Respite in the Vale

[Tulpje Sweetshade]

Tulpje pulled a funny face when Capher started talking to her in Browniin. Good question, why *was* she talking in Tharian? She just hadn't realised that he knew her own language. And besides, she would have to stay used to using Tharian if she was going with this group. She shrugged her small shoulders and grinned, answering in a current of browniin words:

"Sorry. I've been outside the Vale for a long time, a few years, and I didn't talk any browniin during that time. I got used to struggling by in Tharian, hoping people would understand me. So now I automatically assume any Big Person doesn't know Browniin, and I lapse into Tharian. It's kinda strange to be talking in my own language to one of you, though it doesn't feel really bad. I could have guessed that a famous visitor like the Storyteller would have learned it, but I didn't really stop to think about it." She realised she was babbling, but then that was pretty natural for her. The only reason she didn't babble around Big People was that her Tharian wasn't good enough. She hoped Capher would stop her if she bothered him though, she didn't want to get on his nerves.

After breakfast, when she was firmly seated on his shoulder and they were walking through tunnels back towards the Vale, she picked up where she'd left off earlier, by asking Capher a question that she'd been wondering about.  "How did you learn Browniin?" Knowing the tendency of her people to write everything down, this was probably recorded somewhere in the Council Tree, but she was no scholar. She didn't have the inclination to go look it up or read about it. But hearing it first-hand? From the great Storyteller himself? Well, that was  a different story.

[Aueniteri]

'Teri leans her head against Morcaanan's shoulder as they walk, one hand holding his, the other carrying her pack. When it gets uncomfortable to that hand and she starts to shift it, he tenderly takes it away and attaches it to his own pack, and she looks at him with just a little pain and a lot of sympathy and gratitude. Gently, he eases an arm around her shoulders, and she around his waist, and in perfect silence, they follow Capher and Brenna down the tunnels.

"...as if they'd pull it clear out of the ground, just one mighty heave. Never seen anything like it, at least not with something so big. Mother and the aunts used to do it with some of their vegetables, I guess, but those were pretty small compared. And it was completely filled with stuff! Shiny bits and dull colors, you could just tell by looking at it they were going to make a lot of wonderful things out of it. They like doing that, making things; it's part of their nature. Hard to tell, watching some of them, but give them something to work with and a few hours, and he'll have a tool worth bragging about. I like making food better; you do it once, you're done with it once, and so it's always different every time. I had a sister who could do meals the same every time, right down to the pieces of bread. It was strange, and now that I look back, I think it was just a little too predictable. You have to have predictability, right? But then there's also staying dynamic, leaving the choices open; you can't say something's bad just because you've never seen it before. Or tasted it, I guess. The Losh-Oc, okay, that's bad, but what about the Ximaxian orc? There's nothing wrong with him at all; friendly as anyone else, I'd suppose. More friendly than my uncle Spoche, that's for sure. I doubt those orcs would go about waving blades at people just because they were upset about the beer. He was always upset about the beer; I don't know why, but I can't blame him. I never much liked it myself. It was always too stiff, too stale; always nasty stuff. I guess they could drink it because then it made them act stupid, and hardly themselves. I wonder when they were more stupid: Before they started drinking it, and made the decision, or after, when they were in such a stupor all they could do is stare blankly at anything and anyone that passed by. It looks really weird..."

[Capher]

Capher sighed as he heard Ken babble and saw Morcaanan and Teri together, tenderly holding onto one another as they navigated the tunnel: everything was like it should be, for now.

As he followed Brenna, taking note of the depressions on the rocky floor; some filled with pools of water that dripped incessentantly down from the roof of the tunnel, so that he would not step in them and get his feet wet. He wondered how come such a tunnel would be in the mountain without the dwarves cutting one out? Was there at sometime in the past a river that ran through the mountain? It was something to occupy his mind as they trudged through the near dark tunnel, with only small flickers of light coming from torches set in sconces, every few peds or so.

Brenna was quiet throughout the trip and Capher wondered what she was thinking? 

[Talas Anthavin]

The Earth-Guide appears quiet; mostly she is taking note of subtle changes in elevation or the parent material forming the cave, which tell her where they are in relation to their final destination.  However, she has caught Capher's furtive glances, and smiles a little, realising she has been something of an enigma to the group.

"There are few in my clan who have been accorded an honour, such as it is to lead your group to the Vale," she says quietly.  "I must admit, it is a little exciting for me to be sharing in your adventure, though it is only to lead you to the Vale.  It's just that I have never been asked to lead a group such as yours.  And for the Gornegron to allow you to use this tunnel shows that this is of gravest importance."

Realising that she might cause the Storyteller to wonder what she knows, she tries to reassure him.  "I have only heard what I've been privy to at the meeting, and I will say nothing of this to anyone.  And those who do know of this, have taken an oath to keep our silence."  This last sentence she says with a solemn look at Capher.

[Capher]

Capher gave Brenna a warm smile. "I appreciate all that you have done Brenna," he paused a moment, lifting his head for a blink, "Your ancestors are proud of you at this moment. They expect great things from you as you grow, and it is my pleasure to meet one of your family again. You have not dissapointed me. Your Gornegron is a wise leader, learn all that you can from him."

Capher paused once again as he traversed the depressions and pools of water on the rocky floor. He noticed that they had been going down farther into the mountain, but as they continued he noticed the slight change that told him they were now climbing up the trail.

"It will be a bitter-sweet good-bye when we reach the Vale, Brenna Stonetracer. Perhaps we will meet again sometime," Capher said.

[Talas Anthavin]

Brenna raises her eyebrows.  "Perhaps we will see one another again, Storyteller."  The dwarf falls silent for the next few hours, only speaking to answer any questions the group might have.  The journey is tedious, and at some points the passage narrows uncomfortably.  At other points, the group encounters small "room-like" areas that branch off in several directions.  However, Brenna continues to lead the group forward without hesitation.

Finally at one point, Brenna looks around scanning the rock wall and takes a deep breath in through her nose.  "We will soon be in the Vale, my friends," she says quietly.

[Capher]

The darkness of the cave would have actually been a welcome place to Capher, if it were not for the wet and dripping roof.  Dragons, prefer warmth and therefore the ones that were still alive slept deep inside of huge mountains, near the center of it where usually it was much warmer and much drier of course.

Capher kept an eye on his companions and could see that the darkness and the travel had taken their toll on them, even Ken, though he kept his babbling up, was not quite as animated as he was when they first started out on this journey through the mountain.

When Brenna finally announced that soon they would be in the Vale, Capher gave a sigh of relief. He did not know if it was night or day, but he longed for fresh air. He knew that dwarves were at home in the mountains and rarely ventured far from the inside and only recently had they been going outside of their home, except for the rare ones who had a wandering lust and in the past would be shunned by those of their tribe if they chose to leave and venture into the world of man, as they put it.

"Brenna I know that your kind love the mountains, but sometimes I have a hard time wondering why? Being cooped inside a dark, wet mountain is not something I would like to do, but of course I am not a dwarf. I cannot wait until I see the sky once again."

He paused.

"Perhaps I am just a bit claustrophobic," he added with a grin.

[Talas Anthavin]

Brenna smiles at Capher and nods.  "Yes, there are few races who enjoy the mountain's embrace as much as dwarves.  It is a testament to our love for Trum-Baroll who created the earth and all things in it."  She looks out at the entrance as they near it.  "And just as you feel uncomfortable under the earth, I must admit I prefer it to the wide openness of the sky."

She pauses a moment to consider something and adds softly, "I would still like to see more of Santharia beyond the Halls of the Tenthrum."  Brenna snaps back to attention.  "But we are preparing, and my Gornegron has need of all in our clan." 

As they near the entrance, the sun's light becomes intense and the dwarf shields her eyes.  She directs her attention to the entire group.  "It will take you a few hours for your eyes to adjust to the light.  When you arrive in the Vale, you will still have an hour of travel before you reach the brownies' home.  We are inside Life Mountain, and once outside, you will find a path that will take you down the slope to the northern branch of the river that runs through the valley.  If you follow the south bank of the tributary, you will find them."

"I am not sure I understood everything my Gornegron told me regarding your horses and the other strange animals.  Will you be returning by this passage to claim them?"

[Capher]

Capher could slowly feel warm air as they travelled closer and closer to the entrance of the Vale. When daylight shone through he wanted to just leap into the sunshine like a child and embarace its warmth and light.

"Perhaps Brenna, your wish will come true and someday you will be able to see more of the outside world, but as you have said, your tribe, your Gornegron, and most importantly "good" needs you back where you belong to fight the "evil" that is already spreading. I am sure your Gornegron will explain all when the time comes."

Capher shook his head no to her last question. "No we will not be using this way again. This is where we part."

Capher wanted to hug her to thank her, but thought that would embarrass the dwarfess warrior, so he did what he thought best; he pounded his chest with his right arm across his heart. "May Trum-Baroll bless you, Brenna Stonetracer and all of your clan,"

He then stepped out into the sunshine and waited for his companions to do the same.

[Kenriil]

His footfalls end just shy of the shaft of light, and Ken stares out into the sunlight, his babble stopping briefly, before he resumes, "Is this back in the Vale? I can't go back in the Vale, they hate me there. I killed four, maybe five of them, I can't remember. Two or three more couldn't have survived, so I probably killed eight, and that's not counting their familiars and mounts! Capher, this is why I went away, I can't go back there! Even if it's not a problem there, it isn't right for me. I'd rather just not, I don't like to start fights. I never started a fight with my brothers, even though they beat me up a lot; funny I learned the sword and they didn't, but I think it was just patience that taught me the sword. I can't say I'm really patient, but maybe I should go be patient somewhere else. The Vale of Brownies really isn't the place for me right now, you should know that by how they were acting after the fight. They won't likely forgive me completely; many are going to be upset because of their dead relatives, and friends will be upset because friends are upset, and it could be one horrid mess. I don't like horrid messes, in spite of what my father said. He was drunk when he said it, anyway. He said lots of things like that when he was drunk, so we didn't normally listen, but I heard. It kindof hurt, but I let it go, I think. I wouldn't hold it against him anyway, but I tried to do better. I think if I can..."

[Capher]

Capher listened to the Ken's frantic voice and realized that it would be cruel to him to force him to go into the Vale where in most probability the Brownies would shun him and that would make Ken more miserable; even if it was a misunderstanding on both parties.

"Ken, Ken it is ok. I forgot. Calm down. Let me think," Capher said gently.

Capher looked at Brenna. "Brenna would you be willing to take ken back with you and then he will go on his way on the other side of the mountain? He will probably just make his way home," Capher asked.

Brenna looked at Ken with a doubtful look upon her face.

Suddenly Morcaanan spoke up. "I will be going back with Ken as well. Someone needs to watch over our mounts. We cannot ask the dwarves to do it as they have already done more than enough for us, I believe."

Teri looked at Morcaanan with a silent plea in her eyes.

"Do not worry Teri I will be fine and the Brownies can heal your wound and before you know it we will be all back together again."

Teri just nodded and left Morcaanan's arm, pulling her cloak closer to her, as if the cloak were Morcaanan's arms. She steadied herself and walked ahead of Capher a few peds and looked at the trees and the Vale. She had a sense of loss, of helplessness: questioning why she was still with the group? They had the Heart back. Garrek, her brother was dead, by her own hand. He may have been cruel, and he would have killed her, but...he was still her brother and the incident in the cave was still very fresh in her memory.

Capher could feel the sorrow and doubt in Teri and felt the resolution and realized the judgement of Morcaanan to go back and see to their mounts. Capher had no doubt that Morcaanan could take care of himself until they were all back together again. In a way he hoped that Ken would stay with Morcaanan, but Ken was his own man and he would go his own way.

"Well Brenna, it seems that there will be two going back with you, if you allow that is?" Capher asked.

[Talas Anthavin]

Brenna looks critically at Ken and Morcaanan, and then back at Capher.  "My Gornegron has asked that I take you to the Vale, which I have done.  Beyond this point, if Ken and Morcaanan wish to return to the Halls of the Tenthrum, they may do so, but the Dwarven Council will need to discuss their arrangements."

Then she grabs Capher's arm and speaks to him in hushed tones in Thergerim'Taal.  "These are Dark Times, Storyteller, and much is happening that I do not understand.  I am not even sure the Denirim knows everything.  But how could you know that she told me, before I left to lead you here, that I would not be returning alone?"  She looks into Capher's eyes, wondering whether he has spoken with the Denirim about this, but he too seems taken aback by this information.

The Dwarf steps back and nods to Ken and Morcaanan, speaking once again in the common language so everyone can understand.  "Very well, you will return with me.  We must meet with the council again."  Then with a short bow to the group, she wishes them well.  "Let's not tarry, she says sharply.  "There is much ground to cover."

Lastly, before she turns into the passage, she says to Capher in Thergerim'Taal.  "We may see one another again, Storyteller."  Then, Brenna turns away and begins the long trek back to the Tenthrum's stronghold.

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