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Authors: Murray J. D. Leeder
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hesitation, she added, “And yet, I have not met an Uthgardt until today.”
“This is difficult to believe,” said Thluna, looking at the newcomer warily.
“You may fetch your shaman or a priest of your tribe and let him test my intentions,” she replied, “but let me explain them first. On the night of Highharvestideyour Runemeetmy sleep was disturbed by a rattling sound in the archives. It was this bone, dancing in the box that held it, and when I touched it, I felt a flash in my mind, bidding me to come to your aid. It told me that you were in great danger. I wanted to help.”
“Help?” asked Sungar. “Why should you want to help us?”
“Many asked me the same when I left Candlekeep,” said Kellin. “But I felt that I had no choice. So vivid was my summons that I felt my mind would never feel right again if I ignored it.”
“So you think that the Thunderbeast called youan outsiderto our aid?” asked Sungar, looking her hard in the eye.
“I don’t know if the Thunderbeast did,” she admitted. “But someone did.”
Sungar probed her eyes for a long while. “She speaks the truth,” he finally told Thluna. “I need no priest to tell me that. But you, woman, are still a mystery. Where you’re from, these studies of which you speakI know nothing of these things.”
“I can explain it all,” said Kellin, “if you will listen.”
“Perhaps I do not care to hear your explanations. We do not tolerate the presence of your kind more than necessary. That you know our customs does not change this. I cannot allow you to taint my people and introduce your ways.”
“I am not here to proselytize!” Kellin insisted. “I do not want to change your way of life. Far from it. To tell the truth …” Uncertainty spread through her limbs and her posture fell, her shoulders slumping, and she dropped the formal manner of her speech. “I don’t entirely know why I’m here. I had hoped you might give me some idea.” Her dark eyes shone with warmth.
Glances passed between Sungar and Thluna. Sungar spoke in Common again, speaking her language almost as well as she spoke his.
“You are a new piece in a mystery which vexes our tribe at present. If the Thunderbeast sent you, if you’re here to help, there must be a reason. There are many things we’d like to know right now.”
“Then let us find them together,” Kellin suggested. “I know much of your tribe’s historymore than is recorded in your songs. I’ve come hundreds of miles to see you. I’d hate to think it was a waste.”
Sungar leaned closer to her. “Perhaps you’re a test of our strength. A temptation sent by the Thunderbeast to see if we would accept your kind of aid. We’ve accepted outsiders into our company before, and it has ended badly. Maybe the beast wants us to sacrifice you, the way we sacrificed outsiders in centuries past. If you know our history so well, you should know that I’m telling the truth.”
Kellin trembled slightly but stood her ground and held her head high. “It’s always difficult to know a god’s will,” she said. “Perhaps as an outsider, it’s my role to make up for the failings of the past. Or perhaps it’s just to teach the Thunderbeasts a lesson in humility.”
“I suppose you’ve read that our tribe responds to strength, both of arm and of character,” said Sungar. “Well, daughter of Zale, you’ve proven your mettle. Thluna, arrange a tent for her on the edge of camp, away from the others.” Sungar looked at the sword at her belt. “I trust your weapon is not for decoration.”
She grinned confidently. “I know which end is which.”
Sungar had to smile at that. “Good. You may have some use for it soon.”
CHAPTER 4
An the shadow of the twin stockades that dominated Newfort, Arthus Tyrrell arrived at his modest home after a hard day of work. His features were weathered and his hands were calloused, but he never wondered for a moment if he had made a mistake in
“This is difficult to believe,” said Thluna, looking at the newcomer warily.
“You may fetch your shaman or a priest of your tribe and let him test my intentions,” she replied, “but let me explain them first. On the night of Highharvestideyour Runemeetmy sleep was disturbed by a rattling sound in the archives. It was this bone, dancing in the box that held it, and when I touched it, I felt a flash in my mind, bidding me to come to your aid. It told me that you were in great danger. I wanted to help.”
“Help?” asked Sungar. “Why should you want to help us?”
“Many asked me the same when I left Candlekeep,” said Kellin. “But I felt that I had no choice. So vivid was my summons that I felt my mind would never feel right again if I ignored it.”
“So you think that the Thunderbeast called youan outsiderto our aid?” asked Sungar, looking her hard in the eye.
“I don’t know if the Thunderbeast did,” she admitted. “But someone did.”
Sungar probed her eyes for a long while. “She speaks the truth,” he finally told Thluna. “I need no priest to tell me that. But you, woman, are still a mystery. Where you’re from, these studies of which you speakI know nothing of these things.”
“I can explain it all,” said Kellin, “if you will listen.”
“Perhaps I do not care to hear your explanations. We do not tolerate the presence of your kind more than necessary. That you know our customs does not change this. I cannot allow you to taint my people and introduce your ways.”
“I am not here to proselytize!” Kellin insisted. “I do not want to change your way of life. Far from it. To tell the truth …” Uncertainty spread through her limbs and her posture fell, her shoulders slumping, and she dropped the formal manner of her speech. “I don’t entirely know why I’m here. I had hoped you might give me some idea.” Her dark eyes shone with warmth.
Glances passed between Sungar and Thluna. Sungar spoke in Common again, speaking her language almost as well as she spoke his.
“You are a new piece in a mystery which vexes our tribe at present. If the Thunderbeast sent you, if you’re here to help, there must be a reason. There are many things we’d like to know right now.”
“Then let us find them together,” Kellin suggested. “I know much of your tribe’s historymore than is recorded in your songs. I’ve come hundreds of miles to see you. I’d hate to think it was a waste.”
Sungar leaned closer to her. “Perhaps you’re a test of our strength. A temptation sent by the Thunderbeast to see if we would accept your kind of aid. We’ve accepted outsiders into our company before, and it has ended badly. Maybe the beast wants us to sacrifice you, the way we sacrificed outsiders in centuries past. If you know our history so well, you should know that I’m telling the truth.”
Kellin trembled slightly but stood her ground and held her head high. “It’s always difficult to know a god’s will,” she said. “Perhaps as an outsider, it’s my role to make up for the failings of the past. Or perhaps it’s just to teach the Thunderbeasts a lesson in humility.”
“I suppose you’ve read that our tribe responds to strength, both of arm and of character,” said Sungar. “Well, daughter of Zale, you’ve proven your mettle. Thluna, arrange a tent for her on the edge of camp, away from the others.” Sungar looked at the sword at her belt. “I trust your weapon is not for decoration.”
She grinned confidently. “I know which end is which.”
Sungar had to smile at that. “Good. You may have some use for it soon.”
CHAPTER 4
An the shadow of the twin stockades that dominated Newfort, Arthus Tyrrell arrived at his modest home after a hard day of work. His features were weathered and his hands were calloused, but he never wondered for a moment if he had made a mistake in
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