Wednesday 17 October 2018

16. Godday, Death Week to Clayday, Fertility Week; Sea Season, 1618

As the spirit reared up before her, Sandene steeled her soul. This paltry shadow of the living had no inkling of how brutally Death was graven into her being! The temerity of such a weak thing threatening her almost made her laugh out loud; instead, a low growl escaped her lips as the wraith reached for her. Contemptuously, she shrugged off its attempt to drain her life-force and set her mind to the task of banishing it back to whatever dank hell it had crawled from. Her spirit-self sang as it embraced the truth of Death, as it had failed to do so for so very long. As she reached out for the wraith’s essence, she felt a fleeting touch of the divine, and a fierce hope awoke in her breast…

Of course, none of her companions were privy to these inner awakenings; all they saw was a companion in need. A newly-realised companion, true, but one that had bound herself to their path without the call of Clan or faith and as such was owed their aid. Almost as one they sprang forward, calling on their spirit magic and Gods for aid. In the confusion, someone called out that the creature was a wraith and that its touch was death! Randel summoned the power of Issaries to lend Sandene armour of the spirit. Bofrost stole to one flank and readied his sling, as was his wont, and blessed the stones as he began to whirl them around his head. In contrast, Yrsa and Terrastal threw themselves physically into the fray, yelling dire imprecations and invocations in equal measure.

Meanwhile, the wraith seemed to recoil from Sandene, seeming to mewl piteously as it did so. Sandene almost felt pity for the lost fragment of a soul, but continued to flay its spirit-body with her fury, sending great billows of its substance whirling away into the surrounding grove. Terrastal was the first of her companions to reach her side, but as he swung his magic-driven blade downwards the wraith turned and grasped his wrist. Choking, Terrastal fell to his knees; he felt the chill of the grave within his limbs and could almost feel his life force being ripped from him physically. Seeing Terrastal’s distress and the foul spirit’s distraction, Yrsa thrust forward with her spear but failed to strike home. For her part, Sandene continued to press the spirit and it continued to shrink and dissolve as she did so.

Seeing an opening, Bofrost let fly with his empowered sling stone only to see it pass through the spirit and strike Terrastal a heavy blow on his arm. Swearing profusely, Terrastal pushed himself away from the melee to lie shivering against a blackened rock. With one mighty shout, Sandene set her whole mind against the spirit and forced it back to whichever dark place bound it. As it did so, she rifled through its dissipating consciousness and ripped from it the secret of commanding the creature.

Although the immediate danger had passed, the band were keen to see what other secrets the dark grove held. As an apologetic Bofrost aided a glowering Terrastal, they steeled themselves for what they might encounter. As the strength of Death became an almost physical barrier, Randel could take it no more and fled the shrine in terror. And well he did so, as the remaining companions made a grim discovery; what had appeared to be strips of leather hanging from dead branches revealed themselves to be merely remnants of whole hides hanging from trees in the centre of the grove. Horror-struck, the companions realised the hides had come from people, their faces still bearing their final agonies as if they had been flayed alive...

As Randel stood outside the grove, he saw his fellows returning from the grove, their faces grim and pale. Few words were spoken as they returned to Runegate, but their determination to hold Darsten Black-Oak to account for his deeds burned inside each of them. Filled with anger, Sandene immediately accosted the Humakti Gate-Wardens, expecting them to raise a hue and cry and force the Black Oaks to flee. Instead, they listened to her story impassively; true, Darsten was a foul creature, curse his name, but he had committed no crime. Indeed, his victims were criminals sentenced to die under Lunar law. As far as their encounter with the wraith went, what did they expect for entering a sacred shrine? And did not Humakt himself allow the binding of the ghosts of willing followers to protect sacred ground?

Deflated, the hero band turned to their own needs. Terrastal and Sandene visited the Lightbringers Shrine; Terrastal to seek healing of the body and Sandene healing of the spirit. Whilst Terrastal received the blessings of Chalana Arroy, Sandene knelt tentatively before the image of Babeester Gor at Ernalda’s shrine. Almost shyly, she reached out for her Goddess, hoping to feel the same tentative touch that she had whilst battling the wraith. Relief flooded through her as she felt the barest touch of a consciousness and vast and deep as the sky. With her eyes downcast but filled with tears, Sandene left the shrine. It was start; it was enough.

That evening, the companions rode out from the massive stone edifice of the Luck Gate. They had determined that Darsten would learn of their deeds soon enough, and that they were ill-equipped to stand against him and his followers. Furthermore, they were honour-bound to return to Clearwine and report to the Clan Ring of what had transpired at Apple Lane. Randel was also keen to learn the fate of the Apple Lane refugees he had promised to take under his protection. Although there had been many victories for them to boast of, there was a curiously deflated air about the band as they turned towards Asborn’s Stead. Even the greatest warrior needs to rest his head in a familiar place from time to time; perhaps this was one such time.

Their journey home was uneventful for once. Seeing their mood, Asborn greeted them warmly, bu after a brief meal sped them on their way in the company of a Black Spear guide, wishing them all speed. They finally reached their Clan lands as Yelm climbed into the sky on Clayday of Fertility Week and once more felt the feather-light touch of the spirit of the Clan, welcoming them home. Heading straight for the Clan Hall to make their presence known, they were hailed every few steps by Clanfolk and others; their fame was growing, and curious glances and outright stares were its currency.

As they entered the presence of the Clan Ring, it was clear that their welcome was mixed. Where Dronyan and Morganeth were full of welcome, others were less so. Most notable amongst the latter was Colymar, Initiate of Barntar the Ploughman. A good man, but nervous and fearful of shadows. Morganeth, however, greeted them warmly and thanked them for assisting Gringle. After Sandene introduced herself to the Clan Ring, the story that Randel and Gringle had concocted to protect them from Lunar retribution through Soshona was relayed, and was accepted; to all the world, the companions had arrived at Apple Lane to find Gringle’s home already burning, and only afterwards had they met with Gringle in secret. Therefore, as far as Soshona’s Lunar faction was concerned, Erianda the Red had failed to obtain Gringle’s treasures. Likewise, Erianda would think that Gringle had escaped with his treasures intact. It was the heroes’ devout hope that Erianda and Soshona were never in a position to compare their understanding of events, as the lie would soon unravel! Still, Gringle and his treasures were long-gone, to Nochet or beyond, so would not be a cause of trouble for the Clan.

The discussion turned to the refugees from Apple Lane; to Randel’s great relief, all of the families had been accepted under the wing of the Clan, although they had stopped short being fully admitted as Clanfolk. To the companion’s great delight, they also learned that they had been granted a full two hides of lands each, a noble gift, on which the refugees had been settled. After this welcome news, the mood turned sombre. The Clan Moot was to be on Windsday of the following week, when they would need to put forward the case for being allowed to pursue the quest for the Red Hands of Hofstaring. Although the mood in the Clan was generally hopeful, they would still need to be persuaded that the quest was in the Clan’s interest. Even more important to the future of the Clan was the trial of Baranthos. Spies in the Palace had reported that Kangharl’s allies were starting to visit the other Clans, offering favours and wealth in return for their support of Baranthos’ guilt. However, the Clan Ring felt confident that there were enough other Clans that were unhappy with Kangharl’s Lunar sympathies to give them a chance of saving Baranthos; to this end, the Ring would send the companions to these Clans, to negotiate and bargain for a sympathetic hearing for Baranthos.

But this would wait for another day; for now, the weary heroes set off to visit the Apple Lane families who were even now building a new Stead on the heroes’ lands. For once, the day did not end in blood and thunder; sometimes, it’s enough to simply come home.

But there was one last surprise for the heroes. Gringle had left two gifts for the heroes with Kareena, Priestess of Orlanth. Opening the intricately carved boxes, Gringle's gifts were revealed; the Eye of the Halfbird and the Lead Grimoire! These were the very artefacts that Erianda had been seeking; it seemed that their part in Lunar intrigues were not yet at an end...

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