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They could hear the barking speech of the gnolls not far to their
right. Turstin's thoughts and worries went to their wounded mage, Fulbert
did not have a trace of woodscraft about him. Jofrid and Alaric kept
close watch, one to either side and helped Fulbert travel with little
noise.
The gnolls had keen ears but had ruled these lands for so long
that they took little care and placed no guards or watchmen around
their camp. Still they sent out patrols and hunting parties such as the
one which had caused Fulbert's wound and been the death of Genseric.
All was going well, Giannette had faded into the woods, the city
thief had learned a rangers skills during her years of exile. The voices
faded as they went further from the eastern portion of the hill, the slabs
of rock and stone that projected from the oerth were replaced by shrubs
and bushes and a thicker growth of trees. Giannette waited for them at
the woods edge where an old road lay, still in use by monsters like the
gnolls, but overgrown with just a narrow track of dirt kept bare and
surrounded by tall weeds.
They all settled down, hidden by a wild hedge of thornbushes,
before deciding their next move.
"Does that path lead to Pelor's Keep?" asked Alaric.
"It should." said Turstin.
"And Draupnir's mine as well." added Jofrid. "Though that
way is said to have been blocked by fallen stone."
"Only a days travel on the road, but it will be more going
through the woods." Turstin told them.
"Someone still uses that road, enough to keep the weeds and grass
from joining one side to the other." said Giannette. "Those weeds will
give our trail away. I stepped out before you arrived, they will
break and bend if we try to cross."
"The gnolls must use this trail." Alaric spoke his thoughts aloud.
"Yes." mused Giannette. "Yes, very good, yes. There must be a
beaten path we can use. I would guess that it would be up ahead."
"Then we will follow the woods north till we find where the gnolls
have crossed." said Turstin.
"Sounds like a lot of trouble over some broken weeds." said
Fulbert.
"You are too used to cobbled streets." Giannette said to the mage.
"You will get used to living in the wild."
"Never." Fulbert told her. "This is the last time I go walking in
a forest, a caravan is the closest I will come to the wild in the future."
"Giannette, will you scout ahead?" Turstin asked.
"My pleasure." she told the warrior and quickly and quietly set
off.
* * *
Many fires burned within the camp. A huge bonfire was set
at the center of the clearing and smaller cooking fires were dotted
all around.
The gnolls had been camped on the spot for several weeks,
they fled the tribal war which raged across the ruined human town at the
base of the foothills and the famine which had brought the fighting on.
The lands below were now picked clean, the herds were eaten or scattered,
the humans scarce, their farms in ruins and their fields now lying
fallow and filled with weeds or wild grain.
Tales had also reached their ears of defeat to the south and
humans raiding along the east. All signs pointed to a change, not for
the better, they left their home in the shattered streets of West Town
with no regrets.
The woods had proven to be filled with game and freshwater, the
gnolls had fallen back on old habits, happy to be free of the giants
rule and the filth of ruined town.
* * *
(To Be Continued)