Chapter 35: Getting Back to the Farm

Alcar hurried along the farm track, with Brutus loping ahead. The track was only wide enough for a single cart, and the nearby area on either side was marked by a broad and muddy verge before the real fields began.

By the many hoof prints, it was clear that this zone was used by the local farmers as a route to move their herds of livestock. Alcar briefly pondered on the difficulties that must exist in terms of keeping farm animals safe from orcs, swamp gremlins, rogue lizardfolk, and more.

As he walked on, Alcar pulled out the parcel that Lox’aar had given to him. Surely it must be a gift from Master Maluhk, he reasoned to himself. Could it be some sort of instructions about getting to the Trollbone Hills? A more detailed map, or the journal of an adventurer? Perhaps even a spellbook, or a magical item? Excitement began to build as Alcar unwrapped the cord around it, tucking his staff over his forearms as he did so.

When he unwrapped the item, however, he felt disappointed – it was a book, but not one that looked magical or even useful. The title was:

The Lost Portal of Dathmir

by Gorba Longtongue (goblin)

Some random book about Dathmir province – and by a damn goblin, of all things? What was Maluhk thinking? Alcar had never been a great fan of school work, and the idea that he would read about some historical artefact was very off-putting. And especially so, because the word of a goblin could never be trusted (if such creatures could even string a coherent sentence together in the first place). Thrusting the book back inside his robes, Alcar thumped his staff down on the road surface and hurried on.

Around twenty minutes of walking later, the road turned, with a horizontal wooden fence marking the front of a farm to his left, and open gates beyond. The fields within were marked by haybales, trees, and wagons, and he was strongly reminded of the fence that he, Olynka and Sprigg had crossed in order to escape from the swamp gremlins. Could it be part of the same property? Brutus stopped to sniff at the fence, woofed, and then urinated on one of the uprights.

Alcar hurried along more rapidly, aware that the sun was now slowly beginning to sink towards the horizon above the mountains ahead of him. The afternoon didn’t have long to go, and he and his companions had a long journey ahead of them – staring out by going in the other direction, past Katresburg and away in the direction of Dathmir province. If this was Kora’s farm – and Lox’aar was correct that his friends had gathered there – they would need to set out soon. The Trollbone Hills were far away... at least he thought so, but of course, Alcar had never been there.

He also very much hoped that the others had managed to hold onto the recently-purchased equipment in the two sacks. The grappling hook was lost, of course, and he still had Brutus’s blanket in his possession (it was now just as damp as his robes and boots), but the bedrolls would be essential in the days to come.

“Yes,” he murmured to himself, as be moved to the broad open gateway ahead, and looked in. “This is the place.” He was certain that the entrance was the same one that marked the north end of Kora’s farm, and which they had left in a hurry on board her wagon.

And Alcar didn’t have to wait long for confirmation:

“Alcar! They found you!” came a shout.

He looked around to see that Olynka was hurrying towards him, a broad grin on her face. The young archer was holding her bow, and was still clad in the new leather armor he had seen earlier that day. Behind, Alcar could see Etienne leaning against a tree, smoking, and a backdrop of an imposing wooden barn that he had barely noticed during his last visit to the area.

“What exactly happened to you guys?” he said, walking foward to meet with Olynka just inside the farm gates. “And where’s Leppie?”

“Oh, the healer!” Olynka rolled her eyes. “Last seen flirting with the farm workers, I think? Or maybe she went to help Kora with the food, I’m not sure... Come on – I need to tell Kora that you’re here!”

They walked in the direction of the barn, and Etienne now strode over to meet them. Alcar was surprised that everyone appeared so relaxed – their plans had been delayed, and there could be Imperials searching the area. And a part of him had not forgotten the swamp gremlins that had chased them on their previous visit to the fringes of the swamp. It would be good to leave the farm, and quickly. “Let’s speak to Kora, and then get Leppie,” he said as they walked, pointing back towards the gateway with a thump over his shoulder. “We should get moving.”

But Olynka shook her head. “We’re leaving tomorrow.”

Etienne nodded at this. “We’ve all agreed to it, man. Besides – you need to get cleaned up. You’re covered with... well, I don’t know what the hell that is. But previously your robes were only a single shade of green.”

Alcar looked down; he had to admit, he felt cold and damp, and algae coated his robes, particularly the lower half. But clearly his friends were forgetting some of the dangers that he felt very acutely aware of.

“Never mind about my robes, Ett,” he said. “I hope you managed to keep hold of all of the new equipment?”

Etienne chuckled. “The bedrolls? They are heavy as hell. I was on the verge of chucking them into a field when Warlik showed up.”

Olynka nodded, peering skeptically at Etienne as she did so. “I told him not to, Alcar. He seems to think we can steal what we want when we’re on our way.”

“What I think,” said Etienne, waving his pipe in the air as they walked on, now approaching the main farmhouse on their left, “is that any journey I take needs to be in comfort. I’m not one to go on adventures as some kind of endurance test, or to prove how tough I am. A warm room in an inn, that’s what I need, not a stupid bedroll in a cave.”

“Well...” began Olynka.

“Didn’t the sorcerer have a stack of dwarven gold?” continued Etienne. “We need a stipend, not sackloads of heavy equipment to lugg around.”

Alcar nodded. “He kind of has a point. I mean, I do appreciate Master Maluhk buying the equipment, but we will need some coin to spend along the way. I still only have a single copper.”

“So where is the sorcerer?” asked Olynka.

Before Alcar could respond, the farmhouse door opened, and Kora stepped out. She was wearing a blue tunic, sleeves rolled back to reveal her lithe, muscular forearms, and carried several tankards which were brimming with ale. Leppie then hurried out just behind the farmer. The healer looked uncharacteristically wet, her long dark hair dripping over a pale white shirt and gray breeches that she was wearing; there was no sign of her usual black robes.

“Here’s some ale to keep you going until the food is...” Kora began, and then stopped as she caught sight of Alcar. “Oh – you guys found your leader. Well done!” She flashed a grin.

Alcar smiled sheepishly. “Hello, Kora. Good to see you again, and thank you for hosting my, er... our adventuring party.”

“Alcar’s keen to get moving,” said Olynka.

“Moving?” Kora replied, raising the tankards. “Tonight? Come now – we’re not savages, are we? Hospitality calls for more than just a bath and a packed lunch.”

“We very much appreciate what you’ve done for us, Kora,” said Leppie, rubbing at he hair with a towel as she spoke.

“You’re very welcome,” said Kora. “Alcar, I offered the others a room for a night, and food and feasting with myself and the farm workers this evening. I do hope you’ll join us.”

Alcar looked sideways at Olynka and then at Etienne, who were both nodding enthusiastically. “But what about the Imperials? Or the swamp creatures?”

Kora let out a peal of sonorous laughter. “I know you city folk look down on the likes of us, but I can assure you that farming folks are able to look after their guests. Imperials won’t waste time visiting farms when there are a thousand times as many recruits and runaways to be found in the city. And as for swamp creatures, well... as long as you don’t lead them in here again, we should be safe.” She snickered, and then began to hand out the tankards of ale.

Alcar nodded stiffly as he received his, feeling a little put out by the implied criticism of his previous adventure. All the same, he had to admit to himself, a room for the night and a chance to dry off would be welcome. Etienne looked very content to stay here indefinitely, and it was clear that Olynka greatly admired the young farmer-slash-wannabe warrior.

“Are you on board with this?” he asked Leppie.

The healer stopped towelling her head for a moment, and looked at him. “My god provides,” she said. “If food, rest, hospitality or company are offered, I view all such things as gifts of Hernvall, and accept them with gratitude.”

“That’s a conveniently flexible moral code,” Alcar muttered. He then focused on Kora again. “You’re sure it’s safe here?”

She shook her head. “In the country, never completely. But you’re a brave adventure, right?” She grinned and punched him on the shoulder. “As long as we have Alcar the Sorcerer with us, everything should be fine?”

Olynka raised her glass, and drank deeply of the ale.

End of Part 2