Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [12]
"And the Nentyar hunters serve the Circle, right?" guessed Marrec.
"Right. I'm a hunter. We're a group made up of rangers, scouts, and warriors. We carry out the commands of the druid circle voluntarily, for the good of the forest. When we join in service, we swear to defend the great forests and do the Nentyarch's bidding."
"My goddess Lurue has often found common ground with druids," offered Marrec.
"Her name is one honored by the Circle, I've heard. What brings a servant of Lurue so far east?"
"Her silence," muttered the cleric.
Elowen waited for more.
"Something is not right with Lurue. I've been following portents, looking for a promised Child of Light who will… somehow make things right. I think Ash is the child, but now that I've found her, I'm not sure what to do next."
Gunggari said, "These evil pine men are caught up in Ash's fate and maybe Lurue's. If we discover the pine men's interest, maybe we can find out why she's important to Lurue."
"A lot of maybes," opined Marrec, "but I have nothing better to go on. Ash is not talking at the moment." He patted the mute child on the head. "We need to find out more about these blighted volodnis-these rot fiends." He looked back at Elowen.
"Agreed," said Elowen. "You are welcome to join me to see my friend in Two Stars. She is an adept of many lores, and she may know something about these volodnis. Then I must report back to the Nentyarch. It's been too long since I've gone back… but Ususi should be consulted, now that we have this new information in hand."
"Ususi is your friend?"
"Ususi Manaallin. She also hails from a place far distant from here. She came here long ago, and her knowledge of certain mystical sites of the forest is unsurpassed, even by the Nentyarch himself. She knows the Mucklestones especially well."
"Why do we care about mucklestones?" wondered Marrec."Because, these blighted volodnis I have been following issued from that ancient site just over a month ago. I witnessed their departure. Of late, I've spent much time in the vicinity of the Mucklestones…" The elf smiled fondly as if over some personal memory. "Anyway, something evil has taken root in the Mucklestones, and of all the people I know, Ususi best knows the Mucklestones. She has made their study her work."
"Exactly where are the Mucklestones located?" asked Marrec, that time pronouncing the name with the proper gravity. The place seemed like it must be important and perhaps somehow connected to Ash, and if so, then also to Lurue.
"They are at the northeastern tip of the Forest of Le-thyr. The city of Two Stars is not too far out of the way, if the Mucklestones prove to be our eventual destination."
Marrec considered, still standing close to the child. The girl looked at him, saying nothing, and reacting not at all to the field of slain creatures around her. If Ash truly was the Child of Light, whatever the true significance of that name, and if the volodnis were after her because of it, she wouldn't be safe back in her village. She'd be safest with him, Gunggari, and perhaps with the hunter Elowen. After all, Elowen had already saved Ash once.
Marrec decided. "Gunggari, we're going to Two Stars. Ash is going with us."
"What about the peasant, Hemish?" wondered the tattooed soldier. "He will want his daughter back."
"Don't worry, we'll go back and satisfy Hemish that the girl will be safest in our care. If he truly wants what's best for the child's welfare, he'll allow her to remain with us. It may be that Ash is blessed with a secret, perhaps even the secret behind Lurue's silence."
It was decided. Elowen indicated she'd accompany him and Gunggari back to Fullpoint, being grateful for their help in slaying the evil pine folk, and hopeful that their involvement might aid her efforts in the future.
The blightlord laughed as the druid's screams bellowed forth. The druid, named