The Kingless Land - Ed Greenwood [60]
7
No Pressing Shortage of Mistakes
The Ornentarn warriors in the lead were veterans of the hunt, to say nothing of chases after outlaws and adventuring forays. They knew stonework when they saw it-even under a thick green cloak of creepers and thorny bushes. One of them held up a hand and called back, "Do we know of any other ruins in this forest?"
"None," two of the wizards replied sourly, more or less in unison. Neither paused in his enthusiastic slapping at stinging insects. Bright ribbons of sweat coursed down their faces, and dripped slowly from their chins. It had been a long time since either of those faces had worn anything that might be described as any sort of "pleasant" expression.
"Then we've found Indraevyn," the warrior announced calmly. "Or what's left of it."
The rest of the band crowded around him. Several of the wizards wore looks of open dismay, and one of them was even moved to ask, "Are you sure?"
No one bothered to answer. There were shapes among the trees-which stood more thinly here than elsewhere-that might have been buildings, and here and there stone showed through the clinging greenery. Ruined Indraevyn was no neat expanse of grand buildings untouched by rime but a sea of vines and shrubs and saplings spreading out before them cloaked in trees. A bird whirred past, ignoring the cluster of men amid the busy flies.
Several of the mages were scrabbling in belt or breast pouches for maps, then looking around very slowly and gloomily. From where they stood, it was impossible to know which crumbling, overgrown mound was the library. Nothing seemed to match their fragmentary maps and descriptions. "Are you sure this is Indraevyn?" the querulous wizard asked again.
The warrior Rivryn gave him a look of contempt and said, "While we're exploring, bear in mind three things: those who split away to explore alone tend to die soon, we need to find drinking-water most urgently, and then a shelter we can defend, to sleep in. Libraries, right now, are optional."
"Explore?" one of the wizards asked in bewilderment. "How?"
"Take out your knife and start hacking and peeling back," another warrior grunted. "When and where one of us tells you to, and only where and when you're told. You'll be working with everyone else. You may find that last detail a novel experience."
The mages stared at him.
One or two of them slowly drew belt knives and joined the armaragors, who were pointing at one or two of the larger mounds and discussing whether it was best to find a brook or pond first-which was sure to have bestial visitors, after dark-and work outward from there on finding shelter or whether it would be best to get a shelter and then explore for water.
The others strolled off on their own, to stand and stare around and shake their heads. A few came back to join the band, which was slowly moving forward through the overgrown ruin, looking at everything but keeping together.
"Watch your feet," Rivryn told the mages behind him. "We've stone underfoot, and that means easy ways to trip or break an ankle. It also means snakes."
"Snakes?" one of the wizards cried. "You didn't say anything in Ornentar about snakes!"
The dark-haired warrior shrugged. "You were sitting in a room full of them," he said in dry tones. "I thought you were used to them."
The wizard's eyes flashed angrily, but there were chuckles here and there among the band of slowly advancing men.
"The land seems to fall away yonder," another of the warriors said, pointing through the trees. "Water there, d'you think?"
Another armaragor nodded. "We could tr-"
There was a scream of terror, and a roaring, off to their right. "Find good footing!" Rivryn roared to the mages, as the warriors hefted weapons and spread out to give themselves