by surprise, while they are preoccupied with the Minotaur?” Cazz asked.
“They have patrols in every direction. Nothing moved close to the army with Tabor knowing about it," Hardyn replied.
“Let this man rest,” said Sarchise. “It is getting late; we will have another council at noon tomorrow.”
A Parting of the Ways
Ferdin awoke Sarchise early in the morning. “Sir, the humans are packing to leave.”
Sarchise got up at once and went to find Ermort. The men were almost all packed when he found him. “What are you doing?” he asked.
Ermort looked at him with solemn eyes , “ Obeying orders.”
“You’re leaving?” Sarchise asked.
“Yes, I am taking the most direct route back to South Fort.”
“What about us?”
“We are us. You and I, humans. You and the dwarves are not us. You are taking this prince thing too far. Remember the Royal Scouts. You are still a commander of the scouts. You should come with us back to South Fort. The general will have your head when you do not show back up. What are you a man or a dwarf?” He said to Sarchise, and then to his men. “Form into ranks, we are leaving.”
“I will stay where I am needed. I cannot stay, safely within the walls of South Fort when there is a war going on around us. Didn’t we hate the dwarf for doing the same thing? As for the general, tell him I respectfully resign my commission.”
Ermort looked at him. “It’s not that easy. You can’t put it all in a nutshell like that.” He turned to his men, “Move out!”
Sarchise stood there as the group marched past the gate and disappeared into the forest. He walked away in disgust.
The morning meal was prepared. It was meager. Game in this part of the forest was getting exceedingly scarce. What was left of the bread was moldy and the cheese was all gone. There were only a couple of strips of meat each, as the hunters had only found a few rabbits and a deer to feed the host. Two of the hunters had gone after the bear that killed Sal, but were in turn eaten by the hungry beast. It too was finding its normal food source gone.
The meeting was held in the inner wall next to the watchtower. Caspin started by saying. “We cannot stay here, we have no food. I will send a runner to High Mountain telling them to have provisions for us when we get to the encampment at the elf tree.”
Cazz was upset. “We cannot leave an enemy in the forest and turn our backs to them. They will catch us in the open.”
“We will starve here. The enemy is busy and will not follow us until he has dealt with the Minotaur. We leave in the morning.” Caspin said. With that the discussion was over.
The dwarves packed everything but their bedrolls, when the dawn came they ate a meager breakfast, packed their bedrolls, and started making their way slowly south. Caspin set a small guard to protect the rear of the column. They were to follow at a distance. If they encountered the enemy they were to warn the main army. With this many warriors a journey that would take normally three days would be four. Sarchise walked beside Hemlot and Cazz. Cazz was still upset and was voicing his opinion.
“We should have gone north. We need to meet the enemy head on while they are still preoccupied with the Minotaur. The first time in decades that the dwarves come out of High Mountain, they hear that an enemy is around and make a headlong retreat.”
“Caspin is only doing what he feels best for the army, I don’t know if we could find food in either direction. Perhaps when we get to the elf tree there will be supplies waiting for us. I am starting to miss the dried meat.” Sarchise said.
“Only a human could miss that poor excuse for food.” Cazz replied. Hemlot nodded in agreement. Sarchise laughed.
At the end of the day the column stopped for the night. Caspin set out patrols to warn of any danger and he did not allow fires while not under the protection of
“They have patrols in every direction. Nothing moved close to the army with Tabor knowing about it," Hardyn replied.
“Let this man rest,” said Sarchise. “It is getting late; we will have another council at noon tomorrow.”
A Parting of the Ways
Ferdin awoke Sarchise early in the morning. “Sir, the humans are packing to leave.”
Sarchise got up at once and went to find Ermort. The men were almost all packed when he found him. “What are you doing?” he asked.
Ermort looked at him with solemn eyes , “ Obeying orders.”
“You’re leaving?” Sarchise asked.
“Yes, I am taking the most direct route back to South Fort.”
“What about us?”
“We are us. You and I, humans. You and the dwarves are not us. You are taking this prince thing too far. Remember the Royal Scouts. You are still a commander of the scouts. You should come with us back to South Fort. The general will have your head when you do not show back up. What are you a man or a dwarf?” He said to Sarchise, and then to his men. “Form into ranks, we are leaving.”
“I will stay where I am needed. I cannot stay, safely within the walls of South Fort when there is a war going on around us. Didn’t we hate the dwarf for doing the same thing? As for the general, tell him I respectfully resign my commission.”
Ermort looked at him. “It’s not that easy. You can’t put it all in a nutshell like that.” He turned to his men, “Move out!”
Sarchise stood there as the group marched past the gate and disappeared into the forest. He walked away in disgust.
The morning meal was prepared. It was meager. Game in this part of the forest was getting exceedingly scarce. What was left of the bread was moldy and the cheese was all gone. There were only a couple of strips of meat each, as the hunters had only found a few rabbits and a deer to feed the host. Two of the hunters had gone after the bear that killed Sal, but were in turn eaten by the hungry beast. It too was finding its normal food source gone.
The meeting was held in the inner wall next to the watchtower. Caspin started by saying. “We cannot stay here, we have no food. I will send a runner to High Mountain telling them to have provisions for us when we get to the encampment at the elf tree.”
Cazz was upset. “We cannot leave an enemy in the forest and turn our backs to them. They will catch us in the open.”
“We will starve here. The enemy is busy and will not follow us until he has dealt with the Minotaur. We leave in the morning.” Caspin said. With that the discussion was over.
The dwarves packed everything but their bedrolls, when the dawn came they ate a meager breakfast, packed their bedrolls, and started making their way slowly south. Caspin set a small guard to protect the rear of the column. They were to follow at a distance. If they encountered the enemy they were to warn the main army. With this many warriors a journey that would take normally three days would be four. Sarchise walked beside Hemlot and Cazz. Cazz was still upset and was voicing his opinion.
“We should have gone north. We need to meet the enemy head on while they are still preoccupied with the Minotaur. The first time in decades that the dwarves come out of High Mountain, they hear that an enemy is around and make a headlong retreat.”
“Caspin is only doing what he feels best for the army, I don’t know if we could find food in either direction. Perhaps when we get to the elf tree there will be supplies waiting for us. I am starting to miss the dried meat.” Sarchise said.
“Only a human could miss that poor excuse for food.” Cazz replied. Hemlot nodded in agreement. Sarchise laughed.
At the end of the day the column stopped for the night. Caspin set out patrols to warn of any danger and he did not allow fires while not under the protection of
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