179 Dream (1/2)

”The harpy girl told of a force fifty strong, and judging by the stony skin of the orcs, they are of Spikeridge variant,” said Ivo.

Li noted that Spikeridge orcs were around level thirty to forty, averaging ten levels above regular orcs and possessing hardened, stone-like skin adapted from living in a harsh, dry environment which in this case would have been the arid and rolling plains of the hinterlands.

”From the hinterlands, then,” commented Old Thane with a surprised nod.

Understandable surprise.

The hinterlands were far from the Winterwoods. Essentially an entire country's worth of distance away, separated from the Winterwoods not only by several smaller forest systems, but also by a vast elevated ridge that needed either a dangerous days' worth of climbing to pass or several days of arduous uphill trekking.

There was one flat path that linked the Hinterlands to the western territory of Soleil, but that was a highly visible trading path, and no force of orcs could get through it without raising a ruckus that would bring adventurers and hinterlanders crashing down on them.

Any orcs from the hinterlands that had made it this far would have gone through a long journey, to say the very least.

”Yes, and that means they are far, far from home,” said Li. ”I initially suspected they were being driven here, but if they had, then we would have heard about their approach. Surely, they would have ransacked at least a few of the many frontier villages that lie between the Winterwoods and the Hinterlands.”

”Mighty strange, aye,” said Old Thane. ”I know me orcs well. A simpler bunch than us, aye, but mighty driven to goals. They set their sights on a raid, and they will eagerly lose limb and even life for it. But these orcs are no raiders – none of the many frontier villages they would have passed between the Hinterlands and the Winterwoods have been ransacked else we would have heard tell.”

”That leads me to believe they're here for something. Even now, when they're a mere days march away from the Winterwoods, they move carefully.

Isma, the raven harpy who found them, likes to silently glide over and past the Winterwoods during the night to soothe her nerves, and if it had not been someone as quiet as her, no doubt the orcs would not have been visible. They intentionally traveled in such a way to keep a low profile, likely moving only in night, and actively avoiding human settlements.”

”There is the matter of their numbers as well,” said Ivo. ”Fifty is no moving populace. It is more a large party, and parties move not to survive, but to set their sights on a goal, as Thane says.”

”Instead, they march straight to the Winterwoods, aiming right to the heart of Riviera,” said Ivo. ”I fear their aim is the city itself.”

”Perhaps I can go and, hm, persuade one of these fine fellows into telling us of their plans?” said Ven'thur.

Li's rejection was swift. ”No. You stay in the city. You and Sindra absolutely need to hold down our business in Riviera because the rest of us spend so little time there. Even one day without either of you there might mean we miss crucial happenings in the city.”

”As you wish, Guildmaster,” said Ven'thur, tipping his black bowler hat.

Ivo uncrossed his arms, his expression determined. ”Then, Good Seer, I propose this: that I take our order of priests and intercept them as they enter the woods, where the terrain will be vastly to our advantage. With but a little of your assistance, I see no harm falling upon us nor to the good citizens of Riviera.”

”A sound idea, but perhaps we can add a few elements to it,” said Li. ”I know you want to minimize as much harm as you can to anyone that is not us, but that alone will not spread word of the good that you, my priests, can do.

Inform the Adventurer's Guild at first light tomorrow about the incoming orcs. Fifty Spikeridge orcs is enough of a threat that they will dispatch the highest ranked teams currently in Riviera along with a contingent of light priests.

They will serve as witnesses.”

”But what if harm comes upon them?” said Ivo, worried.

Li put the priest's mind to ease. ”I will minimize that risk. Position yourself and your priests along with the adventurers and light priests further back in the forest.

I will stay out at the edge of the Winterwoods and confront them by myself at first. I will question them of their purpose, and if it is truly one seeking refuge, then I will grant it to them for they have not done any harm so far.

If they are hostile, then I will let them pass in the forest, and I will grant you, my priests, more than enough power to utterly crush them. If needs be, I will send Iona or one of my Justicars to aid you. We do not need to have the adventurers and light priests fight.

They simply have to know and watch of the good the Old Faith brought to Riviera.”

”Your word is my will, Good Seer,” said Ivo with bowed head.

”Good, now let's get some sleep while we can,” said Li. ”Tomorrow will be a long day.”

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Li retired to his room. The one built by Old Thane and Aine long ago, meant for a child they never had. The single window streamed in bright beams of moonlight, lighting up where a crib likely would have been, comforting the child from the dark.