Chapter 45 - Ties

Raeyn moved across the blood-streaked battlefield and passed over the tents of the massacred soldiers. She wanted to move away from the dark feast that was taking place as the Dwellin began to voraciously consume the fallen. Their commander followed her, understanding that the small Gobbo was mortified at their rituals and their appearance.

“Warchief Gueddaga,” she said as she reached the smoldering entrance to the tunnel of the warren, “Did you come through the caverns?”

“Yes.” Gueddaga’s deep masculine voice was both loud and reverberating. Even if it was a relative whisper for such a giant, his voice could probably be heard in the center of the camp, “We are aware of the arrival of the Mahn. They have brought fine warriors. These here were soft and weak. Cowardly men who would smother the young in their beds.”

Gueddaga spoke a rough, but fluent Gobbo. Raeyn enjoyed the chance to speak to someone in her native tongue after days of being surrounded by Mahn. Her mouth and gut longed for the familiar movements and the throaty grunt that filled her chest. The words of Mahn were confined to the upper throat, breathy, airy, with a handful of nasal and fricatives but no sound changes or clenching one’s gut to impart strength and meaning to the words.

“I will tell you what I know. They have a force of two thousand down by the shore. I have not seen their power on display, but I fear that they have millions upon millions more in the homeland. I must say your appearance is different from those statues in the cavern.”

“The dwarven stronghold? You got in?” Gueddaga seemed surprised, “We have not been able to get inside there, but it was once a refuge and temple of Belos by the dwarves. The last time it was opened was for the High Priestess Kikulani to wake the fire mountain from its slumber. Sixteen years ago. Chief Biergenn and the powerful warrior Hawkeyes led us into a glorious battle, but your war party was even more powerful than they were.”

She smiled and looked up at Gueddaga in silence for a moment, “You knew my father and mother?”

“Ah! I believed they had a son-” Gueddaga silenced himself quickly.

Her heart suddenly pained, and she shook her head, “I am their only surviving daughter.”

“Then, daughter of Biergeen and Hawkeyes, how did a band of lowly Mahn creatures and their hounds come to siege you? Please tell me of your people’s plight.” Gueddaga refrained from making assumptions, but the words were carefully picked.

A stern, but young familiar voice came from the smoking tunnel, “I can explain.”

Ruha appeared out of the smoke, her body enrobed in a purple blanket around her chest and down to her thighs. A red mantle draped off her shoulders. Her neck was adorned with a gold necklace and each of her fingers were decorated with gold and silver rings that had been cut and forced to close upon her small fingers. Such extravagance was unheard of; she wore such finery and of such quality that Gueddaga roared with laughter at the sight.

“Ambassador!” He cackled, “A bit large on you, child. No Gobbo can wear such a thing with any respect. Those clothes belong to the enemy of us all.”

Ruha’s ears swept back in apparent fury, but her voice was unusually calm, “I am Chieftainess Ruha. My father, the betrayer, has fled and attempted to poison us all. The attack upon my warren has failed. Priestess Vinaraeya, the sounds of battle and the screams of the dying Mahn carried through the tunnels to the depths and beyond the fire walls. I may be young but know that I am honored you have returned to save us. And to you… thank you as well. You must be a Dwellin, for such wondrous height, strength and green skin could only match the tales I have been told.”

“Tales.” Gueddaga restrained a laugh, “A far flung warren such as yourselves doesn’t see us often, but your kind are the watchful outposts that keep these lands safe. To think these foolish creatures would embark twice on the same shores. They must have come with a purpose.”

“It seems they are after the ore to create Magnesia.” She explained, “They intend to stay, but it is likely that many will leave after obtaining this goal.”

“Magnesia?” Guaddaga shrugged, “Meaningless, but the dwarven outpost and mines may have what they are after. It will not matter; the whole of the Host is gathering day by day and come the first snows we will break them once more.”

“Vinaraeya.” Ruha beckoned her attention, “The Great Mother is dying. Rock has passed and his funeral pyre has already burned. Under the circumstances, I believe you should be present for her passing. Belos may not have chosen me because I was fated for a greater purpose. You should receive her dying flame to carry on as the new High Priestess.”

“Kikulani, that old bird still lives?” Gueddaga grunted and raised his fist into the air, “Chieftainess, please bring her out of the warren so we may give our thanks. As the last High Priestess of Belos, she was the protector of these lands and the agent of our guardian deity.”

It was rude to say the least, but she understood more of what had happened now and she nodded to Ruha, “They cannot exactly come inside the warren.”

“These last days have withered her away. She is bedridden and worries about having sent both Leaf and you to your deaths. If she hears that you are well then, she may come up to see you.”

“Go to her,” Guddaga said, “If he is already bedridden then her time has come. Tell her that Guddaga and the whole of the Host honors her for all she has done over countless moons.”

She had never expected Ruha to become Chieftainess, or that Chief Mudohoon would slip away, she had but one question left for Guddaga before departing into the warren with Ruha, “Please keep my friends safe, including the three Mahn. The two Kithe should not be allowed to enter, but do not attempt to stop them.”

“And face the wrath of a priestess of shadows?” Guddaga restrained himself, but he was prone to inappropriate laughter as a show of strength and confidence. It was normal to be afraid of monsters like Cake. It was foolish to not be afraid of someone like that. With a name of such a sweet delicacy masking their brutality, the most terrifying of them all would be named something like Honey or Sugar. It was a clever deception, but it would not fool her twice.

“Are you ready?” Ruha asked.

“Yes.” She prepared herself by taking in a deep breath before disappearing into the smoke-filled tunnel, “Let’s go.”