Chapter Five

         Teris woke up slowly, the sounds of early morning gently filtering into his consciousness. He opened his eyes and found himself lying in his tent. Strange, he though. I don’t remember coming back here. In fact, now that Teris thought about it, he couldn’t remember much of anything after the first couple of drinks. Great. That’s just great. I go out and get drunk, right after I tell myself I’ll never get drunk again! How weak can you get?

         Teris crawled outside and stretched, loosening his muscles from a night of laying curled up in a ball. He saw Faella come out and do the same, and he walked over to speak with her. “Um, Faella, do you remember what we did last night?”

         She told him.

         “What? We really...I mean, we actually...you and I...” Teris fell silent, trying to get his mind around this new idea. “Why would we sing a duet? I didn't even know you could sing.”

         Faella shrugged. “I can’t. It didn’t seem to stop you either.”

         Teris grimaced, then realized something. “Wait a second. If we were so drunk that we would actually sing a duet, why don’t we have hangovers?”

         “I used something that I’ve had for a long time and never had the occasion to use. Do you really think that with our vast civilization, we wouldn’t have found a way to cure hangovers?”

         “Well, I...Hey! You let me suffer the first time. I wouldn’t have minded using some magical cure-all then.”

         “I wanted to teach you the evils of drinking too much jack. However, I saw no need for you to go through that lesson again.”

         “How convenient that it just so happened that you were indulging in the same ‘evil’ drink when you made that decision.”

         Faella huffed, then changed the subject. “Well, enough of that. You need to go to the armory and see about getting outfitted. In fact, I’ll come with you. I have a better idea what you’ll need.”

         Teris walked beside Faella, stealing glances from time to time. She seemed to have regained her poise from yesterday. We're all hiding our emotions, aren't we? he though wryly. Hiding our pain.

         The armory turned out to be the old stable for the derelict farm that once occupied this land. The forge was out back, and Teris heard the ringing of hammer on metal as they approached.

         They stepped through the door into the gloom, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. The only light came from cracks in the wall.

         A broad-shouldered man stood polishing a sword, his hands moving deftly along its length. "Faella? Haven't seen you in a while. Haven't broke anything, have you?" The man chuckled as if he'd made a joke. "What can I do for you?"

         Faella tilted her head at Teris. "He needs to be outfitted, Karj. Something similar to a King's Messenger outfit."

         The burly man snapped his fingers. "I have just the thing!" He picked his way to the back of the building through the clutter on the floor, talking over his shoulder as he went. "I was doing some experimenting--you know how I am, Faella--and I realized I could attach a boiled leather upper to a surcoat. One garment, perfect for long days in the wild. I tested it for two weeks in some of the densest forest around, and the leather was fine, but the cloth surcoat just couldn't hold up to the wear. Ah, here it is."

         Teris saw the man take something down from a hook and start walking back. In the low light he couldn't see what the man was holding.

         Karj weaved his way back through the random suits of armor and weapons to where Teris and Faella stood. Opening the door to let in some more light, he proudly showed off his work.

         Teris was impressed. Instead of using cloth for the surcoat, he’d used a lighter leather. The chest was rigid boiled leather, formed similar to a cuirass. It had full sleeves, gathered in just below the elbows. Looking closer, Teris saw bracers had been attached just like the cuirass, out of more boiled leather. The surcoat came down past the knees. In the light, Teris saw that it was all dyed a deep forest green, though in the shadows inside the building it looked black.

         The man held it out to him, and Teris took it from him. He saw that the cuirass was actually split down the middle, to allow him to put it on like a regular surcoat. The surcoat was split up to the bottom of the cuirass in the front and back, and the cuirass fastened together with four small buckles.

         Karj flapped his hands impatiently at Teris. “Well, put it on, put it on.”

         Teris slipped into it and buckled up the cuirass. It fit quite well, though there were a few places that needed to be taken up. Karj assured them that he would have it done by midday. He was about to turn away when asked, “What about bows? I know you have yours, Faella, but does he?”

         “Oh! I almost forgot. Yes, he does need a bow. You are familiar with bows, aren’t you?” she asked Teris.

         “Yes, I was taught how to shoot a longbow by my father.”

         Karj rubbed his hands together. “A longbow it is. We’ve got several longbows here, let’s see which one fits you best.”

         In one corner there was a rack of unstrung longbows. Karj picked up the first one and strung it with ease, handing it to Teris.

         Teris held the bow in his hands for a moment, then swung it up and pulled back on the string. Or tried to. Teris nearly dropped the bow, shaking his arm as Karj doubled over and slapped his thigh, laughing.

         Karj stood up and wiped the tears from his face. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to pull that one, lad. That’s mine, ain’t nobody ever pulled it but me. Let’s try this one.”

         Teris looked daggers at the man, but Karj was oblivious. Taking the next bow, Teris cautiously tested the strength first, sending Karj into another wave of chuckles. He pulled the string back to his cheek, planting his thumb on his jawbone as he’d been taught. He slowly released the string, gauging the strength of the bow. He nodded, saying, “This one will be fine. How strong is it?”

         Karj looked at it as he tried to remember. “That’s a seventy-weight, I think. Mine over here is a hundred ‘n forty weight. Yep, that one’ll do fine for you.”

         Teris unstrung the bow, wrapping the string around the stave.

         Karj picked up a leather tube, nearly three feet in length and three to four inches across. A strap ran from top to bottom, and the leather was slightly embossed, so that it appeared that vines were climbing up it.

         Teris looked curiously at it, unsure as to what it was.

         Karj answered Teris’ unasked question by saying, “It’s a quiver. Actually, it’s a Zynga quiver. There’s a Zynga corporal here, and he asked me to make one for him. I liked the design so much, I’d decided I would start making more. Here, let me show you how it works.”

         Karj showed Teris that the cap unbuckled, so that arrows could be inserted. To remove an arrow, all he had to do was lift a flap of leather near the bottom, grasp a shaft and pull it back and then out. “It’s one of the best hunting quivers I’ve ever seen, it takes very little hand motion to draw an arrow, it holds enough for everything but an extended battle, and best of all it keeps your arrows high and dry. It goes slung across your back, like this, so that it‘s hanging down by your side.” Karj showed Teris how to sling the quiver. “When you’re riding a horse, or just not using it, you can swing it behind you to keep it out of your way.

         Teris was extremely pleased with the quiver. It seemed like every time he had ever gone hunting, his fletching had been ruined from banging against the underbrush. This solved that problem nicely.

         Teris turned, and saw that Faella was flipping a small, plain knife in the air and catching it, looking pensively at a leather roll with several identical knives tucked inside.

         Noticing Teris watching her, she slipped the knife back inside the roll with its brothers and secured the roll, handing it to Teris. "Everyone should have some throwing knives. I can teach you how to throw them later."

         Teris wondered what else she was going to pick out for him. If she gets much more I won't be able to walk.

         Faella looked around once more, then sighed. "Well, Karj, I think that's all. Thanks."

         "Not at all, Faella. Anytime you need anything, just come see me.

         They stepped outside, shading there eyes against the bright sun. As they walked back to their tents, Teris was struck by how tense Faella was. In fact, she'd been tense ever since Davies' death. He wondered what that was all about.

         They'd just reached their tents when they saw, from the opposite direction, a boy running towards them. When he reached them, he panted out, "King Syncralle sent for you. Said, 'It's time', whatever that means."

         Faella looked at Teris. "Come on. Drop everything in your tent and let's go!"

*          *          *

         They slowed down as they approached Syncralle’s tent, to give them time to catch their breath. The guard who was on duty nodded as they reached him and motioned them through.

         Syncralle stood pacing in the cramped space, two steps one way, two steps back. He turned as Teris and Faella entered. “Sit down,” he said, gesturing at several cushions lying along one side of the tent. Sitting down himself, he began. “Listen well to what I say, for this will not be spoken of again. I have received conformation that the daemons have captured two dragons, and corrupted them. I wish you to take this news to the dragons at Faelivryn. It may be that this will give them the impetus to join us in our upcoming conflict. But that is not the only reason for going.” Syncralle lowered his voice, forcing Teris and Faella to lean closer.

         “When Baeldon brought the daemons into this world, he shattered the Runestone. The only reason he would have done that is if the Runestone was somehow keeping the daemons locked in. We must resurrect the Runestone. With its power, we should be able to defeat the daemons.” Syncralle started nervously playing with the ring on his left hand as he spoke, twisting it and rubbing it. “Baeldon scattered the pieces before the daemons came. I can only assume that he thought the knowledge of the Runestone’s pieces would give him bargaining power over the daemons. It seems, though, that the daemons couldn’t care less about the Runestone.

         Syncralle tore his hand away from the ring, and picked up a small silver figurine in the shape of a coiled snake, rubbing his thumb over the head. “We have collected most of the pieces. We’ve located one of the few left in Ared Wethryn. After you have received the reply from the dragons, you will stop at the Gray Mountain and retrieve the shard. I do not know where in the mountain it is, but I would assume that it’s somewhere near the center. If the dragons agree to aid us, tell the dragon King this plan and ask for assistance in retrieving the shard.

         “Speed is of the essence. We will be fighting several delaying battles against the daemons to allow you time to return, but I do not know how long that will last.” The King stood up, slipping the silver snake into a pocket. “I wish you luck and success in your mission. You will leave in two hours. If there’s anything you need to do before leaving, I suggest you see to it now.”

         Faella and Teris bowed and made their way out, each thinking about what the King had said. Teris felt a surge of excitement flow through him. It has begun!

*          *          *

They returned to their tents and packed their saddlebags in a flurry. Teris knew that when the King said to leave in two hours, he didn't mean two hours and five minutes.

         Faella snagged an errand boy that was sitting nearby. "Go to the Karj the Leathersmith and ask if the surcoat is ready. He'll know what I mean. If it's not, you will wait there until it is, then bring it straight back here. I'll have your guts for garters if you don't, do you hear me?"

         The boy nodded, adam's apple bobbing nervously. He dashed off in the direction of the armory.

         Faella finished packing her bags first and stood up impatiently. "When you're done, wait here for the boy to return with the surcoat. I'll go get the horses ready, and leave instructions for the rest of our gear with the quartermaster."

         Teris nodded, not looking up at her as she left, busy packing things into his saddlebags.

         After he had finished packing and was pacing impatiently back and forth, he saw Seith approaching. He stopped pacing and waited for him to reach the tent.

         Seith looked at the saddlebags stuffed to overflowing, and all the other gear piled near the front of the tent. "Heading out?"

         "Yeah, we were given our march order. Faella's getting the horses. Try not to die before I get back, I still have to best you with swords."

         Seith chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll keep my skin whole. I've got thousands of others all around me, chances are one of them will die first. But you...there's just you and the elf." He noticed the quiver leaning against the saddlebags. "I see you've got Karj's version of a Zynga quiver. He added that flap on there to keep the rain out."

         "Is that the only difference?"

         "No, he added the cap to it, as well as made it a center draw quiver. Zynga usually carry them slung across their shoulders, so that it hangs down by their hip. That doesn't work very well for riding, so he put those two straps to go over the shoulders."

         Teris nodded, then saw the boy returning carrying the surcoat. It was nearly too big for the boy to carry, and it took all Teris had not to laugh as the boy nearly tripped over the sleeve that was hanging down.

         Teris walked out and took it from the boy, thanking him for being so quick.

         The boy leaned close and whispered to Teris, “There’s something ye should know about the Lady, Sir.”

         Teris frowned. “Faella? What about her?”

         “Well, she’s? Oh, ‘ell!” The boy turned pale, and took off running.

         Teris turned around and saw Faella approaching, leading the horses.

         Coming to a stop in front of their tents, Faella asked, “Why did that boy run off like that?”

         Teris hesitated, not sure if he should tell. “Oh, I think you scared him when you threatened him earlier.”

         Faella grunted. “Hmph. And well he should be. If he had been late I’d have skinned him alive.”

         Teris grinned. “I thought you were going to have his guts for garters?”

         “That would have come later.” Faella smiled at Teris, then turned away and grabbed her saddlebags that were lying by the tent flap. She strapped them on and adjusted them so that they would sit firmly.

         Teris grabbed his and did the same. He then slipped on the surcoat, buckling up the cuirass. He then buckled on his swordbelt, cinching it tight. Teris grabbed the quiver and settled it over his shoulders. Taking his unstrung bow, he slipped the shaft of seasoned hickory through the loop in his saddlebags, designed for just such a thing. He looked around nodded to himself. He was ready.

         Seith stood to one side as they mounted up. He walked closer and put his hand on Teris knee. "Don't get killed out there. Watch your back, you never know what's gaining on you."

         Teris grinned. "That's not a very comforting thought. Just don't get caught in any heroic last stands, it's hard to recover from that."

         Seith tipped his head in reply and stood back, letting Teris and Faella nudge their horses into a trot. They worked their way to the edge of the camp, then when the open plains were before them, they gave the horses their head. The horses leaped into a gallop, releasing some of their tension, before settling down into an easier pace. There was no need to break the horses.