited. I had caught something in his tone when he spoke to his wardens as if this would be the last stop for us all.
“We’re less than an hour from our destination,” Stedious reported, confirming my suspicion. The long shadows well hide his chiseled features, signaling we would need to switch to our Darkvision within minutes. “Though this small clearing may not seem like much, there is no better spot between here and the outer forest to recover from the day’s ride.”
With Stedious comment, I scrutinized the small glade. We were situated in a hardly defensible campsite, unlike every other we had used to this point. These far narrower trees were spread too far apart, allowing far more sight lines to our camp than I was growing familiar with. Based on what Stedious had said, it would only worsen as we approached the forest’s edge. However, the openness of the spotty tract of land allowed us a better vantage of anything attempting to approach undetected. As I was thinking we would need to have more people scouting the forest around us, Stedious ordered an additional two elven wardens to be on roving patrols while the rest of us settled in for the next hour.
It left Stedious, myself, and Tallos to care for the horses. By this point, the process of untacking the horses, brushing each free of any road debris was a well-acquainted and familiar process. Within twenty minutes, our horses were free of any burden and munching on tall grass. Stedious sent out a whistle when we were done, sounding like any other I had heard thus far, and tasked Kali to cast her spells of stamina as the horses grazed happily. With how ample the flowing grass was, Stedious only needed to toss a half hay bale to keep our equine companions happy as their energy was renewed.
After helping Dutch enjoy a sweet gala apple treat, I noticed from the corner of my eye Stedious walking my way. Caressing Dutch’s soft obsidian coat, I let him finish the rest of the apple before acknowledging the lead warden. “Stedious,” I said in greeting. It was obvious the elf wanted to share something with me.
“Xaz,” the athletic elf hailed with a small measure of sadness in his smile. “We’ll soon reach the outer boundary of the High Thicket, where our two teams will part ways. Your quest will see you across the broad open plains and finally to Cicero’s emerald tower while the rest of us return to Quarris to see to the destruction of those grotesque spiders situated far too close to the city for my liking.”
Stedious looked to have more to say, but something in my face gave him pause. The reminder of the spider’s nest being so close to the city nudged an errant thought I had earlier in the day while riding. At the time, I hadn’t thought to voice the seeming inconsequential rumination. Now seemed an appropriate time. Stedious tilted his head in curiosity and allowed me to order my inner musings.
Besides the three monstrous spider-elf hybrids, nothing remotely dangerous had appeared in our path. With how many miles we crossed over the last day, it seemed an incongruity. We found hostiles on the city's doorsteps, but then nothing else? I was certain we should have seen many more threats. So, we either had incredible luck on our side, or something else was afoot. I didn’t know how to phrase the question tickling at the corner of my mind. Stedious saw something was bothering me, so I continued to wait patiently. Finally, I just blurted it out.
“After the spider’s attack that nearly cost Kali her life, I’m surprised we found nothing else as we trekked through the rest of the High Thicket. It was all so… uneventful? I had expected so many more enemies to block our path, especially with how soon outside the city the spiders ambushed us. It doesn’t make sense. I’m sorry, but I have to ask, how was the rest of the journey devoid of any other peril?”
Tallos chuckled at my side before patting my shoulder. He smiled knowingly and then inclined his chin toward the dependable Stedious. “An interesting question, Xaz. You need only look to our escorts for your answer as to why the day was so uneventful, as you put it,” Tallos replied wryly.
Still not catching on, Stedious relieved me of my ignorance in the next moment. “Oh, the day could have been far different. There were more than a few beasts and dangerous monsters my team spotted as we ventured beyond the spider lair. I can certainly assure you of that. After the near-disastrous events with Cicero’s spider hybrids, we redoubled our efforts to bring you to this point as swiftly as possible. Trust me, we easily could have seen combat no less than five or six times since our last encounter. Your pursuit is more important than dealing with foes other squads can handle.”
Flummoxed, I stood dumbfounded as I gazed at the two elves standing confidently before me. Tallos retained his amused expression, while Stedious had an air of pride about him. “But… those whistles,” I stammered out, trying to rationalize my gross misunderstanding. “Each time a call was made, it sounded like any other. I thought it simply meant nothing was nearby.”
I was sure I had heard the same whistle dozens of times in the last several hours alone. At least, I thought they sounded similar. I was no expert birdwatcher, someone able to differentiate one bird call from another easily. Was my understanding really so far off point?
“Ah, I see your misunderstanding,” Stedious continued, grinning at my perplexed expression. “While you may have thought you heard the same call, I assure you each carried with it subtle undercurrents of magic. A magical signature, if you will.”
Seeing my brows furrow in consternation, Stedious smirked before holding up the back of his hand. Not understanding his meaning, I peered closer. Adorning his index finger was a tightly woven jade band. The dark metal wrapped around itself as if imitating a twisting vine. I had seen the nondescript piece of jewelry upon meeting with Stedious for the first time but hadn’t given it much thought at the time.
“This is a Warden’s Syrinx,” Stedious explained, pointing to the jade ring. “When a squad of wardens is sent on a mission, each receives one of these linked rings. Six are crafted simultaneously and bound together with an eloquent enchantment of conveyance. Their purpose, simply put, is to allow communication between wardens to go unnoticed by either man or beast. While you heard a simple whistle, I assure you, each trill contained far more information than it could have otherwise. As long as we are close enough to hear one another, we can pass essential information with relative ease.”
The unremarkable item Stedious displayed was astounding. Those simple bands meant our guides had been able to pass important tidbits of information to each other without anyone being the wiser. I was curious if messages could be relayed through something other than a whistle, but I held my question in check. I could only imagine how useful such rings would have been such as when we were miles beneath the surface in the lightless caves held by the Silvern Dwarves.
Looking at Tallos, I asked pointedly, “You knew?” with perhaps a bit more irritation leaking into my voice than he deserved. Some small sense of embarrassment at my naivety was tugging inside my chest. I had believed myself insightful, proud I had unveiled the elves’ all-clear whistle for myself.
“Of course I did,” he answered unbothered, gripping his hand tighter on my shoulder. “Though I do admit, I could no more tell the difference between their whistles than you. Such items, while uncommon, are often granted to those few elves who volunteer to keep the forest safe. The rings from my homeland appear differently than Quarris. Ours appeared as layered leaves, but achieved the same purpose.”
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Tallos spotted a change in my visage. Perhaps it was a sudden gleam of avarice in my eyes or body language shifting to desire for a few such rings. They could work wonders. He chortled a light laugh before continuing, gripping my shoulder all the tighter as he did, “It’s doubtful any but a squad of elven guardians receive a set of these enchanted rings. Yet, perhaps you could ask the council for such a gift after we accomplish our task with Cicero. I wouldn’t hold out much hope, though. They are devilishly tricky little things to create from what I have been told.”
The next hour passed quickly enough. We talked little, owing to the increasing darkness and the necessity of stealth. Every horse was fully revitalized thanks to Kali’s spell of stamina and my own lesser regen. Darkness was firmly entrenched now, though the party’s Darkvision, whether innate or via magic from one of the wardens, allowed easy sight of the surrounding forest. Nothing was amiss as we resolutely traversed the remaining leg to the southern border of the High Thicket. With each passing minute, the once-mighty redwoods grew further apart and were far younger than their colossal cousins. Before we knew it, sprawling moonlit grasslands stretched out far and wide before us.
A gentle whistle came from Stedious, still sounding so much like those before, but this time, I detected a subtle difference from the others. However, it was more likely my imagination was playing tricks on me after learning what our guides could do with seemingly simple bird calls. As the four scouts closed ranks around us, Stedious shifted in his saddle before riding to my side. Kali approached as well, holding out a small bag. When she was a foot away, she tossed the sack through the air, which I easily caught. Judging by its size and the soft thuds from within, I recognized immediately dozens of the delightful elvish biscuits were stored within. Beaming a warm smile to the lithe elf, I softly whispered my thanks for the generous gift. Kali acknowledged my gratitude with a smile and a polite nod.
In a hushed tone, Stedious bid us farewell, “Best of luck to you all. I hope to see you soon with favorable news of Cicero’s downfall.” He shifted in his saddle and pointed south. The unbroken land stretched out farther than the eye could see. “After a quarter’s day ride, you’ll see a mountain range appear on the horizon. Aim between the leftmost snow-capped peaks, and after another half day’s travel, you will spy the tip of Cicero’s spire stretching toward the stars.”
Motioning the hefty bag in my hands, he grinned ear to ear. “We saw how much you enjoyed our elvish biscuits. You will have enough to carry you to the mad orc’s tower and beyond.” The high elf's cheer voice turned more serious as he continued, “We take our leave. I look forward to tales of victory against the damnable Hunter and his scourge of demented friends. Goodbye, friends, until we next meet.”
Grasping wrists with Stedious, I thanked him for the escort and bid him well. Tallos did the same, and within a minute, the elvish wardens receded into the immense forest at our backs, the sound of their hooves swiftly vanishing into the night. Though alone, we were undaunted by what lay before us. Sharing a glance with Stella and Tallos, we strode boldly forward, leaving the exalted High Thicket behind.
Under a cloudy moonlit sky, the endless prairie rolled out before us. Not so much as a landmark or odd peculiarity caught our attention as we trotted up and down small hillocks no more than a dozen feet tall. While we passed a few patches of stick-thin saplings, not one was of the redwood variety. The air was crisp and the night was calm. No sounds other than the flowing wind passing our ears broke the serene stillness.
Around the midnight hour, we decided to stop for the evening. A significant part of me wanted to push on, but Stella reminded me we would be no good in the morning if we didn’t get some restful sleep. We had been riding hard with little sleep for the past twenty-four hours. Even with the short rest periods while being escorted by Stedious’s watchful group, I had only managed to eke out a few minutes of sleep at a time, if any. All of us would do well to settle in for the night. We would pick up again at first light.
It wasn’t until my tent was pitched that the actual toll and weariness from the long day truly hit me. I was exhausted. Tallos, while setting up his own leather and canvas tent, appeared to be in slightly better condition. While I was only a half-elf, his full elven heritage allowed him a stronger fortitude, as well as being less reliant on sleep. He could certainly stay awake for far longer than I was able to. Still, he was more than eager to bed down under the twinkling stars.
It didn’t take much convincing from Stella for me to agree Ripley could alone stand watch over us as we slept. Lowki, of course, would assist our vigilant friend while needing only an hour or two’s rest to recuperate. Stella, stating she would assist Ripley, empathized she could stay up for days before displaying anything remotely like fatigue. Sleep took me within minutes of resting my head against my pillow as I snuggled up within my thick bedroll. Combined with our tent, the wind would hold little sway over me as I rested comfortably enough.
I awoke the next morning to a delightfully aromatic scent on the wind. Sitting upright, my one-person tent blocked most of my view, but beyond the canvas flap, Tallos and Stella were fussing with one another over a cast iron stew pot hanging above a small open flame. The scene caught me off guard as we usually pulled our meals directly from my bag of holding. My gnawing stomach growled its unhappiness as the blissful aroma of spices invited me closer.
Crawling towards the pair, Stella greeted me as I unceremoniously exited my tent, “Good morning, Xaz,” she trilled excitedly. “After the long ride yesterday, Tallos and I agreed we would benefit from going a little overboard with our breakfast this fine day.”
She caught my peering up at the morning sky. Not a single cloud dotted overhead. “Don’t worry,” she continued as my eyes came down to meet hers once more. “We’ll pack up right after we’re done eating. So, plop down right there and enjoy my special…”
Stella was interrupted by an exaggerated cough from Tallos sitting beside her. “Our specially spiced stew,” she corrected herself to Tallos’ approving nod. The elf wanted to take credit for whatever the pair had done to enhance the simmering stew, which was not unexpected as it bubbled before us. “It’s delicious!”
True to Stella’s words, not only was the meal delectable, but the spiced flavor complimented the elven biscuits as I greedily dipped a pair into my bowl. Soon after, we packed everything with impressive swiftness. From the cast iron pot to our bedrolls and our leather tents, everything disappeared within the extra-dimensional space of my bag of holding. Tacking up Dutch and Jax, our eager pair of steeds stood ready and eager to get back on the road.
Our bewitched horseshoes, which provided an ample boost to our horse’s strides, were fated to dissipate at nightfall. Unfortunately, they would not get us to Cicero’s tower. Still, I intended to use as much of the enchantment as possible. As we road, another consideration entered my refreshed mind. Without Kali’s spells to revitalize Dutch and Jax’s stamina, we would need to rest significantly longer whenever we paused to rest. There was nothing to do about it. I looked forward to finally spotting our objective, the spire of towering emerald reaching high into the blue.
Stedious’s earlier prediction proved accurate. In slightly less than two hours, a solitary mountain peak pierced the horizon, growing higher with each thundering step. Several miles later, three more peaks joined the first. Angling our approach to take us between the left-most snow-capped peaks, I felt invigorated.
Confident as ever, we were ready for just about any challengers. A sense of rightness bled from my pours. What we were doing was at the heart of who I was. Or better yet, had always been. Fighting for more than myself, for the good of those I loved, empowered me onward. My new friends, elven brothers, and sisters of Quarris, were threatened by a notorious Hunter, and it was up to us to end his threat.
Approaching high noon, I preemptively cast lesser regen on our horses. Neither had been showing any hint of unease as their long legs galloped beneath us, but considering the signs of going lame from Mulviel’s horse the day prior, I didn’t want anything to slow us down. A sense of an impending conflict was growing in the pit of my stomach as we began searching for a place to set up lunch. With how many elves were lost to Cicero’s minion, it was only a matter of time before we, too, faced his gangrenous abominations. We needed to be in our best shape when that eventuality materialized.
We encountered a small brook with a small congregation of fledgling birch and oak trees. The sound of trickling water helped soothe any lingering tension. Lunch consisted of appetizing barbequed chicken tenderloins and fried pickles. Stella flatly refused to share where she acquired the breaded pickles, only smiling back in response as she greedily munched on her portion of the enjoyable spread.
Our two-hour intermission passed surprisingly fast. We mounted up and kicked back into high gear. As many miles flew by as we made our way cross country, the vibrancy of the rolling grasslands was slowly waning. At first, I thought it was my imagination but by the time we stopped for dinner, it was undeniable. The flatland, the very earth beneath our feet, was dying. The closer we got to Cicero’s tower, the less… alive everything appeared. Tall flowing stalks of grass, gently swaying under the unending breeze, morphed into drooping patches of struggling fields barely able to rise past our ankles.
Four hours later, as we were scouring for somewhere to set up our evening camp, our luck finally faltered. The only warning we had was a howl from Lowki a moment before twin eruptions of soil blasted high into the air on either side of us.
“Damn it all to hell," I cursed, completely flatfooted as Dutch bucked beneath my seat.
The enemy had found us first.