Silver Peak, page 6
part #2 of Sky Realms Online Series
Hall zoomed out on the map, getting a wider look at the southwestern area of Edin. He tried to remember all the quests that were available in the zone. A very large zone, there had been numerous quest hubs. Besides the cities of Auld and Silver Peak Keep, there had been smaller ones scattered around.
One in particular.
Not just a quest hub, but a place with its own reputation and rewards. The gear found there had quickly been outpaced by other quest rewards in the northern areas of Edin, but that would not be why they would be going there. Not this time.
But where was it? he thought, trying to remember the old map.
To the southeast, where the foothills gave way to the moors, there was a forest, Fallen Green. The road from Auld to Silver Peak Keep ran along the southern edge of the woods, between it and the island’s edge. Somewhere in that forest was a village. A Firbolg village.
“You sure about this?” Sabine asked as they finished up a cold breakfast, after Hall had told them his thoughts about where they should go next.
Hall shrugged.
“It’s not that far out of the way,” he replied. “We can resupply, heal up fully, and maybe even get some experience.”
Sabine looked across the highlands to the southeast. Hall assumed she was trying to remember her own time in Edin and in the Firbolg village. Would it be worth the extra couple days side trip?
“We’re not in a hurry,” Hall added.
Which was true. He was eager to get back to his village, Skara Brae, and start rebuilding it. He still had no idea how he would manage it, but every day the pull grew. Leigh would also be in a hurry to return as well. As the new Custodian of the Grove, she would be eager to start cleansing it.
Or would she?
Hall knew she had been reluctant to accept her duties as a Druid but just as quickly as he had accepted lordship of Skara Brae, almost too eagerly for both of them, she had accepted being the new Custodian. Had she done it out of guilt or truly because it was something she wanted? The only way to find out was to go back. But like before, when she was tasked to discover what had happened to the Grove, she had been hesitant and in no hurry to do so. Would it still be that way?
She had demonstrated new abilities in Greenheight Vale, staring to cleanse that forest. How eager was she to learn those new abilities and put them to use?
“What do you know of the village?” Sabine asked Leigh.
“Of this village?” Leigh replied. “Nothing. There was a Firbolg village near my home of Cliff’s Field. A peaceful folk, the villagers traded with them regularly.”
Sabine turned back to the southeast. She got a vacant, faraway stare, and Hall knew she was opening up one of her menus. Most likely the map. Her eyes refocused, and she shrugged.
“Why not,” she replied. “Besides, they’re going to be your neighbors. Might as well meet them,” she said to Hall as she walked past to gather her gear.
That was something he had not thought about. Hall remembered there were many menus he had seen on the village’s Interface, most of which he had not reviewed yet. There had been an Allies and a Trade Partners. What would happen if he forged an alliance with the Firbolgs? The Valedale Gnomes were listed as Allies. What was the difference between Allies and Trade Partners?
Only one way to find out.
He looked over his shoulder where Pike was sitting on Angus. The cow was laying down near the smoldering remains of the fire, mooing quietly to himself. Content. The dragonhawk was curled up on top of the cow, eyes closed.
Staring at Pike, Hall called out through the mental link they shared. Eyes opening instantly, Pike stood up and spread his wings. He squawked, causing Angus to wake up. The cow groaned and shook as Pike’s claws dug in for purchase.
Flapping his wings, the dragonhawk lifted into the air. He landed on one of the boulders they had used as a windbreak. With another cry, Pike pushed himself into the air. Wings spread wide, flapping, the dragonhawk soared high into the sky.
The others all watched Pike as he flew higher and higher, powerful wings spread to catch the wind, holding him aloft as he circled. A tiny dot in the sky, they watched it disappear as the dragonhawk flew to the southeast.
Hall sat down, looking in the same direction, eyes focused on nothing, activating Shared Vision.
In his mind, he saw the highlands spread out before him. So much land, so much detail. Pike was high enough to see for miles in all directions, eyes sharp enough to pick out many details. The hills rose and fell, small streams flowing between them. Rocky outcroppings, small forests, the hills mostly covered in smaller boulders. A small mouse that Hall had to force Pike to ignore.
Pike flew further out. Good-sized ponds could be seen in the valleys between hills, one on a flat top that was at least a half-mile long. The dragonhawk lifted higher, losing details but seeing more. And there, on the edge was a line of darker green against the lighter green and grays of the highlands.
Circling where he was, Pike’s view changed. Through the dragonhawk’s eyes, Hall could see the edge of the forest and then to the mountains. He couldn’t see the particular rock formation they were at, not from this distance, but he saw enough to get a general idea of what direction to head.
Hall had to fight to stop from getting dizzy. Somehow the circling and changing views didn’t bother Pike, but it was bothering him. He closed his eyes, canceling the connection between the dragonhawk and himself. Opening his eyes, he saw the highlands spread out before him but lacking the amazing detail of Pike’s vision. He had a momentary sense of loss.
Hall stood up, shaking his head, clearing it.
Looking up in the sky, he saw a dark speck miles out as Pike flew back.
“Pike saw the forest,” Hall said to the others. “About two days that way. Maybe three,” he added, pointing toward the speck that was the dragonhawk.
Walking back into the camp, Hall started pulling his gear together. Roxhard took up the last stick and spread out the ashes from the fire. He stepped into the small circle of rocks they had made, stomping on the last ember that was glowing red. Sabine and Leigh were already standing further down the hill, waiting.
Most of his gear went into the pouch on his belt, the rest into the traveler’s pack he was carrying. Adjusting the straps so his cloak was not held down tightly, Hall grabbed his spear from where it had been laying against a rock. He could see rips and tears in his armor, both his chest and gloves. The leather on his legs was worn, stitching coming loose. Pulling his short sword out of the sheath, he saw nicks and scratches that a whetstone would not remove. Weapons and armor needed repairs.
Would the Firbolgs have a smithy capable of repairing both?
He didn’t think there had been a smith in the original village. The only NPCs that could be interacted with had been the ones associated with the quests and a general goods dealer. He hoped there was a smith now.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It took them two and a half days to reach the edge of the forest. They had managed to avoid any random encounters, finding herbs and animals for food and skins. Turned out that along with Hall, who was not sure he was going to keep the Skill, both Leigh and Sabine had the Herbology Skill. They took turns claiming the various plants they found, each getting a couple skill gains.
Because of the hills and valleys, the going had been slow. Up a hill, down into a valley and back up again. The landscape was rugged, not easy hiking. They were tired, hungry as rations needed to be conserved, and starting to get on each other’s nerves. Each carried wounds that magical healing could not deal with. Healing spells were great for closing wounds, stopping bleeding, and getting a body well enough to fight again. But it did nothing for the after-effects. Tight muscles, sore joints. Lingering aches and pains.
The hill sloped down to the forest, an uneven line of tall trees. Thick trunks, low branches, the forest was old growth. The edge ran for miles in both directions. The maps showed it to be deeper than it was long, possibly three or four days to go from one end to the other.
Hall tried to remember where the Firbolg village was. Almost dead center, he thought, getting some disagreement from Sabine. Roxhard, like usual, didn’t protest or have anything to add. The Witch thought the village was more to the east, closer to the Auld side of the forest. Leigh stood back, scratching Angus behind an ear, waiting for someone to make a decision.
“Whatever,” Sabine said finally, motioning for Hall to lead the way.
He bit back a response. It wasn’t worth it.
They walked into the forest, the sun darkening as it fought to penetrate the thick canopy above. There was some space between the trees, but not much. It would have been impossible to ride a mount through this forest, which Hall remembered doing in the pre-Glitch version. Low bushes covered the ground around the base of some trees, enough space to walk through. Exposed roots stretched out across the forest floor.
The sound of birds rang through the branches, leaves shaking as small animals ran from branch to branch. Hall was glad to hear some noise, some animal activity. The wide-open and hilly highlands had been empty with barely any sound. He had forgotten how active a forest could be. Oaks, maples, pines, and birches dominated, other species scattered.
Hall led the way, Pike on his shoulder, Roxhard in the rear. He tried to stay focused on watching the forest but his thoughts kept drifting to the past. Called the Fallen Green Forest, there had been about a dozen quests. Most had come from the Firbolg village of Green Ember. The peaceful Firbolg were having troubles with their neighbors, a tribe of Badgin. An old truce had been broken by the bloodthirsty Badgin. The Players had progressed through the quest chains, raising in reputation which could be used to gain new recipes and items from the Firbolg.
Then there had been the Demons.
When he had first suggested coming to the forest, he had forgotten the Demons.
Hall pushed the thoughts away, concentrating on where they were. Using the old game as a guide could be dangerous, as they were learning. This forest alone was five or six times the size it had been in-game. A Player on a mount could have ridden from one end to the other in half an hour. Now it would take them days of walking to get through and the trees would prevent riding.
They had spent the first night in a small clearing beneath a fallen tree. The second night was in a small and unoccupied cave. A small fire, smoke curling up into the air, gave them warmth as the light and heat reflected off the stone behind them. Hall woke up, ready to take the last watch, just as he had every night.
It was something he had started doing back on Cumberland without really discussing it with the others. He always took the last watch, wanting to be the first up and preparing for the day ahead. Just another thing that pointed to him being the leader of the group.
His realizing it was happening had been slow, but the process had not. It had just happened naturally. He had somehow become the leader of the group. It was not something he had tried for. Truth be told, he hadn’t wanted it to happen. But it had. Dyson, the merchant they had befriended, had said it was obvious. Hall hadn’t seen it then. To an extent, he still didn’t.
He found himself the leader of the party and the Lord of a small town. He had been happy to find that one of the governing options for Skara Brae had been one where he could be hands-off. Leading a party in combat, that he knew how to do even if it was reluctantly. Leading an entire village, that he had no experience with.
But the village was something he wanted to do. It felt right. He would start the rebuilding process, help it to become a real home, and then let others take care of it. He knew himself though. There was no way he would fully stop being involved.
He just had to hope that he didn’t mess it up too badly.
With a sigh, Hall pushed himself up. He left his bedroll laid out, taking the blanket and cloak with him. His javelin harness was laying on the ground, and he left it there, taking the spear and belting on his short sword. The fire had gone down, the last few hours of the night cold. Just outside the cave, sitting cross-legged on the ground, was Leigh. Walking around the others carefully, quietly, Hall made his way out of the cave.
Laying the blanket on the ground, he sat down, pulling his cloak tighter around him. He laid the spear down alongside, in easy reach, adjusting the sword in its scabbard. He felt the joints in his legs protest.
“Evening,” he whispered to Leigh.
She turned and smiled. The light from the moon seemed to catch her in that moment, and Hall was captivated by her beauty. He realized that every day, he was finding her more and more attractive. Not just her physical beauty but everything about her.
“Sleep well?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“Not really,” he admitted. “Got a couple hours but wasn’t the most comfortable.”
She chuckled quietly.
Hall had the urge to offer her his blanket. She was dressed in a leather skirt, the sides exposed and held together with lacing. Her top left her arms and waist exposed, showing the light blue tattoos that curled up her arms. Curly and wild red hair with two braids hanging over her shoulders, blue eyes, and pierced ears. No gloves, but leather bracers, and calf-high boots. Next to her on the ground was her epic quality magical cudgel, found in a treasure chest on Cumberland, and her gnarled staff.
As a Druid, he wondered if she had some means of dealing with the cold. She must, he had never heard her mention feeling it. It didn’t appear she felt the night’s chill now.
“How do you do it?” she asked after a minute or so of silence.
He looked at her, wondering what she meant.
“Waking up,” she clarified. “Everyone else, me included, needs to be woken up for our watch. But you just seem to know when it’s time.”
Hall shrugged, wondering if she could see the movement. It wasn’t something he had given thought to or realized he did. When it was his turn for watch, he just got up and took it. Taking the morning watch, the last watch, was a conscious decision. But waking up in time?
Back in real life, when he had been working a nine-to-five job, the same thing had happened. His alarm had been set for a certain time, and without fail, he would wake up a couple minutes before the alarm went off. Even on weekends and vacations. He still got up at the same time, just was able to fall back to sleep.
“Don’t know how,” he finally said. “You can go to bed, get a couple more hours sleep.”
“In a minute,” she replied.
Angus mooed loudly behind them, and they both turned. The cow was shaking a bit in his sleep, legs kicking. Some kind of dream. The others did not waken. Hall and Leigh had been speaking in whispers, not wanting to disturb the rest of the group, but if they hadn’t woken over Angus’ mooing, they weren’t going to.
Leigh chuckled.
“The shaggy guy makes a great pillow,” she said, a smile and laugh in her voice. “But not when he has dreams. I’ve been kicked a couple of times.”
“You said he was in a herd near your home in Cliff Fields,” Hall prompted.
“Yeah,” Leigh said, still looking back at the small cow. “Our farm was next to it, the herds fence the boundary with our corn crop. When helping my da in the fields, I’d see the cows in their pastures. They’d come to the fence and I’d pat them, sometimes crawling through onto their side. Large, but they’re generally gentle. So one day, probably three years back, one of the cows was pregnant and giving birth. Premature.”
She leaned back, looking up at the stars barely visible through the thick canopy of trees, lost in the memory. Hall could tell that Leigh did miss her home. He remembered why she had left, not exactly by choice.
“The calf was small, a real runt,” Leigh continued. “They didn’t think he’d survive but he did.” She again glanced back at Angus, the cow’s feet still kicking in the midst of the dream. “I had seen the birth happening, ran through the fence, and helped the little calf.”
Leigh paused, tilting her head as she looked at Angus.
“I wonder if that was when my nature magic first manifested,” she said absently.
Hall had never been a big fan of playing a casting class. He enjoyed having them as part of the party and the utility and range they brought. But he had always been drawn to the melee classes. Leigh’s comment about her magical power manifesting was interesting. Players never had to worry about that, as they started out already with magical abilities. NPCs never had either. But it would make sense that such a moment happened. He was just surprised that the developers had bothered coding such a moment in for the NPCs. Just another example that it seemed there was more to Leigh than most NPCs.
“It became my responsibility to help feed him, bring him back to full health,” she continued. “He never did gain the size he was supposed to. I think he’ll always be on the smaller side. When I left, I felt horrible about having to leave him behind. The farmer had promised me that he’d look after Angus, but I knew it was a lie.”
She fell silent, looking down at the ground. Hall figured she was right. No way would the farmer have kept Angus around. As the runt, Angus was useless to the farmer and just took up space.
“The first night out of Cliff Fields, the old Druid and I were awoken by a strange noise,” Leigh said looking up and turning to face Hall. She was smiling at the memory. “Narya, the Druid, had a giant cat for a Companion. It wasn’t growling, just looking into the trees around us, not bothering to even get up. That’s when Angus walked out of the trees and rushed right over to me.”
Hall smiled, glancing back at the sleeping cow. Angus’ legs were no longer moving, the dream passed and the cow restful once more. He saw that Pike had moved off the cow’s back, settling down on Hall’s empty bedroll.
“Somehow he broke out of the pasture,” Leigh continued. “I was surprised to see him. There was no way he should have known where I was or that I had even left. Narya said that it meant he was to become my Companion.”
