Dark Quest (9 page)

“Why here?” queried Alex. “There isn’t a pass anywhere near here.”

“I don’t know, Alex, but it had the feel of that campsite being the destination for the night. You can see them coming from the northwest so they can’t be heading for the Gordo Pass.”

“You’re right there, David. If they were headed for the next pass, they would be farther north.”

“Maybe they swung south to avoid Elga?”

“Possibly. Whatever it is, it’s not good. Goblins don’t come down to the Boulders to practice their mountain climbing.”

“Are we going to attack them, Alex?”

“No, not yet. I want to know what they’re up to first. Besides, we are going to have to be clever to beat them. It’s certainly not their full army, but there are over a thousand of them. The longer we track them the harder it will be for them to escape home.”

The camp was stirring now as word of the goblins spread. Lieutenant Vidson joined Alex and David at the lookout. “Brings back fond memories, doesn’t it? Only wish Fergy were here to enjoy it.”

“Glad you could join us, Mitar,” welcomed Alex. “The Rangers are going to split into three groups. David, your group will remain here. Mitar, you take your group five miles east. I will take my group ten miles east. I want to know where these critters are going, but I don’t want them to do any damage before we’re ready for them. I presume that they will be following the base of the mountains towards the east, but I could be wrong.”

Alex sat on a rock and sipped his coffee. “I do not want individual groups to engage the enemy. When we attack it will be coordinated. That means that everyone’s movement will be to the east no matter what the goblins do. If they head west, send a runner to inform me and hold your position. If they start to climb the mountains, move east to the next group. If they head east, follow along the peaks and keep out of sight. Any questions?”

“If we get separated, where do rendezvous?” asked Mitar.

“We keep moving east until we get to the next pass. If that’s where they’re heading, that’s where we kill them.”

The groups split up and followed their orders. Alex steered his group a little southward to avoid being seen from the valley. He looked forward to killing the goblins, but realized that many of his men would probably be lost in the coming confrontation. Alex could see Mitar’s men still traveling east, but far to the north of his position. After a couple of hours, Mitar’s group stopped. This told Alex that the goblins were not heading east yet. He figured the goblin commander would probably allow his men six hours sleep after their hard march. If so, Alex’s men would be in position in plenty of time.

Alex’s Rangers were picking their way around mountain peaks and trying to keep an easterly path, but Alex realized they were being forced further south than he would like. He made the choice to take the north path whenever he could, but they were still heading mostly southeast. They had covered the ten miles but were too far south. Alex had to find a way to get back to a position where he could observe the valley, but there appeared to be no paths heading north or northeast. Frustrated, he ordered two men to scale the closest peak while the rest of his men took a rest.

The scouts returned and reported to Alex. “Captain, there is a trail heading north about a half mile up the path. There is also a huge forested valley directly southeast of us.”

“Do you mean that we’ve wandered clear across the Boulders?” Alex asked.

“No, Sir. It’s a huge valley but it is ringed with peaks. It’s definitely not the southern edge of the Boulders.”

Alex brought his map out and tried to locate his position. The Boulders were particularly wide at this point, but there was no indication of a valley. There were no villages directly north or south of the Boulders in this area. Alex was intrigued. He ordered a runner and sent him back along the trail to Mitar’s group. Then he called for Sergeant Randi Witzak.

“Sergeant Witzak, I am putting you in command of this group. Half a mile down the path you will come to a trail to the north. Lead the men to a position where you can observe the valley and wait for Lieutenant Vidson’s group. Have his group hold position with you until I return.”

“May I ask the Captain where he is going?” queried Sergeant Witzak.

“Sergeant, I will take two men and proceed to a valley a short distance southeast of here. I should catch up with you before Lieutenant Vidson arrives, but you are to hold position until I return.”

Alex chose two Corporals and struck off down the path. The three Rangers descended into the valley and felt warm, lush air and caught the scent of fragrant flowers mingling with the rich smell of oak. Alex was struck with the idea of potentially using this valley as the base for a training camp. It had practically everything he could hope for except desert. It was a dense wood with large trees and flowing streams. It was certainly large enough for the three groups to have separate camps and stage attacks on one another.

It probably had ample game and the close proximity of the mountain peaks would provide for opportunities to perfect mountain attacks. Best of all, it was isolated and uncharted. His group would be able to strike out from here towards any part of the Kingdom.

Alex led his men down the path and into the woods. Instantly Alex knew something was wrong. The animal sounds were quiet for too great a distance from his little party. Alex crouched down and ordered his men to do likewise. The Rangers had been trained in stealthy approaches and his men had not made any sounds walking down the path. Alex knew someone else was watching them. The question was whether they were friendly or not. Alex could feel the presence of people all around him. Depending on who his adversaries were, the Rangers might escape, but the odds were slim. If there were goblins out there, they would not be just watching. They would be attacking. More likely, a group of people already inhabited the valley and was wary of outsiders. Alex decided to take a gamble.

Alex stood erect and shouted, “We have come in peace and did not know the valley was occupied.” He indicated to his men to stand at ease. “If our presence disturbs you, we shall leave.”

Alex was shocked when a dozen figures circled his party. The creatures looked mostly human, but they all had a peculiar slant to their large round eyes and they all had pointed ears. One large muscular creature walked up to Alex. “You will lay your weapons on the ground.”

Alex instructed his men to comply and laid his own weapons on the ground. The fair-complexioned creature stared at Alex, his large round eyes showing no emotion. “You will follow us to the city. Your weapons will be carried by my men.”

With no further instructions, the large, fair creature turned and walked down the path. Alex and his men followed. Alex had heard tales of elves, but having never seen one, he had doubted they really existed. Perhaps he had stumbled upon the elves of tales. The stories of their stealth in the forest were obviously not exaggerated. Alex had been proud of his men’s accomplishments in stealth, but the elves had them surrounded before they were five hundred feet into the woods.

The elves came to a large clearing in the woods and stopped. The large, fair elf left the group and went down another path. A while later, he returned with an equally large, dark-skinned elf. They stood staring at the intruders and conversing between themselves. Finally, the dark elf came forward and addressed Alex. “Who are you and why have you come to our valley?”

Alex stood and sensed the elves bracing themselves. Cautiously, Alex replied. “I am Captain Alexander Tork and I am the Commander of the Targan Rangers. We were in the mountains training in techniques of mountain climbing and survival. We saw the valley and I came with my two men to investigate it. It does not appear on my charts and I was curious. We are sorry to have intruded and mean you no harm.”

The dark elf laughed. His laugh seemed to reverberate throughout the valley. “Harm us? Do you look like you are in a position to harm us? None of your kind has come to this valley and left again in hundreds of years.”

Alex didn’t like the way this conversation was going. His men’s weapons were out of reach and they were outnumbered four to one. “I can see why. You have a very beautiful valley. Unfortunately, I have many men to lead and I can’t afford to dally here and enjoy the beauty.”

The fair elf was smiling, but it was the dark one that replied. “Do not take me for a fool, human. Do you think we will let you go so that you may return with your many men to take what is ours?”

Alex knew he was close to the edge with the dark elf and tried to remember the stories of elves he was told as a boy. The stories said that they avoided contact with humans and fiercely protected their homes. The stories also talked about wars with the dwarves and sometimes teaming up with the dwarves against the goblins. Yes, the elves hated the goblins.

Alex smiled at the dark elf. “Look, I’ve told you that we mean you no harm. We were totally unaware of your existence here. We merely thought the valley might offer a strategic advantage against the goblin army that is heading this way.”

Both elves stiffened at the mention of goblins and they spoke softly to one another. The fair elf turned to a smaller elf and the smaller one took off at a run. The dark elf returned to Alex. “Why are the goblins coming here and why do you want to stop them?”

“I have no idea why they are coming, but this morning we spotted an encampment of over a thousand at the north base of the mountains. My men are tracking them to see where they are heading. As to why we want to stop them, I would think that is obvious. The goblins are a murdering bunch of savages and we don’t aim to let them murder any more people. We will not even allow them to murder your people, although you give me little reason to desire your safety.”

The fair elf stepped forward. “You must forgive my brother’s mood, Captain Tork. I am Prince Elgorn and this is my brother, Prince Rigal. As there is no struggle from your men, you will not be harmed before you speak to King Gondoral. Come.”

The elf princes led the way down the path to a large glade that stood before a lone mountain peak in the center of the forest. In the glade was a village of huts with paths leading off to the woods. Alex noticed that most trees in this area of the forest had rope ladders ascending into the trees. A stone platform with large doors behind it had been carved into the base of the lone peak. Upon the platform rested two thrones of solid gold. The figures upon the thrones were obviously the King and Queen of the elves.

Alex whispered to his men to follow his lead and when he was led to the platform he bowed graciously and dropped to one knee. Alex’s men followed his lead and remained with heads bowed while the elf princes conversed with their King.

Finally, the elf King spoke. “Rise, humans. Captain Alexander Tork, you and your men stand before King Gondoral and Queen Gelfora of Glendor. You are accused of trespassing on our lands without permission. My sons have informed me of your statements. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Alex could scarcely believe his surroundings. This valley was so alien to anything he had seen before that he felt as if in a dream. “Your Highness, I can only beg your forgiveness. I was unaware of your kingdom and did not intentionally trespass. As for receiving permission before entering your valley, I fail to see how that might have been possible. To receive permission, I would have had to either been here before, or one of your people would have had to trespass in Targa without permission. Of course, if your people were to trespass into Targa, they would be treated as guests, not outlaws.”

Alex glanced at his two companions and continued. “Your Highness, I am not familiar with your laws and I do not know the punishment for trespassing, but I will admit that I entered your valley of my own free will without your permission. These two men who accompany me, however, did not. These men are under my command and did not enter your valley of their own free will. As such, they did not willfully trespass on your lands. I request that you give them leave to return to their homes. I, alone, can be held guilty of any crime if, indeed, it is a crime to walk.”

The Queen whispered into the King’s ear and the King nodded. “You speak nobly for a human, Tork, but the fate of your companions is tied to yours. You are a leader of men and rightfully take the responsibility for your men, but you did lead them into my valley and they are here with you. You ask about our laws and the punishment for trespassing. It is very simple. I will determine your guilt and your punishment. That is the law.”

Alex saw no signal or sign of communication, but an old elf walked over and picked up Alex’s sword and brought it to the King. He whispered into the King’s ear for a few moments. The King nodded and continued his interrogation. “Where have you come by this sword?”

“It was a gift from a woman I have known for some time,” Alex replied.

“And who is this woman?”

“Her name is Jenneva,” Alex stated.

“My Magician, Galdan, tells me that the sword is enchanted. Is this Jenneva a witch?”

Alex remembered the mention of Galdan from Lord Habas. He had named Galdan as one of the top five magicians known. Alex could see no harm in being truthful and if the old man who had brought the sword to the King was Galdan, he would not be able to lie without being detected. “Jenneva is a Master Magician who studied under Egam. She is a personal friend of mine.”

“Is she also a friend of Egam’s?” the King asked.

“Yes, she is. They are, in fact, studying together right now.”

“And do you know Egam, as well?”

“Yes, I do. Egam and I have traveled together and I have been to his home.”

King Gondoral looked at Alex’s two companions. “These men who accompany you, are they loyal to your commands, even to the point of death?”

Alex did not need to see the Rangers’ nods. His men expected to die in service to the Rangers. “They are, Your Highness.”

“Well spoken, Alexander Tork. You are welcome in Glendor. I would ask that you send your two men back to their Units with instructions to never speak of this valley. For them to speak of this valley is to dishonor you and your men and violate the welcome we have extended to you.”