Chương 15: Mountain Pass

"Master, you think this stuff is flammable? It looks like oil."

"Possibly. Stick it in the fire and find out." —The Apprentice Artificer's Guide to Singed Eyebrows The next morning came quietly. An increased watch meant less sleep, not that many were able to get any real rest after the events of the night. The mood was more reflective than morose, and Emmie managed to keep a positive attitude despite missing a limb. I suspected this had more to do with her continued efforts to protect others than comforting herself.

Discussions began to take form as to whether we should turn back, as we now had injured members. Emmie had become quite heated, perceiving the question as an insinuation that she had become any sort of a burden. She shot that down with a quickness that dispelled any thoughts of the kind. As much as we hated the thought of facing more of the fiends, or worse, we knew that whatever lay in the valley couldn't be worse than the war that waited behind. My health had nearly regenerated back to full.

It seemed to me that it was more of an abstract representation of how injured I was. I got knocked around a bit, but had been fortunate enough to avoid taking too many hits. Most of my injuries were minor from when one of the fiends had exploded a bit too close. While looking through the remains of the creatures, Gene had found two full concepts and one lesser. From what we gathered, the Tar Fiends didn't drop a concept if it exploded. The quest board in Fairfield had requested the 'Ooze from a Tar Fiend'.

What its use might be was beyond me, but I gathered as much as would fit in an empty jar from the wagon. There was plenty of time to experiment with it later. Seeing an opportunity to get some practice in, not to mention satisfying my aching curiosity, I volunteered to identify the concepts and received one level in [Inspect] for my efforts. This time, the experience was much different; I had a reference point to go by.

The various aspects of the Tar Fiends gave me a good idea of what to look for, and once I'd felt the nature of the concepts, it was clear what they embodied. Naturally, Emmie had her pick of the three, as she was the reason any had dropped in the first place. She took a Concept of Force, leaving a Concept of Causticity and Lesser Concept of Rigidity to be placed in the group's storage to be voted on for use at a later time. I felt quite certain that everyone knew what she planned to do with her concept.

I greedily eyed the box as its lid was shut and securely placed in the wagon, and had to force myself to other thoughts. I couldn't have all the concepts. The day blessedly passed without event, and the following morning I got to work on making more arrows for Gene. The Fireleaf gave way to a more hearty variant, the Spindlenut. A brief inspection revealed inedible nuts that would invoke uncontrollable vomiting. Naturally, I pocketed several of the hard-shelled nuts.

I'd seen Emmie hopping around the camp, despite having such a grievous injury only two days prior, and wanted to make her some crutches. Nancy really had come through with her miracle medicine, and I couldn't begin to imagine how much it surely had to cost. The HOA pockets run deep, I see. At least they are spending it in the right places this time. I didn't forget about that poolhouse… Now. Which limb would work best… With the downward angle of the branches came less weight to hold, allowing for straighter limbs.

This was favorable for two of the projects I had in mind. The spears would require a grown sapling since this species didn't have the size of branch that I'd need. First, I selected two branches that split at the ends and cut them down. Left with about five feet before the split, I pared it down with my hatchet. I did the same four inches after the split. Using my kiridashi knife, I worked a notch into each side of the split branch, and fit a small, five-inch cut of the main branch into each notch.

A hole carved through the body about a third of the way down the main length fit a hand-hold. I repeated the process with the other five-foot branch, and was left with a pair of crude crutches. It would be an embarrassment to gift them in their current condition; the bare wood would be uncomfortable and chafe under the arms. Joann was happy to donate to the cause and gave me a cutting from a bolt of cloth. I packed hay, then softer grass around each brace, and then wrapped it tightly in cloth.

It wasn't ideal, but it was a far sight better than it was without padding. To avoid the branch splitting when weight was applied, I cut a thin strip of leather from my leftover materials, wound it halfway across the length of the brace section, and cinched it tightly. It would prevent each side from over-flexing. Once complete, I inspected the job. > Wooden Crutches > Basic crutches crafted from Spindlenut wood. > Quality: Common > Grade: Low > Value: 3s, 12c > Woodworking Leveled Up! I grimaced at the grade.

While it wasn't my best work, it was serviceable, and I didn't exactly have much to work with. In fact, I think it turned out pretty well, all things considered.

"Emmie!" I called out on my approach.

"Check it out! They aren't fancy or anything, but they should help you move around a little easier." I held out the crutches for her to grab. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. She gave a whistle and put them under her arms.

"You made these that fast? Thank you!" She moved around in a circle, testing them. Nancy watched, her arms crossed, wearing a scowl of disapproval.

"How do they feel? And am I about to get in trouble?" I asked, glancing at Nancy.

"A little tall, I think. And no, I think I am." She rolled her eyes.

"She thinks I'm gonna bust open my leg. She's been getting on to me all day, like she's my mom or something." I chopped about an inch from the bottom and she re-tested the fit.

"Perfect! How much do I owe ya?"

"How about a silver?" I was learning her personality a little bit better, and I knew better than to suggest that they were free. She flipped me two. I got back to work, making a bundle of arrows for Gene, this time with a basic fletching from the paper-thin bark of the Spindlenut secured by some thread. A couple of larger saplings made up the spear shafts. My efforts netted me another woodworking level and one Craftsman. Focusing on equipping Gene so early proved fruitful, as we dined on venison that night.

Our food supply was quickly dwindling, and without the ability to fish, the entire group had come to rely on him to provide for us while on the road. We foraged for berries and other herbs as we had the opportunity, often referencing Ernie's handbook, but it wasn't enough to survive on. Each passing day, the mountain loomed closer, the winds grew a little colder, and the road turned into a trail that eventually faded entirely. The ground became rocky, which brought with it the first of our troubles.

We were forced to move much more slowly, navigating around large rocks and boulders. A rolled ankle added another body to the tally of those unable to walk, further increasing the burden of the already strained wagon. The last thing we needed was a broken wheel. The wind coming down from the mountain whipped at us mercilessly. The trees had become few and far between over the last day, and we were left with amber fields of grass and rocks.

The few trees that had managed to grow did so low to the ground, contorted by the wind. It was hazardous travel that only the hares and strange prowling creatures traversed. They followed the caravan, always keeping their distance, but never straying far. Like starving wolves, they held their heads low, waiting for one misstep, one person to fall just a little too far behind.

At night we huddled close to one another; there was no firewood available now, and the harsh winds would have killed whatever we'd manage to get started anyway. The cold made our situation uncomfortable. The howling made it sleepless. The first sighting of our target came on the fourth day, and it's good that it did. The tension among our weary group had grown. Neighborly goodwill could only survive so long in these conditions. Finding the entrance to the valley had proved difficult.

Our maps showed only a twin peak to signify the valley pass, and after half a day's travel west along the mountain, we only discovered it through Gene's suggestion of following the game trails. The relief amongst our group was palpable. I couldn't stand the thought of another restless night in the open plains. And just like that, the quiet atmosphere was broken, and a sense of curiosity and excitement washed over us. We were eager to see our new home.

Sheer cliffs rose like barriers of massive granite spikes that erupted from the earth. Our path was nearly impossible to navigate with the abundance of stone that had tumbled down the eroding mountain face. A small path, mostly clear of stones, was faintly visible from the last caravan that had come through here, decades prior. However, enough time had passed that we would need to clear the accumulated debris since then. I took one last look behind us.

The amber fields stretched as far as I could see, broken only by the occasional grey boulder that rose above the grassline. The wolf-like creatures had fallen away as we neared the pass and were lost to sight. Turning back to the caravan, I followed the group, bringing up the rear. A soft curve made up the floor of the pass, creating a serviceable road that wound its way upward. Great white gashes on the walls showed where mining crews must have worked, widening the route through the mountain.

It made me wonder just how much the duke lost on this excursion; the amount of effort put into this had to be massive. Soft curves guided us ever upward, never staying completely straight, presumably following the path an ancient stream had carved. We walked this way for about an hour, long enough for the sun to appear, then disappear over the gap in the peaks above us. The incline leveled, and ahead, a large gap poured light into the pass. Excited chatter sprang up, and Nibbles barked, happily including himself.

I traded a glance with Darby; his silence and moody expression finally broke into a small smile for the first time in recent days. Our tired and weary group broke the threshold and stepped into the valley. I shielded my eyes from the sun until my vision adjusted from the darkened pass. Nearly cloudless blue skies shone over a vast and vibrant valley below us. Verdant forests splashed up against the sides of the valley, a wave of greenery that slowly faded to grey slopes.

Sapphire lakes twinkling in the sun dotted the landscape. Amongst seas of grassy fields, a winding river flowed from the largest peak. At the far end of the valley, only slightly visible, rose the mountain range that separated us from what lay beyond. I took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, crisp mountain air. It was warmer now; the valley was in a pocket that the mountain winds circumnavigated. It was a wonder, locked away from the world, available only through the coverup of a single fool's failure.

We began our descent, pointing at various oddities or natural formations in the distance. Danny and Ernie excitedly discussed potential locations for our settlement. Such a vantage point as the entrance provided made for the perfect scouting point.

"Look there! Just below the river. No, lower, left of that clearing." Danny pointed out the buildings that belonged to the previous settlement.

"It's not a terrible spot, but it's a bit close to the forests. That spot, further to the right." He pointed out another to Ernie.

"Isn't that too far? I can't even really see it from here…" Ernie trailed off, squinting against the sun.

"Exactly. It's next to a healthy creek, there's stone everywhere, and it's got a good view of the surroundings." He continued to point out other potential landing spots, happily engaging anyone who disagreed or had a suggestion. I didn't mind where we settled. I just wanted a shop, maybe a little forge of my own. My own cabin… and a workbench. My heart swelled at the thought, and I looked over the valley. Nearly a hundred miles of the most beautiful secluded nature reserve, and it was ours. We were home.