Chapter 29. Readying for War
Thor sat in silence with R’Thy’Uln beneath the pine trees of the T’Iea camp. They had just finished a meal and sat drinking a hot toddy that R’Thy’Uln had earlier explained was made from pine nuts and the slightly fermented root of a bush that grew in abundance in the area. He said it was a recipe they had learnt from the goblins.
R’Thy’Uln stood slowly; he spoke slowly as if distracted whilst looking up into the night sky. “It is a sorry tale T’Thorandill, our presence has been less than honourable here in the east of the continent. However the tale is one that I hope will have a happy ending. But also it is a tale that we are all destined to be part of before the end I fear. R’Thy’Uln kept his gaze skyward; he walked slowly back and forth as if expecting something to be seen above.
Thor also stood and looking up expected to see something, but there was nothing except the stars and the moon, wisps of cloud obscured some areas of the night sky. So he asked, “what is it?”
R’Thy’Uln just shook his head slowly, “nothing perhaps, yet I felt……,” he shook his head once more and shrugged, “I thought I felt something, something very large gently brush across the wards that surround the camp.”
Thor looked once more at the night sky. There was nothing and he was about to turn away when something large and long appeared between two cloudbanks, it was black against the blackness of the night sky. It was moving slowly high above the clouds. He quickly pointed and said, “there.”
R’Thy’Uln spun around just in time to see the aft end of the shape disappear once more into the banks of clouds. He looked at Thor who returned his gaze a slightly guilty look upon his features. “Do you know what this new thing is?”
Thor sighed and looked at R’Thy’Uln. “There is a long story behind the answer to that question R’Thy’Uln.”
R’Thy’Uln nodded and said, “perhaps then you had better relate to me some of your long story, for I feel that many loose ends are becoming tied, many twists in the tale perhaps may now at last unravel and we shall see what fates the Maker has in store for us?”
So Thor went on to explain about the disappearance of his mother Minervar in Amentura. He explained the meeting with Alonso back in the great wood and his travelling here to the east. He explained about his visit to the T’Iea city of Ter’Hadsnefel and how he had been tasked by the commander Te’Onolan’u’De’Yiun to make contact with the eleven general and his army here in the east, if anything still remained of them of course. But at the same time he had dispensation to search for his missing mother. Then he explained how they had hoped to meet with the Leviathan machine and perhaps bring it here to aid them.”
“How then do you have knowledge of such a machine?” asked R’Thy’Uln.
“I know of the current existence of only one such machine, said Thor. “It was discovered and taken from its lair in the Great Rust desert by my sister Nar’Allia and her companions. They flew the machine across much of the world. They ended up here in the east. However, you must know that another machine was also stolen from the Rust Desert by the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran. Both machines battled in the skies many years ago. My sister and her companions fought in that battle.”
“And who may I ask were the victors?”
Thor thought. Indeed who were the victors? He sighed, “well, the machine that the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran flew was destroyed during that battle that raged in the skies. But the battle on the ground was not won. With the loss of their machine I think the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran went to ground, they set a cordon around their city of dark mechanical warriors. They still stand sentinel today I believe.” Thor looked at the small army assembled before him. He felt a sadness that so few may be required to engage the army of Startmektoken. He couldn’t help feeling dread at this prospect, for he felt that so few seasoned soldiers, even T’Iea soldiers, would not be able to overthrow such an enemy force. He shook his head and continued. “After they returned home all knowledge of the machine was lost, but the one who had the knowledge to control the machine, the Pnook JDC promised that he would hide it from prying eyes until it was needed once again.”
“Needed once again?” Questioned R’Thy’Uln, “needed by whom?”
Thor looked at him and shrugged. “I do not know. But its return here signifies something, of that I am sure, perhaps my sister is on board, perhaps she is in the east and summoned the Pnook and the machine, I cannot be sure. But rest assured R’Thy’Uln the machine fights for us, it is on our side.” Then with the slightest look of doubt in his eyes he said under his breath, “at least it did.”
R’Thy’Uln appeared to search Thor’s face for a few seconds. “That is yet to be proved. I wonder onto whom its hammer will fall.
Your stories, unbelievable as they may seem have become reality again. I find we are added to the cast list in this play, perhaps we can help in the final act eh?” R’Thy’Uln smiled at Thor, then he called over two guards that had been patrolling the perimeter of the camp, he spoke to them in a low tone. When done he returned to where Thor stood. “I think perhaps Thor we had better go and see what may transpire here. The final chapters of the book unfold, we would be wise to witness what we can, for it could be a storm is rising, a storm the like of which we have not witnessed before. Its ferocity perhaps threatens to destroy us all. Come, there is only one way to find out we will follow the path of the machine and see for ourselves if any mischief is at hand.” At this he hurried off giving orders as he went.
Thor stood just outside R’Thy’Uln’s tent; the leader had gone in some minutes before and bid Thor wait outside. R’Thy’Uln’s camp seemed to come alive with frantic activity, the T’Iea quickly responded to their orders and within minutes ranks of soldiers started to gather, standing to attention in front of R’Thy’Uln’s tent. Thor looked along the ranks as they lined up and was pleased to see that both Neth’Gore and Orln stood to attention amongst them.
When the ranks were assembled the flap of tent was cast to one side and R’Thy’Uln stepped outside. The order was given and the small army of R’Thy’Uln moved off, not in a formal column for that would be too easy to detect, but they each seemed to take their own path, or in small groups of three, the old T’Iea tactic of Trete’Y’Thego. So Thor, Orln and Neth’Gore travelled as they had before, but they also had R’Thy’Uln with them. It would take just over a day and a night to approach the encampment of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned to see whether or not the Leviathan’s being in the region had anything to do with the renegade T’Iea army, for both Thor and R’Thy’Uln had grave misgivings as to the uses it may be put to if this were the case. Other groups were sent around the perimeter of the area that Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned army was known to inhabit and see if the Leviathan machine itself could be found. Several rangers were sent ahead to path-find and report anything they needed to avoid or be aware of. These rangers were also employed as messengers to travel between the various scattered groups of the army to communicate and report.
Thor had come to a decision as they went. He was formulating a separate plan. He needed to make contact with the renegade T’Iea, he had his orders to find them and he wanted to see for himself what may have befallen them. One along would be far less a threat than an army and he also did not want to place R’Thy’Uln and his army in danger. They may have enough in the way of enemies as things stood. He also knew that they were probably viewed as deserters in the eyes of their old commanding officer and he did not want to risk the added dangers and wrath of that commander upon them. What he didn’t yet know was how he was going to manage to persuade R’Thy’Uln to allow him to get away alone, or how he may make contact with the renegades without arousing suspicion, or placing others in danger.
After several hours’ fast travel Thor and his three T’Iea companions grew alert, they sensed that they were followed, or at least observed. But nothing could be seen across the flat moorland through which they travelled.
Orln slipped off into the fo
rest to take a look. When he returned he reported. “There are several Goblins following us, the one you call Niepre is with them. They do not seem to harbour any malice or foul intent; rather they just seem to want to follow us. Perhaps they are curious as to what we are intending to do?”
R’Thy’Uln said nothing even though they looked towards him for a possible answer, after all he knew the goblins better than any of them, but he remained silent.
Then Thor had an idea, he placed a hand on the shoulder of R’Thy’Uln and brought the small company to a halt. “R’Thy’Uln is it possible that we can persuade the goblins to help us? I have a plan to infiltrate the camp of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned hopefully without suspicion. It may be a good thing to have someone on the inside to try and find out what their plans are and if they have any influence over the Leviathan machine. But, to be successful the plan will need the goblins. What do you think?”
R’Thy’Uln nodded, “yes, with Niepre amongst them we have a translator and a sympathetic ear perhaps.”
“Good, then perhaps we can persuade the goblins to aid in a plan I have, it will be dangerous but if all goes well the risk will hopefully be minimal.”
R’Thy’Uln’s eyes narrowed in concentration, “first tell me, what is this plan?”