laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Oiling the breastplate and tending to his greaves, Alex looked up from his seat on the floor within the living room to Easel and Eanna who sat mesmerized before him. Both crosslegged, arms folded into their lap as they leaned forward and watched. Sonja, Abbott, Balan and Cacy along with the third brother, Wesley, were less than enthusiastic however as they watched from the couch and flanking chairs.

"Have you been in many battles," Easel asked.

"A couple," Alex nodded quietly as he cleaned off rust from corners of the metal plates that lined the leather that fit his shin and calf.

"Was it scary?" Eanna queried.

"A little. I'm not afraid though," his heart raced as adrenaline pumped when he thought of his final destination. "I've seen where I'll go if I fall in battle, and it's a beautiful place."

She nodded and he smiled, then noticed dark forms cross the window as Curry and the others arrived at the gate. He quickly donned his armor and strapped on his swordbelt as Sonja approached with a thick leather jacket and fur lined cap.

"These will keep you warm," she stated nervously. "You take care of yourself and come back to us."

"I will. Don't worry, either way I win." He pulled on the jacket that fit over his leather breastplate and greaves and then the hat that fit him snugly as the knock at the door announced his entourage. "Take care, we'll see you soon." The family pat him on the arms as he walked out into the white terrain to greet Curry.

"Ready," the mage asked.

"Yes, sir." He straightened finally and walked out through the gate as Abbott led his family out into the yard and watched them march eastward, leading four pack mules behind them. Alex glanced back to the four other heavily clothed halflings with them, armed with shortswords and bows. "You sure we have enough food for the journey," he sarcastically jabbed.

Curry turned, "Yes, I think so. Hopefully this doesn't take longer than a few days." He turned back to the shoveled path that rose passed several more homes and finally ended as they cut trenches through the drifts and between spruce and pine as they climbed. Over a high ridge, they descended into a northern valley that was wide and short. It's white floor, Alex realized, was an iced over lake as they arrived that night to make camp. He immediately began setting up physical traps and tripwires that would hopefully alert them to any dangers before they were overrun. As he returned, he noticed they had dug out an area around the campfire now burning brightly.

"Are you sure that's a good idea," he eyed the blaze that lit the surrounding boughs, now pillowy white.

"You can't cook without a fire," Curry stated as he sat down on a carved stool and warmed himself.

"A fire in enemy territory is a beacon. We shouldn't be announcing our presence."

"You're overreacting. Their caves aren't even in this valley. Relax."

Alex studied his traveling companions as they continued on with the fifth meal for the day. "I've placed traps and tripwires along our perimeter to alert us of anyone approaching," he motioned as they watched his finger circle their campsite. "No one go outside of there, I'd hate for us to shoot the wrong person."

They nodded as Cuneda, another elder straightened. "Alright. We'll set a watch during the night while we rest also."

"Alright, I'll take the last one," he volunteered. He finally sat down as his eyes kept watch through the trees and across the frozen lake and hoped that there weren't any giants in the distant cover watching them as they relaxed from the day's journey.
Finally laying down, he fell asleep.

A thunderous clash of branches and a yelp awoke Alex and the others as he drew his sword and shield, then jumped up defensively. His blue eyes scanned as a wolf suddenly emerged from the trees as the mules whinied in fright as they bucked and kicked. Sword raised, he charged as two more vaulted onto the back of one of the grey skinned steeds, clamping their claws into it's haunches. He swung and stabbed, then shield bashed as they finally jumped back up from the snow to be hit in the faces and eye by slingstones that sped from behind him. Yelping again, the trio of predators disappeared back into the darkness, tripping more alarms on the way as they ran.

Alexander sighed as he straightened. "Everyone alright," he asked as he turned back to the wide-eyed halflings.

"Yes," Curry stated as he rushed to the mule and nursed its wounds.

After breakfast, they hiked over the frozen bridge that joined both sides of the valley and began climbing the opposite slope as they neared the following ridgeline. Looking out over the lower carpet of white clouds, he noticed sparse peaks and ridges that dotted the distance to the horizon. Above, thin wispy clouds vainly kept out the warmer sun as they descended through the fog. Once into the grey cloaked forest, Curry moved up to his side.

"This is the valley that we've come for."

"How long ago was your brother lost," Alex queried.

"Several months now," the elder quietly revealed.

He nodded, then focused on the path that they meandered through, between tall pine and shorter spruce. Slowly picking out the road, he noticed how rocky the mountainside was.
Soon, his eyes caught sight of movement to the right and through the trees. He held up his fist and crouched to get a better look. Curry crunched up and leaned over.

"What is it," the mage asked.

Alexander pointed as he watched the tall, long haired giant walk up through the trees and then suddenly disappear. First target. "Leave the mules here. We'll try and stay downwind of the entrance as best as we can and then try and lure it out."

Curry nodded, then relayed the plan. They moved quietly towards the opening that he now saw between boulders and trees which pointed to a distant pathway that had been cut through the snow heading northward. He positioned the missile bearing group to good spots with line of sight as he and Curry crouched near the entrance and slightly above. He tossed a rock into the darker cave and waited. Nothing. Quickly scanning their surroundings, he didn't notice any others sneaking up on them, so tossed another rock into the cave and heard it bounce within the darkness. Soon, the tall female giant stepped into view cautiously and sniffed the air. His adrenaline pumped as he waited for her to approach closer.

Curry chanted as he motioned with his hands and she soon stepped out further. Suddenly, slingstones fired from the treeline and pelted her in the face and chest, prompting her to shield herself, then retreat. Alex sighed as he glanced to their compatriots, then Curry launched a firebolt into the cave that roared down it's length, lighting its path the whole way and soon exploding with screams and crashing deep within. Alex watched in horror as dark smoke soon wafted out through the entrance and nearly choked them as he backed away. Hand to nose, he heard the screaming grow louder and the female's burning body ran out into the forest, crashing and bouncing off of the trees as she passed until finally dropping into the drifts, unmoving. He raced up to the stinking body as black smoke and sizzling flesh nearly made him nauseous. Raising the sword, he stabbed her in the heart, then extracted his blade and quickly escaped the stench as the halflings all stood in amazement.

"That was quite a shot, Curry," Cuneda congratulated.

Just nodding, the elder mage eyed Alex, then motioned into the cave. Alexander knew that there could be more within, possibly. He nodded and headed inside as they followed. Smoldering pine, thick with yellowish-white smoke clouded the ceiling as they surveyed the damaged interior.

"Hey, look at this," one of the fighters called. Alex turned to notice the opened chest of stone that contained axes and two hammers. He approached as Curry eyed them also.

"Those belong to fighters of the Stormfist Clan," the elder revealed.

"What would they be doing this far northwest," Cuneda asked as he picked up one of the ornately carved axes. It's metal haft carved with a stylized handle and other runes, Alex was amazed at the workmanship.

"You're sure they're from that Clan," Alex asked.

"It says so right here," Curry said, pointing to a group of indecipherable runes.

"Maybe they belonged to them," a voice stated from the opposite side of the large room. They turned to notice one of their number motion down below the plane of the floor. Alex quickly jogged to the edge to see five dwarves laying in a pit, their armor and hair laying about in a mass around tattooed bodies. Alex kneeled down and bowed his head.

"About time," a gruff voice stated from below. His blue eyes opened to gaze down into the face of a stern dwarf as he sat up. Black braided hair fell down around his sweat covered, strong chest and back. "Are you just going to sit there gawking, or you going to throw down a rope?"

"Get the rope and the mules," Alex directed, prompting two of the halflings to sprint from the cave as fast as they could.

"How are the others," Curry asked, his voice reverberating within the dark walls.

"Unconscious. You a healer?"

"Yes. Is anyone injured?"

"Nothing a stiff beer won't cure. I imagine you've got your own casks with you."

Soon, the arrival of the hooves thundering down the rocky entrance announced their huffing handlers who quickly grabbed the rope and tied it off to a large metal support for the cookpot, then tossed it down to the stout fighters who climbed up. Alex offered his hand to the first whose brow furrowed at the sight. He backed as the next climbed up behind him.

"Rescued by a human boy and halflings, I'll never live this one down."

Alex smiled.