Chapter 38. The Madness of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned
Thor stumbled along the uneven ground, he could not see. A dirty blindfold had been tied about his eyes, a wooden yoke placed around his neck and his wrists tethered tightly to this yoke. The yoke bore down upon his shoulders rubbing on the skin and making his shoulder joints ache. Short respite could be had by taking the weight by lifting it with his arms, but this made the ropes at his wrists dig into his flesh, the rawness burned already. The muscles of his outstretched arms soon tired of the great weight of the heavy wood upon them and he was forced to allow the full weight of the wood bare down once more upon his body. His knees and ankles were sore from the constant falling and tripping over tree roots. To add to this discomfort a dirty length of thick corded rope had been tied around his neck, it bit into the skin like sand paper and he could feel stinging moisture beneath. His captors tugged upon the rope, they played their part well so he did not complain.
Once more he tripped and fell, this time his head hit the trunk of a tree a glancing blow and he was dazed. But he was aware that the goblins around him had stopped their incessant chattering noise as they communicated with each other and now they stood still. The forest itself was silent, no bird song, not even the buzzing of insects. Thor shook the dulled feeling from his head and listened. He could sense the goblins stood close by him. Good, they had understood and were doing exactly as they had been instructed. He could feel their warm breath sweeping over him as they clung to his arms and legs as if they sort solace and protection from the touch. He could feel their clawed hands through the thinner leather between his armour. Their chattering now came in short whispering bursts. Thor couldn’t understand what they said, but he caught hints in the tones of their speech that they had become fearful and nervous.
Suddenly the goblins became silent once more; this was quickly followed by a whooshing sound and a thud. The goblins started to screech and chatter in alarm. Thor smiled inwardly, they had been found. He knew the sound of an arrow in flight and the thud as it struck a tree close by. His plan had worked perfectly – so far, but now came the dangerous part. When the Goblins had detected the presence of T’Iea they had immediately closed in around Thor, the hope was that the T’Iea would not risk shooting at the goblins as they were so close to Thor. The T’Iea would not risk injuring one of their own, especially as they could not see who it was. The goblins continued to shout and chatter loudly, they continued to play their part perfectly. Another arrow thudded into the same tree, this time a little lower than the first. The goblins screamed in alarm and then Thor felt the many clawed hands release him and he heard many running feet disappearing away from where he lay. He prayed to the Maker that he would spare all the goblins from harm. Then he lay still listening. All he could hear was the sound of his own laboured breathing as his chest heaved with dull pain; the effort of breathing with his arms spread wide in such an uncomfortable fashion was increasingly difficult. He waited for his new hosts to arrive.
The next thing he knew he was being lifted to a sitting position and the blindfold was removed. Bright sunlight blinded him as his bindings were cut and the yoke removed from his shoulders, it was such a marvellous feeling of relief to be able to rub life back into his wrists and arms. The pain of his released chest muscles stabbed at him for a while until he was able to get his breath back. Water was splashed onto his skin around his wrists and his neck, it felt cool and good. By this time his eyesight had returned and there in front of him stood a T’Iea warrior, a ranger by the look. The ranger stood back regarding him. Thor could not see any features of this person, a leather facemask covered the lower area of the face and a full face helmet with eye holes covered what remained.
Thor attempted to assure the ranger. “I thank you for your timely rescue, I thought I was destined for a fate worse than death.”
The ranger reached up and removed the helm and then pulled the facemask down so that it hung loose around their neck.
Thor wondered at the sight. For before him stood a T’Iea maiden, once free of the helm her long jet black hair dropped to her waist, her piercing blue eyes shone with defiance.
Thor bowed low, “my lady, I am in your debt, I thank you.”
The ranger just stood there in front of Thor, she cocked her head slightly to one side regarding him closely. “I do not know you. From whence have you come?” At the same time she pushed the long leather coat she wore away from the scimitar that was slung at her waist, she reached across her body and rested her hand upon its hilt. An obvious visible warning that she would not hesitate to use it. The other hand still held her long bow, an arrow remained notched but the string undrawn. A short curved metal blade attached to the end of the long bow was poised at his throat. Her eyes bored into his.
Thor knew that if his plan was to succeed he needed to justify his presence in these lands within the next few seconds or risk capture of the wrong sort, even death depending on the demeanour of the ranger that now stood in front of him. From the look in her eyes he did not want to try testing the extent of her tolerance, he decided the best recourse was the truth. The truth would sound right and not cause him to exhibit any tell-tale hint or suggestion that he was lying. “My orders are to seek a T’Iea army, one commanded by Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned. I had been sent here with my Trete’Y’Thego to seek out this army. But we were attacked by those creatures in a ravine a few days ago and I became separated and was captured.”
The elf regarded him closely, her features still remained expressionless. But her eyes narrowed slightly as she loosened the scimitar by pulling on its hilt a few centimetres.
Thor stared at the thick and heavy blade, he couldn’t help but look at the movement, he knew that she was struggling to understand how a T’Iea Trete’Y’Thego could have managed to fall fowl of a troop of mere goblins. Their training and experience should not have allowed such a mistake to happen.
But Thor was prepared; he knew he had to give a viable excuse for such an unthinkable thing to have occurred. “We had a guide, a Grûndén mercenary and his troop. The arrangement was made in the west of the mountains. But this Grûndén turned out to be traitorous. He led us into a trap.”
The ranger’s eyes remained fixed upon him. “A Grûndén you say. How did you come by this arrangement?”
“We met a company of Grûndén on the western side of the Tolle’Fornosse’Veetri, we were in a Tavern in a human township called Penitence Glade, they offered the arrangement. They knew of a secret way, a tunnel beneath the mountains, a mine they called it. I thought it made sense to ally with them, for this tunnel would save days of trudging over the higher passes of the mountains of the Tolle’Fornosse’Veetri.” Thor noticed that the ranger’s eyes opened slightly and lit up at the mention of the tunnel through the mountains. This was good, the T’Iea army here in the east obviously did not know about the way beneath the mountains, a choice piece of information for Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned. Thor felt safer now; this ranger would hardly dare do anything that may keep such intelligence from her commanding officer. After a few seconds of allowing this information to soak into the ranger’s mind he added, “I have never had cause to doubt Grûndén before. Perhaps next time I will think twice.”
In a flash she had recovered her composure. “You were foolish to trust the Grûndén in those human towns, they are nothing but renegade mercenaries and cut throats. They have no honour or allegiance to the king under the mountains. They only look out for themselves.”
Thor bowed. “A lesson well learned my lady, of that I assure you.”
She lowered the sharp end of the bow and releasing her grip upon the hilt of her sword she let the blade slide back fully into its scabbard. She stood back. “I came across a group of Grûndén and human men many days ago. I followed them for two days and nights along the rock escarpment to the west; I listened to what they had to say in their camps. They mentioned three T’Iea. They also mentioned that their ‘client?
?? would not be happy when told the three T’Iea had escaped. But they also mentioned that the three would be ‘goblin meat’ by now, they joked about how well the T’Iea would be cooked.” She narrowed her eyes, waiting for his response.
Thor looked at her real surprise shone in his face. He laughed at the joke about cooking. “They must have been the same Grûndén. They directed us into the ravine where the goblins attacked us.”
The ranger did not laugh; she still kept the same expressionless face as before. She let the coat fall back and adjusted her gear as she said, “perhaps then you will be pleased to hear I slew them all.”
The manner in which the ranger said those words, the ease with which she told of the deed in a factual way without remorse, without any feeling at all, shocked Thor.
The T’Iea ranger smiled slightly, as if she had made some subtle point. “Do not concern yourself; I made sure they did not suffer in their deaths.” She gestured to him with the tip of her long bow and indicated that he should walk in front of her. “Come then, I will take you to my commander, he shall decide what should be done with you.”
During the journey Thor tried to make small talk, but the ranger would not discuss anything. She remained behind him, when he turned to look at her she always made sure she moved out of the field of his direct vision. Thor was starting to find this behaviour infuriating; there was something very odd and disconcerting about receiving T’Iea tactics instead of administering them. After a while he gave up trying and just looked around him at the landscape instead. He dutifully followed the taps on his arms that she levied with her long bow every now and again to indicate he should change direction.
Later that same day Thor stood to attention in front of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned, he introduced himself when he was instructed to do so.
Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned rubbed his chin and stared at Thor. “I don’t recall our meeting before this day?”
Keeping his eyes in front Thor said, “no, sir. We have never met.”
“So, to what then do I owe this pleasure?”
For the same reasons he had told the truth to the ranger, Thor decided to stay with the truth once again. He told of how the generals in Ter’Hadsnefel had asked that he seek out Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned for they grew concerned at not having heard from the region for a long time. He also added how he sort an alliance with the eastern men against the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran threat and this was a promise made to one of the easterners. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned raised an eyebrow at this, obviously the ranger had made her report whilst Thor was made to stand outside the tent under the watchful gaze of the sentries, but of course Thor had not told her this choice piece of information. Thor did not say however that he searched for his mother who was lost in the region many years before and that perhaps he hoped to access the Rift and try and find her.
“You spoke of a secret way, a Grûndén mine you called it beneath the Tolle’Fornosse’Veetri. I have never heard of such a thing before?”
“It is true sir, my companions and I took that road with our Grûndén guides I could describe where the entrance may be found if you wish?”
“I have despatched a Trete’Y’Thego already, the mage is one of earth discipline, they will find it and secure it. But my young friend, what interests me more is your presence here.”
Thor nodded and reached inside his tunic. He then gave Te’Onolan’u’De’Yiun’s sealed envelope, to Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned and after saying how he had been instructed to give these sealed orders, he stepped back once more, stood to attention and saluted.
Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned looked at Thor and then at the envelope he had been given. He turned his back on Thor and walked a few paces away, he broke the seal on the envelope and taking out the parchment within he read the contents a number of times. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned kept his back to Thor but turning his head to give Thor a black look he asked, “what do you know of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran?”
Thor thought for a moment, what should he say. He knew quite lot really, but how much should he divulge to this general. Thor decided to tell much of the story, he left out the fact that his mother may have been, may still be the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran Gatekeeper. But he told of his sister Nar’Allia’s travels in the region, he even told of the Leviathan machine, after all the chances were that Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned already knew of the existence of the machine, it was hard to miss after all as it flew low over the landscape. He could tell he had Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned complete attention, this was good, the general seemed to relax and place some trust in Thor, obviously Thor was confirming much that the general knew of as fact already.
Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned inquired about the Leviathan. Thor confirmed that although he knew little of it and he had not been aboard or seen the machine with his own eyes, he told of how the Pnook called JDC, in company with his sister and a keeper companion, had found the machine from somewhere in the Rust Desert and how they had travelled in the machine right around the world. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned wanted to know why they were there in the Rust Desert. Here Thor told the one untruth in the whole story, he said that his sister was a T’Iea academic, formerly of the order of De’Et’Niale’Ternaven and was acting under direction of the only other remaining member of the order, one Solin De’Teinde. If Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned recognised Solin’s name he did not show any signs of having done so. He just thought for a while nodding his head slowly. Thor had gambled on the fact that Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned had been away from Ter’Hadsnefel for so long and also had no communications with the council of generals that he would not know of these activities.
“It seems I have missed much since being out here in the east.” Was all Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned said. He then turned inwards to his own thoughts. He was remembering how JDC had not mentioned any others being with him when he had found the Leviathan machine. Why would he do this, so then a Pnook with secrets, deceitful intent, perhaps he had his own agenda for being here in the east. Perhaps the T’Iea generals had sent the Pnook and the Leviathan; perhaps this soldier here with him now was part of that plan. Anger started to rise within him. Anger he had felt before and found increasingly difficult to control. Yet this anger gave him something, gave him power, gave him strength especially if he embraced it.
After a while of watching Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned pacing up and down inside the tent Thor asked, “Sir, do you have a response to those orders sir? Perhaps I can return with them?”
To Thor’s utter surprise on hearing this Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned turned on him, immediately anger flashed across his face. “You dare speak to me of those back in the city, those cowards. They sit there in their great halls, no doubt spreading evil words about me. That is partially why I have not sent any reports back for some time. They have deserted me, left me to die out here without reinforcements, without aid. We have been abandoned, left to survive alone.”
Thor replied, “no that cannot be true, why would they issue these orders if they did not support you here? Ter’Hadsnefel remains faithful to you.”
“Remains faithful?” Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned thumped his fist down upon the table. “They deserted me long ago, how can they remain faithful?” Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned’s anger seemed to increase, he shouted, spittle flew from his lips. “Even my own race, my own soldiers have deserted me, those criminals they leave to walk free, yet they imprison me to a life of hardship, may the Maker curse them all. It is I who have suffered here in this forsaken land, it is I who have kept the enemy, the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran at bay holed up in their city unable to leave because of my acts of bravery and honour to my race, yet those I protect shun me, take all my hard work and the blood of my soldiers for granted. I am not recognised for my suffering while they grow fat and lazy in their city.”
Thor was shocked to hear this sudden outburst; the re
ference to R’Thy’Uln’s outcast soldiers did not go unrecognised. Thor to felt anger at the injustice of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned’s harsh words. “Those criminals of whom you speak, they are your own soldiers. I have met them, they are honourable still. Let R’Thy’Uln help you my lord, he has many warriors all able to aid you, let him back.”
Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned turned on Thor, hatred shone in his eyes, “so, that is it. You seek to persuade me to take back those deserters, those renegades. Never, never will I let those traitors back into my ranks, may they rot here and may their bones be crushed under the feet of my true warriors, those who have remained faithful to me. The deserters deserve banishment and death. I will not fight alongside those that have seen fit to question my command.”
Thor saw the futility in arguing with this man, he now tried to formulate a plan of escape from this camp and warn R’Thy’Uln of this madness. orT“Then by your leave my lord I will deliver your message to them. I am sure they would fight with you if you gave them the chance, they remain faithful to the original reasons that your army had been sent here. Honour them sir, by taking them back, they will perform their duties well, of that I am sure.”
Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned smiled, he seemed to calm himself. A more calculating expression appeared upon his features. He sat back down and rapped his knuckles twice upon the table. Immediately the two T’Iea guards that stood outside entered the tent and stood behind Thor.
“No you will not leave, it is too late now my friend for we are on the eve of battle. You will fight for me now. No you will not leave.” He instructed the guards to take Thor into custody and watch him until it was time to march. “We march on the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran tomorrow.” He seemed to sigh in a very satisfied manner. He turned and clutching his hands behind him he rose on his toes a couple of times before he said, almost to himself, “I have found an allegiance from a most unexpected source, an unforeseen twist in the tale has seen fit to reward me with another army to command, one that will not be so easily swayed by traitors and harbingers of doubt and deception. One that will fight without tiring and without need to fill its belly or rest when weary. No. Soon we march to absolute victory and I will return to Ter’Hadsnefel a hero. I will show those that doubt and despise me. You will see.” More was being said, but Thor had been led from the tent and he could not pick out the words.