Lord Gregory took Hyden’s room in the family burrow. Hyden, Phen, Oarly, Telgra, and Lieutenant Welch shared a larger burrow, one usually reserved for livestock. The three men under Lieutenant Welch bunked in the burrow that Borg had once turned into a stable cavern for the horses.
The underground burrows were roomy enough. The walls and ceilings were generally stone slabs formed into square structures, buried by the giants aeons ago. The burrow the companions were sharing had four rooms and a long, covered entry tunnel. The central room was furnished with a carved wooden table and chairs, and a divan made from lashed-together deadfall, cushioned with stuffed goatskin pillows. The other three rooms were for sleeping. Each had a soft, wood frame bed and a small table along with a shelved cubby to store personal items.
Telgra was given her own room. Phen and Hyden shared, as did Oarly and the lieutenant. The main room sported a hearth, and the fire served to warm the other rooms. Smoke was vented through a shaft at the highest corner of the ceiling. There were no windows, but the walls of the main room were carved into a leafy, vine-strewn pattern, which had been worn to near obscurity over the centuries.
Oarly spent a long time admiring the work that one of his ancestors had obviously done. No giant or elf could work stone that well. He drank several toasts to the quality of the craftsmanship.
When the time came, Hyden used Lord Gregory’s farewell as an excuse to get himself, the Lion Lord, and the Eldest alone. He had something of the utmost importance to tell them, but for the three days that his friends were in the village it had been impossible to get the two men away from everyone else.
First, it was the gifts. It took a whole day for the clansfolk to open the thoughtful presents the Lion Lord had brought them. No one had been left out. Every man, woman, and child received something from him and Lady Trella: dolls, wooden blocks, letter boards, toy swords, jewelry, farming implements, leather goods, cloth, and even a few bottles of expensive liquor. It was clear that Lord Gregory had spent a fortune.
That first day, Hyden had given up trying to isolate his uncle and the Westlander. He was thankful that his people were too occupied to worry about Lady Telgra’s presence. The whole snow-covered valley was alive with clacking sword fights and giggling glee.
The second day, Hyden got caught up with the companions in a discussion about the route they should take, the supplies they would need, and the matter of packing the gear for their trek through the Giant Mountains. The ideas and concerns kept him preoccupied throughout the day. Later in the evening, Phen and Oarly approached him, worrying over his unease. Hyden assured them that it had nothing to do with them.
The third day, Hyden finally herded Lord Gregory into his Uncle Condlin’s burrow. Condlin’s boys, Tylen and Little Con, and their mother said their goodbyes and thank yous to the Lion Lord. Hyden showed them his agitation, and thankfully they excused themselves. Finally, Hyden sighed and gathered both men’s attention by getting to the point of his distress.
“She is the daughter of the Queen Mother,” he blurted out to their blank expressions.
“Who is?” Lord Gregory asked.
“The Lady Telgra,” Hyden answered. “I cast a seeing spell on her. One day she will be the leader of all elven kind.”
“By the goddess, she must be moved to a private burrow and treated as her station dictates.” Hyden openly showed his surprise when the Eldest said this. His Uncle Condlin went on. “Just because we have issue with the feral creatures, we can’t just treat her like common folk.”
Hyden couldn’t help but smile at his uncle’s reaction. Maybe there was hope for his people yet. “She doesn’t know who she is,” Hyden reminded them. “Besides that, my father would start a ruckus if any elf were treated better than a clansman.”
The Eldest nodded his agreement. “But what do we do?”
“There are other people looking for her, Hyden,” Lord Gregory said. “Another elf, and a Salayan monk who were in her party. They were separated in a storm. Phen and Oarly washed up on the same chunk of marshland she did.” The Lion Lord went on to explain what he knew about the situation.
“We don’t do anything,” Hyden finally said. “She’s going with us to restore her memory. My concern is that her mother, the Queen Mother, has to be aware that she is alive and well. Phen sent word to the elves from Dreen.” Hyden looked at Lord Gregory with a sympathetic grimace on his face. “No doubt a delegation of elves will soon visit the red city, looking for her.”
“She has made it clear that she doesn’t want to deal with her people until she has been to the Leif Repline fountain,” Lord Gregory said. “It will be a delicate situation. The Queen Mother won’t be happy. I don’t think Mikahl will allow me to betray Lady Telgra’s trust.”
“Why not just tell her who she really is, Hyden?” the Eldest asked.
“It’s not my place,” Hyden answered simply. “She said she didn’t want to know until her whole memory was restored. I only told you because, as the Eldest of this clan, you should know who is in your village and under your protection. I honestly think that her going on this quest will help the future relationship between men and elves tremendously.”
“Only if she survives,” Lord Gregory said. “If she were to die while questing with humans, it might easily start a war.”
“I cannot deny her a place on this quest,” Hyden said. Then to his uncle, “Even if we have to spend the winter elsewhere.” His voice told them both he was firm in his decision.
“Have you sought the advice of the goddess on this matter?”
“I have,” Hyden nodded. “As should you.”
“I have no problem with the situation,” Lord Gregory offered. “But the other elf and the monk will be in Dreen when I return. What do I tell them? Not long after, a delegation from the Evermore will come as well. I’ve heard that older elves can divine things from men with their magic.”
“I will consult with the White Goddess, Hyden,” Condlin said after a long moment of thought. His expression showed that he didn’t want to say what he was about to say next. “But unless there is some great revelation as to why I should put our people at risk while betraying the Queen Mother, then I am afraid you and your friends might have to winter somewhere else.”
“I understand, Eldest,” Hyden said. “I will make preparations to leave here as quickly as possible. I hope that a day or two more of Skyler hospitality will be extended so that we may leave fully prepared.”
“Aye, Hyden,” Condlin said. “Make careful and complete preparations; do not rush into the winter.”
“Where will you go?” Lord Gregory asked.
“If I don’t tell you, my friend, then you don’t have to feel as if you're being untruthful or withholding from the elves when they question you.”
“Nor will they be able to divine the information from you,” the Eldest said. “You won’t be forced to lie to King Mikahl either.”
“You’re sharp as a blade, Hyden Hawk,” Lord Gregory laughed. “I have an idea where you will go, and I approve.”
“I won’t have to lie to the elves when I send Tylen into the Evermore to tell the Queen Mother that I have seen her daughter and that she is well,” the Eldest said.
“Why contact them at all?” Hyden asked.
“If you ever have children, Hyden,” the Eldest started prophetically, “you’ll understand. The Queen Mother is a parent, and no parent should have to wonder about her child’s safety. It’s just a matter of respect.”
“Telgra’s more than a hundred years old, but it couldn’t hurt relations between our clan and the elves.” Hyden shrugged. “At least wait until we are well away.” He remembered watching Condlin carry a travois with his dying son on it for days. This was just after another of the man’s children had fallen to his death. If anyone alive understood the grim realities of parenting, it was Condlin Skyler.
The Eldest smiled. “I hope you know that I would never do anything to hinder you, Hyden. If I didn’t know that you had a hundred other places to spend the winter, I might find a way to temper my brother’s hatred for the elves and keep all of you here.”
Hyden saw the love in his uncle’s eyes, and the sincerity. “I couldn’t put you in that position.” Then to Lord Gregory, Hyden said, “It was grand seeing you again, Lord Lion. Give Mikahl and Rosa my best. King Jarrek and Queen Willa, as well. I’m afraid I’m going to be far too busy to see you off. I’m sure Phen and Oarly will want to say goodbye, though.”
“I was hoping to get away without having to see those two again,” Lord Gregory joked. “I don’t envy you.”
Condlin poured a round of brandy wine for himself and Lord Gregory as Hyden left.
Hyden found he was relieved. All he had to do now was find an excuse for the sudden change of plans that didn’t offend Lady Telgra. He was sure King Aldar would shelter them through the harsher months of the winter. Finding Borg, though, would be the trick. He wouldn’t hole the party up while searching for the giant. He would lead them to the cavern where he, Mikahl, Vaegon, and Loudin had taken shelter once before. If they couldn’t find Borg, they could ride the bitter weather out there.
Lord Gregory left later that afternoon. Phen handled the goodbye well, but Oarly was drunk and became over emotional. Lieutenant Welch and Jicks had to pry the dwarf off of the Lion Lord. The clansfolk had a good laugh at the scene. A trail of little black-haired swordsmen followed the Lion out of the valley, but after he disappeared over the other side of the ridge, the children returned.
Two days later, the quest party, looking like a line of wild-haired two-legged creatures leading a train of horses, eased out of the snow-bleached valley as the sun filled the sky with a peachy light.
Hyden’s excuse for the change of plans was simple. He said that if they could get to the fabled city of Afdeon before the winter trapped them, then they were that much closer to the restorative fountain when spring came. Neither Phen nor Lieutenant Welch wholeheartedly believed the story, it was clear, but Hyden was glad that no one questioned him over the matter.
The shagmar cloaks were warm, but still Oarly complained. Spike rode in a deep, fur-lined pocket Phen had sewn into his. The few days spent trapped in the aereated trunk had quelled the lyna’s desire to get at the dwarf. Talon searched ahead of them for signs of trouble, and Hyden spoke some words that would hopefully find their way to the ears of the giants’ Southern Guardian by way of bird or beast.
The first leg of the quest was finally underway. An elven princess, an ornery dwarf, and six men leading ten heavily-loaded horses headed north into the Giant Mountains.
Hyden hoped they could find Borg before the weather turned nasty. A little snowfall was nothing in the foothills. Once they were in the heart of the range they would either find Borg and gain the shelter of Afdeon or be forced to ride out the winter huddled in a cave, like the ancients. Hyden hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He had to remind himself that he had newfound power to use, the power of the ring he had taken from what was left of Gerard in the Nethers. The many ways he might use magic to find Borg, or even the hidden city, made the odds next to impossible for them to be stuck for the winter. It was with that optimism that he began thinking of other ways to contact the giant while he led his friends into one of the most treacherous places in the realm.
Lord Gregory made it back to the wagons. Each had only a single horse to pull it now, but they were empty, so it was a manageable task. The three drivers were also soldiers, men King Mikahl had picked from the ranks because of their ability to drive the wagons. There was no perceived threat between the foothills and Dreen, but with demons still loose in the world, the High King made it clear that he wasn’t taking any chances.
Lord Gregory chose to ride in his saddle. The hard board seats weren’t very kind to his old body. The weather lessened the further south they went. When the tall, needle-like spire came into view ahead of them it was the afternoon of the second day. The snow was so light that it wasn’t even noticeable, but an icy mist had blanketed the Leif Greyn Valley. Visibility was limited as they moved through it, and they were almost to the base of the spire before they saw Corva and Dostin standing there nervously.
Lord Gregory dismounted and strode over to the face of the monolith, where his name was carved. He hadn’t met them yet, but he knew without a doubt who they were.
“She is important to our people, my lord,” Corva said. “Far more important than I can explain.”
“She doesn’t want to be bothered at this time,” Lord Gregory told them. “I know who Princess Telgra is. The problem is that they have already moved on from where I left them. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t tell you where they have gone.”
“The Queen Mother won’t understand the kingdom’s lack of cooperation in finding her daughter,” Corva explained. “I do not know how that will affect our already shaky relationship.”
“Your queen should understand lack of cooperation extremely well.” Lord Gregory’s tone had a bit of bite to it. “The princess is safe, I can promise you that. Men from the village where we parted ways are already on their way into the Evermore. That is all I can say.”
“Is your name really on there?” Dostin asked stupidly.
“Yes, it is.” Lord Gregory pointed to the script. “Here.”
Dostin eased up close and squinted at the carved letters. He spoke aloud as he read. “Lord Alvin Gregory, Lord of the West, victorious over Sir Willmont Baylor of Valleya in the Brawl.”
“The princess was under my protection,” Corva said to Lord Gregory with the proper amount of respect in his voice. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll just follow your tracks to where you came from. It is my duty.”
Lord Gregory nodded and shook his head. The elf’s sincerity, and good intent, was radiating from him. “You’d better hurry along then,” he said evenly. “It’s snowing in the foothills.”
Corva nodded then unexpectedly extended his hand up to the Lion Lord. “Thank you, my lord. Come now, Dostin, we must make time.”
Lord Gregory watched after them, but after only a moment they were lost in the icy mist. He wasn’t certain he wanted to know what would happen when the monk and the elf entered the clan village. The snow wasn’t deep enough to obscure his trail completely. If the elf could track at all, he would find the Skylers. If the two of them managed to survive that, then maybe they could find Hyden and the others. He decided that it wouldn’t be a bad thing if that happened. What King Mikahl had said about the monk’s fighting ability, and the elf’s determination to carry out his duty, meant they could probably help Phen and the others succeed.
Lord Gregory also found that he didn’t want to think about what would happen if the quest failed. If Princess Telgra didn’t return with her memory, or worse, didn’t return at all, then the friction between the humans and the elves would surely turn volatile.